The Right View!

The Right View!

Psalms 8:3-4 AMP

[3] When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have established, [4] What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?

It does not require repeating that David is called a man after God's heart, but it needs repeating to remind ourselves of one of the reasons why. He was someone who knew the power and impact of private reflections. In the early days of his life, he spent time away from public view, and by the nature of the job he did, there was plenty of quiet time to spend with God. What do I use my free time to do? What are the activities that take my time and attention away from the things that really matter? David spent time with his father's sheep, learning how to take care of their needs and also protecting them from danger. He also learnt how to fight, using the private moments to build inner strength for the day that it would be needed. It is not a wonder, then, that when it was time, he could stand before men and testify to the strength and power that only God could give. The life of David is a testament to the enablement and empowerment that are available to those who can find time for the things that matter. 

As mentioned, David spent time in private, and could consider the works of God away from the distractions that the world would offer. He saw the mighty works of God as they were made manifest in the earth around him, as well as the heavens that were beyond his immediate view. He considered the mighty works of God, which are revealed by the things that the naked eyes could see, such as the moon and the stars, and it was obvious that a mighty power could have done these. The world will admit that there is a force, a power at work that could have made the things we see, but it struggles to recognise the person and power of God. Unfortunately, denying the Truth neither makes the truth less true, nor does it make a lie now true. God is the creator of the universe, and the One who holds it all in place. Nothing happens without His permission, and no one lives or breathes outside His knowledge or will. What power! What might! What strength!

In the face of the mighty truths above, another truth is made manifest, and that is the place of man in the face of all the amazing things God has done. He has placed man in charge of all he has made, and given man the mandate to have dominion over all of creation. Man is but a tiny part of creation yet he is the only one on record as having God breathe into him the breath of life. He is also the only one on record in the bible made in the image of God and after his likeness. That is special treatment. As mighty and complex as the universe is, God is moved to help man, and he can suspend the laws of nature, as long as man needs his help. The floating iron axe-head, the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish used to feed 5,000 men, the donkey speaking with a human voice and the sun not going down for a full day, simply because a child of God asked, are some examples of God's special dealings with man. Who says you are ordinary? The fact that nobody else on earth, dead or alive, has your unique fingerprints must tell you that you are one of a kind. Do not settle for blending in with the crowd. Dare to stand out. I was made in God's likeness, and I must reflect my ownership. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

All for Him!

All for Him!

Romans 12:1 ESV

[1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Paul writes the words of the verse above, to those who are loved by God and called to be saints who were living in Rome at the time. It was a time of great upheaval and tribulations for believers at the time, and Paul himself would know a little bit about the trouble and tough times that were his constant experiences. It is difficult to preach a message of salvation that is comfortable and convenient at all times, and does not call you into some form of tough decisions. There can be no true message about Christ that will not contain a call to be strong, to be focused and to endure the tough times that will definitely come. Be careful of any message that tells you that ALL your problems will be over once you come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The truth is that knowledge will save you from eternal damnation, but it will then demand from you different lifestyles, choices, pursuits and priorities. 

That is the message of the verse above. Coming from a man who had experienced both sides of the eternity divide, he would know which one was ideal. He was speaking then to those who had an understanding of the demand placed on them by virtue of their decision to surrender their lives to Christ, and the message is still for us who are walking in that same path today. Do not assume that you are one; you really need to be sure that you are one. Like it was pointed out above, the demand on you is huge. It leaves no room for alternative options, or concurrent pursuits, where you can play both sides successfully and still make it to heaven with God. God is an absolute yet benevolent monarch in the sense that He does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill, yet there is a price to pay for rejecting Him to the end, and no force in heaven or on earth can make Him change His mind about the eternal consequences of my actions and decisions. 

He demands total allegiance, not partial or incomplete submission. He will not compel, but He does give sufficient grace for willing surrender. He wants me to present my life to Him out of a willing heart, a heart moved by love for Him, not by obligation or compulsion. When it is done out of love, the trials of life will not shake the resolve or commitment. When it is done out of duty, once the scheme or motivation keeping me bound is expired, the relationship is also at the risk of ending. The nature of the sacrifice is also laid out, as it has to be in a form that God can accept. The excuse that God takes me as I am only works at the point of acceptance; once you are in, a new way of life is demanded, which lines up with the life and nature of God. It is a spiritual act of worship, and of course, the spiritual controls the physical. Once I get it right in the spiritual, the physical is sorted. The appeal goes out again to all; how would you respond? Remember, eternity with God rests on the right decision. God's time of favour is here.

For Me 8!

For Me 8!

Galatians 1:10 KJV

[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

There comes a time in everyone's life, when there is a need to take a stand on something you have become convinced of. If you are not yet sure about the truth, you are permitted to go in search of it, but once you have found it, and have become convinced beyond every element of doubt that you have and know the truth, it becomes unacceptable if you still refuse to stand by it, or to defend it to anyone. This was where Paul found himself at the start of his letter to the church in Galatia. He started by making it clear that the assignment he had was not of the will of man, but of God. He was not sent to please man, but he was serving and working at the behest of, and for the pleasure of God Himself. That is the clear testimony of a man who knows who he is, who he works for and where he is headed. You cannot be unsure of who you are and still expect that you can make impact. 

If you are not sure, what is the guarantee that you will not compromise at the first hint of trouble? Paul was sure of who he was, as well as clear about the person who called him, and what he had been called to do. This was why he could also tell Timothy that "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day". That is confidence in the knowledge of God, and the result of a daily and regular walk with and work for Him. In God's hand is where safety is. You cannot keep anything safe until you are also safe. You cannot give what you do not have. You also cannot make such boast if you are still living for the pleasure of men, or depending on man for daily bread. Check out the verse above: "Do I now persuade men, or God? Ask yourself the same question and honestly answer in the light of your daily pursuits and priorities. 

For Paul, it was clear where his priorities lay. He would rather displease man than displease God. The price you pay for displeasing God is huge; if man is angry with you, you can ask God to intervene on your behalf, but if it is God who is angry with you, who do you appeal to? Paul challenged Peter to his face when his hypocrisy could have led men astray. He was not afraid to speak up when it mattered, as long as the truth about God was the focus. If pleasing men is the project, then know that the verse above makes it clear that I cannot also please God in the same way. These are two parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how far you draw them, or how hard you try to align them. They both flow from different sources, are sustained by different standards, and have different eternal realities. Make the right decision to please God; your eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

For Me 7!

For Me 7!

Matthew 6:34 AMP

[34] “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As it has been pointed out over the past few days, God wants me to focus on my personal walk and relationship with Him. He is not just interested in my earthly impact, but He is also highly invested in my eternal reality. This is why one of my favourite bible passages is 2 Peter 1:3 KJV, which says that "according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." This is the reflection of the fruit of my personal walk with God. It is His will that I have all that I need to make the best of the life I have been given, and it is also within the boundaries of His perfect will that I also impact the lives of men with the message of hope and eternal life with God. That is the complete package of God's grace: that a man can enjoy all that the earthly life can provide, as a preparation for the eternal hope that awaits him in heaven. I cannot afford to be too focused on one that I miss the other.

It will be an error to forget that God is also the Lord and Master of the universe, and creation answers to Him. When He commands, even the devil has to obey. The devil knows how to keep our hearts occupied with the cares and worries of daily life, and these concerns are fully legitimate, but we can so focus on them that we forget to trust and depend on the One whose provisions transcend all of earth and eternity. That is the message in the Sermon from where today's verse is taken. The people of the world have no one to take care of then or to help secure that which they need, so they must fight and sometimes kill in order to get hold of what they want. However, the one who has God on his side has the authority in heaven and on earth on his side, and has the assurance that, as long as that thing is needed for life and Godliness, God wil surely give them when needed. 

What better way is there to get confidence in the ability and capacity of God to take care of me? What is that need that heaven is unable to meet? No demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven, because the Lord of Heaven and the earth is both limitless and unlimited. Worrying about tomorrow is a waste of the precious time and resources that God has already made available for today. Keeping an eye on the future, whilst forgetting or neglecting to enjoy today, is a waste of the amazing possibilities that today holds. Why burden today with the uncertainty of tomorrow? Why cloud today with the doubts about tomorrow? Leave each day, made by God, to worry about itself. There is nothing I can do, by myself, to change anything about tomorrow, so I would rather wait for the One who can, to help me with tomorrow. Today, I just thank Him for all I am and have. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

For Me 6!

