The Right Attitude 2

Leviticus 19:18 KJV

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Let us just break these words down: Thou shall Not avenge. There's no other way to make this clearer or its impact more pronounced than to establish the identity of the one making the statement. For every instruction God gives, there are blessings for obedience and punishment for disobedience. God never wastes words so you can rest assured that every word spoken by him has the backing of his name and he will make sure that they all come to pass.

What's the warning: Do Not Avenge. If we search our hearts sincerely, have we not been a bit Happy that people who did something bad to us met with a bad incident Sometimes later? We didn't pray that they should go through such, but we didn't pray that they shouldn't either. We need to keep God's searchlight over our hearts constantly so he can keep cleansing us of evil thoughts. God judges our intentions and motives and he cannot be deceived by the external.

You may say you do not avenge evil done towards you by others but what about hearing grudges? There's a silent poison that wants to pollute the church today and it is this silent malice or the superiority complex. Someone does something to us, and rather than call the person to understand the motives or intentions behind those actions, we presume we know why and we react accordingly. We play God, interpreting other people's intentions and motives, forgetting that this is God's prerogative. God goes a step further to underline the importance of Not bearing grudges in Matthew 5:23-24 KJV:
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;    Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

When next you think that God appreciates your fat tithes, you will do well to remember that God accepted Abel first, before accepting his offering. He rejected Cain first, before rejecting his offering. Your life and eternity are much more important than what you own or hold now. Get your priorities right; his time of favour is here.

The Right Subject

Romans 14:11 KJV

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

God leaves no one in any doubt as to what lies ahead. There's no doubt that it will all end sooner or later. This world, as we know it, will come to an end, and all its attractions, pleasures and wealth will all pass away. We came into the world with nothing and as surely as God lives, we will leave with nothing.

How, then, are we expected to live? What should be our priorities and pursuits? What should be the focus of our race and goals? I believe this extract speaks as the answer. God is 'swearing' on the truth of his Word and his nature and he's saying: ' As surely as I live.....'. If you know the God you have and you understand his power and might, you may just want to pay attention to what he says after that. He says: 'Every knew shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' It does not give options, neither is it open to negotiation. When this present life ends, we will all stand before God for judgement. I will like to stand before him, justified that by his grace and strength, I lived right. I would not want to live according to my pleasures now, and find out at the end that I was wrong. I wouldn't want to finish my race and at the end, discover that I had run in vain.

I pray that the seeds I'm sowing now are the seeds that will admit me into glory. I pray that when this life is over, and I stand before God, I can fall down to my knees in willing reverent worship, confessing that Jesus is the Lord of my life. May I not be coerced into bowing the knee to the Lordship of Jesus at the end of my stay on earth. May my life now be worthy of heaven at the end. His time of favour is here.

The Right Stand

Psalms 46:10 KJV

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

I have heard a lot of comments and quotes on this issue. People say 'Heaven helps those who help themselves' and 'It  is good to wait on the Lord but be sure that you are hustling while you are waiting'. While I do not have an issue with these words, I just pray that we do not misapply them in our lives and miss the purpose of God for us.

How do I remain still before God When it appears as if all my friends and colleagues, and even juniors have all gone ahead of me? What do I do when I can see that what they do is fetching them money and recognition, while it appears as if I'm standing still, not moving an inch towards the fulfilment of my own goals? What do I do, where do I go, how do I pursue my dreams while ensuring that I do not move outside God's will for my life?

One fundamental lesson I have learnt is that I cannot afford to be idle while waiting. Most times, we don't play to our strengths; we are busy trying to be like other people and copying what they do. We Forget that no two people's dreams and visions are the same; you have got to forge your own paths towards the fulfilment of your own purpose, under God's definite leading.  As you plays to your strengths, getting involved in things that you have interests in, you will find your niche. It does not have to be popular, it Just has to be your own.

One thing you must not Forget is an absolute and total dependence on God. That is the focus of this extract. As I pursue excellence in the areas of my strength, I must keep God as the focal point of enablement, not education, physical strength, connections or wealth. No amount of hard labour can get you what grace has not given you. If a man wants to run with you, it will become a race because no natural man wants someone else to be better than he/she is, but if you run with God, grace is available and you will be enabled to go above and beyond your limitations. Afterall, it is my race, not our race. I am not in your own lane, so I am not in competition with you. I just have to finish that race that God has set personally for me.  Indeed, you have to be still before God in your heart. Settle it in there, that no matter what I face, I am going to fix my gaze on God totally. No matter what the world tells me, I will keep my eyes on God as I run, so that he can prove that he is God in my life and all his plans can come to pass in my life. His time of favour is here.

The Right Values

Hebrews 12:14 KJV

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Let's get some things right from the very start: no matter how sweet, interesting, bitter, terrible or beautiful your life may be now, it is a phase that will end soon. It does not matter how long you have been in that phase, it will definitely come to an end. There is a purpose to all that we are going through and it is God's will that we end well. All that we do, say or think now are the building blocks towards that which God has prepared for us.

One important conclusion: nothing is as important as where you end up. It is always good to start well but it is better to end well. The world tells us that possessions, power and position are good, and so, because we have allowed the world to dictate our own lives, we spend so much time and energy pursuing these ephemeral things. Atimes, people kill others to get these things, forgetting that at the end, these things have no eternal value.

God has shown us what is important and necessary. He has told us in clear terms what we need to do and how we need to live if we are to end well. Note that there is an AND that joins the following peace together with holiness. Can a man claim to be holy, yet he's keeping malice with another? Can a man live in peace with another, while he's busy at adultery or fornication? Holiness and peace are attributes of God himself and all who claim to know him must live by his standards. You cannot claim to know God and fail to live according to his dictates. You can't give your life to Him and still choose who to love, who to talk to, who to relate with. You can't be in God and live by standards that are outside of him.

The warning that ends the extract is clear enough- without both, NO MAN shall SEE the Lord. I'm not sure you fully comprehend what this means so let me break it down again: Heaven is for those who live according to God's standards, not the world's. If you want to see and live with him in eternity, then live by these standards. Nothing else will matter when this life ends; you can't take anything with you. Live right now, live according to standard. Heaven is real, it has conditions for entry.  His time of favour is here. 

The Right Value 2

Psalms 55:22 KJV

Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

It has already been established that what you do not have or know, you cannot make a demand on it when the need arises. If  a man has not learnt how to rely on God on the small issues, how do you trust God or hear his voice on the big issues? A lady has not learnt how to ask God for directions on the choice of dressing or friendships or career, how does she hear God in the issue of life partner? Even when God speaks, how does she recognise his voice when she has never really listened out for it? How do you really trust and cast your cares on a God you have not cultivated a listening relationship with?  How does God help a man who has limited his sphere of control and has asked God to stay within his boundaries?

If you really need God to help you, you must learn to trust him for the 'small' things. It is as you trust him for those small things that it becomes easy to trust him for the big things. He who is faithful in the little things is the one who will be given the big things. God is the sustainer of all things that he ordained, so don't start something he didnt ask you to. Otherwise, you may have to finish that thing yourself. His time of favour is here.

The Right Value 2

Psalms 55:22 KJV

Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

If you don't know God, or you don't allow him have total control over your life, how do you succeed? If you have tried every other thing and it has failed you, have you given all to God? I'm not talking about singing: 'all to Jesus I surrender' while holding on tightly to the remote control of your own life; I'm talking about the sacrificial giving of your complete existence to the One who died so you could have life. I'm talking about true surrender, which tells God: here am I, anywhere you want to send me, anything you want to use me for, I am ready.

As you cast all your cares on him, he alone has the power, ability, strength and wisdom to hold you up and sustain you. Man is limited; he cannot lift you above the length and strength of his arms. Its not his fault; nobody can give you more than what he owns and holds. But lean on God's everlasting arms. They can give you much more than what your limited strength and ability can give you.

The Right Value

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Until you settle the question of identity, there will always be wrong motives, intentions and reactions. Until you settle who you belong to and who you work for, everything is permissible. Until a man knows where he fits into God's universal plan, he will always be out of place and out of sync with God.

A lot of what we see today is a result of an identity crisis. We come to church on Sundays, looking, talking and behaving 'holy', and then we dump the holy stuff on Sunday nights and pick up our usual stuff for the week. We compartmentalize our lives, giving God control over some areas, while holding on to the remote control of some channels of our lives. We claim that some things don't matter, it doesn't affect the heart. I wonder what 'living sacrifices' really mean. Can a sacrifice properly offered have a mind of its own? Can it dictate where it wants to die, or where it wants to be used? What control does a sacrificial lamb have over its destiny? It is an abuse of process for a person who claims to have offered his life completely to God to still live as if he's still in charge of his own life.

