Trust in God only: beware of betrayer
“Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.
For son dishonors father,
Daughter rises against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
Therefore I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me (Mic.7:5-7)
Greetings to all children of God all over the world in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I pray that God will manifest Himself in our lives in year 2021 by securing us and granting all our heart desires according to His will. As we all know, our entrance into the New Year is not by our power nor by our might, but by the Spirit of God almighty.
One fact remains, history always repeat itself just as the earth keeps turning around. I think it is necessary to reflect and see how year 2020 has shaped our way of life, especially, the way we worship our God. Year 2021 is a year we should strive to regain the empowerment and proper way we worship regardless of the circumstance the devil may want to use to obstruct our relationship with God.
Consider yourself as being one of those favored by the almighty God by sparing your life and not consumed by the deadly events of year 2020. In the new year, see yourself starting a new beginning, starting another milestone, and other aspirations for new desires and goals.
What the world experienced in the year 2020 shows that man cannot change what God had made neither can he recreate nature. Man can tap into the knowledge of what God had put in place and make something that can enhance humanity. Recreation independent of God’s knowledge most of the time ended up in disaster and loss of lives just as the world experienced in the outbreak of the pandemic of COVID-19. Man’s creation is not perfect and will never be perfect until man comes to the knowledge of God.
Here is an excerpt from one of the articles I published some years back, “Where is Haven on the Planet Earth?”
“Where can one get security on earth?
The Fort Hood cantonment attack in 2009 in Texas USA has not been forgotten. Now, another one, the recent massacre which happened at the Navy base in Washington USA, a seemingly supposed secure yard, where high ranking human defense agents and guards walk up and down every day has betrayed the confidence of her people in her. These two examples are a minute percentage of homicide and genocide that occurred every day, not only in the USA, but all over the world.
Where should it be more secured on the planet Earth than a military and navy base of any country, talk less of the self-acclaimed and most recognized powerful nation in the world. One gunman walked straight into the yard of the mighty, disarmed the security guard at the gate and then used the guard’s gun to massacre 12 workers.
The memory of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary school, Newtown, Connecticut, USA is not forgotten, where teachers and children of first grade were gunned down by a lunatic with some guns taken from his mother’s museum of gun collections. Where is the security on earth for the harmless, the future generation that the men of the underworld would not give chance to live to fulfill their dream?
This man and the mother represent the nature of how people and nation store up weapons to destroy one another. Our safety is not guaranteed anywhere in this planet Earth.
Nations and people have been destroyed; they are still destroying; and they will continue to destroy themselves with weapons they have created by their own knowledge. In the diversities of these weapons which they made; they are also caught in them. The world is ensnared in her own advance technology; what ought to enhance humanity has become deadly and object of oppression”.
Declare, Lord let Your covenant of protection overshadow me and my family throughout year 2021. No evil will befall me.
Every year is full of uncertainties and year 2021 is not going to be different. The journey of life and how it will play is not going to be like the previous years and I can assure you it is not going to be a smooth one as expected by many. But it could if you build a good relationship with God. Sometimes, situations may look alike; still, they are never going to be the same. Variations do occur.
What 2021 echoes may sound to be the continuation of what happened in 2020, however, it is not something to be worried about. I know that “breaking news” today has nothing to do with good news, but frightening and scary ones. All we hear in news is as if the world is ending immediately. Everyone is living in the fear of the unknown and of the devil organized rulers. But as children of God, let us put our trust in God who can save us in time of trouble (Ps. 46: 1-5).
challenges in the year 2021 may resemble the following.
- Unimaginable boisterous general and personal challenges – health, economy, bills etc
- The scaring and frightening news about the state of the economy – insurance, unemployment, inflation etc.
- Oppositions and threats to achieving your goal or undertaking
- Discouragement that hinders progress – capital, policies,
- Physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological weaknesses
pray against these and more possible challenges or distractions in 2021
Despite what may happen in 2021, God will do a new thing in your life; how? No one can preempt the good thing that God will do, just believe, and see what the Lord will do. Even in the mist of pandemic, disaster, economy woes, natural or human disaster, evil orchestrations, pestilence that walks in darkness, or destruction that lays waste at noonday or the ‘breaking news’ carried on social media; God will spare you; he will separate your Goshen from any plague.
