Fruit!

Fruit!

Hebrews 10:23-24 KJV

[23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) [24] and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

The writer of the book of Hebrews is not part of the record of the book, but we can deduce the audience from the first chapter of the book, where it states that God in these last days has spoken to us by His Son, Jesus, and has made his angels to be ministering spirits sent to minister to those who are heirs of salvation. This tells me that the promises and commitments that are made by God in this book can only be claimed by those who have given their lives to Jesus, and have taken hold of eternal life. If I will lay claim to any good thing in the Bible, I have ro align with the terms and conditions of that thing. God is a miracle worker, not a magician, and He does not waste resources. If He has made clear what the requirement for His intervention is, He will not lower the standard for anyone. That is why advancements in technology, medicine or science have not been able to change what sin is. 

If it was sin under Adam, it remains sin under this current dispensation. The message in the verses above are for those whose lives have been surrendered to Jesus. The admonition is that I hold fast the profession of my faith. The reason for this admonition is connected to the reality of the times we live in. It is easier to blend in than stand out. It is easier to keep quiet than to challenge the iniquity of the times we live in. However, the bigger source of encouragement is the statement made in the verses above, that the One who promised is faithful. This is a commitment that can be relied upon. God is unchanging; He can be trusted to keep His promises, and there is no one who has truly experienced God that can say He cannot be trusted. If I know the value of who God is, what He can do, and what I stand to gain if I hold on to the end, I will not let go. Do you know this God? Does He also know you as His own? It is that personal knowledge and experience that drives the second verse above. 

When I know this God, I am able to impact lives. If I have experienced God's kind of love, I am able to also express that to other people. The verse above charges us to provoke one another unto love and good works. It seems to be that showing love should be a 'healthy competition', almost as if we should try and outdo one another in love. It does not lead to envy or hatred, or anything negative. It is being sensitive to the needs around us, being careful to let the love of God permeate all that we do, and being intentional about the motives behind what we do. The good works become the output of the inner presence of God in us. Just note again that it is the audience that drives the demand. If you do not belong, you will struggle. May the fruits of my life show total dependence and reliance on the One who loved me enough to die for me. May my life be visible and audible proof of a life that is owned by God. God's time of favour is here.

Doers!

Doers!

James 1:22 AMP

[22] But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].

James was not writing to any specific church in a particular location, but was writing to the twelve tribes who, due to persecution, were now scattered abroad among the Gentiles. In those days, it was almost a taboo to be seen among the Gentiles. The Jews took pride in their nationalistic outlook, and considered those who inter-married with Gentiles as less than Jewish. That was the scene where the Jews of those times found themselves. Just reflect on the fact that before Jesus left the earth, his instruction was that His disciples would be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the other parts of the world. If those who know Christ stay in their comfort zone, how would others hear the good news of Jesus? God orchestrated it that those who were now armed with the right knowledge of Jesus were forced to move into the community of those who were yet to hear about Jesus. 

When uncomfortable things happen around or to you, do you ask God to clarify what His plan and purpose are for those experiences? Do I see God at work, when nothing seems to work? For the Jews at the time, amongst other things, there was a need for the spread of the word of God to all nations. The first part was now done, and the Jews who knew Jesus were now living among the Gentiles. How would I live my life in a way that would be evident to those who are unbelievers that I am different? It is in the fruits that you are able to determine the nature and quality of the seed. The fruit is the outward expression of secret and uncelebrated investment. This is achieved by the instruction in the verse above: prove yourselves doers of the Word. It is not a passive movement; it is active engagement with the Word, and then deliberate obedience, and then walking and working out what I have heard, seen and experienced from the Word. 