For Me 6!

Philippians 1:6 AMP

[6] I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. [Rom 14:10]

There is no doubt that God is at work in man. You cannot look at what the world offers and not admit that there is a supreme power at work. Paul was also a man who had a past that was not palatable, but at the time he was writing the words of the verse above, he had seen God at work and was now converted. He was a man that had so gone quite far down the drain that men feared him, yet when God took hold of him, he became a changed man. That is what the presence and power of God can do in a man's life. He takes the entire baggage, and the history of my life that is not so palatable, and then makes a message out of these. He takes all my pain and turns it to His tool to bring out His purpose and plan. However, as awesome as the above may sound, the limit will be my own choices and decisions. God will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill. 

This was why Paul could be quite confident of who God is, in the light of who Paul was now. It is only a man who has been convicted or convinced of who God is, or what God can do, that can then pass on the assurance of this confidence to other people. Paul was now an evangelist for Christ, and he had learnt a lot of things from this walk of faith, and this verse is one of the many things he was now totally convinced of. This truth is that only in Christ  can a man be kept truly safe. No man can do the things that only God can do. No man can give you that which only God can give you. He is the God of absolute knowledge, who cannot be deceived by pretence, eye-service of hypocrisy of any kind. This truth is that no one can secure for you that which he did not originate. The one who designs and develops is the one with the capacity and knowledge to know how and where best to deploy that which has been made. 

That is why, under normal circumstances, you do not place a fully functional and electrified television set into water. That would be the end of the TV and/or the person handling the TV. That was not the ideal place for the full and optimal performance of that TV. For each person made by God, there is a place and platform for the ideal manifestation of the gift of God in that life. God has not yet made that life that He has no plan for, and He is yet to make a life that will ever become reckless and uncontrollable. The originator is also the One who concludes. The one who starts is also the one who is best placed to finish. A day comes soon that will be the end of the work of God in a man's life on this side of eternity. It is a day that will reveal the one to whom you are truly surrendered. That day is not the day to be sure; you have to be sure now, while there is still time. Make sure that the work of God has started in you, so you can be sure of a good finish, on the day of Christ. God's time of favour is here. 

For Me 5!

For Me 5!

Ephesians 3:16 ESV

[16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

One of the greatest treasures that has been made known to man was revealed to Paul by the power of the Holy Spirit. This treasure is the gift of God given to mortal man, not because of anything mortal man could give to God as a worthy price for that which he had been given, but because of the nature of God Himself. We have an Almighty God who is greater and higher than anyone else, yet He would dare to deposit Himself into the hearts and lives of men who could not even help or save themselves. This God did not need anyone to further prove that He is God, but He is who He is, no matter what the world says or does. In His wisdom, the Bible records a man called Abraham that God chose for Himself, and decided to call them to Himself as His people. Israel was chosen by God to be the template for God's dealings with the human race, but they became complacent and entitled and of course, God allowed other nations to also come in and partake of the blessings that Israel had. 

Those who were not even directly related to Abraham, called the Gentiles, had now become known as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. The people the world rejected had now been brought into the kingdom of God. This was the manifestation of the mystery that Paul had received by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Men who would ordinarily not be entitled to be benefits of the call that the man Abraham received could now place demands on these benefits. This is where the message of the grace of God can be both difficult to explain and also easy to accept. It is easy because grace does not need me to be 'qualified' because what grace needs is not what I can bring, but what God has and can give. It is also difficult because man thinks he needs to fight for everything he gets, thinking nothing good comes for free.

This was the message of Paul in the verse above: there are riches of God's glory that man has to know, understand and experience in order to understand who he is and what he has. When you refer to the 'riches of God's glory', there are dimensions that this earthly phase cannot fully explain. The verse above also adds that this grace is able to provide strength through the Holy Spirit. What this tells me is that the presence of the Holy Spirit is proof of God's empowerment and enablement. No man will get far or make it in life outside of the help and presence of the Holy Spirit. This enablement flows from the inner man and manifests on the outside. I must not focus on the outside at the expense of the inside. Do I have the presence of the Holy Spirit in me, or am I concerned only with what is going on outside? God is invested in my earthly and eternal impact. May I allow Him work. God's time of favour is here. 

For Me 4!

For Me 4!

Psalms 139:13-14 AMP

[13] For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb. [14] I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

This is one of the most personal psalms by the man David. From start to finish, it is as if David takes a chair and sits with God to go over his life. He examines his life from even before birth, to all of life's experiences, even in including the unseen, unknown and uncertain. David seems to be alone with God all through the times indicated in this psalm, and the only time he seems to bring in a third party was when he asked God to deal with the wicked, whom he also hated. The first lesson for me here is that I must focus solely on the God who has made, formed and placed me where I am now. I cannot afford to be concerned and distracted by the views, opinions, distractions or conclusions of men like myself. When God is at work, or when He has spoken, it really does not matter what anyone else has to say. I must seek God for who He is, and not allow men keep me fixated on the earthly, temporal and ephemeral. God wants me to experience something bigger, better and greater than anything the world can offer. 

David was clear about his origin, content, motivation, inspiration and destination. He knew where he was from, whose he was, who owned and directed his life, and what his life inside of God would look like. Science continues to make new discoveries about the human body and how it works, and there are new ways of treatments that are found out every day. The second lesson for me is that I believe that even for the next 1,000 years, if the Lord tarries, the world will continue to make new discoveries. The reason is simple: as the verses above make clear, there was nobody there when God was forming my innermost parts,  when he was knitting me together in my mother's womb. No one has the template for my life, looks or constitution. No one can replicate the model, no matter how intelligent. The fact that no 2 human beings have the same fingerprints is a testament to the amazing power, wisdom and sovereignity of God in the affairs of men. Have you met this God?

The uniqueness of me makes me unstoppable and special, because I am the only version of myself in the world. No wonder David could praise God the ways and times he did, as he knew what he had been given. The only person to go to when things are not going well is the One who made me when no one else was there. The only One who has my earthly and eternal interests at heart is the One who has invested so much of Himself in me. The only One who moves mountains and boundaries, simply because I am his child, is the only One who is qualified to place demands on my person, time and resources. Like David, have I considered who this God is, and am I able to praise and worship Him for who He is? Have I taken time to look at my life, and see the amazing miracles, plans and possibilities that are available in and through Christ who is my Lord and Saviour? I note that David was completely surrendered to this God. If I will access the same resources, I must be under the same influence. I cannot be my own master, and still place a demand on God the true Master. Would you truly submit? God's time of favour is here. 

For Me 3!

For Me 3!

1 John 4:15 AMP

[15] Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

John, writing to brothers and sisters who shared common faith with him, warns about the dangers of false spirits and prophets, who are able to take on the cloak of spiritual pretence and fool people with their pseudo-religion, which looks, sounds or behaves like the real deal, but it is nothing like the real deal. The beginning of the chapter from where the verse above is taken warns us about testing every spirit to see if they are from God. How do you test something is genuine if you do not first have, know and follow the genuine? If all you have been exposed to all your life is the fake, you are never able to recognise the original. Unfortunately, we need the help of God to know and experience the real deal. Anyone or anything outside of God will not last, because only God is eternal, and He is able to preserve whatever has been entrusted into His care. Are you in the care, and under the guidance and inspiration of the One who is the Truth? 

It is in the Truth that I am able to recognize and confess that Jesus is the Son of God. This truth of the Sonship of Jesus has been the basis of offence and resistance all over the world, with many unable to receive or accept who He is. However, the fact that I violently oppose a statement does not mean that it is not true. The fact that I also fight violently to promote or propagate something does not mean that the thing is true. I have to be careful what I apply time, energy and a lot of resources to. The Holy Spirit's work is to guide us into all Truth, and He will not initiate or promote anything false; He takes of that which is God, and progressively reveals it to as many as would submit their hearts to Him. He does not compel a man to submit; He does not force Himself on anyone. He is Truth and taking Him means taking all of Him. I cannot claim to know and have him, and still struggle with accepting all of Him.