If you have accepted him, God lives in you. This simple fact is the control point for all actions, thoughts, and relationships. I wonder if God was physically living with us, if we would still do or say the things we do and say today. If you see God punish sin, would you still do the things you are doing now? Are we to continue in sin, thinking that we can take the grace of God for granted.

You carry the personality of greatness within you- the Holy Spirit. You can't live anyhow, talk anyhow or relate anyhow. He must guide your thoughts, words and deeds. My life must bring him glory so that through me, his power is revealed.

Am I living right? Am I a worthy example whose life can be emulated? Can people come in contact with the life of God through me? His time of favour is here.

The Right Pursuits 2

Isaiah 26:3 KJV

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Very Key lessons in the extract before us today. Firstly, there's peace that is perfect and it is from God. A lot of adverts, promos and TV jingles celebrate possessions and properties as the sources of peace. They make it look like the more you have and hold, the happier you will be. The world pursues these things and obtains them, yet we are not happier or better. We have only shifted our focus away from the Creator to the created things. No wonder our generation is referred to as the disconnected generation. We have relegated God to the secondary position in our lives and we keep wondering why things have become so bad. The answers lie in this verse.

Secondly, this peace is for those whose minds are stayed on God, the giver of the peace, not on the gifts that come from God. Many of us are seeking God for what we can get, and as soon as we get those things, we move on. We forget that it is only by staying with God that we can get the permanent blessings that come from being in his presence. You can't float in and out of God as you please or as circumstances dictate; God will not entrust his blessings into the hands of a man he cannot predict. If you are double-minded, unsure of where you stand or on whose side you are on, then it will be difficult to obtain anything from God.

Furthermore, the blessings come when you trust in God. The sights around us are dazzling; the craze for more things is fighting for attention; the desire to be better than others is strong, but the grace of God that can supply all your needs and even more than you can imagine is available. Remember, no demand on earth, no matter how large, can exhaust the resources of heaven. Total dependence and fixed trust in God are the keys. His time of favour is here.

The Right Pursuits

PSA 34:10 NIV

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

If it was all about strength and speed, then this verse would have been a lie. If all it had to do was just to run fast and be quick, then lions wouldn't lack anything. Lions have been used to symbolise strength, vigour, speed and agility. But God knows how to shame strength and disappoint ability. He knows how to shift man's focus from what he can do himself to what he can achieve with the help of God himself.

We must come to the point where we lay down certificates, degrees, titles and achievements at the feet of Jesus. They are not as important as the grace he can release for accomplishments. Check out all the men God has used in the past and is still using today: it is never about being qualified for service; it is about God empowering you for service. Its not my ability that counts; it is God's grace that counts. While men are busy striving for positions, struggling for the few positions available, God reserves a seat for those who have learnt to wait patiently for him. That is why he can prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. If i have learnt how to wait for his guidance and leading, not trusting in my wisdom or learning, then he will lead me to green pastures where i will be refreshed. Wait for the Lord; there is no record of anyone who has been disappointed. His time of favour is here. 

The Right Seeds 4

PRO 18:12 NIV

Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

When dealing with God, mortal man has to be careful so that he does not assume or presume on issues with God. Today's extract seeks to remind us again of the dangers of pride. Pride isn't visible or tangible; it isn't something you can define or hold, but its effect is devastating and destructive. Great men and empires have fallen because of pride, while some men who began well ended badly because of this same attitude.

Where, then, is its danger? I believe it is in the attitude: it tells itself that God does not matter, and that self is sufficient. Pride pushes God to the background, seeks to do things in its own wisdom and power, telling God that his grace, favour, strength and blessings do not matter. It tells God to keep his power to himself while it seeks to prove a point by striving to achieve all by its own power. The effect of this stupidity is best seen in what happened to Lucifer: strong, Beautiful arch-angel; decided he could be God since he was already close to God. He didn't act it out, he just Thought about it, and that sealed his fate. Therein lies the danger of pride: long before it manifests physically, God already sees it in our hearts and he will deal thoroughly with pride wherever he sees it. It doesnt matter how close you are to God; God hates pride and he will fight it wherever he sees it.

It is only in God's dictionary that humility comes before honour. In man's dictionary, and by the standards of the world, you have got fight for respect, position, power and influence. The world says: if you don't fight for it yourself, nobody will give it to you. God says: depend on me, I will give you everything you need, at my own time, and in my own way.

You want to go up? The quickest way there is the way of humility. You want to go down quickly? The quickest way is the way of pride. The choice is yours; the effect of each choice has been spelt out clearly and precisely. Choose right, for his time of favour is here.

The Right Seeds 3

PRO 11:2 NIV

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Is there anything else to be added to this? There's a choice to be made, a decision to be taken. What would it be? Is it pride or humility? Both are choices, and like all choices, both have consequences. With pride comes disgrace. It doesn't matter how long things work well for, once the foundation is on pride, it can only fall apart. Pride says I can do it by myself and don't need God. Of course, If God isn't on any project team, that project is doomed to fail.

The other choice is humility. With it comes honour. Isn't it amazing that the way up is down, and vice versa. If you keep trying to push yourself up, you will only go down. But if you allow God push you up, there's no limit to the honour God will bring you.

It is a choice. Make the right one, so you can end up on the right side and win the right prize. His time of favour is here.

The Right Seeds 2

PRO 3:34 NIV

He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Just as we established a few days ago, it never pays to be proud. There's a disconnect that happens when you think of yourself more highly than you ought and you think that you have a hand in the great things that God has done in and Through you. When a man begins to think he has arrived, indeed he's ready to depart. When a man begins to think he's very important and indispensable to God, that man is ready to end his ministry. Elijah had just done mighty things for God, yet, when trouble came, he ran for his life. He Thought that he had Worked so hard, since he was the only one that seemed to be serving God. God reminded him that it is a privilege to be called to serve God, and not a reason to think that if you are not there, God will not do his work. God once used the mouth of a donkey to speak to Balaam, prophet. God once used prison to bring about praise in Joseph. God used 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to prove to us that it is his grace that matters, not our qualifications or achievements.

God can use anything and anyone who's surrendered to him to do mighty things. All we can do is to be available, ready and open to whatever it is he wants to do. God can use the most annoying, most 'useless' thing to achieve the most mighty things. It is the world that calls a thing useless, God calls it a vessel. If it is surrendered to God, then if is used to do glorious things. His time of favour is here.

The Right Time

ISA 7:14 NIV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

So many things didn't look right in this passage. First of all, it was in Isaiah that God was speaking here about events that would take place more than 400 years after these words were spoken. Secondly, logically, reasonably and sensibly, how would you expect a virgin to conceive and bear a child, without any sexual relationship between a man and a woman? Furthermore, if the issue of a virgin becoming pregnant is incredible, how then do you give a child a name that nobody has ever given to any child alive, and the same name was not given to anyone until the child was born, centuries later?

So many questions but let me just quickly establish this: the day you start to reduce God to the level of your intellect is the day you start dying. There's something amazing about God and that is the fact that he keeps finding new ways to prove his power and wisdom. When you think you have settled into a pattern with God, he comes up with a new way of doing things, so that if you are not sensitive to his leading, you may miss his timing. Moses, close as he was to God, forgot that God had moved beyond hitting the Rock and was now speaking to the Rock. Elijan had just called down fire from heaven and killed 850 prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth, yet he forgot to rely on that same strength when Jezebel threatened his life. We know that these incidents ended their earthly ministries.

Never put God in a box. Never assume that you are used to his ways and he can't suprise you. Open your heart to God and allow him to be God and to do his works in your life. The end is always amazing when a man has learnt to depend solely and totally on God. Allow him do his part, the end will always be glorious. It may not start the way you please, but I can assure you: it will end in a way you never imagined. God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within you. His time of favour is here.

The Right Attitude

1PE 5:5b-6 NIV

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”    Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

The picture that Peter paints for us here is apt for this season of favour that God has opened for us. For as many as would desire to see God work in their lives, there are certain attitudes and traits we just must have and develop. One of the most important is humility. The word looks simple and commonplace, but it is amazing to know just how hard it is to identity and attain. Man, by human nature, defines his worth by the value of what he possesses, rather than by whose he is. We see man stylishly measuring himself by worldly standards, striving to match and possibly attain and surpass another man in display of status and wealth. We see men steal billions, yet are not satisfied with what they hold. We see men strive to acquire degrees and titles, so that the world would reckon with them and call them great. While these things are not bad in themselves, the foundation of our motives for seeking them matters to God. Today's extract seeks to redirect our focus and pursuits to the things that truly matter.

