Guided 1!

Guided 1!

‭Psalm 119:105 AMPC‬

[105] Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

‭Proverbs 6:23 AMPC‬

[23] For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life.

‭Psalm 19:8 AMPC‬

[8] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes.

There is a message in the way the Word of God is presented in the verses above. I have the power to choose to be guided by the word of God, or to make my own way through life. I can take the word of God as instructions and commandments for my life, or I can take them as useful tips, to be used or discarded as the occasion demands. I can take the parts that suit my present pursuits, and then reject the ones that seek to correct my wrong motives, but the one thing that remains constant and consistent is the fact that I am the one always seeking to conform the word of God to my present situation. The word of God does not bend to what I want, and its demands and requirements remain the same throughout all generations.

That is the standard I am expected to live up to. There is a common theme in the verses above, and it is light. In the midst of the deep darkness that surrounds us, we have hope. In the face of the confusion that the devil tries to promote in the world today, we have a firm foundation to rest on, and from which we can launch out to change our world, one person at a time. God's word is the light that chases away the darkness of the world. God's word is the guide for all men, and its demands and principles are not impossible for all who put their trust in God. This is important: God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied grace for. Ahead of the demand, He sorts out the necessary supply. He has given me all I need for life and Godliness. 

In the face of all the above, I see the power of choice. I have been given the power to choose how I respond to the Word of God. God has done His bit, and has not left me without help. However, He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill. He wants to help, He wants to guide, He wants to lead me the right way, but I have to first submit to His Lordship and authority. He will not command obedience from someone who is not subject to His authority and influence. For my eyes, there is the right focus. For my feet, there are right steps. For my heart, there is the right meditation. It will correct, instruct, train and reproof, and show me how to please God on a regular basis. The response is left to me to sort out. Would I allow the Word work in me that which aligns with God's will? God's time of favour is here 

Cheer!

‭Cheer!

Proverbs 12:25 NIV‬

[25] Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Life will happen to the best of us at different times in our lives. A few definitions of anxiety will help to clarify this point a bit: 'Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness'. Another one says it is 'an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future. Reflect again on this last one: you find someone being uncomfortable about something that has not yet happened. You cannot predict the future, and you have no way of knowing what lies ahead, yet before that future even becomes a reality, you haveq worried yourself into the ground ahead of anything happening. It is not a wonder then, that God speaks quite clearly about anxiety. God knows both the physical and spiritual implications of anxiety, and that is why he wants me to avoid it by all means. 

Of course, God has provision for every issue or problem that sin has brought to man. With sin comes the fear of punishment, as well as the anxiety that is tied to eternal separation from God. There is no amount of kind words that will deal with the anxiety that sin brings except the sinner turns to the Word of God. It is the Word of God that has the prescription and dosage that csn deal with the issue and stain of sin permanently. God may also give his child a burden for something close to God's heart, but He will make provision for how the burden will be discharged. For all other types of anxieties, the ideal  prescription to address these comes from a heart that God has also worked in and on. 

How can a heart produce kind words if it has not first been touched by the kind hand of God? A man cannot give what he does not have, and you cannot squeeze out of me that which I have not stored up. A heart that is weighed down by anxiety will give out that which it has, which is also anxiety. However, when God has dealt with sin, and He sits in control over the heart, He produces stability and confidence in the heart. That heart can then become a source of hope and inspiration to other people who may be dealing with anxiety too. Do not waste God's dealings with you. There is a blessing in your current experience that will bring joy to other people. Let God work in you, so He can flow out of you to bless others. God's time of favour is here.

Refreshed!

Refreshed!

‭Jeremiah 31:25 AMP‬

[25] For I [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.

Again, we see God punishing those whom He had chosen as His special possession, when they sinned. It bears repeating that God will always punish unconfessd sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to sin, and it is important that I stay away from sin so as not to incur the wrath of God which is the response of God to sin. It is also a thing of joy that the punishment for sin s not the end of the story, otherwise, we would not be reading the verse above. God punishes, but His mercy also seeks to restore. He is the One who scattered His people due to sin, but He also would be the One to gather them from the nations He had scattered them to. 

Check out the promises in the verse above, and you will see that no effort is requested by the receiver of the promise. In fact, the state of the receiver of the promise is so dire that there is nothing s/he could have done to deserve the promise, unless mercy spoke. All I read about from the verse above is God's actions flowing from His nature. The weary soul would not put up a fight, the weary soul would not resist the warrior or the avenger, if God does not help. However, if God decides to help the weary, you can be sure of strength beyond the natural and the usual. That is the message of the verse above. When God steps in, destiny and direction change. His touch never leaves a man the same way He meets him.

I also note that the person to be helped must admit his/her state. You cannot be helped if you do not think you need it, or your actions show independence or self-sufficiency. God does not go against the exercise of my freewill, and He will not force Himself on me. His perfect will comes into effect, simply because He is the Almighty, Omnipotent God. There is nothing that can stop His perfect will from coming to pass. I bring to Him every weariness and sorrow, and I ask for His help to deal with them. He has the capacity and the capability, but I must hand them all over to Him. That is the surrender that enables Him work. Would you do the same? God's time of favour is here. 

Delivered!

Delivered!

‭Colossians 1:13 KJV‬

[13] who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Identity defines benefits. Who you are or who you know determines what you get. All men who are born of women are born into sin, and are subject to the power and influence of darkness. No amount of earthly influence, human connections or earning power can change the foundation. Only the intervention of Jesus can address that foundation and change the end. The people to whom this letter by Paul is addressed are referred to as God's holy people. At a time, they were also sinners and destined for eternal death, until they had an encounter with the saving power of Jesus. Now they are God's people, and the same power that worked in them in Colosse at the time is still the same power at work in all those that come to the Lord for help.

As you read the verses just before the one above, you get clarity on the expectations for those who now have the new identity. These include: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in my knowledge of God, being strengthened to have endurance and patience, and able to give thanks at all times for the grace to be qualified to share in the inheritance of fellow holy people in the kingdom of light. I must audit my life, and be sure that my life is aligned with the laid out expectations above. God will not demand from me that which He has not supplied grace and help for. If He commands it, He can birth and sustain it in me, and also empower me for all of my lifetime to align with His will.

The verse above reminds me of who I am now. I have been delivered from the power of sin and death, and translated into the kingdom of Jesus. Sin is powerful; do not depend on your own strength or wisdom to overcome sin. The power of sin has been in effect long before I was born, and only the Son of God, born outside of the influence and power of sin, can provide the deliverance I need. His death on the cross is the final seal of deliverance, and anyone who would walk in that reality must come to the cross. The power is still available, and will remain in place until Jesus returns either at death or the rapture. I belong to God's kingdom, and my life must produce in line with that reality. Can you say the same? God's time of favour is here.

Preserved!

Preserved!

