Access!

Access!

Psalm 100:4 KJV

[4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalms 100:4 TPT

[4] You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!

The initial tabernacle that was built under God's guidance by Moses as Israel journeyed in the wilderness gives us a glimpse into the impact and import of the verse above. This structure was set up in a way that reflected the glory of God, as well as His desire to have fellowship and interaction with His children. He is a Holy God, and holiness has been His guiding principle from the beginning of creation till today. He has not lowered, and He will not lower the standard for anyone, no matter who you are, or what you have achieved. Sin has always, and will always be a barrier to access to God, because He hates sin. This is both an admonition and a warning to all who seek to come to God; you have to come to Him on His own terms, not yours. I do not determine by myself what God accepts; He does. 

Under the same tabernacle, God prescribed offerings for different things, all in a bid to ensure that the people of Israel could always come near to Him. This principle has not changed, as He continues to seek people to worship Him acceptably, with reverence and awe. Reflect on a God who destroyed priests who offered unholy fire before Him; a God who allowed the ground to open up to swallow whole generations; the God who chose to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend, and you get the clear impression that God loves it when we come to Him on His terms. He seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Is there any excuse that is tenable and strong enough to keep you from the presence of God? Do you think that the stain of your past is so strong that it can keep you away from the One who shed His blood so you could make an approach into the place of His grace and mercy? 

That is the picture that this access promotes. The same God; different generations. The same God; same grace of access. The same God; less physical sacrifices of blood, and more of spiritual sacrifices of total surrender to the Lordship and Authority of Jesus. The same God; access is given to all to come into the presence of this mighty God. You come with a mix of both fear and awe; you come before the Creator of the ends of the earth, who has no before or after, and who continues to be God, no matter what happens to all of the heavens and the earth as we see or know them now. The prescriptions are laid out: thanksgiving into His gates; praise into His courts. Focus on God; get his attention and see Him work wonders. Do not let the physical realities around you keep you from the focus on who God is and what He can do. What would you do? Would you come? God's time of favour is here. 

The Right End!

The Right End!

Philippians 1:9-10 AMP

[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, [10] so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin];

There are no small journeys. When you need to go somewhere, depending on where you are, you have to make a plan: what do I need to take me with me? Which route do I take to arrive early and safely? Do I need a guide to further help me with navigation and local knowledge? What other resources do I need when I get to the place I am going? These are a few of the important questions that one must have answers to, if the journey will end well. As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. You need to have the right tools and the right information and resources, if your journey is to end well. A lot of times, the lack of critical information has led to aborted trips, and sometimes terrible conclusions. Do I know where I am going?

It is the will of God that I travel well and arrive safely. His recommendations for safe journey include love, as defined by Him, not by my own personal opinions. Paul, the writer of this letter to the church in Philippi, would know. He was on a journey to destruction, but God's love found him. He then began a new course of life, heading in a different direction, and motivated by different priorities. It really does matter who and what you know. Love grows, and it is strengthened by knowledge. The more of God I know, the more I reflect His nature. The more of God I know, the more others are attracted to the amazing impact His light makes in and on me. Do I have His light and life, or am I still on that path that leads nowhere? 

The reason why I need the right information is so that I can end well. As Paul said, I need to learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent, and this can only be by constant exposure to that which is excellent. What are my current pursuits and priorities? The end always matters. You do not want to get to the end of the journey and realise you had been on the wrong course. Today is the day to pause and reflect, and be sure and certain of wheee you will end. I have to be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, as that is the basis of entry. I will not make it on my own, or by my own schemes. By His help, I will make it, and also attract others to Him. He is invested in your good end. Would you surrender to Him? God's time of favour is here.

Trust!

Trust!

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

The man who wrote these words in the verses above was Solomon, the king of Israel, who was given a special experience of God, and blessed with wisdom and riches beyond any king before or after him. His proverbs have become the subject of several messages, as well as the foundation of several counselling sessions on marriage, career, business, family life and even preparing for eternity. Today's extract is one of those messages that speak to life in general, reminding us of who God is, who we are, what we are, what is required of us and where we are headed. It has to be laid out from the start that we do not have forever on this side of eternity; we are here for a reason and a season, and the best use of my time and life will be the discovery, persuit and fulfillment of God's purpose for my life. At the end of it all, nothing else will matter. 

That is why the verse starts with TRUST. This is defined as 'firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something'. A firm belief in someone or something does not happen by accident, but by constant testing of the ability, capacity and capability of the person or thing. You do not get to the place of confidence overnight. You get to trust someone or something when you have proven them or it over time. You find your way to God because you may have tried other options and got only disappointments. You came to Him, maybe because someone told you about Him, or frustration pushed you into His arms, but you came all the same. Over time, you have found Him faithful and dependable, and you can commit ALL into His hands. That is a fundamental requirement for trust: it is ALL or nothing at all. Partial trust is as good as total mistrust. 

The Lord has to take all, or nothing at all. He is not a God who will accept half-measures. If I can trust Him with my all, I will get His all. As He is limitless, it means that this entire lifetime is not long enough to know all there is to know about God. I am limited in knowledge and skill. I am limited by time and space, and I can get tired easily. I have to daily live in the consciousness of the awesome power of God and my need for Him. I do not have the slightest idea of what the next few hours will bring my way, but I have a God who has put in place His plans for me, long before my parents even came together. With Him, there are no accidents. With Him, there is no limit to where He can take a man who fully depends on Him. Ask the man who wrote these words; he lived both the joys and the sorrows that come from trusting God, and following his own schemes. Now we know; would you trust God? God's time of favour is here.

The Heir!

The Heir!

Galatians 4:7 AMPC

[7] Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.

It is critical to note the role of an inheritance in the walk of faith. For all who are born of woman, they are all under the influence and control of the human nature. As long as the law of natural conception applies to you, the law of sin and death also applies. This is why the nature of the birth of Jesus is our sure way out of the bondage of sin. Jesus was born of a woman, but not subject to the law of natural conception, so that in Him, the chain of sin was broken. By virtue of His birth, He is the only One capable of offering a sacrifice for sin that can be accepted by God. By virtue of His death and resurrection, He offers us all a way out of the bondage of sin and death. 

What is also critical to note is that none of the things Jesus has secured for us is automatic. It is an offer for everyone, but I have to make a conscious and deliberate decision to accept the gift. That is the message of the verse above: the law of sin and death is automatic for all who are born under it. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus also applies to all who are born under it. As they are both laws, they do not give you liberty to live contrary to the law in operation. If the law of sin and death operates, be sure that the end of sin is eternal separation from God. If the law of the Spirit of life in Christ operates, you also know that means that you get the result of life, which is eternal life with God. Which law are you subject to?

It is the operation of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ that gives us access to all the resources available in Him. When I give Him total control of my life, I am no longer a slave, but now a son. This is the transformation that salvation brings: someone on the path of destruction changes course and becomes a candidate for eternal life. It is only God who can help us fully understand the impact of this change, but it is the change that makes me entitled to all that Jesus is and has. I will not get it any other way. Education, elocution, enlightenment, or earnings will not get me anything. Christ is all that I need. Do you have Him? Does He know you as His own? Am I in line to inherit anything of eternal value? God's time of favour is here. 

Godliness!

Godliness!