No matter how holy a child of God may be, if he associates with an evil-minded person or a group of people with bad character and behavior; such is walking in the shadow of death. They lure people to believe and follow their destructive way: Beware of them.
As a child of God, you must not be ignorant of the devices of the wicked ones. Do not allow any circumstance or anyone to push you to do what is contrary to God’s will. Do not allow sympathy for a person or any association to cause you to sin simply because you do not want to offend someone; you endangered your life by doing so, it can lead you to an untimely death. A good associate does not lead other into error or danger. My prayer is that you will not die but live, in year 2021 in Jesus name.
What is the message for you this year?
Trust in God only, not human being
The scripture states,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.…
he will not fear when heat comes…
And will not be anxious in the year of drought… (Jer. 17:7-8 NKJV).
Do not trust in any human being (Ps 146:3, 5), that is the word of God and we must abide by it. The new year calls for us to depend on God, and not on any human being; especially, in the choice of relationship. It also calls for reexamining of our previous choices and make amend where necessary. Why?
The scripture states,
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9 NKJV)
Case scenario
*Trust in God not in a confidant
David was betrayed by his confidant –
King David’s counselor, Ahithophel, turned a traitor and joined Absalom’s conspiracy to dethrone David as the king of Israel. While Ahithophel was still with David and things were going well between them, Ahithophel was the best confidant and counselor of David. The scripture made it known that Ahithophel counsel was highly regarded almost as though it were an oracle of God (2Sam, 16:23).
Ahithophel was the supposed grandfather of Bathsheba the wife of Uriah to whom David committed adultery with. Probably for what David did to Bathsheba, the supposed granddaughter of Ahithophel, he decamped to join Absalom to unseat David from the throne as a revenge. People that you leaned upon and trusted can disappoint you when the occasion warranted it. Therefore, be on guard, be sensitive and lean on God to approve your choice of associate.
Pray that you will not make the mistake of choosing an associate that will plan to kill you.
During Absalom’s revolt against his father David, Ahithophel deserted David (Ps. 41:9; 55:12-14) and supported Absalom to dethrone David from being king of Israel (2Sam. 15:15). On hearing about Ahithophel’s defection, David prayed, the scripture states,
“Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” (2Sam.15:31)
Meanwhile, with the intention to avenge the adultery that David committed against Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah to hide the sin, Ahithophel planned to have David killed by giving two traitorous advisors to Absalom.
- Ahithophel advised Absalom to take over royal harem (2Sam. 16:20-22) and defile them publicly. Taking possession of the harem was a public act declaring a former king is dead and replaced. Meaning that Absalom is now king even though David was still alive. That is to ridicule David. It also fulfilled prophet Nathan’s prophecy to David that because David had taken another man’s wife in secret, his own wives would be taken from him in public (2Sam12:7-12)
- Ahithophel second advice was to attack David quickly with 12000 soldiers and catch him where he knew that David would be hiding (2Sam. 17:1-3). But Absalom rejected the advice of Ahithophel because countered advice was given by Hushai, a friend of David who he had planted in the camp of Absalom to inform him of everything that happened there.
When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not taken by Absalom, he went to commit suicide (2Sam.17:23). God helped David by allowing Absalom to reject the advice of Ahithophel and accept the advice of Hushai because David had prayed to God when he heard that Ahithophel had decamped.
According to Rabbinical literature, Ahithophel had betrayed David several times before this last one and therefore, Ahithophel was destined to be hanged. But before the execution would have taken place, he went to his house to commit suicide.
What are the lessons learned in this scenario?
- We must put our trust in God, He is faithful – God heard the prayer of David.
- Do not trust any human being, they will disappoint – Ahithophel deserted David in time of trouble.
- Lean only on God, He will support you – God retained the throne for David.
- Do not lean on man, he will drop you down – Many of David’s supporters defected.
- Whatever you sow, you will reap – the defilement of David’s concubines was a payback for the adultery he committed against Bathsheba.
