Sustained!

Sustained!

John 15:2 AMP

[2] Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].

Jesus, as always, had a message for the ones who had followed Him as disciples. There was a time to speak to the crowd in parables, but there was a time, away from the pressure and distraction of the crowd, where Jesus had to speak directly and in clear language to His followers. The standards for followers are very different to those of the crowd. The crowd can come in and go out as they please; they can choose which instructions to obey and which ones to ignore. Not so for those who made up their minds to follow Jesus. It was not initially a compulsory conscription, but if you do make up your mind to follow, you have got to go all the way. 

One thing that a follower of Christ must settle in his/her heart is that you are no longer an independent contractor. You are no longer free to live, go where, or do as you please. It is now new management and control, and the new management does not give room for confusion and uncertainty. As a follower of Christ, I am presented in the verse above as a branch of a vine. As we know, a branch does not get nourishment or sustenance outside of the supply from the vine. If at any time it thinks it can make it on its own, the branch runs the risk of becoming detached from the right supply, and therefore at risk of death. There is no better way to lay this out.

Staying connected means being conscious of your never-ending need of divine supply. It is a clear understanding that I can never outgrow a need for that which only the vine can supply. What can make a branch stop bearing fruit? For a child of God, it starts from the heart: the things that mattered no longer carries the same urgency; sin no longer has the shock value it used to have in the past; there is no more hunger for the voice, direction and leading of the Holy Spirit. It will not happen overnight; the danger is in the silent, subtle ways this happens. Let it be clear; the vine will never run out of supply and support. It is the branch that must never lose its connection to its host. Am I connected?

The branch that remains fruitful does not have room to become careless; the vine dresser will continue to work on that branch to make it even more fruitful. This is the part that may be difficult to understand: why fix something that is not broken? This is why God is not man; He does not permit carelessness or inactivity. He knows that it is in such moments that mistakes are made. He will prune, take away the dross and extra weight, so I can be all that He has created me to be. The blessing of His work in and on e is that I will continue to bear more fruit. What a joy it is to know that God's hand on me is for my good, never for my destruction. He wants to help me, but only if I let Him. Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

Let it Roll!

Let it Roll!

Amos 5:24 AMP

[24] “But let justice run down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream [flowing abundantly].

We read the words of a man you would not really call a prophet. In fact, in the words of tje man Amos himself, he said he was not a prophet by profession, nor was he a prophet’s son, but he was a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. That was his job and means of livelihood, but that did not stop God from using him to pass a message to the people of Israel at the time. As always, men think they know the qualifications needed to be used by God for mighty things, but as God has proved over the years, availability is more important to Him than eloquence or wealth. He does not need the influential or the connected; He just needs available vessels He can deploy as He pleases. 

Sometimes, God uses the simple to pass on His mind to people. God knows how to find those who the world does not know, to publicly declare His word and will to the world. He is the One who uses the lowly and despised things to nullify the things that think they are special, so that no one can boast before Him. How do I see myself? Do I even imagine that God can find me useful in any way? Never look down on yourself; there is yet no one made in the image and likeness of God that is useless or of no value. If He made and spared me till today, there is a place for me to function. If I can only be available and yielded, there is no end to the amazing ways God can make use of me. 

The messsge given to Amos contains relevant information for us today. A nation may get complacent and relaxed, forgetting the ideals and standards that brought it peace, calm and prosperity. This was where Israel was at the time. The land had relative peace in the days of Jeroboam and Uzziah, kings of Israel and Judah respectively. Maybe quiet made them forget where God had brought them from. Maybe comfort and convenience made them forget the mighty acts of God in their lives. The land was now known for idolatry. Baal and strange gods were now the norm. I must be careful of the choices I make when things seem to be going well. 

One thing is clear from the verse above: God will not lower His standards for anyone. No matter how far Israel had fallen, God was not going to go down to their level to placate them. He would provide the help they needed,  but they had to attain the standard. God is a God of justice, and righteousness is His nature. He cannot lie, and He will not deny Himself. He does not deal in haphazard ways, but He is methodical. He will also not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. It is His will that I promote His nature. I must know and have Him, if I am to promote Him the right way. Do you know Him? Does He also know you? God's time of favour is here. 

His Work!

His Work!

Ephesians 2:10 KJV

[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Paul introduced himself to the church in Ephesus as an apostle, who is a special messenger of Jesus Christ. He was not the best qualified based on his past, but when has someone's past ever stopped God from doing what He wants with a life that has now been totally surrendered to Him. In addition, Paul was writing to God's own people, who he described as faithful, loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus. You find this interesting and awesome combination at play throughout this letter. Indeed, it is a special experience to know and be known by Christ Jesus. He is the only One who can clean up a man, and set him up for impact.

