Worthy 2!

Worthy 2!

Revelation 7:9-10 KJV

[9] After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; [10] and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Yesterday we read about heaven's accout of the worship of God. There is no contention or resistance in heaven, when it comes to the worship of God. Today, we read about the response of men who have now found themselves in the same place as the elders and beasts of yesterday's devotion. These formerly mortal men had now been clothed in immortality, and were now standing before the throne of the Most High. This is a place that all must come before for judgment and eternal consequences. The life on earth is the right preparation for eternity. The practices that have become part of my life down here will be the right preparation for the life God has promised me. I must do all I can, by the help of the One who is preparing a place for me, to be found worthy to stand before the throne of the Most High, to offer the worship that He is due and fully deserves.

One critical feature of those standing before the throne, as seen in the verse above, is that they were all clothed with white robes. Nothing is said about their race or culture, or the language they spoke; before the Lamb, the only thing that counted was purity, represented by the white robes. Reflect on this: the only thing that matters is purity. All other things fade in significance. Wealth, position, power or influence on their own will not bring you before the throne this way; by themselves, they are of no use. Aspire to be a blessing to your generation, but make sure you are also clothed in white. This is not just a physical thing, because, as you know, those standing here have put off mortality and have taken on immortality. Do not be distracted by the dictates and demands of mortal men like yourself; make sure you have all it takes to stand before the throne, and be able to life your voice in worship of the One who sits on the throne. 

It is also pertinent to note that the verses above do not place a limit on the number of people who are qualified to stand before the throne. It was a number no one could count, which tells me that there will be many who would be given the grace and enablement to stay pure, and qualify to stand before the throne in worship. Make every effort to be qualified to stand before this throne. It is by being pure in heart, and doing what pleases God on a daily basis. I also note that before the throne, there was no reservation or shyness, as the people could shout with a loud voice. There is also a message in the words that they shouted: "Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb". That is a recognition of the power, might and authority of God, and the One He sent to save the world from the power and effect of sin. He has done His part; He waits for us to come and take hold of the gift that is offered free. There is no excuse for missing this important appointment. Are you saved? God's time of favour is here. 

Worthy!

Worthy!

Revelation 4:11 KJV

[11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Man was made to worship God. That is a fact that is backed up by several verses in the Bible. We were made in the image of God, and our lives will best be served by living to please the One who formed, gifted and planted us where we are now. However, the human nature in us will struggle with this truth. There are daily realities that stare us in the face, making it hard for us to accept and live up to the full expression of God's purpose for us. We are consumed and distracted by the daily grind of life. However, it would be nice to keep an eye on that which God has said about me, so that my daily life can reflect that deep understanding. What better way is there to prepare for the eternal by making good practice of it while I am on the earth? What better motivation is there than to know what heaven has and does so that I can prepare the right way for my own eternal home in heaven?

John, a mortal man, was given an opportunity to see into heaven and to witness the worship of God Almighty. He saw the 24 elders, as well as the 4 beasts, and all they were doing was just to worship God with the words of the verse above.  Reflect on this: nothing else was important; no other assignment was given; no other project was necessary, other than these elders and beasts worshipping God. As it has been made quite clear here, I also need to answer the question: What is important to me now? Have I truly met this God whom John spoke about quite clearly and eloquently here? Does the God I claim to follow and worship look like the God that these beasts and elders worship? I can choose to focus on the problems and challenges in my life, or I can choose to focus on the God who deserves my full attention. For these elders and beasts, there was no other option. Have you come to the same conclusion, or are there priorities you need to first sort out?

We do not yet know when Jesus would return, but we have God's unfailing promise that it will happen. Let us take a cue from the events of the verse above. God deserves to be worshipped. Think of all that is ascribed to God. He is worthy to receive glory, honour and power. It takes personal knowledge to properly ascribe what is due to God.. He is the one who has created all things, and it is expected that the created will always give glory to the Creator. It is even to the benefit of the created to worship his Creator, because it shows submission and surrender. There is no single thing I have or hold now that has not been given to me by God; I am because of who He is. I have because of what He is. Is my life actually giving God praise? Is my life giving God pleasure by its pursuits and priorities? It is not too late to get it right. My life on earth must be the right preparation for eternity. God's time of favour is here. 

Sing!

Sing!

Psalm 59:16 AMPC

[16] But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Again, we read of a song that was written by David at a low point in his life, and there were several incidences like this one. Here was a young man, through no fault of his, thrown into the limelight due to his defeat of Goliath, the strong man of the Philistines. His victory led to his popularity, even to the point where the king Saul envied him and wanted to kill him. Reflect on this: how can killing someone who has just saved a whole nation from an international embarrassment be a good idea? That is what envy can do: it robs a man of his good reason, and opens him up to other evil influences. Reflect also on this: it was the king of the land that wanted David dead, and not just anyone. David could plead with the king to save him, if it was another person trying to end his life, but who would he run to if it was an earthly king trying to kill him? He went to the best option available, who is the King above all other kings.

Reflect also on this: at this time, David was already assured of a kingship, because he had been anointed by Samuel as the next king. Saul knew this, and he wanted to do all he could to defeat God's purpose. Unless you are really dumb, how does a mortal man ever think that s/he can change or defeat God's eternal purpose? How can that which is mortal and temporal understand and resist that which is immortal and eternal? Saul was using physical measures and devices to fight a war that was spiritual, and it is not that much of a surprise that he failed in a very spectacular way. To make matters even worse for Saul, the man he was trying to fight and kill was a man who knew how to catch God's attention through praise. About half of the psalms are credited to David, and it is not a wonder that God Himself testified that he had found David a man after His own heart. That is precious: praise opens doors that may ordinarily not open up to you. 

That is the message in the verse above. David knew the God he was following, and had seen Him at work at various times in His life. One example was the lion or the bear, and even Goliath. David had seen too much of God at work to be fazed by the shenanigans of men. He would rather focus on God's strength and power, and sing aloud of God's mercy and loving-kindness. David's life is a model for all who want to see God move in their lives and situations. You cannot afford to focus only on the issues around you; keep your heart and mind focused on the greatness of the God you have come to know. He shows up when you need Him; David could sing about a God who had been a defense, a fortress and a high tower as well as a refuge in the day of distress. He was speaking from a place of personal experience. Do you know God this way? Has He shown up for you in ways that you cannot imagine. Let the right response be to sing of God's praise. Let the whole world know this God through me. God's time of favour is here.

Loan!

Loan!

Proverbs 19:17 AMPC

[17] He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.

The poor has always had a special place in the heart of God. In several places in the Bible starting with the instructions passed down by the man Moses to the people of Israel, we read of the special consideration that God expected the people to give to the poor. God hated the bad treatment of people simply due to their status in life, or what they had or did not have. As far as God was concerned, it is a privilege to have anything at all. There will be people we have met who are hardworking and industrious, yet it seems that they are still struggling to make ends meet. There are some who are still in the learning phase of life and its demands, and may still be struggling to connect the dots and lay hold of some things. How can I, who is of limited skill and knowledge of the plan and purpose of God for any life, make decisions based on such limited knowledge? 

