Fought Right!

We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 AMP

Reading the verse before this one above gives a picture of warfare.  Indeed, the journey we are called to is a life of warfare. At no time does God assure us that we won't be tried, tested and tired sometimes; but he only assures us of certain victory which has been settled long before we were called to stand in warfare for him. And the fight will be on eternal principles. When you hear arguments and philosophies on life's issues, you realise you have to know God truly for you to fight for the Truth. The Truth is powerful because it refers to God himself. I am yet to see that person, force, authority or power that is able to stand against the Truth Himself.

The devil is also at work, seeking to establish his own versions into the hearts of men. His plan is to set up a parallel authority to God, and convince men that his way is better. The heart of Man is the battlefield,  and victory or defeat is always decided by the state of the heart at the time. If the heart is surrendered to God, and God is the One pulling the strings, you will stand, fight well and sustain the victory. If the heart is undecided, then the heart may be consumed by the ferocity of the battle. 

I can only ask God to help me. The human heart can deceive; it is capable of misleading the one in whom it resides, which is why only total surrender to God is the one sure way of living the victorious life God intends for me. When my heart is right with God , I can identify deceit and deception. When my heart is right with God, I can call out any act contrary to God's perfect will. You cannot give what you don't have. Until my heart is right, I have no right to another person's heart. Where do I stand? His time of favour is here. 

Taught Right!

And now, the Master, God, sends me and his Spirit with this Message from God your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel: “I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go. Isaiah 48:17 MSG

God never leaves us in doubt as to who He is, what his purpose and plan for our lives are, and what he demands from all who claim to know and follow Him. Today's extract follows the same pattern. First, he introduces himself to all who would listen as 'God, your God'. I believe that there is no replacement for a personal relationship with God. People can talk a lot about God, read and speak a lot about him, but when they speak and how they live their daily lives will reveal whether they truly know this God.

God then announces his purpose for all who have come to know him: he wants to teach us how to live right and live well. His desire for us is to enjoy the fullness of the richest of His Presence and Power, but this is available for only those who have aligned with the first part of this piece: who have known him and follow Him daily. Note that it is a daily walk, not an occasional experience.

God is not a magic wand or a spare wheel, used only for immediate benefits or in emergencies; He is the Only One whose Word is life and light and strength to all who find Him. There is a path of life, found only in and through God, and no amount of education or enlightenment will guarantee you this life. Only a personal knowledge of the One called Life will lead you down the right path into eternal life.  His time of favour is here. 

Status Check!

Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him]. JOHN 3:18 AMP

When you consider the greatest gift that has been given, a decision must be made. When I consider the price that was paid so I could walk in new life, then I must check my status and be sure that I am where God expects me to be.

First, there must be a combination of inner conviction and outer confession. Both are necessary and important. I also note that whatever decision I make now has effect both now and in eternity.  Accepting Christ as Lord is a personal decision, which nobody can make for you or force down your throat.  As soon as you make your decision - accept or reject,  the consequences of your decision begins to follow you. It doesn't matter how smart you are, or how careful you are; a day of reckoning will come for all men everywhere, and an accounting will be demanded from all.

Please note again: the effects of your choice start down here and continue into eternity. The focus of our faith is Christ, not activity,  morals or anything else. It is a personal relationship with the One who can save to the uttermost and also guarantee eternal life to all who come to him. Just pause and think: do you really think that it will all end here? Do you really think there will be no ultimate leveller, a universal principle that will be applied to all men, irrespective of age, race, status or privilege? While God's grace is available,  take hold or it, and enjoy the fullness of his blessings.  His time of favour is here.  

Embrace Discipline!

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose]. HEBREWS 12:11 AMP

First of all, let it be established that God didn't call anyone to a life of earthly comfort. This has been emphasized in previous posts, and if what you have received indicates otherwise, please check again. Discipline is also a word that has been misinterpreted several times, but it has to be mentioned here that in this context, one of the best ways of explaining it is by: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV. Every activity mentioned here is a part of God's disciplinary process. Where he needs to give doctrine, he opens my eyes to what he wants me to know and hold on to as truth. When he wants to reproof or correct, he sends his Word to me as a caution/warning/directive. When he wants something peculiar done, he gives instructions on what he wants done and how he wants it done. I do not know of a better definition of discipline more than this. The end of discipline is discipleship, where a person becomes like the leader, has learnt patiently under the leader and can be trusted by the leader to speak his mind. Can I be described as such?

