Know!

Know! 

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

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV

As always, it is important to sort out the target of the passage under consideration, so that it is clear what the expectations are. Today's extract is addressed to people referred to as 'the temple of God'. To understand the import of this statement, it is good to look at the first template of the tabernacle that God asked Moses to build. From the specific measurements to the specific dimensions, to the costly materials used and the substance that went into it, to the very specific mode of dressing and worship for all who will serve at the temple, all of these made up one final conclusion: the God who calls men to worship Him is Holy, and not to be toyed with. 

He does not accept or permit careless or improper worship, and from accounts in the Bible, He punishes any service that does not align with His laid down processes. That is the God of the old temple, and if I agree He is the same yesterday, today and forever, I know that the outward physical structure may have changed, but the demands and the standards haven't been lowered one bit. Holiness has always been and will always remain the centrepiece and summary of all that He desires from all who will come to Him. 

Even when Solomon built another temple, with gold and silver as common as sand, with people from all over the world coming to see the mighty things he had built, God still reminded Solomon of the standard of holiness. Even when Ezra and Nehemiah would strive to rebuild Jerusalem, the temple was given special attention because it was the symbol of God's presence among his people. If God demanded such high standards from Israel, why do think that His grace has now lowered the standard? 

Kings, men, judges, priests all came, served and died, but the standard didn't change. None of them could claim ownership of the standard, because God was the focus in the temple. Today, we carry the Presence of God everywhere we go. We don't emphasize physical walls, but we have become physical expressions of the standards and expectations of God. 

We have become the place men come to find guidance and encouragement, because we know and serve the God who is the embodiment of these things. Men came to worship God in the old temple, and God's glory was always revealed. Do men see God in me, or am I all smoke without fire; a lot of sacrifices, plenty of activities but no personal experience of the One who calls? 

Please note, this is ownership and possession, not just occupation. Being God's temple means when men come to me, they are not coming to hear my high-sounding wisdom, but to meet with the One who owns and possesses me. Am I reflecting Him as the owner of my life? The Holy Spirit dwells in the person who knows who s/he is. The Holy Spirit is God's seal of ownership over everyone who bears allegiance to Him. The word: 'dwell' pictures permanent residence, not temporary lodgings. He makes a home in a life that receives Him and allows Him work. I am the receptacle of His Presence, as well as the dispenser of His presence. I am nothing outside of Him, and I will not achieve His purpose for me outside of Him. So, who do I know? Who am I representing? I had better be sure it is God, because my eternal reality is tied to whoever lives inside me. His time of favour is here. 

Enshrined!

Enshrined!

In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].

John 1: 4-5 AMPC

The one being introduced here is called by various names, two of which are mentioned in today's extract: Life and Light. Almost all versions mention these two starting with uppercase letters, which means they refer to nouns, or maybe names. Well, the Word of God already refers to Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. It means then that these names go beyond what they can give and includes who they are. A man is known by his name, and his name defines what you can get from Him. If his name is Life, that is what you get. If he is Light, that is what you get. This life is the light that shines on all men, pointing us back to God and showing us the way back to God. 

How would I know the value of light if I have never understood the power of its opposite, which is darkness? How would I appreciate the life I have, if I have never fully understood the power and reach of death? It appears that everything God tells me about has value, because He wants me to make a decision based on complete information. He won't want me to choose him out of just fear, or a lack of options, but out of a heart of complete knowledge and love.

This light shines on; in fact, it has been shining since recorded time, when Adam and Eve walked with God, without sin. It shone on through the choice of Abraham as a friend, up to the choice of Israel as his favourite then. It shines on today, where all who come to Jesus receive life and light, and can look forward to eternity with hope. Is it that there is no darkness? Oh there is, and all who submit to it are under its power, but darkness has never, and can never stop what the light is doing. It may appear that darkness is winning, but as long as God remains God and ruler of all He has made, even darkness answers to Him.

Try as much as he wants, the devil is not able to defeat the light, but the big issue is this: in my own life, who is in charge: light or darkness? The control point determines the outflow. No matter how hard darkness tries, it cannot overpower light, unless and until you allow darkness to operate. It is therefore my own decision to make: who will I allow unfettered access into my life?

The choice of words are quite instructive: darkness cannot absorb, appropriate, or be receptive to the Light. Light and darkness are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how long you draw or stretch them. Darkness cannot absorb light because light is strange to it. It cannot appropriate light because it is strange to its nature. It cannot respond to light because they are not of the same stock. There is nothing under heaven or in heaven that can ever make a compromise between light and darkness. So, when I am tempted to think I can play both sides, I must remember this: Jesus is light. That should tell me all I need to know about who Jesus is, and the things I must do if I will please Him and get all He is and has. Need light?  Need life? Jesus is both and even more. Seek him out today. His time of favour is here.

Empowered!

Empowered!

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. [II Cor. 12:9.] Isaiah 40:29 AMPC

First, please note that there will always be circumstances that will test your knowledge and experience of God. Jacob and Israel in the verses before today's extract wondered about the same too. Israel had seen God at work, but it had also seen how God punishes sin. Second, With God, there are no favourites with sin, or overlooking sin. He punishes sin in whoever it is found. I need to watch my life closely so I do not toy with sin. 

We seem to be encouraging a generation that is no longer shocked at sin. We have found novel ways to call sin; we refer to it as human weakness, things we can't help but struggle with, part of our nature and all, and as much as sin is part of the human nature, the whole essence of Christ being sent was to destroy the power of sin in us. If the gift has then been given, yet I insist on walking, working and running by my own strength and wisdom, can I turn around and blame God for the consequences of my actions? If His love is free, and He warns against rejecting Him, I have a personal decision to make. Please call sin by its name, so you are not deceived by its attractiveness and evasiveness. The consequences of failure are eternal. 

It also then means that all who accept this free gift of God place themselves in a position where they can access all that God is. If I am self-sufficient, there is no room for anyone or anything else. If I am full, it means that there is no room for anything else. As long as there is a need, there is always room for an infilling. The challenge then is for me to see myself as God sees me. Am I weak and faint, in need of God's strength? 

Interestingly, I note that God gives far more than I expect or imagine. He doesn't just supply what we think we need; He actually gives us all of Himself. If God is the Wisdom and Power of God, as well as the Strength of Israel, it means that what I get when I come to Him for help is actually all that He is. Pray, tell me, for the man who has NO might, what increase can God make out of this nothing? With man, it is impossible, but with God, there is no limit to the impact a surrendered heart and life can achieve. 

A man cannot give what he does not have, and a man cannot receive of God what he has not asked for. All I need for life and Godliness are tied up in Him, and in His hands, the most useless thing can become a mighty tool of great impact. What makes the difference isn't what the person does, but the One who is working through that person. It is in his hands that 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish can feed over 5,000 people and there will still be 12 baskets full of remnants. It is in His hands that a young man can sleep one night as a prisoner and the very next one as the prime minister of a foreign country. 

The same God who did it then is still very much in the business of empowering. Do I acknowledge my need, or am I so full of me that God has no room? The Almighty God, though all-powerful, won't force Himself on me, but you can be sure that there are eternal consequences to all decisions I take. What would it be for you: self-dependence or God-dependence? His time of favour is here. 

Pitied!

Pitied!

As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].

Psalm 103:13 AMPC

There is no one that knows a child's strengths and weaknesses more than the parents. They are saddled with the task of helping the child discover his/her talents and gifts, developing and then weaponising them for impact in line with God's purpose. Parents help provide the right environment that will aid the development of the child. The connection between a parent and a child then forms the foundation on which today's extract is based.

If a mortal and human father can love a child to the point of giving his life for that child, imagine what God our own Father did. Well, it is first an assumption that this same Father here is also your Father. There is a family connection that must exist for me to call this God Father. He is not just the God of the whole earth, but MY Father. The personal touch makes all the difference. 

