Seeing through the eyes of faith

The songwriter put it ever so aptly - I'm not moved by what I see, hallelujah.  I'm not moved by what I hear, hallelujah.  I'm only moved by the Word of God, hallelujah.


Faith is to the survival of a Christian life as  oxygen is vital to the existence of a human being. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.


When we choose to walk with God, we must take our eyes off only what we see and hear, and stretch our hearts to see and believe what we do not even see. First of all, we physically do not see God. However the eyes of our heart can see God each day, and in many things around us. Even a storm can show us the greatness and fearful nature of God through the strikings of lightning and the blasts of thunder.


After our initial acceptance of the existence of God, we ought to continue to trust in His Word in spite of what we experience. Though we may be weak, His Word tells us to be strong. Though we may be poor, we ought to say we are rich, and in time will attract richness.



Like the servant of  Elisha in 2 Kings 6:8-17, we need not to be moved by what we physically see, for the existence of God makes greater provision for us than the human eye can see. We can only see what God has for us through the eyes of faith.






WHAT IS NEXT?

Shake it off!

Acts 28:3-6  

Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand,they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”  

But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.  The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.


As Christians, we may face deadly things or situations that will cause men to wrongly judge us, and which will attract the curiosity of onlookers and enemies alike as they await our shame, disgrace and great fall.


We ought to stand upon the Word of God during such times to get us through. We have to depend on what God has said and not what science or the economy is saying. A man bitten by a poisonous viper and who is not treated instantly is destined to die. Paul was automatically considered a dead man walking when he encountered the poisonous viper.


I guess Paul remembered the words of Jesus at that juncture - Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.


These words of Jesus stirred up faith in Paul. He casually shook the snake off, relying on the immutability of God's Word and promise. God's promises are yes and amen. They are final and reliable!


Shake off whatever you are going through that is not in line with God's Word. Shake off whatever experience you are facing which is contrary to God's promises. And like Paul, if you do so, you will face no ill-effects. Just believe!


WHAT IS NEXT?

Men that go the extra mile

In life, we come across different people. Some people virtually brush against our lives, but leave a lasting mark in our lives. The blind man whom Jesus healed had his life changed by a single encounter with Jesus. The ministry of Moses changed by a single piece of advice by  his father in law. Different people make varied impressions on our lives.


In Mark 2:1-12, a man had a unique encounter. He was paralysed and needed to see Jesus. He had four good men agree to carry him to where Jesus was. There was a considerable hindrance - there was no room where Jesus was. The friends of this paralysed man could have given up at this point, but they did not. They went an extra mile for their friend.


They made way through the roof and carried him up there, lowering him down to where Jesus was. Sometimes in life we need men in our lives that would go an extra mile for us. We need people who are willing to carry us when we can no longer stand. We need men who will see the obstacles in our way and think of an answer out of our troubles.  We need men that won't depend on their own wisdom , but would carry us into the very presence of Jesus where all the answers to our troubles are.


May God surround you with men that will usher you into the place of your miracle.













WHAT IS NEXT?

Favoured by grace!

Ecclesiastes 9:11  I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.

The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.


Eliab, Jesse's son had it all. He looked regal in appearance, and yet God chose David, a rugged shepherd boy as King. Eliab's stucture and looks did not earn him the throne.


Esther was a Jew. She rose to become queen in a foreign land. Out of many women, the King loved her more. This was the finger of God at play.


Mary was not the only graceful young woman in town, and yet God chose her to become the mother of Jesus and was declared blessed among women.


Abraham was with his siblings and father, and yet God chose him to start a nation to call his own. Why Abraham? Why not his siblings? God chooses whom He wants, and when He wants to.


Goliath was physically stronger than David.  But David won the battle against him. When God favours you, your human credentials do not matter.  He is able to place you where you cannot go humanly speaking.


Are you relying on yourself - what you are, and have? You can be badly let down if you are. For nothing in life is secure and permanent. When God shows you favour, it does not matter what is against you. God can qualify you!


The time for favour is now. It's your time to be favoured!




WHAT IS NEXT?

The last shall be first

Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.


God is God. He chooses whom and what to use, and at His own time.  No one can question Him. He chose David, a shepherd whom no one regarded to be king. Even David's dad Jesse had somewhat forgotten to call him when Samuel asked for his sons.


From the back, God remembered David and brought him to the very front. God sees beyond what we see, his timing is not our timing. What takes man ages to accomplish, can take God a split second to complete .


God is still in the business of affirming those who feel left behind. He loves to take the down trodden and restores them beautifully. If you have been relegated to the back, do not fret, trust in God. He is the lifter up of your head.


Jesus confirmed God's good plans for the poor, broken hearted and those in mourning - The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,  because the Lord has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,  to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.


To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor    and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise    instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:1-3.











WHAT IS NEXT?

Fighting with God.

God is sovereign and supreme. We cannot predict His ways. They are far fetching and unpredictable.


