Call!

Call!

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.

Psalm 145:18 AMPC

Context and Charge:

David would know what it felt like to have God close to you as well as when God felt far away. There were times like Paalm 23 when David knew God as a shepherd, guiding and protecting him, and then there were times like Psalm 51, after David had committed adultery with the wife of one of his trusted war lieutenants, that David knew that God did not like what he did. At no time did God move or his nature change, but David found God to be true to his name and nature. With God, sin will always be a hindrance to all that God can do in my life. It does not matter how long I have known God or walked with Him; sin is that thing that separates me from God. God has no favourites when it comes to sin.

It is unconfessed sin that leads to eternal separation from God, but as long as I confess my sin to God, I have an assurance from Him that He will forgive, cleanse and restore. That is the basis of today's verse: God does not change. It is forbidden for God to lie, or to change his mind on a whim, simply because He no longer has capacity or ability to do all He has promised. What He needs from me is that I call on Him in truth; no deception, no hypocrisy, no eye-service. God already knows what I need and who I am, but His desire for a relationship with me means He wants me to talk to Him often. Why would I not take full advantage of what God has made available? What do I have to lose?

Conviction and Conclusion:

That latter bit in today's verse is quite important. Don't call on God only when you are in trouble; don't call on him only when pastors and spiritual leaders ask you to; don't call on him only because you have nothing else to do, or after you have tried all other options and now you are stuck. Call on Him because you know and love Him, and because, from long experience and exposure, you have now tested and are able to confirm that God is good. I must remember that I am dealing with a God of absolute knowledge, who sees the secret motives of my heart. He knows all things, there are no secrets with Him, and He will reward accordingly.  God's time of favour is here. 

Esteem!

Esteem!

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3 KJV

Context and Charge:

It is interesting that the charge in today's extract is addressed to people who have identified with Christ. Let it not be assumed that I am a Christian, but let my daily choices, pursuits and priorities be the testament and proof of my walk with God. There is no expectation from people who don't have an identity in Christ; anything is permissible outside of Christ, but in Christ, a new way of life is the demand and the expectation. The new birth is the basis of the expected change, not just a mere desire to pursue something new. I must not make an assumption about the new birth; I must make sure I have it. Can God say that I am His child? Does Heaven have a record of my new birth? 

Out of many, today's verse looks at just a few of God's demands from those who are in Christ: the hidden, silent part behind the actions that we take. Men see the outward proof but God judges the intentions. Men will see and maybe applaud the great things that are seen as done, but can I truly say that God is glorified by the things I say and do? Am I doing them to make a name for myself, like those who built the tower of Babel, or am I seeking to sow division and trouble amongst brethren? Whatever the motive, let it be known that it is plain to God. My mind is the battlefield of this struggle, and nothing is hidden from the Creator of all that is me. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

God's expectation is that we all esteem the other better than ourselves. It would mean putting other people first, not pushing ourselves forward at every opportunity. It would mean treating others with dignity, but also remembering that whatever measure you give out will be applied back to you. If I get it right, and you get it right, imagine the power behind our joint labour when we come together in unity. Humility is quite key to all that God intends, and the opposite is also quite true. Pride is the quickest way to destruction, as God opposes the proud. I ask God for his help to see others and myself the way He sees, so that I can relate the right way. God's time of favour is here. 

Presence and Presents!

Presence and Presents!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 KJV

Context and Charge:

It is not a matter of IF but WHEN. A walk with God does not insure you from tough times. There are times in the life of a child of God when faith in God has to be proven beyond any doubt. God assures me of His presence, and His presence gives me presents to help me on my way, but I must also know that part of His presents are that walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Due to the fall of man into sin, man has to go through this earthly phase and all it represents. Iniquity abounds; man's inhumanity to man grows every day, but in the midst of the most distressing circumstances, God assures me of His presence. Having God with me is the only guarantee that I will end well. Nothing else in this life can protect you from the trials, tough times and trouble that have become a fundamental part of this phase called life. 

The reason why I will not fear isn't because I have figured out this life, but because the One who is with me is in control of all life. If you read the other parts of this psalm, David was very clear about his relationship with the Good Shepherd, having been a shepherd himself. He knew first-hand the personal care and attention a shepherd will give to each sheep, and would not leave even one alone without help. As many as we may be on earth, God knows us on an individual basis, and nothing catches him by surprise. Evil may threaten, but God is able to place a limit on its scope, impact and reach. I note that my human nature may not always understand how God works, but there is no doubt that whatever God allows has been configured to work for my ultimate good, and to bring me to God's expected end.

Conviction and Conclusion:

That is why I rejoice. I do not resist God's processes and procedures, because I know that there is a purpose and a plan behind the pain. God's presence makes all his presents worthwhile, but I must not crave his presents more than His presence. I must not focus on what He can give me, more than who He is. Men and women of old who walked with God and impacted their generation knew this: they took all that God gave them and used them to touch lives, but they all kept going back to the source. At no time did they claim independence from God. God's discipline and guidance, through his rod and staff, bring me comfort. Times do change; God remains the same. Life happens; God is always there. I ask God to help me focus on Him, to the exclusion of any other attractive alternative. God's time of favour is here. 

Pray!

Pray!

Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMPC

Context and Charge:

In the KJV of the verse above, this is maybe the second shortest verse in the bible, after the one that said Jesus wept. It is a verse that can be defined as a command or an instruction or a piece of advice. In the context of the verse, we see other instructions, such as giving thanks in all circumstances, rejoice at all times, and do not quench the Spirit. Why would God ask us to pray without ceasing? What does it mean to pray, and how can I do it without ceasing. In very simple terms, other words for pray include: invoke, appeal to, implore, beseech, beg, petition or solicit. One thing that is clear is that prayer has a clear need and a clear purpose, as well as an end in view. It means that I pray because I have a need, worry, concern or desire for a change. 

I note that prayer involves speaking out, either audibly, or praying in your mind, but there must be clarity in what you desire, and the target of the prayer must be someone you know has the capacity and ability to grant you what you are praying for. It would amount to a waste of time and effort to invest so much time asking favours from someone you know cannot help you. After all, we know that you cannot give what you do not have. Prayer is not the same as mere complaining; if I will pray right, I must know the One who has laid out his CV, saying very clearly to me that with Him, nothing shall be impossible. I simply come to Him in faith that He is the One who can sort out all that worries me. So, do I pray, or do I just merely use words? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

It is not a one-off exercise, or something I do only when there is trouble. If I wait until there is trouble before I pray, it makes it more difficult, not impossible, to hear God clearly. If I have become used to God's leading in the days of calm, days of trouble will not change much. It is not so much about using words 24 hours of the day, but knowing that God is with you 24 hours of the day, and He is ever ready to help. There is nothing too small or too big to take to God; if I know Him and his power, I know that He can take care of anything I trust him enough to hand over to Him. Like Paul, I know whom I have believed, and I know whatever I commit to Him is safe. It is not about God giving me all I ask for, but about loving God enough to give him my whole life, no matter what happens along the way. God's time of favour is here.

The Rock!

The Rock!

