THE PRICE
Pr. James Victor Lubwama
1 Kings 3:3-5 (NLT)
"Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship. 4 The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. 5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you”
Have you walked into a shop lately? Have you imagined or looked at the items you want to purchase? If you observe keenly, every item has a price.
There are many things in life that we look at and admire. Whether physical or spiritual, at the back of your mind you should know that there is a price attached to everything. It may not always be monetary but you will have to pay a price for something you desire or want to attain either inform of a sacrifice, time, commitment, prayer, fasting etc.
Pay The Price - Pray
Isaiah 62:6-7 (AMP)
“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed and stationed watchmen (prophets), who will never keep silent day or night;  You who profess the Lord, take no rest for yourselves, 7 and give Him no rest [from your prayers] until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise on the earth.”

As Christians, we desire to be established or blessed (Isaiah 62:6-7). Establishment can be considered as owning a home, being married and starting a family, having a successful career or running a profitable business. Establishment and praise go hand in hand but they both have a price attached to them. Until your life becomes established and admired, it will be hard to impact other people. Something that is not praiseworthy cannot have a voice. Mathew 5:16 (AMP) says;
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven"
Any testimony you give to glorify and exalt God gives you a platform to spread the gospel; and it personally elevates you to a point of pulling people out of the pit to the pulpit - for praise or respect accorded to you will attract people to God
Prayer is the price you pay to be established. Cry to God all day and all night for the fulfillment of his promises. Don’t be silent, cry out to God in prayer till He transforms your life and it becomes respected and admired throughout the earth
Pay The Price - Sacrifice
2 Kings 3:26-27 (NIV)
“When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. 27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land”

For you to receive something, you need to ask through prayer. No blessing will come to you without requisition because God doesn’t give out what has not been asked for. When you pray, you requisition. However, it is also important to note that prayer for prayer to be effective, it must be accompanied by a sacrifice. When the King of Moab saw that the battle had become fierce, he offered a sacrifice and when he did so, he prevailed against Israel. 
A sacrifice releases power; for you to overcome and see victory; for you to see God, offer a sacrifice - a sacrifice is painful offering. King Solomon sacrificed and he saw God. For God gave him what he asked and what he didn't ask for. The Lord told him 1 Kings 3:12-14 (NIV) that;
“I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
Behind the birth of great things there is a price to pay; for your life to be transformed, admired and impactful, you have got to pay a price for what you want or want to become

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