Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness. 10

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness. 10
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Aaron suffered the most severe judgment when he apparently did nothing wrong.
Moses took all the wrong actions.
Numbers 20:12 NKJV
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Moses outranked Aaron, so it would be difficult for Aaron to stop him from doing wrong.
Aaron, however still had the option of registering his protest.
He could have cautioned Moses.
Instead he joined Moses in sinning against God.
All this happened, when Israel faced a severe water shortage.
The Israelites as usual were complaining and murmuring.
God told Moses to call Aaron and go and speak to a rock.
God promised to miraculously release abundant water from the rock.
Numbers 20:8 NIV
“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

Moses began obediently.
Numbers 20:9 KJV
“And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.”

Unfortunately when Moses saw the rebellious people, great anger rose up in him.
Anger easily leads to sin.
Ephesians 4:26 NIV
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”

Staying angry for a long time clouds one’s judgment and diminishes one’s wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 NKJV
“Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.”

Moses was so angry that he foolishly deviated from God’s instructions.
Aaron had a choice.
He could either follow the angry Moses to do evil, or he could instead caution and restrain Moses. It was Aaron’s final test.
Aaron failed again. This time Aaron’s weakness cost him greatly.

May no weakness work against you.
May God’s grace empower you to have great strength of character to overcome all trials, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 9

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 9
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Aaron had so far not suffered any major consequences for his weaknesses.
His major weakness was to allow himself to be easily influenced to join others to do wrong.
He escaped major punishment for joining Miriam to rebel against Moses. He also seemed to have escaped punishment for joining the people in idolatry.
Almighty God by His grace, still allowed Moses to consecrate Aaron as high priest, despite his role in creating the golden calf.
Exodus 40:13 NKJV
“You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.”

Aaron’s sons were also to inherit the mantle after him, and serve as high priests.
Exodus 40:14 NKJV
“And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics.”

His role as high priest would continue through his generations.
Exodus 40:15 NKJV
“You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

Aaron was given an everlasting priesthood.
Aaron after being anointed as high priest was going to face his greatest temptation.
So far, Aaron had permitted people below his level to influence him to do evil.
Aaron outranked Miriam, who led him to criticize Moses.
Aaron outranked the idolatrous people who directed him to make an idol.
Aaron’s biggest test came, when he saw Moses going astray, because Moses outranked him.
It was Aaron’s final chance to overcome his weakness.

May you overcome every weakness and make right choices in life.
May the Lord God who graciously gives second chances minister to you another chance whenever you need one, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 8

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 8
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Aaron the first high priest had a very interesting life and ministry.
Aaron was a great man, but he never managed to overcome his major weakness. Aaron was weak willed and prone to yielding to the influence of others to do wrong.
Exodus 23:2 NKJV
“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.”

There is no record of Aaron doing any evil by himself.
He joined Miriam to speak against Moses.
The fact that God struck Miriam with leprosy suggests she was the one who began that rebellion.
Aaron allowed the idolatrous rebels to push him into making the golden calf.
1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV
“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Aaron however enjoyed a lot of mercy.
When he joined Miriam to rebel against Moses, only Miriam became a leper. Aaron was free.
When Aaron made the golden calf idol, 3,000 people died in a day, but Aaron lived.
Aaron was still afterwards consecrated as the first high priest. Unfortunately, Aaron didn’t conquer his weakness.
Romans 2:4 NKJV
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

God’s goodness has an objective.
It is designed to lead sinners to repentance.
Unfortunately some take it as a license for sin.
Galatians 5:13 NKJV
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Aaron was going to face his third and greatest test.
He had joined Miriam to rebel against Moses.
He had joined the impatient idolaters in idol worship.
His next test was whether he could refuse to join Moses in sin.