Today's extract does not say 'God loves and pities the world'. As much as God has created the entire universe, He seeks to relate with me on a personal level. He wants to call me his child and He wants to be my father. Am I one? If I am not, it will be difficult to claim the blessings mentioned here. And the terms of the relationship matters: God loves and pities His children: who accept His Lorship and Mastery over their lives. Have I surrendered to God as my father, or am I still holding on to full control? 

He is also called Lord here, which means that the Father is also the Lord. Just like the earthly father has authority over the child, so does God have authority over his own. He is Lord, does not brook rebellion. Actually, I get to choose to surrender to Him; He does not force Himself on anyone. For all who fear Him, they are in a position to lay claim to all that the relationship promises. 

So the questions remain: which God have I met or known? Is it the one who has no standards and allows you do whatever you like, or the One who lays down the standard, provides the strength to align and supplies grace to help stand to the end? If I fear God, I have nothing else to fear. If I do not fear God, I have everything else to fear. 

A final warning though: sometimes a father loves to the point of being permissive: wrong is not punished as it should, maybe out of deep love for the child. A father could keep a child from the consequences of his/her actions. God as Father does the same for us in a way too. We don't have to pay for the consequences of our sin, because He took up the punishment. He has not dealt with us as we deserve, because His love is greater than the need for instant judgement. 

But this is the problem: forgiving sin has an expiration date. A day is coming when all that is available is judgment for sin; no mercy, no forgiveness and no love. All men will be judged on the basis of what they did with the Love of God, personalised in Jesus. There is mercy, grace, pity and love now; make the approach now before it is too late. His time of favour is here. 

He's Coming!

He's Coming!

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1: 6-7 KJV

The context: This was a message about Nineveh, who God has sent Jonah to preach against. The people, led by their king, repented, and God forgave them. Fast forward a few years later, the land of Nineveh was back in sin. It doesn't matter what the world preaches and teaches these days: if God calls a thing sin, no degree, acquisition, connection, influence or bleach can present it as anything else. It is sin, and the punishment prescribed by God for sin is death. You can take it as God has said and take caution, or you can hold on to lies. As always, the choice is always personal. 

And then we try to convince ourselves that God forgets. The Almighty God, who keeps covenants to a thousand generations, is the One we think we can fool with outward hypocrisy. Oh yes, he does forget, but that is when a man repents from sin and sincerely seeks Him. He gives a brand new start, washes a man clean, and seals the man for the day of redemption. 

That is what the full package of salvation secures. If this is true for a man who genuinely seeks God, imagine what the fate of a man who rejects God is. If I reject God, I cannot turn around and blame Him for the consequences of my choice. If He held Isaac, Isaiah and Israel to a certain standard, why would I think He will hold me to a lesser standard? If He is truly an eternal God, isn't it not surprising that nothing has changed? 

Grace is available in abundant measure, but it doesn't permit sin. It gives strength to live right, not to excuse sin. If I use grace as an excuse for sin, it means I do not even understand what grace is. Note: if God could turn his eyes away from His Son as he hung on the cross, there is no human being who will be excused if s/he dies in sin. Do not let the world's philosophy deceive you into thinking there will be no consequences for rejecting God. 

I read today's extract with some bit of self examination. When the wrath of God is revealed against sin, who is that man that can stand? When his fury against all that is wrong is expressed, who can abide? Yet, in the same breath, God is presented as a good God, and a stronghold in the day of trouble. I must therefore find out where I need to be or what I need to be doing if I am to escape the day of wrath and enjoy the protection available in God. 

I believe the key words here are: He knoweth them that trust in Him. It is God's perspective that counts, not what I or the people around me think. I could be busy at work for God, moving mountains and making impact, yet God may not reckon with me. I may claim that I am working for God, but God does not know me as His own. And that is the danger in making assumptions. Should I seek to deceive people with outward activity empty of God's personal touch, or should I seek first to know God personally before I even seek to impact men? 

And I must know that I deal with a God of absolute knowledge. I cannot deceive Him. He knows if I trust Him completely, or if I am caught in multiple scenarios. And the word trust isn't used lightly. It is not what I claim or project, but what God thinks. So, I must seek to know what God thinks of me. Once I have that settled, it doesn't matter what other men think. If God is sure of my allegiance, He is sure that my life will give Him glory and He can use me as He pleases. If He is not sure, it doesn't then matter how 'mightily' I am used or how people applaud. May I not stand before God and find out that I had pursued the wrong approval. He is coming back again, just as He has said over and over again. Events today back this up. Now is the time to avoid the coming wrath. Are you ready? Am I? His time of favour is here.

Choosing!

Worry; Pray! 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6 KJV

The natural man is built to worry. The cares of this world can be pretty overwhelming, and some of these cares are pretty legitimate too. Food, clothing and shelter are basic human needs, and man would usually go to any length to secure these. Yet, Paul seems to be saying: You cannot secure anything by worry or anxiety, not even legitimate needs. My worrying does not provide the needs, neither would it guarantee me tomorrow. So, why then do we keep worrying? Back to the point above: the natural man is built to worry.

Today's extract says: do not let anything at all, no matter how legitimate or important, take your heart away from God. And it matters what you do with the worry. Because misery loves company, some will call a pity party, looking for other miserable people to share doom and gloom with. God is saying: seek the God who delights in hearing you speak, and who has the answer you seek. It may not always be what you want to hear, but when the connection is right, the answer you get will never be as important as keeping the fire of the relationship burning.

It is this relationship that sustains you through the uncertainties and complexities of life. That is why the passage says I must do my prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Nothing is too big or small to take to God. And it is EVERYTHING, not most things. We think God should not be bothered by some mundane things, but there is nothing ordinary or mundane about me, created in God's likeness and gifted for dominion. It may not look like it now, but the fact that I am alive means that as long as I keep hold of God, I am taking steps towards the fulfilment of God's purpose for my life, as well as eternal life with God.

It also means I cannot do both: worry and pray at the same time. Both are full options; you cannot deal in half measures. My heart wasn't built for such inconsistencies. If you don't do one, it means you are doing the other. It is prayer that God prescribes as his tool for talking with us, and making known His will and purpose. You won't find his will in popular opinion or human applause. God doesn't need to win a popularity contest as He does not force Himself on anyone. He simply tells me what I stand to gain from coming to Him, and as He is the owner of heaven and earth, all He has made will respond to His command. Make the approach today; He waits. His time of favour is here.

Comforted!

Comforted!

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 KJV

What an Introduction: This is the God who is the Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ. This is not a general god, one of many that the world would want you to believe. This is not the god without identity or a name, but the Almighty, Creator and Father, and many more, all rolled in one. This is the God who calls us to Himself, asking us to seek Him out on His own terms, not based on what people say. Have I met this God, or do I still hold on to other false options?

I have also heard people ask how a mere mortal man bless the undeniably immortal God? Well, meet the God who delights in hearing us praise Him. He does NOT have an inferiority complex; He just enjoys relating with us. The 'bless' referred to here is a recognition by man of the amazing favour of God. It is a reminder to be daily grateful for all I have received. It is an eulogy: speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly. Can I then say that my present lifestyle is a fitting eulogy to God, and can people really meet God through me? 

It is this relationship of father and son that underscores the victory that Jesus has over sin and the world. This relationship didn't keep him from death and suffering by way of the cross, because it was through all these sacrifices that we also stand in right stead with God. God thought it wise to make the author of our salvation perfect through suffering, and he tasted death for us, so we could receive the full life that His own life has now secured for us.

Just as His relationship didn't keep him from the penalty of sin, so we also cannot gamble with our relationship with God by toying with sin. God kept his Son through the pain, because there was a glory that was ahead, after suffering. God is called a God of comfort, which is what is offered after tough times. Nowhere does God promise that he will take all the challenges away, but His promise of comfort is all that you will ever need to face and conquer the coming storms. 

