My God!

My God!

And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 4:19 AMP

Popular verse; frequently quoted. Let's put the words in the right context. Paul was speaking to the church in Phillipi, which had been very supportive of his ministry. The church had tried to meet his needs while he was with them, and still sent men and materials to him even when he was away. First lesson: as indicated in the bible, you are more blessed when you give than when you receive. Only in God do you get this kind of blessing. The world is all about the acquisitions and amassing; the Word of God is all about giving and making impact.

Paul appreciated all the gifts sent to him by the church in Philippi, and he pronounced the prayer in today's extract. He spoke about God from a personal experience; not from a general assumption. God is God of all; but He is the Father of all who have put their trust in Him and have learnt to obey his leading. If I am to claim the blessings of provision in today's extract, am I giving to support missions and evangelism the way this church was doing? How much of my resources are being used to help other people? We want the blessing without the work; the benefits without any of the inconvenience. With God, there are no shortcuts to his blessings.

And God has abundant resources for all of the world's demands. No demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. He provides through his one and only son, Jesus himself. Through Him, he has given us all we need for life and Godliness, but as always, the password to all of these things is Christ Jesus. He is called the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the channel, the embodiment of all God is, and the end of all life. If I am looking for provision, protection, guidance, leading, health, possessions, whatever it may be that is my present concern, all are found and accessible only in and through Christ.

No other way is prescribed; nothing else will work. Before I can claim the provision, I must know the provider. Otherwise, how would I know if what I have received is the real deal? His time of favour is here.

On Assignment!

On Assignment!

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

Today's extract speaks of two extremes; two eternal destinies. It speaks of two parallel assignments and two masters. Man fools himself if he thinks he is the master of his own destiny. In fact, there is just one thing man is a master of, and that is just his or her choice. The consequences of that choice is way above the manipulation or control of any man. Man will do good to remember this when next you are tempted to think you are in control of your life. How can you claim control over something you never knew how it began or the things that went into its being?

There are two sides to today's extract. Both ends of this piece reflect compulsory assignments. Both are progressive in nature; it doesn't start and end on one level. The thief's assignment is to steal, kill and destroy. It starts with taking what God has given you and replacing it with a lie. The experience in the Garden of Eden was the foundation, where the life of God in us which never ends was replaced by death through sin. Then the devil progresses to kill, because he knows that it is only physical death in sin that will guarantee the last level, which is to destroy in hell forever.

The other side is the life of God Himself. He comes to do just one thing, and it is to restore the quality of life man lost to sin in the Garden of Eden. With that life comes all of the things required for life and Godliness. He doesn't just promise life; he promises it in abundance. Did you notice the word 'come' in both assignments? This shows that whether you know it or not, both God and the devil are on assignment, both with an offer for you. This is where the power of your choice comes in: you choose who you will follow. Once you have made a choice, the consequences of that choice is already settled, as revealed in today's extract.

If I claim God is too nice to throw his creation into hell, why do you think the devil doesn't have such limitations? God wants me to know today that His life is full and free, and the benefits are eternal. Come to Him today; He will give you all of Himself, which is abundant life. His time of favour is here.

Pray!

Pray!

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7‭-‬8 NKJV

This is part of the Sermon on the mount, the first public preaching of Christ. He covered quite a number of topics, including prayer. We are talking about actual prayer here, not gossip, unhealthy desirings, or tale bearing. When I take honest stock of my life, what do I actually do? Do I pray or do I do something completely opposite of prayer?

It is never about the length of time spent talking or the volume of words spoken. Those things are not the focus of prayer. In the final analysis, prayer sure takes effort and has to involve spoken words, but they are not what gives prayer the power God set it up to be. And prayer is also not making assumptions, where I also keep quiet and claim that, after all, God knows what I need so there is no need to keep talking about the same thing over and over again.

If I am in a relationship with God, I will want to talk with Him constantly. His will is made clear in prayer; his purpose is established through prayer; his love and mercy are revealed through prayer. There are treasures in God only a faith-based conversation with God can unearth. The heathen (those who only have a head-knowledge about God) believe in many words; God thrives on relationships. That is why he is called "your Father". He is a God of absolute knowledge, who knows all we need even before we speak.

I must take advantage of the benefits of prayer. I must seek God out daily and pray His will into my daily reality. He wants to hear me speak; his hands are NOT too short to save or his ears dull of hearing. Even if it takes me 3 hours, it is a result of a love relationship, not a desire to drive up numbers. How's your connection to God? His time of favour is here.

Shine!

Shine!

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3 KJV

As I read the verses before today's extract, you get the very clear picture that we are in the last days. All around us, the world keeps getting more and more unsettled and uneasy. Conspiracies, rumours of war and actual wars as well as deceit rule the affairs  of the world. Yet, in spite of all these, there is a silent thread of hope that runs through all you read: nothing happening now is a suprise to God, and for all who know and follow Him, there is a good end promised.