So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:4 AMPC

Context and Charge:

The verses before the one above has the same message: trust in God has both earthly and eternal benefits. Trust in God gives one access into the riches of God's grace and favour. With trust, I am telling God that no matter what the physical dictates, I am holding on to Him. The writer here must have had a personal experience of the benefits and blessings of trusting in God, hence the charge in the verse above. It is not what you do only when it is convenient, but a lifelong commitment. Does the above describe me in any way, or do I need to urgently sort out my heart's pursuits and priorities? 

Forever is a long time to hold on to a position, but what are the alternatives? Trust cannot be defined as trust in its complete sense if there are other choices. If I know that there are viable options, I won't commit to a particular course of action. I must audit my heart again, and subject it to the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. He alone can show me to myself, so I can take the right steps. Remember, if it is not total and absolute, it is not trust. If I have to be begged, cajoled or bribed into committing to an action, what I have is not trust. It must come from my heart, free of compulsion or deceit, a heart that knows what it is getting into, and a clear picture of the One who holds the heart. There can be nof doubt. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

That God who calls me to himself and asks me to trust him refers to himself as the Rock of Ages. At least two things are evident from that description: he's reliable, steady and dependable and time does nothing to affect his nature. He is not like man who grows old and dies; he is the author of time, and is not bound or limited by it. Man counts life and time in terms of dates and milestones; God just has his own time, and when he acts, there is no created thing that can resist him. He is from e everlasting to everlasting, so all that is created are subject to his control and influence. This is the God who asks me to trust in Him. If He says so, He can take care of me. He does not lie. God's time of favour is here. 

Submitted!

Submitted!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 KJV

Context and Charge:

Mercy is that unknown yet certain quality and quantity that defines what I get from God. I can't place my finger on the exact spot, yet all of us alive today have received that mercy. It is that mercy that defines very clearly for me what God's expectation is: that of my own free will, I offer my life as a living sacrifice. I must note very carefully also that this instruction is for specific people called brethren, who have identified with Christ and bear His name. If you are not his own, this is not for you. If you are His, this becomes an essential part of my experience. God does not force a man into anything. Have I settled who I am now or do I first need to know where I stand with the God who demands my life?

It is a presenting I must do of my own freewill, not what I am compelled to do. If you know what a sacrifice is, you will have to read the verse above again for clarity. How can you describe a sacrifice properly offered as living? Clearly, from God's perspective, things are quite different. It is a sacrifice that must be both dead and alive to the things God wants. It is a sacrifice that no longer has a mind of its own, living to please itself or satisfy its own desires. It has a new owner now who defines its purpose, pursuits and priorities. The sacrifice is dead to the things that naturally bother the natural man. Who is your owner? The sacrifice is only alive to the things that please the One to whom it is offered.

Conviction and Conclusion:

I note that a sacrifice, properly offered, is my correct and reasonable service. We focus on what man can applaud, forgetting that the right sacrifice is what God applauds. It is the right sacrifice that unlocks the door for God to manifest Himself. Let my heart not seek after what makes it feel good, at the expense of what God wants. When all is said and done, eternal reward is not based on human applause and approval, but on the standards laid down by the God who desires a life of sacrifice from all who claim to be His own. What is my status? Am I living for myself or am I totally surrendered? Can God place a demand on my life, because He owns it? Or am I the master of my own destiny? God's time of favour is here. 

Slow?

Slow?

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

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Context and Charge:

When you consider all the messages about the return of Jesus, what comes to mind? Like the men in the days of Peter, they had heard this message several times, and it seems it was now losing its appeal. Truly, consider all the generations that have come and gone, replaced by other generations, yet the message is the same: Jesus is coming back. In that 'monotonous' message is a warning: the consistency of the message means it must be true. Men have come with all sorts of messages, and have also died, and if Jesus delays his return, other men will still arise, but the message remains the same: 'He is coming back'. If I consider Jesus to be the Truth, why would I accept his other truths, and reject this one as a lie?

If other promises of God are true and continue to come to pass, why is it difficult for me to accept the truth of this one? Is it because it speaks of a time that no one on earth can define with any measure of certainty? Men love to plan, and we love to have some constants to help us plan for the variables. As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual: We have the constant, which is the promise of the return of Jesus. All I can do is to plan for the variable of everyday life, not forgetting to ensure that all the variable plan line up with the constant. Whatever it is that I do, I must be focused on the constant. All other variable plans are subject to change and may be amended, but I must not tamper with the constant. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

When you think God is slow, think of his nature of mercy and judgement. The fact that you are saved does not make you any better than those who are yet to be, because all you have received is mercy. It is mercy that extends salvation to ALL men, no matter how terrible their past or present is. It is mercy that seems to keep the earth as it is, so that many people may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. God's patience is a blessing, but which is only good for as long as I am on earth. and like all blessings, they are only good for as long as I am alive. When Jesus returns, judgement and eternal reward are the only relevant matters to consider. Please take advantage of the patience of God today; tomorrow is really not assured. God's time of favour is here. 

Willing and Able

Willing and Able!

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13 AMP

Context and Charge:

Sometimes, it is good to amplify a matter so that its depth can be fully understood and its truth fully established. Too many times, we are tempted to think our strength, labour, intelligence and energy are enough to drag us through all that life throws at us. When it comes to the spiritual, there is very little that human ability can impact or change. Let that be the first lesson for me here: never be tempted to rely on that which is not from God to do the work that God commands. God is able to sustain whatever He ordains, and if He is not involved, no amount of human applause, approval or adulation will change God's mind. 

God does not stop at the point of giving the strength required; that strength manifests in different ways and at different stages of the Christian experience. I cannot start in God and expect to continue or conclude in my own strength. So, God supplies grace so that I can be both willing and able to do the work God has commissioned me for. It is His work, his audience, His message, His platform, His Spirit. All I can do is to make myself available for Him to use. His grace is very sufficient but I must make myself very available. There is a lot God wants to achieve and I consider it a huge privilege that He thought it fit to use me for His purpose. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

The discovery and pursuit of God's purpose for me is my greatest achievement. All of earth's provisions are not as important as God's plan. It is God's pleasure that I fulfil His purpose for my life. What pleasure would God get if I wander around the wilderness, stuck to a point and unable to move forward? It gives God great pleasure when my life celebrates Him and makes Him known. That is why my light must so shine before men, so they can see God at work in me. I must cooperate with God, so that His supply can lead to His glory being seen in and through me. May my life celebrate God. God's time of favour is here.

It's War!

It's War!

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV 

Context and Charge:

Right from the very beginning, today's verse makes it clear we are in a war. No matter how comfortable you get, or how much you are able to amass,  never forget that this earthly phase is but warfare, and all who live in it must fight. Now, the rules of engagement may differ from person to person, but what is clear is that the principles of warfare are the same for everyone: all of us have to fight, and there are common enemies we all must face. Do you have this fact settled in your heart? It is the devil's skill in lying that makes us focus on human beings like ourselves; there is a whole new world of wickedness that I must pay attention to, if my life will make impact. 

