BEING BANISHED FROM GOD'S PRESENCE 1

18 ZEDEKIAH WAS TWENTY-ONE YEARS OLD WHEN HE BECAME KING, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
19 BUT ZEDEKIAH DID WHAT WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT, JUST AS JEHOIAKIM HAD DONE.
20 These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, UNTIL HE FINALLY BANISHED THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE AND SENT THEM INTO EXILE. [Then] Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
2 Kings 24:18–20 (NLT)

• The people of Judah were banished from the presence of God and were sent to the exile.

• One of the things that could make a person, a believer, banished from God is idolatry.
• In the contemporary world, setting up an image as an idol might not be common, but when you set something up in your mind and it takes the place of God in your heart, such has become an idol.
• God warns before He condemns. The people of Judah did not return to God they were entrenched in idolatry. God did not have any option than to chastise them, banish them from His presence.

• Rebellion is likened to witchcraft and stubbornness to idolatry: "FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, AND STUBBORNNESS IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY" (1 Samuel 15:23 NKJV).

• A rebellious believer could be considered to be practicing witchcraft, whilst a stubborn believer could be considered to be practicing idolatry.
• The basic practice of witchcraft is all about manipulation and intimidation. Someone said to be witchery tend to be manipulative, wanting to control others against their wish or will.
• Being rebellious and stubborn as a believer is tantamount to idolatry. The Hebrew word translated idolatry in the passage, 1 Samuel 15:23, is "terâphîym" and was translated in English "image" "teraphim" "idol" "idolatry".
• Thus, a stubborn believer is an idolater. In other words, a believer who is stubborn had set up an image or an idol in his or her heart. Such has a Will or plan that is idolized in his or her life.
• A person or believer might not need to set up a physical image or an effigy before such could be considered an idolater. Whatever you want to stubbornly get done, which is contrary to God's Will or plan for your life, has become an idol.
• And idolatry is evil in the sight of God. He detests it. Being rebellious and stubborn means you want to have your own way—get your idolized plan fulfilled. You have set up what to do in your heart and would not want God to change it or be part of it.

• Being resolute or resolved or determined to do a particular thing might not be bad outrightly or completely, but whatever you wanted to do should be in line with God's Will or plan.

• One can be stubbornly or doggedly committed to the assignment given by God, but not about your own personal will or agenda (2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Peter 4:2).
• Pursuing a cause with all determination can be all right, but whatever is not commanded by God should be discarded or flexibly handled.
• Note:
  a. A pursuit, a goal, an ambition, could become an idol.
  b. A career could become an idol.
  c. Even a mere relationship with a person could become an idol. A relationship which God wanted you to put to an end but you chose to keep; It means such a relationship has taken the place of God. It also means you prefer to keep the relationship rather than obeying God.
• Any time you want to be independent, you would not want God's interference about a particular thing or issue in your life; you would eventually have problems in the Said thing or issue.
• You cannot live in the world alone without God. Believers are not called or permitted or allowed to live independently of God (John 14:17-18).
• Choosing to do a thing in your own way without minding or considering God's Will or counsel on it, amounted to rebellion, stubbornness, or idolatry. It thus means you have had another god before or aside Him—the God of heaven.
• God would rise against or frustrate the efforts of a believer who chooses to do things in his or her way regardless of God's Will or Word—without minding His instructions and plans.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is contrary to your health is cursed and uprooted completely now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• The hold is broken and the Affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!