‭Isaiah 43:2 KJV‬

[2] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

In claiming the promise above, it is important to understand the context. Judah and Israel had sinned and had been handed over to their enemies to be oppressed. The experience must have been rough and tough for people who thought that they were God's people and would get a pass. With God, sin always gets punished. It does not matter how long it goes on for; as long as sin is not confessed and repented of, God will punish the sin. God will also not punish without warning, and His Word is replete with examples of God's dealings with sin. These examples should be enough to give us a good idea of God's mind when it comes to sin. Before I claim the benefits and blessings, I must make sure that my life aligns with the conditions for the benefits. 

God had punished Israel, and His people had gone into exile. Many had died, and many were destitute and desperate. This is what makes the verse above interesting. We see the impact of mercy in the verse above. How do you place the words of today's verse in the context of God dealing with sin in the lives of His people? How did we go from punishment to preservation? That is the mercy of God at work. If I deserved it, it will not be called mercy. If I could earn it, then why would I need to appreciate God for it? If I got it by labour or physical exertion, then I can make a boast in my ability, capacity and capability. We see no contribution by Israel to what God promises here, and this means that God does not need me to be God. He will do what He wants to do, so that all the glory can be His alone. 

The waters and the rivers will come; the fire wil burn. In the case of Israel, the waters and the fire had come and had destroyed many things. Yet, God is saying that going forward, these will no longer have the same effect they had in the past. God is the One who can break protocol, and even suspend the natural order of things, just to make a point about His power. His presence is critical to all of these times and seasons. Do not dare face the waters or the fire without Him. Even when He punishes sin, He is the God of mercy who does not seek the death or destruction of the sinner, but would do whatever is necessary for the restoration of the sinner. No matter what comes mu way, I rest on the mercy of God that is able to preserve. With Him, I can overcome all of life's challenges, including the power of sin. Without Him, life will sweep me away. You want to be preserved? Make sure you go with God. God's time of favour is here.

Hope in God!

Hope in God!

‭Psalm 42:11 KJV‬

[11] Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

There are about 4 statements in the verse above, starting with 2 questions. These are questions that are normal for those who live in the world today. Life happens to the best of us. Trials, tribulations and tough times have been built into the fabric of our human existence due to the fall of man into sin in the Garden of Eden. There will be times when life is difficult to understand, and there will be times when giving up may seem more palatable than pressing on. The sons of Korah who wrote this psalm must have had some unpleasant experiences, which led to the first 2 questions. I also take stock of my life at the moment, and there may be some uncertainty or doubt about how I will thrive in the midst of the storm. Like the sons of Korah, a decision would have to be made: fight or flight? The very first response by the sons of Korah is quite instructive for us today: Hope in God. 

As simple as that statement may sound, it is one of the most difficult to do. The natural man is taught to fend for himself, and do strive to do everything by strength, intellect or luck. It is hard for the natural man to accept its own limitations and to trust in a God who does not really make sense to its self-dependemt nature, but that is why the natural man needs a change in inner content and focus, for it to be totally conquered. Hope in God means knowing about God, submitting to Him, seeking direction and instructions from Him, and being deliberate about obeying His Word. How can anyone hope in someone or something that cannot be seen or touched, unless there is a Presence and power in you that births and sustains that hope? Do you have and know this God? The second response is to then praise this God. 

This is another response that makes no sense to the natural man. How do you praise God under pressure, unless you have come to know and experience His power, might, mercy and grace? God inhabits the praise of His people, and He seeks to show Himself strong in the lives of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. He can recognize and deal with hypocrisy and eye-service, so there is no point trying to deceive Him. He knows the pressure I am under, yet, He asks me to make an approach to His throne of grace. I cannot come to that throne sincerely, and not be moved to praise Him. The supply from that throne is all I need for life and Godliness. Praise is the fruit of my lips that confess His name and point Him out to the world around me. In the face of unrelenting pressure, what is the decision you need to make today? God's time of favour is here.

Comfort!

Comfort!

‭2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV‬

[3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; [4] 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.

One of the best definitions of comfort I have read is: “to come alongside to give aid in time of need". Think of what this means: comfort is valuable because it is offered at the time of need. The person who gives it must have it in abundance, and it is the most appropriate need of the one who receives it. You may also ask why comfort is so important, and one way to determine its value is to consider the pressure of the world today. For as many as would surrender their lives to Jesus, they have declared themselves to be the enemy of the world. Of course, the world does not like to lose its own, and it will fight to take it back. The world becomes an enemy to the one who is submitted to the Word, and that is one of the reasons why those who are subject to the Word undergo trials and tribulations. If you are looking for a life of convenience, the world is the only place that may promise it, but it cannot guarantee it. 

It is in the Word we find the right kind of help and support that is appropriate for the times we are in. Check out how God the Father is described: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He has mercies in abundance, as we also read in ‭Lamentations 3:22, which states quite clearly that "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed".  He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it means he is also the Father of all who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I cannot lay claim to the benefits and blessings of sonship or salvation, if I am not under the covenant and cover of sonship. As we also know, one can only give out of what he has in abundance; therefore, if God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, you already have a clear idea of what you are getting from Him. There is no demand on earth that can exhaust the resources of heaven. 

I can then take from the abundance of what I have received to be a blessing to the lives around me. I am able to impact lives with the impact of the mercies of God upon my own life. My life's story becomes a testimony that can bless another life. Let it be clear today: at no time did God promise His own that there will be no pressure or pain. In fact, He says clearly that as long as we are in this world, we will have tribulation, but His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead has sealed eternal life for us. We know that the pain of this present earthly phase cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. If I will claim the benefits, I must be sure I qualify. If I will be a blessing to another, I must first be a partaker and beneficiary of the blessing. Citizens are entitled to benefits; they are not for aliens or strangers. Am I one? God's time of favour is here.

Light for Life!

Light for Life!

‭John 8:12 KJV‬

[12] Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Jesus was speaking in the temple, after confronting the scribes and the Pharisees with their hypocrisy and eye-service. They had brought a wornan caught in adultery to Jesus, seeking judgment for her, but conveniently leaving out the other party who was also guilty of adultery. Jesus used the opportunity to teach a number of lessons, but the one that is relevant to our reflection today is that of mercy, not judgment. Jesus came into the world to teach and show us a new way to God, and to establish the principles and practices of His kingdom. The ones who brought the woman thought they were morally upright, but when Jesus showed them the error of that mentality, they all left. The woman had her sins forgiven, and she was charged not to sin anymore. That is the power and effect of the person and message of Christ. 