If I do not know the full dimensions of God's plan for a life, I must be careful how I relate with that life, so I do not become a stumbling block to the faith of that person. This is why the message in the verse above is timely for our present generation. It is time to stop looking down on people based on what they have or do not have, and start looking at them from the perspective of who they could become in the hands of their Creator. I must know that the love of the Creator is greater than any other person. I cannot love anyone more than the God who created them, and He will watch out for their interests. Whatever I do to anyone regarded as poor, in God's eyes, is considered a loan, for which an interest is applied, and the principal sum also must be settled. Consider this: if God were to pay you back all that you do to other people with full interest, what would your balance sheet look like? 

If I am a child of God, my attitude, reception and treatment of people must reflect that very clear ownership. Available online sources also struggle to define being poor beyond 'not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter.' This makes me also realise that anyone could be in that position, even temporarily, maybe due to a loss of job, or an investment gone bad. This could happen to anyone at anytime, and this is why the message in the verse above is timely for us today. God is Omniscient, and sees the hearts of all men and the motives behind whatever it is we do. Men may be moved by the size of the help, but God rewards men based on the size, depth and sincerity of their hearts for helping others. Just imagine what it looks like for God to be a debtor to you. The God who owns the heavens and the earth, and all their treasures. You would not want Him to also be a creditor to you based on your treatment of people. Make it a constant habit to help others; you have God's backing and He will definitely repay you for all you do. God's time of favour is here.

Love!

Love!

Galatians 5:14 AMPC

[14] For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]

Leviticus 19:18 AMPC

[18] You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. [Matt. 5:43-46; Rom. 12:17, 19]

As we have seen over the past few days, there is nothing God gives that the devil will not try to imitate or corrupt. It is either he sells the adultrated version of God's original provision, or he offers you a completely different version that looks nothing like the original, but is not easily recognised because there is no spirit of discernment in the person receiving it. The devil also knows that God's will is that the human race relates with one another the right way, which is in line with the model of love that He laid down. He created man in His own image and after His likeness, and showered His love on man. God's model has become our own model too, and the standard that we have a mandate to uphold and follow. It is very important that I know this God too, and what He demands from me. It is by knowing that I can be motivated to follow and align with His standards. 

The world, of course, has its own model of love too, and we see its manifestations and expressions in the movies, books and stories that are made or told by the people who are subject to the standards of the world. As we see from the verses above, God's standard has not changed even with the passing of time or the changing of generations. Whether it is the old or new testament, we find a verse of the Bible that lays out the standard of God as it relates to love. If I am to love in line with God's standard, I must have the presence and power of God in me to enable me walk in line with that standard. I cannot walk contrary to the nature and power that is at work in me. As we have said so many times, a person cannot give what s/he does not have. When the squeeze comes, as it definitely will do at some point in time in our lives, what comes out will be in line with my control centre. Who is in charge in there? 

The model of love that God speaks about here has no room for revenge or grudges. It does not leave room for hatred or bitterness against anyone. It makes it clear that the same way you will treat yourself must be the same way you will treat other people. Again, it must be emphasized that it is only a person who is submitted to God who has the right platform to be able to love the right way. If a person has not come to see himself the same way God sees him, it is hard for such a person to show God's version of love. Jesus, at some point before He went to the cross, even laid down His own example as the standard of love. We have the right example to follow, and we have the required supply to help us align with this requirement. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He commands it, He will definitely back up and reward obedience. Do you know this God? Would you depend on Him for whatever the need is? God's time of favour is here.

God's Peace 4!

God's Peace 4!

John 14:27 AMPC

[27] Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

The world has its problems. It also has its own way of solving its own problems. The world will give you its treasures if you can submit to its authority and control, but be sure that it will also attempt to take away its gifts if you change allegiance. The world has its systems and provisions for all who are under its influence and control, just as the Word also has its systems and provisions for those under its control too. These are two opposing authorities, with parallel lines of control and influence. They can never agree on anything, because both proceed from opposing centres of control. One comes from Jesus, the Prince of Peace and the author of salvation, while the other comes from the devil, the defeated foe, whose fate is already sealed and wants to take as many as possible with him into eternal damnation. Which one will you submit to? Which one will you willingly give control to and submit your entire life to? 

Each of them offers what each has, and indeed, each has a version of peace. You cannot be under the control and influence of the Word and the world at the same time. The version the world has and gives is secured by sheer force, by outright wickedness. Nations have nuclear weapons capability, and so, you have actors who do not want to directly engage such nations, and will go about their opposition and resistance in a subtle way. You have some semblance of quiet in the world now, not because the world knows the Prince of Peace, but because it is still seeking the best path to war. You cannot be under the control and influence of the prince of this world and not be prone to wars, conflicts and quarrels. Jesus gives what He is and has, which is the peace that passes all human understanding. His peace looks nothing like what the world has to offer. 

Jesus gives us His peace as a bequest; it is not a seasonal wonder, which comes and goes like the weather but it is the peace that lives inside of you, and is with you, no matter where you go. This is the peace that stays in when everyone else walks out. This is a peace that quiets your heart when there is trouble or any reason to fear. When He comes in, fear has to leave. When He comes in, any space the devil has rented in your heart has to be immediately vacated. I have a role to play in this matter, which is that I must constantly fill my heart with the right information, so that my heart can respond the right way when there is any situation beyond my control. The verse above instructs me to stop allowing myself to be agitated and disturbed. I must not give in to fear or allow my situation to unsettle my heart. That is the work of the devil and the manifestation of the version of peace that he offers. Jesus has made an offer of His peace to us all. What is your response? God's time of favour is here. 

God's Peace 3!

God's Peace 3!

Psalm 34:13-14 AMPC

[13] Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. [14] Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

David is credited with writing the words of the verses above, taken from a song he wrote after he had the wisdom to feign madness before Achish the king of Gath, who then drove him away. He could have been killed, as he was responsible for the death of several of the soldiers of Gath, but God always shows up for His own in many strange ways. When God shows up for us, what is the response to His deliverance? When God delivers us from trouble and dangerous situations, do we even bother to go back and say thank you to God? Are we only interested in what we can get from God, without so much thought about what we are required to give back to God in return? Like David, I am reminded that even when things do not go according to plan, God remains God. His standards have not changed, and He will not lower them for anybody. As the verses above lay it out, we will do well to live in line with the standards of God, so we can take hold of all that God is, has, and wants to give. 

My whole existence must be an offering that reflects a surrendered life. There are parts of my body that will definitely show who is in charge. One of such body parts is my tongue. It is a part that can be used for both noble and ignoble purposes. Under the influence of the devil, it can be a massive tool for the destruction of lives. As the Bible so clearly puts it, the tongue is a fire, and it can corrupt the entire body. It releases a fire that can burn throughout the entire course of human existence. The same tongue is used in the praise of God, and when not subjected to God's control, can also be used to curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. It is not possible for the same spring of water to produce both fresh and salt water. My life cannot be a contradiction; it is either I show God off, or the devil is made manifest in me. It cannot be both at the same time. Output must reflect input. What flows out must be such that looks like what I have spent time storing up.