Flesh and blood are very limited in their scope and effect. There is a spiritual dimension of wickedness that flesh and blood cannot comprehend. Even the spiritual dimension of wickedness again has levels and stages. Let it be known today that there is more to the things we see everyday. It is a big shame if all I live for is the physical and what I can get from it. My life was made for more, and the devil will do all he can to keep me distracted. I owe it to God and for all He has helped me with to keep my heart focused on what He wants me to know, so that when war comes, I am armed with the right tools to be able to stand well. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

I must have the clear understanding of what God expects from me. His Word here has made it clear what is coming, and only in Him are the materials that will guarantee success provided, if I can daily trust Him. This war is built into the Christian experience; I cannot negotiate my way out of it. Compromise is dangerous and comes with a price. For God to tell me also about this phase of warfare, it means He has already conquered these enemies. I only need to maintain the victory,  standing in it every day. There is no fence here, where I can get away with doing nothing or committing to nothing. My life wasn't built to be inconsequential. God's time of favour is here. 

Answer of the Heart!

Answer of the Heart!

but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15 KJV

Context and Charge:

Peter writes to the church, people who had been scattered all over the world due to persecution. My first lesson here is the assurance that God never leaves his own, even through all the trials, tribulations and tough times that are here or may be coming. I must prepare my heart to embrace these experiences, because they are God's ways of fashioning me into the person He wants me to be. Is God fully in charge of my heart, or are there competing interests fighting for attention? Therein is my second lesson: I cannot allow just anything or anyone to impact my heart; it must hold God as sanctified and holy. If my heart knows and recognises the nature of God, it will not struggle with God's commands. If I find myself trying to justify my actions or to constantly excuse my weaknesses, I need to have my heart examined by God, before it leads me astray into eternal damnation. How is your heart? How is mine?

People are watching; my life will always reflect the contents of my heart. My heart's pursuits and priorities are revealed by the company I keep and the conversations I have. Once men see that there is a difference in me, and I do not live as they do, they will ask me what makes me tick. Therein lies the third lesson: does my life in any way challenge men to examine themselves in the light of God's expectations? If I am truly a child of God, I will not lack an answer to give when men ask me the reason for my hope. I may not be able to compose songs, or put together an oratory piece, but it will be clear that the God who lives in me makes all the difference. Can I say of a truth that God's hope has been birthed and is being sustained in me? Can I stand before men and declare the foundation and basis of the hope that keeps me sane, even when the world around me is falling to pieces? Can you? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

It also matters how I present my case before men. Hope of eternal life keeps me from being distracted by all that the world offers, but I must also be focused enough to impact the earth while I wait for the fulfilment of God's promise of eternal life. I must do all I do with a heart of meekness mixed with fear. Meekness means the fact of being submissive; it is important because you use it to make the gospel of Christ attractive to men. Now, fear has both a good and a bad side, but it is important to  focus on the good part. The fear of God is a good one, because it keeps you from becoming complacent or careless as you strive to pursue God's purpose. Both meekness and fear are not immediately visible on the face, but you cannot ignore their impact or absence. The question then will be: "Do I have them or not?" My life must be a living expression of the presence of God. God's time of favour is here.

Pray!

Pray!

“And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7‭-‬8 AMP

Context and Charge:

Jesus was speaking to his disciples here, teaching them about access to His Father. There is no other way that has been prescribed by Jesus as the way to align with the will of the Father, than to seek it through prayer. It is therefore important that I know what prayer is and how to do it the right way, so it can lead to the right results. Jesus speaks about the fact of prayer, not complaining, grumbling, or just lamenting. Prayer is the simple act of approaching God and speaking to him from your heart, and then waiting on him to speak back. I take my concerns to him, and He tells me what He wants me to do, where he wants me to go, or even to sit still and let him work however he pleases. Prayer must not be a struggle to impose my will on God; in fact, the created can never become the creator, and if I will not accept or submit to the will of the Creator, I wonder what other options there are. 

There is also the timing of prayer, which Jesus expects must be often and frequent. He tells him disciples to make sure they pray. It is not an option, but must be part of the fabric of a life that wants to make impact. Don't reduce prayer to an activity that is only good for tough times, but a daily and frequent resolution, where I go to the Creator to obtain guidance, strength and favour for life's journey. And of course, there is the substance of prayer, where what I say must flow from my heart, and not what men would like me to say. Too many times, we have reduced prayer to an exercise in covetousness, where we want what someone else has, or we simply multiply words to no effect. It is not in the length, but in the depth and the reach. If I touch God's heart, would it matter if my prayer was 5 hours or 5 minutes? If I don't, would it matter if I kept at it for 5 hours?

Conviction and Conclusion:

It has been established that prayer is critical to all that God wants to do in and through me. There is a huge need for prayer. If there was no need for it, Jesus would not spend so much time in secret doing it. It was the source of his power, and the foundation of his impact. All who will be like him must live as He did. Interestingly, even before I open my mouth, God already knows what I need, so why should I bother with prayer? The end of prayer is not so much about my comfort, but the conviction of my heart that God loves to hear me speak to Him. Prayer is my way of telling God that I choose to surrender to Him. I tell God I recognize his Lordship and authority over all of life, and that no matter what comes my way, He has it all under control. I pray so that I can know what to do, when to do it and how to do it. I may not always get it right, but as I persist in the place of prayer, I become more and more like the person God wants me to be. That is his end-game. Would I surrender? God's time of favour is here.

God's Favour!

God's Favour!

The Lord favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness. Psalms 147:11 AMP

Context and Charge:

Every door has a key; there are physical as well as spiritual laws and principles that govern access. You have to know the person who has the key, or know someone who knows someone who has the key, or you have the key yourself. As you read the bible, you see stories of men and women who understood this principle and lived by it, and the amazing blessings that flowed to their lives as a result. The writer of this psalm also understood and must have lived by this principle, otherwise, these words would not be written this way. A man's personal experience is the loudest testimony of the dealings of God upon that man's life. Here, we see a major key to access to all that God is and gives, and it is called the 'fear of God.' The world presents fear as a bad thing, but this is one instance where fear is actually a good thing. It keeps me away from all that God hates, and keeps me focused on how I can please God. 

What could be more important than the fear of God? When God knows I fear Him, He knows he holds my undivided attention. He knows that whatever He instructs me to do will get done, because I know his power, and understand the impact and import of his backing and support. And where there is this healthy fear, the true worship of God is not far off. in fact, as far as this writer is concerned, fear and worship of God are the same sides of a coin. When you see the display of the God who calls himself 'the Strength of Israel', you know there is no other expected response, except praise and worship. What you get when you fear God is God's endowment of his person and nature, seen as favour. When you have experienced it, you will do anything to retain and repeat it. If you have never experienced it, the fact that you are alive means you can get it. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

One day of God's favour can erase twenty years of labour. Ask Joseph, who slept one night under the guard of the jailer, and the next night, was ruler over all of Egypt, including the jailer and Potiphar's whole family. Ask Moses, a man who the bible records as being unique: a man who God spoke with face to face. Never be in a hurry to prove anything to God; God is capable of defending himself. It is a privilege for me to experience his mercy and lovingkindness. Do not hurry to seek to lay down God's law by force on men; fear of God is a choice that all men must make of their freewill, because men would have to live with the eternal consequence of that decision. Waiting means trusting. It means I know I cannot help myself. I am in God's hands, and I trust him to work out that which concerns me to his glory. That is just but a glimpse into what I stand to gain when I have the right kind of fear. God's time of favour is here.