May you develop great strength by conquering smaller temptations and tests.
May you receive all that God has prepared for you, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 7

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 7
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

God’s grace is infinite.
While Aaron was making the golden calf, the Lord was actually showing Moses the things he needed to do to consecrate Aaron as high priest.
Yet God did not revoke His call on Aaron’s life.
Romans 11:29 NKJV
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

God told Moses while he was on the mountain, to wash Aaron and his sons.
Exodus 29:4 NKJV
“And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water.”

Then Moses had to dress Aaron in special vestments.
Exodus 29:5 NKJV
“Then you shall take the garments, put the tunic on Aaron, and the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the intricately woven band of the ephod.”

Aaron was to wear a special crown as a high priest.
Exodus 29:6 NKJV
“You shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.”

Finally Moses was to anoint Aaron with a special oil.
Exodus 29:7 NKJV
“And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.”

God was planning a promotion for Aaron but Aaron was creating an idol.
The key to progress in life is the ability to acknowledge and forsake sin.
Proverbs 28:13 NKJV
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Aaron repented and God’s grace prevailed.
God still upheld his appointment as high priest.

May God’s grace prevail in every facet of your life.
May there be nothing broken or missing in your life.
May all God’s plans for you succeed, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 6

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 6
by Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Aaron produced another very common excuse that men usually give.
The excuse of “Circumstances beyond control.”
Aaron asked Moses to refrain from being angry with him, because of the circumstances he faced.
Exodus 32:22 NKJV
“So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.”

This excuse was invalid because everyone faces common human troubles.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

All your challenging circumstances are actually under divine control.
God doesn’t allow anything to come your way which is beyond your ability to handle.
Aaron could have handled the situation in a better way.
People who give in to circumstances and situations, usually defend themselves by asking, “What else could I do?”

The Scriptures however say that God makes a way of escape.
You don’t have to fall.
King David once faced a difficult situation.
He accidentally saw something that plunged him into the greatest crisis of his life.
2 Samuel 11:2 NKJV
“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.”

It just so happened that a very beautiful woman was having her bath in an open top outdoor bathroom.
David asked who she was.
David’s crisis began when he was informed that she was Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers. He failed to control himself and the rest is history.

May you overcome every testing situation and circumstance.
May you never be be a victim of circumstances.
May you have a glorious future, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 4

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 4
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

When Moses queried Aaron about the golden calf, he refused to accept full responsibility for the mess he had created.
Exodus 32:21 NIV
“He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

Aaron was a typical weak leader.
He could not influence the people to do the right thing.
Instead he blamed the people.
Exodus 32:22 NIV
“Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.”

Aaron said the people made him do wrong.
Exodus 32:23
“They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’”

Aaron suggested to Moses that something “supernatural” had happened.
Exodus 32:24
And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

Aaron claimed he simply put the people’s gold into the fire and the calf appeared supernaturally.
We know, however that Aaron used a special tool to mold the golden calf.
Exodus 32:4a NKJV
“And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.”

Aaron, just like most men, found it so easy to blame other people.
Adam blamed Eve directly for his sin of eating the forbidden fruit.
Adam also blamed God indirectly for his trouble.
Genesis 3:12 NKJV
“Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

Adam blamed Eve for giving him the fruit and blamed God for giving Eve to him.

May you be empowered to overcome all temptation irrespective of its source.
May God’s grace give you unlimited victory, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness 3

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness 3
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Aaron’s weakness has a disastrous effect.
Aaron’s lack of decisive, purposeful and principled leadership had exposed Israel to great danger.
Exodus 32:25 NIV
“Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.”

The people had become wild and uncontrollable.
Aaron had let them get out of control.
Moses had to use draconian measures to restore control and order.
Exodus 32:26 NKJV
“Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.”

Not even the return of Moses could restrain the people from their idolatry, drunkenness and sexual orgies.
Moses was forced to raise a volunteer army.
Exodus 32:27 NKJV
“And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ”

Their job was to instantly execute everyone who persisted in idolatry, immorality and debauchery.
The tribe of Levi volunteered to join this army.
They went throughout the camp and executed all stubborn idolaters who refused to repent.
Exodus 32:28 NKJV
“So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.”