No wonder the relationship is mentioned first, before the things God gives. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus, then the Father of mercies and then the God of all comfort. Would I seek God only for the things I can get from Him, or do I seek Him for who He is first and foremost? It matters what my priority is, as this would determine my staying power when the day of trouble comes.

And because my heart and priorities are right, I can extend the same grace I have received to other people. You see, you can only give what you have yourself received from God. If you have never sought God, how do you lay hold of what He is or what he gives? The comfort God gives isn't the type that you can keep to yourself. You cannot hide it, because it will fill you up first, then flow out of you. 

What do you think was so amazing about the apostles in Acts that made the people of their time call them crazy? They were ordinary unschooled men, but the fact that they had been with Jesus shone through their lives and couldn't be hidden. Oh, men are hurting, looking for meaning in the mundane things of life. Nothing of this life can provide that meaning, because nothing of this life can give the comfort the God of our Saviour Jesus Christ can provide.  And we were not given this comfort  so we could hoard it or dispense it as a favour, but to be representatives of Christ to the hurting world around us.

I believe the only question that matters then is: WHO have you come to know? It is the WHO that determines WHAT you get and WHAT you can give out. Sort out the source and the overflow will work itself out. Jus time of favour is here. 

Channel!

Channel!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 NIV

Today's extract is addressed to those who 'believe in the name of the son of God'. Quite specific, isn't it? It's not about knowing the name or being quite familiar with it, but believing in it. Whatever you believe in will drive your thinking, actions and reactions. You can determine someone's value system by that person's pursuits and priorities. So, what's your status? Does God know you as his own, who believe in Him? Does He have reason to think that maybe your heart is not totally given over to Him, and there is room for some other options? This is a crucial question that you must answer right, because the rest of the extract rests on that answer.

So my allegiance is settled, I can approach my master and ask for anything I need. There is a caveat here: asking in line with the will of God. If God is my one and only priority, asking in line with his will is not a struggle. If God holds my heart, the outflow of that heart will reflect its ownership and directorship. As long as there are competing authorities for attention, it will be difficult to align with God's perfect will. And I must not assume that God knows what I need; relationships require nurturing and constant engagement, and what better way is there to keep my relationship with God healthy than by talking with Him every chance I get. 

And I note the ending: 'He hears us'. It is not an automatic yes, or no, or not yet. He hears us; he loves to hear us speak to Him. He wants to relate with us regularly. There are things we may ask that aligns with His will, but not his timing. There are things we may ask that may be right for us, but we need to learn some management lessons before He releases them. How would I know what to do if I do not know God personally? How would I survive if I take decisions based on emotions or feelings? 

God waits for me. He wants to do what He alone can do in my life. He is Lord, Saviour and Master, but He doesn't force Himself on anyone. The power to choose Him is given to all men, and the release of the amazing blessings in store are for all who have submitted to his Lordship and Authority. Have you? He waits for you. His time of favour is here.

Seasoned!

Seasoned!

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6 KJV

I am asked to let my speech be ALWAYS full of grace. What is speech, if not an outflow of what I have spent time investing in? My life cannot bear fruit that is contrary to my investment of time, opportunities and resources. No matter how hard I try, I cannot deny the evidence of the fruit that flows out of the seeds I have planted over time.

And why shouldn't it be SPEECH, which is the proof to outsiders of my relationship with God? When a man walks with God, the greatest testament in support of that walk is seen in speech and conversation. Even the bible says a fool is thought to be wise as long as s/he doesn't open his/her mouth, but how does God get known if my life doesn't speak of or testify about Him? 

And it doesn't always have to be physical words; every day, through my interactions, my conduct, the friends I keep, my pursuits and priorities, I am actually passing a message across to all who know and see me. Pray, as men watch me, what is my life preaching and saying? 

And I also wonder why it is grace that should be the content of my speech. What is this grace: it is that undeserved mercy from God; the forgiveness available to us, not because we earned or worked hard for it, but because God, in mercy, extended it to us. 

He didn't wait for us to be perfect before He gave it, but He gave it anyway, so we could know of his love and then choose Him of our own free will. That is the summary of God's grace, and is the expression that my life must flow out with to other people. If I have received it, it is easy to give it. If I don't have it, I cannot fake it. You cannot give what you don't have. 

And the power of seasoning is seen in the use of salt here, as well as in physical food. Nobody adds the same measure of salt as the food to be cooked; there must be a commensurate measure of salt, because just a little salt works through the entire batch of food to make it pleasant to the taste. Men may admire the physical beauty, but would they remain when they taste of my words? Am I sweet savour, rightly seasoned with the right amount of salt, or am I bitter and sour, difficult to relate with? It is not in quantity, but in quality and depth. It is not in the amount of words I speak, but in the value of the words. Do my words flow out of a heart that God has worked on, or a heart that is still bitter, hurt and under the influence of the devil? It matters who is in control in there. 

And it also matters when the salt is applied. Nobody adds salt after the food is cooked, otherwise, it won't work as well as it should. That is the basis of the latter part of today's extract: knowing HOW. There is a big difference between WHAT and HOW ye ought to answer every man. The HOW is quite important; it is not everytime that I must have an answer to every question. Sometimes, silence is the best answer, and sometimes, the right word is the tonic or encouragement that someone else needs to create the right environment for success. I have to learn the importance of knowing the WHEN, HOW and WHAT to speak, so that God can be glorified in and through me.  I can say sorry to you in one way, and you will know instantly that I am insincere. I can say the same sorry to another person, and the person knows I really mean it. That means it is not the words that are important, but how they are said and the heart from which they proceed. Man does not see the heart, but God does, and He is the One we all would have to deal with, if we will make it to heaven at the end of our earthly lives. 

Oh, and it applies differently from man to man. I am not sent at all times to all men in all places on earth. I am not God and cannot play God in the lives of every man. I must be content to keep working in the space I have been planted. For all who will trust God to help them, God's grace is available. And it matters that the message behind my speech is consistent, otherwise, the message is lost or diluted. It cannot be an off and on switch, where I get to decide what I want to be anytime I want. It doesn't work like that. 

I ask God for help to make my life the type that will speak for Him at all times, even when there are no actual words spoken. I clearly understand that I am planted where I am to glorify God and point men back to Him, so if I am not doing exactly that, then maybe I am not where I should be, or doing what I have been commissioned to do. The danger of not getting it right by God's standard is better imagined than experienced. For the sake of eternity, I need to sort out my place in and impact on God's earth. His time of favour is here. 

Guided!

Guided!

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11 KJV

Jesus speaks directly here, introducing Himself as the good shepherd. He could have just left it as the Good one or just a Shepherd, but the choice of words need a deeper look. If Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd, it means that any other guide or leader is a pretender. If He is the good shepherd, anyone else who leads must take instructions from him and live like Him. He is The, not A good shepherd, so there is just one original version. 

Why a shepherd? A look at the times when these words were spoken will show that it was a noble profession, possibly one of the most important of those days. It was an insight into the heart of a man. With God, it seemed that if you could be patient with animals and take care of them, then God could entrust you with human lives. A shepherd was both the first and the last line of defense for the sheep. Anyone or anything that would hurt the sheep would have to go through the shepherd. And that is sacrifice.

For all who claim to be responsible for at least one life, how are you faring? Are you the god over that life or the instrument of use in the hands of the original God to be a blessing to that life? Are you content to feed fat over the misfortune and ignorance of that life placed in your care or are you careful to ensure that the life is nurtured and catered for in line with the will and Word of God? Do you yourself have the Word of God embedded in you, so you can make a drawing on it when needed?