Victory!

Victory!

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 AMPC

Context and Charge:

Paul must have heard a lot of things about the return of Christ, and he needed to emphasize the truth. The men of his time, and indeed Paul too had sought to please God by the acts of the law. Unfortunately, you cannot give what you do not have; the law could not deal with the problem of sin. Sin is the single limiting factor for man; the sinful nature cannot inherit the incorruptible nature of God and that is why a new nature is given at the new birth, and is the precursor to eternal life. This sinful nature cannot please God, and it will not try to. As God has laid it out so clearly, eternal death is the final destination for the sinful nature, and nothing I say or do will change that fact. All I can do is to take hold of the benefits of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. 

I must therefore look outside of my strength, wisdom, connection or influence, if I will inherit that which Christ has sealed for me by the cross. Only in and by Him is there permanent and lasting victory over all that sin represents. I must not fool myself into thinking that the sinful nature will just give up at conversion and salvation; it will keep trying to distract, discourage and dissuade, so it can destroy. The sinful nature under the control of Satan has been at work before I was born, so its experience makes it hard for me to overcome it by my own power. I need the help of the only One who conquered sin, Satan and death all at the same time, and supplies the grace required to walk in that victory on a daily basis. In who/what is my confidence? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

The victory Christ sealed for me at the cross is not the temporary version, but one that is valid for all earthly life. In that is a warning: you only get to access it whilst you remain on this earthly plane. There is no victory without a war; you do not declare victory until the enemy is surrendered. Today's verse then means that Jesus has already won; all I need to do is stand in that victory and maintain it. He is not going to fight this war over sin anymore; His life is already the cover from sin. All who receive his life receive the grace and strength to live above sin. The law, sin and death no longer have dominion over me; I have strength and grace to live in line with God's law on earth, and then experience the perfection of that life in eternity. That is victory. God's time of favour is here. 

 

Presence 2!

Presence 2!

Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]? 1 Corinthians 3:16 AMP

Context and Charge:

Paul writes to the church in Corinth, seeking to make them understand their position in Christ, and what that position demands or expects from them. He addresses the church here, people who have been saved, and who are called to dwell in God's presence, and then to serve wherever the master sends them to. It must be noted how the church is described here: it is presented as the temple of God. In the days of wandering in the desert, it was a mobile tabernacle, but Solomon built an edifice as a temple for God. God chose to dwell in it, for as long as the king and people feared God. As soon as they sinned, after several warnings, God allowed the temple to be looted, and all its sacred utensils looted and taken to foreign lands. Now, under the new covenant, I am called, among other things, living stones being built into a spiritual house. In there is my first lesson: being the temple of God these days is not something to joke about; it has both earthly and eternal implications. 

God does not dwell in a place where sin thrives or is encouraged. For God to dwell in a temple, the lives and service of all who subscribe to the worship of God must align with the standards set out by God. I do not get to choose how I will worship God; the temple is not the deciding factor, but it is God who chooses where He will dwell. He has made very clear what His expectations from us are; I have a choice of response, which is to allow God dwell in me, unhindered and unfettered, or to decide to stuff my life with whatever it is that I desire. Like it has been said, these are the only two options available, and either has eternal consequences. This is my other lesson: The Holy Spirit is the seal of God upon a life that God inhabits. It is not the quality of the service I offer in the physical temple that counts, or the volume of the applause that men give for the service that I render. It has to be first and foremost about the views and approval of the owner of the temple.

Conviction and Conclusion:

I note that in the temple described here, the Holy Spirit is presented as dwelling permanently in the lives of every single person who knows that s/he is the temple of God. Interestingly, it goes a step further to highlight the amazing nature of this God. He is also able to replicate his presence on a collective level, as a body of believers in a church. So, I carry his presence, you carry his presence, and then when we come together, whether in a physical space, we carry the presence of God into the corporate space, and the power and presence of God is multiplied. The church is the sum of individuals carrying the presence of God everywhere they go, and it is also the presence of God manifested in the lives of individuals wherever they stand. This is an awesome blessing, as well as an amazing responsibility. It calls for me to be conscious and careful of the power I carry, and to make sure my life is a daily commitment to the expectations of God for me. He cannot and will not dwell in a place that does not reflect who He is. Does my life show him off? God's time of favour is here.

Presence!

Presence!

Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11 AMPC

Context and Charge:

Who could blame David? The excitement of getting the ark of covenant made David a bit careless about the care of the ark. He asked all of Israel whether they were pleased with his plans, but the bible did not record that he consulted God, or at least the records of how the ark was to be handled. The ark was placed on a cart carried by oxen, and then a man who was not authorized to touch it did so, and the Lord struck that man (Uzzah) and he died right before the ark of God. Before I claim to work for God, I must be sure that my pursuit is ordained by God. God has no business supporting something that does not line up with His will. Success in an endeavour does not mean God approves. If I will make a success of my life, I need to get direct leading from the One who owns my life. What does it profit a man if he is celebrated on earth, but heaven has no recognition for the labour? 

David learnt the hard way, but at least, he took the right steps. He commissioned the Levites so they could perform their assigned roles. He then committed a song to the hands of Asaph and his brethren, part of which is today's extract. I learn from David that it matters what is in your heart. I must know that I am dealing with a God of absolute knowledge; He wants to be a fundamental and foundational part of my life. He wants to take over my heart and set its pursuits and priorities, but He will not do so outside the exercise of my freewill. David knew the value of seeking the Lord, even if he missed it on this occasion, but for all of us reading this story now, we learn that it pays to seek the Lord. I must seek his strength with my whole heart; nothing less than my whole heart is hypocrisy, for which there is always a huge price to pay. Who/what do you seek?

Conviction and Conclusion:

God's Presence is man's greatest need. It is not his circle of influence, political connections or bank account balance, but who goes with you on the journey of life. At some point, the earth will take back or redistribute that which it gives, but it cannot give you that which it does not have, which is the presence of God. Men like David here and Joseph the son of Jacob knew the value of the presence of God, and they did all they could to preserve it. It did not matter what the physical circumstances were, with David caught in adultery, yet when he repented and returned, God forgave him. I must never leave the presence of God; He is the only one who can preserve my life in the face of pain and pressure. Whether I am in the pit, Potiphar's house or in the prison, or if God has elevated me to the palace like Joseph, I must not forget to take with me that which has eternal value: the presence of God. That is the way to victory; nothing else lasts. God's time of favour is here. 

Ability and Capacity!

Ability and Capacity!

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1:37 AMP

Context and Conviction:

Let us consider the context of this verse, from the perspective of the past, present and future: God had promised a way of salvation from sin, and centuries later, the promise was about to be fulfilled. If you would offer a perfect sacrifice for sin, you had to present one that had no connection to sin. What did God do? He broke the natural causation of and lineage to sin by bringing forth Jesus through the virgin Mary. That was the sign that God was about to change things. Consider the time element between when the promise was made and when it was fulfilled, and you will know that God can be trusted to keep His Word. He is not frivolous; does not speak carelessly. His Word is His nature, character and witness, and He will not be found to be a liar. 

