Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

The First and the Last Kings of Israel The first often fights battles that the last gets to enjoy the victory from. Saul was the first king of Israel. His reign was marked by relentless battles with the Philistines. Solomon, the last king of the united kingdom of Israel, inherited a very different experience—a kingdom enjoying peace, security and contentment. The difference reminds us of a greater truth: what you experience can be determined by who you are connected to. Scripture “All through Saul's life there was war, bitter and relentless, with the Philistines. Saul conscripted every strong and brave man he laid eyes on.”(1 Samuel 14:52) “Throughout Solomon's life, everyone in Israel and Judah lived safe and sound, all of them from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—content with what they had." (1 Kings 4:25) And concerning Adam and Christ: “One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right...

DENY YOURSELF It is easy to demand justice when someone else is at fault. The real test comes when the same standard points back at us. We often judge others by what they did, but judge ourselves by what we meant. We look at their actions and call them wrong; we look at our own actions and explain our intentions. But Jesus calls us to something deeper: self-denial. Scripture “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” ( Matthew 16:24 KJV ) Explanation Jonathan had eaten some honey during the battle. The problem was that Saul had placed the entire army under an oath that no one should eat until the battle was over. Jonathan had not heard the command. He was not present when Saul gave it. Yet when Saul discovered what had happened, he declared that Jonathan must die. Saul said, “It’s out of my hands—I can’t go against God, can I?” But there was something uncomfortable about Saul'...

Victory at What Cost? Not every victory is worth the price you pay for it. You can win the battle and still lose something more precious in the process. You can build a successful career and lose your marriage. You can grow a business and lose your children. You can accumulate wealth and lose your health. So the question is not only, “Can I win?” It is also, “What will winning cost me?” Scripture “They killed Philistines that day all the way from Micmash to Aijalon, but the soldiers ended up totally exhausted.”( 1 Samuel 14:31 ) Explanation Israel had just experienced a remarkable victory over the Philistines. But there was a problem: the soldiers were exhausted because they had been forbidden to eat before the battle was over. Saul had placed the army under a severe oath. The soldiers obeyed, not because the instruction was necessarily wise, but because they feared the curse attached to breaking it. They fought hungry. They fought under pressure. They fought until...

PLAY DEAF Sometimes, what you need to do to achieve the impossible is simply to play deaf! I once heard a story about a group of people who were given an impossible task. They all believed it was impossible, and because they believed it, none of them could accomplish it. Then someone came along who had not heard that the task was impossible. He simply attempted it—and succeeded. Sometimes, what we need to do is play deaf to the impossible situations in our lives. Scripture “But Jonathan hadn’t heard his father put the army under oath. He stuck the tip of his staff into some honey and ate it. Refreshed, his eyes lit up with renewed vigor.” ( 1 Samuel 14:27 ) Explanation This is what the story of Jonathan reminds me of. Saul had given an instruction and placed a curse on anyone who ate or drank anything until he had “wreaked vengeance on my enemies.” But Jonathan did not hear the instruction . So when he came across some honey, he ate it. And that little taste of ho...

Bosses Sometimes Act Foolishly Never confuse authority with infallibility. The people we look up to can inspire us, lead us, protect us and make great decisions—but they can also get it wrong. Even the person at the top is still human. Scripture “Saul did something really foolish that day. He addressed the army: ‘A curse on the man who eats anything before evening, before I’ve wreaked vengeance on my enemies!’ None of them ate a thing all day.”( 1 Samuel 14:24 ) Explanation Children often see their parents as superheroes. Followers can see their leaders as almost invincible. Subjects may assume their king must always know what he is doing. But when it comes down to it, all men are still men. The Bible says Saul “did something really foolish that day.” Notice the wording: that day. Saul was not foolish every day, but on this occasion, he made a foolish decision. Perhaps Saul thought he was motivating his troops. He wanted them focused, determined and committed to d...

PUT YOUR FEAR, NOT THE EPHOD, AWAY Fear will tell you to stop praying when you need God’s direction the most. When pressure rises and circumstances become confusing, our natural instinct is often to take control. But the moment we stop seeking God because we are afraid of what He might say—or because we cannot understand what is happening—is the moment we need Him most. Scripture “While Saul was in conversation with the priest, the upheaval in the Philistine camp became greater and louder. Then Saul interrupted Ahijah: ‘Put the Ephod away.’”( 1 Samuel 14:19)  Explanation Who do you turn to when you have a problem? In theory, most of us would say, “God.” But in practice, we often turn first to our training, experience, connections, skills, or understanding. We consult God when everything else fails. Saul's men were abandoning the mission because of fear. Saul appeared to do the right thing—he called for the Ephod, the instrument associated with seeking God’s direc...

