Key!

Key!

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

In am age where there is competition for power, position and recognition, the verse above reminds us of what is true and eternal. As far back as Paul's days, there was this push for approval and applause, where men sought to serve and be noticed. It is still the same in our own days now. Men who claim to serve and follow God will still do all they can to appease men. You really cannot please both God and all men at the same time and to the same degree. I would have to sort out which takes priority. I note that the verse refers to the one who plants and the one who waters. This means that I still have to put in the work required for the assignment that God has defined. It cannot be planting or watering of something that God has no hand in, or what God has not himself defined. Let it not be that I will expend energy and effort on a project that has no backing from God. Before I begin the labour, I have to be sure of God's favour. 

When God backs me up, I know that whatever 'achievements' there are would not be due to my efforts but God's backing. God can do mighty things, and He is seeking to show Himself strong in the lives of all whose hearts are fully committed to Him. If I know that and submit myself to His process, I will not struggle for relevance or recognition. When it is time for God to take me to the next level, He will do it without my help. In fact, it is the depth of sin to ever assume that God needs me to do something by my wisdom or effort in order to get Him to do something for me in return. Yes, living holy will guarantee God's blessings, but that is even by His enablement and grace. Efforts are good, but it is God who defines the timing, spread and impact of the efforts. I do my part as He leads, confident that my life is in His hands and cannot be a waste. He is the ultimate, and I surrender totally to Him. Would you too? God's time of favour is here. 

Know!

Know!

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

In reading the verse above, it is important to consider the context. The people of Israel were about to enter into the land which had been promised to them by God to Abraham. The land was currently occupied by many nations, interestingly, with some of them with ties to Noah's descendants. However, one thing that is clear from this account is that God will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. This statement has become the foundation of the lessons over the past few days. The Lord commanded Israel not to spare anyone in the land they were coming to occupy, because there was a need to cleanse the land from sin. The people had sinned and God was going to apply the punishment He had laid out since the creation of the earth on the people. There was also the warning to the people of Israel too: if you walk in the steps of these people and you go into sin, the same punishment will be meted out on you. That is a sobering message: the God who defined sin in the days of Abraham and Israel is still the same God today. He has not changed his mind or lowered His standard. 

We can claim familiarity with God but when it comes to sin, God has no favourites. The price that God paid to deal with sin should give me a good idea of the wrath of God that will be applied on all who dwell in sin. As Jesus hung on the cross, even God turned his face away from His Son, who had to cry out: "my father, my father, why have you forsaken me?". I do have a duty and a responsibility to avoid sin by depending on the grace of God that enables a man to live in victory over sin. No one and nothing else can supply such strength. In that understanding comes the application of the verse above. Knowledge comes from experience and constant interaction. You do not know God through occasional and periodic contacts. You do not get it right by only weekly, monthly or annual appointments. It has to be by daily and regular approaches, seeking to know His will and mind on all things relating to me. He is faithful to all His promises, because He stakes his name and reputation on anything He says. He cannot be found to be a liar or someone who cannot do as He has said. 

He is also a generational God, whose relevance and potency cut across several generations and dispensations. His love was made known to Abraham, and Israel waw still enjoying the fruits of this love centuries later. This is the basis of the confidence in knowing that God can be trusted to keep His Word. Time does not run out for God the way it does for us as human beings. The promise of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus was made right in the Garden of Eden and till today, men are still taking advantage of the grace that has been released in Christ. I ask God for grace to enable me know and embrace all He has for me in this season. He can be trusted to be faithful to His promises, and nothing on earth can stop or limit Him, unless I decide to walk out of His purpose and plan for my life. He wants to show Himself strong and mighty on my behalf, but I must let Him work as and when He pleases. My life will be glad I did. God's time of favour is here. 

No Judgement!

No Judgement!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:1‭-‬2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[1] “ Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]. [2] For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you.

The verses above help clarify the meaning of the word 'judge', as opposed to other words such as 'correct'. The Bible has clear advice and guidance on both situations, and it will be of great value to know what both mean, and how to ensure I relate with other people in line with God's will and Word. The word 'judge, means to 'form an opinion or conclusion about' something or someone. It could be as a result of an experience I had with the person or something I heard about the person, or it could even be something the person told me. Whatever it is, if that information leads me to a conclusion that is not in line with God's will, I need to seek the help of the Holy Spirit. Human relationships are always complex, and we may not always know everything about everyone, but whatever I come to know about another person must become an inspiration for intercession. 