God opposes the proud. If nothing else frightens you, please let this caution you. If a million people gather to help you, and God is against you, then you are in trouble. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as the basis is pride, God will fight you. If God is for you, and a billion people gather to oppose you, go and sleep. When you wake up, the battle would have been over. The danger of pride is that it shifts focus away from the potter and moves it to the clay. The question is: which one is more important? Does the clay tell the potter what it is to be used for, or can it tell the potter exactly how it must be molded or where it is to be used? Is it not the potter that determines the how, the where and the why of the clay- how it is to be used, where it is to be used and why it is to be molded in the first place? At no time does God consult us before determining our purpose and equiping us for the assignment he has given us, so how can we dare to be proud about his gifts? How can we ever think that we are better than anyone else? Are we not all clay in his hands?

If you want God to exalt you, your life must show forth his power. He is seeking men whose lives will reflect his glory and praise; men who have emptied themselves of all achievements and are seeking how God alone can be glorified in their lives. If you want God to lift you up on his own terms and in his own way, then you must empty yourself of anything and everything that will lead to pride. He is all that matters, because it is his gifts in you that make you unique. The vessel is a privilege; the contents is the message of God to the world. Live his message; the world will seek him through you. His time of favour is here.

The Right Seeds

COL 1:17-18 NIV

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

As we run the race that God has assigned to us, there are a few lessons that are worth repeating here, which I believe will help us arrive home safely. First of all, God must be the centrepiece and foundation of our lives and pursuits. There is nothing that can work well or end well if God is not involved. He's before all things, and it is only in him that your life finds fulfilment. No matter how hard you work, or how fast you run, God has not given his best rewards to the man with the highest investments of energy or strength or human wisdom; he's simply a God of grace who shares his blessings the way he sees fit. How would a Jabez have qualified for mention in the Bible if not for God? How would you have heard of men like Paul, formerly Saul, if not for grace? What of men like Midst, even with his violent past, or Abraham himself, who had to learn patience and trust the hard way?

Secondly, Jesus is coming back for a church that is ready for him. I believe this is where we mostly miss it. We have suddenly elevated our denominational differences above the most important qualification: salvation. We assume that you must belong to the right place for you to make heaven. The only condition on record, for a man to be saved, is to confess his sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Where he belongs to is a question of growth and fellowship, as long as God alone is truly worshipped. I wonder which church the thief on the cross belonged to, which qualified him for admission into paradise. I admit that it is important to belong where growth in Christ is paramount, but I believe that we must draw men to God first, as that is the only way they can meet with the God who can bring them into the rest that he has promised.

Are you ready for his coming? He's coming for a glorious church, without spot, wrinkle, blemish, stain or dirt. Are you ready? Do you belong to him? His time of favour is here.

The Right Seeds 3

COL 3:23-24 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

As we have established over the past two days, nothing you do is ever in vain. There's nothing that you do that does not have a just and adequate reward or response from God. Even when you think that God has not Noticed, and it appears as if you have laboured in vain, know this: the omniscience of God makes no sense if there are things that are outside his scope of influence and control. God would not be God if he could not ensure that ALL things truly work for good for those who love him. The reason why he's God is seen with incontrovertible evidence all around us. The reason why he's to be worshipped and praised is seen in his dealings with us.

There's therefore a need for us to watch our words, actions and motives. We must settle the issue of what is important or not in our walk with God. Are we setting out to please man, or are we striving to please God? Are we seeking the praise and commendation of man or the approval of God? The danger of trust in man is seen by the experience of Christ himself: Hossana, Hossana one weekend, Crucify him, Crucify Him the Next weekend. The same crowd, not sure it was the same motive. Man is feeble, weak, inconsistent, unpredictable and can never be satisfied. God alone is the awesome God who sees all, knows all and will adequately satisfy all that we do or need.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your heart, as unto the Lord alone,  not to man. His rewards are more than adequate compensation for your troubles. His time of favour is here.

The Right Seeds 2

DEU 6:6-7 NIV

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Repitition strengthens memory. The more you hear a thing, the easier it is to remember and recall it. Yesterday, we established the importance of sowing the right seeds for your children. Today's extract teaches us how to sow: it is a daily, conscious walk, not a sudden realisation; you don't just get there by accident; it is a product of conscious, careful planning and execution. No child learns by accident; we learn from everything that happens around us. Our minds are like sponges, absorbing everything we see and hear and read daily. How do you imagine that a child can repeat 3-4 songs/tracks of an album, yet cannot recite 2 consecutive verses of the Scripture? It is the power of attention, focus and priorities. Whatever you feed is what will grow, whether good or bad.

The lessons in these verses bear repeating again: every oppourtunity must be utilized to teach the next generation about God and his works. Every where you go, you must be quick to speak out, teach and show the next generation the great things God has done. May we not get to the point where Israel got to in Egypt when there arose a generation that did not remember Joseph and the great things he had done for both nations. You think it happened suddenly? It was a systematic forgetting; the people got so comfortable in Egypt that they stopped talking about God and his mighty works. The result was 400 years of slavery.

Let me not even assume. Do you know the truth yourself? Can you identify truth from falsehood when you see it? What you do not have,you cannot give, so take time to know, understand and assimilate the truth yourself.  Speak out today everywhere you go and use every oppourtunity to be a champion and raise champions that God can count on in these end times. His time of favour is here.

The Right Seeds

PSA 103:17-18 NIV

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord ’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Have you ever looked at someone else's life and wondered just why it seemed as if God loves that person more than you? Have you ever Thought that maybe God shows a bit of favouritism towards some people while he treats others with a bit of a hard hand? I'm sure that there have been a few times you would have Thought to ask God why he does not treat you as brother A or sister B who seems to be having a great time with blessings and favour and all. Let me clear one issue: with God, all his children have the same rights and can claim his blessings, but just like it happens in the Bible, a man or woman can sow seeds of grace that the children and offspring will harvest. You would wonder why these ones seem to be prosperous and successful, but you may be suprised that someone somewhere had earlier laid the foundations of these blessings. Of course, the obvious question is: how are you sowing and what seeds are you sowing? If God were to reward you TODAY for your deeds and thoughts, what would the reward be? Can your offspring live with the repercussions of your actions today?

There's a generational effect for everything that you do. Generations of those who love God still enjoy the blessings of their fathers; just ask Abraham, Jacob and David. Though dead, we still claim the blessings of their lives and deeds, and we can physically see the results of their walk with and work for God.

What are you doing today and what rewards are you striving for? Remember that it is not only about you; your children after you may have to live with the effects of what you are doing now. Sow right, love right, talk right, live right and leave right so that your children can also live right. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response

1PE 3:12 NIV

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

It doesn't matter how long evil seems to thrive and travel; one day, it will be discovered and exposed. It does not matter what you tell yourself is the justification and reason behind the evil you committed; the God who sees all things and rewards or punishes accordingly is a righteous God who cannot be deceived. He is the One who sees ALL things, including the deepest motives behind our actions, even our deepest secrets. Is there any product that behaves contrary to the programming done by its creator? Have you ever seen where a product dictates to its creator How it wants to function?

As we go out this week, let us get something clear: God is not man that can be cajoled, manipulated or deceived by our show of sincerity. His eyes are always open, and he sees all that we do and how we do them. He's the rewarder of all who seek him and he is the judge who will also give to each man appropriately. As I open my mouth to speak to God and ask him for blessings, I must examine my life and be sure that there are no unconfessed sins in my life. Sin is a reproach and it does not matter what the world tells you. The world calls some sins small and labels some lies black and others white; no matter the colour or type or size, it was enough to take Jesus to the cross. You dare Not belittle his sacrifice by living carelessly. You dare not take his blessings for granted by indulging in sin. No matter how hard you pray or how loud you shout, his ears are shut to your words.

Want to be heard and blessed? Be far from sin. Live according to his dictates and see God work on your behalf when you pray by settling all the issues that life may throw at you. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response

EPH 4:31-32 NIV

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Does anything else need be said on this? What more can be added to the clear, concise commands of God in the verses quoted above? Our walk with God is rubbished when we don't do away with the things that belong to the old nature. A Christian properly so called doesn't display any of the characteristics mentioned here: bitterness,rage, anger, malice are things that go into the dustbin of the history of your past, not your present or future. If you are still struggling with these, then you need to re-evaluate your stand in and your walk with God.