The example of the good shepherd laying down his life for the sheep, just as Jesus did, has already been established. For all who then follow Jesus, do our lives reflect gratitude for the benefits this sacrifice has sealed for us? The greatest sacrifice has already been given, and nobody can outgive that gift, but we can live out the fruits of that sacrifice through our daily living. As we relate with people, we must seek to show off the fruit of the sacrifice of Jesus. 

All who take advantage of the sacrifice become His sheep. All who trust in His cleansing blood become His sheep. He gave His life for me so I could spend mine showing Him off and glorifying Him. If I am not doing these, then maybe I was never one of His sheep in the first place. Who are you: sheep or an outsider? Eternity awaits your response and decision. His time of favour is here.

Walking; Warring

Walking and Warring! 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3‭-‬5 KJV

Today's extract makes it clear that for all men who are alive on this side of eternity, there is a walking and a warring. Both flow from different foundations, both have different daily realities and different eternal consequences. All men alive must walk in the flesh as human beings, but then a decision has to be made about how to progress into the warring part, because all men must fight. Nowhere goes God promise us that heaven will be attained without struggle. 

Only those who have surrendered their Iives to Christ understand the warring part and how it is to be carried out. All men must walk and war, but how you walk and war flow from your relationship with the Man of War. If He is your commander, then the other part of the passage is true for you. If He is not, I am not sure why you should bother to war in the first place.

The war part isn't going to be fought by the principles, processes and procedures of the flesh. The war spoken about here isn't the type that man made weapons can understand or comprehend. It is a war that only God, with the weapons he has commissioned and made strong, can win, will win and has won. 

Whenever you find yourself trying to explain your faith with the force of grammar alone, be careful that you are not warring after the flesh. When you need to explain the foundations of your faith to people using PowerPoint presentation and not the Ever-Present Power of the Holy Spirit, then you just may be warring after the flesh.

And war requires pulling down existing structures and establishing new ones. Nobody goes to war to defeat an enemy and then leave the old structures that will encourage the old guard to return. You pull down evil strongholds and then establish the kingdom of God. 

Check out the words: pulling down; casting down. It means that these things were high up before, but when a person walks with God, s/he understands that whatever is anti-God has to come down. It doesn't matter how attractive it is or how long it had stood; as long as it negates all that God is, it has to be pulled and cast down. 

And how would I know what is anti-God if I do not know what God's will and purpose are? How do I advance a kingdom whose policies and guiding principles and procedures I do not know? It then means warring according to God's standard requires knowledge of the kingdom I am fighting for. When I know and recognise truth, all falsehood can be attacked. When I do not, warring by ignorance is dangerous. This knowledge of God is the minimum qualification for success in this war. It is the fulcrum on which success or failure in this warring hangs. It is this knowledge of God that tells you when you should press on and when you should re-strategise. 

And I sense that the battle is first in the realm of the unseen, before the realm of the seen can be impacted. Strongholds, imaginations, high things, thoughts are all mentioned as targets in this war. When the unseen is under the control of God, it doesn't matter what the seen threatens. 

We focus so much on optics and how it looks on the outside, forgetting that God wants to win the battle first in our hearts and lives, because He knows that once the heart is under his full control, it is a platform from which he can launch offensives against the enemy.

So, when all has been said and done, the only question then that remains to be answered is this: How's my obedience to God? How's my walk with God? All other things such as giftings, platform, speaking ability and ability to draw crowds will not matter if the foundation is not in place. If I will end right, I must war right. Not knowing how is eternally risky. His time of favour is here. 

That One Thing!

That One Thing!

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  One thing have I desired of the Lord , that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord , and to enquire in his temple.

Psalms 27:1‭-‬4 KJV

There is a wealth of study materials, study helps and commentaries on the Word of God. However, what makes the difference is the personal experience of this God. What would all the reading, listening or studying the Word of God lead to, and what benefit would they have, if they do not lead to a personal experience of God?

The Psalmist was able to personalise this God because he had experienced him on a personal level. God was not just the usual Lord, light or salvation but had become MY Lord, MY Light, MY salvation, MY strength. Even the devil recognises that Jesus is Lord, yet that knowledge will not save him from destruction upon the return of Jesus in glory, so there must be something deeper and bigger than just being able to quote Scriptures from memory. Is this the summary of my life too, or are there other things competing for supremacy and authority over my life?

If God takes all, where is the room for anything else? If God is the sole and final authority over my life, what else can take hold my heart or cause it to fear? When the fear of God is in place in my heart, what other fear can displace it? The opposite is also true: if the fear of God is not the defining finality of my heart, I have got so many other things I must fear. If God is not the One guarding my heart, then I must prepare for heartbreak and disruptions, all flowing from a heart that is not settled on God.

David had his personal experience of God, but that didn't stop enemies from trying. Submission to God is the only guarantee of a life of success and impact, but it does not stop the enemy from trying to conquer the life God has secured for you. I also note that no matter what was going on around and outside, his heart was at peace. You see, the heart is the place of warfare, where the victory is settled and sustained. As long as my heart is right with God, the quality and quantity of the storms around me do not matter. Hosts can encamp, war can rise; all these would have to take place outside my heart because there is no room in my heart for fear, since God has taken over the entire room. 

Be careful, then, of a heart of hypocrisy and insincerity. Be careful of a heart that only seeks God for the presents He gives and not the fullness of His Presence. Remember God's verdict about King Amaziah: And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. The king kept up appearances before men, but the insincerity of his heart was plain before God. How would God able to guard a heart that is not sincere with Him, or totally submitted to Him?

It is in this light that his one request makes sense: I have seen what the enemy can do; how fear can destroy and how hypocrisy can expose me to destruction, so God, I won't leave your presence. Don't take me away from your presence; let me forever live in your house, where you dwell. I know that as long as I can keep my eyes on you, there is nothing else around me that can hold my gaze. As long as all my desires are to Him, I know I will be satisfied with the fullness of His house. I know that when I am in his presence, His will becomes my utmost desire and pursuit, so my enquires will be all about what pleases Him. 

When I recall men of old who had a personal experience of the glory of God, like Isaiah, Solomon, Zechariah and others, the only thing that mattered at the time was what this Glorious God wanted, not what their own desires were. Maybe the reason why we still have so many desires for the things of this world is because we are yet to have a personal experience of His glory. When I am yet to see the glory of the Presence of God, the glory of earthly gold and silver becomes my only pursuit. When I see God's glory, the things of earth must fade away. 

And it is not a one-off; it is lifelong devotion. It cannot be a switch, turned on and off at will or when convenient. There is an eternal reckoning that will be demanded, so I will do well to prepare. What are my present pursuits and priorities? What are the things holding my heart at present? Remember, a day is coming when the glory of God will reveal my heart's contents, and judgment will be based on God's view, not man's applause or approval. His time of favour is here.

Come 2

Come 2!

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34:8 KJV

Here was David, who appeared to have walked into trouble with the enemies of Israel. His escape was to pretend to be mad, so that the king then drove him away. Today's extract is from the song that David wrote about this experience. Life itself is full of unpredictable events, but what happens to me will be a function of what I do with the opportunities that God will bring my way.

One thing David did was to recognise the source of his strength and help. He cried out to God, not to any man. Man can ascribe to himself power and strength, but the ultimate power of deliverance and safety belongs to God. And because he cried to the right source, he got the right kind of help. It is not just enough to cry and wail and shout; it must be directed to the right source, who is God.

And God, who delights in hearing us call to Him, actually did save David. He walked right out of the enemy camp into safe territory. He then invites us to come and experience the same thing he did: God's goodness. Please remember: there was something he did before this invitation: he called out to God, in recognition of his own limitation and God's strength. We make assumptions that God knows what we are going through, which is true, but I also know that a closed mouth may not fully experience the salvation and deliverance promised here.