After the accusers left, Jesus spoke the words of the verse above to the crowd that was left. Just in case that there was still any doubt, He laid out his identity and mission, so that the crowd could make up its mind how it would respond and react to His message. He referred to Himself as the light of the world. He is light, and of course, can only give what He is and what He has. The world itself is in deep darkness as a result of sin, and the world as a system cannot be redeemed, because it is under the control and influence of the devil, and has already been destined for destruction. However, for as many as would take the step of faith, seeking out the light and making Him their personal Saviour and Master, they walk into a new realm of liberty and enlightenment that cannot be obtained anywhere or in anyone else. 

The light is avaliable for everyone, no matter how dark the past has been. This light is not the type that can be overcome by darkness, unless I decide to limit the operation of light in my own life. This is also the power of my personal choice, as God will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill. For as many as will decide to follow after the light, there is an assurance that they will not walk in darkness. That light also gives life, because it is only by this light that our path to eternal life with God is secured. Recall the words of Jesus to his disciples just before he went to the cross: " I am the Way, the Truth and the Life". That statement has been true since it was spoken, and will remain true as long as this earth remains. While there is time, the invitation to come to the light stands. The time is coming when the offer will be withdrawn, and darkness will be the eternal state of all who reject Jesus to the end. Now you know, how do you respond? God's time of favour is here.

Our God!

Our God!

‭1 Samuel 2:2 KJV‬

[2] There is none holy as the LORD: For there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God.

There is something powerful about a personal encounter with God. There is nothing that can be compared with seeing God move in your life. Hannah had gone through a lot of pain; she had her womb closed by the Lord, and she had spent many years coming to the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. Her rival would mock her; her husband would give her gifts and try to appease her, but there was nothing that could fill the void she had in her heart. One thing Hannah would not do was to stop coming to the temple to worship. Even when Eli the priest would misinterprete her actions, she would go on and press her case before God, and she prayed God's mind on this matter and of course she got the son she asked for,  and an additional 3 sons and 2 daughters. You do not deal with God the right way, and lose.

The verse above is the song of Hannah after God had opened her womb and allowed her to conceive and bear Samuel. It is instructive to note that the first attribute of God that  Hannah emphasized is His holiness. Whoever will deal with God the right way must make the approach the right way. Holiness is God's nature, as well as His demand from all who seek to follow and serve Him. This is not a God one can bend to suit your own desires. His love will take me from the deepest darkness and set me in His light, but I have to make a full and total surrender to Him. I cannot remain in charge of my life, and still expect Him to back up my actions that do not align with His will. He is Holy, and He also gives grace for all who seek Him to walk in holiness. He will not demand from me that which He has not supplied grace and strength for. 

He is also a God who cannot be compared with any other God. He is the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God. He is not like man, even though man is the chief of His creation. He is presented here as a Rock: very reliable and dependable, and can be trusted in the midst of depression, oppression or any kind of pressure. Long after this world has ceased to exist, and a new heaven and earth are in place, God continues to be God. I also note that Hannah presents God as 'our God'. Do you know this version of God that Hannah presents here, or are you holding on to a version of God that suits your old lifestyle? Does the God you know demand holiness and righteousness from you, or does the god you hold on to permit you to live as you please, in sin? If who you know is not the Holy God, you have time today to seek God out. He waits for you and I, and like Hannah, He wants to show Himself strong in your life.  Would you let Him? God's time of favour is here.

Principles of Increase!

Principles of Increase!

‭Proverbs 11:24 KJV‬

[24] There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

The physical life has principles, so does the spiritual. The rules that govern behaviour can be replicated across both the physical and spiritual planes. The verse above addresses increase, and how it can be achieved. Human protocols may teach that the more you save up over a period, the more you will have as spare over that  period. If all I earn is spent as soon as I earn it, then, a time will come when there will be nothing saved up to spend. It pays to put something aside, no matter how little you earn, or how much comes in. Make it a habit to save; it is an act that shows discipline, dedication and commitment to long-term growth. There is also the spiritual side to saving. You  can only make a withdrawal on what you have spent time depositing. 

However, there is another dimension that has been introduced by the verse above. It says that there is a scattering that leads to increase. This would go against every idea of saving, prudence and preservation that is critical to having enough, but when it comes to God, you just must know the WHY behind the WHAT that He asks me to do. He asks me to scatter; this means that I need to know from Him the right way and the right places to scatter. I cannot do it carelessly, or the way that suits my motives; it must be it must be in a way that can lead to increase, the type God backs up. To scatter is to spread what you have across several channels, not sure which one will succeed. It is that act of trust that God looks for to bless. If I do it God's way, it can never lead to loss. 

There is now the other side of the argument, which is the safe option, but not the right option, as far as God is concerned. Please note the reference to 'what God commands'. If He commands it, He will bless obedience. The little you think you have is made plenty and can cover a lot more. Ask the boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. If dispersed at the instruction of the real owner, who is God, it will definitely reach more than it can ever cover in my own hands. It is good to save and withhold some for the days of uncertainty, but please be sure you are open to the instruction and direction of the One who gave you the power to earn in the first place. I do not want to be so poor that all I have is just money. If lives are not impacted, what is the value of a big bank account? May the Lord help me to know what is right per time, so that my life can point men to his mercy. God's time of favour is here. 

Fruit!

Fruit!

‭John 15:2 AMP‬

[2] Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].

My location defines my allocation. My location also defines the expectation. It will not be one-way traffic, where I only get what I want. I have to also know what the demand is from me, and strive to fulfil it. From the verse above, there is an expectation from a branch that has found itself in the vine. I note that the verse above says: 'Every branch IN me'. It is not just any branch; it is that one that is found in and with the vine. The vine supplies all that the branch needs in order to be fruitful. The branch is not expected to go looking for nourishment and sustenance all by itself, but as long as it remains connected to the vine, it is guaranteed a supply of all that it needs. 

This is why it will be strange that the same branch that is connected to the vine, and getting all that it needs to thrive and bear fruit is then found to be bearing no fruit. It will be a strange sight, but it is also a warning to all that just being connected to the vine is the first step; I must allow the supply of the vine to lead to fruit. There are processes I must be subject to, if the supply will lead to fruit. There is no magic wand to wave to command fruit; it comes from total submission to the supply of the vine. This means I must not get too comfortable with just salvation; my new faith must lead to fruit. I cannot afford to relax and rest; being in the vine demands a work and a walk that reflects my position. 

Of course, there are consequences for not living up to the expectations from the supply. The One who takes care of the vineyard is watching. He will not immediately take away the branch that bears no fruit, but it will give it time. This is also both a warning as well as an admonition: I do not have forever to live up to the expectations of God for my life. He will keep working on me, if I surrender to His process, but He will not force Himself on me. If I allow Him work, He will bring out the best in me. He wants me to keep bearing good fruit, because that is the visible proof of His invisible work in my life. The pruning will be painful, but it is wisdom to allow the vineyard owner to do His best work, so I can be the best at representing Him. God's time of favour is here. 

Love Manifested!

Love Manifested!