When a person truly comes to Christ, he is made a new creature inside and outside. The past is forgiven, forgotten and wiped clean. The consequences of your past actions may still follow up,but the slate has been wiped clean and a fresh start guaranteed. You then have a duty to maintain that clean slate. When others offend you, think of what you have been forgiven of and let go. When others seek your hurt, think of what love has brought you through and to and let go. When people hold grudges against you, remember that love reached out to you even when you were resistant to him and loved you Anyway. That is the Christian walk- a walk of love, a walk of kindness and a walk of forgiveness, no matter how unlovable the person or how grave the offence.

As I go out today, I keep at the back of my mind that I'm forgiven. I'm blessed beyond measure. God has given me life so I must give back to the world around me. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response

2TI 1:9 NIV

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

There's an ORIGIN, a DESTINATION, a PURPOSE and a TIMING for everything God does. When God did the calling mentioned in the passage above, we had not yet even been born. It wasn't as if God didn't know what he was doing, but it is man's work to dismiss whatever he doesn't understand. God placed a call on our lives before we ever came to know him; our acceptance of him as Lord and Saviour is the activation clause for the phase of usage and blessings. When a man has not known and embraced God's purpose for his life, his life lacks direction and meaning. Until the purpose of a thing or life is defined, abuse and misuse are inevitable.

His call is not primarily to prosperity or outward success,but to HOLINESS. If there's any topic we seem to want to avoid, it is this issue of holiness and purity. I have heard people describe virginity before marriage as old-fashioned. I have heard people say that adultery isn't so bad as long as the other partner doesn't know about it. Really? Are you living for the other persons looking at you, or for the One person who has called you? Joseph understood one very fundamental point in life: everything I do is a service or disservice to God first. He told Potiphar's wife in  Genesis 39:9b NIV: My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”. He understood one foundational truth: it is the one who calls that you are to fear and follow, not a fellow- traveller like you. We live for the applause and approval of other people, forgetting that judgement is one appointment ALL mortal men will keep.

A warning though: God has called us from the foundation of the world to be his own children; people he can use to reach out with his message of hope to a hopeless world. His call is without fear or favour, and he doesn't call only those who appear to be qualified. For every person alive, there's a call on your life that has sustained you till now. It is your responsibility to go to God who has called and unearth the purpose behind the call. It is then you can truly start to live. You owe God and your generation not to leave earth without depositing God's investments in you back into your generation. Heaven is the destination, not the approval of any man, no matter how connected or prosperous. His time of favour is here.

The Right Words

1PE 3:15 NIV

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

It all starts with the heart. It is the seat of emotions, rational and irrational thinking, logic, reasoning and deduction. It is such a powerful tool that so many verses have been written on it. One of the strongest warnings on the heart is seen in Proverbs 4:23 KJV:  "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

If indeed, the heart is so fundamental to my walk, then I must guard its contents and watch what goes in. I control the inflow, because it is the inflow that determines the outflow, not the other way around. Have you ever wondered why a child spends so much time on the internet, watching pornography and violence, and the society is appalled when the same child becomes a rapist or a violent criminal? What else would a child produce when all he/she spends time doing is reading and assimilating romance novels and movies which are cut away from reality completely. These false ideas are carried into marriage and when things fall apart, the book or the ideas in the books and films are blamed, instead of the right thing: the contents of the heart.

I have learnt something in these past few years: the Bible has got answers to all of life's questions and it is only as we read, understand, assimilate and apply its lessons that we can have answers when the world throws its questions at us. When a human mind does not know the mind of God, what does he say? How does he help? How would he speak and give comfort when he's not connected to the right source of comfort, inspiration and teaching?

Brethren, in understanding, the bible admonishes us to be men. We must move away from milk and start eating strong meat. It is as we spend time 'eating' the Word that we can reproduce it when demand is made on it. What the bible says on all issues is much more important that what the multitude of books written on the issues have to say. How do I talk about a hope I have not experienced? How do I give out what I don't have?  How does my life produce an output from no input?

May I not spend my life pursuing totally unnecessary things. May God give my heart peace as I pursue his purpose, plan and principles for my life. His time of favour is here.

The Right Start

1PE 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I do not see the word 'I' feature at all in the verses quoted above. It simply means that the benefits, blessings and beauty on offer here have nothing to do with merit, qualifications, personal achievement or labour. You can do nothing in your power to earn these blessings, and you can do absolutely nothing to stop his favour.

Check out the blessings: he's made us his choice. We didn't apply; we couldn't apply because we were so far gone in sin that we didn't even know about the offer. He chose us by and for himself when we were not even worthy.

He's made us his royal priesthood: we are kings and priests. We are royal and we have access to him anyday, anytime and from anywhere.

We are a Holy nation: there's no other criteria that qualifies you for eternity more than holiness. It is a compulsory subject to be learnt, assimilated and imbibed. We are also his special people. All these have ONE major purpose: that we may show forth the praise of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. It is not for us to determine where we think our lives will make more impact; it is God that decides where best we fit in, and he will fix us there, so that there will be glory for him through our lives. Remember, no demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven.

Does my life glorify God? Can people look at me and see God's glory reflecting? Is my present lifestyle one that can be rewarded with eternity? His time of favour is here.

The Right Place

COL 3:1-2 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

An understanding of your location determines your allocation. An understanding of who you are and whose you are determine the resources and the benefits that accrue to you. If a man is double-minded, unstable in his ways and untrustworthy with earthly things, how does God trust him with heaven's resources? If a man has not settled the issue of his identity and ownership, then priorities don't exist, principles are blurred, convictions are uncertain and faith is vain and empty.

If I'm raised with Christ, then my life must bear fruits that look like that kind of life. If I died with Christ, then my life ceases to be under my control. I must set my eyes and heart and mind on heavenly things, not on things on the earth. Earth's beauty is always vain, empty and temporary. The things above are the important and necessary things. Get your priorities right; his time of favour is here.

The Right Response 8

EPH 5:1-2 NIV

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

We were created to be in the image of him who created us. We were made to think, talk, walk, work and love like him. We were his workmanship, the outward proof of his inner wisdom, power and might, and we were created to show off his glory and grace. However, sin came and corrupted that nature. Now, we seek to imitate the attributes of the new master that sin gives- the devil. We now live like people with no hope, no love and no God. Should things be this bad? I don't think so.

For as many that know that they are children of God, there's only one example worth emulating, and that has been established by Christ himself. He has laid down the standard and we who claim sonship must live as the Son lives. His was a life of love in its purest form. Even when we didn't deserve it, he showed us all the same. Even though we were not interested in his offers at that time, his arms remained stretched out, and are still stretched out today, asking all to come and enjoy the benefits of his love. His was a life of love and sacrifice; no wonder God was pleased with him. We cannot afford to be less or do less. If we are God's children, then the standard has been set- live as children of love and children of God. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response 7

1JN 4:11-12 NIV

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

If you want to understand the meaning of true love, look no farther than the Bible. If you have been disappointed with the fake, adulterated affection mistaken for love in the world today, take time out and examine the depths, heights and width of the one called Love himself. He has given us examples that we can follow, and he has shown us what to do and how to do it, so that our lives can preach the kind of message that it was saved to preach.

If, then, we have received this love in all its glorious dimensions, it is necessary that the world understands this love through us. We are the beacon the world sees and emulates, and we set the pace for others to follow. When you don't act the part, people comment: 'And you call yourself a Christian', which means that they know the standards, but they choose not to follow it. You who claim to know and follow the standard must live up to the standard in every way. God went all the way for us, leaving nothing behind. We cannot afford not to do the same.

My life is a city set on a hill and cannot be hid. All I do is a seed that will bear fruit. Can I bear to eat the fruit of the life I'm living now? Can my life testify to the touch, power and efficacy of God's Love? If I'm a product of love, is my life producing similar fruits? His time of favour is here.

The Right Attitude

1PE 5:10 NIV

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Who says suffering isn't part of Christianity? Where is it promised that a walk with God is a walk away from trials, tribulations and persecutions? Where did God ever promise anyone of his disciples that if they could only follow him, then all their problems would be gone?

What his Word promises is GRACE for the journey ahead. What is promised is his presence and power, which is really all that you need to succeed on this journey of life. His grace is all-encompassing, and is available to all, without fear or favour. His grace will restore, renew, reinvigorate, reshape and repair whatever life breaks, while ensuring that you remain whole in Christ.