I am also asked to depart from evil and do good. You cannot depart from something that is your nature, unless that nature has first been dealt with. You will be working contrary to your old nature if you depart from evil. There is also no vacuum allowed; you cannot clean all the junk out of your life, and then not fill the space with something else. Nature abhors a vacuum. As I take out the trash of the old nature, I seek after, inquire for, and crave the peace that is of God. That is why I depart from evil and do good. I do not take one and ignore the other. I cannot be active in one and just allow the other happen of its own accord. If I am constantly seeking to please the old nature, it means that my life is not currently surrendered to God. I must consciously go after that which nurtures and sustains God's nature in me. I spend time on the things that build up and enhance God's nature in me. That is when the peace of God can be made manifest in me. You want His peace? Make sure He is IN you. God's time of favour is here. 

God's Peace 2!

God's Peace 2!

Philippians 4:7 AMPC

[7] And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, was reminding them of the strategic importance of a working relationship with God. It is not enough to just hear about God, or be very conversant with the letter of the law, but it is more important to let Him dwell in you and find expression in and through you. Too many times, we want to put God in a box, or try to fit Him into specific or special occasions in our lives, whilst we retain control in other areas of our lives. We want Him to only come good when we are in trouble, and at other times, we are fine with Him just taking a backseat and waiting for us to call Him. Actually, this does not work. It is either God is given the whole of life to control and manage, or He is given nothing at all. God does not do half hearted devotion. He does not accept anything less than my all. How can He properly direct a life that He does not own? How can He bless a life He cannot predict or direct?

It is in this context that the verse above is to be considered. We all need peace, but you can only get the version that your control centre is able to provide and sustain. If the world is your oyster and focus, you will only get the version of peace that the world can give. The version of the world is that which can only be secured by force, a show of strength or by wickedness. High fences may secure the border, but it cannot legislate for character. You may pay a huge amount of money to put in place security measures but that cannot guarantee you safety. The world is not equipped to give you that which only God can give you. Don't look to the world to get you what it does not have. There is a reason why the verse above makes reference to God's peace. It is from God and it reflects Him. It is His peace because He gives it without measure and without limits. It is peace that the world is unable to fathom or explain. He is able to give it to me, and also sustain it in me, by virtue of His power and might. 

I note the place of salvation through Christ, as the key to accessing the peace of God. It has t to be emphasized that God holds no allegiance to those who are not subject to His authority. Citizens have a level of access to benefits that no other person has. You cannot claim the benefits of a country or leader whose authority you do not submit to or  recognise. It is the authority that you submit to that provides the cover and security that you need for all of life. You have nothing to fear and you are content with whatever comes your way. There is a calmness that girds your heart that the world is unable to explain or decipher. That is the peace that stays in place even when the storms are raging and threatening. The presence of God in me keeps out all other negative voices. His peace guards my heart from the pressure the world may place on it. Do not let the world win but give God the control He needs to guard your heart. No matter what comes, if He is in charge, you are sorted. Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

 

God's Peace!

God's Peace!

[33] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus was coming to the end of his earthly ministry and was about to go to the cross. This was why He came to the earth in human form, so that the redemptive work of grace could be perfected in Him. He had taken the time to teach His disciples about the principles of His kingdom and what the right course of action was for those who would subscribe and submit to that kingdom. In fact, from chapters 12 to 17, with about 203 verses altogether, Jesus spoke to the crowd first and then substantially to only His disciples, laying down words of encouragement and praying for those who had left alll and followed Him. The principles of God's kingdom have not changed, even with the passing of time. The standards He demands of all who will follow after Him have not been lowered at any time, or for any special person. What He called sin under Adam and Abraham ia still sin under Zechariah or Zacchaeus. He does not demand that I comply with His will or demands by my own strength or wisdom; He is able to supply all that I need for life and Godliness.

Jesus told His disciples what they should expect as a result of their decision to leave all and follow Him. The word of caution in His words was that if you are looking for just earthly comfort, you are in the wrong place and backing the wrong horse. What Jesus is offering is not the kind of calmness the world can buy with money, and is only physical. You can buy high fences and physical security, but you cannot guarantee a sound sleep at night. You can buy influence and clout, yet you do not have access to the true riches of God's grace. You can lay up treasures for yourself down here on earth, but nothing of the earth will go with you into eternity, not even this physical body. I need to be clear about the message of Christ here, so that i can have the right focus as I pursue after the divine and the eternal. Jesus spent quite some time showing His disciples a new way of living, so that they could focus on what was truly important. The same expectation is laid on us today; that is, if we are truly His disciples, and have fully submitted our lives to Christ. 

The demand is different if you are not a disciple. In Christ alone is the peace that God has promised; the world cannot give you what it does not have. What the world has to offer is tribulation, because it is the only thing that is natural to its nature. However, in the midst of the depressive and oppressive message of the world, Jesus speaks about victory IN and through Him. I note that you can be in the two places at the same time, but have access to the amazing resources that Jesus has made available. You can be in the physical space called the earth, and be subject to the tribulation that the world has, but you can also have access to the riches of God's grace and mercy. There is a standing guarantee that there is nothing the world brings that will be able to overwhelm the one who is IN Christ. The victory of Christ is already settled before I was born, so there is nothing the world can  do to deny or limit its operation, unless I cooperate with the world. Christ has already overcome; I do not need to fight His kind of fight anymore. I walk daily in the victory that His life has secured for me. What of you? God's time of favour is here. 

Be Still!

Be Still!

Psalm 46:10 KJV

[10] Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

As you read the verse above, you get the clear impression that God needs you to know who He is, and what He is capable of. He knows that there is always a storm around the minds and hearts of people, and He wants to quieten that storm and bring His own version of peace. He knows the assignment of the devil is to steal, kill and destroy, and He has come to give us all life in its abundance, in the same measure that He has, which is eternal. The very start of the chapter from where the verse above is taken reads: "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble". He is the One who provides that which I need, when I need it, and in the measure that I need it, even when I did not know what I needed. He is always present, no matter what is going on in and around me. Situations and circumstances will change with the passing of time; God remains the same at all times, which is what gives me confidence to face whatever is ahead. 

The passage goes on to say that "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof". Reflect on this: there will always be a shaking where man is concerned. It is either we are just getting into one, or just leaving one, or God is giving us some rest before the next cycle. It is His way of preparing us for life, and to get us to take our eyes off the storms and focus on Him alone. If you are concerned about the strength and vigour of the storm, it is not likely that you will see God at work. Peter asked and he was given the power to walk on the water and come to Jesus. I am not sure at what point he began to doubt, but then he began to sink. The One who asked Peter to come is the One with complete control over all that may come my way, so why fear that which He has already conquered? 