‭1 John 4:9 KJV‬

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

What is love? There is at least one place where it is difficult to get the right definition or example, and that is in movies. Too many times, what God calls sin is what man refers to love. The world tries to define for us a concept that is foreign to it, because Love is actually God's nature and gift to us. The verses just before the one above lays it out quite clearly that God is love. It appears that the original version of love cannot be presented or understood outside of the person and personality of God Himself. He is the definition and expression of love, and all He does will also be extensions of His nature and person. 

What the world offers is a poor attempt at trying to recreate the original. As long as you do not have the original, you cannot fake it. We have the perfect example of love to emulate. At a time when it was difficult for man to justify the greatest gift given, God gave man a chance to be reconciled to Him. At a time when there were no guarantees that man would choose Him, God still went ahead to make a way for man, whenever he chose, and as long as there was an opportunity, to return to God. God waits for man, with all his baggage of failures, to find his way back to Him. That is love: not waiting for perfect people, but able to make perfect all who come to Him. 

This is what makes the gift of God so rare, sometimes unappreciated, and with eternal consequences too. If God was willing to offer His one and only Son to die for me, can you imagine what the hope would be if I reject this gift to the end of my earthly life? If such a high price was paid to secure the prize of salvation and eternal life for me, who else can plead my cause if I reject this gift? True Life is made available in and through the son, and all who surrender their lives to Jesus lay hold of the life on offer. God is not asking for money, food, sacrifices or anything else; just total submission to the Lordship of Jesus, and acceptance of the full and free life that has been secured by His death and resurrection. That is love; how do you respond? God's time of favour is here.

The Gift!

The Gift!

‭Acts 2:38 KJV‬

[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

As at the time of the verse above, the Holy Spirit had been promised and given to the apostles, who were in the place where Jesus commanded them to remain. Power to be effective witnesseses was promised, and each one got a share. A man like Peter, who was originally called Simon, which means a reed, and who was given to sudden bursts of temper as well as cowardice, now became a man who could stand before thousands of people to proclaim the good news of Jesus. That is the proof of the work that the Holy Spirit can do in the life of anyone who is totally surrendered to Him. There is no compulsion to submit, but the benefits that accrue from such are life-changing. 

Peter stood up and spoke as inspired by the Holy Spirit. The message was simple: the Jesus you thought was your regular buddy is actually the One sent by God to be the Saviour of the world. By His death, forgiveness of sin and redemption by the blood are offered free to all who would believe in Jesus. The people may have lost sight of the role of Jesus in their lives due to the issue of familiarity, but this was an opportunity to repent and be restored to God, by faith in Jesus. That is the simple message we have been asked to say to all who come in contact with us. It takes one who has experienced this power, to also speak of it. Have I truly experienced this power and can I truly speak of what I have seen, heard, touched and tasted? Is it real to me? 

Men who have not experienced it will say whatever they like about it, but that must not be my concern. I am asked to preach the good news of repentance, redemption and salvation. The message is for everyone, because all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God. Peter had his past, but an encounter with the Holy Spirit changed his life's direction. All of us need this impact and infilling, because the empowerment that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit cannot be replicated by anyone or anything else. The message then is still the message now: repentance leads to forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit is freely given, without money or price, so that one can also become a witness to the power of mercy. Have you received this power? God's time of favour is here.

Power, for Witness!

Power, for Witness!

‭Acts 1:8 KJV‬

[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Yesterday, we considered the last words of Jesus, before the promise of the Holy Spirit was made. Today's reflection is the actual promise of the Holy Spirit, and the words here are critical to all that we can hope to become and achieve in God's kingdom. One of the principles by which God operates, and by which He is made known, is power. One of the best definitions of power available online (Oxford Languages) is: 'the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events'. This power is not the type that coerces or forces itself on you; it is first and foremost a power that you have to recognise and submit to. It is also not a power that one can acquire by right, might or wealth, but it is given on the basis of submission and redemption. 

It is equally key to note here that Jesus was still speaking to His disciples, not the crowd. The audience defines the benefits. Power here is the kind that looks like its origin or source. Power here must reflect God, because its assignment is to promote the message of God's kingdom. It must therefore reflect the attributes of God's kingdom. It is also a power that is needed for the assignment that has been given, as we read yesterday. Even if you do know the words, how would you determine the right words for the right audience, without help? How would you know the needs of the dying world around you, if you do not get insight and revelation that can only come from the power that is promised? If I will be the type of witness that God intends, I must be the representative that His presence and power can back up; after all, that is the reason why eyewitness acounts are accepted in courts, and not hearsay. 

This is a work that cannot thrive on hearsay, but on the evidence of eyewitnesses. You cannot give what you don't have, and you cannot compel another to see a point of view that is not yet personal to you. Men can speak of many things from the bible, because words are cheap, but it takes one who has had an encounter with the Holy Spirit to know the mind of God and to speak as He directs. The message must start from where I am, even as God takes His Word around the world. All who know and have Him speak of Him from where they are, and the knowledge and Word of God will grow and abound. The assignment is to be a witness to Jesus, not to myself or anything I may have to offer. When Jesus is lifted up, He will draw men to Himself. Can He count on me? Can He count on you? God's time of favour is here. 

Go!

Go!

‭Matthew 28:19-20 KJV‬

[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

These are the last words of Jesus to his disciples, before he instructed them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then went back to heaven. It is important to note that he addressed only His disciples here, not the crowd. The instruction is for those who have received from Him to take of the abundance of grace they have received and pass it on to other people. The instruction requires people who have been discipled to also take the time to also disciple others and lead them to Christ. As Christ had taken time to instruct the disciples, molding them into men who could stand for the truth of the gospel, so were they expected to also take time to raise men who will also be established and grounded in the knowledge and experience of God. This cycle of discipleship and discipline will continue until Jesus, the Master Discipler returns to take all his disciples home. 

The reason why only disciples are instructed this way is because a man cannot give what he does not have. You can only take out of what you have stored up. What would I give to men who are helpless and hopeless, if I am also in need of help? Discipleship takes time and effort, and part of its lessons is the practical application of the lessons I have been taught. The gospel of Christ is the good news of his birth, death and resurrection. He is the reason for the hope that I have, and I know that His life has secured my own life too. There is no one who is exempt from the benefits of this good news, and that is why all nations are to be given the good news. One who has received, and knows the value of a precious gift, will not keep it to himself. The message is specific: TEACH and BAPTIZE. Fill men with the truth about Jesus, so that they can experience His death, and also attain to His resurrection. 

I note that I am not left alone to fend for myself or to labour by my own strength. The verses above are referred to as 'The Great Commission'. It is a co-mission between Christ and I, his disciple. The work will not get done without His help and leading, and lives will not be changed by grammar or diction, but by the empowerment of the One who actually commanded the work. It is His field and creation, and the gift on offer is valid for all time. No matter how hard it gets, how long it takes or how resistant people are, Jesus asks me not to worry about man's opinions. Nowhere in the 2 verses above did Jesus mention the reaction of men. I just have to focus on the One who sends out, and allow Him work in and through me that which is His perfect will. Am I his? Can He command and direct me to walk with, and work for Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Sent!

