FAITH TO REFUSE – PART 2: PASTOR MENSAH OTABIL, SUNDAY 1ST NOVEMBER, 2020

ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE MESSAGE BY DR. MENSAH OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) ACCRA, GHANA)

TOPIC: FAITH TO REFUSE – PART 2

DATE: 1ST NOVEMBER, 2020

TEXT: GENESIS 14:18-23

Amen! – Let’s keep standing (wherever you are reading on the Label of DMC) as we make our DECLARATIONS OF EXCELLENCE, in this Year of Excellence.

… Are you READY?

SAY WITH ME:
Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty, God shines forth. The Lord my God causes the righteous to Shine forth as the Sun.

His Awesome Hands has formed me; His Creative Spirit inspires my mind. He skillfully guides my hands.

Therefore, I boldly declare: I am set apart for Excellence. The Ruler of the Universe has exalted my horn among the Nations. He sets my feet on high! In His Strength, I rise!

By Faith, I Press forward towards the Prize of my Highest Calling.

I believe in my heart, and confess with my mouth: that Jesus is Lord! He is the Vine, I am the Branch; in Him I abide, in Him I Blossoms.

As it is written: God, who commanded Light out of darkness, has shone His Light in our hearts;

We have His Treasure in Earthen Vessels. That the Excellence of the Power may be of God, and not of us!

In this Year, I commit to EXCELLENCE, I commit to EXCEPTIONALISM, I commit to do the EXTRAORDINARY.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen and Amen and Amen and Amen!

Today, I am doing PART 2 of a Message I started two (2) weeks ago. Titled – FAITH TO REFUSE (this is the PART 2).

DMC NOTES: We can get to access the Full Text of the Part 1 of this Series via this Link below:

https://discoverymediacrew.com/Faith-To-Refuse-Part-1-Dr-Mensa-Otabil

We know that:

I. Faith is essential for us to RECEIVE from God.

II. And Faith is essential for us to BECOME what God wants us to be;

III. And Faith is essential for us to PULL DOWN strongholds and see Miracles.

But in this two (2) Parts Message, I am focusing on: FAITH that does not just receive, but REFUSES (or REJECTS).

Sometimes we need FAITH, to refuse something!

In PART 1, we looked at Moses – Who by Faith, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

He REFUSED a wrong Label and a wrong Mission.

In this PART 2 today, we are going to look at ABRAHAM – Who also had Faith to REFUSE.

And the story is in GENESIS 14:18-23 (NKJV);

… Just to give you a little background to this story:

Abraham lived with his Nephew called Lot. And as their businesses grew; their cattle grew and it was necessary for them to separate!

And Abraham gave Lot the first option; and instead of Passing on his Uncle’s option, he took it!

And he exercised the first option and he chose what he considered “the most fertile land around.” And that is the land of Sodom and Gomorrah.

And he went to live there for some time. And there was a war, and some Kings – five (5) Kings; came against Sodom and Gomorrah and other Towns or Cities around!

The five (5) Kings were able to conquer Sodom and Gomorrah and the other Towns and took people captive.

And that’s what happened in those days – if you are conquered, they take you Captive to go and sell you as slaves.

So they took the people captive (including Lot). And not only did they take the people captive; they took all the Properties captive and ran away!

So somebody came to tell Abraham that: Lot your Nephew has become a victim in this war, and he has been taken as a slave: and his family, his Property of his Town or City -:Everything is gone!

Abraham was not a Soldier, but he put together three hundred and eighteen (318) people and decided to go and fight those who have come to conquer his Nephew’s Town.

And God gave him the Victory – Abraham won.

And when he won, he won the Victory – Not only to get Lot out, but all the Nations that had been conquered, he took the people free, liberated their slaves and got their Properties back!

And now, Abraham is the New Champion! – He has won the Great Victory, he is returning!

And when he is returning, he was met by two (2) Kings – One called Melchizedek (we would not say much about him today) and then another King!

And both Kings made an offer – And we are going to read how Abraham responded.

So, Genesis 14:18-23;

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the Priest of God Most High.

19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of Heaven and Earth;

20 And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

… This is where Tithing Started.

21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the Goods for yourself”.

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of Heaven and Earth,

23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’.

Two (2) Kings came to meet Abraham:

1. Melchizedek King of Salem.

Melchizedek brought bread and wine and a Blessing for Abraham!

2. Then after Melchizedek, is King of Sodom.

Now you have to remember: Melchizedek King of Salem had not been Part of this drama.

In other words, his country had not been attacked. He had not lost anything.

He just came with a Blessing to Congratulate Abraham.