- Beware of any associate that is not divinely selected – they are an enemy in disguise.
- Evil association can be internal or external – the nearer the blood the bloodier they are
- If you are betrayed once, withdraw from such a person – Ahithophel almost succeeded in destroying David; you cannot vouch that a person cannot betray you two or more times.
- Vengeance belongs to God not man – Ahithophel wanted revenge for what David did to his supposed granddaughter not knowing that David had been forgiven.
- When you are distressed, pray to God for what to do – David prayed to God that the counsel of Ahithophel be turned to nothing and it was so.
- Make prayer a priority before making any decision – it will show you divine direction.
Pray for grace to do what is right concerning each of the above lessons.
Pray against every judgment made upon you by any power on behalf of your adversary.
Pray that God will turn the counsel of your enemy and adversaries to nothing.
Pray that God will wipe away every hand writings of bond made against you.
Pray that God will turn around the judgments of the enemy and your adversary to favor you (Ezra 6:6-8)
Declare, uphold and protect me and my family from every destructive and unsafe occurrences of this present world of evil.
*Trust in God not in relatives
A man’s betrayer begins from his own household. Blood or distance family member attached to you in one way or the other, whom you cannot avoid may be a traitor who will hand you over to avenger of blood. There is a saying that the nearer the blood, the bloodier they can be. Is this always true?
Let us look at three examples from the Bible.
- Son to father relationship – Absalom forcefully dethroned his father David as king over Israel. Should not David trust Absalom? Father to son relationship? Did Absalom not kill his brother Ammnon? And later eyeing the kingship throne while his father David was still ruling. He drove his father from the throne.
- Sibling to sibling relationship – Cain killed his brother Abel because his (Cain) offering was not accepted. Jacob and Rebecca robbed Esau of the first-born blessing. Joseph’s brothers sold him as slave to kill his (Joseph) dream.
One of the problems that put people in trouble comes because of their unguarded utterances and openness. If Joseph had known that his brothers were envious of him and that they planned evil against him, he would not have told his dream to his brothers. You must be spiritually sensitive every moment and be secretly about things pertaining to you. This is not about lying to someone who asked you about the secret to your well-being, but you are safeguarding your destiny.
- Husband to wife relationship – Samson was betrayed and delivered to his enemy by his wife. Do not succumb to any pressure to leak your secret or the secret to your success; keep your secret and let people see your blessing. Who can be closer to one another than husband and wife? Twice, Samson succumbed to pressure and leaked the secret of his power to a woman.
Beware, do not be enticed with smooth and persuasive word.
As parents, pray for the destruction of every form of rebellion spirit in the life of your children that may betray your trust in them.
Pray against the spirit of envy and jealousy that can cause betrayal among siblings in your home.
Declare, Lord sanctify my ears and keep it from listening to untrue statements or unholy pressure.
Pray for protection and deliverance from close or distance relatives that are enemy but disguise to be a trusted person to you.
*Trust in God not in a friend
Many will pose as your friend, but they may supplant you behind your back (1Sam. 23:17). Your friend may pose as a uniform associate (doing things in common, drinking, and merry together) but be an enemy of progress. The moment favor placed you above their cadre, by default, they developed a hostile attitude toward you out of envy and jealousy. Do not put your trust or confidence in a friend
A friend can be so crafty to the extent of pushing you to commit sin and leave you to suffer the consequence alone (2Sam. 13:1-15). Who is your friend? Are they friends that are immoral, indecent, or wayward? You must be sensitive and discern to know who they are.
Pray for grace to recognize and distance yourself from an enemy that disguises themselves to be a trusted friend.
*Trust in God, not in a Master or a subordinate
Saul wanted to kill David because of his fame, because he (David) was noticed for doing what others could not do. David was more preferred than Saul by the people; this led to enmity and Saul was seeking for occasion to kill David. This is the same David whom Saul had requested permission from his father to stay with him and David is a close friend of Jonathan his son.
- Your immediate boss may pretend to like you, but be envious or jealous of you; maybe you are more knowledgeable, thinking you might be favored more to take a position that is higher than his/her own.