The process is painful, long and hard. No wonder God warns of the narrow way, the hard way. It is a straight path, one that is very unpopular. Sometimes, it would appear God is repeating lessons over and over again, and one is caught in one spot. Sometimes, it would appear God is punishing one for something very unclear, but this is an assurance I have: the end of all these is always right. The only one whose opinion matters is God. Man has his standards of measuring success and impact; unfortunately, God's standards are a lot different.

When God deals with a man, the end is always a product approved by God, and can be used for mighty works. When a man is aligned with God, there is no end to what God can use that life for. Am I truly surrendered to God or am I still holding on to my own ways? Can God entrust assignments into my hands? His time of favour is here.

Fight Right!

Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses. 1 TIMOTHY 6:12 AMP

The word 'fight' seems to connote a bad thing, but as you know, when it comes to God, words have different meanings. A call by God on a life is a call to active service, a call to stand your ground against the kingdom of darkness, a call to hold on to the principles espoused by the Word of God and to fight against all the wiles and strategies of the devil. I cannot recall anywhere God promised earthly comfort and convenience to anyone who agreed to follow him.

It is a fight against evil, a fight against popular opinion, a fight against the natural flow of things. Men will oppose you, men wouldn't understand your position or your principles; even men who claim the same faith with you will also oppose you, maybe because your stand interferes with the own gains. Whatever it is, remember the one who called you, and what he has called you to. God calls men to himself, because he wants them to have a never - ending life. He is called Saviour and Lord, and when I surrendered to him, I accepted him as the only one through whom I could gain access to true riches and grace and also gave up control of my entire life to him.

Take hold - a conscious effort, a daily activity, a never -ending requirement until physical death or rapture. As long as I am alive, I must work at it, with God's power and grace, to be all he has created and empowered me to be. Men have witnessed my mouth confession; they must also testify to my life's profession. Hypocrisy is the world's practice; it must not be found in those who know the call of God on their lives. His time of favour is here.

Love so True!

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. John 3:16‭ MSG

A very familiar passage, but one requiring a fresh perspective. Some very fundamental questions emanate from this passage, with fundamental responses also. However, only 1 may be considered. A decision will then be made based on the conclusions at the end of this piece.

That major question is: who is showing the love, to whom and why? Consider the fact that God really didn't owe us anything. He had given clear instructions on how to live and enjoy his favour, but we chose our own path. The natural consequence was punishment- death. So, I ask: what did God see in the world that made him pay such a high price for our redemption? I believe God's nature is the factor here, not our response. If God were to deal with us based on our responses to him, it is not likely that anyone would be saved. He is love personified; not because we are lovable, but because he is love himself.

Check out what he gave: a whole life. He did this to redeem our own lives too, and he placed a demand of loyalty and commitment on us. The reason for the gift is also stated: so that we may not be destroyed, but may enjoy life. This is the foundation of true life. You really don't live until you have the One called Life himself. No matter how enlightened or educated you may be, let it be known: we will all give account of the foundation. God's standard is that I must go through the one he has introduced as Life, if indeed I must enjoy all he has on offer.

Nothing else will work, and God does not change his mind or lower his standards for anyone. I must make that decision; my eternity depends on it. His time of favour is here.

Who Did It?

He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed. 1 PETER 2:24 AMP

A small bit of biblical history will help here. God's prescription for sin under the old testament was a sacrifice requiring blood. Blood symbolises life, and more or less meant a life being given for a life. A life was the price to pay for sin, since sin itself was a claim on life too. Sin had a price, which could only be settled by blood. Unfortunately, those who sinned could not pay it, and the only one who could pay it knew no sin. This is the foundation of the dilemma.