Whatever path the person may be on, I must make up my mind to take that person to God in prayer, asking for help for that person to either remain on the right path, or for God to help the person know the right path. This understanding helps me know that I could also be the one in need of help  and encouragement, and I would want people to plead my case before God in prayer, and not point fingers at me. I am on a journey to heaven, and there will be habits to break and new ones to take up. I would want someone to be a shoulder to cry on, a hand to help me and a mouth to encourage me when I need it. Does the above describe me in any way? Do I light up a room when I come in, or does the light and life go out when I walk in? The flip side is also not to keep quiet if God has given me grace to identify an issue that needs to be addressed. How it is done also matters. Would I want to stand on the podium of pride or do I want to speak from the foundation of love? 

In correcting, I am conscious of my own walk with God and careful to note my previous failings. I do not take anything for granted, but rely on a daily basis for grace to help me walk right, and be the right examples for other people. I take careful thought to my own life too, so I do not become a hypocrite who can clearly see other people's faults but deliberately blind to my own weakness. God can give me victory over a matter, but it does not make me better than those who are struggling; it only places me in a unique position to be able to offer help and support to those who now need it. The fact that the measure I give will also come back to me must make me careful, conscious and deliberate about my actions and interactions today. It will all come back to me; whatever it is I desire must be what I give out. God's time of favour is here. 

Pray 4!

Pray 4!

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:1‭-‬3‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. 

Jesus would use parables to pass on the message about the kingdom of heaven to His disciples. It is very important to note that the parables are told to everyone in the crowd, but the meaning of the messages were reserved for the disciples. Jesus would tell the crowd the story and then at some other private moments, He would explain the story to His disciples and the implications it had on their earthly and eternal lives. Today's verse is also another parable addressing the importance of prayer. It is not just prayer for the sake of it, but the type that is continous and pressing. It is the kind that does not quit if and when it gets inconvenient. It is not the kind that you do only when you feel like it, but you do it because you have tested and confirmed the power and blessings that is available when you pray. Do I really pray, or do I just talk about prayer a lot? 

Today's verse is a reminder of the things that are really dear to the heart of God. How does God make His mind known if I do not ask Him on His own terms? How does God reveal His mind if I don't seek His views? The verse above says it is 'necessary', not optional.  It is not subject to debate or open to negotiation; you need to get to it. When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, He started with the relationship factor, before anything else. The effectual prayer is the one we pray in line with God's will; we pray often and consistently; we direct it the right way to God. Man cannot help me unless God directs; when God commands, even the devil obeys. This means I am better off asking God for help in prayer, and trusting Him to move whoever He needs to move in order to promote His will. Less talk; more prayer. No demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. Ask; God can do whatever we ask in line with His will. God's time of favour is here. 

Pray 3!

Pray 3!

‭‭‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. 

As it has been established over the past 2 days, it is important to know the value of prayer, as well as the target of the exercise and practice of prayer. It is no use doing something you do not know the value of or the One to whom you are required to speak with often and frequently. Prayer is the regular communication with God, who also supplies all that we need in order to communicate with Him the right way. God is a a Holy God, and he has terms of access to His presence. I cannot come to Him with a heart and life steeped in iniquity, without a desire to repent. He has given me all that i need for life and Godliness  but the greatest help He has given me will be His own presence, represented by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God; His person, presence and power in the life of the believer. As you read the words of the Bible, you find treasures about the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus. 

There is no way I can live this Christian life without the help of the Holy Spirit. I will not survive the storms and tough times that are a part of this human existence without the help of the Holy Spirit. If I have submitted my life to God, I have access to His help. The Holy Spirit comes to help me in times of weakness, which, if I am honest, is every time. What can I achieve by my own strength and wisdom? What can I start and finish by my own labour? If I cannot help God achieve His plan by my own schemes, how would I think I can pray in line with His will without His help? This is where the Holy Spirit is such an indispensable part of my life. When I kneel, bow or lie down to pray, I need His help to pray the mind of God for that particular season I am in. There are times when the pressures of life will weigh on us, and we may be tempted to focus on our condition, but God could be seeking to focus our eyes on something different. 