1 Timothy 4:8 AMP

[8] For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

For every athlete, there is gain in training. It is hard to make a case for someone who goes through life's challenges without some form of preparation. You cannot run a marathon without some form of resistance; you cannot successfully finish a 90-minute football game without some exhaustion at the end of it. Life will also teach that we all need some form of exercise if we are retain a healthy body mass and enjoy the life that God has given us. I also reflect on the word 'training', and this is defined as 'the action of undertaking a course of exercise and diet in preparation for a sporting event' or 'the action of teaching a person or animal a particular skill or type of behaviour. Even an animal can be trained to perform certain actions. How much more those of us who are made in God's image, and have the power of freewill? 

Reflect again on the definitions above: the act of training is not a one-off incident; it is a combination of several small bits coming together to make a big statement. Men training for years in secret, in order to be able to run a race that lasts less than 20 seconds, in the full view of the world. Training is done away from public eye or acclaim, because that is the hard part that nobody sees or can fully appreciate. Men do not applaud the secret training, because they do not yet see the value of the pain and sacrifice. Yet, all of these things are done for an earthly reward, and for records that will be broken in the process of time. There is no physical or strenuous activity on earth that can prepare you the right way for eternity. 

To make it to eternal life with God, there is a deeper level of spiritual training that must be undertaken. This is the training that shapes you here on earth, in preparation for eternal reward. Physical training ends down here; the spiritual training impacts lives down here and also prepares you for eternal life. I should strive to do both: be fit in order to make the best use of the opportunities God gives for impact down here, and also be fit for all the trials and tough times that will come as a result of faith in Christ. If I will focus on any one, it has to be that which holds eternal value. What would it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his soul? I ask God for grace for all that is ahead: strength for the challenges of life, and focus for the race that leads to eternal life. His grace is sufficient. God's time of favour is here. 

Choices!

Choices!

Mark 12:10 AMPC

[10] Have you not even read this [passage of] Scripture: The very Stone which [after putting It to the test] the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner [Cornerstone];

In understanding the story of the stone above, it is good to consider the cintext in which the story was placed. There was a man who planted a vineyard. He has a purpose for the planting, and he did all that was required to ensure that the vineyard thrived. He put a hedge round it to protect it, he dug a pit for the winepress in anticipation of the fruit and result that will come from the vineyard,  he also built a tower for protection and guard over the vineyard, and then he hired men he considered as competent to care for it, before he left to attend to other businesses. Like this man, God has also established a vineyard and done all He could to guarantee our success and fruitfulness. He has given us all that we need for life and Godliness, and He protects and shields us from all evil, so we can go ahead and be all He formed, gifted and planted us to be. 

Unfortunately, like all things men, God will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of our freewill, but be sure that there will be consequences to whatever decision I make. The men who were hired to take care of the vineyard thought it had become personal entitlements; therefore, they treated all the servants of the owner shamefully, and went to the extreme of killing the man's only son. Of course, the man came and destroyed all those tenants, but because the work had to be done, others would still be hired to do the work required. Men who thought that they were entitled to what they did not own were moved out, and others who may not have been initially considered were brought in to do the work. The work would get done, because the owner of the work will not be denied. 

The choice is mine to make: would I be a part of what the owner of the work wants to get done or am I content with self- promotion? Am I willing to let go of distractions, so that I can focus on what God wants to do in and through me? Those who are entitled will soon realise that God's work will not suffer loss; only those who have a sense of entitlement will end up being sidelined, whilst those who were not initially considered relevant would be the ones used to sustain that which needs to be done. The stone was tested and rejected but when all was said and done, it became the stone that would fit the role, and on which the entire structure may rely on. This stone is ultimately Jesus, as well as all who trust in Him for relevance and impact. This is God's way of establishing His power and wisdom. The choice of response is mine to make. God's time of favour is here. 

One Day Soon 4!

One Day Soon 4!

Matthew 25:40 KJV

[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

We keep connecting all the parts together, and the verse above is yet another important part of the demand and the reward from God for all who claim to know and follow Him. We have seen the separation of the sheep from the goats, and we have seen the conversation flow between the Shepherd and the sheep who have listened to and obeyed His voice. It has to be emphasized again, in case there is any doubt, that what gives them this reward is not first and foremost what they did, but who they were. Long before we read of the things they did, we first read of who they were, by nature and nurture: sheep. Who are you? What are you? The answer to these questions must be my fundamental clarity. There can be no doubt. There can be no lukewarmness. There can be no indecision. 

I also note that the verse above makes it clear who has authority to determine reward. The King is the One speaking and determining who gets what. This is not the earthly version of a king who can be removed, either by death or abdication, and another will take his place. This is a King, with capital K, whose power and authority cannot be questioned, whose word is final, and whose judgment is true. The sheep may not have known the end of their actions, and they did not do what they did for earthly recognition, fame or applause. It was just what they were led to do: they saw a need, people in need and they were moved to help in any way they could. The need has not changed; the world is still in terminal turmoil, in need of lives with divine connection, who can help minister God's grace in all its fullness and power. 

That is the message of the verse above: there is nothing I do under God's leading that is a waste. There is nothing I do as sheep that will not have an end. That is why it matters what I do and why I do them. The world can only relate with recognition and applause. If I know who I am, and whose I am, I will not struggle with men's views or opinions. After all, I know who I am working for. As the King says here, inasmuch as I have done anything to anyone of His brethren, no matter how small, I have done it to Him. Reflect on the import and impact of that statement: I do it to God. If only we understood this, the world will be less complex and more kind. For all who know the King, make your life attractive so that others can be drawn to follow the King too. Now I know; how do I work going forward? God's time of favour is here. 

One Day Soon 3!

One Day Soon 3!

Matthew 25:35-36 KJV

[35] for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [36] naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

We begin to see the daily actions, decisions and reactions of those who are referred to as sheep in the parable of the sheep and goats which we have been considering for a few days now. Who ever said actions do not have consequences? Let it be established again that the sheep do not get the eternal home solely by virtue of what they did, but first by who they are. The actions listed above then makes sense in the context of who they are. As you read through the pages of the Bible, you read accounts of people like Cornelius, or that rich young man who went away sad, just because Jesus asked him to go sell all he had, give to the poor, and then come follow Him. These stories keep making it clear that just doing 'nice' things will not guarantee you eternal life with God, but once the right foundation is laid, the rest of life becomes very convenient. 

Please do not settle for the outward only; make sure the right internal foundation, which is Jesus being in charge, is in place. Then, it will not be a struggle to align with the demand of the verses above. Anyone can be nice and hospitable, and we see charitable people and organisations fully invested in giving food and drink to the poor. There are great blessings attached to doing these, but as we have now noted, it is great to add to that the personal experience and walk with the shepherd. There are many lives in need of both the divine and the physical touch, and only someone who is under the control, influence and guidance of the Shepherd will know what is appropriate for every season. The wrong message at the wrong time, no matter how attractive the intentions were, will lose the impact. 

There is a need for everyone that God brings me in contact with. There is a life somewhere who needs the message that my life, its gifts, endowments, and calling, were meant to bless. There are needs that my life has been best suited to address, and whilst I must do my best, I must know that I am not really indispensable. Like all the sheep in front of the Shepherd here, many would have brightened the corner where they were, did their best, and moved on, but here they were, being reminded of the amazing impact they made. That is how it will be: I do not do it for earthly recognition which has no true eternal value. I do not do it for human applause which is very undependable and unpredictable. I do it because it is commanded by my Lord and Shepherd, and because of the eternal reward that follows. What could be more? How are you preparing? God's time of favour is here.

One Day Soon 2!

One Day Soon 2!

