Power 2!

Power 2!

“[12] For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 AMPC

We come to another encounter with the Word of God. As we have already pointed out in the last few devotions, the Word of God is also the person of Christ. Any encounter you seek with the Word of God is actually an encounter with the One the Bible refers to as the Word of God. He is the One who made heaven and the earth, and continues to sustain it by the power of His word. Mortal men wrote words as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and with the breath of God upon these words, we see how God can speak to one man in a certain way, and yet speak to another man in a different way, even from the same verse of the bible. That is the power of the word of God. We know that the letter kills, but it is the Spirit that gives life. 

The verse above refers to the Word that God speaks as alive and full of power. It is like a dynamo that is active and operative, always producing the continuous energy that fuels, convicts and sustains a believer's spiritual life. Reflect on this: like the human heart can keep pumping blood for decades, supplying all that the body needs, so is it the same with the Word of God: able to keep a believer nourished and sustained with all that is needed. As the verse above makes clear, the Word of God is also referred to as sharper than any two-edged sword. That must be sharp and precise. The word must be able to cut through all pretence and hypocrisy. The word must be able to show me who I am, and also show me what I need to do to get in line. 

The Word can penetrate to the dividing line of the breath of life, which is the soul, and the immortal spirit too. It can deal with every confusion or self-deceit. The Word exposes, sifts, amalyses, and judges the very thoughts and purposes of my heart. Even when I try and convince myself about my motives, the word of God is that standard that does not change to fit my position. I am the one who needs to know what God's mind is on that issue, and ensure that it aligns with the word of God. Reflect on the fact that the Creator of all things cannot be deceived. He has given us a mirror by which He shows us who we are and where we are at. What would you do with this information? Remember: we deal  with an Omniscient God. He wants me to come to Him on His terms, and He will do the amazing in me by the same power with which creation came to be. Would you also yield? God's time of favour is here.

Power!

Power!

“[37] For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” Luke 1:37 AMPC

Context matters here. How do you handle the news that some amazing incident that has never happened before in the history of all creation was about to happen to you? How do you tell people that you got pregnant without the help of a man? Even God had to come and speak to the man involved, that what was to happen was of His own making and in line with His will. We know how the story ended, but bear with the young virgin who had to deal with the noise and chatter that would have happened in her own time. This is a God that can fetch water with a basket simply in order to disgrace the bucket. He is the One who can suspend laws in order to lay down His law. 

He sent His Word to both Elizabeth and Mary at the time. I note that their different responses did not impact the operation of the Word sent. Nothing they did or said could have reduced the efficacy of what God had said. Too many times, man, filled with a false sense of his own importance, thinks God needs him to prove that He is God. God is God no matter what I do or do not do. Long before my grandparents came together, He is God, and long after this current version of earth and heaven will pass away and be replaced by new ones, He will still be God. That is the power that is at stake when God's Word is in play. If He says it, be sure He will do it. If He says it, there is nothing in all of creation that has yet to stop what He has planned. 

With God, nothing is ever impossible. That is a statement of fact. His Word is His person; a reflection of His nature and power. When He speaks, He is speaking of Himself. When His name is called, we are asking Him to step in and do what He alone can do. When the Creator spoke, there was no negotiation with the created; creation just had to respond. That is why the verse above makes it clear that no word from God shall be without power. The Word is God. How can there be anything created that become impossible for the Creator to manage and control? How can the Omnipotent God speak and mortal man will claim to resist Him? It is impossible for God to lie, and that is what gives me the assurance that if I hold on to Him, He will come through for me. Would you trust Him with all you are and have? God's time of favour is here. 

Right Thoughts!

Right Thoughts!

“[8] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ” Philippians 4:8 KJV

Paul and Timothy were writing to the saints in Christ Jesus which were at Philippi at the time, along with the bishops and deacons of the churches there. What this tells me from the start is that this walk of faith does not make a distinction between leaders and the led. We all have the same Spirit, and we are headed in the same direction. The privilege of leading does not make me superior to those being led, because we all have been given gifts by the same Spirit, and we all are working to ensure that the church of God grows to reflect the personality of the owner, who is Jesus Christ. Am I settled in my heart that I know who I am and whose I am? Do I know who I am working for? 

