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. 

Timeless!

Timeless!

“[1] IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.” John 1:1 AMPC

As we read yesterday, different perspectives exist on the source and inspiration behind the words laid out in the Bible. Of course, the same will also apply to the origin of creation and how all we see today came to be. We have heard of the big bang theory, or the theory of evolution. A lot of positions have  been shared on this account, but let us take a moment to appreciate the beauty and order of creation. Reflect on all that you see, and you should come to the realisation that only an authority of great power and wisdom could be behind such beauty and order. Even if a big bang occcured and such beauty came to be, pause for a moment and think of the brains behind the scenes, ensuring that all we see now came out the way they are today. Reflect also on the scale of the operation that ensures that all of creation continues to go on like clockwork. 

Seasons continue to come and go with precision; you can make a plan for the changes in seasons. Day and night, cold and heat continue to happen as laid out in the Bible; men are born and they die. There has not been any successful attempt to stop death altogether; you may enjoy life with good healthcare, but when the time is up, there is nothing mortal that can do to stop the work of the immortal. This finality is the loudest proof that there is a God of authority, power and might that governs all that we see today. If no man, no matter how powerful, is able to stop the day of his death, should that not make you pause and consider if there is a God to be met and worshipped? Another version presents the verse above in this way: "The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one." 

I have a choice to make here: contest or consciously accept. There is no other source that can counter this truth. A relationship with this God fills your heart with a peace that no other forcw on earth can tamper with. Right in the beginning, before all that we see today ever existed, God was setting the scene for all we see today. We also see that Jesus, being God, was with the Father at the beginning. We read that the Spirit of God was brooding over the waters at creation. That is the perfect proof of the Trinity. He has revealed Himself to us, and He has given us the power to choose Him. Whatever my decision is, I must remember that nothing I do changes who God is or what He can do. I can accept and submit to His power, or I can hold on to the lies and deceit of men. As always, man lives or dies by the decisions he makes. Is God truly Lord of my life? Is He God over all that concerns me? God's time of favour is here. 

Inspired!

Inspired!

“[16] Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action).” 2 Timothy 3:16 AMPC

There are people who claim that there are contradictions in the accounts of events laid out in the Bible. There has to be some amazing power behind the bible that even with different versions that have been produced through the centuries, the truths of the Word of God have not been changed or successfully challenged. That is consistency. That is power of a kind that the world cannot explain. The verse above starts with this very incontrovertible fact: all Scripture, even the parts that make you uncomfortable, is God-breathed. It is God who ordered the total destruction of a nation, and He also is the One who showed mercy to another nation simply because it showed mercy to His people. 

The verse above also makes it clear that the words we read in the Bible are given by God's inspiration. Mortal men, with their limitations and weaknesses, were moved by an amazing and extraordinary God to put down the words we read today. These mortal men are like us, not spirits. They were not perfect all at once, but God used them as and when He pleased, to lay out His perfect plan for all mankind. The perfect God is the only One who can use the imperfect to bring perfection to all who put their trust in God. Reflect on the truth that right from the place of man's first sin was the place of God's redemption plan. The mind of God is revealed by what He has laid down. It will be very profitable for me to know God's mind and live by what He shows me.

That is the value of the latter part of the verse above. All that God says has an assignment to work out in my life. There will be times when what I need is instruction for daily living. There will be times when reproof and conviction of sin is what I need at a specific time, as correction of error and discipline in obedience. There will also be times when I need training in righteousness, to know how to live in holiness and in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. What area of life does God not cover? What challenge does God not have a solution for? What life question can exist that the word of God does not have an answer for? The eternal God has made His will known; He waits for us. How do you respond? God's time of favour is here.