Matthew 25:34 KJV

[34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Following on from yesterday's devotion, we saw the expected separation of the sheep from the goats, and the eternal consequences of this separation. It must be noted that this separation has nothing to do with man's schemes and devices, but with God's own appointed timing and implementation. He has laid down the standard for getting in, and He has also made clear what the expectations and consequences for not getting in are, so I cannot make an excuse for not getting in. One thing that God also does well is the grace He supplies for everyone to have the opportunity to make it. He would not put a stumbling block on the way of anyone, but for all who will come in, there is sufficient room. That is His promise, and we know He does not lie. 

Let it also be clear that it is not good works on their own that made the sheep qualify for the position that they now occupy. There was a foundation laid, upon which the nature of sheep lay, which has to do with nature and nurture. Sheep naturally trust the leader or shepherd, and they would follow him, even to death sometimes. They usually do not have a will of their own, but as they are described in John 10, they know and heed the voice of the shepherd. Once he calls them out by name, which is a teatament to personal knowledge and experience, he leads out to pasture, able to watch over them. Does this describe me in any way, shape or form? Am I fixed on that which is my own way, or am I willing and able to surrender control to the Shepherd? 

The sheep are blessed, because they have the backing of the Shepherd. They get the seating we read about here, not because they have  laboured of their own strength and guile, but by the grace of God. I note that the plan from creation was that we would all have a room with God at the end of our earthly lives. The big question to be considered here is: how am I preparing? Do I have an inheritance to take hold of at the end of this earthly phase? Being entitled to an inheritance is subject to being a member of the testator's family. You can spend all your life in the same house as the heir, but you get nothing unless there is a blood connection. If I want to hear the same words as the verse above, I must sort out my identity. Who am I? God's time of favour is here. 

One Day Soon!

One Day Soon!

Matthew 25:31-32 KJV

[31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [32] and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

It is a matter of WHEN, not IF. There is a day coming soon when the Son of Man shall come again. He had actually said it several times, as He taught His disciples, that He would go back to His Father and prepare a place for his own. Now, we know that God is not man that He should lie; so the promise of His coming back is one of those promises that awaits manifestation. Based on previous experiences with God, you would know that this will certainly happen. We do not know when, but we are given ample notice of the events that will precede His return. When you consider all that is going on in the world today, you know, without a doubt, that His return is imminent. How am we preparing? 

Am I a disciple who should legitimately be waiting for the coming of Jesus, or are there things I need to put in place before I can look ahead with hope and joy for the coming of Jesus? One requirement is to be a sheep that the shepherd can identify. We read in the verses that follow the verses above how the sheep and the goats are identified. It will be good to know what these requirements are, and to depend on the Shepherd Himself for help and guidance on how to qualify as sheep. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. I have the power to choose how to prepare, and if indeed, I will be ready for the return of Jesus. This is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly, considering the implication of eternity.

So the Lord returns in his glory, along with the holy angels with him, and He will sit upon the throne of his glory. See how many references are made to 'glory' and 'holy'. That is the only standard that qualifies me to ready for the coming of the Lord. There is no other way, or any other prescription that will cure the defect of sin, than to be aligned with the standard of holiness, so we can share in His glory. It will call for painful sacrifices, but the end always justifies the means here. The day of separation is indeed coming, when those who have aligned with the standard will share in the glory and nature of the One that they have been waiting for. The goats will not get in; only the sheep of the shepherd will. Are yoi one? Are you ready? God's time of favour is here. 

Called; Sent!

Called; Sent!

Romans 10:14 AMP

[14] But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?

The verse above makes reference to a project that is the heart of God, which is evangelism. The assignment that given to us as Jesus left the earth was to go and make disciples of all nations. This is an assignment that can only be done with the help and guidance of the One who gave it. It cannot be done solely by human intellect, labour or striving. It will not be done by wishful thinking, but by absolute dependence on the One who owns the work. I cannot also feel that the work is so massive that my contribution will not matter; like in the days when Nehemiah and company built thd wall, each man focused on what was in front of him, and the wall was finished in record time. 

I just need to focus on what is in front of me, start from where I am and who I know, and see how God will use all that to achieve His purpose. This also means that I have to first believe in the message that I want to pass on, before it can become a message that will make sense to other people. You cannot give what you do not have. You cannot sustain a fake commitment to the things of God. You either have it or you don't. How can a man give what he does not first have? This is the heart of the message in the verse above: lives are waiting for the message of salvation and hope that I am living out right now. As Jesus makes clear, the harvest is ripe. 

See how all the parts required are connected: a messenger or preacher must be available and equipped with all s/he needs for the assignment. The message has to be delivered in the right way so it can lead to the right response, which is that men may lift up their voices and call on Jesus for the salvation of their souls. It may look like a herculean task, but start where you are. Equip yourself with the information you need to be an effective witness and trust God to lead you to the right audience. I note that nothing is said about the people's reaction. I must not be distracted by such expectations. All I can do is obey as I have been sent; the results will be sorted out by God. God's time of favour is here. 

Blessed

Blessed!

James 1:12 KJV

[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

It is a strange message to ponder on, when God calls you blessed because of temptation and tough times. That is not the way of the world, and it will definitely not sell with the world. Fortunately, it is not the opinion of the world that drives what is important to God. The world has its principles, procedures and practices, and they do not in any way, shape or form accommodate temptation. In fact, the word 'temptation' may not feature in the daily vocabulary of the world, as all things it may desire to get align with its principles and standards. The world will not resist evil, as it is part of its constitution. The world will strive to lay hold of whatever it desires by whatever means necessary, without a care in the world how anyone else feels. 

For the one who is under the control and influence of the Word, the focus and pressure are different. The Word knows that the things of the world are temporary. The Word knows that there is nothing the world gives you that it will not take away at some point. The Word also knows that what makes life truly worth it isn't monetary worth, but eternal worth. If I am truly under His authority, God will take me through the experiences I need to prepare me for all that is ahead. There are many lands to conquer and souls to impact; what better way is there than to be adequately equipped to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people? How would you be able to, unless you have been given the grace to also walk in their shoes, or being given the wisdom required to provide a word in season? 

That is why such a man who is able to endure these things is favoured by God. Men may call him/her stressed; God calls him/her blessed. Such a life will be a blessing down here on earth, while also waiting for the manifestation of the crown of life that will be given at the end of the experiences. As always, God is not one to lie; He can be trusted to do exactly as He has promised. The encouragement for me is also this: no matter how hard things get, God promises to be with me. That is the greatest blessing of all: the gift of His help and presence. He is the One who is able to hold and help me to the end, and also ensure that lives are impacted by the lessons of my life. It is a privilege to be entrusted with such great treasure. He makes the journey worth it. God's time of favour is here. 

The Guard!

The Guard!

Ephesians 4:29 KJV

[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, had good reasons to remind his audience about the demands of their new faith. Recall that this letter was written to the saints in that church, the faithful in Christ Jesus, and at the start of this chapter, there was a reminder to them to walk worthy of the vocation to which they had been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering and love. You do not make such demands from people who are not aligned with the position that makes it possible for them to comply. How can you demand God's kind of love from someone who has not yet submitted his heart to the control and influence of the One who is called Love? That has to be the first step: letting God in. 

When God has come in, He is able to birth and sustain all that I need to prove my life's call and ministry. It is in my human nature not to take an insult, but to give as good as I get.  It is in my human nature not to settle for anything that is uncomfortable for me. That is why the Bible makes it clear that flesh and blood cannot please God. The human nature will always resist all that is God's, because it is not easy for it to submit to God's laws. One of the quickest ways to know who is in charge of a man's heart is to hear what comes out of his lips. The mouth is the quickest expression of that which lives in my heart. A heart that is yet to encounter God is unpredictable; almost anything is possible. How would you expect a dead tree to produce good fruit?