The foundation of the confession that Jesus is the Son of God is a broken and surrendered heart. This heart has come to know who this Jesus is, and has experienced the benefits and blessings of His Sonship. The most valuable benefit of this knowledge is salvation from sin, and the settled hope of eternal life with God. I am not sure that there can be anything else that can be bigger or better than this. If He does not control ALL of me, He does not really control anything. That is the reality laid out in the verse above. The one who is able to confess Jesus is Lord is the one lives inside of God, and also has God living inside of him. It is a mutually beneficial relationship: God is glorified in and through me, and I get to not just experience heaven here on earth, but also have the hope and the assurance of eternity with God. What can be bigger or better than this? Do you have and know this God, this Truth? God's time of favour is here 

For Me 2!

For Me 2!

Romans 12:12 AMP

[12] constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],

Paul writes to people who are described as brethren, sharing the same faith, experience and sacrifice as Paul. At the start of the chapter from where the verse above is taken, we read the charge that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God as our spiritual act of worship. The man who claims to be fully given over to God cannot have a decisive course of action separate and distinct from the One he claims to be submitted to. I should not be able to successfully juggle competing allegiances at the same time, where I am able to please the world, and also please God at the same time. That is self-deceit, hypocrisy and eye-service, and it will definitely not lead anywhere valuable. If I will be able to align with the verse above, the seed that will lead to the fruit described above has to be right. The first step, therefore, is to clearly define and determine who holds my total allegiance. Is it the Word, or the world? 

Remember, whichever controls my inner content will define my earthly pursuits as well as my eternal reality. A man cannot rejoice in the face of earthly realities unless there is an inner reality that impacts the outer expression of joy that cannot be denied. Joy is not the absence of pressure, as the world has its fair share of pain, but the fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit living inside a man who is able to rejoice, no matter what is going on around him. He is not defined by the external but liberated by the internal. I am able to rejoice because I have hope of a better tomorrow. I keep my eye on the eternal, whilst depending on the help of God to navigate the earthly successfully. That is why I am able to remain steadfast and patient in distress, because I have the backing and support of the most High God. The human experience may sometimes cause distress, but I can hold up under this because I have the One who births and sustains joy in me. Do you have Him? 

I am also able to be devoted to prayer, which is to constantly seek wisdom, guidance and strength from the right source. I note that there are several pretenders who will offer the things listed above, but I am careful to also note that a man cannot give you that which he does not own or already have. If I truly seek wisdom or strength, who else can give me in great abundance and still have enough for others, but the One called the Wisdom and the Power of God? Who else can supply strength that cannot be limited or explained like the One called the Strength of Israel, or our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble? I pray to the One who is more than able to give me all I want and much more, and I get all that I need for life and Godliness. I have the One who has all I need. No one else can give me what God can give me. Why not seek Him out today, and submit to Him? Your life will never remain the same. God's time of favour is here. 

For Me!

For Me!

Psalms 59:16 AMP

But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.

There is something personal about a walk with God that no other person can help you with. Yes, there could be people who will help you on your way, and there will also be people whose antagonism and opposition will even push you toward God, but ultimately, the decision on what to do with the pressure and the opposition depends on you, and your understanding of the resources that have been made available to you. It is also very important to note that the fact that you are walking closely with God will not insure you from pain, pressure or problems; you cannot wish them away, but you have a choice or response. You can resist and reject them, or you can embrace them as part of God's divine package of preparation for the greater assignments that lie ahead. David would know the power and wisdom behind walking with God closely; he had times in his life when he would have died, if not for the mercy of God. It is still the same God today. 

David could look around and see how God had dealt with his enemies. They were plenty and powerful, but there is a majority and an authority that is bigger and better than the sum of all the people who were gathered against him. Those who do not know or have God will need to fend for themselves, and get whatever they need by struggle, pain and discomfort. That is the way of the world; it has no free gift, and be sure that whatever it gives you, it will get back with interest, even if it is at the expense of your life. The people of the world have no choice but to pursue what they want by their own schemes and tricks, because no one will work for their interests. Even Jesus, at the Sermon on the Mount, said that it is normal for the Gentiles and who do not know God to pursue the things of the world by themselves, but those who know and have God get to see God work on their behalf, even as they sleep. What could be better than this? 

It takes personal experience to speak like the verse above. With God, there is no time off, or siesta. He does not sleep or slumber; He is never tired or weary. He is the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God, who knows the end from the beginning, and can make things work in line with His will. He works from the place of supreme wisdom, and all who submit to Him allow Him work that which is ideal and perfect in their lives. For David, it was his songs in the morning or the praises at night. For David, there was no 'convenient' time to praise God; he did it anytime and anywhere, from the wilderness where no one could see him, to the palace where all eyes could see him. David praised God anywhere and everywhere, and it is not a surprise that he is called a man after God's own heart. How do I deal with this information? What decisions do I need to make here? Is God all in all to me, or are there viable alternatives? If God is not all, you will not get all that God is. God's time of favour is here.

Be Different!

Be Different!

Luke 6:27-28 AMP

[27] “But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you, [28] bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

There is a message for the general populace and there is a message for disciples. The expectation from the general populace is always lower than that from disciples. The reason is that the disciple has made a public affirmation of a change in ownership, focus and allegiance. The disciple has made it very clear to everyone that s/he now lives by higher and nobler standards than the world can ever aspire to. This is why the expectation of the world - unbelievers- from those who call themselves Christians is usually high. You hear comments like: "And you call yourself a Christian". The world seems to have a good idea of the standard expected from a believer even though it has no intention of following the standard. It is therefore expected that those who claim to know the standard are ready and willing to align with the standard. It has to be noted that this is the standard laid down by God, not man. 

If I will indeed hear and pay attention, the verse above speaks to me. It is not enough to come every week to the house of God to hear the sermons; I have to be invested in obeying and putting the word of God to practice. There are people everywhere who hear the word of God; there are several opportunities around us to have encounters with the written and spoken word of God, but the challenge is always with the practical aspects of God's word. It is easy to love people who are close to us, and who are also invested in our good, but the challenge is when these are people who seem to consistently seek evil for us, and have even made their evil intentions clear to us. How do you love an enemy, especially the one who leaves you in no doubt as to his evil intentions? This is where you will know that your life can only produce love by the help of the One who is the personification of love Himself. You cannot fake it. 

The verses above even go further to say I am to make it a practice to do good to those who hate me, bless and show kindness to those who curse me, and also pray for those who mistreat me. These can only proceed from a heart that has been touched by God. There is nothing human or natural about these reactions, and that is why the extract starts with the clear focus on those who choose to  hear and pay attention. You can only produce fruit in line with your seed. If the human nature is in charge, there is no way to produce or sustain the fruit that has been laid out in the verses above. If I am not seeing the right kind of fruit, then I need to go back and check my seed and source. God's help and Spirit are available to all who will surrender their hearts to God. He wants to touch the world with lives that He has impacted. Would you let Him work in and through you? God's time of favour is here. 

Enabled!

Enabled!

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

[24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Peter, who was inspired to write the words of the verse above, was a front-row participant in the death and resurrection of Jesus. He had walked with his master for three and a half years, and even in the face of denials, Jesus would not just leave him alone. Even when Peter got tired and despondent, and would go back to the familiar grind of fishing which he was familiar with, Jesus would still come looking for him, to restore him to the right path. Peter was also one of the leading men of the early church which received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and by whose first message, the bible records that 3,000 souls were saved and added to the church. Mighty miracles were done through the hand and life of this man Peter: it takes a personal encounter with Jesus to be able to personally impact the lives of the people around me. It will not happen by grammar alone, or by the sheer power of influence or earnings; only the blood of Jesus can change a man from the inside, and then make him worthy to stand before men as the classic testimony of what God can do in and through a life. 

