Hinderance To Effective Service

FRIDAY 10^TH OCTOBER 2025

 TOPIC: HINDERANCE TO EFFECTIVE SERVICE

SCRIPTURE: We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us. And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

Exodus 8:27-28

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The best of God is reserved for those who go far with Him.

Scriptures make it abundantly clear that there are key proofs of dedication to God. Matthew 4:10 says, Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

That is, if a person is truly dedicated to God, two things will show it:

1. He worships God.
2. And he serves God.

It is also worth noting that profitable service equals productive living.  When we serve God profitably, we live productively. This is the reason why the devil does everything to fight our dedication to God. The devil wants you to be lukewarm, lethargic and complacent, because he knows that fervent service to God produces fire-full results.

In today’s study, we shall be looking at one temptation that hinders effective service, and that is the temptation not to go far with God.

 The first temptation that Pharaoh confronted the children of Israel with was the temptation not to go far with God, as seen in Exodus 8:27-28, We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us. And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

In other words, “Do anything you want to do with God for as long as you don’t go too far with Him. Don’t be too serious with God.” That was the temptation the devil presented and is still presenting today. I believe you have heard statements like that from people: “Don’t be a fanatic. Don’t carry Church on your head.  Don’t kill yourself; God understands.” That is a lie from the devil.

Beloved, the best of God is reserved for those who go far with Him. It is reserved for those who go all the way with God.

It was when Abraham told his servants to wait for him while he went all the way with God that he encountered Jehovah Jireh, God the provider. He encountered the God who provided the ram that he later used as sacrifice instead of Isaac, his son. He saw the ram only when he went all the way with God.

Another example of one who went all the way was our Master Jesus. It was when He went forward a little at the place of prayer that he settled the matter of human destiny and His own life assignment (Mark 14:33-35).

Many people have been tempted by the devil and spoken to by the unbelieving world, not to go too far with God. There was a time they looked at us like insane people. To them, we were carrying God and His Church on our heads, but today, we have no regrets at all. Pharaoh told the children of Israel, “Don’t go too far.” Are you going to listen to Pharaoh, or you are going to listen to God?

Beloved, it is those who go where others don’t go with God that see in God what others can’t see. Seriousness with God is the way of gloriousness in life.

REMEMBER THIS: The best of God is reserved for those who go far with Him.

ASSIGNMENT (S):

1. Make up your mind to go all the way with God.
2. Determine to have the best of God as you go all the way with Him.

 PRAYER: Lord, I receive the grace to go all the way with You. And I receive the dividends of service unto You, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: TEMPTATIONS THAT HINDER EFFECTIVE SERVICE BY DR PAUL ENENCHE

DAILY BIBLE READING: Matthew 12-14

QUOTE: To get to the top, you must be ready to go the extra mile. Do not do what everyone is doing; do more than that. Culled from the book, 30 Secrets to the Top By, Dr Paul Enenche.

AMAZING FACT: Cats can’t taste sweetness. Unlike humans, cats lack the taste receptors for sweetness, which is why they often prefer savoury or umami flavours.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: Father, I refuse to stop halfway with You. Help me, Lord to go far with You, Lord in Jesus’ Name.