In the event that Mary was still not sure how this would happen, the angel told her about her own aunt, Elizabeth, who gave birth to John the Baptist. This was another miracle: a woman beyond natural childbearing age was able to bear a son. Every part of the story, from the past prophecies of the birth of Jesus, to the actual birth, you see God's hand evident. Until God speaks or moves, men can speak or act as they like, given the oppourtunity, but once God has spoken or acted, I am yet to see the person who can change what He has ordained. The word 'impossible' does not exist with God; if He says it, and it has not happened yet, the time is not yet here. Once the appointed time comes, the appointment must take place. This is the God who speaks here.

Conclusion:

I need a word from God. This is the only thing that outlives all other experiences. The verse above makes a declaration about the sanctity and efficacy of God's Word. It says God's Word is imbibed with dynamic power, making it impossible for it not to be fulfilled. It carries God's imprint and nature, and because God has never and cannot fail, then, none of his word can fail. If God can make such declarations as these, why can I not trust Him for something that the world has already declared to be impossible? He who said it is both capable and able to do all that He has promised. Like Mary, all I can do is believe in God. Creation answers to its creator, and must supply resources wherever its creator directs. God's time of favour is here.

Thanks!

Thanks!

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: Make known his deeds among the people. Psalm 105:1 KJV

Context and Charge:

Nothing is said of the writer of this psalm, but the message is loud and clear. When a man charges his audience to give thanks to God, this charge comes from a place of personal experience. With all that is happening in the world, having a heart and attitude of gratitude is difficult. People will say that there is not much good news anywhere, but who says the physical is all there is? Why give thanks in the face of all the pressure and pain? Actually, what else is there to do? Do I sit down and moan about my lot in life, or do I seek out the God who can change situations and circumstances in a way that only He can? Giving thanks means I appreciate what I have received from God. It is not so much about the quantity and quality of the provision, but about the grace to be alive to receive them. 

I am also charged to call upon his name. What is in a name, you may ask. Actually, there is a lot. Jesus is one of the few people who were named by God before they were born. In that name is a definition of purpose and direction. I note the verse refers to name in the singular, but we have different names and descriptions for Jesus in the bible. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and when you consider all the names God is referred to in the bible, you find that all men, no matter the dispensation or the generation, found God to be real. Oh, there will be seasons when I must cry out for help. At that time, who I know matters. Would that be God, or other deceptive and false tokens of men? What you get flows from whom you know. This is one time you cannot fake it or pretend. 

Conclusion:

When God is my sole focus, it makes speaking about God attractive. When my life is a personal testimony of God's amazing grace, men will sit up and take notice. My life must speak of a personal encounter with God. People need to know that the solutions to this phase called earth lie with its creator and sustainer, which is God Himself. When God is lifted up, his promise is that He will draw all men to himself. When I speak of his deeds to men, I celebrate his power, might, mercy, grace and favour. It is both a personal and public affirmation of the greatness of this God. No experience of God is wasted; God knows how to turn every encounter into a testimony. His works are mighty in the earth, and one day, either by choice or compulsion, His name will be exalted above all. God's time of favour is here. 

Trust!

Trust!

What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You.

Psalm 56:3 AMPC

Charge and Conviction:

Life is in seasons. There are moments of clarity and moments of confusion. There are jarring moments and other moments that inspire joy. There are seasons when pain seems to be so obvious, yet other seasons when purpose is clear. Even the wisest man on earth at the time, King Solomon, who is credited with writing most of Ecclesiastes, says very clearly: "There is a time for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven," In light of these, it is not a surprise then that David, like all mortal men before and after him, had his seasons of trouble. He was 'a man after God's heart' yet that did not spare him from trouble in Gath. A walk with God will take you through the storms and the fire, but the assurance of God's presence is the anchor for the soul. Do you have that assurance?

Seasons of fear will come, but what I do then reflects my life's focus. If I give in to fear, it will drive me into further despair. David had a decision to make, and what he did was to remind himself of the past. God had always shown up for him, and this season would not be different. When the times of uncertainty come, where do I draw strength and grace from? Do I go back to the familiar tokens of men, like circle of influence, bank account balances, or family/corporate connections? It is clear that men take decisions based on the information that is foremost in their hearts at the time. In the seasons of quiet and calm, what do I spend time investing in? It is from the deposits into life's account that I can draw from when the need arises. What makes up my account at the moment? 

Conclusion:

It matters in whom or what the trust and confidence is in. All of have a target of trust, the default setting we all first think of when there is trouble. David knew this God as the one who could help, and he sought him wholeheartedly. His decision was made, and even when he made mistakes, he always went back to this God. Do you have a viable alternative to God? Trials and tough times, like the earth, only last for a season; God is eternal. This present earth has a date with fire, and all its beauty will be destroyed, but there is a hope for all whose hearts are stayed on the eternal. Reliance means total and absolute dependence, with no other alternative. That is the anchor that holds me in place, until eternal life is received. Does that describe me in any way? God's time of favour is here. 

 

Remember!

Remember!

I will remember the works of the LORD: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, And talk of thy doings. Psalm 77:11‭-‬12 KJV 

Context and Charge:

This psalm is credited to Asaph, songwriter and maybe a leader of a choir. When you read some of the psalms credited to him, you will realise he had some amazing words, which came from his personal encounters with the God he wrote about. This is where it has to start: a personal encounter with God. Until you have that, all you have are mere words. When you have had it, the experience stays with you for the rest of your life. Can I say with certainty, that I have had my personal encounter of God? It cannot be another person's story; it has to be my own. It also cannot be a flash in the pan, but a daily experience. 

I need to have that in place for all the storms that are bound to come. Let no one be deceived into thinking that being on God's side insulates you from trouble; in fact, that thinking will be tested several times, so I have to be sure of who I have believed. Asaph here had seasons of doubt; it was as if God had forgotten him. In his own words, maybe God had forgotten to be merciful. The cure? Take a look back and recall all the amazing things God has done in the past. God's dealings with me in the past is the assurance I have for the present and the future. The fact that He has done me good in the past means that by his nature, He can't fail. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

It is God's nature that breeds the confidence to hold on, and to recall all that God has done in the past. His wonders of old can be repeated, because He is the same yesterday, today and forever, but He is not bound to repeat the past exactly the same way. Even though they were most likely contemporaries, God did not deal with Asaph and David the same way. Though Abraham and Isaac were father and son, they did not have the same experiences, but at the end of their lives, they knew, of a truth, that God had been good. They had their personal stories, but they also had that personal encounter, and today, their lives have become lessons for us to follow. 

What steps do I need to take to be able and qualified to speak of God's dealings? Asaph made up his mind to meditate on all the work of God; note that work is in singular, not plural. All God does flow from his nature, power and wisdom. If he allows it, He has a use for it. It won't happen otherwise. When I have considered his work, I can speak of His doings. If I don't know the God I want to speak about, what would I say? As someone once said, "You cannot talk my talk until you have walked my walk." Nothing beats speaking from a place of experience, and when God has dealt with me, I cannot but speak of His grace, favour and mercy.  What do you know of this God? God's time of favour is here.

The Last Word!

The Last Word!