The conversation has to start from the place of the cross. It is the place of submission and surrender. It is the place where all that Jesus is was laid aside, so that the people he even came to save could arrest him and place him on the cross. He died a shameful death by the standards of the Jews, because it was a curse for a man to be hung on a tree. He became all that we were, so we could become all that He is. He walked in our shoes, so we could also walk in His shoes. Think of all that He endured on that cross; think of all the pain He was put through. Think of all the lashes He had to endure; his head was pierced with a crown of thorns; his side was pierced with a spear; He was lashed and then nails were driven through His hands. In all, He did not curse, but surrendered His life to the One who could save Him. He bore the weight of sin and shame, not because He sinned, but because He had to make a way for me to return to God. The price for sin is death, and the shedding of blood was the way of remission for sin. The sinner, by God's own standard, had to pay the price for sin, but the sinner did not have the power or the strength to fully atone for sin. 

This meant the sinner had no hope, and would die an eternal death, forever away from God. This is the power of the cross: the righteous God allowed His own son to die in the place of unrighteous man. In addition, we even have access to total healing simply by virtue of the beatings he received. The inner guilt of sin is dealt with, and the outer manifestation of sickness or disease is also dealt with. With all that Jesus has done, do you think any man has an excuse for rejecting this gift and scorning it to the end of his/her life? What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul? What can a man give in exchange for his life? What price do you think is right for anyone seeking to secure eternal life with God? Actually, no price is acceptable except the total surrender of that life to Jesus. There is nothing I hold now that is actually mine. Even the life I want to surrender is not mine in the first place, but God wants me to offer it to Him willingly, as a sacrifice of love for Him. That is the 'price'. He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill. His love is free; His life is free; eternity with Him is free. Would you pay the 'price' for these gifts? God's time of favour is here.

Walk Worthy of your Calling!

Ephesians 4:1 AMP

[1] So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]

There are a few truths that need to be laid out as the foundation for the verse above. As you consider the story of creation, you find a meticulous and intentional God at work. Among many truths that are laid out in the story of creation, you find him creating on one day that which the next day or two would need for survival, sustenance and even work and relevance. You find God creating the grass and trees on the third day so that the land animals and man, created on the sixth day, would have enough to eat and spare. Even sea animals created on the fifth day also had their sustenance and survival guaranteed. That is the wisdom of God on display from creation, and till today, that plan has not changed. God continues to hold creation in place, and by man's walk and work, he continually finds fulfilment when he is able to impact the world by the gifts he has been given. What an amazing God, whose wisdom transcends generations or dispensations. 

It has to be noted here that this principle has nothing to do with being a Christian, at least, not initially. All of man was created and gifted with the power to impact his world, until sin came and tried to tamper with the divine template. Even for the worst of sinners, God has placed in him/her the power to impact the world one way or the other. It is in the hands of God, and under His control and direction, that there can be the right application of this power of influence and impact. Even the worst of people have the breath of God in them, which is what makes man a living soul, and able to impact the world. Imagine the damage a life outside of God's control and influence can have on the world. Picture the many lives that would be destroyed because of the lifestyle, words, actions, decisions or indecisions of someone who does not know the kind of power he has. 

Paul knew and understood this power, and he was careful to remind his listeners of the need to watch their walk. To walk right is to know the power of your actions and decisions and being clear that you are not permitted to live as you please. Provision has been made for sustenance before I was created, so I cannot afford to be fixated on just daily grind, and neglect the purpose for which I was made in the first place. No one except God was there at my making and forming; therefore, no man should have the domineering power of influence over my life except the One who made me. Creation waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be revealed. The sons of God are the ones who walk in line with the calling their Father has placed on them. They follow closely; they hear Him very clearly and they obey Him promptly. Does this describe me? This is a place of conviction, conversion, consecration and consistency. Do I need to go back to confirm my status with God? Be sure before it is too late. God's time of favour is here. 

Blessed by Hunger!

Blessed by Hunger!

Matthew 5:6 AMPC

[6] Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

As always, the audience will always define the expectations. You would not demand holiness and righteousness from people who do not have the Spirit of God in them. As we read yesterday, the fruit of your life will always reflect your control centre. If God is in charge in there, He will produce fruit that line up with His presence. If God is absent, you will also know that He is absent, because your life will produce fruit in line with His absence. There is no fence of neutrality or indifference to sit on, because there is no middle ground here. At the time Jesus was speaking the world of the verse above, there had been a separation between the crowd and the disciples. Even though the crowd was there, all over the foot of the mountain, Jesus took His disciples up the mountain, sat them down, and began to teach them. The crowd could hear, but the demand was not for them. 

This is where my identity has to be sorted out. We will all hear the message of Christ and His demands on us; but the right response can only be by those who have an understanding of who He is, or who have a relationship with Him. Jesus started his teaching by laying out the principles of His kingdom. What qualifies a man to get in? I note the emphasis on the inner contents of a man. Yes, some of these demands may manifest physically, such as being persecuted for righteousness' sake, but the foundations of the outward expressions are laid on my inner content. Men focus so much on the external, which is why man is quite easily deceived by outward show and pretence. God is not man; He sees into a man's soul, and can define the intentions and motives for whatever we do. It is critical that I know this, so I can have peace. The inner is important to God. Only in and by Him will my life be truly satisfied. God's time of favour is here. 

One of the inner expressions is hunger after righteousness. It is a state where a man is never satisfied about what he knows of God, and is always eager to seek more of Him. I note that the version of the verse above lays it out by saying this is for a born-again child of God. Who else can hunger and thirst after God except a man who has seen Him at work and wants more of Him? Who else can hunger after God and never be satisfied, except the man who now has the spring of living water flowing in him, and who knows that only in God can that spring keep flowing? The presence of God in a man never goes stale, unless that man neglects the work of nurture and focus. Check out the interesting dimension to this verse: the man who hungers after God will be completely satisfied, yet the hunger never truly ends on this side of eternity. It is a continuous hunger, which God meets regularly, creating even more room for Him. May I never get to the point where I think I already have enough of God. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Fruit!

Right Fruit!

Galatians 5:22-23 AMP

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

One good thing about the verses above is that the right context has been provided. We have been made aware of the source, the process and the evidence required to prove the validity of the fruit my life produces. I have also been left in no doubt as to what the absence of the above looks like. In the 2 verses before the ones above, a list is also provided that speaks to the evidence of a life reflecting another source. What the above positions make clear is that a life will ALWAYS reflect its control centre. Whoever or whatever is in charge of a human life will definitely always reflect in the output of that life. It does not matter how well a person is able to pretend; the control centre will always be revealed by words, actions, interactions, engagements or relationships. As much as you may love the list above, there is someone who is able to produce it. You cannot fake it; you cannot buy it with the highest monetary value you may have. You can only get it by total submission to the One who is able to produce it. 

It is to be noted that the list above is defined as a single fruit, not many fruits. The same fruit is manifested in all the different ways listed. This also tells me that I cannot pick and choose the one that I am comfortable with and reject the others as too hard. That is not how the fruit of the Spirit works; His presence is what empowers and brings out the fruit in those He inhabits and controls. It  is also not a point of negotiation with the Holy Spirit, where I get to argue my case about what I can do, and what I cannot do. God has not said I should do all the above by my own personal labour, but He provides sufficient grace for the tasks He demands of  me. As the verses above make clear, it is His presence that guarantees the fruit; nothing else and no one else can produce these. If man cannot produce it, then be sure that a man cannot give you what he does not own or already have. Do not look to man for that which only God can give and also sustain. 

We also now know that God does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill. I also check the fruit and its manifestations as listed above, and I note that the evidence is both internal and external. The presence of the Holy Spirit in a man cannot be ignored or denied. Whether it is in the way I relate with other people, or in the way I am able to bear pressure without lashing out and being nasty, or in the ability to hold back when it may appear that insisting on my own way is the 'right' thing to do, I see that the fruit of the Spirit covers ALL aspects of a man's life. I am yet to find any law that is able to successfully make God's version of love illegal, or to make patience unlawful. The fruit do not answer to the human nature; you cannot demand the fruit from the fallen human nature. Only the One who has the seed and source is able to produce the fruit. Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here.

See and Do!

See and Do!

Philippians 4:9 KJV

[9] Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

In a world that is constantly tilting toward the edge, it is hard to find the right examples of holiness and righteousness that one can emulate. Actually, the world has its means and methods, and it is under the control and influence of the prince of this world, who is the devil himself. There is a system and a way of doing things that the world is comfortable with, and it will do all it can to promote and entrench it. There is also the way the Word of God has laid down for those who are also under its control and influence. Both of these control centres are absolute monarchs, and you cannot sit on the fence between both of them as there is  no fence or middle ground. You are either fully under the direction of the Word of God, or under the influence of the systems and principles of the world. It has to also be noted that both of them have earthly and eternal consequences. 