That is the message of the verse above. In the face of all that is ahead, God wants me to be still. He wants me to fix my eyes on Him, as He helps me navigate this complex world. He tells me to trust Him, not the schemes I have cooked up. He wants me to be quiet before Him, lay it all down, and watch Him work. In fact, what can I achieve if I strive and labour by my own strength? What change can my intellect and strivings bring, if God does not back me up? God is going to prove Himself strong and mighty, whether I like it or not. He is able to do exceeding, abundantly far above all I can ask or imagine. The world will know that there is a God, and the earth will know and experience the power and might of its Creator and Sustainer. God does not need my striving; He needs my surrender. God does not need my industry; He needs my total devotion and submission to Him. I am still before Him, and ask Him to work in me that which is His perfect will, so that the world can see Him IN me. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

Grace!

Grace!

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

As I read the verse above, I am reminded of the account that came before it. Here was a man who had persecuted the church of God, and was zealous for the culture he grew up in. He did not know any better, but when he had an encounter with Jesus, his life turned around and he became an evangelist, taking the good news about Jesus to the world he knew at the time. So many towns we read about today were places where the gospel of Jesus was preached. My past looks nothing like my present, only if I hand over my life to the control and influence of the One who made me. I do not know the full expression of what my life can produce or achieve; it is only by full surrender that i can even begin to scratch the surface of what I can become. This was Paul, a persecutor and prosecutor of the Christian faith, and who then became the proclaimer and proponent of the same faith. There is no life so far gone that s/he is beyond the redemptive grace of God. 

Paul would later submit his life totally to God. There were things he did that could not have been done by labour, strength or intellect of his own. He never married, at least by what was recorded of him, but by God's inspiration and direction, he became the channel of divine instructions on marriage. There are lessons from his life that even the changing of generations and dispensations has not been able to change or reduce its impact. In that walk with God, Paul came across several revelations and mysteries that he was not permitted to speak about at the time. God, who is wise beyond all limits, and fully knowing and understanding the dangers of some deep spiritual things, gave Paul a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment Paul. Think of this: a man, used mightily of God in his generation, was subject to such an experience. Before you go all out pointing the finger at someone else's experience, be sure you do not have their own encounters. 

Paul went to God three times, asking that the thorn in his flesh be taken away, but the response from God is the verse above. There is grace that is sufficient for any situation that may come on any man. God would not take a man down a path where His grace will not be with that man. God's grace is ALWAYS enough for whatever problem a man may face. God's strength is best seen in the times when a man is at his weakest. Man will always be weak outside of God; God's strength shows up best when a man can fully depend on God. Never let your achievements get into your head, leading you to think that you can make it on your own. God supplied the grace that Paul needed, and Paul embraced and maximised the grace to do exploits for God. Like Paul, can I boast in God's empowerment, knowing that He is all I need? The more of Him I get, the more of Him I resemble. The more I look like Him; the more people are attracted to His light in me. I glory in God alone; He is all I need. God's time of favour is here.

Preach It!

Preach It!

Mark 16:15 AMPC

[15] And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].

The One who was sent as a solution to the problem of sin had paid the full price of our salvation. His blood had been offered as the perfect offering for the full pardon that God wanted to offer all of man. It did not matter what the weight of the past sin was, what the present load of sin was, or what the pressure of future sin would be; the blood of Jesus covered them all. There was nothing in my past, present or future that the blood could not deal with, and now, I have been given a new lease of life. Even though my past fully deserved punishment, the sacrifice for sin has made a new way for me. Now I have access to unprecedented grace and mercy. The above lays the foundation for the verse above. When you consider all that Jesus has done and given, would you not want to know the best way to fully appreciate His sacrifice?  What does He want from us? 

Before we make assumptions, we also consider who the verse above was addressed to. This was after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many had seen Him; He had even performed miracles, and many had testified to seeing Him. However, as He prepared to return to God in heaven, there was a mission and assignment He had to leave for those who had come to believe in Him. It has to be noted that the term 'disciple' had changed for many of them, between the time Jesus went to the cross and by the time this verse was pronounced. Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus and had killed himself. Peter had also denied Jesus but had been restored to faith. Thomas had doubted the truth of resurrection but all His fears had been put to rest by Jesus Himself. All of them had come to the reality of His Sonship, Power and Authority, and they could press on with the message about Jesus to the world. That is the message in the verse above: it is for people who have had a personal encounter with the One who went to the cross. 

Have you met this Jesus? It is not about hearing about Him, or being in church while He is spoken about. This is a personal relationship with Jesus that you just cannot keep to yourself. It is a specific message about a specific Saviour; it is a specific assignment given to specific people, and there is a specific audience mandated to receive this specific message. Jesus does not leave us in doubt as to who should hear the good news about Him. As we the bearers of the message now once needed to hear the good news of Jesus, so does the world need to hear about Him today. This good news is just about the love that we now have. I am not asked to speak about what I do not know; it is about who I have living inside me. This is why it was only the disciples that this verse was addressed to at the time, and to whom it is also addressed today. The world is waiting for disciples who will take what they have and impact the world with it. Do you have Him? Do you know Him? The world is waiting for the proof of that knowledge and relationship. God's time of favour is here. 

The One!

The One!

Zephaniah 3:17 AMP

[17] “The Lord your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

The message in the verse above does not look like the context in which it was taken from. God has made it clear that He would abandon His people because of their sin and rebellion, which were very great. He had warned them consistently about their sins but they would not listen or heed the warnings. Of course, the just God would not just sit idly by and let His people desecrate His laws and go without punishment, in line with His express will. He has made it clear that the wages of sin is death, but He also promises a way out of the eternal consequences of sin through the blood of Jesus His Son. Let it be known today God has no favourites when it comes to sin, but He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. Israel is His treasured possession, yet when Israel sinned, the punishment was applied after several warnings were ignored. I do not want to test God's limit or patience when it comes to sin. 

However, even in the face of the worst sin, the mercy of God is evident. Even though Israel had done wrong, we read here of God being in the midst of His people. He just would not let go, but would do all He could to restore the people back to Himself. Think of what it means for the God of glory, holiness, purity and grace to come and be in the midst of us. How would you prepare for such a God? Would you do it haphazardly, without any thought as to what the One coming would like to have and see? If you were preparing for a special guest of honour, would you do the usual, or go all out to please the special One? He is also introduced as the Warrior who saves, and He is the Man of War who is undefeatable. You are safe IN Him, and whatever comes will always lead to my eternal good. No matter how tough or rough it is now, I am comforted by the truth that it will not always be like that, but in God, my eternal rest is assured. What else can anyone give me that will top that? 

The One who is with me rejoices over me with joy. Think of this: God's joy is made manifest wherever I am. That is awesome. His love is such that its presence cannot be denied. He will be quiet in His love by making no mention of my past sins. His love is such that walks and stays in when everyone else walks out. In and with Him, the past that has been confessed and handed over to Him is now forgiven and forgotten. He does not hold such grudges; He is not like mortal man who seems unable to let go of hurt. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He taken our sins away from us. He will rejoice over me with shouts of joy. The heavens and the earth will know that God is rejoicing. Why would He, unless I am giving Him reasons to? Am I fully submitted to Him, or are there areas that I am still holding on to? If I am to bring God joy, my life must have Him in it. Peace and joy feature as part of the fruit of the Spirit, so I cannot have Him and not have joy. I cannot have joy and still lack the manifestation of His power and presence. Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

This Friend!

This Friend!