He loved me enough to die for me, so he loves me enough to ensure that my walk with him remains strong, cordial and fresh. He loved me enough to guarantee me an eternity with him, so I know that all that I go through here is preparation for that eternity.  May I never wander away to the place where the all-encompassing grace of God cannot keep me. His time of favour is here

The Right Spirit

2CO 3:17-18 NIV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

If there has been anything that has generated so much controversy through the ages, it is the Word of God. So many books have been written criticising its contents, many speakers have, in various fora, tried to water down the truths expressed in the Bible, arguments have ensure over the accounts of stories in the Bible, yet it keeps going strong. Its contents are timeless, its stories have a historical basis and foundation, and its pieces fit into the larger picture of what God has been doing in the past and is still doing now, and what is yet to come.

Why then do the contents of the Bible generate so much heat and controversy? Why has it been difficult for people to accept its truths? Why does it appear as if it is difficult to understand what God is saying atimes? I believe that the response to this questions are found in the extract before us. To understand a product, the best reference point is the maker of the product. The fact that you can use the same product for other un-related functions does not mean that the product was made for those un-related functions. The maker had a desire to achieve and set out to fulfil that desire by making the product. He alone prescribes the use, functions, limitation and features of the product. The consumer has to buy and apply the product as advised, in order to derive maximum satisfaction from that product. Any other thing is a waste of time and resources.

I believe that this is the root of our problems with the Bible. We have spent money acquiring Western education,  we have a functional brain and we can logically process issues. Because this works well with some secular issues, we think that we can apply the same principles to the Bible. We read the words and want to reduce its mysteries to the level of our sin-polluted carnal minds, trying to put God in a God and predicting how he would move or do things. We look at the Bible through eyes that are blinded and shielded from knowing the truth, and we think that by ourselves, we can know the truth. We assume that God is like man, with a rational and logical output, and can be understood by clear, precise and

The Right Words

1CO 1:4-5 NIV

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—

The words of Apostle Paul here is a timely reminder of who we are and what we stand to gain when we come to know the Lord. There are many issues that life will throw at you, trying to shake out the temporary and the unnecessary, while leaving only the important. As we walk with the Lord and grow in our knowledge, understanding and discernment of God and his ways, the clearer things become to us and the easier it is for us to accept his will for our lives, no matter how "inconvenient" it may look like.

Paul could testify to the grace of God because he was a living testimony of what the grace of God can do in any life. It isn't so much about who you were before or what you had done, or whether you were the best for the job or not, it was just that God's grace is the differentiating factor. We are nothing outside the grace of God and we can achieve nothing outside of his grace. No wonder Paul moved from a persecutor of the church of Christ  to a propagator of the gospel of Christ. The letters he wrote and the impact he made on the churches outside the Jewish land, is a testimony to the fact that what you hold now isn't the determinant of how far you can go in life.

Whatever it is that is happening to you is preparing you for the great place that God has prepared for you. As long as you depend on God, relying on his strength and wisdom, there's no limit to what God can do with your life. He will take the ordinary life you think you have and produce extraordinary miracles through it. He will take your 'ordinary' words like Samuel and Elijah and back it up with his power, making sure that your words have the desired effect. All it takes is total dependence on the grace of God. He will work out the other details and make you his mouthpiece and his message of grace, hope and life to the world. His time of favour is here.

The Right Time

2PE 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

It is rather unfortunate how hard we try to predict how God moves. We think we have known him so well that we can determine, with a fair amount of certainty, what God can do or won't do. We think we have walked with him long enough to know how he operates and thinks. Fortunately, God always disappoints man's expectations, otherwise, we would have been in deep trouble. If man could play God or predict God, then imagine what the world would be like. Thank God for not giving man that kind of power.

As we look at today's extract, what strikes me is that God always loves us to a fault, no matter our past or our baggage. He knows our weaknesses and shortcomings, and he's always giving us grace to repent and return to him. No matter how bad the sin or terrible the past, God is able to give a fresh start and a new beginning. Man is the one always counting scores and seeking to settle scores; God is always seeking to save man and guarantee him eternity. If God appears slow, it is because his love will not let us go without a fight. He will keep giving you oppourtunities to return to him.

This is one of the reasons why God should be feared. As powerful as he is, he does not force his will or ideas on you. He wants you to come to him willingly, out of love for him, not a sense of duty. He is looking for willing disciples, not compelled followers. The warning is this: one day, the oppourtunities will cease and judgement will come. Then, it will be too late to repent or return. While there's still time, it is now that is the best time. Today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow, not anytime else. Make today count; seek God out. He's waiting to save. His time of favour is here.

The Right Walk

PSA 119:1-2 NIV

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord . Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart

We love to claim the blessings but we don't do much about the conditions for the blessings. We know all the verses in the Scriptures that talk about what God can give you, but we don't do much about the verses that talk about our responsibility. We love convenient Christianity- the type where you always get something for whatever you put in- but truthfully, our faith won't make much sense if it had to flow along these selfish lines.

Today's extract seeks to put our walk with God into proper perspective. God is always looking for people he can bless but the problem is with us. There's nothing God will do with the blessings if nobody claims them, and there is nothing to prove that God is stingy. Why, then, does it appear as if God doesn't want to bless us? What I have learnt is that all of his blessings have situational and circumstantial conditions for them to be fulfilled in our lives. You cannot expect that God will bless you while you are involved in adultery or fornication, neither will you steal from your place of work and expect that God will truly favour you. There is a minimum standard that God demands from his children. Every other person around you may be doing something, it doesn't make it right. God is the determinant of what is right and he has made his will and desires known through his word. There are no excuses and no plea of ignorance.

To be truly blessed, you must walk according to his law, not as you please. You must follow him with ALL your heart, Not part of it. Half-hearted devotion to God is as bad as outright rebellion to God, because God cannot trust that you will stand for him when troubles come. I pray that God will find me worthy to entrust me with his immense blessings. May my life be one that will attract his awesome power. His time of favour is here.

The Right Stand

ROM 1:17 NIV

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

When I read the Bible- God's revealed truth- what do I see? When I open up the treasures, what do I take away from it? Do I just read for fun, enjoying the stories that make up the contents, or do I use the Spirit behind the contents as a guide and guard for my own life? 

One of the most fundamental lessons I have learnt over the years from reading the Bible is that intellect and education is not the major requirement for understanding its contents. You don't get a clearer picture of what God is saying by getting a doctorate degree in theology; you just need one major ingredient only: FAITH. Faith is the requirement for pleasing God, as established in Hebrews 11:6. It is the summary of the walk of all the men of God that we read about today, and it is still the only thing God rewards today as we also walk with him.

As today's extract shows, it is all about faith, from first to last, and nothing in between. You don't start with faith, and somewhere in the middle of the journey, think that works Will profit you. You don't start with faith in God  and think that when difficult situations come, you can consult the devil by the side and still think that you will end well. There are no substitutions for faith, and there is no where that works, self, personal achievements and all are criteria for winning God's approval.

One thing is clear. The walk with God is a walk of faith. The future may be uncertain and unsure, but the knowledge of the God who owns and holds the future is enough to quieten all storms and doubts. No matter what is happening now, there is an understanding that with God on your side, tomorrow will work out fine because you have a God who is busy working out all the details of your life. You know that no matter what the world's standards are today, because the world never has a definite and clear standard based on truth, the standards will give way eventually. But because you have based your life on something more stable and permanent- the word of God himself who is also the truth across all the ages, you are rest assured that come what may, his promises and his life are your experiences. Don't settle for less than his best. Don't give up before you walk in his perfect will. Then can you truly enjoy the life that he has purposed for you. His time of favour is here.

The Right Place

PSA 33:4-5 NIV

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

It is very easy to take a look around and get discouraged. When you consider what goes on in parts of the world, you may just wonder whether God really cares about everyone or if he really can solve the world's problems. Today's extract establishes the fact that, no matter what the world wants you to see or think, there is nothing that is beyond God's attention or help. If God says that the earth is the Lord's, then it is truly His. If God says that the silver and the gold belong to him, who is the one that will deny that truth? If you believe that his Word is true, then all parts and provisions of his Word are true, not just the convenient and easy-to-believe parts. There's a part of his word that says that in confirming the promise made to Abraham, he swore by the two greatest, unbreakable things: his Name and his Word. Whatever he has promised, his name and that word are at stake. God has put his word on trial, and he dares anyone to call him a liar.