Paul had experienced both control points, so he would know the power available in God. Here was a man who had encouraged a mob to stone someone to death, and had been involved in the death of a few others. He was on his way to commit more atrocities when he was arrested by God, and his life was changed. Even those who had known about him were unsure, but over time, they came to recognise and admit that he was a changed man. A former murderer of the followera of Christ was now ready to become a matyr for Christ if so required. That is the power and effect of the change that the presence of Christ can bring into a man's life. The past becomes part of the strength for the present, as well as the template for the impact of the future. Men who had always known me can testify to the change in me, and would want to know who or what has led to the change.

It is not a wonder, then, that Paul could speak so clearly and eloquently about his life being an example that others could emulate. He was not just going to say it; he would let his life also be an example that others could see the change in. Too many times, hypocrisy and eye-service have been the limits to a life of impact. Men hear the words but they do not match the life they see. Paul was able to say with confidence that his lifestyle, as well as his words, and even his teachings all matched and could serve as sources of information and encouragement to other people. It was not a pick from alternative options, but a harmony of different parts. He was not saying: "Do as I say, not do as I do", but all about his life was laid bare for everyone to see. That is quite deep. Can anyone see me at anytime and still recognise the imprint of God upon my life? Is it a seasonal wonder, where I get to switch on and off as the occasion demands? Remember: God is counting on us to impact the world for Him. May we not disappoint Him. God's time of favour is here.

God is Near!

God is Near!

Psalm 34:18 KJV

[18] The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

The context of the verse above was where David got into trouble with Abimelech, who could have killed him at the time. His many wanderings due to the harassment of king Saul had led him into the camp of the enemy. He had been forced to leave his parents' house and become a wanderer, simply because king Saul hated him for his great popularity and fame. What was supposed to be a point of national glory for the whole of Israel became a source of personal pain to David. It is not a wonder that, at some point, it was said that men who were suffering hardship or in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves and came to David, and he became captain over them. These were about four hundred men. How can one have such people around you and not become depressed? How can one have such people for company and not be negatively affected? 

However, one entry at the very start of the chapter from where this verse is taken helps put the rest of David's experiences in the right context. In the face of such experiences, and surrounded by such company, David was able to say: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord". That can only be the product of a heart that is set on God, not on the nasty experiences all around. This can only be the product of a heart that knows who God is, and what God can do in the life of a man whose heart is fixed on God alone. No matter the scope of the personal experiences that come my way, or the type of issues that one may face, it will help to always remember that God is the One whose power knows no bounds, and whose mercy also knows no limits. His heart and arms are always wide open to receive all who seek to come to Him. 

David would know what it meant to have your heart broken; he would also know and personally experience the mercy of God that could save those who are truly contrite in heart. Those who are of a broken heart and those who are truly contrite in spirit are a special breed of people. These people are open to the touch of God, and the impression of His Spirit. Their hearts are in a position where God can speak to them, and they can hear Him. If only we would know how close God is to us in our moments of affliction and pain, we would spare ourselves so much sadness and bitterness. His salvation is for everyone who will come to Him; no pretence, eye-service or hypocrisy. No lying to yourself about your condition; just come to Him as you are, and let Him do what He alone can do in your life. Your earthly and eternal lives will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here.

Saved!

Saved!

Romans 10:9 KJV

[9] that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The world has its ways and means. The world will lay emphasis on self-motivation and self-help. It is the only thing it knows, and the only measure it understands. The world offers some form of protection to those who submit to it, and the measures range from the physical to the metaphysical and the diabolical. Men rely on high fences or gates, as well as the power of the gun, or sometimes the extreme of seeking help from the devil for protection. Unfortunately, each one gives what he has. If the devil is the one supplying that which you need, note that it will be good for just a time, and for the earthly season only. It has no value in eternity, and it wil surely deny you eternity with God. If it is the One Eternal God supplying that which you need, you are sorted both now and for all of eternity. You need to pick a side, because eternity is at stake.

God's offer is the focus of the verse above. It tells us all how to tap into the provision that God has made for all of man. I note that there is no one who is exempted from the cover that God gives here. All men, irrespective of race, colour, language or inclination, find room under the offer that God makes here. I also note that the monetary policy is not even mentioned at all, because this is not an offer the rich can arrogate to themselves only. It is an offer that even the poorest of all can afford to take on. I also note that the old sacrifices of blood are not mentioned here at all, because God is taking man in a different direction and offering us a new way into His kingdom. I also note that my heart and my voice are connected for this assignment. It is the harmony of my heart and my voice that will activate the offer made by God. 

The heart is the place of processing and the mouth is the vessel of expression. The heart receives all relevant information, both good or bad, and has to make a decision on how to proceed or what to do. It is by the mouth that the decision of the heart is professed publicly and then lived out every day. I note also that there is no alternative arrangement made between the heart OR the mouth. Both of them have to be in sync for the process to be complete. This is not one of those things that hypocrisy or eye-service will work for, or allow you to pass. This is an offer by the King of kings, who sees the heart for all it is, and who cannot be deceived. Salvation is the result of this harmony and eternal life with God the reward of such honesty. Take God up on His offer today and your earthly and eternal life will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here.

God's Thoughts!

God's Thoughts!

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

If you read the context in which the verse above was pronounced, you would wonder what good could come out of that situation at the time. Israel had sinned and had been taken into exile. The people of God who were chosen and set apart for His glory had clearly rejected His leadership and had gone after the popular gods of their environment. Despite several warnings and their refusal to heed and return to God, God applied the dire punishments that He had consistently warned His people about. It should not have come as a surprise that God would punish sin, as that has been His consistent nature throughout all of eternity. He makes clear His will, and also provides the grace and help needed for man to live in line with His will. If man chooses to reject His will, man has the consequences of that decision to live with. God has no firm favourites when it comes to sin, and He will punish unconfessed sin, no matter in whom it is found.

This was where the people of God found themselves. So I do not assume that this is addressing only Judah or Israel, remember that we are dealing with a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. His standards have also not changed or been lowered for anyone, irrespective of the very permissive generation we live in. That is also why the verse above is valid for the times we live in. Just as God punishes unconfessed sin, so does He also show mercy. Just as He is angry with sin, so is He merciful to those who He has made and chosen for Himself, and who return to Him in true repentance. In fact, even to the end of human life, He does not withdraw His mercy until it is too late, and by that time, it is indeed too late. In the midst of the most distressing or depressing of circumstances, God's mercy is the only thing that can birth and sustain hope. 

This is a God who is generational in His dealings with men. One generation can decide to ignore Him, yet, like Abraham, Isaiah, and even Jeremiah who received this message, God raises men He can work in and speak through to promote and establish His will. His love is such that is boundless, with no end to the possibilities that His mercy can bring. In punishment here, He was speaking about His good thoughts, not of evil, but of good. He was speaking of plans of peace, not evil. In punishment, He was speaking of plans to bring His people to an expected end. How do you tell people in exile that the end will be good? Only in the hands of the Almighty God can this be possible. It really matters who is speaking into your life. Even if you have sinned, the fact that you are alive means you have access to mercy. Take advantage of it and return to the Lord today. Your eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here.

Hear and Obey!

Hear and Obey!

Isaiah 6:8 KJV

[8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

There was a time in the life of Isaiah that an encounter with God was necessary. There are 66 chapters in the book of Isaiah, and the events in the chapter from which the verse above was taken may not have happened chronologically, but the event marked a change in the life of Isaiah. As it was then, so is it now. Men will work, continue to work in this space called earth. Many will do great things and the world will know and celebrate them. There is nothing wrong with great popularity or applause, but these must be founded on the depth of personal conviction that God knows and accepts all that is done. It will be such a great waste of potential and grace for a life to be celebrated down here on earth, but heaven has no record of acceptable service. It is critical that I first sort out the spiritual and the personal, so that the public and the physical can also align. 