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

Context and Charge:

The writer of these words is presumed to be Solomon, who introduced himself to us in the very first sentence as the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. From what we know of the son of David, he was accounted for in the bible as full of wisdom. In fact, God testified of him that there would be no king like him before and after him, and God blessed him with abundant riches and wisdom. As you read these words above, there is one major conclusion that matters here, and it is this: "Live life to the fullest; enjoy all that God provides for this life, but remember that this earth is preparation for eternity." The life of Solomon is testament to that conclusion. 

If we can keep the thought above at the back of our minds, as well as lay them up as treasure in our hearts, we will keep ourselves from the distractions that this earth makes attractive. If indeed the writer is Solomon, we recall his life of pleasure. By his own words, he satisfied his eyes and his heart, sparing nothing he desired. His knowledge and wisdom drew kings and queens to his palace, and they were not disappointed. Yet, at crucial points in his life, he realised the vanity and futility of a life lived solely for pleasure and not for the glory of God. There is a limit to what this earthly life can guarantee, but that which God gives is eternal, in outlook and scope.

Conviction and Conclusion:

With all that we have observed from our own lives, as well as the lessons that the stories of men and women of old teach us, what other conclusion can we reach, except that which has been laid out in the verse under consideration today? The fear of God is the basic minimum and the start point for a life of impact. If there is no fear of God in a man's heart, there are no boundaries that man will not attempt to push or break. It is the fear of God in a man's heart that makes him love all that God loves and hate all that God hates. You cannot fear God and also fear man at the same time; my heart can only take one variant at any point in time. Which fear rules your heart? What of mine?

Fear of God also drives obedience. The best kind of obedience is the type that proceeds out of a heart of love. Keeping God's commandments is seen here as the whole duty of man, not a part. Until total obedience becomes a daily commitment, I cannot lay claim to fearing God. Fearing God cannot be a passive phase, where I can get away with just doing nothing with that fear; it must drive me to take the right steps to honour God with my life's pursuits and priorities. It is not a part-time job, or one where I can do it in shifts; it must take hold of my entire life, and then lead me on to eternal life, which is God's perfect end to my life. Can I say, then, that this is true of me? God's time of favour is here. 

Taught 2!

Taught 2!

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10 KJV

Context and Charge:

There is no one directly credited with this psalm, but the lessons of the psalm are quite fundamental tot the walk of faith. I note that trials and tough times are a fundamental part of this walk of faith. A lot of things happen in this earthly plane of life that will shake the foundations of our faith. There are a lot of things that happen that cannot be fully explained. Sometimes, things we consider 'evil' happen to even the best of people; sometimes, we ask the question: "If God is good, why do evil things happen in the world?" I just note that God does not always give direct answers to these questions, but the one thing that is certain is that His will is always paramount. 

God's will is crucial to all that the world is. It is not always easy to accept and submit to God's will, but then, is there an option to God's will? I also note that accepting God's will is not always easy, and that is why the prayer here is important. The psalmist here asked God to TEACH him his will. Teaching is hard work, and takes a lot of time and effort. It means that there must be a submissive and willing learner, and a specific set of instructions. You do not teach abstracts and theories, but clear guidelines on what to do, how to do it, when to do it and the rewards and consequences of doing what has been taught, and in the right way. Am I teachable?

Conviction and Conclusion:

God's Spirit is a good spirit, because God is a good God. He does not force himself on anyone, but He leaves you in no doubt as to what I stand to gain from submitting to Him. Now, when I submit to Him, I am telling Him that no matter what happens to me on this journey of life, He is my God. You do not switch citizenship when it suits you, or only obey instructions which catch your fancy. If I am indeed a child of God, I undertake to obey ALL his instructions. When I take that decision, I see everything that God permits to happen to me from the point of view of God's goodness. He will not let me be out to shame, as all things will work together for my good. That is his standing promise.

Asking God to lead me is telling God very categorically that I submit to his leading and will follow wherever He leads. I am not forming an independent opinion on whether to obey, but I am taking an independent step to surrender to God of my own freewill. I choose to love, follow and obey God, without any coercion. There is a land of uprightness and righteousness, even on earth. There is a place at the centre of God's perfect will that God wants all of us to be. That land leaves no room for sin and unrighteousness. God's Word is law to all in that land. Like it has been said, you get to choose to commit and submit to the land. What is your decision? God's time of favour is here. 

Like God!

Like God!

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6:35 KJV

Context and Charge:

Wherever there is a BUT, it is good to look at what came before. It is important to stress that today's extract is addressed to disciples, not the crowd. The expectations of Jesus from the crowd are always different from those from disciples. The world's standards, processes and procedures are always in direct opposition to those of the Word of God. This is why being a disciple means you will not be liked by the world. Anyone who wants to be loved by the world cannot be a true  disciple of Jesus. The BUT here has laid out a different path for a disciple. Which one am I: part of the crowd or a true disciple? If I can sort out my identity, then I can define my pursuit and priority.

It is the way of the world to love those that love it, and to hate those that hate it. It sees nothing in popular statements like 'tit for tat' or 'getting even'. However, for all who profess to know Jesus, hatred is not an option. The only thing we are permitted to hate, just like God, is sin. As for people, love is the minimum standard. It is beyond tolerance or acceptance, but it is love. Love does not seek evil for anyone, even for those who have wronged me. I am to lend, expecting nothing in return. I am to do good, not because the other person deserves it, but because I stand where I am because I also received good from God. Where will any of us be without the good God?

Conviction and Conclusion:

Reward is tied to identity. God does not call and equip a man for fun, or as a trick. Obedience is also a requirement for that identity. If he ordains a man for an assignment, it is because there are lives to bless, and at the end, a reward to earn. Let no man be deceived into thinking there will be no accounting, or that he can get away with anything less than total obedience. God does all he does so that we have the right examples of His grace and mercy, and we can replicate same in the lives of people who come in contact with us. The greatest reward is that which is eternal; the reason why it is so special is because the earthly is the preparation ground for that eternal and great reward. 

God has shown us the right example. He does not discriminate against any man on the basis of tribe, language, culture, background or wealth of experience. When he sends rain, it falls on both the priest and the prostitute, as well as the clergy and the congregant. This is just one of the many examples of God being God over all He has created, and laying down the acceptable standard. As always, it is about personal choices. God will not force himself on anyone, but if I will let Him, He will make of my life that which will being him glory. It has nothing to do with influence, prestige, position, privilege or power. A fire is coming to test our commitment to these instructions. God's time of favour is here.  

Abounding!

Abounding!

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24 KJV

The Dilemma:

Physical rules can be quite limiting. They have to follow a particular pattern or process. The rules that govern the physical space can be quite difficult to overturn, because they have been established over years, maybe centuries, of observation, practice and consistency. Spiritual rules also follow the same pattern. They come from set principles that line up with God's Word and can also not be overturned. You then have to wonder which one takes precedence, and the only way to know is by the power of personal experience. 

The Details:

He that scattereth - This is not wastage, but the ability to share all that comes to hand. He knows that he is but a steward of all that he owns or holds, and that God is actually the owner of all things, and God gives them to whoever He pleases and in the quantity and time He pleases. Consequently, this man has no problem with letting go of all that is in his hands, as he also knows that the God who provided the initial one is able to provide even more. I let go, so I can get more. 