The only definition of wisdom that God approves in his Word is a function of man's relationship with Him. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. You can amass knowledge and insight about God from reading about Him in the Bible, but only a relationship with Him will speak good for you in the day of trouble. In the midst of the darkness in the world, God is looking for men and women who know their God and through whom God can do exploits.

What are your pursuits and priorities? Does God feature at all in those plans? One of God's greatest desire is to reach the world through His Word. Eternity is at stake and the heart of man is the battleground. If I am truly wise, my focus has got to be the salvation of the souls of men. Am I an example people can follow? This is a generation without the fear of God, and the result is quite evident for all to see. However, for all who will dare to follow God and do his will, they will enjoy the favour of God down here as well as a life of glory forever and ever. My end is a function of my present pursuits. Where am I headed? His time of favour is here.

Plain!

Plain!

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 KJV

God understands our frame; afterall, He put us together and fashioned our parts. He knows what makes us tick and what upsets our hearts. The heart is that hidden, but very important part of man. In it lies the seat of all decision making, intentions, motive and action. That is the basis of today's extract.

The heart is also called 'deceitful and desperately wicked' by the God who made us. This means that for any heart to experience today's extract, God has got to work in and on that heart to make it into what He can impact. The days God gives me are to be used for learning more and more about God and understanding what He wants for me. As we seem not to take this seriously, it is not a wonder then that the world is the way it is.

We speak about mental health and depression, and we make men rich by buying physical prescriptions for spiritual problems. We replace God with activity, friends, likes on Facebook/Instagram, and we expect our hearts to be at rest and at peace. If the Prince of peace is not in charge in there, there is nothing of great eternal value that can come out of such a heart.

The secret to your heart being merry has nothing to do with Possession, Power, Privilege or Position, but with the Presence of God. You are not shaken by the wind, storms or fire, because your anchor is tied to the Rock of Ages. I face trials with joy because I know they have been structured to make me grow, not kill me.

So, what is your own reality? Is God in there or you are the one fully in charge? Remember, your reaction to the realities around you is an outflow of the contents of your heart, and the contents of your heart are determined by the control centre. Who's in charge in there? His time of favour is here.

The Same!

The Same!

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8 AMPC

In this very uncertain and constantly changing world, we need some stability in our hearts so we can be all that God intends for us. There have been all sorts of earthly dispensations, and there have been phases in all of life's seasons. Even after the flood of Noah's season, God promised that as long as the earth remains, there would be times and seasons in line with God's divine plan for us.

Yet, tied to all of the seemingly simple rules of nature lies the divine hand of God in all of life's affairs. The world would have you believe that you are the master of your own destiny, and whilst that may ring true in some respect, there is the divine and the unexplained: the God-factor. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself how the earth remains in place without physical foundations? Have you ever asked yourself where God is in the midst of the never-predictable world we live in? Let it be clear today: nothing down here can fully explain the God we are called to trust and obey; you just have to know that no matter the season or the dispensation, nothing about God changes.

He called sin by its name in the days of Adam, and He still calls sin by its name today. His mercies kept the fathers of old, even in their rebellion, and till today, we enjoy the same mercies, in spite of ourselves. And long after we have moved on to eternity, as long as this earth remains, his standards will not be lowered for anyone. If I know this God, I have nothing else to fear. If I know that trusting Him to the end will secure eternal life for me, then I will hold on and press on. He will always come through. His time of favour is here.

Kept 3!

Kept 3!

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

Wherever you see a BUT in scripture, it is a good idea to look at the thoughts that have gone before. Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica, makes it clear that man, by nature, cannot be trusted. The best of men are sinners saved by grace, not by good works or connections. It is amazing how much we reject and resist God in our lives, despite the fact that He owns all of us. Paul had experienced resistance to his ministry, but he understood the power of prayer and consistency in service. These are the secrets to success.

Why is prayer important? It is because it is our responsibility to pray down God's perfect will down here on earth. There are times when we will not understand the WHY and the HOW of things around us, but the one consistent thing that we can rest on is God's never-changing power and wisdom. The assignment given to us is from Him, and the process and provisions required are under his control. Man is not always predictable, and his heart cannot always be trusted to follow the truth. That is why prayer is important.

And God is faithful; in fact, the reason why we still stand is because of God's faithfulness. It is His power that is able to hold up and sustain; nothing else down here can do that. The prayer includes establishing and keeping. In these very uncertain times, God is able to keep us grounded. Evil is all around us, and for all born of woman, evil has become a part of our nature. Only in God does evil lose its power and hold, and all who trust in God have the power over sin and evil. So, who is the Lord and master of your life? Who's in charge? His time of favour is here.