- It could be the other way around; your subordinate may be looking for your downfall because he is eyeing your position. This is an unavoidable enemy because he/she is your coworker. You must the sensitive and be on guard through prayer.
Pray for grace to be sensitive and discern to recognize a master or subordinate who pretends to like you but supplants you behind or a potential betrayer.
*Trust in God, not in an unknown person
An enemy who spies on you whom you do not know can be an agent; beware of them. Biblical example is Doeg, 1Sam. 21:7. Doeg is a monitoring agent for Saul who reported to Saul that he saw David being given the show bread. Brethren, there are satanic agents around that are closer to you than you thought. You may not recognize them, but they operate in the unseen (Eph.6:10-12). Thanks to God Almighty whose protection is always over us. These agents are looking for the slightest opportunity to strike a child of God.
Pray for prevention and protection not to fall prey into the hand of an unknown or unrecognize enemy who wants to creep into your life as a trusted person but a potential betrayer
Finally,
*Trust in God, beware of a kiss of betrayal
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve, he betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ with a kiss. An enemy who posed to be a friend, a close associate who ate in the same plate with the Lord; if this could happen to our Lord Jesus, how much more would happen to you a mortal man; be on guard. He was paid to betray Jesus Christ: an unholy associate could be one.
Pray for grace to recognize and distance yourself from a feign smile, hug or the kiss of a betrayer who pretends to be a trusted acquaintance.
Precaution is a necessity to avoid betrayal
The scripture states,
“… Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt.10:16b).
To be wise as serpent
There is the need to use our common sense to check out those that surrounds us. There is the need to be sensitive and keep our antenna up and watch out for any uncommon signals received from people around us. Do not allow sentiment to prevail over spiritual prompting in choosing whom we should allow to get close to us. The righteous chooses friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray (Pro.12:26).
As a Christian, you must be able to discern with the power of the Holy Spirit, see beyond the surface and know the spirit and heart motive behind the people around you.
Pray for Holy Spirit empowerment to be wise and sensitive to understand what goes around you in year 2021
To be gentle as dove
The dove represents the symbol of peace. You are to transmit, make and let your peace rest and abide on people that the Holy Spirit approves. As the transmitter of peace, you cannot be harmful, but be a dove filled with the Holy Spirit and be a carrier of peace toward all. However, not everyone will accept this peace. In that case, you will activate the snake sensory organ and change your course from them.
Sometimes, you cannot avoid them – your sibling, your children, your spouse, your parents, in-laws etc.; you can receive them with all gentleness, not driving them away; however, you must be wise enough as to how you deal with them and seal off all areas by which they can enter your life, through prayer and fasting.
Have a good knowledge of people that are close to you, at home or at work; where they are going, their activities, how their utterances match their behavior. A lie from any one close to you is a signal of danger, resist and distance from such.
Pray for spirit of humility before God and man in year 2021
Trust God for His word to overcome in year 2021
The scripture declares,
“I will make you a wall to this people,
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
but will not overcome you,
for I am with you
to rescue and save you,
declares the Lord.
“I will save you from the hands of the wicked
and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” (Jer.15:20-21NKJV)
Therefore,
- Consult God only with your problem – Ps. 40:4
- Seek God’s counsel or guidance for your quests and choices – ps. 32:8
- Do not put your confidence in man or the order of this world- Ps. 146:3; Rom. 12:2
- Weigh all human counsel and guidance in the will of God before you act
- Be vigilant and sober – 1Pet.5:8
- Be spiritually at alert – Gal.5:16)
- Do not give a place for Satan to take advantage of you – Eph. 4:27; 2Cor. 2:11
- Dissociate from bad company – 1Cor. 15:33
- Keep your secret to yourself – -Matt. 6:6
- Be swift to hear and slow to answer – Jas. 1:19
- Wear the whole armor of God – Eph. 6:10-18
- Keep your heart with all diligence – Pro.4:23
- Keep doing what is right and do not get worried about these enemies – Is. 41:10-16
- Stay away from any associate that is always negative about your good ideas
- Focus on Jesus to lead you through life (Heb. 12:2)
- Give thanks to God without ceasing (Ps. 92:1)
Pray for grace and power to obey and appropriate the above to your life in year 2021.
