“DO NOT LACK THE OIL”

Ecclesiastes 9:8 NKJV

[8] Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.

1 Kings 17:12 NKJV

[12] So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

2 Kings 4:2 NKJV

[2] So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."

After Samuel had anointed David as King in Israel, he still went about running away from Saul, sleeping in holes and living in caves of the jungle. Twice, he escaped the assassinating spears of Saul. Severally, he was in hunger and thirst in the jungles as an exile. On one of the occasion, he sent he men to beg for food from a man they had once helped. On another occasion, his whole belongings and settlement was razed to the ground and his wives and children captured as slaves, and he and his men wept like babies. 

HE PASSED THROUGH PAINS, AGONIES AND LACKS....BUT HE CARRIED A MEASURE OF OIL ON HIS HEAD. 

THE ANOINTING OF GOD UPON HIM ENABLED HIM TO WALK THROUGH ALL THOSE CRITICAL MOMENT OF HIS LIFE. 

Therefore, when the Lord would send Elijah to the Widow of Zarephath, the Bible says: 

1 Kings 17:8-9 NKJV

[8] Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 

[9] "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."

But Elijah got to Zarephath, and saw the widow picking sticks. She was getting set to eat her last meal. What  was it that she had that would qualify her and enable her to be used by God? 

SHE STILL HAD A LITTLE OIL IN THE JAR. 

SHE LACKED EVERY OTHER THING...BUT SHE STILL CARRIED SOME OIL OF ANOINTING UPON HER . 

SHE WAS IN LACK...BUT SHE STILL HAD SOME ANOINTING THAT COULD PAVE A WAY FOR HER THROUGH THE TIME OF FAMINE. 

The ANOINTING OIL poured upon David in the midst of his brothers made him survived all the crisis he went through ANOINTING preserved him from every danger he encountered. And the ANOINTING preserved his life till he came upon the throne of Israel. 

THE OIL HE CARRIED BROUGHT HIM TO HIS FINAL DESTINATION. 

He went through Crisis. 

He went through Lacks. 

He went through Dangerous times. 

He hungered and thirsted. 

BUT HE HAD CARRIED SOME ANOINTING ON HIS HEAD TO SUSTAIN HIM THROUGH THE CRITICAL MOMENTS. 

REMOVE THE OIL FROM HIM, AND HE WOULD NEVER HAVE SURVIVED ALL THOSE CRISIS. 

THE ANOINTING KEPT HIM SECURED. 

The Widow of Zarephath had a lot of lack in her life. She had no Husband, and she had an only son. She had nothing to eat in the midst of the Famine, BUT SHE STILL HAD SOME MEASURE OF OIL. 

SHE HAD A LOT OF LACKS, ....BUT SHE CARRIED SOME SUSTAINING ANOINTING OIL IN HER LIFE. 

THAT WAS THE MOST PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE THING SHE HAD, THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR ALL OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE TIME OF FAMINE. 

The Widow in Samaria had nothing in her house, BUT SHE HAD SOME OIL IN THE JAR. 

SHE HAD A LOT OF LACKS, BUT SHE STILL HAD THE MOST VALUABLE THING A CHILD OF GOD SHOULD HAVE...

THE OIL OF GOD. 

WITH THE OIL, HER DEBT COULD DISAPPEAR. 

WITH THE OIL, HER LACKS COULD DISAPPEAR. 

WITH THE OIL, HER PROVISION WULD COME. 

WITH THE OIL, HER SON AND HOUSEHOLD COULD LIVE AGAIN. 

Ecclesiastes 9:8 NKJV

[8] Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.

AS LONG AS YOUR HEAD DOES NOT LACK THE ANOINTING OF THE LORD, YOU WILL SURVIVE ALL CRISIS. 

YOU WILL SURVIVE THE MOMENT OF LACKS AND NEEDS. 

YOU WILL SURVIVE THE MOMENT OF OPPOSITION AND AFFLICTIONS. 

YOU WILL SURVIVE THE MOMENT OF STORMS AND CRISIS. 

***IF YOU LACK EVERYTHING, DO NOT LACK THE OIL OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE. 

BECAUSE THAT IS THE SUSTAINING POWER. 

THAT IS THE WAY OF ESCAPE. 

God said He had commanded the Widow of Zarephath to sustain Elijah, but the woman though she had nothing that could sustain her and even her son. 

But SHE HAD THE OIL OF GOD IN HER LIFE, SO SHE WAS CAPABLE TO SUSTAIN THE PROPHET OF GOD. 

Anointing of God opens Door of Provision. 

Anointing of God opens Door of Protection. 

Anointing of God opens Door of Deliverance

Anointing of God opens Door of Sustenance.

THE WIDOW IN SAMARIA HAD NOTHING BUT THE OIL. 

THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH HAD NOTHING BUT THE LITTLE OIL IN THE JAR. 

DAVID HAD NOTHING BUT HE HAD BEEN ANOINTING WIT THE OIL OF GOD. 

***SO IF YOU WOULD HAVE NOTHING...PLEASE, HAVE THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."

HIS ANOINTING IS HIS PRESENCE

MIKE BAMILOYE

 #mikebamiloye

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*Civil Unrest in Nigeria: What Should I Do As a Muslim?*

Our dear country Nigeria is in a state of emergency — given the violence, destruction and killings happening in some parts of the country as the consequence of the hijack of the EndSARS protests by hoodlums, and the crackdown on protesters.

We are all devastated by the casualties of the unrest and yet unfolding crises. Sadly, the crises are now taking ethno-religious dimensions.

What should you do as a Muslim?

*1. Embrace peace and spread it*

“O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you.” (Quran: 2: 208)

*2. Shun violence*

And fear the fitnah (affliction and unrest) that will not smite those who do wrong among you alone. Know that Allah is severe in punishment. (Quran 8: 25)

*3. Repel hostility with patience*

And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs; and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients. (Quran 8: 46)

*4. Don’t engage in ethnic prejudice*

O mankind! Indeed We have created you from a male (Adam) and a female (Eve) and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another (not that you may despise). Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (Quran 39:13)

*5. Report unlawful activities*

And they [believers] are those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. To Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters. (Quran 22: 41)

*6. Be a true Muslim*

You are the best of peoples ever raised up [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. (Quran 3: 110)

*7. Obey law and order*

O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result. (Quran 4: 59)

*8. Seek forgiveness and pray for the nation*

And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (Quran 71: 10–12)

*9. Don’t share fake or inciting news*

“O you who believe! Fear Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Qur’an, 9:119]

Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you — say, “Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars [among us].” (Quran 3: 61)

*Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.*