For Isaiah, it is the first verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken that lays the foundation for the rest of the chapter as well as the ministry of Isaiah. It reads: "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple". A lot of things happened, but the most important and relevant to our reflection today is that he saw the Lord. Life will throw many things at you, and make a lot of demands on you. Life may not always be 'fair' the way you perceive or expect it to be. However, one thing that must happen is an encounter with God. You cannot make it far in life and ministry without this personal encounter. Life will happen to us at different times and stages; men may even have to die around us, and there could be personal loss too, but the one thing we all need is that experience of God. 

Isaiah saw the Lord. It did not matter what else he saw or did not see in his lifetime; this is the one thing he could not forget, and it is the one thing all of us must crave for. Before I can hear clearly, I have to see clearly. Clarity of sight helps with clarity of understanding and the quickness to obey. A man who has truly seen God does not need any motivation to be available. After God had revealed hismelf to Isaiah, and cleansed him from his guilt, the only response was availability. Do not think you can do God's work by your own wisdom and strength; do not think you can hear clearly what God wants from you without a daily walk and relationship with Him. Of course, the encounter with God helps with the encounter with men. Before I dare stand before men, I had better be sure that I have stood before God and He has done a work in me. Then can I be bold to make myself ready and available for all that God has planned. God's time of favour is here. 

Surrendered!

Surrendered!

Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

[3] Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Man is made in the image of God. When God was creating the earth, He had a clear idea what He wanted to achieve. He made sure that the supply that each creation needed for survival and sustenance was in place before the creation was then made and given its clear mandate and assignment. That is what you may call good planning. When God made man, this was the only part of creation that it is recorded that God breathed into it the breath of life, and man became a living soul. No other creation has been so gifted with God's nature like man. It is not a wonder then that man is the human representative of God on the earth. Man has been given a mandate that reflects who God is. The power, authority and creative ability of man looks like God. It is therefore impossible for a man to do anything close to what God has planned, without the help of God Himself. 

The wisest man of his time, and arguably the wisest man who ever lived is the one who is credted with the words of the verse above. He would know what he is talking about here, because he came to the throne of his father at a young age. He had no idea what ruling or governing people looked like, especially considering where Israel was, but his father would have taught or shown him the value of seeking help from God. It is this legacy that helped Solomon at the time, and it is still the same legacy that will be of immense help in our contemporary times today. In fact, the world has become more complex than the days of David and Solomon, and we need the help of the Ancient of Days, the one whose power and wisdom transcends generations or dispensations. When such a man who has been helped by God speaks, it helps if I listen and strive to obey. 

If God is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever, it means that as long as I adhere to His standards, I am certain of a good end. I note from the verse above that what is really critical to this conversation is the will of God. For each person God has made, the path that defines God's will is different from another person. All who follow closely after God will arrive home, but the path He chooses will differ from person to person. This is also why I do not copy another person's path. His life may be a blessing or an encouragement, but it is not a template to be replicated. You go to God for yourself and lay your life, heart and plans before Him. No agenda, no hidden motives; just simple surrender. Tell him about all the plans, pains and pressure, and allow Him work that which lines up with His purpose for you. A surrendered life never lacks direction and impact. God's time of favour is here. 

Mission Statement!

Mission Statement!

John 10:10 KJV

[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

There is actually just one true Master and several other pretenders. There is only one good Shepherd and many other hirelings. There can only be one captain; any other claim would be a lie. Unfortunately, there is a world system that is under the influence and control of the devil for a short while. It is the world of sin, evil and death, and the one who controls can only offer what he has to those who are subject to it. You cannot give what you do not have. I may be able to pretend for a short while, but as long as God reigns and rules over the affairs of men, the truth about my life will be made manifest one way or the other. For the purpose of today's devotion, we will recognise two authorities; one is called the thief, and the other is the One speaking authoritatively here. We look at the personal credentials of both, and we have to make a decision on who to submit to. 

There is no fence of indecision to sit on; you cannot stay in the middle and claim you are neither for one nor the other. At all times in the human and spiritual spheres, you are always subject to one of both authorities. You also cannot sufficiently serve both authorities well at the same time, because both of them have different earthly and eternal priorities. It has to also be noted quite clearly that there is an eternal determination to either of the choices you can make. That is what the verse above lays out so clearly. The thief, as an authority, can only steal, kill and destroy. That has both earthly and eternal implications. If what you think you have and hold can be taken away from you at anytime, it means it is not yours in the first place. If you cannot secure your life by any personal means, it shows that you are not in charge of your life. It is a reality many struggle to accept, but is the path to seeking the right kind of help. 

There is the other authority; the One who speaks with so much confidence in the verse above. He is Life; He gives life, and He can sustain who He is, and also secure that which He gives. As He is Life, you really do not need anything or anyone else; He is enough. I also note that not only will He give life; He is able to give it in abundance to ALL who ask Him. That is abundance beyond limits; if every single person on earth asked God for the same thing at the same time, He is able to give all, because no demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. This is an authority with no boundaries, but one that you have to willingly submit to on this side of eternity. As a benevolent authority, He does not force Himself on anyone, but as an authority, the impact of time is that all of us, either by freewill or compulsion, wil come and bow the knee to this authority. I can do so now, and enjoy the life on offer. Anyone who rejects this life to the end will only have the alternative option, which is death. The offer of life is available; take it now. God's time of favour is here.

Raised with Christ!

Raised with Christ!

Romans 8:11 KJV

[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

There is power in the right content as well as the right association. You can only be as effective or powerful as your content. In the physical, we put labels on containers and then refine the contents to look like the label. You are first attracted to the label, before you are either disappointed or elated by the contents,  depending on what you see. In the spiritual, there is a similar concept but a different perspective. It is always the content that will define the label. The label always comes after hen the contents have been revealed and experienced. The early apostles were first called Christians in Antioch, it was not what they called themselves that they were known by; men looked at them, and they could see the contents pouring out of them. They knew that what they saw could only be as a result of an inner condition and conviction that could not be suppressed. 

The verse above makes this distinction clear. The verse is addressed to those who are IN Christ Jesus. This distinction is important, as you cannot lay claim to what you are not entitled to, either by birth, or by acquired citizenship. Your position defines your content and determines your possession. It is this identity issue that must first be sorted out, before I can seek to make a claim on that identity. If God does not know me as His own, how can I take of His Spirit and do anything of value for Him? That is why the verse above starts with a conditional statement: IF indeed the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells IN me. I need to examine my life thoroughly, with the help of the Spirit of Truth, to know where I am. It is foolishness to lie to myself and hold on to a false narrative. What do I stand to lose if I allow God show me who I am, and where I stand with Him? 

The connection with the power that raised up Jesus from the dead remains strong till today. That power is effective, and it also guarantees that my mortal body will also experience the resurrection power of God. Think of this: there is a power that even the finality of death could not stop or limit. That means that the One who has that power is greater than death and all its manifestations. He is Life. He gives life to all who come to Him. This mortal body is limited in what it can do, and how far it can go, but when the power of God touches it, this mortal body can achieve things it never thought possible. That is why a mortal man, though dead, had his bones raise another dead man to life. It is this connection with His power that makes impact possible. By His Spirit, He wants to impact the world. Would I be willing to surrender my life as a platform for His expressions? God's time of favour is here.

Sweet God!

Sweet God!

Psalm 34:8 AMPC

[8] O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

It is quite interesting to read about the sense of taste when it comes to proving who God is. You have to ask yourself how the concept of food, drink or anything processed through the unique sense of taste relates to a God who transcends time, space or anything that man can think of. God, in His sovereignity and wisdom, has given human beings the sense of taste, among others. We can recognize several types of tastes, each with its own evolutionary purpose, such as identifying spoiled foods or toxic substances. We have receptors for five kinds of tastes, such as sour, sweet, salty, bitter and savoury. Online sources will tell you that scientists are currently researching other tastes such as alkaline (the opposite of sour), metallic, and water-like tastes. Think of the complexities that have been raised just by the simple sense of taste, and see how great God is. Consider what it takes to process food, and see how amazing God is. 