The expectation of fruit that can edify comes from the seed that has been planted and allowed to thrive and germinate. The fruit must look like the seed. If I will edify, it means that I have first been edified. If I will build up, it means that I have been properly founded and able to support others. If my life will produce that which will minister grace to those who hear me, it means that I will have spent time on that which gives grace. A man cannot give that which he does not have, and this is one demand that you cannot fake until you make it. If I will give grace, I must have grace. If I will produce life, I must have life. If I will heal with my words, it means that I have allowed the Word to heal me first. Does this describe me at the moment? God's time of favour is here. 

Helped!

Helped!

John 16:13 KJV

[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Jesus, at the end of his earthly ministry, took time out to teach His disciples about the principles, practices and priorities of His own kingdom. The crowd was no longer relevant here, and only those who had made up their minds to follow Him were being addressed in the verse above. Jesus had spent quite some time with the disciples; they had heard Him teach, preach and heal; they knew what He could do, but here was He, telling them He would soon be leaving. That would have been enough to cause some distress for these men, but thank God for the promise that is laid out clearly in the verse above. Jesus was leaving physically, but He definitely was not leaving them to their own devices. The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, was going to be their companion.

Why was this important? The Holy Spirit is not a theory or concept; He is a Person. Just like Jesus was physically made manifest, so the Holy Spirit was made manifest on the day of Pentecost, as the same disciples gathered in the Upper room in those days. He is called the Spirit of Truth, because He does not lie. He is called the Spirit of Truth because, like God, He is the personification and promoter of all that is God-like. Why is Truth so important? The devil is called a liar, and the father of lies, and all who love lies and falsehoods are children of the devil. You cannot claim to be a child of God and love the things God hates at the same time. God cannot dwell in a vessel that is consistently embracing lies, because that is not a state that reflects who He is, and the work He can do in someone's life. 

He was promised by Jesus at the time He was leaving the earth, and, as we now know, God is not a man who changes His mind like the weather, or when it is convenient for Him. You can trust His promises;  you can depend on His Presence and Power. He will guide into all, not some half-truths. He will speak of God, who He is, what He can do, and what He demands of us. He takes from the Father, because He is also the Spirit of God, and shows the Father to us. He helps us to be able to please God, so that our lives and all we offer are acceptable to Him. As He is also God, He can show us things to come, so we can pray, plan and prepare the right way. What other option can anyone offer that can match this? God wants to do wonders in and through me, but the secret lies in total surrender and submission. Would I do so? Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

God's Workmanship!

God's Workmanship!

Ephesians 2:10 AMPC

[10] For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]

As you listen to or watch the news, on one hand, you find news about technology and AI, the innovative, transformative and sometimes dangerous abilities, and on the other hand, you find nations stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and preparing for war. In the scheme of life, you can almost think you are a pawn in the hands of other people. In these times, we need to be reminded of who we are, who we belong to, and where we are headed. How do you define 'workmanship'? It is 'the degree of skill with which a product is made or a job done'. It is interesting that we usually lay out the cost of products for a job, and there is usually a cost that cannot be determined by anyone else but the person who will do the job. That is the cost of the skill that you want to depend on, in order to achieve something that you know you cannot achieve by yourself. 

Reflect on this: I was made to work, among many other reasons. The great God, who calls things into existence simply by speaking, has chosen to call me into work. He defines me as a reflection of His identity and nature, and asks me to join Him in what He wants to do and achieve on earth. I am that reflection of the unique skill of God, with no other person like me in all the earth. Genes may make me look like you physically, but purpose gives me my unique personality and perspective. I am given my own fingerprints, which will not be replicated again. In the spiritual too, all who are called will work in God's vineyard, but my portion of the work will be different to yours. Why would I let a fellow worker's opinion drive my pursuits and priorities? 

There is a secret, hidden part of the work that nobody sees. However, the results cannot be contested. In my hands, a tennis racquet or tennis ball will be just for relaxation; the same materials in the hands of a man like Roger Federer has opened several international doors and wealth too. We see this in the life of the man inspired to write this letter. My past has nothing to do with my future, as long as I hand over that life to God. I cannot afford to let the past or present define the future. There is no template on earth that can fully explain what God can do through me. Like the potter and the clay, I cannot know more than the One who formed me. He will not make me and then not have an eternal plan for me. May I not be content with anything less than God's best. God's time of favour is here.

Glory!

Glory!

Psalms 19:1 AMP

[1] The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands. [Rom 1:20, 21]

Romans 1:20 AMP

[20] For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. [Ps 19:1-4]

Interestingly, these two passages are cross-referenced in the AMP version. It means that no matter your persuasion, whether of the old testament or the new, there is no debate about the identity, power, wisdom and nature of God. Both verses in the bible were penned down by people who had personal encounters with God and could point to remarkable landmarks in their lives and in their walk with God. For David, we know that God Himself called him a man after His own heart, and quite a large portion of the book of Psalms are David's songs which highlight his many challenges as well as victories. What stories in your life are you recording as lessons and encouragement for the coming generations?

It is very difficult to speak like David here unless you have had similar experiences like his. David was a shepherd boy at a time, and he would have spent considerable time with the starry host at night, watching the heavens as they reflect the glory of God in the beauty of creation. You may not spend so much time outside, but do you find time to reflect on the amazing earth that you are in, and how the power and wisdom of God shine forth in and through the things that have been made? Do you take some time out of your busy schedule to consider and appreciate the Omniscience and Omnipotence of this amazing God? It cannot always be about making money; it cannot be about just getting by. 

For both David and Paul, they had seen, and were convinced of God's absolute power. The heavens tell of God's glory as they stretch for as far as the eye can see. We lift up our eyes anywhere we are on earth, and there are amazing sights to behold and ponder. It is early morning somewhere, and it is late night in another place, which also reflect the beauty of the wisdom of God. It is also important to note from Paul's rendition that all that God has made will be witnesses against man's rebellion. It is hard to look at all that God has made, and still claim that there is no God. Even a careful consideration of how the human body works will convince you that God is awesome. With this information, how do you intend to proceed? What decisions do you need to make, going forward? Like David, I want to praise God more. He deserves all that I am. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

Worry; Pray! 3

Worry; Pray! 3

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Over the last two days, we have considered the verses above and seen what God desires from all who want to see Him at work. It has been established that God wants to have a relationship with me. He made me, and wants the best for me, but I have to come of my own freewill to Him. This is why man was made with a will of his own. No other creation of God has such, and there is no advancement of science that can replicate the breath of God in a man. This is why I have to love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my might because that is the only way to prevent distractions. The devil also knows the danger to him of a heart that is fully focused on God, and that is why he will magnify problems to the point where they become so big that they seek to threaten the peace of God in a man's heart.

I must not let the devil in, because, as you know, if you give him an inch, he will take a mile. All he needs is just a foothold, and he will seek to build a castle of fear and doubt. It is by total surrender to God, with constant communication with God, that will keep a man sane in the face of all of life's challenges. The world cannot give you what it does not have, and there is nothing the world gives you that can bring the peace that God gives. How can a world system managed by the devil offer you the kind of peace that only God can give? The peace of God is that which girds your heart in the face of daunting experiences. You hear of some people's experiences, and you wonder how they are still standing strong; it is clear that what is holding them up is stronger than the sum of all their experiences. 