Sent!

‭Romans 10:14 NIV‬

[14] How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

The message of salvation is for all men, Jew and Gentile alike. The gospel of Christ makes no distinction between the good or the bad, because grace does not discriminate. In fact, being good or bad does not count when it comes to grace, because grace proceeds on the position that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Grace is offered full and free to all men, and all who come to the source of grace take hold of all they need. Labour and striving and effort do not count here, because this is not the kind of thing that one can earn by academic qualifications or by personal effort. We come by faith in the work of Jesus done on the cross. 

If one has to come to the cross by faith, there is a work that must be done to draw such a person near. This is where the verse above applies. How can anyone come to the cross if there is no knowledge of the benefits and blessings that are available at the cross? How do you attract a sinner to the cross if the message about Christ is not made visible and audible? The promise by God is that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, and this means that the need to call on that name must be emphasized. I will not call if I do not know how, and I will not call if I do not know the benefits that accrue from calling. This is an instance where what or who you do not know can really hurt you.

At the heart of this call is a life that makes calling on God attractive. This is why the assignment of making Christ known is first personal, before it can be corporate. I make Christ known in my own corner; you make Him known in yours, and as we all do it, the knowledge and aroma of Christ is spread all over the world, and men are attracted to the light of the gospel of Christ. Can the message of Christ be committed into my hands? The questions in the verse above are for my own personal reflection, and must lead me to make a choice: do I want to be a vessel by which the message of salvation is made known to all men? Can God count on me? God's time of favour is here.

Keep at it!

Keep at it!

‭Matthew 7:8 AMP‬

[8] For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.

The verse above is part of the Sermon of Jesus on the mountain. He had chosen his disciples and taken them up the mountain, while the crowd stood at the foot of the mountain to listen to Him. These instructions are for disciples, who have made a decision to surrender their lives to Jesus. They are the ones who can place a demand on the resources that have been made available by virtue of their new citizenship status. Pray, can anyone claim the benefits of a country that s/he is not a citizen of? That would be fraud and could lead to imprisonment or deportation if found. As it is in the physical, so does it apply in the spiritual. Who I am and who I know define what I get. 

The verse above also lays emphasis on needs and responses. The need defines the right response. If I need something, I ask the one who can do that thing for help. If I am looking for something, I ask the one who has that thing, could give it to me, or lead me to the place where I could get it. If I need to get through a particular door, or have access to a locked room, or specific resources, I simply ask for help from the one with the key, or who controls access to the locked room or resources. The response has to match the need. There is no point shouting, screaming or crying if I have not taken advantage of the resources that have been made available for my use. 

I do not ask once, and then forget about it. Persistence in prayer keeps me grounded and dependent on the one who can uphold me to the end. I know quite clearly that He is the One who can help, and I trust Him enough to keep at it until he gives me what I need, when I need it, and in the quantity and quality that line up with His will. I keep asking until my joy is full, and I keep asking, not because God is hard of hearing, but because I see Him as my Father, who wants to have a healthy and strong relationship with me. What are the alternatives? Avoid God because He does not give me what I want? I will rather hold on to God, who cannot fail, than depend on man, who cannot even guarantee the next hour. Keep at it; God will show up. God's time of favour is here. 

Impact!

Impact!

‭Ruth 1:16 KJV‬

[16] And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Today's verse has a background that is not quite palatable, but the lessons of this story are timely for us in this present generation. We see two women who had been hit by life's challenges; both had lost their husbands, with Naomi suffering double jeopardy by losing two sons too. She left the town of Bethlehem to go to the land of Moab, because there was famine in Bethlehem. She left with a husband and two sons, but came back with none of them. The sons had married Moabite women, of which God had said that 'No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation'. If they could not enter into the congregation of the Lord, why would men of Israel marry them? 

The mistake had been made, but Naomi had to go back to Bethlehem. The two wives were faced with a choice: go back to familiar surroundings, which they had always known, or go back with Naomi to a God they had only known through Naomi, but who they were not under obligation to serve. From the verse above, it is clear that Naomi made clear who her own God is, and the wives knew about her God. Wherever it is I am right now, or whatever my life's situation may be, is God made known in and through me? Life may be happening to me right now, upsetting all the plans I had laid out, but can God count on me to make his name and purpose known to the world around me? Can people be attracted to the God I serve, by the testimony of my personal and public lives? 

Ruth had seen something of value in the life of Naomi, and she was willing to sacrifice her life in order to follow the God of Naomi. There was no guarantee that she would be accepted into the congregation of Israel, yet she pressed on. She had no idea what lay ahead of her, yet she pressed on. Naomi had nothing of value to offer her, except a place to live and a God to serve. For Ruth, that was enough. Whatever may be my past, God wants me to hand it over to Him, so He can give me a new start. As we know now, she who could not be accepted into the congregation of Israel by birth, became one of the grandparents of the human lineage by which the Saviour of the world was born. It pays to follow this God. He is the only one who can make beautiful vessels out of broken pottery. Give Him your life and watch Him do wonders with it. God's time of favour is here.

Believe: Receive!

Believe: Receive!

‭Luke 1:45 KJV‬

[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

In a world that thrives on the proofs of its senses, the message in the verse above may be difficult to accept or comprehend. Here was a virgin, who had not yet known a man, hearing from an angel she had not met before, that she would experience something that had never happened before. Tell me, in an environment where it was a shame to be found pregnant without being betrothed to a man, she was going to get pregnant without any man's help. No wonder that even Joseph, the betrothed, was contemplating leaving her quietly, until he was assured by an angel that all would be well. We know now how the story ends, but at the time, Mary had no idea where this was going. All she could do was believe the words of the angel. Faith is that currency by which people get what is unusual from the Lord. 

It is easy to trust God for the things that are relatable, or which you know a little expense or labour may get for you. It gets critical when it is something you know that no amount of human influence, connections, wealth or labour can get you. Faith is not tied to what is seen, but that which is unseen. If I have it, why would I still trust God for it? I trust God because I know He is the only One who can make a way where none existed before. Mary would have had a tough time accepting the message, but she got up and went to visit her aunt Elizabeth, who was also with child. Elizabeth confirmed the word of the Lord to Mary, and Mary knew that God was at work. The world places faith at the end of the spectrum, not at the front. The world does not understand the meaning of the words 'wait' or 'believe'.