Unfortunately also, the blood offered under the old covenant wasn't sufficient to deal with sin. The blood offering only covered up the sin; it couldn't deal with the foundation of sin. Enter in the perfect sacrifice. Recall the process highlighted above and relate it to today's extract: first, a substandard offering wasn't made, it was the final and perfect offering. Second, the offering wasn't offered on our behalf by imperfect priests, it was offered by the great High Priest himself. He didn't take blood which could only cover; he offered his own blood as a once and for all perfect sacrifice for sin. His offering deals with the nature, power, penalty and consequences of sin. His offering opens the door to a fresh start, new hope and a new life. I have been empowered by the greatest power in the world to live right, do right, talk right and end right.

All I can ask myself is this: " would I let all these go to waste in my life?". Won't I take full advantage of what has been offered? This is a question whose answer will reverberate throughout eternity. His time of favour is here.

Do Right!

So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls. JAMES 1:21 AMP

Another version admonishes us to 'lay aside' all uncleanness. It is my responsibility to do so, and grace to do is only available in the same one who admonishes. This becomes very important when you consider that God does not condone sin. For anyone who will walk with and work for God must avoid all sin at any cost.

If I am to avoid sin, then what am I to pursue? Today's extract says: "receive the word of God implanted in your heart". As earlier pointed out, I again have a role to play. I'm not a mindless creature, taking all that comes and unable to decide what is right; God has given grace to know and choose what is right. Today's extract also highlights the attitude with which I must approach: with humility. When I have 'arrived', God cannot take me where he desires. When I think I have it all, God has nothing further to teach me.

The Word of God has to be an integral part of me, not an occasional distraction. It must be implanted, taking root in my heart. What is rooted is a part of me, what is not rooted can be swept away when the storms of life come. God's focus is always eternal in scope and effect. He would not do or say anything which has no bearing on our eternity. I must therefore trust that he knows what he is doing, and his word can be trusted. What is your response? His time of favour is here.

Done Right!

Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:17 MSG

Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him. COLOSSIANS 3:17 AMP

Life is both a focus on the outer and the inner man. Too many times, we hear words seeking to emphasize outward behavior, the right expressions, the right first impressions and the like. However, one lesson today's extract teaches me is that the state and focus of my inner man is essential to who I am, what I do and where I end up.

If I am to do all that is required of me in the right way, I must do all as the master directs, not as I think it should be done. I am not the determinant of what is right; my natural man hates all about God. God has laid down the terms of engagement and provides all necessary grace and help to live right. The best I can do is rely on that grace to live and relate in accordance with God's expectations.

If it will be done right, it must be done God's way. If it is done God's way, joy and peace will be natural consequences. There is no guarantee against trials and difficulties, but there is an assurance of joy which cannot be explained by mere words, as well as the guarantee of eternal life when this present life ends. I will take that any day. His time of favour is here.

Commanded!

And I command you today: Love God , your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God , your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess. Deuteronomy 30:16 MSG

In just 1 verse, 3 different actions are commanded from all who truly know God. It is one thing to make a claim to a particular lifestyle or thing, it is a different thing to truly live out the life as expected. That is focus of today's extract.

'Love God'. Simple sentence, but its application is complicated. We could claim to love God, but when he directs or instructs, are we quick to obey? When he says Go, do I do just that or do I argue the fine points of the instruction? 'Walk in his ways' tells me that there is a right path and a wrong path. God has his ways, and all who have subscribed to the first idea of love are required to also do this. 'Keep his commandments' is also a part of the balance I must keep if I am to truly live as God expects. Can I walk with someone if I do not agree with his principles, his standards and his priorities? Can I obey someone I do not truly know or someone to whom I have no single commitment?

This is the secret to the kind of life God really wants us to have. He wants us to live exuberantly, enjoying the fullness of all he is and has. However, note that you can only lay claim to these favours when you are rightly related - on the heart level. How is your heart? Is it fully committed to God or are there other considerations? His time of favour is here.

Who's this God?