I have to hand my heart over to God to help secure it from worry. Again, it will not always mean that God will give me all I ask for when I ask for it, but I can be sure that whatever He gives me per time is the best prescription for me for that time. I could even the one who needs to have a change of focus, so I can see the WHY behind the WHAT that I am going through. True peace from God will gird my heart against all fear, enabling me to enjoy all that God intends for me. His wisdom and timing will work for my good, so that at the end of my experiences, I am a blessing to my world, as well as guaranteed an eternal home with God. What more could anyone offer me? What could be better? I take God up at His Word, and ask for grace to trust Him totally. He always comes through. God's time of favour is here. 

Worry; Pray! 2

Worry; Pray! 2

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As we saw yesterday, worry will not change any situation for the better. In fact, it is very likely that it is the health of the person who has been worrying which would have been adversely affected. Rather than worry or fret, the verses above prescribe a solution, and all who have tried it have found it to be quite effective. This solution is simply taking to God in prayer. It sounds simple and complex at the same time, but that is what it is. God asks me to just turn to Him in prayer, and lay it all down at His feet. God prescribed a model for us: prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. There are no prescriptions of words to use; the verses above just tell me to make all my requests known to God. 

Let it be clear that you are not telling God to let Him know what you need for the first time, because you are dealing with a God of total knowledge, who knows your need even before you know you need it. God wants to have conversations with His children, not one-way talk shows where only one party speaks and moves on, expecting the other party to just deal with the requests. He wants to build character in us; He wants to develop patience and endurance in us. He wants to do a work in us that will endure into eternity, and the only way we will thrive is in connection with Him. On our own, we will struggle. On our own, we will get into trouble and confusion often, as we cannot even see beyond our noses. 

No one can predict even the next 30 seconds; how much more a whole lifetime. This is why we hand it over to the One who made, formed and knows us, and has the best plans for us. He is a God who is fully invested in us. Now, I note that the verses ask me to just talk to Him and it does not tell me how the answers will come or what they will be. In fact, nowhere in the verses above does God ever guarantee you the answer that you want. In speaking to God, you admit that you cannot help yourself and that He alone has the power, capacity and ability to change whatever or whoever needs to change. He wants me to trust Him with my life. After all, by myself, there is really little I can do to secure it. Would I trust Him with my life? Would you? God's time of favour is here.

Worry; Pray! 1

Worry; Pray! 1

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In a world that is increasingly becoming hostile and prone to war, it may be convenient to fret over what is going on. However, as God has clearly laid out in several verses in the Bible and across different generations and dispensations, there is very little a man can change just by worrying or fretting. There is a God who is Omniscient and Omnipotent, who cannot be deceived by external piety, pretence or hypocrisy. He is in charge of the earth, no matter how hard the devil tries to claim it as his own. You cannot control what you did not create, and you cannot sustain that whchi you did not initiate. The earth exists solely as the creation of God, and the earth will only serve its purpose when it is subject to the authority and control of the One who spoke it into existence. 

In all of the above, where do you see mortal man being able to change anything without the permission of the One who owns it? Men have come, claiming to be strong and mighty, but have died like mere men that they truly were. Some started with a bang and ended as a whimper, because they thought that they had control over anything, not knowing that it was just a privilege to be able to be a part of what God was doing at the time. It is this reality that drrives the reflections in the two verses above; there is really nothing a man can do by himself. There is no change that a man can drive by himself. There is also no  situation a man can influence by wealth, status or position, unless God has decided to change things by Himself. 

What, then, is the reason for anxiety or worry? What does it change? We keep sleepless nights, worried about things that we cannot control, and yet, we have a solution that has been prescribed by the One to whom all of creation answers to, which is to just talk to Him about our cares and worries. There is absolutely nothing that I cannot talk to Him about, from my dressing, to my food and to the company I want to keep. That is what a father does. When you see a young child with the earthly father, you get a small glimpse into the heart of our heavenly Father. There is nothing the young child cannot tell the earthly father. How much more a God who is fully invested in my earthly impact as well as my eternal destination. Take advantage of what He offers, and enjoy the fullness of all that God is. God's time of favour is here. 

Worthy!

Worthy!

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. Revelation 4:11 KJV

John, the Beloved, is also credited with the words of the book of Revelation. He made reference to the reason why he was where he was at the time this revelation was given to him, which was on the Island of Patmos. The reason was due to the fact that as a follower of Jesus, he had become a partaker of the sufferings of Christ, and he had been put on the island because he had proclaimed God's word and the truth that Jesus revealed. Let it be settled in our hearts that the fact that I am called by God, and I am faithfully serving him will not keep me from trials and tough times. In fact, part of the package of this walk of faith is that I will be tried and tested, and if I can depend on God's grace to the end, I will receive the blessings that are promised by God to all who endure to the end. It is very difficult to put into words the full package that is promised for us in eternity, and this is why I must do all I can to make it. 

John got a small glimpse of the glory of heaven, and he invites us, by the words of the book, to seek to know this God and follow Him wholeheartedly. There can be no regrets when a man follows God wholeheartedly. No matter what the earth demands from you, or even takes from you, it is nothing compared to what God can give you. For all who have come to know this God, they can identify with the words of today's verse. The verse speaks about the person, identity, power, grace and authority of God. It is also only those who have had a personal encounter with this God who can speak the words of today's verse. Interestingly, the words of today's verse are spoken by those who never leave God's presence, and all they do, in a place where time does not exist, is to praise God. The four living creatures, the 24 elders, as well as all the host of heaven, who are described as numbering myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (innumerable), all just praising God this way. Is there something they know that we don't? 

Think and reflect on this: if the host of heaven know who this God is, and all they do is praise and worship Him this way, what excuse do we have? Or maybe it is because they are always in God's presence and they see His glory and mighty works, and they cannot but sing and praise Him. Actually, God has also revealed Himself to us, giving us an insight into His nature, power and might, and then, He invites us to worship Him. When I take stock of who He is, I do not need to be cajoled to praise God. When I have experienced His power, help and grace, there is really nothing left to do, except to praise God. Heaven knows who God is, and part of the Lord's prayer is 'thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven'. That is total surrender and an embrace of all that God is. He is worthy to receive all the glory, honour and power, because He is the Creator and Sustainer of all that currently exists, and even all that will come after. Now that I know, what am I going to do about it? God's time of favour is here.

Saviour!

Saviour!

Matthew 1:21 AMPC

[21] She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].

A popular saying goes thus: 'the end justifies the means'. It would mean that whatever is achieved at the end is the focus and not what you did or how you did it to achieve that end. The world would use that saying to justify whatever greedy venture made money for them, but we want to look at this saying from a spiritual angle. What was the end that God was trying to achieve? It is the salvation of man. He has not desire whatsoever to see the eternal death of anyone, because there is no human life without His imprint and input. At creation, God breathed into man the breath of life, and man became a living soul. It means that, even before I knew or understood the need to have Jesus in my heart, God already did put a part of Himself in me. He did this because there was an eternal assignment He needed to get done. 

The end of all human life has to be the start of eternal life with God. Phyiscal death now becomes just a phase that leads to the eternal, and God had to lay down the path for man to achieve this. Having established the end, which is eternal life for ALL men, He then laid out the means, which is through His Son Jesus. Jesus did not just fall from the sky; God allowed Him to born in human form, so He could walk in our shoes and feel our pain. The one thing that made it possible for His life to also give life was that it was not subject to the human limitation of sin. The chain of sin was broken at His birth, so He could offer the perfect sacrifice for sin for the whole world. He knew no sin, yet He became sin for us, so that we too could become the righteousness of God. No one could offer what we now have, and need to respond to.