The Power of the First Step A child taking their first steps is a beautiful sight. They may stumble, wobble, and even fall—but nobody laughs at them. Everyone celebrates because a journey has begun. Sometimes, that is all God is asking of you: take the first step. Scripture “In this first bloody encounter, Jonathan and his armor bearer killed about twenty men. That set off a terrific upheaval in both camp and field, the soldiers in the garrison and the raiding squad badly shaken up, the ground itself shuddering—panic like you’ve never seen before!”( 1 Samuel 14:14–15 ) Explanation Jonathan and his armour-bearer did not begin by defeating thousands. They started with a small but courageous action. In their first encounter , they killed about twenty men—and that seemingly small victory triggered something much bigger. The enemy camp was thrown into confusion. Panic spread. The ground shook. What looked like a small beginning became the spark for a great victory. That...

Come Out of Hiding, Step Into the Open You cannot conquer what you are afraid to confront. Sometimes, the first step toward your victory is simply coming out of hiding. Scripture “So they did it, the two of them. They stepped into the open where they could be seen by the Philistine garrison. The Philistines shouted out, ‘Look at that! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!’” ( 1 Samuel 14:11 MSG) Explanation Israel had been hiding from the Philistines because of fear. But Jonathan and his armour-bearer decided it was time to step into the open. Notice what happened: the moment they came out, the enemy saw them. They became exposed to the very people they had been hiding from. But their exposure was not the end of the story—it was the beginning of a victory God would bring through them. Sometimes, we hide because we fear criticism, failure, rejection, or what people will say. Yet what we call hiding for safety can become a prison that keeps us from fulfilling...

The Meeting of Minds What if the greatest obstacle to what God wants to do through you is not your circumstances, but the way you think? God is looking for people whose minds are so renewed by His Word that they can recognize His purpose, embrace His plan, and move with Him. Scripture “No one can stop GOD from saving when he sets his mind to it… Do all that is in your mind; I am with you in whatever you think [best].” ( 1 Samuel 14:6–7 ) Explanation Jonathan understood something powerful: God is not limited by numbers, circumstances, or human strength. If God decides to save, no one can stop Him. But Jonathan was also willing to align himself with what God wanted to do. His thoughts, desires, and actions were moving in the same direction as God’s purpose. It was a meeting of minds—Jonathan’s mind aligned with the mind of God. This is one of the results of a renewed mind. As we continually expose ourselves to God’s Word, our thinking begins to change. We begin to see...

God Saves  Don’t let your calculations put a limit on God. Sometimes we look at what we have—or don’t have—and conclude that God cannot do much with it. But God has never needed favourable numbers, perfect conditions, or overwhelming resources to save. Scripture “For there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”( 1 Samuel 14:6 KJV) Explanation Jonathan understood something that we often forget: God is not limited by numbers. Israel had an enemy to confront, and Jonathan did not have a massive army behind him. Yet he said, “It may be that the LORD will work for us.” His confidence was not in the size of his army but in the unlimited ability of God. God can save by many, and He can save by few. He can work through what looks like abundance, and He can work through what appears insignificant. Our calculations do not define God's possibilities. Our strategies do not restrict His power. God is God, and He is not intimidated by what intimidates us. T...

God is Already Your King  Sometimes, we ask for what we can see because we struggle to trust the One we cannot see. Scripture “And GOD was already your king!”( 1 Samuel 12:12 ) Explanation When Israel saw Nahash and the threat of the Ammonites, they demanded a visible king to lead them. But Samuel reminded them of something they had forgotten: God was already their King. Their problem was not that God had abandoned them. They simply wanted a king they could see, like the nations around them. We can make the same mistake. Circumstances can pressure us into becoming what God never intended us to be—not because we are weak, but because we allow what we see to become more real to us than the God we cannot see. The world says, “Seeing is believing.” Faith says, “Believing is seeing.” Jesus told Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”( John 20:29 NKJV ) Application Don't let what you see make you forget who God is. You may no...