“This is what makes you so great, Master God ! There is none like you, no God but you, nothing to compare with what we’ve heard with our own ears. And who is like your people, like Israel, a nation unique in the earth, whom God set out to redeem for himself (and became most famous for it), performing great and fearsome acts, throwing out nations and their gods left and right as you saved your people from Egypt? You established for yourself a people—your very own Israel!—your people permanently. And you, God , became their God. 2 Samuel 7:22‭-‬24 MSG

First,  I do not determine on my own what pleases God; I must find out what he wants and desire those things, and his Word is the secret to that discovery. I must also learn that the world's standards and God's requirements will almost always be contrary. A decision will be made on my priorities as I live from day to day.

David here had met this God, and he seeks to introduce him to us. Here is a God who makes his decisions as he pleases and answers to nobody. He sets up one and brings down another; he directs the affairs of men the way he pleases. He chose a nation out of many, and in spite of their stubborn and petty nature, continues to lavish his love on them.

Just so you know this God, he is the same one who also punishes them when they go wrong. He is not like man- with a price and can be deceived. He sees, reads and knows our hearts and he will deal accordingly,  with justice and fairness, on his own terms, not ours.  He remains the boss, and his authority will one day be total and absolute, with no room for dissent. Won't it just be best to surrender willingly to that authority today? One day, every knee will bow. His time of favour is here.

How's your life?

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1:19‭-‬21 MSG

check out the first instruction: everyone is on notice. I am warned on the proper use of the senses and parts i have been given. I do not know why some of the parts are in pairs, whilst some are single, but today's extract states something fundamental: God does not waste resources. I was given two ears to aid my hearing, but today's extract advises me to lead with them. if the ears are to lead, i would speak less and listen more. My words will be measured to full effect. The ears lead, the tongue follows. When this is the case, anger will definitely be way far back.

What makes today's extract even more potent is the fact that God's perfect will can never be achieved in an environment where the above is not in place. It has never been about high walls or overflowing pews, but a life that has been fully surrendered to God. God wants to work a good work in us, because when he is through with us, men will see his glory in us and glorify Him. We are his garden, and he is the meticulous gardener who will prune, cut, chisel and fashion us into what he can use.

The person is the Word and the instrument of cleansing is the Word. The end result is salvation for the individual, and impact on the world. Am i totally surrendered? His time of favour is here.

Life's Manual

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:15‭-‬17 MSG

Talk about a manual for all of life. Life is first inner, before it reflects on the outer. You cannot give what you don't have; therefore a life without the peace of God can never live in peace with other people. Having God inside you does not also make you immune to conflicts and disagreements, but why today's extract is key is it teaches me to rely on my inner strength to live right on the outside with other people. Everything God demands from me will take time, and will demand dependence on God. I don't have what it takes, and I definitely will not last on my own.

Cultivation takes time and effort, but the benefits  are worth it. Thankfulness is also first a thing of the heart before it ever becomes a visible, physical thing.  Another fundamental part to this inner state is the Word of God. It must have room, pride of place. It must direct all of life, and it must determine relationships and standards. It must be the compass with which actions, motives and intentions are measured. It must guide me as I seek to impact the world with the Word. God would not force his standards on anyone, but the effect of whatever choices we make today is always eternal.

The direction is clear - every detail is to be done in the name of the Master. Have I accepted him as Master, or am I still very much in charge of my own life? Have I handed over the control to the only One who knows what is ahead, and can guide aright?  I don't have the faintest idea about anything; education and enlightenment do not provide answers to these questions; only total faith in God does. His time of favour is here.

Getting Answers!

“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks! John 16:23-24 MSG

Whichever you argue it, there is no doubt about the synergy and unity of the Trinity. Not everything I read/hear about God can be fully explained by my feeble mind. Today's extract challenges me to a different standard, a different life. It reveals the secret to walking with God, which is "total surrender to his will". Nothing else will work.

Our needs are varied and numerous, but God's purpose and power is bigger than these. It does not matter how complex the needs are; as long as you know and walk in line with God's desires, then you are made. The world's definition of success is never the same with God's, so you have got to decide whose standards you will be pursuing.