What the verse above encourages us to do is to actively and continually obey God’s precepts. I do not get to pick and choose the instructions I will obey. God's Word is His name, and I cannot accept just the nice  instructions that make me comfortable, and then conveniently ignore the ones that hold a light to my weaknesses. I internalise the lessons, and ask God for grace to let His Word change me from the inside, so that I can have impact on the outside. The world is ignorant, or chooses to ignore the realities of the importance of Jesus, but I have to make Him known. Anything that seeks to take away from the Word, or reduce its efficacy, is to be taken as delusion and unsound reasoning. Do not let anyone tell you anything about God's Word that you cannot find for yourself. God has given all of us access to Him. Seek Him; make Him yours, and let His Word do a work that will secure you for all of eternity. God's time of favour is here. 

None!

None!

1 Samuel 2:2 AMP

[2] “There is no one holy like the Lord, There is no one besides You, There is no Rock like our God.

A quick context to the verse above. There was this woman named Hannah who the bible was careful to note these three facts, among many others: her husband loved her very much, she was barren and it was the Lord who had shut up her womb. We can debate whether God does the things we label as 'bad' by our own standards, or we can accept His Omnipotence and allow Him work as He pleases in our lives, so we can turn out as He desires, and not the way we want. God can do whatever He pleases with His creation, and I can engage Him in prayer to understand His purpose for me, but He chooses how and when He wants to respond. One thing that has been clear since the beginning of time is that there is no one or anything in all of creation that can defeat or thwart God's purpose. If He allows it, it is because it will work out that which is in line with where He wants me to do, and who He is building me up to be. 

Can I trust me with my life, even when it seems that God is not doing it the way I want? Can I tarry in the place of prayer until He gives direction on the next step? Hannah would come year after year, asking for a child, and it would seem that God was not listening. On this day, everything seemed to align. God, who knew what was ahead, was already planning for a replacement for the priest of the house, as it did not appear that any of the priests in place at the time could serve in that office. It is also not recorded whether Hannah knew God's mind at the time, but she said a prayer that seemed to line up with God's desire, and with the priest's blessing, she got a child that she was able to dedicate to the Lord, in line with her prayer request. Who says it does not pay to know, follow, serve, and submit to this God? Hannah's life shows the power and impact of persistence in the place of prayer.  

Hannah got what she wanted, and it is not a surprise that she is credited with the prayer or song in the verse above. It takes a personal encounter with this God to make declarations like the ones above. How do you celebrate and reverence a Holy God the right way, if you have not seen Him at work, or seen what His Holiness demands? If you have not taken time to reflect, how can you determine that there is no other God besides the One true God, and a Rock like no other. Being dependable at all times and in all situations is not an attribute that can be assigned to the natural man. Being a Rock means a place of safety and security, a place of rest and restoration, and a place of refuge from storms. Hannah had come to know this God, and we will do well to also come to know Him this way. He wants to show Himself strong, but it is by total and absolute surrender that He will be able to do all He has promised. Do you know this God? Does He know you? God's time of favour is here. 

Helped!

Helped!

Psalms 143:10 AMP

[10] ¶Teach me to do Your will [so that I may please You], For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

This is one of the psalms credited to David, the man whom God referred to as a man after His own heart. Unlike some of the other psalms in the bible, which had situations and backgrounds to the songs provided, this one does not have any circumstance or story provided in support of the song. The first lesson that comes to mind is that I do not need a reason to find God, or to seek Him with all that I am and have. I do not need a flash in the sky to acknowledge the power of God at work in and around me. He is not God because I agree He is; in fact, let the world end today, and God will still be God. After all, He has spoken of the end of the present earth and heaven, so if all changes today, He already gave us ample warnings. He wants to have a relationship with His creation, because it was for His pleasure that we all are created, and it is in giving Him glory that our lives truly find meaning and relevance. 