Help Is on the Way When the enemy wants to humiliate you, remember this: help is on the way! Your situation may look hopeless, but God has not turned a blind eye or a deaf ear to your cry. Scripture “Saul instructed the messengers, ‘Tell this to the folk in Jabesh Gilead: “Help is on the way. Expect it by noon tomorrow.”’ The messengers set straight off and delivered their message. The people of Jabesh Gilead were elated.” ( 1 Samuel 11:9 ) Explanation The people of Jabesh Gilead were facing a terrible threat from Nahash the Ammonite. He offered them a humiliating condition for surrender: every man would have his right eye gouged out. But when they cried out for help, God responded through Saul. Saul sent them a message that changed everything: “Help is on the way. Expect it by noon tomorrow.” What looked like the end became the beginning of their deliverance. Sometimes, the enemy's goal is not only to defeat you but to humiliate you. But when you call on God, ...

God Chooses the Best You may not feel like the best, but God chose you anyway. Scripture “Samuel then addressed the people, ‘Take a good look at whom GOD has chosen: the best! No one like him in the whole country!’ Then a great shout went up from the people: ‘Long live the king!’”( 1 Samuel 10:24)  Explanatio We like God to choose the best—and Israel was told that God had chosen the best in Saul. But God’s definition of “the best” is often different from ours. Jesus said: “You didn’t choose me. Remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil.”( John 15:16)  God chose you. That choice was not a mistake. He knew your weaknesses, saw your limitations, and still chose you. Gideon also struggled to see himself as capable, yet God told him, “Go in this your might.” (Judges.  6.14) God saw something in Gideon that Gideon could not yet see in himself. Application Stop disqualifying yourself because of your imperfections....

Be Discreet Not everything God tells you needs to be announced. Some things are meant to be kept between you and God until the right time. Scripture “He said the donkeys had been found,” Saul replied. “But Saul didn’t tell his uncle that Samuel had anointed him to be king.” ( 1 Samuel 10:16 NLT ) Explanation Discretion is a virtue that seems to be disappearing in this age of weapons of mass distraction—social media . Everything is posted, shared, forwarded, and announced. But Saul teaches us something important: you don't have to tell everyone everything. When Saul returned from searching for the donkeys, his uncle asked what Samuel had said to him. Saul told him about the donkeys, but he did not tell him that Samuel had anointed him king. He knew how to keep something important to himself. Joseph, on the other hand, announced his dreams to his brothers, and his openness eventually contributed to their resentment toward him. Sometimes, what you reveal too early ...

God is Making a Nobody into Somebody  Never allow people’s opinion of you to become your opinion of yourself. Scripture “And when all who knew Saul before saw that he spoke by inspiration among the [schooled] prophets, the people said to one another, ‘What has come over [him, who is nobody but] the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?’”( 1 Samuel 10:11 AMP) Explanation I often wonder why Kish sent Saul to look for the lost donkeys when servants were available. Could it reveal something about how Saul was viewed even within his own family? Whatever the reason, Saul was certainly not regarded by everyone as someone destined for greatness. In our text, people were surprised that the “son of Kish”—the person they considered a nobody—was now prophesying among the prophets. But that was their opinion, not God’s plan. People may define you by your past, your background, your failures, or your present circumstances. God sees beyond all of that. He knows who He c...

If You Don’t Understand My Story, You Won’t Understand My Glory People may be surprised by your emergence because they were never present for your preparation. Scripture “When those who had previously known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they were totally surprised. ‘What’s going on here? What’s come over the son of Kish? How on earth did Saul get to be a prophet?’”. ( 1 Samuel 10:11 ) Explanation People often judge you by what they have seen of you. They read your past and assume it defines your future. But God can change a life in a moment. Saul was stepping into what God had prepared for him—and what God had been preparing him for. His public emergence was preceded by a private story that most people knew nothing about. They were not there when he met Samuel. They did not hear the word God gave him through the prophet. They did not see him sitting at the head of the table or eating the meal specially prepared for him. They did not witness the conversat...