Proverbs 17:17 KJV

[17] A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

A friend is defined as ""a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations". It means that a friend is someone to whom you are also a friend; two or more people who share a bond of mutual affection. It is not a one-way street, where one person does all the affection, and others are content wiith being passive, or just taking in as much as they can without a plan to ever give anything back in return. It is also a demand on both the inward and the outward, because it is what you have stored up inside that is available to be shared with other people. You cannot give what you don't have, and you cannot fake it until you make it. You either have it to show others, or you are in the process of building up your capacity to show it to others, but you cannot sit down and do nothing, and expect that others will have a duty and responsibility to be a friend to you, as described above.

There will be times when the tank is empty or in need of filling up, but that should be as a result of your giving out to others. You will not demand friendship from someone to whom you have no intention of being a friend to. I also note that a friend loves at ALL times. It is not about deserving the friendship; it is about who I am and what I have to give. I do not wait for my friend to earn it; I am not always measuring the response I get with what I will also give. I just give all I have because it is who I am. We do not wait for friends to be deserving; our friendship is all that counts. Do you have such a friend that you can be this open and vulnerable with? Can you actually be described in the way a friend has been defined above? I also note that the word 'love' is used to describe the output of a friend. It has to be the version God approves, not all the fake versions that everyone is banding around these days. 

There is therefore additional dimension in the verse above, and this is about the times of trouble that will definitely come on everyone in the world. We are in a fallen world, and we will not survive on our own. That is why there is a support system in place for times when trouble comes calling. As we are subject to the sinful nature from birth, the natural order of things will apply to us. We would meet with Christ, and there will be an inner change, but as long as we are clothed in the human body, trouble will never be too far away. We have been uniquely placed to be a solution to the trouble the world may bring. We have been placed, planted, purposely gifted and then surrounded with people who need what we are and have. Being a brother is a unique experience; we call people we are linked to by blood brothers; the blood of Jesus makes me part of a family and the shared humanity with Adam makes me part of the human race. Can I be trusted to be a solution to the world around me, or am I part of the problem? Am I a friend or brother, or just a pest and bother? Which are you? God's time of favour is here.

Rest!

Rest!

Hebrews 4:10 AMP

[10] For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own.

I love two available online definitions of 'rest', which are "an instance or period of resting", and to "cease work or movement in order to relax, sleep, or recover strength". From human perspective, the two definitions above view rest as a specific or sustained period in a person's life where there is no movement or work, because the work had been done in the past and there was a need to recover strength in order to come back for more work. This raises a few points, such as the fact that the rest here is not an excuse for laziness or avoiding the responsibility of work, but a time to let go to rest and recuperate, so that there can be motivation and inspiration for even improved delivery. Another fact is that rest has been built into the set up of machines and devices; thrre is a reason why the on/off switch is added to every manual, because there is no device that is manufactured not to have a rest or recharge or renewal function, so that it can continue to perform optimally. 

If these facts impact the physical, reflect on the relevance to the spiritual. God is the One who instituted the perfect model, creating the 7 days. He worked through 6 days and rested on the 7th; he hallowed the 7th day and also mandated man to follow that example. As much as the covenants and dispensations have changed, and man was not made for the Sabbath, the standard of rest has not been changed or lowered. God's rest here is deeper than the day of the week; it is a spiritual reality that must manifest in physical stability. God is offering us His own kind of rest, not like the world will give, but one that makes a man rest from the weariness and pain of human labours. It is critical to note here that God's rest does not mean that you do not work anymore, but now you work with a clear purpose and end in view. You work with joy in your heart and a spring in your step, because you know what lies at the end of the labour. 

God did his work and rested; He offers us all the same model. It is also important to note that there is a place for me to ENTER his rest. It is not automatic diffusion; you get into it by a conscious decision to submit your life to Him. Entering into His rest is the guarantee of a rest from the weariness and pain of labour. You stop working aimlessly or fighting like one beating the air. You still keep working and fighting, but with the backing of the One you are IN. Whatever your life produces now is a reflection of His nature; you are not locked in by your own limitations. Now, you work with the clarity of impact, purpose and eternity. This is why the message of the rest that is promised here by God is very important. It is not a rest that anyone else can duplicate; no other authority can offer you this rest. Thete is nothing down here on earth that can initiate or sustain this rest; only the One who has done it, offers it, and can keep you in it is the One who can be trusted to keep His Word. Have you entered into His rest? Come in today. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Response 2!

Right Response 2!

Luke 6:28 TPT

[28] When someone curses you, bless that person in return. When others mistreat and harass you, accept it as your mission to pray for them.

As always, the audience defines the demand. You cannot cast your pearls before swine and expect them to treat them right. You cannot demand righteousness from someone who is not subject to the authority and control of the Righteous God. These two extremes are under the control and influence of two very different authorities. Neither will permit digression, disagreement or dissent. There is also no middle ground where you can sit or stand in and claim independence or even impartiality. Not in this case. This is not one of those things that education, enlightenment or earnings can help solve, or which you can depend on what you have to get you out of the consequences of your choice, whichever one it is. Where do you stand? Who are you? What are the things that motivate or inspire you to do whatever it is that you do? How do you define your pursuits and priorities, and who is that one person who can check you and bring you to order on a daily basis if need be? Do I have one? 

The verse above is repeated as part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught his disciples but there was a crowd following Him everywhere He went, listening to Him and reacting as they thought best at the time. In that crowd were entitled Jews who felt that they knew Jesus so well that He had no power or authority to be speaking the way He was. There were also the 'leaders' of the time who felt threatened by His authority, and constantly challenged Him, and at a point, were looking for ways to put Him to death. Of course, there were also strangers; people who just wanted to hear the truth, and who would go on to become disciples. He also had made 12 men part of His inner circle of disciples, and it was to them that the words above are addressed. The demand on you will always be defined by the circle you belong to. Can one who does not yet know anything about God's blessings pass anything of value to someone else? How can you give what you do not yet have? 

When the squeeze comes, and it definitely will at some point in time in our lives, I will only produce in line with what I have inside of me. Let men curse because that is what is in them and must flow out, but as I have the Blessed One living in me, my life must produce in line with that reality. When others mistreat and harass you, it is an outward reflection of their inner state. Rather than react in the same light, you flow out with the Light and Life of Christ in you, the hope of glory. You are fixed on that which is eternal, not that which is earthly. Even when I do not understand the reason for the hatred and opposition, rather than complain, the verse above enjoins me to make it my mission to pray for them. A mission is not tied to the target's point of view but to the motivation and inspiration of the one on the mission. I keep my eye on the goal and press on toward the prize. I want God to be glorified in and through me. I want God to be celebrated in and through me. What of you? God's time of favour is here. 

Preserved 2!

Preserved 2!