What makes this amazing is that it was done at a time that there were no guarantees that we would accept Him as Lord and Saviour. He did what He did at the time, in the hope that we will come to the saving knowledge of the Son, and be free from the hold of sin. That is amazing: God who knows all things still went ahead with the end in view, sure that even if it is was just for one person who will come to believe in Jesus, the sacrifice was worth it. The name and purpose were given before the physical manifestation, and the plan of God for salvation has been in place long before I was born. I just have to walk into the fullness of that purpose by accepting Him as Lord and Saviour, and living daily to please the One who died to save me. He has done His part; the response is now mine to make. Salvation is free; rejection comes at a huge cost. God's time of favour is here. 

Power Extraordinary!

Power Extraordinary!

Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV

[20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The world recognises power. The world makes room for dictators and despots, and there have been many that have passed through the earth over the many centuries. The one fact that is however common to all the examples of power that the earth has seen or known is that it is temporary, transient and seasonal. There is nothing this world gives you that it cannot take away at any time. As long as it is of the earth, it is subject to the limitations and restrictions the earth is also subject to. That is why the verse above needs to be the guiding light for all who see power in its pure form. The power we speak about here is the type that could raise a man from the dead and also offer that same life to all who come to the saving knowledge of the man who died for their sin. That is the place and position God wants me to come and stand in.

It is not power that is subject to another higher power, but is itself the highest form of power. Of course, there will be pretenders; the fact that there are so many claims to power means that there is an original that the world craves. It is this pure power, personalised in the person of Jesus, that must be the focus of my pursuits and priorities. It is available to ALL who will come to the One who is it, has it and can give it to ALL who ask without any  depletion of supply in any way. Just picture a power that can heal the sick, raise the dead and move mountains residing in a mortal man like us, and that is what God has done. That is also the message in the verse above: it is in me if I can submit totally to His authority. 

It is this understanding and acceptance that guides my reaction and response. To Him who is and has power be all glory and praise. To Him who is faithful to His promises be all the honour and adoration. As a part of His body, I am an expression of His person and power. As a part of His church, I am His eyes, ears, hands, feet and heart. There is no limit to His power, so there can be no limits to the expression of His power in me, unless I try to. As it is made clear in the verse above, my view of His power will not change who He is. He is eternal, and if I submit to Him, I will enjoy the fullness of His grace to eternity. That is His plan and purpose for me. Would you also submit to Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Serve!

Serve!

John 13:14 AMPC

[14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet.

In a world that thrives on privilege, power, position and prestige, the message in the verse above is hard to deal with. Actually, it will be hard for those who are under the control and influence of the world because they do not have the one requirement that makes it possible for them to align with the verse: submission to the Lordship and Authority of Jesus. That is what the first part of the verse above makes clear: Jesus was with His disciples, and the expectation from Him was that if they accepted Him as their Lord and Teacher, the command in the verse had to be their guiding principle on a daily basis. Who are you? One of Jesus' disciples, or one of the crowd? Identity defines and demands expectations. 

Interestingly too, Jesus did not just command but He also showed a good example of how the instruction worked. He did not just tell them what to do; He first did it as the perfect example to emulate, so that His disciples could always reference His leadership. Jesus is the perfect example of obedience to God, and He will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He tells me to be perfect, He will supply grace for me to so be. It is of no use striving to please God by my own strength or wisdom, or just labouring to earn His approval. It is too late for that. He already gave me His all;  He has shown me a glimpse of what is possible and available IN Him? What else is left out? 

Now, I have all the encouragement I need to go forth and impact my world. The version above says it is my duty, I am under obligation, amd I owe it to wash other disciples' feet. These words appear not to give me an alternative, but to place a demand on me. Actually, I do have power over the choice I make, but for those who understand the demand of discipleship, you know it is a privilege and a blessing to be trusted with such an amazing assignment by God. The world may interpret it as the meanest of jobs, but what determines reward is not the opinion of the world, but obedience to the command of the One who is eternal. At the end, all men will bow to the Lordship of Jesus. Do it of your own freewill today, obey Him and get the eternal reward. The alternative is not worth considering. God's time of favour is here.

The New!

The New!

Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV

[18] Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

God hates and punishes sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to sin, as we find out in the lives of David when he did wrong, and in this instance, the children of Israel when they rebelled against God's express commands. Let it be known that God is both a God of mercy and also a God of judgement. You cannot embrace one and reject the other. You cannot claim the benefits tied to one and reject the demands and expectations of the other. Even Jesus, the son of God, was not spared the wrath of God, as He hung on the cross and paid the full price for our sin. For the first and last time ever, Jesus cried out as His Father 'turned his back' on Him. If that is the price and effect of sin, we will do well to avoid it at all costs. 

Israel found itself at the crossroads. It was loved by God, but it had been punished for its sin. However, we thank God because sin does not hold the final say over our lives. Thank God for His mercy and grace that can give new beginnings. Thank God for His power that can change perspectives and processes, restore a man back to his original position, and give him a fresh, clean start. Only God does these things. God reminds the people here that though He had punished them,  He was going to do a new thing in their lives. They had seen Him punish; they were going to experience His restoration. They had known discipline, despair and destruction; He was about to change the narrative to blessings, fruitfulness and prosperity. 

This is what God can do in a life that is totally surrendered to Him. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that He can do mighty things in the lives of vessels under His control and command. No matter how terrible the past is, the blood of Jesus is capable of cleaning it all up. He can make ways where none existed before; He can raise help from strange places, and He can bring refreshing and comfort in the midst of the most distressing circumstances. What is critical here is to surrender my life totally to Jesus. It cannot be half hearted devotion; it must be ALL the way. If I will see God at work in and through me, I have to give Him total access. Are you totally surrendered to Him? Does He have the final say? God's time of favour is here. 

One God!

One God!

Zechariah 14:9 AMP

[9] And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord shall be the only one [worshiped], and His name the only one.

You need to read the entire chapter from where the verse above is taken, in order to get a just a glimpse of who God is, and what He can do. This is a God who makes clear what His desires for His people are, and also supplies the right environment and rules to enable them thrive in the place that they have been planted. However, the challenge is always with comfort and convenience; when a man does not have anything to keep him grounded, he is likely to misbehave, and that is what happened to the people of Israel here. They had become used to comfort that they became careless and complacent. Of course, God had made clear what would happen to them if they rebelled, and that is exactly what they did, and that is exactly what He applied. 

God does not lie. It does not matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable it makes you, but God will never be false. If He says something is wrong, no amount of education, enlightenment, earnings or elocution will change it to something else. If He calls a thing sin, I will do well to hate it as He does. In this instance, the land of promise became the land of exile, where enemies came and took the people of Israel captive. Many were killed, and others were taken away. Sin always has a high price; but thank God that this is not the final word. In the midst of the rebellion of Israel was a message of hope: if only Israel would repent and return, I will restore them. That is also the message for us in these days too. If only we will repent from our sin and turn to God, He will restore the years that have been lost. 