He also does not do the sharing or scattering selectively, seeking out only those who can pay him back in like measure, but the scattering is done to all men, no matter who they are or what they may have done to him. 

Revenge or payback does not even feature at all in this man's heart, which is fixed on God, the Creator and owner of all things. The question then is: "What is that thing in my hand?" It is that thing that is the foundation of the miracle that I seek. Sometimes, it is my giving up that which is in my hand that will cause me to take hold of even bigger and better things, but I first have to scatter.

He that withholds more than is meet - This is where prudence meets grace, and living sacrificially meets living with eternity with view.  Where is the mark that says 'enough?' How do you know when you have done all that is reasonably expected of you? It is very good to make plans and to lay up something for the future, but when does that happen at the expense of lives that need help? The Bible encourages men to save for the future, stating very clearly that a good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. 

As I make plans for the future, I must remember that lives must be impacted down here. As I look forward to eternal reward, I must also be concerned about earthly impact. By biblical standards, that which God backs up leads to increase. It is not my schemes and savings that lead to wealth and increase, but simple obedience to God's commands. He says give, as I become a blessing to someone else, God will also raise other people who will be blessings to me too. That is how God rules. Would you trust and obey him? God's time of favour is here. 

Peace!

Peace!

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 KJV

Context and Charge:

This is part of the first sermon of Jesus. As was always the case, he had a crowd of people following him everywhere and hanging on every word he spoke. But as was always the case too, Jesus had some words for the crowd and some for those who had stepped out of the crowd to follow and obey him. The distinction here is quite important, as it defines what to expect from each category of people. It is easy to get lost in a crowd; to just blend in and go with the flow, but it is another thing to make the decision to follow Jesus instead. One takes no commitment; the other, a lot of commitment. One needs no major sacrifices; the other, a lot of sacrifices and self-denial. Which category do I see myself in? Am I a part of the crowd, or a follower of Christ?

If I am truly a follower of Christ, today's extract speaks to me. It is one of the attributes and character traits of those who follow Christ. I note that what today's extract speaks on is an attribute of Christ. I will not be required to produce character traits that are not in line with the nature of Christ that I claim to know. If I do indeed belong to Christ, men must see his imprint upon my life. If men would not have cause to doubt the honesty and sincerity behind my pursuits and priorities, I must be sure and certain of my identity. The attribute in focus here is peace. In a world seemingly focused on self-destruction, the message today is clear: all who are in Christ must live by different standards. How would the world be attracted to Christ, if there is no difference? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

Today's verse calls peacemakers blessed. To be a peacemaker is to have a heart that sees the best of other people. No matter how dire the situation or how bad things have degenerated, I must be able to introduce peace. Now, this is the thing: there is no guarantee that the warring parties will listen, heed and change, but what you do not do is to make the situation worse, fan the flame of hatred, bitterness and division or take sides. The only side that matters will be the side of truth; truth as laid out by God. After all, I am a representative of the God of peace, so my presence must promote and entrench peace. When I reach out with that which is God's in me, I am blessed. I am God's ears, eyes, hands, lips, feet and heart. Whatever I say, do or think must celebrate God and make Him known to the world.

Of course, the world knows its own, but it also knows those who are different. The last part of the verse for today reflects the view of both God and man. If I seek, pursue and promote peace, I am a child of God, known to Him and the whole world too. I do not have to wait until the rapture or death in order to enjoy all that is on offer. This earthly life is God's platform for the manifestation of His person, power, plan and purpose. Would you not want to enjoy the fullness of the riches of God's grace and favour? 

Seek after that which is God's and see him bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Live as He would live, and see how He makes your life the generational blessing it was created to be. I am a child of God, and my life's daily decisions reflect this. God's time of favour is here.

 

Taught!

Taught!

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NIV

Context and Charge:

What are the benefits of repetition? Why do we have written records of accounts and history? Why do we seek the wealth embedded in the years of experience of the men that have worked and walked before us? We depend on these resources for earthly life, and indeed, a lot of the world's achievements, as well as detriments, are directly attributable to the actions and inactions of the people who came before us. We do have a choice to repeat the mistakes made in the past and of course, re-live the results of those mistakes, or we can seek out the benefits and blessings of the past and re-shape the present and the future. As always, the power of choice remains within the exclusive preserve of human beings. 

For us who have the privilege of access to the words and actions of people from the bible times, what are we doing with the information? What lessons are we learning as we read and listen to these words and see their lives on display? What changes are we seeking to bring about as a result of the lessons we are learning from these people? God does not waste resources and experiences, and whatever He allows has a purpose and an end in view. That which is in the past holds great lessons for the present and the future, only if we are prepared to listen attentively, and be committed to obedience. What steps do I need to take today to personalise the lessons from the stories of these men and women God used in the past?

Conviction and Conclusion:

As is also seen in today's extract, that which is in the present is also built to teach me patience and endurance. The Bible is an account of various lessons and experiences tailored to teach life lessons, and if I can submit to the process and procedure, I will learn all that God intends and become all that God intends. After all, what is my life worth if God cannot impact it by His Word? What value would my life add to the world if God's word cannot birth and sustain hope in me? No matter what has happened in the past or what lies ahead, the hope that God is in charge of the world, its people, circumstances and events puts my heart at rest that nothing happens without his consent or approval. That is power. 

Now, we have read the past, and it is currently impacting our present. What do we, in this generation, plan to leave as a legacy for the coming generation? What personal lessons from walking with and working for God are we able to document and personalize for those coming after us? Do we just have plenty of words and no action, no lessons to pass on, no eternal value to lay out? God will never leave us to our own devices, and we must not rest until we make God known in this generation. Events around us keep making it clear that we need to go back to the lessons of the bible. The present and the future will be grateful that we played our part. God's time of favour is here. 

Liberty!

Liberty!

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 

Context and Charge:

Paul speaks to a specific audience: people referred to as brethren. You are either one or you are not. There is really no middle ground or a fence; you are either all in or all out. It is this claim to neutrality that made Jesus say He was going to spew the church in Laodicea out of his mouth, because they just could not make up their minds who they were or what they were to consider important. If I haven't yet settled my identity, this has to be priority. I do not get access to all the Jesus provides, if I have not first surrendered my life to Him. This is the proper foundation for all that follows in the verse under review. I cannot change the order, as salvation is the key to accessing all that Jesus is. Am I saved? Are you?

There is also a specific message: it is a message of liberty. It is not liberty to live as one pleases, but to please the One who secured that liberty for me. God calls His own children to liberty from the power of sin, sickness and death. You do not get partial fulfilment of contract; if indeed I am a believer, I am entitled to the full package available in the new life in Christ. It is a call by God, so it is not something I can buy with money, or fight for by strength or labour, or simply appropriate to myself by connection or influence. The God who calls us to himself is able to sustain whatever it is he ordains, so I must make sure that the call I heed is the one God makes. It is dangerous if I hold on to that which is not God's. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

There are also specific instructions for the new life I have been called into. There are attitudes and behaviours that align with the new life I have been called into. There are also restrictions that apply to that new life. It is not a free-for-all, where anything goes, but it is a demand for a particular lifestyle. Think of it this way: if you applied for citizenship of another country, you had to commit to following the rules of that country. No country will admit foreigners who are murderers as new citizens. In the same way, being part of the brethren places a demand on me to live in a particular way and to stop anything that does not align with that way.