It is all about what to get here and now. The Word of God places faith as critical to all that God can do for man, where it says that 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Neither have entered into the heart of man, The things which God hath prepared for them that love him, but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. The things revealed by the Spirit cannot be processed by human logic; you need the help of the Holy Spirit to decipher, decode and deliver on them. The performance can only come when faith is in place. How can God perform when He is not recognised? How can God move in a place where He has not been given free rein to do whatever pleases Him? How can anyone please God without faith? Make sure you get a sure word from God. God is bound by whatever He says, not by what I feel. Have faith in God; He cannot be found to be a liar. God's time of favour is here.

Kept!

Kept!

‭2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMP‬

[3] But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.

Wherever you read a BUT, you need to take a look at the words that come before. No matter the situation or circumstances that you face, when God steps in, He changes the story and the ending. Paul was writing to the church in Thessalonica, encouraging the people to keep praying for the work of the ministry. As it was then, so is it now. The devil will raise opposition to the work of God in the lives of men, because he knows the power of the gospel. He knows that if the word of God is sown in the lives of men, it will yield a good harvest, so he will do all he can to prevent men from listening, or responding the right way. Have you responded the right way to the seed of the word of God that is being sown all around you? 

That was the work of the devil in the verse just before today's focus, and it reads: 'and [pray] that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not everyone has the faith'. When there is no faith, there is no limit to the evil that men will do in the name of misguided and misdirected zeal. Men will naturally fight and resist whatever they cannot explain or fit into their level of understanding. In the face of all the opposition and resistance, Paul's request to this church was that they would keep praying that the work of God would press on and abound. You pray like this when you have seen the possibilities that abound. 

You pray like this when you know the God who is able to change hearts and lives, and plant eternity in the hearts of men.

This BUT is the change God alone can birth and sustain. He steps in and changes the story. No matter how shaky the ground looks, when He steps in, He plants you on the solid rock. He is able to preserve and protect all who come to Him. He is faithful to His Word, because it is not in His nature to lie. He knows that the devil will also strive and labour to oppose His work, so He supplies all I need to focus on the assignment. Of course, while He is sending me forth, He is also preserving me from danger. From Paul's life, it has to be laid out that God is able to keep me until I finish the work He has commissioned me to do. The end may not always be 'perfect' by men's standards, but what counts is that God backs me up as I work for Him, and He leads me home with Him at the end. That is a life well spent. Anything else will be a waste. God's time of favour is here. 

The Same!

The Same!

‭Hebrews 13:8 AMP‬

[8] Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.

In a world whose values and principles keep changing across the generations, the verse above provides an anchor for the soul. In a world where it has become quite easy to blend in rather than stand out, the verse above reminds us that there is good in staying true to what is Godly. The verse above lays out a simple truth, but one with both earthly and eternal implications. Why is the truth in the verse above important? First, it makes an introduction of Jesus to us. This is the one who died on the cross for our sin, so we could have access to the riches of God's grace available in Christ.  He is the One by whom eternal life is secured and sealed. By His life, all who come to Him also receive and walk in this new life. 

For all who have now received this new life, we have been given the mandate to promote the benefits and blessings of this new life. That one single sacrifice is good for all of time on this side of eternity. Men of old who did not even witness the cross believed in God and some even lost their lives because of this stand. They did not see the cross, but their unshakeable faith in God sustained them through harrowing experiences. Some of the people who saw the cross also believed, such as the apostles, and today, we read of their convictions and principles in the bible. They laid the foundations for the many acts of the apostles, from which we who are alive today have a wealth of experience to learn from. 

In that same light, the faith and actions of the men of old give us assurance today that we are on the right path. The presence of the Holy Spirit also helps me stay focused. As God moved mightily in the lives of the old apostles, so does He want to do the same in our own lives too today. I just have to hold on to Him as my anchor, no matter what the wind or the storms may be saying. It is this measure of consistency that gives me hope, because I know that long after the seemingly steady facets of this world have all passed away, God will remain. Nothing down here has been built to last forever; only those who are in the eternal God have an eternal life with Him to look forward to. Am I in Him? Are you? God's time of favour is here.

For Me!

For Me!

‭Isaiah 53:5 AMP‬

[5] But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing];The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him,And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.

All the words of the verse above were pronounced centuries before they even came to pass, yet Isaiah was speaking of them as if they had happened even before he was born. Almost all the actions from the verse above are all in the past tense, signifying a deal that had been settled long before the beneficiaries even knew about it. God gave Isaiah the clear inspiration and revelation about the greatest event in the life of man, as well as in heaven too. This was God the Father allowing his Son Jesus, who is also God, to die the shameful death of a sinner, because of the sin of mortal man. Think of it: a God without sin, and even without the ability to sin, paid the lawful price demanded by God for sin.

It was my sin that led to Him being wounded. He was beaten with whips, and a crown of thorns was mockingly placed on his head. He was forced to carry the cross, on which He would be executed on later, to the place of His crucifixion. Men, who needed help, but did not know it at the time, mocked as He passed, thinking they were getting rid of someone who made false claims to be what He was not. The evil I has done and would do were what brought Him to the cross. Again, it is quite interesting that at the time Jesus did all these, I was not even born. This is love at its best: the target may not always deserve it, but you give it all the same, because it is all you have to give. 

This huge price had to be paid for me to walk in the fullness of all that God intends for me. I read the end of the verse above, and I see one benefit which remains in place till today, and that is healing for me. His death on the cross was because of me, but I walk away with a blessing that cannot be denied. Can a man who has been saved from sickness, disease and death not be ecstatic and full of joy? Can a man who knows his eternal redemption has been sealed be quiet? I have been saved from the power of sin and death and the ties to my past has been permanently severed. I walk into the new life that His life has secured for me, along with all the benefits that accrue  from this new life. Would you also take hold of this new life? God's time of favour is here.

Keep at it!

Keep at it!

‭Galatians 6:9 AMP‬

[9] Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.

The verse above reminds me to focus on my employer and rewarder. Like all verses of the Bible that provide instruction and direction, not all are not addressed to everyone, but you find some specifically directed to those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus. Paul addresses this letter to brothers and sisters, who shared the same faith as his. Before I lay claim to the blessing, have I satisfied the condition? Have I come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, or are there still areas of my life that I need to lay at His feet? It has to be said that there cannot be an expectation of righteousness from someone who has not met the God of righteousness. Have I truly met Him? 

Too many times, we allow the applause or approval of the crowd, and sometimes, the noise of disapproval of the crowd, to drive our actions, responses and reactions. What this verse does is to remind me to focus on the one thing that I have the ability and power to control, which is me. I have the power of choice: to keep at doing what I know is right, or to blend in with the world and focus on doing all that the world desires. It is also clear from the verse above that earthly and eternal consequences are linked to whatever actions I take. I go in to make a decision based on the full knowledge of God's expectations for and from me.

