Table of Contents
2003
2004
2005
2006
January '04
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
February '04
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
March '04
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
April '04
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
May '04
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
June '04
Week 23
Week 24
Week 25
Week 26
July '04
Week 27
Week 28
Week 29
Week 30
Week 31
August
Week 32
Week 33
Week 34
Week 35
September '04
Week 36
Week 37
Week 38
Week 39
Week 40
October '04
Week 41
Week 42
Week 43
Week 44
November '04
Week 45
Week 46
Week 47
Week 48
December '04
Week 49
Week 50
Week 51
Week 52
Week 53
Breath
of Power
A Weekly Devotional of Jesus Power Outreach Ministries
Week 48: November 22 - 28, 2004
REJECTED
Key Passage: 1 Samuel 16: l, 6-7, 10-13
The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" – RSV.
The day for the final interview came and Frank was ready to face the Chief Executive of the Corporation. He was very versatile and highly experienced and was obviously the most qualified for the vacant position. He had wonderful references from notable people in the industry, and the interview seemed just like a formality. He entered the Chief Executive’s office with an air of confidence as he had prepared for every question. Then the Chief Executive looked into his eyes and said, "I’m sorry, I can’t offer you the job."
That was like the story of Eliab the first son of Jesse as he appeared before Prophet Samuel to be considered for kingship over Israel. God had rejected Saul as king, and another king was needed to replace him. Jesse, the divinely chosen "god-father", felt that he understood the task before him – to help chose a substitute for Saul. He failed to realize that God was not seeking a substitute for a rebellious king, but a replacement with a man after His heart (Act 13: 22: 2 Chron 16:9).
Saul had one of the best credentials for kingship – tall, strong and handsome; but God rejected him. Eliab had a similar profile, with credentials that were so intimidating, that Samuel thought, "This is he!" But then, God said, "No! Don’t pour the oil! I have rejected him. I do not see as man sees; man looks on the outward, but I look on the heart." Jesse’s six other sons filed past Samuel and were not chosen, until a young man came who even his father did not consider, but who God accepted, because he was after His heart.
This is a great lesson on the sovereign authority of God. He could reject you no matter who you think you are or what you think you could achieve. He searches the hearts and knows those whose hearts are after Him (1 Chron 28:9; Jer 17:10). The fact that He said, "I have rejected him", means that he considered Eliab, but seeing his heart, rejected him. God gives every man a chance, but he looks at the heart. When your heart is loyal and obedient to Him, he accepts you; but when you forsake Him, he forsakes you.
Pray, Lord, search and purge my heart of everything that offends You; give me the grace to live the life that is pleasing to you.
Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi
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Power Outreach Ministries Inc., Lagos Nigeria