But the King of Sodom – His property had been taken, and he had lost so much and he offered things to Abraham and Abraham REFUSED them.

And for us to understand why Abraham REFUSED them – I mean, he has worked hard for it, he had conquered.

Why is he REFUSING a Blessing?

So we are going to look at: THREE (3) OF THE STATEMENTS THAT ABRAHAM MADE.

And we will examine each one of them.

And to address them appropriately, as to why – ABRAHAM HAD FAITH TO REFUSE THEM.

1. The First (1st) thing Abraham said was: “I HAVE RAISED MY HAND TO THE LORD.”

Now that Phrase: “I have raised my hand to the Lord” means: “I HAVE MADE A VOW TO GOD”.

That Practice is still in vogue now – When you have to swear to an oath, you go to a Court. Or you go to swear an oath into an Office – They will tell you, lift your hand and you raise your hand, and put the other hand on a Bible, or some other Sacred object, and you take your Vow!

So, it was happening at this time – Abraham did the same thing: He RAISED his hand to God.

… So, Abraham took a Vow.

The implications of that statement that: “I have raised my hand to God” is that Abraham had made an Oath in the Past.

Before he set out to fight the battle with five (5) Kings who had captured his Nephew – Lord; HE MADE A VOW.

He didn’t make the Vow AFTER the battle; he made it BEFORE.

He said: “God, I am going to this Battle. In this Battle I make this Vow.”

So that is very important – he made this Vow BEFORE the Battle.

But it also mean that the Vow he made to God was still in FORCE.

Abraham did not say: “Well, I made a Vow to God. Now the situation has changed, I have to change the VOW.”

He made a Vow in the PAST, and now the Vow was still in FORCE.

After the Battle, Abraham is saying: “Before I went out to do this Battle, I made a Vow. And that Vow is till working now.”

It is very important! – A Vow in the Past, but still having effect now.

So that’s the first (1st) Statement Abraham made: “I HAVE RAISED MY HAND TO THE LORD.”

2. Second (2) Statement Abraham made: “I WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING THAT IS YOURS.”

So, that is the Vow he made! – He made a Vow to God and said, “I will not take anything that is yours.”

Why did Abraham make that Vow?

We will get to know later (to try to examine why he made that Vow).

He is going to Battle, his Nephew Lot has been captured with his wife and children, Properties have been taken from his City and from everybody;

And Abraham is going to attempt a rescue. And he says: Lord, when I go to this Battle and win, I will not take ANYTHING from these people.

And he made that Vow before he went into Battle!

That Vow was a Self Imposed Limitation; or a Self Imposed Restraint.

Abraham placed an EMBARGO on himself – He stopped himself from doing something. And he itemised what he would not take, to include: A thread to a sandal strap.

In today’s language, if Abraham was making such a Vow, he would not say a thread to a sandal strap.

He would have said: “I will not take a PESUA” (if it was Ghana);
“I will not take a PENNY” (if it was British). If it was America – “I will not take a CENT.” If it was Nigeria – “I will not take a KOBO.”

So, Abraham is saying: “I am not going to take ANYTHING.” *I will not take a thread, I will not take a sandal strap.

I will not take a Pesua, I will not take a Penny, I will not take anything!

Can you imagine, he is going in to Battle, he doesn’t even know what will come out of it – What if God gives you so much?

And he says – I will not take ANYTHING out of it.

*… That’s the Vow he made!

And when he said it, he actually Specifically directed that Vow to the King of Sodom. He said, I will not take ANYTHING that is YOURS, your Majesty!

It was specifically directed to the person and situation he was involved in. It was not just a rule.

… He took bread and wine from Melchizedek.

So, Abraham is not saying: I’m not going to take anything at all; but I am not taking anything that is yours – Your Royal Highness, King of Sodom.

… That’s interesting!

So, why would Abraham, before he even know the outcome of a battle make a Vow to God?

And say; God, when I go to this Battle, I am not going to take anything from the King of Sodom. I ma not going to take ANYTHING from him.

He answers it: LEST YOU SHOULD SAY, ‘I HAVE MADE ABRAM RICH”.

Abraham is saying: I am not going to take ANYTHING from you, so that in future; you wouldn’t take credit for my success.

I am not going to take ANYTHING from you, because I don’t want you one day, to take away God’s Glory from my success.

When Abraham said: I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich”.

There is an implied statement in there!

And the implied statement is that: Abraham knew that he would be RICH.

He knew he would be Rich; he knew he was destined to be Rich. He had full confidence in how his future would work out!

In fact, in Genesis 13:2 the Bible says: “Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.”

This is before Chapter 14.