This is why the verse above is quite critical. It is a sign of total surrender and acceptance of my weaknesses and need for dependence on God, that this prayer has to be mine too. The world has interests and desires that are in full opposition to those that God promotes. The world system and God will never agree on anything eternal, because both are from different sources, and have different eternal priorities. They will never agree, no matter how far or hard you draw them. The prayer in the verse above comes from a heart that has weighed available options and come to the best option available. This best option is to know and follow God's will. From a place of personal experience, I can say that this is a journey that one never graduates from, or grow out of. It is not an experience you can mature out of. Like David, I need to make up my mind what my life's pursuits and priorities will be, conscious of the truth that an account will be demanded by God of the life He formed to give Him glory. 

I note also that David was not just focused on knowing; he was committed to doing the will of God. It is not enough to seek knowledge for show-off; there is no value in that. The value of life is in pleasing God by doing what He asks. The bible says without faith, it is impossible to please God, but the value of faith is best seen in what I do. If I claim to know and follow God, the fruits of my life,  seen from what I do, how I do them, and why, will be the strongest evidence of my faith. It will be a grave mistake to let the system of the world dictate terms and conditions. There are many slippery slopes the world will disguise as attractive options, but when God is your focus and help, you have nothing to fear. If He does not know you, you have everything to fear. He is the One who can help me through the valley of the shadow of death. He is the One who can level the mountains. Do I truly know, have and follow Him? God's time of favour is here. 

WHO am I?

WHO am I?

Psalms 8:3-4 AMP

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

Depending on the version you read, at the top of the chapter from where the verses above is taken, there is this interesting entry: 'set to a Philistine lute, or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune'. There is no other definition given for the 'Philistine lute, except the fact that it is also mentioned at the top of Psalms 81 and 84, written by Asaph and the sons of Korah respectively. What could have been quite special about the lute, a musical instrument or a tune, that it warranted being mentioned in the Bible? Its origin most likely was not Jewish or Hebraic, yet it formed part of the records of some of the most amazing songs of the greatest earthly king Israel had. As the song in the verses under review today points out, as well as the supporting instruments that have been noted as part of the story, what is that situation that appears to be beyond the power and reach of God to change or correct? 

The verses above first look at the wonders of God's creation. Reflect on all you have read about creation, and how every part you see was supernaturally fitted into the fabric of creation. From the light of the first day to the land animals of the early part of the sixth day, we see God laying down the support system that man would need to be effective in his work on earth. The moon and the stars were part of the account of the fourth day, as God laid out times and seasons, days and years. We see the accounts of other days, as God laid down the beauty of the earth as each day showed off God's glory in all its fullness. All of the above point to the fact that man was not created until all the required provisions for the realisation and achievement of his divine purpose were all in place. Man was not one of those things you call 'unplanned for'; in fact, all that God was doing was laying down the foundation for the manifestation of man.

It is not a wonder, then, that the psalmist, after considering all that his eyes had seen and his ears had heard, had to ask the question: 'What is man?' As it was then, so is it now. No man has been able to answer that question, without resorting to the original template of how man was made. The created is not the best option to determine the value of itself; it is the Creator whose view must be sought, if I will know my true value. Check out the amazing care God lavishes on animals and plants, and how He ensures that the sun and moon rise and set unfailingly every day. If these created things with expiry dates can be cared for this way by God, how much more would God take care of His creation that has been made in His image, in His likeness, and made to live forever. I take the position of deep appreciation for all I have received from God, and ask for grace that my whole life will be an offering He will accept and use for His glory. Do you know who you are? God's time of favour is here. 

Right Mode!

Right Mode!

Lamentations 3:25 AMP

[25] The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word].

A first look at the title of the book of the bible from where the verse above is taken may make you think of depression. How do you expect any spiritual nugget or lesson from a book titled 'Lamentations'? This is not just a one-off tirade by the prophet Jeremiah, but a series of major outbursts about his bitter encounters with the sin of his people, the many warnings he was given to pass on to the people and leaders, God's severe punishment for the people of Judah and the prophet's own cry to God for mercy. The ministry of the prophet Jeremiah came during the reign of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, as well as Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, and continuing until the exile of the people of Jerusalem. Who says serving and following God will always be sweet, pleasant and calm all the time? 