Look at the choice of words: taste and see. How can God's goodness be tasted and seen? Could it be it is because these senses are fundamental to the human experience? You become a living witness to whatever you have processed with your tongue and eyes. If I am asked to come and testify of what my eyes have seen or what I have eaten, nobody can explain the experience on my behalf because nobody else walked the path for me. 

When I speak of God's goodness, it is because it is a personal experience. When I speak of God's goodness, it isn't hard to say because my life has been sweetened by that experience, and it is able to flow out of me to impact other people. How would other people be attracted to this God, if his goodness is not so evident that it cannot be ignored? No wonder David ends here by saying that a man who trusts in this God is truly blessed. And David would know, having enjoyed this goodness on a personal level. So, the invitation still stands: come and experience the God who can change lives and guarantee eternal life. He wants to come in and make a change in me, if I let Him. I have opened up my heart; would you too? His time of favour is here. 

Come!

Come!

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 KJV

One of the greatest mysteries of our Christian experience is this statement: And the Word became flesh. In that statement lies the whole essence of who we are, what we were and have become, and why we are headed in the direction God has placed us. If we can have insight into what Jesus did for us, we would be encouraged to live to please Him. 

The High priest of the old covenant had to atone for his own sins first, before he could offer blood for the sins of the people. He had access to the Holy of Holies only at set intervals, and would die if he dared breach any of God's set instructions for worship in the old Tabernacle. If this was the strict standard under the old covenant, why do we now think that grace is an excuse for careless living and hypocritical worship? 

That high priest had to offer several sacrifices, all involving blood, because life is in the blood, and it provided cover for the sins of the people. In came the One called the Great High Priest, a title no other person can lay claim to, and using this same template, offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He didn't have to send a priest in with the blood; he was all the priest, the sacrifice, the blood that offered atonement (AT ONE MENT) from sin, and the permanent seal of redemption for all who are washed by the blood. 

He became like us; walked in our shoes, so He could experience what we experience. He wore this human body, without the sinful nature, so He could provide us a template for life without sin, and an earthly life that ends up in eternal life. He took upon Himself all our pain and infirmities, took them all the way to the cross, and with the perfect sacrifice, paid the price once and for all. 

He has now returned to God, and the way to God has been laid out in and by Him. We now have access to the Holy of Holies, a place no one could dare enter under the old covenant. God's presence and glory now becomes available to all who will trust the perfect sacrifice. And He asks me to make the approach: He says come boldly. It is a throne of grace, a place where mercy and of course grace is available in abundant measure. I am asked to come and find all that my life needs. Whenever I need help, I make the approach. 

It must however also be noted that the same throne of grace, from where grace and mercy are dispensed freely, will become a throne of judgment, on the day that mercy is finished. A day is coming, that just as God dealt with sin in his Son, when he turned His face away as His Son bore the sins of the world, so will He judge sin in the lives of all who reject the sacrifice of His Son. While I have time, while the throne of grace is open to all, I must make the approach. A time is coming, when any other decision will indeed be too late. His time of favour is here. 

Called!

Called!

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 KJV

God chose Abraham and his descendants as his chosen people, simply because Abraham walked with God by faith. That covenant was sealed by the physical act of circumcision, which required the cutting off of the foreskin of all male children, freeborn or slave. That act was the outward seal of the inner work of faith by Abraham. And as we know, the old testament is a foreshadow of the new covenant, and the full picture of the old testament is made manifest under the new. 

The old testament demanded full obedience to all parts, if one would enjoy the full benefits available under the law. However, under the new covenant, there is an emphasis on the righteousness of God as the reason why I can stand perfect before God, not mere adherence to the dictates of the law. If all I have is obedience to the law, and nothing else, then I have nothing. God makes it clear that by the law, no one is justified before Him. It doesn't matter if you are circumcised; if God does not hold and own the life itself, the physical act by itself is of no eternal benefit. 

For all who have come into faith in Christ Jesus, who are called BRETHREN, there is a liberty that you enjoy. You don't talk of liberty if there was no previous bondage. It is a liberty from something into something opposite of what you were delivered from. When I examine my life, can I honestly say that there is a clear difference between where I was before and who I am now? And it is a call, because no one could have come into this new relationship on his or her own. It is God who calls, and it is by grace, through faith, that any one would even hear and respond. 

So, with this liberty comes responsibility. It is no longer fashionable to serve the former interests from which I was set free, which would mean that I am not grateful for my new stand. I must not return to what I was set free from; otherwise, it means that I was never free. It is a freedom that sets me free from self-indulgence, so that I am conscious of the call to servanthood, seeking to express love in all I do.

How else would people know God through me if my life doesn't reflect Him? How else would people be drawn to God's love if I am not a physical representation of that love? The fruit of God's call upon my life is love for God and other people, and service to the same God and people is the outward physical expression of that fruit. So, how's your fruit? How's your life? How's your call? His time of favour is here. 

Love, Defined!

Love, Defined!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV

The world has its definition for love, just as the Word of God also does. The challenge is always that the world's definition is popular because it does not hold people to the high standards God's Word demands. This is why, for example, the world will define premarital sex as making love. That is just one example of why the Word of God and the world will never come to an agreement.

So, how does the Word of God define love? First, it starts in and with God. You really cannot see or understand God's kind of love if you have not had a personal experience of who God is. It starts with God and ends with eternal life. So, whatever it is you are holding on to in the name of love, if it is not founded on God or reflects the outflow of your walk with Him, then, you need to check again what you are holding on to. 

And that definition comes at a cost: the Son of God. The world sees love from the prism of what it can get; the Word sees love from the prism of what it gave and continues to give. Love is seen, felt, tasted, smelt or touched; it is never a function of ordinary words. God's love is seen in what He gave up for us, not what we did to deserve the gift. Love isn't about reciprocity first of all, but about a reflection of who God is. What are you showing off at the moment: God's genuine love or the world's many false variants of feelings mistakenly labelled as love?

And this love also calls for a reaction or response from me. Note that it goes beyond hearing or reading about this love; the appropriate response is to accept this gift and believe in Him. This response is important because my eternity depends on it. I am called to impact my world but my life wasn't given to end down here. I am a work in progress, whose full manifestation will only be revealed when Christ returns for me. 

If the Lord were to return today, what will he find in and with me? Would I be seen as one who believed and accepted the free gift or as one who rejected Him? Remember, nothing God does is in vain. He's done all that is required to get me into heaven; I cannot turn around and blame Him if I make the choice to reject Him. His time of favour is here.

Examples!

Examples!

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31‭-‬32 KJV

One of the most important steps in understanding the context of any verse is to establish who it addresses. Today's extract is addressed to the church in Ephesus, and one very key piece of information is in the verse before today's extract, and it says: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. If I will align with the instructions in today's extract, I need to establish my ownership. You cannot grieve One who does not hold total allegiance over your life. If I am still struggling with obedience and submission, then maybe I never belonged to God in the first place. If the Holy Spirit is not present, my life's choices will always reflect His absence. 

It then means that if He is present, there are things that will naturally flow out from my life and things you should not see anymore. Today's extract makes this very clear. The things mentioned in the first part of today's extract are characteristics that flow from a heart without the presence of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't matter the high sounding words you use; the Holy Spirit and sin can NEVER operate out of the same heart at the same time. Long before a man will speak evil, his ears, eyes and mind would have been feasting on evil. Where do you think the Holy Spirit will be when all of these is going on? 

And I must not buy into the lie of the devil that I am helpless against sin. God never asks me to fight on my own; that is why He gives the Holy Spirit to all who ask Him in faith, and who depend on the Spirit for daily strength and guidance. There is no sitting on the fence, where I can get away with being neither hot nor cold, and just doing enough to get by. There is a definite change that the Holy Spirit must bring about in me, so I can then flow out with the things that the Spirit alone can birth and sustain. 