If God can give man the power to process a wide range of food and drink, He is able to do even much more than just taste. One thing that is made clear from the process of taste is that there would be preparation. If you want to enjoy the food, you have to make sure that the ingredients are right, and the food is prepared the right way. No food turns out right automatically; you plan what you want to prepare, you go buy/make it, then spend time putting everything together in the right proportion and quantity. In the same way, you have to spend time preparing for the God who invites us to spend time with Him. This must not be a rushed job, where you are eager to throw things together and hope they come out right. When you consider the value of what food does to the body, you know it cannot be junk. In the same way, when you know the value of God to your eternal life, you know He is not to be toyed with or treated with levity.

David the psalmist here invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good. He would know who this God is, as he had several personal encounters with Him. It is almost as if God is saying to us that He is available; prepared and ready for us to take as much of Him as we want, and as often as we want, with there being enough of Him to go around. You cannot get all of God at the same time down here on earth, and we have the whole of eternity to know more of Him. He does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill. He prepares the table for a feast, but I have to show up to enjoy all that is on offer. He is the One on offer. He is the Gift that keeps on giving. He is the One that no man on earth can ever get enough of. For all who take refuge in Him, they will see the value of trust and be able to testify that indeed, God is good. Would you also trust Him this way? God's time of favour is here. 

Plan Right!

Plan Right!

Proverbs 19:21 AMP

[21] Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out). [Job 23:13; Ps 33:10, 11; Is 14:26, 27; 46:10; Acts 5:39; Heb 6:17]

When you consider the origin of man, you know it is in man's nature to plan. Man was made in the image of God, and in his likeness  which means that man is actually like God in some aspects. One of such aspects is in man's creative ability to think up concepts and ideas, and bring them to light. The amazing inventions and technological devices that have helped shape the 21st century are loud testaments to the creative power of man, who is made in the image of the creative God. Take a good look at the design of the earth as it is, with the multiple galaxies, stars and seas that make up just a tiny fraction of the entire universe. How can anyone consider all these, and then think that there is no God, or that the world itself just created itself, or is able to sustain itself? How does anyone consider the dimensions of this universe and think that there is not deep wisdom, power and craft behind how it keeps on working? 

Man, made in the image and likeness of God, is able to plan. In fact, it is impossible for a man not to be able to make plans. Even for those who do not submit their lives to Jesus, they are able to make evil plans, and put in the efforts required to actualize their evil plans. The story of the Tower of Babel is a great example of the power given to man. Men came together to do something that had never been done before, and even God admitted that if as one, these people had come together to achieve anything, nothing would be impossible for them. God had to confuse their language in order to get the work to stop. That just tells me that I would save myself a whole world of trouble if I just started off by consulting the One who made me. No man has been given the power of self-sustenance. As long as I did not make myself, I have to answer to the One who did make me.

The secret to both great plans and a great relationship with God is TIME. I have to spend quality time with my Creator to understand what He wants me to do, when and how He wants me to do it. The world will teach us that it is good to make haste, or that delay is dangerous. For the man who knows God, there is really no value to be had in hurrying ahead of God. Make haste to fulfil God's purpose for your life, but do so under His guidance and direction. The man who goes with God never misses the way. The man who waits on God gets all he needs for life and Godliness. The purpose of God for a man's life is the reason why he is formed and planted. It is the motivation to keep going even when the road is rough. Do not let the power of the people keep you from the focus on God and His plans for you. Remember: Whoever was not there at your creation must not be able to control your life and destiny. Only God can and should do so. God's time of favour is here.

The Powef of the Walk!

The Power of the Walk!

Proverbs 13:20 AMPC

[20] He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it. [Isa. 32:6.]

Proverbs 13:20 MSG

[20] Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

There is an interesting definition of 'walk' that is available online, and it is: "move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once". This definition is quite relevant to the message of the verse above, and it means that the way to wisdom will require some form of action from me. There is no room for making assumptions, or simple inactivity. The opposites for walking, also available online, are: Standing: Static; Immobile; Stationary; or

Settled. These would show someone who is not interested in moving from a fixed spot. The person is comfortable where s/he is, not because it is ideal, but because the person will not be bothered to move. There is an action that determines the outcome I desire. There is an action that matches the expected reaction. What do I need to do today in the pursuit of the purpose of God for my life? 

If Godly wisdom is the pursuit and the desire, there is a walk that is required. The bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If I will be wise by God's standard, I cannot do it by folding my arms and wishing it into existence; I have to take steps that line up with my desire. I must choose friends wisely, and make sure to surround myself with people who know and appreciate the value of true wisdom. Walking also shows agreement and alignment; two cannot walk together or make meaningful impact unless they agree. One person may be tempted to think s/he is self-sufficient, but alone, you cannot achieve much. God has so ordained it that by virtue of cooperation and coordination, a lot more can be achieved than by individual efforts alone. Even God, as mighty and powerful as He is, wants to walk with man to work out His will and purpose for that man. 

How, then, can any man think he will make it without anyone's help? Try as much as you can, there are things you may never achieve, and heights you may never conquer, unless you walk with those who have walked that path before and have been given grace by God to overcome. Why do we share testimonies of God's grace, if they do not point men to the value of human relationships and interactions? It has to be noted also that the opposite too is correct. If I choose to walk with those seen as foolish, who claim that there is no God, it means that I will look like them at some point. Audit the company that you keep; this has impact on your earthly and eternal realities. Watch your associations; they will either push you toward the fulfilment of God's plan for you, or drive you into the fire of hell. Watch where you walk; your future depends on it. God's time of favour is here.

Renewed!

Renewed!

Psalm 51:10 AMPC

[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

As it has always been clearly laid out in previous devotions, God does not condone sin in anyone, no matter how close the person has been to God. The words of today's verse were said by David, a man that God Himself said He had found as a man after His own heart. There were things David did quite well, one of which was his fervent devotion to and praise of God. According to records, at least 75 psalms (50%) in the bible are attributed to David. One would imagine that this would give David an edge when it came to sin. However,  as we know, unconfessed sin always gets punished by God. In this case, David had seen a beautiful woman, and without thinking of the consequences, slept with her, and when he had found out she was pregnant, he took steps to implicate the husband. When his schemes failed, he then killed the husband and took in the wife, even though the husband had been one of his mighty men of valour. 

How do you think you could hide anything from a God who made the heart and eyes, and can see and discern even the deepest secrets of a man's heart? In this case, even though David schemed in secret, he was found out, and his punishment was very public. However, for David, he knew he had done wrong, and he had to make his way straight with God. For all of us too, there is a lesson here for us. When we are confronted by our wrong, and are convicted by the Holy Spirit that we need to correct something, how do we react? Do we give excuses for the behaviour, or do we take immediate steps to right the wrong? The song of David in the verse above is very relevant to the repentance and return that God demands from those who He loves and corrects. The old man is set in his ways and cannot be saved. It is always the new man, the one God gives, that can respond the right way to the corrections of God. 

That is why the song above needs to be a daily prayer. Only God can birth and sustain a clean heart in any man. By nature, man is susceptible to sin; in fact, in the same psalm, David admitted that even at birth, sin is already part of man's nature. It takes God working in and on a man to bring about the nature that He can use. The clean heart will not happen by accident, and it cannot be formed or created the way a man can design and build a house. It is the result of God's work in a man's heart. Submission to God is the way to getting this clean heart. When sin comes, it pollutes a man's spirit and only God can cleanse and renew it. Just like David knew only God could help him, so must I know that only God can do a work in me that will last for eternity. I surrender my heart to Him. I ask Him to do what He needs to do, so He can bring me into eternity with Him, in line with His perfect will. Nothing in this earthly plane can make up for the loss of eternal life with God. God's time of favour is here.

On Guard 2!

On Guard 2!

Matthew 5:8 AMP

[8] “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.

Psalms 24:3-4 AMP

[3] Who may ascend onto the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? [4] He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.

As we read yesterday, we are called to be on guard when it comes to the things that are allowed to settle on our hearts. There are many reasons for this, but I believe the most important reason is the eternal impact of the things that impact and are able to influence the heart. I cannot afford to be careless or non-committal about what I focus on, what I allow to pass through my heart, or the things that my heart sees as important. The heart is am interesting part of my body, and as we know, there is a physical element to it, as well as a spiritual dimension to it. It is the part of the body that processes and pumps blood to all the parts of the body, ensuring that they function at their optimum. It would seem that, apart from the head, it is the other part of the body that the body cannot survive without. Take out a liver, kidney or foot; you may have a few weeks to live, or even years with proper management, but get the heart to completely stop working for about 5 minutes, without help, and that would be it. That is the sheer importance of the human heart. 

