“And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal” (2 Kings 17:16).
TEXT — 2 Kings 17:9-23
Message
Several elderly nuns were on the second floor of their convent one night when a fire broke out. When the nuns realized the fire was blocking the exit, they took their habits (a long loose garment worn by members of a religious order) off, tied them together to make a rope, and climbed out of the window. After they were safely on the ground, a news reporter asked one of the nuns, ‘Weren’t you afraid that the habits could have ripped or broken since they are old? The nun replied, “Not at all, don’t you know that old habits are hard to break?”
From the passage, we read about the eventual destruction of Israel due to the same old sin of idolatry. Since they had made a habit of worshipping other gods and bowing down to them, the Lord finally put them away out of His sight. The northern kingdom was the first to break away from the ordained worship at the temple at Jerusalem, on Jeroboam’s instructions. Two images were then placed, one in Dan and the other at Bethel to serve as their new gods. God sent prophets, seers, and preachers to warn them of the consequences of their actions. Finding no positive response, the Lord allowed them to be carried into captivity. Judah soon followed suit and met the same fate. The land of Israel was now left desolate in fulfillment of the Scriptures.
The children of Israel had struggled with idolatry since they left Egypt. They made a golden calf in the wilderness and rebelled against God when ten of the spies, sent ahead to spy out the Promised Land returned with a negative report. Their progress was then delayed, and they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. When they eventually got to the land of promise, they continued in the practices of the heathen nations around them. Their old habits destroyed them eventually. Old habits, they say, are hard, but not impossible to break; especially when one comes to Christ for heart transformation.
Thought for the day
Like the chain of the demoniac, bad habits are broken when brought to Christ.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
6 comments
Daddy KUMUYI preaches and interprets the Bible as if it was written by him. That’s what many say about Pastor (Dr.) W. F. KUMUYI).
Thanks for your holiness-centred messages.
Daddy Kumuyi has been a blessing to me personally and generally, he is a blessing to this generation. I am always blessed anytime I study the Daily Manna devotional. I pray for you, Sir that you will make it Home at the end in Jesus Mighty name. God bless you Sir.
Daddy KUMUYI preaches and interprets the Bible as if it was written by him. That’s what many say about Pastor (Dr.) W. F. KUMUYI).
Thanks for your holiness-centred messages.
What a great innovation. Thank you daddy Kumuyi for making the word of God spread by every possible means. God bless abundantly for this generation.
Daddy Kumuyi has been a blessing to me personally and generally, he is a blessing to this generation. I am always blessed anytime I study the Daily Manna devotional. I pray for you, Sir that you will make it Home at the end in Jesus Mighty name. God bless you Sir.
Daily Manna had been of help to me and my family.
This is awesome. Following the Lord is the best thing that could happen to mankind.
“In the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good comfort for I have overcome the world.”