A day comes soon when sin will be dealt with permanently. A day comes soon when there will not be questions about God's sovereignty and authority. A day comes soon when there will only be one king over all the earth, and all earthly kings will stand for judgment before this King of kings. Men may bow now before earthly kings, but all mortal men will one day bow before the immortal Lord of all the earth. Men have been called all sorts of names, and indeed some names have opened earthly doors, but there is a name that guarantees eternal life. The charge and counsel today is to find and know this God, and to worship Him willingly. He deserves our worship and praise. There is no doubt as to the truth of the coming Lord. What I do with that information is my own decision. God's time of favour is here.

Of God!

Of God

1 John 4:4 AMP

[4] Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].

Ownership defines benefits and entitlement. The question of identity is central to the themes of what you can get from God. John had no doubt about who he was and what he was, as we see in the very first verse of the book of 1 John: 'I am writing about what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life. He had seen Him, He had touched Him, and his life could no longer be ordinary. If I am to speak with such confidence, I must start from the same point where John started from, which is the place of personal encounter. 

It was the same conviction and assurance that John had that he could speak to his audience this way. He addeessed them as co-heirs of the same blessings that he already had access to. There is nothing like 'almost saved'. You are either saved or not saved. You either belong to God or to the devil. There is no middle ground where you can sit and be non-committal to anything. There is too much danger around to be lackadaisical about the present and the future. The devil has been described as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may destroy. He does have some power, as he is able to steal, kill and destroy, but his power is limited by the One who is Omnipotent and Omniscient. 

That is why you do not joke with your location and position. God has to be IN me in order for Him to flow OUT of me. I cannot give what I do not have, and if I do not have Him, I do not have the ability or capacity to fake it for too long. The limitless God who is IN me as a child of God is far greater than the devil who is in temporary charge of the world's system. A day comes soon when the world's system will be judged and will come to an end, and the devil will be eternally judged. I have to make a decision today who I will surrender completely to. It cannot be this occasional visit to God; it has to be a consistent lifestyle of surrender, so that I can live in the victory and liberty that Jesus has secured for me. I am of God. Are you? God's time of favour is here. 

In God!

In God!

Psalm 42:11 KJV

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

The question at the start of this verse is quite common to all of us. At one point in time or the other, we all have asked the same question as it seemed that waves of despair and trouble rolled over us. It was as if the devil just wanted to destroy us completely. As a result of sin, this earth is now accustomed to pain and sorrow, and as part of the package that is now applicable to a world that is under the control and influence, all who are in it will bear a bit of tribulation. In fact, in one of the addresses of Jesus just before He went to the cross, He made it plain that in this world, we will have tribulation, but that we should be of good cheer because He had overcome the world. That is the word of comfort for such a time like this.

Thank God that the final word is not confusion but comfort. Thank God that the devil does not have the final say on what happens to me. The verse above asks the question but it also provides an appropriate response: God is the One who can lift a man up from the dungeon of despair to the highest heights of hope. God is the One who can speak a quiet word of hope and life to a life that is buffetted by the storms of life. Before I can claim the conclusion of the verse above, I must be able to say with confidence, just like the sons of Korah did at the start of this chapter, that my soul indeed pants for God, like the deer pants for water. It is not this very occasional search, but a lifestyle of daily commitment to the things that matter.

It is not a matter of IF but WHEN trouble comes. Hope has to be on the One who is eternal, and one must not get distracted or discouraged by that which is earthly and ephemeral. I focus on God; I seek to praise Him through the pain and tears. I seek to praise Him even when there appears to be no reason to do so. It is not about what I get, but about who God is. It is not about what makes me comfortable, but about what makes God known. He is God, no matter what goes on around me. I take care of my inner content, making sure it is connected to God. As long as my soul is rightly settled, God will take care of the rest. What is your decision? God's time of favour is here.

Now!

Now!

Isaiah 43:1 KJV

[1] But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

No matter what has happened before NOW, God wants to do a new thing. Life may have been hard and bitter due to the choices I had made in the past, but when God is involved, the past is just part of the course toward the glory that God wants to reveal. As you read the chapter and verses that preceded the verse above, you get the clear impression that God hates and will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. These were His chosen people, whom He had called from among the many nations of the world, but they had been rebellious and disobedient, and, as a God who does not line, and in line with His Word, He had punished them for their sin, sending some to exile, whilst some died in the same land that they were supposed to enjoy God's abundant grace. 

Avoid sin; it destroys. It does not always ring a bell to notify you of its advancement, but be sure that the punishment for sin is huge and may cost lives. However, by God's divine arrangement and intervention, sin does not hold the final say over our lives. Grace does. No matter how dirty and filthy the past is, there is adequate provision and protection against the power and influence of sin. 

Whatever may have led you to sin is subject to the power and authority of the One who died to defeat sin. There is NOW no other power so strong like the name and word of Jesus. God sends a new word to us today, and it is that He is NOW doing a new thing. He may have punished in the past, but His mercy is NOW at work to refresh, restore, redeem and renew. 

He sends His Word by the prophet Isaiah here, and He sends it to all of us today: I know you; I formed you. I know the good and great plans I have for you, and I am able to bring them to pass. Do not fear the past; it is redeemed, as long as you put your total trust in me. No matter the depth of sin in the past, my call upon your life has not been canceled or revoked. No matter how powerful the hold of sin is, God is more powerful, because He is eternal. There is no one or anything that existed before Him, and there is nothing that can outlast Him. NOW is the day of salvation; the day that God seeks to turn our lives around and bring us into the place of His purpose. He knows and calls us by name, and there is no confusion about my ownership. I note that He does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It has to be of my own freewill. Would you come to Him, as you are, so He can make you like Him? God's time of favour is NOW. 

Faith!

Faith!

Hebrews 11:1 AMP

[1] Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. 

The topic of faith is fundamental to the human experience. We need God's help to fully understand and appreciate the value of faith in the Christian experience. Even without applying it to the spiritual, there are things we do based on faith. We sit down on chairs trusting that they can hold our weight; we take medication when ill, believing the medication will do the work it has been advertised to do, and we get out of bed in the morning to go to work, hopeful that we will earn a decent wage that will take care of our bills. If this is relevant to our daily human experience, the same also applies to the spiritual life. Faith can be seen as something tangible, even when it is not something that can be physically touched, tasted or seen. 

The heroes of faith listed in the same chapter from where the verse above is taken lived and died on the basis of strong convictions about what they believed. They did not always see things clearly in the physical, but there was no doubt in their hearts about who they had come to believe. In fact, it was said of all of them on that list that though they gained divine approval through their faith, they could not receive the fulfilment of what was promised. Their lives and practices laid the foundation for the blessings we now enjoy today and sometimes take for granted. These men of old, together with those of us who now believe in Jesus, are made perfect and complete together. That connection is faith in Jesus. 

We do not yet have the fulfilment of eternal life, as we are still in our mortal bodies, but we know that it is ours by faith. We do not yet have occupancy of our homes in heaven, but we hold on to the assured word of God that He has gone to prepare a place for us, and when it is time, He will come and take us to Himself. That is the focus of the verse above: if you already have it in your possession, it is real to you. The fact that others do not see it is not as important as the convictions you have. You hold title deeds to the resources of God, based on your relationship with Him. All that Jesus died and lived for are now mine to enjoy. Do not let the demands of the physical rob you of the realities of the spiritual. If God has said it, it is yours. Take hold of it by faith. God's time of favour is here.

What Can I get?

What Can I get?

