Hear Well!

Hear Well!

“ And He said, He who has ears to hear, let him be hearing [and let him consider, and comprehend].” Mark 4:9 AMPC

We encounter this short verse at the start of the earthly ministry of Jesus. He was one who commanded crowds anywhere He went. He was not one to say what pleased the crowd at the expense of His heavenly Father. As the first verse in the chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, a great crowd gathered about Him as He began to teach. It was such a large crowd that He has to get into a ship and sit in the ship on the lake in order to reach out to as many as possible. Maybe in our own day, it will be a good time to whip up the crowd and get them on our side. Not Jesus; He spoke the truths about the kingdom of God to all who would listen.

He used parables or illustrations to teach the truths of the kingdom of God to the crowd. One of the parables was that of the sower. We see a man carrying precious seed to sow, and as he went, the seed fell on four different types of grounds. The first type was along the path. Of course, where there is not much guidance or protection, anything can happen to the seed, so it is not a surprise that birds came and ate the seeds. What guardrails do I put in place to protect the seed I receive? Do I even know the value of the seed in the first place? The devil knows the value of the seed and he will do all he can to distract me from enjoying the full potential and power in the seed.

The second type of ground was the one full of rocks, with not much soil to let the seed develop strong roots down below to support full growth up above. As there not much soil, at the slightest hint of trouble or persecution, they fall away and go back to their familiar past. We also find the third kind of ground which fell among thorns. It would have grown well but because it was competiting with other distractions and cares, the seed stood no chance. As I consider my own life today, is there anything that is competing for attention with the Word of God in my heart? I must always remember that there is nothing wrong with the quality of the seed; the ground defines the output. 

The last type of ground is good (well-adapted) soil. It did not get like that accidentally; it took effort, time and investment. You work on the ground in preparation to receive the seed. The ground allows the power of the seed to be made manifest. The seed is able to grow up and increase, and yield up to thirty times, sixty times, and even a hundred times as much as had been sown. Even the power of adequate preparation is relative; God does the increase progressively, in line with my capacity to fully maximise what He gives. If He knows I can handle it, He will give it to me. How is my hearing, and my capacity for obedience? God has spoken; he who has ears to hear, let him hear. God's time of favour is here. 

Raised!

Raised!

“ And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 AMPC

Paul was writing to all of God's beloved people in Rome, who were called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life. That is the standard of the call of God upon a man's life. It does not matter where I started from; it really matters who I am and where I am going. For the saints in Rome, there were some who were slaves and bonded to other masters, and there were some who were quite wealthy and highly connected. Whatever the physical state was, nothing was more important than the work that Jesus had wrought inside their hearts. That is why Paul could speak of the grace of God in so many ways. It is grace that qualifies a man for access to resources that would have been beyond his reach. 

It is the working of this grace that guarantees that there is now no more condemnation for anyone who has made the decision to follow Christ. As the first verse in the chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, your location determines your allocation. What I get is a function of where I am: in Jesus or in the world. There is no middle ground of inconsistency or lukewarmness; it is either I am all in or all out. For those who are all in, the major characteristic is that we walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. The flesh no longer has any hold of me; the desires of the flesh have been put to death. 

I note that this is not just the ideal but it has to be the reality of my life. It cannot just be what I speak about only, but what I also live out on a daily basis. It cannot be occasional activity; it has to be a daily lived experience. I cannot switch it on and off when convenient for me; the life I now live is not mine to define the way I want, but the way the owner of the life wants me to live. That is why it is called the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It is a law; it binds all who are under its control or influence, and also delivers from the other law that promotes sin and offers only death. It is this same law of life that now offers me the same life that Jesus has: a life without end. 

Indeed, the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is still active and at work today. As you consider all that is happening around us, we see things that man had given up on suddenly become different. That which was hopeless suddenly changes form. That is what the person and power of the Spirit can achieve. He is the One who gives life to our mortal bodies, and ensures that we take hold of the eternal life to which we have been called. My current human body is going nowhere; I need the help of the Holy Spirit to take hold of all that Christ promises. I have to be IN Him to take hold of Him. Are you IN Him? Does He know you as His own? God's time of favour is here.

The Armour!

The Armour!

“ Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil." Ephesians 6:11 AMPC

God always makes it clear and unambiguous what we are in for. He does not leave us in any doubt what His call upon a man's life means. God had made it clear through all the ages that His call on a man's life will demand something which the natural man is unable to initiate, produce, or sustain. The natural man cannot submit to the things that the spiritual man is subject to by nature. The natural man cannot contend with the things that the spiritual man has to contend with. This is why both the natural man and the spiritual man have different pursuits and priorities, and also answer to two different masters and authorities.