And these things are the focus of the second part of today's extract. And again, what is seen is first the work of the Holy Spirit in a man before that life flows out with the proof of the inner working. We want to enjoy the benefits of the Holy Spirit, but we do not want to submit totally to Him. We want the release of the power, but we do not like the responsibilities of that power. God will not waste resources. 

And you see the proof of the Presence in the impact my life would have on those around me. 

If indeed I am a child of God, my life must be a living, breathing witness to the  presence of God. Men who were in Antioch were called Christians because others around them saw a model of Chirst. They didn't have to speak much, but their lives spoke volumes about the power of the presence of the Spirit of God in a life that is totally surrendered. What do men see flowing out of you? Am I a living contradiction of what it means to be a follower of Christ, or does my life bear true allegiance to the Holy Spirit? It is not really about my answer now, but about the truth known by God and which will be evident in the process of time by men around me. What do you spend time investing in? It is just a matter of time; whatever it is will flow out. His time of favour is here. 

Testify!

Testify!

“How great you are, Sovereign Lord ! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV

A little context: David had fought several wars and now God had given him peace all around. He then thought of building a befitting place for the ark of God. Could it be that David couldn't do anything for the ark because he was always at war? When I pray for peace and comfort all around, what's my motivation? Is it for the pursuit of personal pleasure or the pursuit of the things that glorify God? What does comfort and convenience do to you: lure you away from God or push you towards even greater dependence on God?

Nathan the prophet went back to deliver God's message to David: "I have never asked any king to build a house of cedar for me. I have dwelt in tents and tabernacles all these years". As important as physical spaces are, they are not a replacement for the Presence of God. If God is not there, it doesn't matter how much has gone into the building. What is my focus: the physical building or the building God is working on in me; the temple that should bear his Presence daily? If the Lord were to come knocking on the door of your heart now, would you be able to throw the door open wide and invite Him in? Can God be pleased to dwell in your heart as it is now? With what is happening now, it is clear that truly, God isn't so much interested in our schemes as He is in our spiritual growth. 

David was promised an eternal kingship. In fact, David's walk with God sealed the kingdom for his generation. If you think what you do today doesn't matter, think of David. When you are tempted to think that nobody is watching you, remember: you deal with a God of absolute knowledge. Nothing is hidden from Him, and nothing is excluded from His judgement. 

Of course, as is the custom with David, and the basis why he was called a man after God's heart, he sat before God and praised Him. Do the things happening around you cause you to complain or to cry to God? Does it lead to pressure or praise? It takes a personal experience of God to speak out the words of today's extract.  If you have never experienced God's awesome power, how would you know there is none like or beside Him? If you have never been under pressure and then had miraculous deliverance, how would you testify to the power and greatness of God? Do you even have a personal experience of this God, or all you have are the testimonies of other people? Testimonies are good, but they cannot replace a personal experience of God. 

As I live from day to day in these strange times, I ask God for his mighty hand to be evident upon my life. I will testify of the mighty and great things that are in store for me, as well as the amazing things that are happening right now. Indeed, there is none like Him, and the world will only get to know more about Him when my life reflects His glory, power and grace. There is none like or beside Him, and no matter how hard or far you search, there is nobody who can do the things He can do or has done. All the praise belongs to Him. Is my life reflecting that understanding? Is yours? His time of favour is here.

Claims and Context!

Claims and Context!

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 KJV

It is easy to claim the blessing of provision as contained in today's extract, but what of the r1QA'edaaqa+q2plesponsibility of giving and being a blessing first of all? We love the feel of God being the supplier of all needs, but what about the deep consciousness of what God needs from me if what He is to give me is to last?

Let's look at the context: the Philippian church had been constantly meeting the needs of Paul. He was on assignment for God and God was raising up people to meet His need. First of all, before you make a claim on provision, make sure that the vision you are pursuing is initiated by God and sustained by Him. After all, provision is the appropriate measure of substance and presence PRO and FOR the VISION that God has divinely inspired. 

The Philippian church gave over and over again, not because they wanted to be known and applauded, but because they understood the reason behind the giving. Why do you do whatever it is you do: for recognition, fame, power or position? What inspires you to give of yourself or substance to other people? Before I seek to claim, can I first sort out my allegiance and commitment to God first? Giving becomes a chore when its foundation is not based on a personal knowledge and experience of the God of provision. 

No wonder then that Paul refers to it as MY GOD. The one making the pronouncement also matters. If you sow into the wrong ground, it doesn't matter how loud you shout: "I receive". As long as the ground is not set up to receive seed, there can be no expectation of reaping. It is therefore quite important to again check out my ground. What state is it in? Paul knew the God he served, and knew that if he continued to serve right, all that he needed would be made available. 

And the resources of heaven are limitless. No demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. If Christ could be given as God's greatest gift to man, there is nothing else that God wouldn't give. In Christ, I stand to inherit all the riches his death and life have secured for me. So, which God do you know? Which God have you met? The one Paul knew and served, or the one I have made up in my own heart? Remember, if you will last the distance, you have to know the God who has everlasting arms. He is able to keep, sustain and guide to the end. Don't just claim; seek to know God. Every other thing you need will be made available. His time of favour is here.

Follow!

Follow!

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14 KJV

In the context of living with eternity in view, today's extract is important. There are two things mentioned here that are critical to that journey - PEACE and HOLINESS, and it is quite interesting to note that Paul uses the word FOLLOW. It means that whatever it is I am asked to follow is ahead of me, and is an example worthy of emulation. 

Peace and Holiness are only 2 parts of God's nature. It then means that the One I am asked to follow actually God Himself. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, as well as the Holy One of Israel. Can I say, if a truth, that I am indeed following after the One who speaks here? Though both speak to God's nature, both also demand something from me that impacts how I relate with God and man. 

If I will walk in peace and holiness, it is clear that my human relationships must reflect my heavenly relationship. Peace is seen and understood more from what I do, not what I say. If I claim to live in peace with others, I won't be the one to always define what I do; my life will speak to it. 

And the second reflects my walk with God: holiness. It doesn't matter what mortal men say about me. On the long run, whatever God says about my walk with and work for Him is all that matters. If He says I am holy, people's opinions don't count. If He says otherwise, it doesn't matter how many people applaud. 

 

And I am to deal with all men the same way. God doesn't demand my obedience on the basis of the other person's reaction or response to me. As long as I have pledged allegiance to God, His commands become my law. My life is not a popularity contest but a study in faithfulness to God's standards. Being able to see God at the end of my earthly life is subject to my obedience, not really what anyone else thinks. 

So, I must live my life free from man's expectations or demands. Man's standards don't last long, because they are not based on the truth. God's truth is eternal, and it is this: without the twins of peace and holiness, laid down by God as the standards of engagement, I will not see the Lord. Now, I can argue with this, or I can take steps to align my life accordingly. The choice, as always, is mine. His time of favour is here. 

FOLLOW 

PEACE 

ALL MEN 

HOLINESS 

SEE THE LORD

Pray!

Pray!

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6 KJV

First of all, today's extract is addressed to the disciples, who Jesus had taken up a mountain to teach and to equip for the service that was ahead. Today's extract is one of such teachings, and it is on the subject of prayer. It is apparent that for Jesus to teach on it, and to also prescribe a pattern of prayer, it must be very important, and we also would do well to consider what He has said. 

So, for me, if I am a disciple, do I PRAY or do I grumble, murmur and complain to people around me? Am I all about speaking about the principles and processes of prayer, without any actual practice of prayer? There is a WHEN, which means that as long as I know the value and power of prayer, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN. I will make it a daily and regular practice, and I will do it in line with God's express will, so that I can get the benefits promised. 

Of course, the key focus is on PRAY, not grumble, murmur or complain. Do I share my pains with everyone else except God? Am I quick to share my fears and thoughts with people, yet cannot take a few minutes of the day to talk to the Creator of the heavens and the earth? If I will gain the benefits of prayer in line with God's will, I must pray in line with his will? 