One importsnt step in this whole process is the admission that I cannot help myself, and I cannot do anything at all by my own power or wisdom. That is the whole focus of salvation that Jesus offers: I was dead in sin, and by sin, I was destined for eternal death and destruction. The free gift of life was made known to me at a time that I did not even know that I needed help. Jesus took on my guilt, shame and sin, paid the full price that was demanded for sin according to God's own standard, and then offered me full and free pardon for all I had done and would do in the future. Past, present and future sorted out in one act of surrender. 

How, then, am I expected to respond? I have to know that what Jesus has done now places a duty on me to respond the right way. I have to know that the sacrifice of Jesus reveals the value He placed on me. How do you give up your life and undergo such indignity if there was nothing to gain from the experiences? The Omniscient One knew what glory lay ahead, and the many sons that would come to salvation and bring glory to His name. Even if all the pain was just for one person, it was worth it. I have now become His specimen creature, reflecting the power and impact of His surrender and sacrifice. I no longer live for myself or to promote any personal agenda. 

I have become the never-ending reflection of what His death and life can achieve. Reflect on the fact that He died for me, even before I was ever thought of by my parents. That is long-term planning, not accidental discovery. I was foreknown and then revealed to achieve God's purpose here on earth. God, in wisdom, also makes sure that the same people who are now redeemed, will be the visible and audible witnesses to the power of the cross and the limits of the grave. I am now an ambassador for Christ, and my life is that constant reminder that He is not finished with me. Would you also surrender your life to Him, so He can make you all you can be? God's time of favour is here. 

Preserved!

Preserved!

Isaiah 43:2 AMP

[2] “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

The verses before the one above do not look good. Israel had sinned, and the God who is faithful to His Word had applied the due and just punishment for sin. He had warned His people several times, through several men who had prophesied about the punishment that was coming on the people, but, as is the case with God's people, they would not heed or change their ways. Enemies who could not dare face Israel now became their masters and conquerors. Emphasis has tp keep being made that God has no favourites when it comes to sin, and He will punish it, no matter in whom it is found. This is where Israel found itself; as it was true then, so it is true now. 

This is what sin does: it takes away all your strength and support, and opens you up to attacks. Let it be known that no one can escape the punishment that unconfessed sin brings. It will definitely be waived if the person repents and turns to God, but it will remain in place if one does not seek God's forgiveness. Now, there is another dimension that the verse above lays out, and that is the impact and effect of the mercy of God. There is a place for judgment, but there is a place for mercy that can change the obvious end and give a different outcome. It is this mercy that speaks here, and it is available to all who seek it. Would you seek Him today? 

The interesting thing about the verse above is that it was not said to people you would call perfect. These were people who had done wrong and were being punished. The thing about God that makes Him unique is the fact that He keeps in mind that I am human. He makes allowances for my humanity, yet He supplies sufficient grace for whatever is His demand on and from me. He will not leave me on my own, or allow me stumble through life. He will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied grace for. He also keeps an eye on the eternal, whilst sorting out the challenges of the present, and the mistakes of the past.

If it were man, mistakes would have been irreversible, but with God, He does not hold grudges with my past. He is always ready and willing to supply all that I need for the journey that is ahead. As the verse above makes clear, it is not a matter of IF, but WHEN. Things will not always go the way I plan, but I have a God who does not change like the weather. When I pass through the waters, He does not leave me to sort it out on my own; He is with me. When I walk through fire, He promises to keep me from being scorched, or the flame burn me. What awesome promises are these. I can look ahead to whatever comes my way, as long as God is inside of me. My inner content drives my outer stability. God's time of favour is here. 

Set!

Set!

Colossians 3:2 AMP

[2] Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 

Paul and Timothy are credited with writing this letter to the church in Colosse. Paul described himself as an apostle, who is a special messenger and a personally chosen representative of Christ Himself. Timothy is also described as a brother, and we know how this young man started. It was not the best of starts, but in the hands of God, the start never looks anything like the ending. Paul too did not have the ideal start, but he had the special privilege of a close relationship with Christ at some point in his life, and this turned his life around. Like Paul and Timothy, this special encounter with Jesus is fundamental to what God has planned for us. 

For anyone who seeks to be used by God for mighty things, and not just a one-off experience, you need to have that clarity of understanding who Jesus is, what He is, and what He demands of all who choose to follow and submit to Christ. As the verse before the one above makes clear, I am raised with Christ into a new life. I identify with His death on the cross, because there was my past dealt with permanently. The cross was a place of shame for all who carried it and were put to death on it, but the One who bore it was not moved by the shame. He kept His eye on the people who would come to know Him, and would propagate the good news about Him.