Let it also be clear that this walk of faith is a reflection of the state of my inner man. That which men see on the outside relfects who is in me. The Christian faith is one that cannot be faked for too long; it is a fruit-based life. I may be able to deceive some people for some time, but this same time is what will reveal the state of my heart. God cannot be deceived; not all men will be deceived also. The verse above counsels those who claim to know and follow Christ to be careful about the state and focus of their hearts. That which takes up my attention will definitely produce an output. The verse above starts with whatever is true. Indeed, truth must be the foundation of all that I seek. Truth, as we know, is a Person. 

The verse above goes on to address things that are honest, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, and things that are of good report. Reflect on how these things are described: they reflect the nature of Christ, or the things that draw men's attention to Him. Holiness is His nature, and purity is my response to His nature. He wants me to have a good reputation amongst men, so that the gospel is attractive to men. As long as there is virtue in it, and it leads to the praise of God, then that must be my focus. As I take time to think on these things, I am building a treasurehouse of riches I can draw on in the days of trouble. Guard your heart. Be mindful of what it focuses on. God's time of favour is here. 

Approved!

Approved!

“[15] Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC

Paul was writing to his protege Timothy about the value of preparation before impact. That is the proper order of things. Timothy was a young man that Paul left in Ephesus to ensure that the truths of God’s Word were being upheld. If the young man did not know the truth, what would he be upholding? This is why the foundation of a life of impact is in the laying up of the right information, as we read a few days ago. It is also trans-generational; it does not matter how complex life is - as long as the earth remains in place, the word of God will always be that agent of transformation it needs. How do I harness the rich resources in the Word of God? How do I take advantage of the counsel and wisdom He offers?

At the start of the verse is the counsel to study, be eager, and do my utmost to present myself to God as one approved. The private preparation cannot be comtracted out. It is a personal encounter. It takes time, effort, focus and dedication to following through on the lessons learnt. One who studies in order to know more of God does not do it shabbily, or only when it is convenient. For students seeking a valuable degree, you cannot afford to read only when it suits you. There is a regular and consistent search for knowledge that must be integral to my study. God has promised to be found by all who seek for Him diligently. Am I willing to pay the price for that which God is ready to release? 

As we also know, God does not extensively use a vessel that He has not tested. He has to prepare me the right way for the place He is taking me to, so that I do not destroy myself. The one who has been tested becomes a workman who is now certified, trusted with the mysteries of the Word, and able to know and share God's mind on relevant issues. He has no need to be ashamed, because he is now backed up by the One who is Wisdom and Truth personified. He is able to correctly analyze, accurately divide, and skillfully teach the Word of Truth. The world needs this Truth; men who have encountered the Truth are the ones who can show and tell it to others. Do I truly know Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Protected!

Protected!

“[11] Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 AMPC

We do not know who the author of this psalm is, but there is no mistaking the message in the entire chapter. This is the longest chapter in the Bible, and it is full of tributes to the power of the Word of God. We have always presented the view that the Word of God is a Person, as well as the Personality of God Himself. We know the Word was with God in the beginning, and by the Word were all things in heaven and on earth created. We also know that all things are still being sustained to this day by the power of that same Word. Heaven does not have any doubt or contention about who is in charge. The Lord's prayer says that "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven". The Word of God has been established and proven through all the generations to be the instrument by which lives are impacted and changed. 

The start point for any inner change then, is to accept and embrace this truth about the Word of God. What you do not believe in will not work for you. Others will have personal and specific evidence of the dealings of God with them, whilst you may just have stories from the past. The writer of this psalm had a very personal encounter with the Word of God, which led to the words of the verse above. He knew the source, and so had no issue with submission to the Word. God has always ahown Himself to be trustworthy and it is His consistency that provides the comfort we need to hold on to Him. Another critical message is the word 'laid up'. You do not get there overnight or by mistake; it is the product of a careful and conscious decision to store it up. 

