THE HERITAGE OF THE WICKED

Title :	THE HERITAGE OF THE WICKED
Preacher :	Dr. 'Tunde Bakare
Main Text: Psalms 73:3-21 “…For I was envious of the boastful, when I see the prosperity of the wicked…when I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast then down to destruction…” Candidly, as a servant of God and minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is easy to be disconcerted and disappointingly get upset when God appears to be slow in judgement and prayers seem unanswered in a nation given to lying propaganda like ours. As a mouth piece of God, the inclination to be dispirited and consequently throw in the towel is distinctly bright when you witness the prosperity of the wicked in a nation filled with the crying of blood, not just an ordinary blood of crying but as it is experienced in the political, social, and economic climate of the nation. Frankly, as a prophet or a prophetic people, the propensity or aptness to be downhearted is high when you see the sumptuousness of ambitious men, their dreams, drives and delusions. Moreover, as an ambassador of Christ with a prophetic message in a given district, locality, city, or nation, the tendency to be discombobulate like the likes of Jeremiah, Elihu, David, and Isaiah, by God’s acts and ways in executing His plans and purposes concerning an erring nation is almost inevitable. However, if one understands, just as the understanding eventually dawned on David in the presence of God, that there is a heritage prepared by God for the wicked, every element of frustration, disquieting and the tendency to quit the ministry can be handled with courage, endurance, dogged determination, and perseverance in the midst of crooked and perverse environment – Jeremiah 20:1-10; 9: 1-10; Job 32: 6-22; Psalms 73:3-21. This message is therefore born out of the need to encourage those who stand for God, not be weary in righteousness, and also serve as a timely warning in order not to be victims of divine blows. On the other hand, the message also unveils the package which God kept for the wicked and those who participate in the act. But before we go into the nub of the message, it is important that we identify the biblical responsibilities of prophets and prophetic people within the nations and communities of the earth. EIGHT BASIC BIBLICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROPHETS AND PROPHETIC PEOPLE: Prophets are called to be the conscience of the nations or the lands of their assignment.                                       – Isaiah 3: 8-11; 12:12-24. They must draw attention to national sins.                                       – Exodus 32:30-35; Deuteronomy 9: 18-20. Prophets give proper warning wherever they realise that the community is under the judgement of God.                                        -  (Jeremiah 16:1-18). They show the way when the nation stands at various cross roads.                                            - (Ezekeil 33:9-13). The prophets have to choose and anoint the leaders of their country.                                              - ( 1 Samuel 16: 1- 3; 1 Kings 19: 15, 16). They encourage the leaders and give them directions.                                             - ( 1 Kings 2:1-4). The prophets have to warn and pronounce judgement over the leaders who break God’s laws.                                             - (Isaiah 10:1-8; Matthew 23: 12-16). The prophets are the bearers of visions of the future of the people, and also saddled with the responsibility to unveil God’s plan for survival in times of trouble.                               - (2 Samuel 17:1-29; Isaiah 1:1-31; Ezekiel 11:24, 25; Acts 9:10-22; 16:9-12). Now no matter how boastful and materially prosperous the wicked may be in a nation, the prophetic word of God is capable of catching up with them and consequently slays them if they refuse to repent. Jehovah God is the governor of all nations. The power to remove kings and the mighty lies before Him, and He gives the kingdom to whosoever He wishes. He alone has the power to crush every mountain and bring to nothing the pride of the wicked and their paraphernalia. According to the scripture, the heritage of the wicked goes thus: “Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth, that THE TRIUMPHING OF THE WICKED IS SHORT, and THE JOY OF THE HYPOCRITE IS BUT FOR A MOMENT? Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds, yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; those who have seen him will say, where is he? He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place behold him anymore. His children will seek the favour of the poor, and his hand will restore his wealth. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue, though he spares it and does not forsake it, but still keeps it in his mouth, yet his food in his stomach turns sour; it becomes cobra venom within him. He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras; the viper’s tongue will slay him. He will not see the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down; from the proceeds of his business he will get no enjoyment. For his has oppressed and forsaken the poor, he has violently seized a house which he did not build. Because he knows no quietness in his heart, he will save anything he desires. Nothing is left for him to eat; therefore HIS WELL-BEING WILL NOT LAST. IN HIS SELF-SUFFICIENCY HE WILL BE IN DISTRESS; EVERY HAND OF MISERY WILL COME AGAINST HIM. WHEN HE IS ABOUT TO FILL HIS STOMACH, GOD WILL CAST ON HIM THE FURY OF HIS WRATH, AND WILL RAIN IT ON HIM WHILE HE IS EATING. He will flee from the iron weapon; a bronze bow will pierce him through. It is drawn, and comes out of the body; yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terror comes upon him; total darkness is reserved for his treasures. As unfanned fire will consume him; it shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. The increase of his house will depart, and his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath. THIS IS THE PORTION FROM GOD FOR A WICKED MAN, THE HERITAGE APPOINTED TO HIM BY GOD.”                                                                                                                                                    – Job 20:4-29.
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