So, already, he had Prospered; but he would Prosper MORE. And he was careful who should get the Glory for his Prosperity.

And so he said, King of Sodom: before this Battle, I made a Vow to God, I will not take a PESUA, a CENT, a KOBO, from your hand.

Because I don’t want you one day to stand somewhere and say: “I MADE ABRAHAM.”

Because I know, GOD WILL MAKE ME – And I don’t want a man to say, he made me!

So Abraham, didn’t want to deny God the Glory for his riches!

He was determined, that nothing would happen to take away God’s Glory from what would happen to him in the future.

I mean, when you read the Bible, and you read this – You will say: Why did he make such a Vow concerning the King of Sodom?

Well, something of these things are not directly explained because the next verse did not say “BECAUSE (and then tell us why he did it)”

So, you have to read the Scripture to get a sense of why Abraham would make such a Statement.

So let’s look at WHY ABRAHAM WOULD REFUSE?

And this why I believed he REFUSED – Two (2) things:

1. THE SOURCE OF THE OFFER – Where the offer was coming.

Because he said to the King of Sodom: I will not take ANYTHING that is yours!

… He didn’t say I won’t take anything from anybody else.

But you – King of Sodom, I am not taking ANYTHING from you!

The SOURCE of the offer was that Sodom (as we know) was associated with EVIL.

Maybe Abraham did not want to Associate his future Prosperity with an EVIL SOURCE.

Although he is already rich, he didn’t want this one act to come and mess up the Testimony that God is going to give him in the future!

So, he says – Even before the Battle had been determined. Whilst he is going in; he says: God, I know you will give me the Victory, I know that You are going to give me everything;

But I am not going to take ANYTHING from the King of Sodom.

Why? – I believed the SOURCE!

But that is not a Perfect answer! Because there were other people that Abraham took gifts from, who were not the best of people;

Like Abimelech (in Genesis Chapter 20) who wanted to take Sarah – Abraham’s wife from him!

He wanted to steal Abraham’s wife; and later God went to warn him. And the man gave gifts to Abraham, and Abraham accepted.

Now, if you can accept gifts from a man who wanted to take your wife; then it means he was a bit accommodating.

So, the first (1st) reason could be the SOURCE.

But there is a second (2nd) reasons.

2. If the SOURCE was evil; the Second reason is: The CIRCUMSTANCE of the offer.

… And that I believe, was the MAIN REASON!

Sodom had already lost so much! And I believed Abraham said: “I will not take ANYTHING from the King of Sodom because he didn’t want to take undue advantage of Sodom’s Calamity.

The people of Sodom had suffered a lot at this time – Their City was attacked, destroyed; their Citizens and Goods taken away from them.

And if you read the Passage (especially Genesis 14:10) – There is an indication that their King might even have died in the Battle.

So this King who is making the offer is a New King who had come in after the first King had died when they were attacked.

If that is the case, it would then seems as if Abraham was taking advantage of them!

Abraham looked at it as if ‘these people are at the Lowest Point of their life – They have lost everything; their King had died, citizens have been killed.

I am there to go and deliver them; and I am not going to take advantage of the situation to make myself rich.Lest one day somebody would say: Oh, Abraham destroyed others in order to Proposer! He took advantage of other people who were down, in order for him to rise up.

… Abraham Pulled people down to get up!

I believe, that is the reason why he said: “I am not going to take ANYTHING from the King of Sodom. “

Because if you look at the case Properly in Verse 21 (Genesis 14:21) – The King of Sodom said: Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, *“Give me the persons, and take the Goods for yourself”.

So, he is saying: The people whom you have gone to rescue; give them to me, and take the goods!

Why is he saying that? – Because he doesn’t deserve either!

Because in those days whenever you go to war, whatever you captured is yours!

So, when Abraham went, rescued the people; it means actually – Not only are the people the Property now of Abraham; the King himself, is a property of Abraham!

Because he (Abraham) has now come to rescue them. And not only that; all the items that were rescued, were for Abraham!

So, Legitimately, Legal; Abraham is the owner of the people and the Goods!

He has earned it by right, by hard work to the PERIL of his LIFE!

If anybody should say: I worked for it, I laboured for it, I sweated for it, I did everything for it, it’s Legal.

… It ia ABRAHAM: the goods are his, the people are his!

So, the King says: I know they are yours; but just give me the people – so we go and start afresh. And keep the goods!

And Abraham says: I am not going to take ANYTHING from you; because, before this War, I have made a Vow to God “That I would not take ANYTHING from you!”

SO WHAT IS FAITH TO REFUSE IN THIS MATTER?