John 5:24 KJV

[24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The story behind the verse above comes from the healing of a man who had been ill for 38 years. Think of that: about half of the man's life had been spent bedridden and unable to do anything else except wait for the troubling of the water. There was always someone fast enough to get into the pool before this man, but there came a day when the One who heals came visiting and without any troubling of the water, healed this man who had been ill for 38 years. Indeed, there is nothing that Jesus cannot do. It is actually not fine to accept that Jesus can heal, and then want to deny the fact that He is also God. You cannot take one fact and reject the other; both are equally true and relevant to the identity, purpose and mission of Jesus. This was the dilemma the Jews of Jesus' time found themselves in: how would they deal with this man whose father they thought they knew, and who was also claiming to be God, and could heal the sick? 

As it was then, so is it now. People keep finding convenient facts to support whatever position they want to take, but this does not in any way deny the truth of who Jesus is. I can argue with whatever information I am given, or I can ask the Holy Spirit to help me gain an understanding of what I have been told and the best way to apply it. The verse above sheds some light in this regard: I must hear the right message and also believe in the One who is God. It is not enough to just seek to hear or know; it is very important to apply what I know the right way. If what I know does not promote Jesus as Lord, Saviour, King and God, then that which I hold on to is not the real deal. Jesus was quite sure of who He is, and as you read the Gospel of John, you find deep nuggets about His person and identity. He is God; my view or acceptance of this truth is not for His benefit, but for mine. Accepting Him as Lord and Saviour is for my good; He remains God even when the heaven and the earth pass away. 

It is almost as if all who hear and believe have placed themselves in a unique position where they have access to all that Jesus is and has before the actual inheritance is offered on a  permanent basis. The verse above says that all who believe have passed on from death to life. That is a deep truth; they are still in the flesh, and if the Lord tarries long enough, they will experience physical death, but it is just a translation into the real life that has been promised. Physical death is just a passage into the full measure of life that is in Jesus, and there is no condemnation for all who are in Christ. The full measure may not be made manifest on this side of eternity, but be sure that you already have it, as long as you have believed on the Son Jesus Christ. Read this part just before the verse above: "all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father". If eternal life is the goal and the pursuit, the way to go is through the Son. Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Preserved!

Preserved!

Isaiah 26:3 AMPC

[3] You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

It is hard to speak of anything perfect from the perspective of the world. As long as the supply is of and from the world, be sure that it is imperfect and less than the standard. If what I seek is that which is perfect, according to the verse above, I have to go to the right source of all that is perfect, who is God Himself. No one and nothing else can give you that. As God is perfect, all He does and all He gives will also be perfect. Now, I have the guarantee from God; how do I lay hold of all that He has promised? The verse above lays it out by pointing to the man whose heart is stayed on God. This picture is one that leaves no room for alternative options or choices. It is not an either/or; it is a fixed state of mind where it has decided on who to follow, and no matter what happens, it is not moved from its fixed position. It has decided on a course of action, and nothing would change the course or direction. 

As nice as the above sounds, this will not just happen overnight or by accident. Having your mind stayed on someone means that you have spent considerable time with the person and have come to undeserved who He is, what He wants, how He wants it, and when He wants it. You have no doubt in your mind that He has all the answers to the questions that are agitating your mind, and you are content with the answers He gives, even if you do not always understand the timing and application. Even when the answer is nothing like what you expect, you are confident in His power and ability to guarantee a good end in line with His will, because nothing happens to you without His permission. And there is no pretence or hypocrisy here; whatever the mind is fixed on internally is also what the life will manifest externally. There is perfect harmony between the heart's confession and the life's profession. 

I do not say one thing and do the opposite; both parts of my life align, and the grace and power of God are revealed in all areas of my life. Check out the end of the verse above: he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. You do not read of any other person who is able to hold the  attention of the one who is helped by God. I am fully committed to God: I lean on Him in all situations and circumstances; my hope is in Him alone, as there is no one in all creation that can guarantee what will happen at the next hour. He can do as He has promised, which is to keep me in perfect peace; the big question is whether I can also trust Him enough to place all my mind on Him, without my eye constantly on the nearest exit. His eye ranges throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You cannot go wrong with total trust IN Him. Make sure your heart is fixed; you will have peace that the world and all its panic cannot touch. God's time of favour is here.

Overcome!

Overcome!

Romans 12:21 AMP

[21] Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A definition of overcome is to "succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty". This tells me that will be a definite problem, a defined solution and a predetermined outcome for that solution, if applied the right way. Wnar this makes clear is that there has to be a problem or difficulty for there to even be talk of overcoming. You cannot speak about an overcoming without first defining a challenge. As I take stock of my life, I realise that there are lots of things that seek to overwhelm me and cause me grief. The nature of sin that was inherited from Adam makes it easy for man to commit sin, and it is vain to demand righteousness from someone who is under the bondage and control of sin. How can the person who is himself bound be able to speak of freedom or victory from sin? If I will have victory, some things have to shift in the spiritual realm. If I will speak of overcoming, the relevant fight has to be fought and won. 

The relevant fight is the one over the flesh. It will be a useless venture to focus on anything else until the battle over the flesh has been won. As long as the flesh still thrives, victory is impossible. The flesh is as old as the human nature, so there is nothing of the human nature that can overcome it. You need the power of the One who has conquered sin and all its manifestations in order to live above the power and manifestations of sin. How can I speak of overcoming evil with good if all that is in me is evil? I must not bother to fight what is natural to me until I have taken up that which is contrary to my human nature. God is able to keep and preserve all who come to Him, but He does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill. His grace is sufficient, but my will must align to His, if I will truly enjoy all that God is and gives. There is no other way that works. 

There are clear choices available. It must be noted that God does not demand from anyone that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He commands it, be sure that the enablement and empowerment will definitely follow. When He says I must not be overcome by evil, He knows that I will not succeed on my own, but with His help, there is no limit to what I can become. When He also commands that I overcome evil with good, He knows that of myself, I can do no such thing, but when He helps, victory is sure and settled. It is to God's glory that my life reflects His mercies and dealings. All I can do is depend on and draw from that which He has already secured for me. That is the help that is available. That is the victory over evil that I have been given, and which I will do well to maintain. I will not succeed by labour or intellect, but by the enabling grace of God. Would you trust Him for the journey ahead? God's time of favour is here.

Grace!

Grace!

Titus 2:11-12 KJV

[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Grace is defined as "undeserved favor". It is not something to be earned or deserved; it is something that is freely given. It is this simple definition that opens the door to an amazing dimension of information about who God is, what He has done for us, and what He desires from us in return. If a man could earn grace, not too many people could afford it. The rich of this world would strive to keep it to themselves and block other people from getting it. Those who are influential and connected will do all they can to appropriate it to themselves alone. Thank God for the level playing field that God gives to us all. Thank God He has not asked me to give the impossible in order to access His provision. Let it be clear that though there is nothing I could have done or given to merit the grace of God, I can be sure that once I have received it, it places a demand on me to live right. 

That is the message in the first verse above. It is a gift that has been given to ALL men, with the emphasis on all. It does not matter how bad my past is; God's grace is enough to give me a fresh start. It does not matter what the pain of the present is; God's grace is able to address the present and secure hope for the future. Let no man keep you away from the free gift of salvation available to all by claiming that your past is too dirty to be forgiven. Grace has been given freely to all men, so they all can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. You cannot take Him as Lord and reject Him as your Saviour. Both are part of a single package that comes with Jesus. That is what makes salvation complete. The bible says that a man is saved if he can confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in His heart that God raised Him from the dead. You cannot take one without the other.