A door may close in unexpected ways, but it could be God getting me to focus on another open door that lines up with His will for me. How would I know if I do not ask in prayer, through the help of the One who knows the mind of God? I may even know the mind of God through revelation but it is still the Holy Spirit who can help me find the right way to carry and fulfil that burden in line with the will of the One who gave it. Sometimes, the words may not come; I must trust God who is the burden bearer to help discharge that burden the best way. My own contribution will be a lifestyle and lifetime of total dependence on His help. Remember, God will only sustain that which He ordains. Situations may persist and sometimes outlive you, but God is the One who defines times, seasons and events. He is in charge, and will supply all I need, if i will remain connected. God's time of favour is here.

Pray 2!

Pray 2!

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

As we read yesterday, the importance of prayer to God cannot be overemphasised. It is a sign that I recognise the power of God to do whatever it is I ask of Him if it is within His will and aligns with His purpose for my life. It is an acknowledgement of the Lordship and authority of God over all things. Today's verse goes on to again show us the need for prayer and how it helps me line up with God's heart. How would I know what is priority to God's heart if I do not speak with Him often? How can He provide daily guidance if I do not seek daily help? The world has its concerns and burdens, and it will seek to lay the weight of these concerns on the hearts and minds of all who are under its control and influence. All who are under such control and influence will definitely worry and fret, because those under such conditions do not have access to the resources and benefits that are available to those who are under the control and influence of the King of kings. My allegiance and citizenship will definitely determine the benefits I can access. 

I have been given the gift of access through prayer. I can access it anytime and anywhere, and in any experience. It is communing with God, seeking His view on all things that weigh on my heart, and trusting Him to take care of all things however He wants. Prayer and supplication are God's prescription for any attempt by my heart to claim independence or self-sufficiency. It is a sign that I recognise and admit my helplessness. I am speaking to a higher authority; one with the power, ability, capacity and capability to do all He has promised to do. I go to Him, laying out all my concerns, and leaving them with Him. I cannot take them to God in prayer, and then pick them up again as I go. I go to God in prayer with the right heart of thanksgiving, grateful for the gift of access, as well as the blessing of Fatherhood. Nothing is too big or small to take to Him in prayer; my entire life becomes an offering to God, as I lay it all down at His feet. Do you have a relationship with God like this? Can I call God my Father? He waits for all of us to come to Him; no demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. Make the approach; God's time of favour is here. 

Pray!

Pray!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9‭-‬13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

[11] Give us this day our daily bread. 

[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

We read here the account of the teaching of Jesus on prayer. This is part of the first sermon of Jesus on the mountain, and in another account, it was the disciples of Jesus who came to Him, asking that He teach them how to pray. Whichever account you read, it is clear that Jesus was speaking to disciples, not the crowd. Prayer is required for disciples, because it is the secret of the power that God releases for exploits and miracles. The life of Jesus is the perfect example of the power of prayer. Jesus spent quite some time in the secret place, praying. We read different accounts of being in a private place and praying all night. These happened in secret, away from the public eye, but there was no denying the power that was made manifest in the public place. If I will walk in the same path, I must alao pay attention to the private investment of prayer. That is the secret to public impact. 

As I read the sample of prayer laid out in the verses above, it is clear that the foundation of effective prayer is knowing God. It is not head knowledge, but heart conviction. Knowing  God helps me make it clear who He is, what He wants from me, and how He wants me to approach. How else can anyone call God Father, if there is no healthy relationship between God and the person praying? How would I be certain of an answer, no matter what it is, if there has not been previous instances where I prayed and God answered? The prayer above asks that the will of the Lord be done on the earth, as it is done in heaven. This God is also King, and his kingdom has no limits. Heaven has no doubt who is in charge and no matter what the earth says, one day, it will also acknowledge and submit to God as the sole authority over all. Would I submit of my own freewill today? If I wait till it is too late, it will indeed be too late. 

All that I need for life and Godliness are made available by the Father. It is critical to note that some provisions are general for all human beings, but some are only for children. That is why I bear my father's name to distinguish me from any other person, and I take priority with my Father before any other person. Do I bear the name of my Father, or am I trying to please as many authorities as I can? Can I trust with all my needs? Can He protect me from harm and temptations, delivering me on a daily basis from anything that may seek to hurt or destroy me? God does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but you can be sure that whatever is handed over to Him is kept safe for all of eternity. One day soon, the end of this present earthly phase will come, and all that will matter is the authority I have submitted to. Is God my Father? God's time of favour is here.