No matter what you are going through today, never let go of God. You could lose everything like Job, but don't ever let go of God. God is able to replace more than everything that you have lost, just like he did for Job, but nothing can replace God. Get a word from him on your situations and circumstances and watch God move heaven and earth just to bring his word to pass in your life. You have got to hold on, Trusting him totally, knowing that God is able to do all that he has promised. His time of favour is here.

The Right Connection

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

God indeed is awesome. There is nothing the devil has done that God has not forseen and made adequate plans for. When the devil stole the blessing of Adam, God was there to restore the blessings through the seed of the woman. No matter how complex the generation or how difficult the terrain, God has always been several steps and great thoughts ahead of the devil and his devious plans. It doesn't matter what the devil does or what man tries; God is always in charge, ensuring that even the worst of situations produce the best of outcomes, in line with the good and perfect purpose he has in mind for everyone he has created.

It doesn't matter how 'good' or how 'bad' things are now; its nothing compared to what God has in store for you. It doesn't matter just how much of the lies of the devil you had believed in the past; what matters now is what you believe now. Today's extract seeks to change our focus from what we see around us now to what God seeks to do in our lives. He's changing our inner state to accept the great and awesome plans he has for us, plans that our present minds just cannot comprehend now. He is the mighty God and the awesome ruler over the affairs of men and he is the One with the final say over the affairs of his creation. Whatever he allows, happens, and whatever he resists cannot happen. What he needs from us is absolute dependence and trust in his power, wisdom and strength. What he needs from us is that we love him unconditionally, trusting that as we hold on to him, Through all the things he will bring our way, we will look back one day and see that truly: God has great plans for me. His time of favour has come.

The Right Help

ISA 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We live in strange times indeed. It is the age where innocence is lost and life seems brutish and short. I have heard of robbers writing a community, telling them to make adequate cash withdrawals for their coming. I have heard of Mothers and fathers making use of their own children for money rituals, so they could be rich. I have seen children from good backgrounds, with a sound education and a positive background, turn out to be objects of pain and regrets for their parents and relations. It appears as if the more advanced and 'enlightened' we become, the more diabolical and godless we become. We seek more mental development and no spiritual depth. We make more money and spend so much on acquisitions, yet we are no closer to the kingdom of God. We pursue things and abandon purpose, and then we wonder why our lives lack direction, impact and meaning. The questions then arise: what do we do? What can we do? Where do we go for help?

Today's extract has timeless, pertinent advice for all of us. The world around us is slowly decaying and it will not get better because it operates on a different principle from the Word of God. The world does not understand trust in God, it only understands a dependence on self. The world cannot sustain its dependants; it can only push you to seeking out help from other sources outside of God.

It is very important that the man who would go far in life must live on the principles of this verse. What is happening around you can upset you and make you abandon God. Fear is a product of a heart that has chosen his own path by himself, and leaves no room for God. When troubles come, Where would he go? When a man has told God that he's self-made and self-sufficient, what help can God give such a person? When the storms of life come, and threaten to capsize the boat, who's the first person you call? So many questions, but all of them have a focus: to get us to change our view and to fix it firmly on the one whose Presence and power is all we need to survive this season of fear. It is his strength alone that can sustain when all has failed. It is he alone that can uphold with his Righteous right hand and it is he alone whose help is without cost and without stress.

Today, God's word to us is this: Do Not Fear. He's with us as we run this race and it is he alone that can sustain till the end. Don't let anyone deceive you into thinking thatvonce you come to Christ, all trials and problems are over; His powerful right hand  WILL take you through the roughest storm, but his promise of sustenance, provision, protection and Presence will ensure that you come out victorious and successful. Nothing works outside of God. His time of favour is here.

The Right Test

PSA 139:23-24 NIV

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Today's extract flows from a careful study of the worth and value of man. The Psalmist had considered God's wondrous works and his mighty acts, and had clearly seen that there was something fearful and wonderful about man. Man isn't the physically strongest or the most appealing of God's creatures, but He is the most intellectually gifted, emotionally- stable and the only eternity-minded of all of God's creatures. He alone has the record of the whole of heaven witnessing his creation, endowment, empowerment, assignment and partnership. It wouldn't have bothered  God if other animals didn't act according to plan; man's fall had grave repercussions for the entire creation.

It is however amazing just how God can bring so much good out of so much evil. I don't know how God can take what looks like a bad thing and chart a path of eternal good out of that. That's God. No wonder the Psalmist dedicated an entire chapter, out of many others,  to celebrating God's grace on man.  However, I see a warning here- God has done his own part, and has restored us back to God, giving us a new stand and a new hope in Christ. What is required is that we take advantage of this free offer and stand in his will, doing what He commands. Like the Psalmist prayed, I must allow the searchlight of the Holy Spirit do its work in me. Atimes, I could deceive myself into thinking I'm okay, but God can show me where I need to make amends. He is the Truth himself, and He is the Life, so if I really and truly seek life, I cannot do it outside of him. I must let him search My heart, purify my thoughts, cleanse my motives and intentions from all wicked ways and means so that I can be found worthy of eternal life.

If at the end of my race on earth, with all I have experienced, I still don't qualify for heaven , then if has truly been a wasted life. Eternity is God's plan and purpose; the seeds and the foundations are found in my everyday life. How am I living now? Can my present fruits qualify me for eternity? His time of favour is here.

The Right Heart

James 5:16 NIV

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I have always imagined just how difficult this passage is to obey. How do I confess my sins to someone else and expect someone else to do the same?  In this modern world of superior thinking and class- consciousness, can you really get people to open up to you in honesty and sincerity? If there's anything I have learnt over the past few years, it is that we have built artificial walls of emotional, psychological and physical barriers against the need to relate on this level with other people. We judge people on the basis of what we think we know about them or what they possess. We equate possessions with value, thinking ourselves inferior if we don't have as much as the other person. But there is nowhere in today's extract that what you have matters; it is who you know that matters. It is not about your bank balance or the size of your house, it is about your spiritual balance and the size of your heart.

Do you have Christ living in you? That's all that matters. It is He who allows you see beyond the possessions into the problem in the heart of man. It is his Spirit in you that enables you to seek reconciliation with others so that healing can occur. It is your acceptance of your weaknesses as human beings that opens the door for God to work his wonders of healing through you. As you Submit to his Spirit, He works through you to ensure that sin submits to the power of God.

There's a miracle that happens when sin is confessed. There's a restoration of fellowship that occurs when love is expresssed and offences are forgiven. It is in this atmosphere that love can thrive and God can move. No wonder answered prayer is tied to this verse. If you want answers to prayers, follow the framework of this verse. If you want a healthy, fruitful balance in your relationship with God and man, follow the pattern laid down by this verse. The result of this healthy lifestyle is seen in the extract before us today: answered, fruitful prayers. If God is to answer our prayers, we must get the foundation right. If God is going to do great things through us, then we must allow his Spirit break down all artificial and emotional barriers. There's no room for class consciousness or building of walls or cliques. There's no room for bitterness or silent anger: speak it out, let it out so that offences can be brought to light and forgiveness shared. You can never be effective or make any kind of impact if sin is present; you can never make an impact until you make peace. His time of favour is here.

The Right Place

Matthew 6:1 NIV

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

I believe we are indeed living in perilous times. We are in an age where people think that they can win God's approval by being seen to do right before men. We now think that the opinion of man is the opinion of God, or we think that if we can get people to like us, maybe then, it is a sign that God likes us too. We seem to forget one very important fact: man is fickle and unpredictable. During the lifetime of Jesus, didn't we see one particular week when the people were shouting: Hossana, Hossana, and by the end of the same week, were already shouting: Crucify Him, Crucify Him. That is the stuff of man. No wonder Jeremiah declares in Jeremiah 17:5 NIV:
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord .

Your best intentions will not win you God's approval. God doesn't deal with us on the basis of what we strive to accomplish by our power but what we depend on him to accomplish through us. God's rewards and blessings aren't for hypocrites or men-pleasers; his blessings are for those who have found him and seek to please him in every way depending on the grace of God to achieve what they could never dream of achieving by their own power.

There's a need to raise men whose focus have shifted from what man says to what God says. There's a need to raise a generation whose entire pursuit is the purpose of God alone, not man's personal agendas. God is looking for men that He can entrust with the deep things of the kingdom, men whose hearts have been completely given over to God and who are not distracted by the temporary dazzling lights of the world and its distractions. Am I the man God is looking for? Can He depend on me? His time of favour is here.

The Right Heart 2

Luke 6:27-28, 31 GNB

“But I tell you who hear me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who ill-treat you.........  Do for others just what you want them to do for you.