So, there are certain times that God would give you an advantage in life and you must REFUSE IT.

… That’s FAITH TO REFUSE.

What Abraham did is very similar to what David did when he had the opportunity to kill King Saul..

David knew he would be King of Israel; he had been Anointed King! As a matter of fact – The Bible says an evil spirit was now upon King Saul.

And to make matters worst, King Saul was Pursuing David, to kill him!

Now, David had an opportunity to kill King Saul so that he become King. And he REFUSED TO DO IT!

He REFUSED to become a King at the expense of killing King Saul.

David had FAITH TO REFUSE.

Elisha gave direction for the healing of Naaman. And he EARNED his reward!

Naaman brought rewards and Elisha REFUSED IT; Because be said it was not time yet for him to accept such things.

So, there are times when it seems as if everything is to your advantage. But, your success is going to totally destroy another person – And you should REFUSE that kind of success.

It is called “FAITH TO REFUSE.”

Abraham said King (of Sodom): I am going to give you back your people. And I am going to give you back the Goods.

Because I know I would be great in the future and I don’t want somebody to come and say; Abraham, oh you know why he Prospered? – Because he went up there and he impoverished the people of Sodom, and he took everything from them – That is why he was rich!

He says, I Vowed to God: I will never do that!

So let me ask you a few questions:

1. If you knew that God would make you rich, would you steal to get rich?
2. If you knew that God would lift you up in life; would you like to bring somebody down in order for you to rise up?
3. If you knew that your Church or your Business would increase and grow and become mighty; would you attack others and what they have built in order to grow yours?

Because if you truly have Faith in your future, the choices you make, would determine your Faith.

If you knew that God would give you a beautiful family life – Your own husband, your own wife; give you a decent family, give you a good home;

… Would you take somebody’s Partner for yourself?

I am not going to desire an Answer from you. I would say it again;

I you knew that God would give you your own Partner; Would you take somebody’s Partner away from them?

If you knew God has a Glorious Future for you; would you say ugly things about someone else, in order to get FAME and POPULARITY?

Abraham knew God would make him Rich; he knew as for riches – I WOULD BECOME! And it is not this time with Sodom that would make my future prosperity.

And he was able to look at King of Sodom and said:

1. First (1st) of all, you are a BAD MAN – Leader of evil people.

… That’s number one (1)!

2. Secondly, you are at the lowest level of you life – You have lost everything! And God has used me to redeemed you!

But I am not going to take advantage of what God has used me to do: I am going to allow you to keep everything you have, and go one with your life.

Because I know. God is going to make ms great, and Richer than you!

And I don’t want history to come back and say I became Rich because I destroyed you!

It is called FAITH TO REFUSE.

… Abraham knew that!

So the question you want to ask yourself:

If you were David and Saul was harassing you. And now you can kill him to become the King; WOULD YOU KILL HIM?

… Or you have Faith to REFUSE that opportunity.

I. Do you have Faith to Refuse to destroy your enemy?

II. Do you have Faith to Refuse to take advantage of someone in a Vulnerable situation?

III. Do you have Faith to Refuse to pull down someone, so you can take their Position?

IV. Do you have Faith to Refuse to repay evil for evil.

VIf you truly believed that God is taking you somewhere; WOULD YOU TAKE SHORT CUTS?

In Part One (1) of this Message we saw that Moses REFUSED a wrong Label.

And today, we see Abraham REFUSING to take advantage of a Vulnerable person!

At some point in your life, in my life: we must have FAITH TO REFUSE.

Although it may seems as if Oh, this is a Good opportunity – i have to take advantage, I don’t know when anyone is going to come for it!

Listen to me: the God you serve is the Ancient of Days; the same yesterday, to and forever. New Mercies come every morning!

Why do you think if this one PASSES, God will not show you another mercy? And God would not open better door for you?

Why do your limit yourself to only one (1) moment in History – as the only moment God can Bless you?

Abraham had FAITH TO REFUSE!

*But let me stretch this Message a little further – In application; and apply it to us Africans;

If we believe in the Greatness of Africa, we must have FAITH TO REFUSE wrong Labels on us;

Like Moses, like Paul – underdeveloped! And all the other labels.

We must not call ourselves by it, and we must REJECT it when we are called by it!

If we believed in the greatness of BLACK PEOPLE, we must FAITH to REFUSE to see ourselves as VICTIMS – in every situation.

Blaming the world for EVERYTHING that goes wrong with us! We must have FAITH to REJECT Victimhood.

If we believe in the greatness that God has placed in our LAND, in our Continent; we must have the FAITH to REFUSE to sell that wealth CHEAP – or for nothing.