Aaron’s mistake caused 3,000 men to die, because they became addicted to idolatry through his golden calf.
A leader must be strong to resist the evil clamour of his followers.
People can be wrong in their desires and aspirations, but a leader must be strong enough to resist them and correct them for their own good.

May the Lord grant us the grace to stand resolutely by the truth of His word.
May we never compromise or yield to evil pressure, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 2

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 2
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Aaron’s weakness created great trouble for Israel.
The whole nation was corrupted.
God sent Moses to save the situation.
Exodus 32:7 NIV
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.”

The people were worshiping Aaron’s golden.
Exodus 32:8a NIV
“They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.”

Almighty God wanted to destroy them and make a new nation, from Moses.
Exodus 32:10 NIV
“Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

Once again, Moses stood up to intercede for Israel.
Exodus 32:11 NKJV
“Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?”

Moses argued that if God destroyed all the Israelites, the Egyptians would hear of it and read meanings into it.
Exodus 32:12 NKJV
“Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, “He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.”

A good Intercessor is like a lawyer.
He presents convincing arguments to win his case.
Moses was a great Intercessor.
Exodus 32:13 NKJV
“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”

Moses’s final argument was the strongest. God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give Canaan to their descendants. God could not fail.
Grace overcame weakness.
God didn’t destroy the people.

May God’s grace abound towards you in all things.
May God’s grace continue to persevere in all that concerns your life and bring you total victory, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – Grace overcomes weakness: 1

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Morning Message of Motivation

Grace overcomes weakness: 1
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Men with weaknesses were appointed to be high priests under the Law. There was no other option.
All men have weakness.
Hebrews 7:28a NKJV
“For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness”

Aaron the first high priest had his own weaknesses.
His major weakness was his inability to withstand pressure from the people.
Exodus 32:1a NKJV
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us;”

The people charged on him and demanded he takeover as leader and make idols.
Aaron just yielded.
Aaron asked the people to bring him gold to make the idol.
Exodus 32:2 NKJV
“And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

The people brought their gold to him.
Exodus 32:4 NIV
“He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool.”

Aaron built an altar for the idol he had made.
Exodus 32:5 NIV
“So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.”

Incredibly, Aaron after making the idol, went on to build an altar for his idol. Aaron also proclaimed the next day, a day for celebration of his idol.
Exodus 32:6 NKJV
“Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

Aaron led the people in depraved idolatry with drunkenness and sexual orgies.
Moses had to come back and restore order and true worship.

May the Lord empower you to faithfully worship Him.
May we be delivered from weakness.
May the Lord use you to restore backsliders to faith, in Jesus’ name.

Morning Message of Motivation – The Superiority of Christ: 30

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Morning Message of Motivation

The Superiority of Christ: 30
By Rev Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

Miriam alone was struck with leprosy even though, she and Aaron spoke against Moses.
Aaron, as the high priest, escaped with a sharp rebuke from the Lord. Aaron made an even greater error. God had called Moses to ascend mount Sinai.
Exodus 24:12 NKJV
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”

Moses ascended mount Sinai to meet God.
Moses appointed Aaron and Hur to take charge over the nation in his absence.
Exodus 24:14 NKJV
“And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.”

Moses spent longer in the mount than the people anticipated.
Exodus 24:18 NKJV
“So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”

They thought something might have happened to Moses.
Exodus 32:1 NKJV
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

They demanded that Aaron should takeover as their leader and make gods to lead them.
Aaron wanted to become the new leader.
Aaron did not counsel the people to patiently await Moses’s return.
Aaron did not denounce the people’s idolatrous demands.
Aaron did not remind the people that it was Jehovah who brought them out of Egypt.
Aaron yielded to the evil demands of the people.
Exodus 32:2 NKJV
“And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

May we never be unfaithful to the Lord because of a delay in our expectation. May God grant us the strength to resist all evil pressure, in Jesus’ name.