Last month, we spent a considerable amount of time focusing on the importance of the church, emphasizing the real purpose of this un-beatable, God–ordained and directed institution. For our studies, we looked at Jacob’s encounter with God at Luz (which Jacob renamed Bethel). He came face to face with the mighty and awesome God who declared: “…I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed” Gen 28:16.
After Jacob awoke he said: “…Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not….how dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”- Gen 28:16-17. But his escape from his brother Esau whom he had robbed of his birthright and blessings resulted in him having to labor 21 years in exile. However, the time came when the Lord said to him: “…Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar…” Gen 35:1.
During the month of January, as customary, we will be spending the entire month in fasting and praying for divine favor. We endeavor also to heed Jacob’s instructions to his family: “…Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went” –Genesis 31:2-3.
There is no doubt we will experience tremendous blessings if during our consecration we ‘Respond to the Call’ to ‘Return to Bethel’ and ‘Put away the Idols’ that have been hindering our spiritual growth. It, therefore, means we will spend quality time ‘Interceding for our Deliverance’ and actually ‘Wrestling for the Blessings’ as we seek ‘Reconciliation and Fellowship’ with God and our brethren. We pray that God will accept our sacrifice!
Pastor V. Wittock