Now, that grace will demand something from me. It was freely delivered to me, but it will still cost me something, which is why the messge of grace can be strange. I do nothing to deserve it, yet I will have to live right in order to sustain that which God has given. I cannot work FOR it, but there is a work expected from me when I am IN it. Whatever it was that held me back in the past must be let go, if I am to take hold of that which God wants me to have. That is why there is both a NO and a YES in this walk of grace. I cannot sit on the fence because there is none. I am not able to play both sides at the same time. I note that indecision is itself a choice. We say NO to all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and YES to living soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world. If I know the value of what I have received, it is not hard to say YES to Jesus. Would you also take the right decision to say YES to Jesus? God's time of favour is here. 

  

The Tongue!

The Tongue!

Proverbs 18:21 KJV

[21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We look at a part of the human body that is critical to its impact and survival. As we know, the physical tongue is key to one of the senses by which we can taste. By extension, it is one of the channels by which we receive things into our bodies that can lead to either good or bad outcomes. The tongue tells us if something is good for us or not. It tells us if it is sweet, bitter or sour. Now, that is about what needs to go into our bodies. There is also the use of the tongue for what comes out of our bodies. The tongue is a means of expression; we reveal what we know or do not know by the things that we say or do not say. We let people know our stand on issues by the position we take, and that position would usually be revealed by the tongue. What this tells me is that the tongue has both physical and spiritual implications by its use or misuse and I will do well to understand how this works for me and how to ensure that there is always a good end to its use. 

The verse above says clearly that death and life are in the power of the tongue. This is quite a powerful statement. By its creation and existence, it is by nature prone to sin. It does not get born again by accident: it has to be a deliberate and intentionsl change. I will have to school it right if I want it to produce the right kind of fruit. It means that I must spend time on the right things, auditing out what is not beneficial to me, and spending time on what is. How would I know what is good and right for me, if I do not spend time with the Way, the Truth and the Life? Where else am I going to get practical counsel and viable advice, outside the One who is very committed to my earthly and eternal purpose? Just as Christ is invested in my present and my future, so is the devil only interested in how my past can be the only present and future that I have. He wants to keep me in sin so that I will struggle with God's demands and expectations from me. 

This is why God's grace is quite critical to this journey of redemption. The verse above warns about the dangers of the wrong use of the tongue, as well as the benefits of the right use of it. As always, the choice of consequences is mine to make. God does not leave anyone in doubt about the end of all life, and the results of any choice made. I get to choose how I will prepare for whatever is coming. Whatever I love is what I will spend time with and also expend energy and effort on. If I love to see good fruits, I had better invest in good seeds, and take the time to nurture and grow them properly. The tongue is used to praise God, and can also be used to curse men. With it, we encourage men to great exploits, and with it, we can also knock a man into depression and suicide. It is not too late to change the fruit if you don't like what you see now. God's grace is sufficient for the demand He places on us. God's time of favour is here.

As for Me!

As for Me!

2 Chronicles 15:7 AMP

[7] But as for you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.” 

There is always a personal encounter that is fundamental to the discovery and fulfillment of God's purpose for my life. It has never been about the crowd, or a general application to everyone at the same time; the assignment may be general, and there could be many that have been called and gifted to be a part of and contribute into it, but ultimately, it is a personal relationship that will define the public manifestation and impact. Judah, at the time of the verse above,  was in trouble as a result of rebellion and disobedience to God. There had been several warnings by God but they would not listen and so God handed them over to enemies who troubled them a great deal. As it was then, so is it now. The standards of God have not been lowered for anyone, and what God called sin in the days of king Asa is still sin in our days, and no amount of education, enlightenment or earnings can change the standard. 

For as many as would seek to uphold God's standards, the verse today is for you. Please note again that it is first and foremost a very personal walk with God. In the midst of the unrighteousness and evil going on in Judah at the time, God found a man like Asa to make king, and encouraged him to stay true to Him. The message at the start was clear: you cannot afford to be like every other person around you. Being with the majority does not make you right; being popular does not mean you have been accepted by God. Human applause does not always equate to divine approval. No matter what is going on around you, you have a path to choose. No matter how hard things get, there is an expectation from God for you. No matter what has gone before, or whether someone seemingly got away with evil, do not concern yourself with another man's walk; focus on your own. Be sure you are where God says you should be, and doing what He has commanded you to do. 

 

He encouraged Asa to be strong, because He knew the challenges that were coming. If things were destined to be easy all through life, the message today would be of no use. In the face of pressure and worldly pleasures, I have to take a stand for what is Godly and right, not losing courage or giving in to the dictates of the world. I must remember that there is an end to every pursuit on this side of eternity, and consequences to sort out for every activity under heaven. It does not matter what I tell myself, or how hard I try and convince myself that my motives were good; I deal with a God of absolute knowledge, power and authority who cannot be deceived by the outward. He sees the heart and its hidden motives, and He deals according to Truth, not man's perceptions. I better believe that there is reward for my walk and work; God is not the One to owe anyone anyting. What are you working for? What am I working for? God's time of favour is here. 

Walk!

Walk!

Galatians 5:16 AMPC

[16] But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God)

Where I walk defines what I get or what happens to me. How I walk also defines what I can access. These are truths that impact my life and I must pay attention to, if I will also impact my world. Why is this walk important? A definition of walk is "move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once". Reflect on this for a bit. There is movement at a regular pace. It is not the once in a while movement, based on just desire to get something out of a situation. It is not the selfish desire to only move when there is an advantage to be had, or it is convenient for me. It is a regular move at a regular pace. It is not warm today and cold tomorrow. It is like an appointment to touch base at fixed periods in time. You do not walk aimlessly, as if you do not know where you are going; you walk like someone who is clear on purpose, impact, assignment and destination. 

You lift up and set down each foot in turn, never in a hurry to get to the destination, and willing to trust God every step of the way. You trust that each step is ordered by God and will take you closer to the purpose of God for your life. You are also not in competition with anyone else who is also on his/her walk with God. It is not a race to the finish line where there is a winner who takes the gold and all others take less-worthy medals. The only thing that counts in this walk is that I walk in line with the will of the One who called me to Himself and set my path out for me. What you do in your walk with God is yours; we are headed in the same direction but we will walk our separate ways in order to get there. One thing that is quite clear here is that my walk must line up with the direction of the Spirit of God. How can I claim to walk with God and my life looks nothing like someone who knows or has seen God? 

This is where the second part of the verse above applies to me. My walk cannot be in line with the desires of the flesh, because that path does not in any way lead to the discovery and fulfillment of God's purpose for my life. Walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit are two different and parallel realities. You cannot walk in both at the same time, and you cannot play both sides as and when it suits the narrative at the time. Both have earthly and eternal consequences, defined by masters in their own rights. As I feed one or allow one to thrive, the other dies off slowly. However, as long as one is in the human body, I have the opportunity to decide which one I will feed and which one will starve. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. If the desire is to please God and end up with Him, my walk must match that desire. The human nature will not let go, until and unless it is met with a greater force. That force is God, if you will let Him. He wants to help. Let Him. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Response!