How do I do this? It is in the CLOSET, the place that nobody sees, where there is no deceit, pretence or hypocrisy. Men can keep up appearances in public, but it is difficult to keep up deceit when it is you alone. It is in the closet that men are made by God, not in the open. What you see in the open is the fruit of periods of silent sowing, praying and seeking God's face. How do you claim a harvest when there has been no sowing or investing? It has to be just God and I, behind doors that are shut, in private. What doors need to be shut, so that God can catch and hold my attention? Am I all about the physical effects, and no time to keep the noise out, so that I can hear God clearly? 

My Father is in secret, and He sees in secret, and I must pray to Him where He is. Rarely does God do anything in public that has not been paid for first in secret prayer. He examines the heart and the motive, and is able to determine the WHY behind the WHAT that I seek from Him. He sees in secret, but His reward is done in the open. Men who experience this open reward NEVER forget what the secret is: the power behind what you see isn't seen; it is in the secret place where God is. Men who will keep the line of communication open with God will always experience open heavens. Answers will come, and no matter what they are, the heart is not shaken because it knows that only the best, in line with God's will, is available. 

That is the confidence I have when I approach the throne of God to pray. I know He is ready to answer me, and to do all that is required to glorify Himself in and through me. So, what do I do? Do I pray, or do I pretend? Is He the steering wheel, driving me to His purpose for me, or have I made Him into a spare wheel, used only in emergencies and largely forgotten most times until needed? Am I seeking God where He is, or am I trying to fit Him into my already busy schedule, hoping that He will come through when I need Him? Your answers, before God, already speak to what you should expect from Him. His time of favour is here. 

Example!

Example!

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

John 13:34 NLT

If Jesus calls this a new commandment, it is important that we consider if there was an old equivalent. A little context: Judas had just stepped out from among the disciples, to pursue an evil agenda to betray Jesus to the Pharisees for 30 pieces of silver. He had followed Jesus for 3 and a half years, yet all he took away was the purse of the disciples and a greedy heart. No wonder the words of today are spoken to the disciples who were left when Judas had stepped out. This instruction is for those who remain in and with the Son. 

It is called a new commandment because there is none like it. It would be the first time Jesus would be advocating a code of conduct for all who would follow Him. God had always required men to love God and to love their neighbours, but even with the best of intentions, there was no inner strength to comply. The coming of Jesus signified a new phase; a new beginning; a fresh start. No longer would I be required to comply with a rule that I had no strength of mine to live by, but now I had a Master who could supply all that I required to enable me live by his dictates. And it is a love that flows out of a relationship with the One called Love Himself. The old command to love flowed out the law, but the law could only command the action; it could not command the heart. This is what the new command was given to address. 

That is why the command is for those who have experienced this love also. You cannot give what you don't have. For all who claim to know and follow Jesus, the standard is what He has set and that is what He commands. It is not a negotiation, which gives you alternatives or options. You are either a disciple, living in obedience to the leader, or you are on the outside, living by your own standards and principles. My allegiance will always be revealed by my daily choices. And the one way to know that this is for people with allegiance to Christ is by the next verse: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

My life is my story about Jesus and His work in me. When men look at or relate with me, what kind of love reflects in what I do and how I do it? Am I living by the old way of doing things, or am I aligned with the new commandment, the One that asks me to love simply because I have received the same love, and God is glorified by it? And as I know, obedience in itself is a sign that I love the one who commands and I know he is glorified when I love as He has commanded. His time of favour is here. 

Fully Paid!

Fully Paid!

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 KJV

As it has always been said, by God's righteous law, there had to be a punishment for sin. For any law that was broken, the law itself prescribed the punishment. At the end of all sin was death, as pronounced by God when man fell in the Garden of Eden. The price prescribed by God to deal with sin was another life, represented by the blood of bulls and goats. It was valid for a season, but the frequency and variation made it difficult to keep up with the demands of the law. Yet, the price had to be paid. 

Enter in the perfect sacrifice: the blood of the Righteous Son of God. Blood represents life, so anytime it was shed for sin, it represented life being given in place of another life. It was more like one life standing in the place of punishment for another life and taking upon itself that penalty which the wrong party should have paid. The price was non-negotiable, but the terms of the price changed when Jesus came into the picture. 

Now, by the blood shed, there is effective substitution. The blood of goats and bulls needed to be frequent to be effective, but the blood of Jesus was valid once shed and good for all time. Every part of the punishment laid upon Jesus was meant for us, yet we walked away with the benefits, without having to pay the price.

Jesus was wounded in several places, yet we were the ones who had transgressed. He was bruised with thorns, with his side speared also, yet we were the ones who had sinned. He was beaten with whips, so we could walk away both with and in peace, and those stripes represented healing. As He took all of these sufferings, the price for our sin was being taken care of. We did the crime, He paid the price, and we walked away with the prize. 

Now, the benefits of what He did are made clear to us. We have now been fully restored to God, and sin has no more power over us. For all who trust in the finished work of Jesus, we have laid hold of all that his death and life represent: freedom from sin, righteous living on earth and eternal life in heaven. He didn't do all He did for fun; His life wasn't offered for us so we could mock and ignore Him. An account will be demanded from all of us on how we responded to the free gift we have been given: the gift of eternal life through the Son of God. 

Remember: it should have been you and I, but Jesus took our place. The best I can do now is to live for the One who loved me enough to die in my place, and to offer me life even at the end of this present earthly existence. If I reject this gift, I cannot turn around and blame Him for the consequences of my choice. He waits; what is your response? His time of favour is here. 

Blessed?

Blessed?

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalms 1:1‭-‬2 KJV

It must be known that what today's extract calls for is more than some passive energy in dealing with unrighteousness and sin. It is not enough to just know that something is wrong, but my life has to show that it knows it to be wrong.

The three actions in the first verse: standing, walking and sitting are action words. They require action or response to what is going on around me. All of men, at every point in time in our lives, are walking, standing or sitting. We take decisions on career, business ideas and partners, marriage, settlement and investments. These decisions must be steeped in God's will; otherwise, there is no guarantee of success.

There is a pattern of life for the ungodly. There is a path that seems right to the sinner, but the end of that path is destruction. There is a place of mockery, where men sit to make jest of all that is Godly. The man who doesn't fear or have God doesn't need to align with His way. And there is no middle ground of indecision; you have got to decide where you want to be, and take the necessary steps towards that position.

You see, if in God's view a particular counsel is ungodly, there is no amount of consultancy that will change the script. If God views a particular way as sinful, there is no amount of scientific research that can make God change His mind. And if He says a particular seat supports the scornful, no amount of surface dressing can make it palatable to God. It then matters whose opinion counts to you.

And because God is not man, He doesn't take away something from us without giving us a viable alternative instead. He warns me about my walking, standing and sitting, and then encourages me to take delight in the law of the Lord. It means that for God, the internal is the proper preparation for the external. If my life will be all it was formed to be, I must settle my inner delight before my external pursuits can align with God's perfect will.

God will not bless what He has not sanctioned, and will not support what He has not approved. When my delight is right, my walking, standing and sitting will be right. It is called God's law because it is not consultation or arbitration, where a man can negotiate a fair settlement on his own terms. Actually, I do have a choice to accept the law, but when I consider the implication of a wrong choice, I have to be quite sure that my decision aligns with the things God delights in and can bless. 

So, when men look at me, what is the first impression: external effects or inner delight? Men can be fooled by outward impressions, but God sees the heart. His blessings are tied to internal delight, where a man settles in His heart what is truly important, and pursues this to the exclusion of every other thing. 

It is a regular delight, not a weekly, monthly, annual or periodic thing. In fact, if it is not regular, it cannot be a delight. If I will be blessed as defined by God, I have to align with the conditions for the blessings. Am I walking, standing or sitting where the world is comfortable around me, or have I made God's Word my delight, no matter what the world around me is celebrating? Remember, eternity hangs on the answer. His time of favour is here. 