In the midst of the depression of his time, the verse above presents us with insights on how to deal with the pressures of our modern day, and the slide of the world into apostasy and rebellion against God. It does not matter how deep or wide the changes to our long-held  traditions are; God is called the Ancient of Days for a reason, because He does not change like shifting shadows. What He called sin back in the days of Jeremiah is still sin in our day. That is consistency, predictability, and reliability. He does not align His divine standards to fit any human narrative, but He supplies grace for anyone who is willing to live up to the standard. He will not lower His standards for anyone, no matter who the person may be, or how connected the person appears to be. This is a lesson that we all would do well to heed; God is good, and those who wait for Him will enjoy this nature of His.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. This is a truth that is not subject to physical realities. The fact that things look tough on the outside does not in any way invalidate the truth that God is good. There is also a way to wait, and that is confidently. How do you wait in confidence unless you are certain of the end of your waiting? There is also additional conditions for those who want to receive anything of value from God; you have got to seek Him on the authority of His Word. Since the creation of the earth as we know it, the Word of God has always had power. It is the Word that created, and continues to sustain the earth until such time as the Word has declared that it will expire. If I will move God's hand, it has to be on the basis of His Word. That is His Name, His Nature and His person. God forbid that He will be found to be a lair. He is True, and the Truth. Have you met this God? Does He know you as His own? God's time of favour is here. 

Authority!

Authority!

Romans 8:6-7 KJV

[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

As it has been established over the years, there is no sitting on the fence when it comes to light and darkness. Light and darkness are governed by two different authorities, and were not intended to co-exist in the same space at the same time. As we recall, at the time of creation, the first thing God did was to speak light out of the darkness that covered the earth, and separating light from darkness. There were lights created to rule the day, and other lesser lights were created to rule the night. We can apply the same picture to the spiritual phase. The Flesh and the Spirit are also two very exclusive powers and realms, with their own laws and powers, and we all must fall under the control of one of them. Before a choice is made between these two opposites, you have the power to choose. You can take your time to choose, but as soon as the choice is made, the consequences of your choice begin to follow you. That is what is  established in the extract above. The end of flesh's control is death, while that of the Spirit is life and peace. 

Fortunately, the choices we make are not permanent; we are free to switch allegiances as often as we like, as long as we are alive on this side of eternity. Unfortunately, because the effect of our choices are not immediately visible and apparent, we think we have plenty of time and that we can switch allegiances any time we like. By the time reality dawns, we have crossed into immortality and the consequences of our choices on earth will determine where we spend eternity. Let it be clear: the flesh can never please God. There is no sacrifice, moral living, alms giving or physical show of piety that can make up for the lack of substance that the Spirit gives. Ask Cornelius. In the old testament, people had to offer the blood of bulls and goats so many times, just to cover up their sins. The blood could not wash sins away, so the sacrifices were grossly inadequate for the remission of sins. Christ's sacrifice, however, is a once-and-for-all offering that takes away sins permanently, and is a free gift we all are invited to take advantage of. 

No other offering can please God, because the best and the greatest offering has already been made. If a man therefore seeks to please God, he must take advantage of this free gift on offer. The Spirit gives life and peace to all who accept this free gift, and at the end, eternity is secure. Let nobody deceive you into thinking that we were made to live forever on this side of eternity. Yes, we were formed to live forever, but the choice of residence is determined by the choice of masters we submit to while on earth. As it has always been laid out, the choices are laid before me. Men like Joshua, Moses, Samson, Judas Iscariot, Demas and Alexander the metalworker all made their choices at different times. The results of their choices are seen in the stories we read in the bible. The world is reading me today. I ask God for His help in deciding for Him. I ask for grace to follow Him and depend on His Spirit every day of my life. May the world hold no attraction for me. God's time of favour is here.