I cannot plead ignorance, because I have access to the mind of God as revealed in His Word, and the help of the One who inspired the contents, who is the Holy Spirit. I keep working for the One I know can and will reward at the right time, and in His own way. Life will happen to all of us, and pressures will make demands from us, but we press on, because we know that God does not owe a man anything. Everything I do is a seed that will bear fruit, and the harvest is coming. It is what I expect from the harvest that will drive my season of sowing. The timing of the reward is in His hand; if I focus on doing His will. I will not miss His reward. God's time of favour is here. 

Loved, to Love!

Loved, to Love!

‭1 John 4:11 AMPC‬

[11] Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another.

John, the writer of this letter, is referred to as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'. It must have been a relationship that all the disciples knew and accepted, because there is no record that it bore any bitterness, except when John's mum tried to get the best positions for her son. Even as Jesus hung on the cross, dying from the pain and burden of bearing our sin, he still remembered to hand over his mum to this same John, so he could take care of his mum. Experience, they say, is the best teacher and one can only speak of something that they have personally experienced. John could speak of the love of God, because he had seen its impact firsthand in his own life. 

Again, it is from personal experience that a life of impact can be made. I can only take from that which I have or know, to change the lives of people around me. A man cannot give what he does not have, and a man cannot exhibit that which he does not even know he has. That which Christ did on the cross is the foundation of all that I can receive. It is as a result of the sacrifice on the cross that it is even possible for me to think of showing the same love to other people. It is from the store of love that I have received that I can take from to impact the lives of other people. Think of it: Jesus did not have to do it, but He did so anyway. 

He did it at a time that there was no guarantee that I would receive or submit to Him, but He did it anyway. If such a high price could be paid by God to secure my life, what excuse do I have not to submit? If He is not asking to pay the same price again, and all He asks of me is to totally surrender my life to Him, what do I stand to lose if I so do? God has given to ALL men the same opportunity to be reconciled to God, no matter how bad the past is. Money is not required; my circle of influence is of no use here; wealth will do me no good either. When I surrender, I receive the power to love and live the way He does. No one else can supply that which He alone can. He waits for you. God's time of favour is here.

Sufficient Grace!

Sufficient Grace!

‭2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV‬

[9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

As always, God is faithful to His Word, nature and promises. You cannot find God to be a liar or someone who takes you up to a point and then abandons you. Like Paul who wrote the letter to the church in Corinth, there had been previous experiences of God's support and guidance. However, it must be noted that, just as God would hold his own end of the covenant, so would the devil also try and distract, striving to get my eyes off God and to the size of the obstacles in my way. God, in His wisdom, knows this, and He would always supply the grace I need for the journey He has set before me. He knows that I cannot go it alone or by sheer strength or labour; 

God is aware of the schemes of the evil one, and He knows how to defeat him. In Paul's case, there had been some amazing revelations given to him. In order to keep Paul from pride, it was recorded that there was a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him. Paul asked that God would take it away, but rather than get it off, God supplied even greater strength and grace to deal with the thorn as well as deliver on the assignment given. This is where God remains God; He could take it away, but how would I really know and appreciate the supply of God's grace if there were no circumstances to make them known? 

God's words here are potent; my grace is all you need. It does not matter what the size of the problem is; let God deal with it. He can, if I let Him work. Paul made a decision that, as long as grace was available, he would continue to make his boast in that grace. That is making God known, celebrating the impact of His touch upon your life. Why would God not continue to supply all I need if I point men to Him? Paul's life is such an example of the impact of grace. Like Paul, grace is still very much available for me today. God has not changed, and He is still looking for lives in which He can display His power and splendour. Would you let Him? Would I? God's time of favour is here. 

Cast!

Cast!

‭1 Peter 5:7 AMP‬

[7] casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. [Ps 55:22]

Peter speaks from a place of personal experience. His name was not originally Peter, but Simon, which meant reed. He was a man given to fits of temper, and he would make impulsive decisions that mostly did not end well. At a time, his mother-in-law lay sick, but Jesus healed her. At a time when Jesus needed the support of his disciples, Simon went on to deny knowing Jesus, even calling down curses on himself just to support his lie. At a time too when it was unclear what was happening to Jesus, Simon decided it was best to go back to what he was skilled at, which is fishing. However, in all of the experiences listed above, at no time was it recorded that Jesus abandoned him, or left him to his own devices. 

That is the premise of the verse above. Simon was not one who could be trusted when the pressure came, but an encounter with Jesus would change his life, story and name. At a time when the cross became the pressing issue for Jesus, Simon understood who Jesus is and what he came to do, and that was the turning point for Simon, who then was named Peter. As it was then, so is it now. The cross is the starting point for the change that the verse above wants to make. How can I cast all my cares on One whose authority and power I do not recognise or submit to? Hos can He help to lighten a load I have not given to Him? He can only help when I have made a total surrender. As powerful as He is, He does not go against the exercise of my freewill. 

The verse above also speaks about ALL my cares, not just some. There is nothing too big or too small to hand over to Him. The life I have been given is not even mine to use as I please, but to spend in the pursuit of the purpose of the One who gave me the life. I also do not lay down all my cares in prayer, and then stand up from there and pick up my cares again. Once I have handed them over to Him, I leave them there. From personal experience, I have seen God at work. I have seen Him solve problems I did not even know I had, even when I took a different set of problems to Him. That is the amazing power of His wisdom, and His love for me which knows no limits. He waits to show Himself strong in your life too. Would you let Him? God's time of favour is here.

The Seer!

The Seet!

‭Psalms 139:11-12 NIV‬

[11] If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” [12] even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

We serve a God of absolute knowledge, who cannot be deceived by the outward show that usually impresses men. We serve a God of awesome proportions and power, who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ever ask or imagine. We have a God who sees the things done in secret, as well as the secret motives behind the things done in the open, and He is able to reward in the open. It is in the light of the understanding of the information presented above that the verse under consideration today is to be explained. Why do things thinking God does not see or know these things? Can someone who made the eyes then not see? 

Can a God who made animals who can perceive smells or sounds from far away be too dumb to hear whatever is said or even thought of? Why would I fool myself for even a moment, thinking I could hide anything away from God, or even myself. Whatever is done by me, whether in the thickest darkness or the brightest light, is seen by God. There is a reason why He is called the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God. Nothing can be hidden or kept from Him. The psalmist here made reference to this reality from the words of the verse above. Darkness has no impact on God, because He is Light. In Him is no darkness at all. 

Even when darkness seeks to overwhelm me, I go with the confidence in the fact that He promises to be with me at all times. Even if it is sin that has brought the darkness to me, I must know that God still sees me, and wants me to return to Him. Whatever it is that has led to darkness, either self-inflicted or by other designs, there is a God who rules and reigns over the affairs of men. There is nothing that can catch Him by surprise, because He is in total control of all of life. Whether it is something convenient or otherwise, every experience is a tool in His hand to bring about His purpose and plan to bear. All I need to do is to surrender all to Him. Does He own and hold my heart? If not, it is not too late to surrender. God's time of favour is here. 