This liberty frees me to serve without stress or inhibition. It frees me to serve other people out of a heart of love. Indeed, love is the greatest motivation for service. I am able to place other people's interests over and above mine. Love is also an attribute used to describe who God is, so you get the clear picture that I have been called to be like God and to make him known to the world. The world must know this God, and the loudest way is by the full expression of his nature in and through me. Am I free to live like God, or am I freely pursuing my own agenda? The end is important; I cannot afford to miss the mark. God's time of favour is here. 

Life!

Life!

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 KJV

Context and Charge:

In the physical, it is usual for a man to seek to keep that which can guarantee continuous supply. If you have found a secret to unending supply, would you not want to protect, preserve and perpetuate it? As it is in the physical, so does Jesus seek to establish in the spiritual. It is very easy and convenient to focus on that which satisfies hunger and thirst, at the expense of that which satisfies spiritual hunger. Natural hunger cannot be fully satisfied, for as long as I am in the flesh, there will always be a need to eat and drink in order to remain alive. So also does this apply to the spiritual too; spiritual hunger cannot be satisfied by that which the world produces, and I cannot get enough of that which God provides to satisfy spiritual hunger. 

It is therefore clear that both physical and spiritual hunger are insatiable, but there is only one that can be perpetually and continuously satisfied, and that is the one that God's supply meets. For these people, they had eaten the bread and fish, and they wanted endless supply. They thought that if they made Jesus king, it would guarantee permanent supply. Earthly position is not always the answer to earthly provision. Yes, there are things that position and power may give you, but that which the earth gives cannot sustain that which is eternal. Only that which the eternal God gives can truly satisfy the deep hunger of man. Unfortunately, it is that which the world gives that holds man's attention the most. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

Jesus calls himself the bread of life here, signifying that he is the one who nourishes to the point of guaranteeing eternal life. He is sufficient by himself to meet the needs of man, no matter how complex. There is bread that will satisfy human hunger, but human hunger never goes away permanently. There is nothing you eat now that will cure you of hunger for the rest of your life, but there is a supply that Jesus promises here that is sufficient for whatever need may arise. It is a provision backed up by God as the answer to all of man's needs. If you knew that there was  something you could eat that would never cause you to hunger or thirst again, wouldn't you do anything in your power to get it? 

That satisfaction is Jesus himself; not some theories, concepts or postulations about life. Jesus tells me to believe in Him alone, not in combination with anything else. I cannot successfully combine His sufficiency with another person's inadequacies. Even by myself, I am inadequate, but when I come to and believe in Him, I have all that is required for success and satisfaction in life and ministry. I note the confidence in the words of Jesus, and the use of SHALL means that the end results here are no in doubt. They are backed up by the greatest power in the world, and if He says it is done, nothing can change that, Do I have this life in me? God's time of favour is here. 

 

The Foundation!

The Foundation!

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV

Context and Charge:

There is power in hearing. The sense of hearing is one of the pathways into the human psyche, as what I hear defines what I become and impacts what I do. For those who have had to raise children, we know the power of positive affirmation for children in their growing years, and we also see very often the danger and peril of negative words on children. It is therefore very important that we review the power of the sense of hearing, but we cannot do this outside of the power behind words also. Words have life, and God is the perfect example of this. By His Word, he created the heaven and the earth. 

By His Word, he spoke all that our eyes see and ears hear into existence, and He continues to sustain them by the power of His Word. It then means that the life force of the earth actually lie in the word of God. It is not so much about inventions and technological advancements, as useful as they may be now, but it is about the power of the Word of the Creator. For me, I must also consider my own life. Who is the life force behind that which I do? What motivates my pursuits and priorities? Is it the Word of God, or the applause of men? Do I seek after what men say at the expense of what God has to say? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

Now, faith is a major ingredient in a man's walk with God, and today's extract further buttresses the importance of hearing. How can faith be birthed in a man who has no time for the God whose word can change his life? How would you know a God you do not seek? Faith catches and holds God's attention, because it is proof that you know and believe in Him. You would have heard of Him and his exploits, and these must have encouraged you to seek after Him. Please do not rest on just hearing about God; let that which you hear push you into accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. Faith in anything or anyone else is a waste of time, as that which cannot save itself cannot save another. 

God has consistently shown himself to be powerful and mighty to save, and it is He who calls men to Himself. What I need from God for this life is a word from him. If His Word is able to sustain the earth through all these centuries, then He is able to sustain any life that has been surrendered to Him. What are the mountains that are standing in my way today? What are the things that seem to be shouting into my ears, trying to block God's Word from coming into my hearing and impacting my heart? What are those tough times that are screaming for attention, trying to draw me away from God? I hand them over to the God who, by His Word, can do the miraculous with the mundane. His Word is powerful, and can be the change that you need in a world that is slowly but surely going down the path to destruction. God's time of favour is here. 

Mercy!

Mercy!

But I will sing of thy power; Yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: For thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Psalm 59:16 KJV

Context and Charge:

David knew God on a personal level, and this personal experience always showed in the words of his songs. Here, we see David singing about a time Saul sent men to watch him, so they could kill him. Here was an anointed king, trying to kill another anointed king, out of jealousy and envy. First lesson is quite clear: being sure of your direction, inspiration and dedication does not in any way stop temptation and trials. The fact that I am sure I am on assignment for God does not in any way stop the devil from trying to upset your equilibrium. This is where the power of choices and responses becomes clear: what do I do when the road seems rough? 

For David, his own choice was clear. He was going to sing of God's power and mercy. Sing, in the face of storms? Only a man with a clear understanding and insight into who God is and what He can and has done can react in this manner. Even the things David would sing about gives an insight into what I can also do. David speaks about God's power and mercy. These is the combination that makes me wonder: a God who is both powerful and merciful. A God who can kill and bring to life, and also dispense mercy to people the world will refer to as most undeserving. The same God rejected Saul as king, yet kept him as king for more than 14 extra years. Isn't that power? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

It is this combination that also makes God to be feared, in a good way. He can change any situation, no matter how dire, or he can also choose to leave me in that situation, and then provide sufficient strength and grace for me to remain strong and standing through all the experiences. No matter what He decides or where and how he leads, it does not change who God is or what He can achieve with my life. Hd holds the blueprint, as well as the plan for how my life will turn out, and the best use of my life. On my own, I am quite limited, but in the hands of the One who is both powerful and merciful, I am in the best place to be. 

Think of the 14 years David spent hiding from Saul. He knew he would be king, and even Saul knew that too. He even had a chance to kill Saul who had been hunting him down, yet he would not. That is a man who understands the limits of human machinations and schemes, clear in the knowledge that it is only him who God helps that is truly helped. David knew what lay ahead, but he had to be prepared for the future God has laid out. Can I also trust God in my day of trouble? Can i hold on to God with my whole heart, even when I can't see clearly what the way ahead is? God is sufficient as a defence and a refuge, but I must trust God totally, if I will enjoy all He offers. God's time of favour is here.