This is what is expected of those who have come to know and follow Christ: they keep their hearts fixed on the eternal, but without losing sight of the earthly. They understand that they have been saved from sin and preserved on earth to provide living examples of how Christ can change a life, and still make him relevant down here on earth. Too many times, we find men and women who are saved, but think that the polluted world is beneath them. They do not want to associate in any way with the fallen world, so they cut off all connections with the world. How can you impact a place whose issues you have not taken time to understand? 

We have been raised with Christ to a new life, and we are the partakers of the power of His resurrection. We have been set apart for His glory, and we are the visible, audible and human expressions and instruments to make God known to the world around us. We keep His nature; we are bound for eternal and permanent dwellings, but whilst we wait for the manifestation, we do not forget to make Him known here on earth. What is the use of a life that Christ has impacted but is not able to make God known? How do I attract men to the love and light I have received, if I cut myself off from the place where men need to see Him in and through me? May He be made known. May He be real in me. God's time of favour is here.

The Kingdom!

The Kingdom!

Matthew 6:33 AMP

[33] But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

This is yet another verse taken from the first Sermon of Jesus on the mountain. This was His first engagement with the disciples He had chosen, and He needed to lay down the standards and expectations of His kingdom. It was not like all other kingdoms that had come and gone before His time; there was a time Egypt was the reigning dynasty. There were various times over the centuries that the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Grecian, Roman, British, Chinese, Mongol and many others ruled the world. However, as we know, none of these dynasties or empires has remained in place. This proves that nothing set up by man was made to last forever. 

It has to be emphasized also that Jesus was speaking to a specific audience: His disciples, who were men who had made a decision to leave all and follow Him. They had a choice to make, and I am sure that there were some people who wanted to be part of His inner circle but were not chosen. But for all who were chosen then, and all who decide to come into this new relationship with Christ, we have to know that we are called into a kingdom. A definition of kingdom that fits our reflection today is: "anything conceived as constituting a realm or sphere of independent action or control". It is an independent entity; not under the control or influence of anything else.

The charge is for those who have made the decision to submit to and follow Christ. It will be a mismatch to claim allegiance to Christ, yet claim independence from Him at the same time. You cannot be a Christian and be a free agent at the same time. If I am indeed a child of God, I am to seek after, pursue, promote and preserve the interests, principles and practices of the kingdom of God. The verse above charges us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Righteousness is the nature of God, which means that I am to seek to be like God in all I do. Whenever men see me, they must see His imprint on my life. Can this be said to be true about me?

Once the foundation is secure, and my heart is set on the right focus, then the other bits can find their rightful place. If nothing else can replace God at the centre of my heart, then it means that I can focus on other things that the world may need. I can make and spend money; I can be hospitable; i can do acts of charity; I can invest in people. Once God knows that nothing can take His place in my heat, He knows He can give me anything else. He wants to bless in abundance, but He also wants to secure etermal life for me. May nothing be more important to me than that which glorifies, promotes, and honours God, making Him known to the world around me. God's time of favour is here. 

This God!

This God!

Micah 6:8 AMPC

[8] He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? 

We have consistently established that God hates and will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. This has been true for all of life as we know it, from creation till today. When man sinned in the Garden of Eden, a pattern was set. Man would always inherit that sinful nature, and he would struggle with pleasing God. This was where the land of Judah was at this time. Here were a people chosen by God to be His special possession. He set them apart for His pleasure, and made sure that the nations around them knew these were His own people. However, as we also know, a knowledge of God alone does not keep you from sin; only a personal and sustained relationship with Christ will do. 

This was the message of the prophet Micah, who prophesied in Judah in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.  In the days of these three kings, the land of Judah went from being led the right way, to rebelling against God's instructions. Jotham largely knew God, but his son Ahaz did evil. Hezekiah tried his best, yet the people were noted as persistently rebellious. It is not a wonder, then, that punishment was applied by God, after several warnings. This is the way with God; He does not seek to destroy, but to save, heal and deliver. However, as we also know,  God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill.

That is why He would warn and remind us of the standards, before He applies them. He does not lie, and He will not show favouritism. He will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. He is a God of mercy and judgment, and the personal knowledge of Him keeps us grounded and humble. He has shown us what is good, and, from the verse above, shown us three things which He requires of all who bear faithful and true allegiance to Him: to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble oneself and walk humbly with God. What would these three things mean in practical terms? How do I correctly apply the three to every day life? 

It is a healthy awe of God that lays the right foundation for all three. If i do not know or recognise God as Lord, how would I subject myself to an unknown God? If I do not accept His authority over me, how could I allow His love and life flow in and through me? If He does not possess me in every way, how can His presence be made manifest in my life? Thank God He is not like fickle, unpredictable man, and thank God that man cannot also play God, otherwise, many of us would be dead. He provides the strength and help I need to align with all three. He has shown us all; have you seen what He wants, and would  you submit to His authority? God's time of favour is here.