Pray 2!

Pray 2!

‭Colossians 4:2 AMPC‬

[2] Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

As a personal lesson to me, this is a topic I trust God to also help me on. Prayer is one of the tools God has provided for man to tap into the amazing resources that are available for relationship and impact. Too many times, we are focused on service, recognition and applause, whilst we forget that the supply and support is what drives the output. Not too many people care about the hidden things; they just want results. They will do anything, except the right thing, to get the results they want. Is it a surprise then, that we have a lot of demonstrations that look like the real deal, but lack the power that is able to change a man's life and lead to lasting impact and eternity.

Paul would know the power available in the resource of prayer. He was also the same one who told the church in Thessalonica to 'pray without ceasing'. He would have tried this resource several times and found it to be effective. Check out the words of the verse above: earnest, unwearied and steadfast. These are words that show consistency, grit, focus and dedication. You do not do something only when it is convenient, but even when it is very hard. You do not do something because of what people will do or say, but simply because you know that the One who called you to Himself is able to keep and preserve His own to the end. 

The importance of being both alert and also intentional in prayer is also laid out here. You pray, and then observe. You observe carefully  and then you pray. You are watching to see what God is saying to you per time, and what is the appropriate action for the particular season He is taking you through. The value of thanksgiving is also laid out in the verse above, and it is a sign that the heart is not bothered with things it does not have, because it knows the power, might and mercy of the One who calls men to Himself. Giving thanks must be a regular thing for me, so that the sin and burden of entitlement will not creep in to define His church. How is your heart? Does it seek power for exploits? Pray. God's time of favour is here. 

Let it Flow!

Let it Flow!

‭Amos 5:24 AMP‬

[24] “But let justice run down like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream [flowing abundantly].

The day of the Lord is coming. That is not in doubt. The issue is that we do not seem to be preparing the right way for that day. We seem to think that we can press on down the familiar path of iniquity and unrighteousness and there would be no consequences. We may claim that the past does not matter, and yes, it may not if I have given it to God. God makes it clear in the verses before the one above that the day of the Lord is coming with judgement on all who do evil and remain in it. It will not matter how much I convince myself that I had good intentions. The Lord will judge based on the standards He has laid out in His Word. I have to choose what my response would be: live up to them or simply blend in with the culture around me. Again, there are both earthly and eternal consequences to my decision. What are these standards? 

God will not demand from me or support an action that negates his nature. He is a just God, and He wants all who claim His name to look, speak, relate and interact like Him. Can the world look at me, like it did in the days of the apostles, and say that indeed, I am a child of God? Do I need to shout and scream that I know God, or do my daily decisions and actions make that clear? It has to also be said that the focus must not be primarily on the outside, because it is easy to pretend and keep up appearances. The outward is what people see, but the outward must be inspired by the inward. As much as the outward speaks clearly, it reflects the contents of the inward. If justice is run down like waters, as well as righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, it means that people can testify to the evidence that these are in place. 

It cannot be something assumed. For something to run down like waters, it means it is flowing without any restrictions or resistance. For anything to be abundant, it means it is enough for as many as would make a demand on and for it. What is at stake is to make God's name and nature known to all men. He is counting on you and I, who are His, to make Him known to the world. After all, how else would men be attracted to a better offering than what they have right now if we who have the ideal do not show off? I am called to a life of divine abundance. I have been given all that pertains to life and Godliness; may my life not be a waste of God's investment. God's time of favour is here.

Called to Excellence!

Called to Excellence!

‭2 Peter 1:3 AMPC‬

[3] For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

It bears repeating again that the audience defines the benefits. Before I lay claim to the benefits that are defined in the verse above, I need to sort out my identity. The verse before today's focus lays it out: 'to those who have received (obtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ'. The same quality of faith, the same focus on the grace of God, the same dependence on the work finished by Jesus on the cross. I do not see anything about human labour or efforts, circle of influence, political connections, self-sufficiency or earning power; just the reward of faith in an unseen God, which manifests in a life whose impact cannot be ignored. 

The benefits run through all of life. One can focus so much on the spiritual that you think the physical is not important. The verse above makes it clear that God is interested in both. He knows that the world will first be moved by what they see, before they come to seek that which is not seen. We walk by faith; the world wants to see signs first before it believes. My life must be one that attracts people to the evidence of the grace of God in my life. I also note that what I receive is bestowed on me. I could never earn, deserve or merit it by mere labour; it comes by reason of the finished work of Jesus. I must cease struggling, and simply accept the benefits and blessings that have been made available through faith.

This is why the natural man will struggle with accepting the Life that one cannot pay for.  I note also that the verse refers to ALL things. Nothing is left out; if God knows I need it, He will provide it. If He keeps it away from me, it is because He knows I do not need it now. My personal knowledge of God is critical here. I am not comparing myself to anyone, or seeking to walk in another person's shoes; I just focus on my walk with God, and trust Him to bring me to the place of His purpose and will. He has called me to glory and excellence, and my life must bear witness to that call. It then means that I have to personally sort out my identity: have I received and walking in the faith that can deliver these benefits into my hand? God's time of favour is here.

God Rejoices!

God Rejoices!

‭Zephaniah 3:17 NIV‬

[17] The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

The verse above follows a different direction from the verses that come before it. God had indicated that He would punish Jerusalem for its sins of rebellion and disobedience to His instructions. Check out the words of God in the earlier verses, and you will know that sin carries huge consequences. We have a God who hates sin but loves the sinner, but it has to be noted that if the sinner persists and dies in sin, it is the sinner who personally receives the punishment for sin, which is eternal separation from God. When I consider what God has provided as the solution to sin, I know that it is my responsibility to take hold of the solution and make Him my Lord and Saviour. 

When I have submitted to Him, then the words of today's verse make sense. When the Lord is in charge of my life, He brings me into victory over all that would overpower me. He is called the Mighty Warrior here, which gives a picture of warfare and victory. He does not lose, even if I persist in my own error. He will not abide where there is sin, but He will save to the uttermost all who put their trust in Him. He will take great delight in all who so trust Him, because it means that they recognize His power and grace. Sin brings rebuke and reproach, but why persist in it and end up eternally separated from God, when He has given me a way out? Why remain in sin, when I know where it ends? 

When I have surrendered to Him, there is no more rebuke or reproach. His heart rejoices when I surrender all to Him and His love for those who call Him Father knows no limits. That is why the bible refers to the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. The verse above even says that God will rejoice over me with singing. Picture the God of the universe rejoicing this much over His creation, and you get the picture of the value He places on me. He will not let go until the end, or if I reject Him until the end. The message is clear: in God, I have forgiveness and redemption, as well as hope of eternal life. Away from him is endless pain. The choice is clear; He waits for you and I. God's time of favour is here.