Attention! I am here! Isaiah 57:12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you. Attention in its simplest meaning means drawing the interest of others to oneself or others or things. Every individual wants to be known, wants to be identified, recognised and praised for their achievements, successes, beauty, handsomeness and gorgeous look in general, especially when they are elegantly dressed. That on its own is not bad, once the motive is not to be proud, thinking you have now become something big by your own power without acknowledging God the source of all blessings with all sense of humility. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 CEV says "When you become successful, don't say, " I'm rich, and I've earned it all myself." But I'm warning you--if you forget the LORD your God and worship other gods, the LORD will destroy you, just as he destroyed the nations you fought." Even though that is not our focus here today, we must however use this to check the motive behind our showoffs. God knows all men he knows all that is in your heart.
John 2:24-25 AMP" But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men]; And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men's hearts.]" 1 Samuel 16:7...For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
The focus of our study today is on what exposes a man to evil. Some people will feel secure and at peace, everything is fine, going smoothly with no sign of imminent tragedy; but suddenly found themselves in trouble. What's the cause? It has been observed that many times people become victims of evil because someone somewhere spoke about someone somewhere in a negative way. The effect is always deep. But you see, people seldom badmouth a bad person, it is only someone who has something to protect that is often badmouthed. Now, we'll look at three identified sources where tragedy against one's peace and safety are formed.
1. Yourself: One of my fathers in the Lord (Rev. Ben Tella) was preaching one day and said "if you want to know your enemies, get a clean standing mirror and stand in front of it very early in the morning. Look at it very carefully, then close your eyes and pray that God should reveal your enemies to you, after you have prayed enough; open your eyes, the first person you will see is your first 'human' enemy. Please, who would you have seen if not yourself? Social media has become many people's platforms to share their testimonies. Some people are so loose that when they are going for job interview, they will put it there with all manners of captions like "favour all the way", "preferred", "no rival", "best option" etc just to make it look like a prayer point. And you wonder why you didn't eventually get the job. It is not that it is wrong to upload your pictures on social media, but the problem is divulging what should be kept personal on it such that any little achievement, you find it on Facebook. People don't need to ask for your movement any longer because at a click, they find your post telling the world where you are off to. You are the first person to call attention to yourself. Remember the story of Joseph, how every dream he had he was announcing and eventually landed him in dungeon. You may say its God's plan, I agree. But what do you think would have happened if they had succeeded in the plan to kill him? Keep your mouth closed 🔐.
2. People: The second categories of people that call your attention to the evil one are the third-party. The neighbours, supposed friends, acquaintances, whatever you can call them. I mean people who know you and you know. David, a man after God's heart. The anointed king, a mighty warrior. When he absconded from Saul and got to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, he was escaping for his life and needed safety. He got few things he needed bread and sword, but Doeg (one of Saul's men was there looking). 1 Samuel 21:7 Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief shepherd. The phrase "detained before the Lord" doesn't have certain meaning. It could be that he was observing a rite or on account of some impurity he had contracted, which he came to be cleansed from; or this detention was voluntary, in order to offer sacrifice to the Lord, or pray unto him, or to study the law of God in the tabernacle, pretending to be a very religious man. Unfortunately, there came a time Saul was told where David was last spotted and it was this Doeg who did it. Not only that, he also divulge all that transpired between David and Ahimelech. 1 Samuel 22:9-10 Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood with Saul's servants, said, I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub. And [Ahimelech] inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine. David knew evil is looming when he saw Doeg in the temple but he did nothing (perhaps felt its nothing), but it costs the life of many people that day. 1 Samuel 22:18 The king said to Doeg, You turn and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests and slew that day eighty-five persons who wore the priest's linen ephod. You see, people who wants to expose your success to those who are not happy with your narrow escape or wide gap escape will not care even if the whole family can loose their life for your sake or in your stead. Their own is just to get you down. 1 Samuel 22:22 David exclaimed, "I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father's family. Why should you be the reason why many will be victims of evil. Be careful of people who are are your accomplices. Treat everyone as friend and know that anyone could come up to be your enemy.
3. God: Are you surprised that even God exposes His own to evil? Don't be! God's thought towards you are good and not evil. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then what's the point? God exposes people to "supposed evil" for two reasons; to proof his power over the enemy to you and to use it as a basis for multiplying your blessings. God never intend evil for his own. All about Job was peaceful and blossoming - business, family and his relationship with God until suddenly, when God called the devil's attention to him. Job 1:7-8 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." You see, Satan has no business than to spoil things and do evil. John 10:10 says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." Every trials God subjected Job to was for God to proof to the Satan that Job will not deny Him for anything. Perhaps that's why Job has been enjoying divine protect. Psalms 91:1-2 CEV says "Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you." Every announcement God made about people was never for unfruitful fellows. He announced Jesus as his beloved son - he saved the world from sin; he announced John - he was Jesus' forerunner. But not with price (which we may term to be evil). However, Job became twice blessed at the end of the trial in the hand of the devil. Job 42:12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. Only for Job and other men who had gone through series of trials like this orchestrated by God has this spoken about them at the end of their lives that they "they died old and full of years".
Job - Job 42:17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years.
Abraham - Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
Isaac - Genesis 35:29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.It is good to choose short-term pain for long-term gain. Anybody who’s ever played sports knows this one. You’ve got to practice and work hard in order to play in a championship game. You don’t just walk out and win the championship. If you’re going to be good at anything, you’ve got to accept short-term pain for long-term gain. [ Fine, you may say but the pain even though its short, is severe; it's a decision.
Moses made a choice: “He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25 NIV). It says he chose to be mistreated—to endure the short-term pain for the long-term gain of doing the right thing. You’re going to have pain in life. But if you choose to do the hard thing right now and put in the effort and the discipline to learn, to grow, to become strong and mature, then later in life you get to benefit from all of that. When you choose the short-term pain like Moses did, you’re going to see God deliver you so that you can enjoy the long-term reward.
Conclusion When man announce you or rather say expose you, it is for evil. For ruin, for defaming, for relegation, for harm and ultimately for death - not yours alone, but also those close to you. And in the case where you publicised yourself to be seen, who will you blame for your tragedy? Take caution ⚠! Not all success should be celebrated or announced (Selah) God does not endanger a man, he only take you through making process. He employs series of instruments to shape us up into His desired form. Funny enough, he may use the devil too so you could be familiar with his worst tactics. Finally, if your supposed evil is from God, please be patient under it to work you through because there is a crown for it.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. However, if it is self caused or by the enemy, please fight it in prayer. Employ God's service to rescue and deliver you.
1 Peter 5:8-11 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
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