If there's anything that has proven difficult over the years, this passage is one of them. I have heard people say that Christianity isn't stupidity, and that God does not expect me to take just anything in the name of Christianity. But in reality, we know that the call to receive Christ is a call to the denial of self and right, and the imposition of the will of God on you. You surrender your desires and wants and take up God's own. You stop living for yourself alone and start living to please God alone.

This is where the issues lie. Even when you are trying to live right, how can you be held responsible for other people's reactions? Why would God place a burden on you to take whatever people do or give you and turn it into something good? Even when it seems as if I have done my best, it may not be enough. What do I do? God expects me to keep at it, doing my best, living for him, showing the same character traits that He showed when He died on the cross for me. He didn't wait until I was lovable or nice; neither did He wait until I was deserving of his love. He showed love even when I was at my worst, ignoring him and hating him. He expects the same from me, because I carry his nature and his Spirit inside of me. I have been renewed to be like him and to think, talk, act and react like him: in love, no matter what the other person gives back.

What it then means is that other people's reactions shouldn't be my focus; I should just watch my own life and the fruits that my life bear.  I am a city set on a hill, and people watch from every point. They must see the difference and the light must so shine that it shows the glory of God. Is my life that kind of example? Am I reacting in anger or in Love? Do I have the nature of God in me, or am I still struggling with the sinful nature, trying to get even with people when they offend me? Remember, every seed sown will bear fruit in greater measure than was sown, so watch what and how you sow. His time of favour is here.

The Right Heart

1 John 4:18 NIV

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Fear and love are two extremes. The two aren't made to co-exist in the same heart. God is love personified and love can never be understood or truly felt outside of him. A man who seeks to experience love has to first of all experience God. When a man has God, then He can have and know love.

Fear, on the other hand, is rooted in the law. The law was given to regulate man and his behaviour and it prescribed punishment for all who fell foul of its requirements. Because it was not possible to obey all the requirements of the law by human power, it then meant that punishment was frequently applied. Fear of punishment was therefore  valid and could make a man so conscious of the law's requirement that He had no room for love. A man who's therefore under the law can never fully comprehend love and its demands.

The man who has Christ has been freed from the dictates and demands of the law. He's subject to a higher law that gives freedom. He's still obedient to physical laws, but he's not reliant on his strength to obey,but on God, who gives strength to obey. He's dependent on the higher law of liberty, and his heart is set free to truly experience and show love.

Which one are you bound by: the law that oppresses or the law that gives liberty? If you want your life to make impact as it was created to do, then your heart must be truly free for it to make impact. What you don't have, you can't give. Is your heart set free? Has it itself experienced God's love? His time of favour is here.

The Right Hunger

Psalms 63:1 GNB

O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.

There's a God-shaped vacuum in every life that nothing else can occupy or satisfactorily fill. There's a bit of God breathed into man at creation that nothing else can fill except He who created man. Unfortunately, man has devised various things as alternatives to God: there's now power, position, possessions, privilege and so on. We think that the more we have or become, the happier we will be. But as evidence around us points out, more money has never led to a happier life. More possessions do not guarantee joy. The fact that things look good for you on the outside does not necessarily mean that all is well on the inside.

Today's extract is a timely reminder of our need to depend absolutely and totally on God and God alone. The Psalmist here had a thirst that nothing else could satisfy. He had a deep longing that no activity, acquisition or achievement could fully quench. Nothing Worked for him except if God was in it with him. That should be our greatest desire and pursuit. God is the ultimate and He should be our ultimate. The world has its dazzling lights and distracting objects: they make you think that life will be more colourful If you got these things, but we know that It is only that man that has God that truly has everything. It is the man who has given God first place and the only available space in his heart that can truly enjoy the benefits and blessings of his presence.

Is your land like a dry, weary land in need of the refeshing presence of God himself or are you trying to find other things to use to satisfy that thirst? Is your whole being longing for God or longing for the physical, temporary thrill that doesn't truly satisfy? Get your priorities right: nothing and nobody except God that fill the place of his Spirit in our hearts. You need him and him alone, nothing else matters. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response 6

1 John 3:16 NIV

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

It appears to me that there is a strong emphasis on love these past few days. There have been many versions flying about,,many of them fake, false or manufactured by man for his own selfish desires. Many variations of love have now been mistaken for love: infatuation, lust, inordinate sexual appetite, incest, sodomy and similar abnormalities have been described as love; in fact,the act of sex itself has been described as 'making love' in some instances. Can something that looks so simple be this complex and misunderstood?

One lesson must be established from the outset: love can never be truly or fully interpreted or explained or understood outside of God. There's a fundamental foundation to love that is rooted in Christ because love has always been defined in the Bible from God's perspective, not man's. Love has always been understood on the basis of the identity and sacrifice of Christ, not what man has done or can do. That is why true love here is seen as the sacrifice of Christ, who died for us, not because we had earned or deserved it, but because it is his nature to love like that. He did not wait for us to love him first, or to be deserving of that love; He didn't do it because there was a financial or emotional gain to benefit; He did it for us freely and fully, just because He loved us.

We just must examine our hearts today from this perspective: do we truly love for no reason or do we build relationships on the basis of what we stand to gain? Are we waiting for people to show themselves worthy of our love before we show them love? Do we love like Christ- sacrificially, totally and absolutely, expecting nothing in return while giving your best, or do we wait for convenience and comfort  before we can show love to others? Remember, if it is not love as defined by the owner- Love himself, then it is not love. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response

Luke 6:37 KJV

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

It seems to me that today's extract is an apt warning for today's Christians. We have elevated our egos and status to the level of Christ, thinking that we have sufficiently known him to the point where we can legislate on how other people should live their lives. We have come to a point where we think that with what we know, we can change the course of history and dictate terms and conditions to other believers. We are quick to tell the world what to and what not to eat, wear or drink. We want to dictate the life of other people, pointing out their faults and mistakes, under the false assumption that we ourselves are Any better. We point the finger at other people's faults because they are evident, forgetting that as human beings, we cannot but offend each other, and it is as we see beyond the faults and see the person as the focus of God's love and attention, it helps to put everything in proper perspective.

These are clear warnings to all of us not to be too quick to judge, condemn or hold grudges. For every reaction of ours, there's an equal and opposite reaction. If you judge a man without having complete knowledge of all facts and figures, someone else will do the same to you. If you are quick to condemn others, then be ready to hear the same words from someone else about you.

What Christ calls us to is a life totally given to peace, holiness, righteousness and love for others. It isn't always convenient because offences must come; we are human beings and we must offend one another once in a while. What is important is to remember that your brother, who has offended you, was created the same way as you and is the target of God's great love, just like you. If you want to pray and be answered, then your heart must accomodate other people's faults and mistakes. Afterall, you aren't perfect either; you are a product of the same grace of God.

Forgiveness is essential because God has laid an example for us. He did his bit when we weren't interested in him but He did it anyway. How much more, then, should we live like him, forgiving others and letting go, so that God can answer us when we call on him? Remember, even in the Lord's prayer, forgiving other people is a necessary pre-condition for your own prayers to be answered. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response 4

Psalms 103:1-5 KJV

Bless the Lord , O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Indeed, our God is awesome. He reigns and rules in the hearts of men and does as He pleases with all He has created. As we examine our hearts and lives, I'm sure that we will find reasons to praise God more and complain less. I think our manifest headache these days is because we spend so much time looking and lusting after the closed doors beside us that we simply ignore or do not notice the open doors in front of us. We spend precious time wishing, waiting, watching and whining for a better life out there, forgetting that true change starts from within- a grateful heart of praise and thanksgiving for all that we have presently and for what God himself will give us as we ask.

Today's extract seeks to direct  our hearts to the things that matter. We are to bless the Lord everytime, everywhere, everyday and every chance we get. The reasons are made known here and as I look at these reasons, I have cause to be more grateful because there's nothing left that has not been taken care of: the past, present and future. He's forgiven our sins and healed all our diseases, promises that his cross has taken care of; he's crowned us with his tender kindness and compassion, guaranteeing our eternity in the future. He doesn't forget to take care of us here while we are waiting for our eternal redemption: He also satisfies our desires with Good things, so that our strength is constantly renewed. What has He left out? What hasn't He thought about? What can happen to us that will be beyond his power, wisdom and strength? What can happen to me without his permission and authority? What can the devil do to me without speaking to God first?