General Prayers
- Magnify the Lord – praise His holy name in psalms and with praise worship for who He is and for His wonderful works of existence.
- Thank the Lord for His goodness and His activities in your life – gift of life, newness of life, physical and spiritual blessings, endowments, healing, protection, provision, deliverance, safety, victories, divine attractions, promotion etc.
- Acknowledge, confess your sin/s and repent – that you may receive mercy, forgiveness, and a refreshing time from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).
- Pray against – sins, power of sin, manifestation of sin, trigger and pressure of sin, temptations, defilement, waywardness and all those things that work against the will of God.
- Pray for sanctification – cleansing by the blood of Christ, cleansing by the word of God, spiritual washing, purging from sin, mortifying your sin and divine transformation.
- Pray for renewed mind to be upright always before God
- Declare, Lord Jesus, I cleave unto You this year, let my life be full of life, light, truth, salt and prevent me from breaking away from You.
- Pray for newness of life – spirit of God, power of God, glory of God, blessing of God, grace of God, and power to resist sin.
- Pray for Spiritual fruitfulness – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, giving, mercy, truthfulness, praising, righteousness, forgiving spirit, obedience, wholeness, holiness, compassion, uprightness, judgment, happiness, gladness, spiritual quickening, soundness
- pray for testimony that will make you a source of inspiration to those who need spiritual and physical uplifting in year 2021
- pray for divine preparedness and empowerment for victory to face any goliath that stands in my way in 2021
- pray for the grace to hold these spiritual ammunitions as part of you – Truth, Righteousness, Evangelism, Faith, Salvation, Word of God, and Prayer.
- Pray that you will remain in the secret place of God and He will be your refuge and your fortress; only in Him you will trust throughout the year.
- Declare, Lord, as You love me, let my love towards You continue to wax stronger every day of my life. Thank You Father for Your love.
- Declare, Lord, do not allow the love of earthly things to take away Your love from my heart. May I continue to love You as You love me.
- pray to be an over-comer in the 2021
- Endow me with boldness and power, let me prevail over my adversary. Nullify every plan of the enemy that is fashioned against me.
- Let me experience this year the joy of the Lord, free of unbearable temptations and lust that would want to entice me.
- Remove the hand of Satan from me and my family.
- Take total preeminence over my spirit, soul, and body; blot out every hand writing of ordinances that is against me.
- Let my character and behavior, justify the attributes expected of a Christian; help me to overcome every test of faith this year.
- Pray for protection/prevention from – sin, Satan’s advantage, causes of God’s wrath, causes for punishment, darts of the devil, terror by night, arrow that flies by day and night, noisome pestilence, sharing in the reward of the wicked, evil occurrences, plague, stumbling block, fire and accident.
- Pray for deliverance from the fear of the unknown and every power that would enslave you in the year 2021
- Pray to overcome every strong hold of satan, evil imagination and evil thought made against you to go into captivity.
- Pray for the revelation of the word of God that fits every situation and challenge that you may pass through in the year.
- Pray against every costly mistake that can live an indelible stain on you.
- Declare, as I continue in this race of life in year 2021, remove from before me every spirit of delay or failure that will hinder my success and breakthrough.
- Declare, Your word says, “the just shall live by faith”, remove the mind of doubt and instill in me the mind of faith: at the appointed time, fulfill your promise in my life.
- Pray for sweat-less victory in all your undertakings in the year 2021
- Pray that every situation in 2021 will work to your advantage
- Declare, in year 2021, I will not mourn over anybody in my family; no one will mourn over me.
- Pray that you and your family will not be victim of human disaster (COVID-19) in the year 2021.
- Declare, o Lord, establish the spirit of love, orderliness, peace, joy, and happiness in all Christian churches all over the world throughout this year.
- Pray for the country of your residence that the peace of God should reign supremely this year and forever.
- Pray for the world that God in His infinite mercy will cause the East wind to blow away the pandemic that is ravaging the world into the ocean.
By Lawrence Abitogun