Relate this to the spiritual heart. It is the place where the life-blood of Jesus is processed and enabled to impact the spiritual life of a man. That is why the bible says it is with the heart that man believes, and then with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. The heart is the place of the battle, where God wants to control, because He knows that whoever controls the heart controls the life. Whoever is able to dictate terms in the heart is able to determine the eternal destiny of that life. It is not a wonder,  then, that the verses above speak to each other, laying emphasis on the place of the heart, and my role is securing its stability, focus and consistency. It takes a personal encounter with the God who is the focus here, to fully appreciate the value of holiness and purity. It is God's nature to be holy, and He will not demand from us that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. He knows that by ourselves, we will not be able to live up to His standards, and that is why He has given us His Spirit to help us on this walk.

The decision to stay pure cannot be sustained by sheer willpower alone, but by the enablememt of the Holy Spirit. It always starts from the inner man, and then impacts the outer man. It is a decision that is first personal, but its manifestation is always public. Holiness is God's nature, and He wants those who claim to be His children to also look, talk, walk, and relate like Him. That is how children of a particular father are known, when the children behave like their father. The children of God also have to be known as such, when their actions, decisions, priorities and relationships all reflect the nature of their Father. The reward is also adequate motivation; to see God is the fitting ultimate and crowning conclusion of a life of holiness. How can I see God if my life looks nothing like what He approves? How can I approach Him with filth in my heart, when God has made very clear that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord? Please note that the commands of God are absolutes, not negotiations. He has laid down the conditions; what decisions do you have to make today? God's time of favour is here. 

On Guard!

On Guard!

Proverbs 4:23 AMPC

[23] Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

The writer of the words above is credted by God as the greatest king in Israel. He was a man who was visited by God, and given a blank cheque to ask for anything. He got all he asked for, and much more. One of the things he got was wisdom beyond the limits of men. Kings and queens from all over the world came to listen to him. There is also a warning in all these; God can do anything, as well as give a man anything, but there is a responsibility and accountability that are linked to whatever God does for you. He will give grace, and plenty of it too, but a man will be held accountable for its use or misuse. This is where today's verse applies to all of us; the bible makes clear that all men have been given a measure of grace. God will be unfair to judge a man based on expectations He has not defined or given grace for. If He says to do something, be sure that he will demand an account. 

Let's define two terms in the verse above. To 'keep' is to 'have or retain possession of something'. Another definition says it is to 'cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course'. To 'guard' is to 'watch over in order to protect or control'. These two terms are the focus of the verse above. God wants me to keep my heart by retaining or having possession of it. I must not allow it leave my possession at any point in time, which also means that I must not allow anyone or anything take possession of it from me. I must make every effort to keep it under control, giving it what it needs to stay focused and aligned with God's will. What this means is that I must also possess that which my heart will feed on. How can I keep something safe, if I do not even have what I need to keep it? The verse also enjoins me to guard my heart, which means to consciously watch over it to protect or control it. 

I have to watch my heart to ensure that external influences do not impact it. The image here is one where I am on guard, alert to and conscious of all the information going on around me, and being deliberate about what I allow to settle.The heart will always receive information from a lot of sources, but my critical task is to ensure that only that with eternal value is allowed to rest. The picture also looks like a man with the key to the door, who vets all who seek to come in. You will not willingly allow a thief to come into your house to steal your belongings. It is the same way with the heart. Unfortunately for the writer of the words above, he neglected to keep and guard his heart, and his many distractions led his heart away from God. Never rely solely on your 'core strength-. Rely on the One who gives strength to the weary and can preserve whatever is committed into His hand. God's time of favour is here.

Fight Right!

Fight Right!

2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV

[4] (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

It takes the personal knowledge and experience of God to be able to understand the dimensions of the fight that we have been called to fight. We call Jesus the Prince of Peace and one might think that He does not like warfare. Well, He is also called the Man of War, which shows that He also thrives in situations that may lead to fighting against enemies. This is the balance in the knowledge and experience of God that I must have: He is the epitome of peace, as the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world, and he is also the epitome of warfare and the personification of victory as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. All who find themselves in Him are enabled and empowered to take all of Him and live out all of Him. As much as we follow a God of peace, there will be territories that would only be taken by 'war'; not the way the world sees war, but the way God wants us to fight in and for Him, so we can walk in daily victory. 

The world has its methods and means, as well as its motives for wars. The weapons it has have ranges of impact, with some able to kill a few hundreds or thousands, and some able to destroy millions as well as decimate the environment. That is all the world can do, because it is its understanding of how it can get an edge. It can only fight that which it is able to see or recognise. The One who knows God fights with different weapons and from a different perspective. In the spiritual realm, the weapons of the world have no impact at all. In the spiritual realm, bullets and guns do not even work. Starting with Jesus when He was tempted by the devil, no amount of physical weapons could have helped Him at the time, except that which the world and the devil cannot defeat, which is the Word of God. That is what Jesus applied, and till today, we enjoy the benefits and blessings of that victory. Only in Him is anyone able to defeat the devil. 

The devil has been in the business of war since he also fell from heaven, so he is skilled in it. The ways and means of the world cannot defeat Him, because he controls them. It is in God that anything and anyone can be used to secure victory over the world and its cohorts. I cannot rely on human schemes, such as intellect, influence, connections, wealth and  earnings to wage this war; the enemy here is not the kind that you can use grammar or diction to fight. Only in and by God can anything become a weapon to secure victory. In the hands of Moses, a rod became the channel for a miracle, because it was powered by God. By the lips of Elijah, heaven was sealed and rain did not fall, until the same man spoke again. Joshua caused the sun to delay going down by a whole day, simply because he was backed up by God. It does not matter how long the issue has lasted; let God work and see Him war. The victory will be sweet and lasting. Please note that you have to be IN Him, to be able to enjoy who He is and what He can do. You cannot claim that which is not yours by citizenship. God's time of favour is here.

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

James 1:2-3 AMPC

[2] Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. [3] Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

The audience always defines the demands and the expectations. James was addressing his Jewish brethren, who through persecution and tough times, had been scattered all over the world at the time. If I want to claim the pleasure, I have to submit to the pressure. Jesus told his disciples that he has a yoke for them. It is not a yoke of oppression, but a yoke of responsibility and accountability. Being called by the name of Christ places a demand to live up to His expectations. He does not ask me to do it by my own personal labour; in fact, no one can succeed by striving or labour. The One who calls is the one who can uphold and sustain. We have the resources we need for the call that we have received and responded to. However, it is important that I clarify where I stand. Have I truly responded to the call? Am I willing and ready to endure and enjoy that which He has promised? 

When we say He has given us all that we need for life and Godliness, what does it mean? Can life be without tough times or trials? Can a man really be Godly without having to endure tough times? It is a package that God has set up for our growth, development and expansion, and it is by surrender that we have access to all that is available. This message can be tough to deal with, but at no time does submission to God keep you from tough times. In fact, it appears that this is when things get even tougher. The devil has just lost a subject, and he will fight tooth and nail to get the subject back. He will raise issues from the past, or create situations in the present, just to cause distractions, and if possible, get the subject to return to old ways. That has been his modus operandi for all the centuries he has been at work, but there is an even older grace that is available to help all who are totally surrendered to endure these tough times and to be victorious at the end of the pursuit. 

This is why I have to sort out my identity. I cannot afford to be non-committal about who I am and what is expected of me. Speaking from experience, James would have seen firsthand the consequences of his decision to follow Christ. We do not know which James this was, but he would have gone through trials too, but there was an inner peace that was greater and bigger than the sum of all the tough experiences. It is the inner presence that defines the outer reality. When a man has God, the world around him cannot explain why he is not weighed down by anxiety, stress and anger. The world cannot understand why he is always joyful, even when his life does not appear to have reasons for joy. In the hands of God, no experience is a waste. Whatever you place in His hands is safe. Are you in His hand? God's time of favour is here.