So, ask. Ask right, ask the right person and ask the right questions. See Paul - he had a need and asked for relief. His answer may not have been what he precisely asked for, but what he got was exactly what he needed. Too many times, we think we know best, only for us to realise much later just how ignorant we really were. Joy isn't so much about having all you want, but knowing the God who has all you need and who can give you as he pleases. Joy doesn't come from physical circumstances, but from the state of my heart and the One who controls affairs. Who's in charge?

Where's my Heart?

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 MSG

It all starts with the heart. Once it is right, life itself is right. It doesn't matter how bad things get physically, as long as the heart is on the right person, then things will work out just fine. Is it possible to trust God, yet not completely? God's record about Amaziah, a king, was that he served God all the days of his life, 'but not with a perfect heart'. When you are dealing with a God who CANNOT be deceived, I must be careful of the state of my heart.

I must not really made for independence; God intended that I remain dependent on him alone. All of life's problems began with that lie from the devil that we could be 'like God, knowing good from evil'. The focus was on the wrong kind of likeness. When I seek to obey God continually, my life reflects him. When I seek his will, my life makes impact. When I listen out for him, even in the hustle and bustle of life, I am distinct because I listen to a different voice from the world.

His voice does not ever align with current realties, but his commands will make everything real. Where he directs may not make sense, but he alone knows the final destination. I am very limited in understanding, insight and foresight; only God's eyes see into eternity. I trust him with my life, and ask him for grace to continually obey him. What's your heart? His time of favour is here.

Work!

Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. Hebrews 13:16 MSG

Let me share a simpler version: And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16 NIV

You really cannot learn the blessings of sharing until you have learnt the lessons of lack and the blessing of work. The world defines work by the colours of the work - blue, white and others. God just sees all of work as his opportunity to bless the lives of people.

For me to share with others, I must know that God wants me to do it and he is happy when I do it right. There is no demeaning work when I am at work for God. There is no work that is beneath me, if I truly know who I am working for. It may be a call to wait on tables, like the first Deacons, or to work to catch fish or men, like the first disciples.  Whatever it is, my 'work' is a platform for the manifestation of God's power, might and wisdom. Nothing is too small to share, if it is shared with the Master's heart. Ask the boy with the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish or the 2 men who gave up their boats as a pulpit for the Master. If done right, the rewards will make you 'alright'. Please don't settle for the world's definition of success and blessings; just rest secure that God is pleased with you, and he will rain down his blessings on you however he pleases. His time of favour is here.

Power of Silence!

The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm. Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart. Proverbs 17:27‭-‬28 MSG

We call some people orators, simply because they have a way with words. They are word craftsmen, people who have learnt how to use words to pass a message across, and to make themselves heard. Of course, you find amongst themselves arrogant men, who believe that their knowledge and craft gives them an advantage over every other person. I then learn that wisdom isn't so much about what you say, but about how you say it. Sometimes, it isn't so much what you say, but what you don't say. The major factor in all these is the wisdom in silence.

God's voice is sometimes described as the roar of mighty waters, but in every place where the greatest effects have been made, it is described as 'a still small voice'. That's effect. The same God then calls us to the same life - one where we speak only what he commands, when he commands and to whom he commands. Of what use is my speaking many words, when God is not backing up my words with his power or presence?

To make matters even better, fools are thought to be wise when they follow the simple rule above. Until a man opens his mouth, it is difficult to determine what his contents are. I learn today that it pays to speak as God directs, so that just as God's words make eternal impact, the words we speak may also have the same effect and bring life to all who hear me. His time of favour is here. 

Attention!

Attention, Israel! God, our God! God the one and only! Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Deuteronomy 6:4‭-‬5 MSG

The call goes out again today. There is only one God, the One and only. He loves to have a relationship with everyone he has created; after all, we were created for his pleasure and glory. He gave his all, so I could have all of him. He then demands absolute love and devotion from me.

I can't give him half hearted devotion. I can't offer him less than my best. It is dangerous to assume I can deceive God by pretending to be sincere, while I am doing the very opposite. Men may be impressed; God is not like man.

All I am and all I have must be laid at the feet of the One who owns it all in the first place. He is the One who calls me his own, and is all I need. When I have him, I have all that matters. If he is not my all, then I really don't have anything. His time of favour is here.