Sourced Right!

Sourced Right!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 KJV

The context of today's extract is based on the teachings about temptation, starting with verse 12 of the same passage, and which seems to be a non negotiable part of my growing. Being tempted has nothing to do with first being a Christian, because all men will be tempted, but overcoming temptation has all to do with who is backing you up.

A crown of life is promised to all who endure to the end. Whatever is it I think I enjoy now, it is nothing compared with the life I have been promised. Whether it is a physical or spiritual crown, it is the crowning glory of a life better and bigger than whatever life I think I have now.

It is in that understanding I must deal with the verses that follow, including today's extract. God does not tempt with evil. He does not hold juicy evil over us, daring us to make a choice and threatening to punish us if we choose evil. Sin makes it harder to appreciate just how good God is, because our natural propensity is towards evil.

However, it is important to note that whilst his love is awesome, his judgment of sin is also final. He wants me to choose Him, but He will not compel me. He will do all that is required to enable me have all the facts and help I need, but the final decision on choice is mine to make, and mine to live with.

Temptation is first about my carnal desires, flowing from a heart that is not surrendered to the Spirit of God. It is a daily surrender, which is the only way lust will not conceive and give birth to sin. This is what the Bible refers to as 'dying daily'.is what you feed that grows, just like lust needs input to enable it conceive. Temptation is not a one-off, but a process of constant unguarded exposures. If I do not guard my heart, it will be exposed to lusts. There is no vacuum; it is as simple as that. Death is the end of a life that is unguarded. The fact that the devil cannot overcome a heart that is totally surrendered to God doesn't mean he will not try. 

I must therefore not be deceived: nothing evil proceeds from God, and I cannot hang the foundations of evil desires on God. Man's fall in the Garden of Eden allows the devil have free reign over all who are under his control, but for all who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, there is a help available which the devil cannot replicate or repeal.

Everything God does is deemed good and perfect, free from evil. He is called a Father, because He relates with His children as such. There is no Father I know, at least, properly so called, who will deliberately place obstacles and difficulties in the path of his own children, and then rejoice when they fail and fall. But by being placed on earth, in this earthly body, we are susceptible to evil, and must be careful about the choices that we make. 

The only safe place is IN the Father of lights, who is so called because He is both the Creator and the Essence of light. He created the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night, but He is not subject to the changing seasons that these lights rule. He is the Creator of them all, but He is not subject to their rule. There are no variable factors when you deal with God, because whatever He called sin in the days of Adam is still sin in our own days today, irrespective of changes in culture, tradition or enlightenment.

He is the Father of lights because there is no darkness at all IN Him. No one can walk with Him and still walk in darkness. His will and purpose are made clear in His Word, and all who will live lives that please God must align their lives with the Word of God. All other imperfect lights would cast shadows, because no matter how bright the light is, it cannot capture the whole earth. Because the Father is the Essence of Light, He can cast no shadow. 

He does not turn to man; it is man that must turn to Him. His principles are not subject to man's pleasure, but man must be careful to align with His principles. You don't find inconsistencies with Him. He is the One who does not change, no matter the pressure or the pleasures of any generation. Shouldn't that fill you with both hope and dread: hope in the confidence that as long as I depend on God to the end, I get all that is promised. 

And of course, dread that if I fail to depend on God to the end, I stand in fearful expectation of judgement, and be condemned to hell forever. Where do you stand? What is the foundation of your expectation? Who is the guiding 'light' for all you are and do? Remember, eternity hangs on your response. His time of favour is here. 

Repent!

Repent!

Seek the Lord [inquire for Him, inquire of Him, and require Him as the foremost necessity of your life], all you humble of the land who have acted in compliance with His revealed will and have kept His commandments; seek righteousness, seek humility [inquire for them, require them as vital]. It may be you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. Zephaniah 2:3 AMPC

For all who read this, let it be known that the day of the Lord is coming. It is not a day to be taken lightly, or a day to be ignored. That day is a day of judgment and reckoning, when ALL men will be judged on the basis of what they did with the life they were given. That day is described in some frightening ways that the best way I can avoid the terrible portions of that day is to learn the way of escape prescribed by God, and be careful to obey.

So, first things first: SEEK the Lord. You do not sit down, fold your arms and expect that what you seek will come looking for you. You have to get up, find out where the thing you seek is, and actively pursue it. And it matters WHO you seek, not WHAT. Men seek so many things, yet just one thing is important, and it is the Lord. The world will give you 'viable' options, and seek to distract you by giving you visible and audible options, but as long as it is not the Lord you hold on to, it will end up in distress. The day of the Lord is coming; what will it find in your hand?

His love for me will not let Him let go, and so he warns. Today's extract is directed at people who are described as humble, and have acted in line with the revealed will and kept the commandments of God. Yet, to them, God still says: SEEK me. If this could be said to people who are called humble, imagine what the fate of the proud, haughty and God-haters would be. And as God's Word asks: If the righteous are scarcely saved, what do you think will be fate of the wicked and ungodly? 

Repeat: those who are asked to seek God here are already referred to as righteous and humble, yet they are charged: seek humility and righteousness. You can never have enough of this God. You will never come to the conclusion that you now have or know enough of this God, to be able to take you into the place of eternal relevance. No man on this side of eternity has known all there is to know about God, so we need to keep seeking Him. He needs to be all we care to see or know. He must hold our full attention, or else the day will meet us distracted and totally unprepared. 

That day is coming. The day is outside my control so there is nothing I can do about it. That day is coming, and it is a day of wrath. Imagine the price paid for sin: the life of God's Son, then imagine what it is like to reject that price to the end. What else can speak for you before the judgment seat of God if you have not believed in the One sent to save you from the coming judgement? 

As I wait for that day, I ask God for strength to live right. I ask Him to keep me focused on the things that are truly important. I do not want to be distracted by the presents I see; I want to keep the Presence of God as the one and only focus, as I wait for His appearing. He is coming; are you ready? His time of favour is here. 

Success!

Success!

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8 KJV

The dictionary defines success this way: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose OR the good or bad outcome of an undertaking. I believe there is no man who just sets out to do anything of value for fun. We discipline ourselves because we want a particular outcome, and we are careful to align with the conditions that will bring out the desired outcome. That's the way of the world, as there are some parallels with this too in the spiritual.

First, there is no man who wants to get anywhere with God who will not pay the required price. The call of God on a man's life is precious, and at the same time, demanding. It does not leave room for anything or anyone else. Second, the God who calls makes it clear what the terms of engagement are, and what I have to do to get all that He has promised. The world teaches that daily habits form the bedrock of lifestyle, and in the spiritual too, daily habits define both my present and eternal realities. 

A man who will be successful academically would take time to study relevant material, understand and apply it to whatever context the test requires. A man who will be used mightily by God would also take time to study the relevant material, which is the Word that tells us about this God. The knowledge of God derived from this constant study must be applied to daily obedience. There will be tests on what is read, but as long as I sort out daily obedience, I am defined as successful by God. God does not wait for my life to end before He presents me to the world as His success story. My daily life of obedience is all He needs.

When my life aligns with the knowledge of God, I am defined as successful. This is one major difference between the world's and the Word's definition of success. The world will only see you as successful at the end of the endeavour; God sees you as a daily success as long as you are living in line with the material He has provided. My daily life is a success story as long as it is lived in light of God's commands. 

Be careful of a world that defines success only by the end of a thing. Success by God is both an identity and a possession. You are and have success because of your walk with God. This earthly walk translates into an eternity with God. You are not successful simply because you want to make heaven at the end of your life, but you are successful Now simply because you are an obedient child of God. Can God say this about me? Can He count on daily obedience from me? His time of favour is here.