I'm a product of God's great grace and mercy and I am a product of careful planning and awesome wisdom. There's nothing accidental about my experiences and there's nothing usual about the God I serve. He alone is the one who can make useful, awesome vessels from pieces of broken pottery. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response 3

ROM 11:33 NIV

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

I have not seen or heard anywhere else that a person can be the embodiment of wisdom and power. It is only in the Bible that you read that Jesus is described as the wisdom and the power of God. He was referrred to by John as being there in the beginning with God, and He is the One through whom all things were created and for his pleasure were all things created. Revelations says that He is the One who has been found worthy to break the seals and open the scrolls, so the blessings for his children can be revealed and appropriate punishments meted out to his enemies. His ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts. He is the beginning and the end of all creation, sustaining all things by his powerful Word. He calls the things that are not as though they were, which is why light can be brought out of the thickest darkness and a life can be formed out of dust, the most unlikely raw material.

His promises are trustworthy because they are backed up by two immutable, unbreakable things: his Name and his Word. Whatever He says, He can do, and if He says it, He will work out the circumstances for the fulfilment of these words. Ours is to trust and walk with him, knowing that He knows just how this journey will go, and how it will end. His wisdom is indeed beyond searching out, and his ways are mysterious. He's the only One who's capable of working out the future, even from a terrible past, because He knows the good end prepared for us and He will work out ALL things happening now, towards that good end. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response 2

JER 32:17 NIV

“Ah, Sovereign Lord , you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Have you sat down to consider the world around you and how everything fit together? Have you considered all the amazing and puzzling things around you and wondered just how they came to be? Have you considered the mighty seas and its raging surges, yet it has not covered the whole earth? Hot as the sun is these days, have you asked yourself why it has not burned up the whole earth? As we consider the puzzle called creation, there's no way it will not generate questions in your mind as to the greatness, power, wisdom, knowledge and absolute dignity of God seen in his creation. He has sustained all he's created through the centuries. As one empire rises and falls and another takes its place, God's hand is seen in creation, pulling the strings and setting everything in its proper place.

It is therefore necessary and important that we accord the respect and awe due God to him. He is the unchanging changer who turns things around for our good, yet He himself remains the same faithful God through all generation. He is the one who calls himself the I Am that I Am, who is always relevant and contemporary no matter the age or generation, the one who is father to the fatherless, husband to the widow, strength to the weak, food to the hungry and hope to the hopeless.

This Morning, I raise my voice and join the multitude in worshipping this great, awesome father, who loves us no matter how far away we wander or how polluted we become. I praise him for his wonderful plans for my life and the structure He has built around me to help me. I Thank him for family to love and care for me, and I Thank him for the gift of work and play. I Thank him for oppourtunities to talk to him and hear from him in return and I Thank him for the hope of eternity, which keeps my focus on him till the end of time. Indeed, our God is awesome. He deserves all praise. He's powerful, Nothing is beyond him and nothing suprises him. God you are awesome, your time of favour is here.

The Right Confession

ROM 10:9-10 NIV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

I believe that these verses above hold the answers to some of the problems that we face today. We are made aware of our sinful nature and our helplessness and inability to save ourselves. We are reminded that the solution to our nature isn't in ourselves at all, but rather in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. We are then reminded Just what is expected of us so we can reach out and enjoy what Jesus had sealed for us so many years ago. That is where the easy part stops.

We now know what we need to do to be saved but it is amazing just how slow our response is. We do everything else except the right thing and we wonder just why things are no different for us. We talk about our sins to the wrong people and in the wrong environment and we wonder why things are not different. We go to the extreme atimes when we are sorry for our sins: we cry bitterly and get emotional, yet we don't do the right thing or go to the right person- Jesus himself. Thats the difference between Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter when they sinned. No wonder the guilt remains.

Today's extract is clear- you have to confess right and believe right. Its not enough to be sorry and confess your sins; you have got to do it right. As I open my mouth, I must confess that Jesus is Lord if I want to be saved, while also believing in my heart that his sacrifice on the cross was for me. It is a complete package. My mouth can't confess what my heart doesn't believe and I cannot stand on a promise that I do not believe. If I'm to be forgiven and set free, I must confess right and believe right. Jesus is the way,the truth and the life, and if anyone will have him, you must come to him on his terms and take him at his word. He promises salvation and freedom to all who come to him believing He can save. Do you need him? Seek him out today and enjoy his free gift of salvation. His time of favour is here.

The Right Response

COL 3:13 NIV

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

The world is what it is today because we have learnt how to count scores and keep records of wrongs. Our sense of 'worth' and 'value' is offended when people wrong us and we feel it is our sacred duty to right these wrongs and correct the faults. This attitude May work for those who aspire to no standards at all or who live by the standards of the world, but for as many as aspire to God's standards, then we strive for a higher level of responsibility and accountability.

Offences are bound to come. Human relationships have not evolved to become faultless and perfect. Because we are all human beings, with our weaknesses and peculiarities, we will offend others, either deliberately or inadvertently. How we now handle these issues speaks a lot about which standard we uphold and live by: God's, or the world's.

God's standard is exemplary; he does not ask us to do what He has not done himself or demand from us what He has not given us power to do. When we were the worst of people, and we scorned and rejected him, He sent his one and only Son to die for the sins of the whole world. He didn't have to do it, He did it Anyway, because He loved us so much. He wiped our slate clean, by forgiving us all our sins in the present and giving us a promise that if we only confessed and forsook them, even future sins are forgiven, as long as it was not too late. He then calls us to the same standard, asking us to relate the same way with our fellow man, who He also died for. The world is looking for change, the world is hungry for a new direction and it is those of us with a new heart that will lead the new change, because what you don have, you can't give.

Has the change in heart occurred in you? Have you learnt to forgive others the way God has forgiven you? Can you wipe the slate clean for others the same way God did the same for you? His time of favour is here.

The Right Response

MAT 5:43-44 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor    and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

It is very convenient to respond to people who have met us half-way. We find it easy to love people who are lovable and approachable, people who have made it a habit to accommodate other people's weaknesses. We find it convenient to respond to people with whom we share common interests and pursuits. This is Fine, but unfortunately, not spectacular. This is the minimum standard expected of a world without the Saviour. The world thrives on reciprocal commitment- I do for you and you do for me. That is the world's attitude.

There's an attitude that goes beyond the minimun standard of behaviour and demands from us exceptional behaviour. We are asked to Love our enemies, and pray for those who despisefully use you. Talk order. How do you love someone who probably wouldn't rest till He/she takes your life? How do you show love to someone who's planning your downfall and celebrating your weaknesses? How do you pray for someone who treats you like crap? How do you wish a man well who does not wish you well in return?  Difficult questions but with a simple answer.  God does not expect me to do these things by my own power, that is why he's given me the Holy Spirit.

No amount of personal labour or strength can make you love the man who seeks to kill you. No strategy can overcome hatred more quickly than love, shown God's way. It is the strongest message a child of God can preach, because it is the language that all men understand, no matter the culture.

The way you love and the people you choose to love will show just whose child you are. If I cannot Love all men, no matter what they may have done, How do I prove that I know a God who gave himself up for our sins when we were the most unworthy of that love? What message am I passing across with my life? If I want the world to know God, the quickest and the best way is by my focus on love, the very nature of God. Live right, love right. His time of favour is here.

The Right Heart

1TH 5:16-18 NIV

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

If there's a challenge we face in the world today, it is how to keep a good heart in the midst of the dirt and evil around us. In these days of economic recession, financial meltdowns and political turmoil, how do we keep ourselves fresh? How do we maintain the right attitude when everything seems to be going wrong around us?

The answers to these issues have been given to us: we must work on our hearts to have and see the right things. We must condition our hearts to see how God sees, think as God thinks and do what God expects. We are to rejoice always and pray always, not because we will always have cost days, but that we can see what God wants us to see in those situations He allows to come our way. What else can teach us the fruits  of patience, perseverance and self-control more than the trials God brings our way? How else do we appreciate the joy God gives if sorrow does not threaten?  How do we value the privilege of being able to talk to God if we do not have any need of him?

We are encouraged to give thanks in ALL circumstances because whatever God allows has a lesson it must teach and a season it must manifest. It cannot last forever because God alone is the One who lasts forever. Everything else comes to pass and as it comes, we must take the lessons, apply them with joy to our lives, learn the points to note and move on with joy to the next one. His will for us is always perfect and purposeful, because He has no room for wastages. If He allows it, it is because there's a lesson to it. Learn, Live, Laugh and Leave in the right seasons. His time of favour is here.