That is the foundation of the verse above. Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, and this was a church that knew well what opposition looked like. This was a town that was steeped in idolatry, with a lot of places for idols dotted all around town. This was a town where a riot was instigated because Paul's teachings were now a danger to the commercial viability of these idolatrous practices. Paul had stayed in this town for some time, teaching about the principles and practices of God's kingdom, and he had also left a young man named Timothy there, to continue to teach and entrench the principles of God's kingdom. 

It is not a wonder, then, that Paul wrote to the church, informing and warning it that this call of God on their lives was not a call to earthly comfort and convenience, but a call to the consciousness of the conflicts that they would need to deal with on a daily basis. Nowhere does God ever promise that the life He calls us to will be free of tough times and trials. He also does not leave us ignorant or unaware of who we are and what we have been given. One of the critical things He has done for us is to give us the information and tools we need to succeed in this race we have been called to, and these are the parts called the armour of God.

As noted in the verse above, there is the whole armour provided by God. There are no half-measures when it comes to what God offers. You cannot take what you think you need and ignore the rest. You cannot pick and choose the parts that make you comfortable, and then choose to take off the ones that seem burdensome. The Omniscient God knows what is ahead; therefore, all His provisions are eternal in scope, impact and relevance. If I will successfully stand up against the strategies and deceits of the devil, I need the help and provisions of the God who has defeated him. Intellect and acquisitions cannot help me if God does not help. He has done His part by providing; how would I respond? God's time of favour is here. 

Praise!

Praise!

I WILL praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! Psalm 9:1 AMPC

The one thing that immediately stands out from the introduction to this song is also that there is no record of any drama. Most of the songs written by David had a recorded foundation; in one instance, it was when God delivered him from the hand of Saul who was trying to kill him, or in another instance, it was sorrow for his sins of adultery and murder. So many songs came from the place of distress and pain, but at the start of this chapter, all we read is: 'a psalm of David'. At this time, he did not need to sing about tribulations, troubles or trials, but about the triumphs of knowing this God who had done wonderful things for him.

Like David, do I need an experience of trouble before I know the value of the God who is in charge of all of life? Must something go very wrong before I run to God and ask for His help with that situation? Do I even consider that there is a need to praise God unless there is clear proof of what He has done for or given to me? Do I react to God first based on what I perceive He deserves, or for who He is, no matter what my own experiences may have been? David sang a lot about the troubles that he had, but we also know that he was a man who was also quick to take any opportunity he had to praise God. Can the same be said about me? Can this be said about you?

There is a lot of value to taking out time often to reflect on how far I have come, what I have experienced, and how God has shown up for me in amazing ways. Check out the verse above: David made a personal decision to praise God. It was not force; it was not a matter of compulsion. Like David, I also get to choose if, how and when I praise God. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. He wants me to choose to praise Him. What flows from my heart as a freewill offering is more precious than what comes from a rigid and unyielding and unwilling heart. As always, the choice too matters. 

It was praise, not complaints. It was appreciation, not just desperation without any aspiration. It was not like David had it all good; even in the midst of distress, he did not wait for the stars to align before he burst into praise. David also committed his entire heart to this process, not just half-hearted devotion. This also matters; God does not deal in half-measures; He either takes all or nothing at all. If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. Of course, when the internal is sorted,e external impact is non-negotiable. People will definitely feel the impact and power of a life that God has touched. Can people see and know God through my current direction? God's time of favour is here.

Right Words!

Right Words!

“ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 AMPC

The start of this psalm just simply says 'a psalm of David'. No drama. No extra words. No issues to grind with anyone. No need to explain anything to anyone. The writer was a man who God helped. From being the last of eight boys to Jesse his father, he became the only one to be left with the family sheep. He toiled day and night to keep the sheep safe. He was left alone to the inclement weather and wild beasts. The lion and the bear were familiar foes that he had to fight in order to keep the sheep safe. I am sure that he would have had to account for any sheep that got lost on his watch. How would such a man not find time to seek God's face and access His help?

There was also initially no room for him in the king's army, as records show that three of his brothers were already in Saul's service. He had no prior experience of war that he could count on, except what God had done through him to the lion and the bear. The testimony of protection and safety became the basis of his confidence that God could help him defeat the enemies of Israel. Even without any war knowledge, knowledge of the God of war was enough for him. He could speak of this God in a personal way. He could praise this God, not for what he could get from Him, but simply because he had seen this God at work in his life. That is the power of personal encounters.

It is this personal encounter that underpins the words of the verse above. No man knows God this way and remains careless in his dealings or interactions with God. No one tastes how good this God is and wants to give Him up for that which does not really satisfy. This is a God of absolute wonders, and not One to be trifled with. He is the One before whom there are no secrets or hidden things. He is Omniscient and Omnipotent; He is not man who changes in line with the weather. He is also a God who is invested in the wellbeing and welfare of His own. He hates sin, and He is able to provide the grace and strength we need to avoid sin. 