Be Ready We do not always have it all figured out. We know we want to be great and do great things, but figuring out how to get there is not always easy. Being ready is not the same as being prepared. Scripture “When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you!” ( 1 Samuel 10:7 ) Explanation Everything we do in life is preparation to get us ready. And when we are ready, that state of readiness becomes another level of preparedness for the next assignment. Think about runners on the track. They have spent time preparing for the race. “On your mark” is a heightened state of preparedness. “Get set” takes it even further. But when the call comes, “Go!” , preparation must give way to action. That is the difference between being prepared and being ready. Our text says, “You’ll know that you’re ready.” How? By doing whatever job comes your way. Every assignment along the way ...

Transformation Is a Process A new birth can happen in a moment, but becoming like Christ takes a lifetime. Scripture “Before you know it, the Spirit of GOD will come on you and you'll be prophesying right along with them. And you'll be transformed. You'll be a new person!”( 1 Samuel 10 :6) Explanation When you receive Christ, something happens instantly—you become a new creation . That is regeneration: God gives you new life in your spirit. But transformation is different. It is a process. Paul says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). As your mind is continually renewed by God's Word, your thoughts, attitudes, choices, and lifestyle begin to change. The new life God has put within you begins to show on the outside. Application Don't become frustrated because you are not yet where you want to be. Stay in the Word. Renew your mind. Obey what God shows you. Transformation happens as you consistently allow God's Word...

A Word from God Sometimes, you don’t need a miracle—you need a word from God . One word can give you direction, unlock your faith, and change the course of your life. SCRIPTURE “I have a word of God to give you.”( 1 Samuel 9:27 ) EXPLANATION Samuel had a word for Saul that would change his life forever. Peter also needed only one word from Jesus— “Come” —and he stepped out of the boat and walked on water. Joseph spent years in chains, but the Bible says, “Until the time that his word came.” When God’s word came, his captivity ended. The issue is not whether God has a word for you. The question is: Will you listen when He speaks? Abraham’s obedience saved Isaac’s life. He heard God’s voice and stopped just in time. APPLICATION God still speaks. He may speak through Scripture, an inner conviction, wise counsel, a friend, or even a situation. Don’t be so busy looking for a spectacular sign that you miss the simple word God is already giving you. Listen. Discern. Ob...

God Prepares a Table Sometimes what looks like a crisis is actually God preparing your table. SCRIPTURE "The chef brought it and placed it before Saul with a flourish, saying, "This meal was kept aside just for you. Eat! It was especially prepared for this time and occasion with these guests." Saul ate with Samuel--a memorable day! Afterward they went down from the shrine into the city. A bed was prepared for Saul on the breeze-cooled roof of Samuel's house." (1Sam.9.24-25) EXPLANATION Saul left home looking for lost donkeys. He had no idea that God was leading him into a divine appointment that would change his life. While Saul was searching for donkeys, God was preparing a table. The crisis was real, but it was not the end of the story. God was using an ordinary problem to position Saul for an extraordinary promotion. APPLICATION Your crisis may not be a detour; it may be part of God’s arrangement. When everything seems to be going wrong,...

At the Head of the Table Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give someone is not a position—it is the opportunity to see themselves differently. When you treat people like kings and queens, they may begin to carry themselves like royalty. It doesn’t always happen, especially when people have never seen themselves that way. But sometimes, someone simply needs another person to see what they cannot yet see in themselves. Scripture “Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the great hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.” ( 1 Samuel 9:22 NLT ) Explanation God had already told Samuel something about Saul that Saul himself did not know. Saul saw himself as an ordinary Benjaminite from an insignificant family. Samuel, however, was seeing something bigger. So Samuel didn’t merely tell Saul who he could become—he treated him accordingly. He brought Saul into a gathering of important people and gave him the seat of...

The Future Is in Your Hands If you could write the script of your life, what would the future look like? Sometimes we become so consumed with what we have lost that we fail to see what God is about to place in our hands. Scripture “And by the way, your lost donkeys—the ones you’ve been hunting for the last three days—have been found, so don’t worry about them. At this moment, Israel’s future is in your hands.”( 1 Samuel 9:20 NLT) Explanation Israel was entering a new era—one they had never experienced before. The season of judges was coming to an end, and the nation was about to have a king. But while God was thinking nation-building , Saul was thinking about lost donkeys . God was thinking future ; Saul was thinking past . God was thinking forest ; Saul was focused on trees . Saul was worried about what was missing, while God was preparing him for what was coming. Isn’t that sometimes our story too? We can become so preoccupied with yesterday’s disappointments, t...