-Pastor E. A. Adeboye at RCCG Special Sunday Service. Going Higher (Part 23)
‘The Great Choice’
1 Kings 18:21
Elijah had asked Ahab to gather Israel unto him, unto Mount Carmel, the King had obeyed and the whole Nation stood on Mount Carmel and Elijah said why don’t you make up your mind. The world is ruled by only two principal forces, light and darkness. The biggest computer of all operates on only that simple principle, light and darkness. Lights on or lights off, in or out.
James 1:17, calls God the Father of Light.
John 9:5, Jesus Christ said I am the Light of the world, satan is darkness.
Ephesians 6:12 calls satan the ruler of darkness. It has been so since the beginning, Genesis 1:1-5.
Today according to the word of God, every child of God is referred to as someone who was once in darkness but now is light. These two forces light and darkness have components, life and death, blessings and curses, day and night, joy and sorrow. This is why in Deuteronomy 30:19, God said I am setting before you, two options, life and death, blessing and curses and then He advises you to choose life that you and your children may live.
Psalms 30:5, the Bible says weeping may endure for a night but Joy comes in the morning. You have a choice and you must make one. You either choose light or darkness. It is either you choose God or the devil and if you refuse to choose, you have already chosen darkness.
Every choice has a repercussion, the choice you have made in the past made you who you are today. If you are a medical doctor today, it is because you went to a medical school yesterday. What you chose yesterday is what is responsible for what you are today.
Numbers 32:1-33, the Children of Israel were on their way to the Promise Land, they got to River Jordan, this side of River Jordan was very pleasant and some of the tribes came to Moses and said the rest of you can go to the other side of Jordan, for us here we stay, there was a little bit of argument but then Moses said you can stay on this side of Jordan. Gad was one of them, he stayed on this side of Jordan and stopped to serve God the way he should have and very soon they began to rear swine which God called an abomination to the Children of Israel and demons began to breed at this side of Jordan like no man’s business. Do you know the man with the legion of demons is an inhabitant of the land Gad chose. When the demons were asking to be sent out, there were enough swine for them to go into. A Jew is not even supposed to touch a pig.
What you choose today will determine what is going to happen to you tomorrow, you have to make a choice.
In Mark 5:2-15, you will read about the Gadarene who was a demoniac.
Genesis 13:1-13, the flock of Lot increased and they began to have some little problems amongst their shepherd and Abraham said don’t let us fight, there is plenty of lands choose, if you choose to go the West, I will go to the East and the Bible said Lot chose every place that looked so beautiful even though it was in the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah, that was what he chose and left the remainder to his uncle Abraham. You know the result in Genesis 19:1-26, everything Lot gained he lost in one day including his wife. What you chose today will determine what you will become tomorrow, you have to make a choice.
Hebrews 11:24-27, when the time came for Moses to choose, he chose the side of God, he was doing fine in the house of Pharaoh, he had been there for 40 years behaving and living like a prince in Egypt and when he saw his own people being tormented by an Egyptian he said no I can’t take that. You know the rest of the story and today because Moses made that choice, he is respected in at least three religions of the world, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. He made a choice, what is yours?
You know the story of Levi very well, you have to choose today, Levi made a terrible mistake, Genesis 34:1:31, a young man defiled the sister of Levi, he joined with another brother to get revenge that led to the slaughtering of all the men of the other tribe. The father kept it to his chest and on the day he was about to die, he pronounced a curse on Levi, he said you will become nothing, you will be scattered in the whole of Israel. Levi had another opportunity, God gave him a second chance in Exodus 32:26, when the children of Israel were worshipping idol, Moses cried and said if you are on the side of the Lord come to me, Levi chose the side of the Lord, when he chose the side of the Lord, God said I will overrule the curse of your father. Numbers 3:11-13, God said, your father said you will be scattered, no I cancel that, you will be my firstborn, I will draw you near.
There are only two forces, which are you choosing? When we are discussing going higher, I am confident that the reason you have consistently followed this series is probably that you have made a choice, you have chosen the mountain rather than the valley otherwise you will not be climbing with me. We’re now in the 23rd week of going higher Sunday by Sunday. The reason you are still interested, the reason you want to know more about going higher can only be because you have chosen the heights rather than the valley. If you have chosen the Lord’s side, if you have chosen to go higher, then, there are bound to be some serious repercussions because when you are on the mountain top, you have tremendous ability to deal with those who are on the valley below. The people who live in the valley drink from the river the people of the hilltop have washed in.
2 Kings 1:9-12, Elijah was sitting on the hilltop when some soldiers came to say they have come to arrest him, he called down fire upon them. The One on the hilltop can perform miracles.
If you have chosen the hilltop, these are some of the implications:
- Choosing the hilltop means you have chosen to be part of life.
Matthew 5:14, made it clear that you are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hid. This means that your life can no longer be lived privately, they will be watching you as you go higher. There are certain things you do when you are a baby and nobody will pay attention to, wait till you become a pastor and everybody will be watching whether you know it or not.
1 Thessalonians 5:20, says you must avoid every appearance of evil. Anything that is slightly connected to evil should not be seen near you.
Ephesians 5:25-27, made it clear, Christ is coming back for a bride without spot, wrinkle and without blemish. The higher you go, the more the world will scrutinize you. Why? Psalms 24:3-5, stated certain conditions for those who will ascend the hill of the world. You want to climb higher, you are welcome but you must be willing to pay the price, clean hands, pure hearts and of course you should know you have to watch your mouth. Going higher is expensive but what is the alternative? You don’t want to go higher? Choose the valley. There is plenty of room in the valley but to go higher is better.
When there is a major event and it is time for entertainment, they will announce Heads of States, Ambassadors, Governors and so on and then they will say all others. What is your choice? Do you want to be among all others in the valley or you want to climb to great heights whatever it is going to cost? Will you be willing to pay the price? The journey to the top begins with a very simple step, just come into the One who can lift you.
The journey to the top begins with surrendering your life to the Almighty Jesus who says I am the Light of the world. It involves saying bye to darkness and crossing over to the side of light. If you want to make that choice today to crossover, everything will become new today and old things will be gone but if you refuse to make that choice it means you have already chosen to stay with darkness and then the repercussions of your choice will continue to be with you for the rest of your life. I am giving you an opportunity to make that great choice, Elijah said choose now, which way do you want to be, to stay with darkness or you want to come to light? I am also saying to you now, choose, crossover to the side of light and everything will become new. If you want to give your life to Christ, stop all association with darkness because in darkness there is failure, curses but in light there will be joy, life even as God has offered you a choice today, choose life that you and your seed may live. Ask Him to please save your soul, ask Him to transfer you from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light. Those of us who are already sure to be in the light, cry to God that you will go higher day by day, that you don’t want to be in the valley below.
God Bless You!
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