… Because there is a Market for it!

And if we believed in the greatness of our PEOPLE; we must have FAITH to REFUSE to destroy them!

Because if we believed that the greatest Asset of a Nation is its people; then we must have FAITH in the people and NOT DESTROY them.

If we believed in the Greatness of our citizens, we must have FAITH to REFUSE looking up constantly to Foreign expense.

… Even if they seems to have the Answer!

We should not let China or America or Great Britain or Germany or Canada or any other Nation say: They are the REDEEMERS of Africa; they are the ones who helped us – We were the helpless people! And we were so down they came to pick us up!

We must REFUSE THEM that Testimony!

Abraham said: I refuse you King of Sodom; the Testimony of saying “I made Abraham Rich!”

And Africa must say: We REFUSE you China – the right to say REDEEMED Africa”.

We REFUSE you Canada – The right to say “we REDEEMED Africa.”

We REFUSE you Germany – The right to say “we REDEEMED Africa.”

We REFUSE you Great Britain – The right to say “we REDEEMED Africa.”

And we REFUSE you America – The right to say “you made us who we ARE!

We want us as a Nation, as a people, to stand somewhere Five (5) to twenty (20) Years from now and say: LOOK WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US (AFRICANS)!

But for us to do that, we have to be like Abraham; we have to say: I REFUSE to accept what you are offering mW now;

Because I believed TOO MUCH in my Destiny; I believed too much in where I am going.

Do you believe in where you are going? Do you believe in where God is taking you to?

Do you believe God has a husband for you? A wife for you? prosperity for you? Abundance for you? Peace for you? greatness for you?

So you believed you are the head and not the tail?

If you believe that; then you are not going to try to bring somebody down; take from somebody; destroy another person – in order to get it!

And Abraham believed he would be rich; and he said I will not do this – lest you would say: ” I have made Abraham rich.”

WHY? Because I would be RICH!

If this opportunity passes, I would still be Rich! If I don’t destroy you, I would still be Rich! If I don’t STEAL from you, I would still be Rich! If I don’t bring you down, I would still be Rich.

And I have so much Faith in God, that I would let this one GO!

I will let this one GO: because I have FAITH in my Future, in my Prominence, in my Destiny!

And today I came here to encourage you; God has a great Destiny for you;

And you must have so much FAITH in Him : That you REFUSE anything that will destroy the testimony that God wants to give you in the future.

… Lift up your hands to God – like Abraham. And say with me:

Heavenly Father, I know the Plans You have for me. They are for Good and not doe evil;

I know the GREATNESS You have for me, it is for GOOD and not for evil;

I know You would Prosper me; I know You would Bless me; I know You would make me Happy; I know You would make me Joyful; I know You would cause me to ABOUND;

So I REFUSE any offer that will destroy my Testimony; I Vow to You Oh God – That when You have done it, all the Glory would be yours.

When You have done it, You would deserve all the Glory;

When You have done it, the whole world would say: This is the doing of the Lord, and it is Marvellous in our sight.

May the Lord give you a Testimony that the whole world cannot RESIST – Amen!

And when men see it and women see it, they would say: Look at what the Lord has done for him and for her.

Your Testimony is coming – Don’t rush for it; it’s coming. YOU WILL BE IT!

And God would make you, whatever it is – You will be IT. And you will get there, and you will be all that God has caused you to be!

And your Testimony will go to the Lord God – Jehovah – Amen.

… Are you ready for that?

Give God some Praise right now. Amen and Amen!

Thank you so much for staying all through to read.

To read other Messages on the Coverage of DMC MediaCrew so far this Year and beyond; kindly visit our Website: http://discoverymediacrew.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @discoverymediac

Send a Friend Request on Facebook to DMC MediaCrew.

Like our FB Page: Discovery Media

Join us on WhatsApp:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LYia4HScOnh2N30YU9E8AZ

Join us on Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/NzzPckuGazKYFxZZFkt9fg

Follow Us on Instagram: Discoverymediacrew

Watch and Follow Us on YouTube: Discovery Media Crew

For Enquiries, email Us on: info@discoverymediacrew.com

And I can assure you that you will be glad you did as it will avail you first hand access to comprehensive reports on the various Messages of Pastor E.A Adeboye and other Men of God!

It is outrightly wrong and a sin we frowned at it for anyone to consciously remove the original source of the work that does not emanate for him or her!

Discovery Media Crew … Reaching out to the World through the Power of the Gospel!!!

COMPILATIONS BY:

MOSES DURODOLA, TITILAYOMI AJAYI AND TOPE BABALOLA

© DISCOVERY MEDIA CREW (DMC) 2020