James 1:5 AMPC

[5] If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

James, the writer of this book, described himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. His message was to the twelve tribes which were scattered abroad at the time, due to circumstances such as trials, persecution, and even the desire of God to let the gospel of Jesus spread to the ends of the earth. He begun his letter by reminding his audience that whatever they were passing through was in line with God's purposes for them. God's way of building capacity and capability in me may not always make sense to me, but by surrender to His will, the journey will be worth it. It takes a man with a different content and volume to count trials as a thing of joy. It takes a man who understands the message of eternity to look forward to tough times as a way to strengthen and deepen his faith in God. Can I see my earthly experiences the same way that James lays it out here? Can God be pleased to take me on this journey, knowing that He will take glory in and through me? 

That is the foundation of the verse above. For all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, you have access to the riches of God's grace in all its fullness. I can make an approach to the throne of grace and take hold of all that the throne represents. The throne of grace is the place where authority, power, gifting and ability, among many other things, are made available. I note that a throne represents a kingdom and a specific sphere of influence. A throne operates over a specific territory. I cannot claim total and absolute allegiance to different authorities at the same time. It means that if I am to make a demand, it must be tied to the authority I am subject to. How can I claim the benefits of a kingdom that I do not recognise? How can I take advantage of any advantage that is not mine by virtue of my residence? That would be fraud. What I get is tied to whose I am; what I get is tied to where I am. Who do you belong to? Who directs the affairs of your life? 

One of the benefits of the relationship and citizenship is wisdom. Now, it is critical to note that there are different versions of it that can be accessed. There is a worldly version, and is available for all who are citizens of the world. Of course, there is also the heavenly version, which comes from the Father of lights and who gives to all who come to Him in sincerity and in truth. The start point here is an acknowledgement of your weakness and inadequacy, and a total dependence on God. If I know the need, I can go to the right source for help. If I think that I am sufficient of and by myself, then I cannot be helped. God does not give like someone who is afraid to lose what he has. He has resources in abundance; no demand on earth can exhaust the rich resources of heaven. Ask God for all you want, as it is to His glory that men can show off the riches of His grace. He gives to all who ask, without finding fault or excuses not to give. He is not man. Ask; He is waiting for you. God's time of favour is here. 

In Me!

In Me!

1 Corinthians 3:16 AMP

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

Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, and it has to first be noted that he was speaking to those who were sanctified, set apart, and made holy in Christ Jesus, and those selected and called as God’s people. These were not just ordinary people who did not know what was at stake, but those who had a personal encounter with Jesus. They had seen, known and experienced His power and so, could not have an excuse for careless living. However, like all things human, one has to constantly evaluate his stand, to be sure you are still connected to the right source. There are times when familiarity and routine can lead one astray, causing you to ignore warning signs and then become complacent and get into trouble. This must have been the case for these Christians, who after starting well, now found themselves in camps and factions, not over something fundamental, but over basis allegiance to men, rather than God. 

I have to consciously and constantly check my life, to be sure that I am standing right. Giving my life to Jesus is critical, as well as remaining IN Him, and not allowing anyone or anything to distract me from my focus. Christ in me means that I now answer to a different master, live by a different set or rules, and now have pursuits and priorities that are different from those I had under the previous management of the world. These are just a few of the facts and truths that govern my new relationship with Christ. It is not the occasional visit, but a permanent residence. It is about constant engagement, which can only be beneficial when both parties are on the same page. I get that when I know who I am, whose.I am, who God is, what demands and expectations are placed on me and how to remain focused on Him to the end. That is a picture of what this new life presents. 

I must be constantly reminded of what this new life entails, so I do not fall short. This new life has some ownership realities, and there is no valid excuse for a child of God not to live up to God's expectations. I am His temple, which signifies a place of worship and sacrifice. Recall the first tabernacle, and the care and caution that went into building and setting it up, and apply these to this new temple. No man dared offer strange, unclean sacrifices, or behave unseeminlgy before God in the old temple. Anyone who did that paid with his life. It is still the same God; He has not lowered the standard, and He will not bend to anyone's will. God lives IN me. That should fill me with the right mixture of fear, awe and joy. It must not make me careless or complacent. God wants to dwell in us; it is His imprint of ownership. Would you let Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Complete!

Complete!

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 compl ete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. [Rom 14:10]

Paul and Timothy as bond-servants of Christ Jesus were writing to the church in Phillippi, addrressing all God’s people in the church, as well as their overseers and deacons. The men knew their mission and calling; and the name they called themselves or the way they were addressed by other people was not as important as the clear mission that they had received. Am I focused on titles and how I am addressed, or am I able to see clearly where God leads, and willing and ready to obey Him? Are you? When the purpose and direction of a man are clearly laid out, he is able to avoid distractions on the way to fulfilling God's purpose for his life. That is man's most important discovery and discipline.

Paul and Timothy would know the value of the lessons in the verse above. Both did not start well; at least, by the account of their lives in the bible, but we know now how it ended. Who says it is over when God is just starting? Who puts a period where God has not stopped flowing in and through? My present does not in any way look like what the future holds. The present can never accurately predict what the future holds in place, and I must not let my present be so powerful that it can keep me from seeing all that God has in store. Yes, the present may be the current reality, but in the hands of God, there is no life so far gone that it is beyond the amazing grace of God. It matters that it is placed in the care of the One who formed it and gave it its purpose.

Paul started out as a persecutor; he ended up a promoter of the gospel. Timothy would not have stood a chance due to his birth father, but by God's intervention, he was able to minister across cities together with Paul, involved in letters to the churches in Corinth, Phillippi, Colosse, Thessalonica, as well as personal letters to Philemon. It matters in whose hands it is placed. Wealth, influence and possessions by themselves cannot buy you eternity; only that which God is and gives can guarantee you eternity with Him. He is the Owner and Giver of life. Trust Him with yours and there will be no eternal regrets. God's time of favour is here. 

Living Sacrifice!

Living Sacrifice!

Romans 12:1 AMP

[1] Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.

Identity defines expectations. The demand in the verse above is for those refereed to as brothers and sisters, which is a term used to describe people related by blood and connected to a family. The blood of Jesus is the connecting factor here; the blood of Jesus has dissolved the walls of race, and has made all of us one, as long as we lay claim to the benefits through the blood of Jesus. This is the only way the Jew and the Gentile come under the same cover of grace, and both can make a demand from the endless supplies of grace and mercy that are available through and in the blood. It has to be the start point for anyone seeking anything from God. How else do you want to come, except by the Way, Truth and Life that God has instituted? 

In coming to God through the blood, it has to be noted that, just as there are benefits, so also are there expectations for all who come. Mercy has been made available to ALL men, so there is an expected response from ALL men. Due to God's mercy, I now have the grace and strength to present my body as a living sacrifice. It is a bit of a contradiction, where a sacrifice can also be living at the same time, but that is the demand as well as the expectation from all who have received the mercy of God. It is not mercy that stops you from living as you please, but mercy that enables you to live as God pleases. You do not live for your own pleasure anymore, but you now live to please God. And God does not live you alone to fend for yourself; this grace comes in and stays all the days of your life. 

In the face of competing interests, the clear message in the verse above is that God will not lower His standard for anyone. The clear standard is holiness, and it is the only way God has prescribed for a man to see God. The man who will see God must approach God on His terms, not his own. In fact, If I will please God, it has to be the sacrifice that has been totally given up, no longer holding on to any personal view that is contrary to God's express desire. How can a dead sacrifice have personal opinions, contrary to the One to whom it has been offered, unless the sacrifice was not really given up willingly. This total sacrifice is my act of worship: I bow totally to His authority and lay down all that seeks to fill me with pride. What of you? God's time of favour is here.