That is why the prayer in the verse above is timely and relevant to us today. We are in the world, and we have to relate with the people of the world. However, we musr not lose sight of who we are, whose we are, why we have been planted where we are, and where we are headed in eternity. David understood this when he asked God to help him so that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart would be acceptable in God's sight. This is critical, because it is my words that let people know the contents and focus of my heart. Can I ask God to work in and on me, so that all I offer pleases and glorifies Him? God’s time of favour is here.

Sow Right!

Sow Right!

“ [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 AMPC

Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, and he was addressing an important point that has generated a lot of noise all through the ages. This is the topic of giving. It is critical to note that a large part of the status, focus and priority of my heart will be revealed by what I do with what I have. At the start of the chapter from where the verse above is taken, Paul commended the church here for its clear willingness and eagerness to give to those in need. For Paul to note this and to write about it, it must have been quite obvious. Without making a public show of my charitable acts, is my heart completely free of the love of possessions or position or power? 

Where my heart is, there will my treasure be also. Whatever it is that I hold dear will drive all that I do, how I do them, and how much I am willing to give up. Another thing that Paul raised in this letter was the encouragement this church's generosity had given to other churches too. You may not intend to, and it must not be your desire to impress anyone, but let it be clear that whatever you do has an impact on other people. God is not unjust; if I am obedient to His instructions, He will make my life an example to be emulated. What am I known for? Is there any life that is grateful to God that I am alive? Again, the desire must not be to impress

.

That is the foundation to the verse above. If my heart is right, I know that all I hold is in trust for the One who owns all things. I am careful not to waste resources, but to apply them in a way that will maximise potential. Like a wise farmer, you do not go around and scatter precious seed in a land not ploughed or prepared for sowing. There is a preparation that is required for a good harvest. It is also a divine law that whatever you put in the ground must produce in multiple folds that which has been sown. You do not plant two grains of corn and then harvest two grains of corn. In the process of time, and the application of patience and preparation, the blessing of sowing is in its multiplication effect. 

This is why I must sow right. This is why I am deliberate about my choices and decisions. If I am grudgingly doing anything, how can I expect a bountiful response? If I am just focused on doing my own thing, not bothered about the needs of people around me, why would anyone also be concerned about me when I need help? The divine law of increase is very apt: it takes that which you sow and multiplies it. God's 100% blessing on my 0% effort will always amount to nothing. It is not in the value of what I give, but with the heart with which I give it. If it is done generously, expect manifold increase. That is God's promise, and as we know, He is faithful to His Word. God's time of favour is here. 

Priorities!

Priorities!

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. ”

Galatians 1:10 KJV

A child of God is required to have the right priorities. The moment I decided to leave all and follow Jesus was the moment I knew my current direction was not taking me anywhere safe. For all of us naturally born of women, the moment of decision is non-negotiable. For Paul who wrote this letter to the churches in Galatia, there was a moment too when he had to make a choice: persist in his old ways, or choose to follow Christ. We now read of the impact and effect of that decision by Paul. At some point in his journey of faith, he came across these churches, and he introduced himself as an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father.

That is clarity of purpose and direction. That was a man who knew who he was, what he had been called to do, where he had been planted to thrive and impact, and where he was headed. It was that clarity that made him sure of what he was saying to these churches in this letter. There must have been a clear departure from the truths Paul had worked hard to teach this church; now there were people who were pushing and pursuing a gospel different from the one that Paul had taught. That is the danger of the generation we are in: it is easier to blend in with that which is sinful than to hold on to the standards God has set in righteousness. 

It is clear that God will not lower His standard for anyone. It does not matter how long the unrighteousness has stood; it does not matter how far the lie has travelled; the truth of God’s word will always outlast the lie. That which God punished in the life of Adam and Eve will still be punished today, if the sinner remains in sin. That is the standard of a God who does not change like shifting shadows. Reflect on how serious Paul viewed a departure from the divine standard, when he said that even if one of the camp of the apostles, or even an angel from heaven came to preach any other gospel other than that which had been preached, such a person should be cursed. 

Strong words, but quite timely for such a time like this. There is grace that draws men to the salvation that Jesus offers, and it is also the same grace that keeps the same man in the path of salvation. Men are the tools that may be used by God to draw men to the light of the gospel, but we must not take our eyes off the Saviour and fix them on the vessels. I owe it to God to fix my gaze on Him as the One who matters. All other people or things are mere tools in the hands of this same God to work out His purpose. There is no pleasing man; I cannot play both sides and win. It is either God takes all or nothing at all. Who is in charge; who is the master? God's time of favour is here.