Right Response!

1 Peter 3:9 NIV

[9] Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

There is a lot of power in personal experience and encounter. There are lessons that may be difficult to internalise until you have had an encounter that makes that lesson invaluable and relevant. The writer of the piece from where the verse above is taken would know a little about the power of personal encounter. He did not start as Peter; in fact, from the account of the bible, he was known as Simon son of Jonah/John. The name Peter did not come up until Simon made that eternal confession about who Jesus is - the Son of the Living God. It did not stop there; Simon would go on to deny Jesus at some point, but also do mighty things for God after he was restored to faith. The story of his life makes for interesting reading too: opposition, fights, resistance and oppression became the common factor for him. At those times, he had a choice to make: fight or flight or faith. 

Peter was beaten with whips, he was sent to jail for the healing of the blind man at the Beautiful gate, and he would have been killed by Herod if not for the divine intervention of God who opened the doors of the prison to let him out. In all of these experiences, we note that Peter was never on record saying anything derogatory about his accusers or oppressors. He would stand his ground on the Truth of Jesus as the Son of God that he was quite convinced about, and no matter what you did to him, he would not shift. Of course, to hold this position, you have to be quite convinced beyond all doubt that who and what you know is the Truth and nothing else. In fact, the letter of Peter here is addressed to people referred to as "God’s elect...who had been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood." You have to find yourself within that bracket if the verse above will apply to you. 

God will not make such a demand from people who have not first submitted their lives to Him. How can He command or ask for allegiance from someone who is not His loyal subject? The recommendations of Peter is to respond to evil with what you have, which is of God. This tells me that I have to spend time filling my heart with the right things so that when the squeeze comes, what comes out will look like Christ. I am charged to repay evil with blessing, because that is all I have. Each gives what he has. As the verse above also says, I was called out of whatever I was, or wherever I was headed, and made a blessing. It will then be an error for me to produce anything contrary to what I have been called or made. The end must also be kept in focus, because there is no way I can inherit anything that I am not entitled to by virtue of birth. To lay hold of eternal life, I have to be related to the Son who has secured that life for me. Are you related to Christ? Am I? God's time of favour is here. 

The Gift!

The Gift!

James 1:17 AMPC

[17] Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]

We start off with a definition of gift, and the one that bears reference to our reflection today is: "a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present". It is clear from this definition that the way to understand the purpose or reason for a gift is to understand the mind of the giver. The one giving the gift would be clear in his/her mind why the gift has been prepared, as well as the ideal person to be given the gift. And there are gifts and there are gifts. In the culture that we are from, we speak of gifts from different perspectives. There are gifts that align with particular seasons of life, and there are gifts that come from the place of the depth of relationships. We speak of birthday and wedding gifts; we know of Christmas and Easter gifts, and we also may speak of the various names given to facilitation payments and even to bribes and kickbacks that are used to secure an advantage on something. 

The verse above refers to the good and perfect gift. It is hard to define perfection from the perspective of imperfect people. How can that which is stained by the old nature of sin offer a perfect gift? How can that which is imperfect in itself offer any gift that will be deemed to be perfect? It would mean that this verse has nothing to do with man but all to do with God. After all, the source always defines the impact. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot fake it here. You also note that the direction and source of that which is good and perfect is from above, not below. We always say that the hand of the giver is always on top, even though the world has also corrupted this process by thinking up schemes such as 'under-the-table transactions and deals done and settled under the cover of darkness. 

If it is God, He does His giving in the full view of the world, so that there is no doubt as to the origin and source of the gift. He does not give the way the world gives, which is always hard to understand. Proverbs 18:16 refers to a man's gift making room for him and bringing him before great men. The motive for the gift here may not always be clear, and could be for a good or ulterior motive. For God, His gift is always good, because there is both an earthly and eternal purpose to whatever it is He gives. And we know now that the greatest gift in the history of mankind was given by God to all men. How do I know? Titus 2:11 says quite clearly that "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men". His gift was given, not because of anything selfish motive, but because He was looking for lives He could secure for all of eternity. That is the God that James would have me know, as well as you too. 

James goes further to describe this God by referring to His nature. Of course, the gift must look like the giver. The devil has come to steal, kill and destroy, and it will be a grave error to go to the devil for something that it is not his nature or ability to give. The One who gives life is the One who can secure it, and also take it away as and when He sees fit. If eternal life is your desire, please note that only the One who has tasted and overcome death is the One who can offer you what He has. He is the Father of all light, and He is also Light. With Him, there is no doubt as to who He is, what He demands from us, and where He is taking us to. There is no double standards with Him. He is not One who is hot today and cold tomorrow. Man is the one who cannot be predicted. He has an agenda for anything, and no matter how hard he tries, he may not succeed in whatever venture he gets into. Go with God; He is the One who can be trusted to the end. He will not let you down. How do you respond? God's time of favour is here. 

Approach!

Approach!

Hebrews 4:16 AMPC

[16] Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

This is a season of need. A lot of things have gone wrong and many things will still go very wrong. Sin has changed the landscape for man, as we are alll born corrupted and subject to death and eternal destruction. It did not matter how innocent we looked when we were born, or how morally upright we have tried to be as adults; as long as the nature of sin is present and applicable, we just could not rise above the limits of that old nature. To make matters worse, the old nature could not provide a way out of the mess it had created and subjected all men to, and someone had to provide another way out, completely different from the old nature, to get us reconciled to God and break the hold of the old nature over us. A picture of what Christ as high priest came to do was presented to us by Aaron the high priest. His role was to offer sacrifices of blood on behalf of the people, as well as himself too.

The issue with Aaron was that he too was faulty and needed help too. He would have to offer blood, first for himself, even before he could offer for anyone else. In the course of the earthly ministry of Aaron, we see times where his sons failed miserably in the discharge of their duties. Even before he was anointed as priest, he had led Israel down the path of idolatry. It was not a wonder that the role of the high priest stood only for such a time when Jesus was made manifest. In all the centuries that followed Aaron as high priest, the sacrifice of blood was sufficient for covering the sin of the people. The sacrifice did not deal with the foundation and offshoot of sin, because it did not have the power of forgiveness and eternal redemption. This is where the role of our new high priest is very important. All that the old order could not solve has been fully addressed under this new order birthed by Christ.

Christ did not need to offer sacrifices for his own sin as He is sinless; he is the perfect offering, without spot, wrinkle, blemish or stain. He took his own blood and offered it up before God as the total package of redemption and forgiveness for us all. He paid the price for past, present and future sin, which also makes His sacrifice very peculiar. Even for the sins that are yet to be committed by those yet to be born, these have been fully paid for. The secrets of the Holy of Holies have been laid bare to us, and we have been given direct access into the presence of the Holy God, which is something we dared not do under the old order. We have access to the grace and mercy of God, and we can come in anytime. There are now no limits to those who can approach the throne of God's grace. I come in without fear, because the fear of sin has been permanently dealt with. What are you waiting for? God's time of favour is here.