For this writer, the reason why he chose to lay it up was so that he may not sin against God. Reflect on the natural flow of the natural man: he is prone to sin, and in order to defeat sin, he needs help from the One who has already conquered sin. What is prescribed for victory over sin is the Word of God. As far as God is concerned, nothinhg else can give you that victory outside of His Word. If He defeated the devil using the Word, that is the template He has laid down for the victory we seek and need. Recall that the devil also said "It is written", though with ulterior motives. It is not enough to just cram it in and then pour out; you have to spend time with the Word so that its lessons and benefits can be personalised. It is not a magic wand to be waved only in emergencies. May the Lord help me to make a personal relationship with His Word. God's time of favour is here.

Wise Building!

Wise Building!

“[24] So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.”

Matthew 7:24 AMPC

As Jesus sat on the mountain with His disciples, and the crowd all around Him, this did not distract Him from laying down the rules of engagement for His kingdom. Too many times, we want to make the gospel attractive to people, and indeed it is, because it is the person, personality and power of God at work, but we must be careful not to seek to dilute the potency because we need numbers or applause. We also know that there is always a message for everyone who comes in contact with the Word of God. The disciples were the target here, and those who claim to know and follow Christ will do well to listen to and heed the instructions that have been laid out in the verse above. 

The first emphasis is on hearing. It is always a choice: God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. All of us will have the opportunity to hear God's word. God is that fair; He knows that faith comes by hearing, and He will present opportunities for us to hear Him. He desires a relationship with all of His creation, and His Word is fundamental to a healthy relationship with Him. The second emphasis is the part about acting on what you have now heard. Both are quite important: Once God has spoken, and He does that often, the right response from all who claim to know and follow Him is obedience. Am I truly His child?

As the verse above makes clear, we are all building. The person who obeys is building something, just like the person who is also not obeying what s/he hears. The difference is the quality of the foundation. As we know, there is nothing wrong with the quality and depth of the message. As long as Christ is the focus, power is released. However, my response is what determines how deep the foundation will go. The person who obeys is described as a sensible, prudent, practical and wise man, who built his house upon the rock. Just reflect on what this means: the effort, time and resources required to ensure that the house stands. You do not pick up gold by the roadside; you do not harness the power of the Word by a lackadaisical search. Am I hearing right? Am I building right? God's time of favour is here. 

Right Heart!

Right Heart!

“Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].” Philippians 2:3 AMPC

Just as Paul and Timothy were writing to all of God's consecrated people in Philippi, along with their bishops and deacons, so is God also speaking to us today as His church, wherever we may find ourselves. Whatever it was that led to the words of the verse above, we can agree that nothing much has changed. Just as we read of factions in the church in Corinth, where men followed Apollos or Peter or Paul, so do we find the same issue here at Philippi. I must be fully conscious of what the call of God upon my life entails; it is a noble calling that asks me to think of not just my own interests, but how Christ can be glorified in and through me. Too many times, we want to hold on to our 'dignity'; leading to the full manifestations of all that should have been dealt with when we gave our lives to Christ. 

For Paul and Timothy to counsel the people not to do anything through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, for unworthy ends, or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance, it means these issues were concerns for the church. Let us never get to the point where we become very confident in our superiority over the work of the flesh, that we lose our dependence on God. No mortal man, however powerful, can conquer flesh. That is man's natural flow state. I need the help of the One who has defeated the flesh permanently to be able to overcome the same flesh. No amount of education, earnings or elocution can provide that safety. Am I truly under the full control of the Spirit of God, or do I need to make a full surrender to Him today?

As the verse above makes clear, i must regard other people as better than and superior to myself. Let it be clear that this is not possible by reason of strength alone. It is only a man who has learnt true humility that can be comfortable in that position. Who ever lays down, or pushes another person over and above himself, unless s/he has been broken and is totally surrendered to God? This is the place where God wants all His children to be. This is the place where He is glorified in the lives of those who bear His name. I have to always remember that God does not force Himself on anyone. He will help, support and strengthen all who come to Him. Would you trust Him with your life? God's time of favour is here.