It is a losing battle to fight with the Lord for you cannot win. It was useless for Pharaoh to set his heart against God. He ended up getting swallowed by the sea. Saul set his heart against God and died shamefully. Absalom realised a bit too late that he could not fight God. All these men fought directly with God's children, indirectly fighting with God.


God fights for His own. We must be careful with our ways because like Ananias and Saphira, we may think we are dealing with humans, but may actually be dealing with God. Acts 5. God says whatever you do to the least of people, you do unto Him.


Never attempt to fight God. It will be in futility!












WHAT IS NEXT?

Let God fight for you.

Goliath physically had everything in his favour to win a battle against the Israelites.


1 Samuel 17:4-7 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 


He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.


Uniquely endowed with height - 9 feet, and well trained to fight, coupled with having the best equipment and attire to fight, caused Goliath to rely on his own might and ability. He even bragged about it, and mocked the Israelites.


However, David knew that his battles belonged to God. He knew that unless God stepped in, his labour would be in vain. He therefore said to Goliath - David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  


Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 1 Samuel 17:45-47


David relied on God, therefore he won this battle, and many more to come. If you will rely on God for every battle you face, and should face in life, you can be sure of victory. Your own strength will fail you, for the battle is not for the strong, and the race is not for the swift.



WHAT IS NEXT?

Become an instrument of praise.

When God heard the cries of His children, the Israelites, and sent Moses to go on their behalf to Pharaoh to ask for their freedom, I thought their release was going to be straight forward, but this was not the case.


There was enough drama for film making - rods turning to snakes, withdrawal of the supply of straw for making bricks, plagues of swarms of flies, gnats and frogs everywhere.  Water turning to blood, the plague on livestock, and boils breaking out on the Egyptians.


One would wonder why God allows so much drama in the lives of His children. Before sending out yet another plague on the Egyptians, the plague of hails, the Lord revealed why He had tolerated so much drama : Exodus 9:15-16 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.


God allows certain things that we might regard as unnecessarily painful but which glorifies Him. He brought lots of pain on the Egyptians until they could no longer bear it, so released the Israelites. Even then, God did not relent in causing the sea to swallow them up when they attempted to chase after the Israelites.


We ought to work and co-operate with God when we go through things we cannot understand or explain why we are going through them. God understands! He regards our lives as one long song of praise to Him. He used Job's suffering to prove to Satan that He had trustworthy men who would serve Him, in spite of what they lose or go through.


Don't give up, no matter what you are going through. Trust God and allow your life to become His instrument of praise, to the glory of His name.

WHAT IS NEXT?

God our Shepherd

As human beings, we are often limited by the unknown. We cannot always fathom how things would eventually turn out. We may make wrong investments, decisions and can take wrong turns that hold pain and many tears.


God calls on us to trust him wholly - Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.


We ought to trust God to guide us in every way. Lot chose to follow what was easy on the eye. He walked into numerous troubles, and lost his wife in the process.


We ought to make our thoughts known to God. We have to acknowledge His guidance and listen for His voice. Whilst walking with God, we must accept His leading and follow Him by faith. Even though we may not understand all of His plans, we ought to simply trust His wisdom.


Like the songwriter we must be able to say -    
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom, By waters still, o’er troubled sea, Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.




WHAT IS NEXT?

God of a second chance.

Samson had disobeyed God's instructions and it had landed him in trouble. Judges 13:5 and after your son is born, you must never cut his hair, because from the day of his birth he will be dedicated to God as a nazirite. He will begin the work of rescuing Israel from the Philistines.”


True to God's Word, Samson was born and when he grew up, he begun to fight the Philistines with such tremendous strength. Samson somewhat allowed the power he had to go to his head. He went to bed with a Gentile prostitute and all. Samson was giving in little by little to his enemies by disobeying God. He had become insensitive to God's directions.


Then his disobedience finally found him in deep waters. He had his source of power cut off - his hair. The Philistines he was meant to fight seized him and gauged out his eyes. Samson in his misery humbled himself before God and his power was restored.


Numbers 16:28-30 Then Samson prayed, “Sovereign Lord, please remember me; please, God, give me my strength just this one time more, so that with this one blow I can get even with the Philistines for putting out my two eyes.” 


So Samson took hold of the two middle columns holding up the building. Putting one hand on each column, he pushed against them and shouted, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He pushed with all his might, and the building fell down on the five kings and everyone else. Samson killed more people at his death than he had killed during his life.


Unfortunately, Samson chose to die for he asked for death, and enjoyed the fruit  of the power of his tongue. Yet the lesson is clear, a righteous but may fall seven times, but when he humbles himself before God,  he is able to get up in strength. We serve a God of restoration. Proverbs 24:16





WHAT IS NEXT?

Letting go - Part 4

Finally, love overtook his bitter feelings. Joseph broke down and wept uncontrollably. He allowed God's healing into his heart. Joseph looked up to God to understand his past ordeal. He started to see everything through the eyes of God. He realised that God had used every minute experience of his to His glory, and to the salvation of nations. He realised that his dream which was greatly opposed by his brothers, had come true afterall.


Joseph had the last laugh! As he let go off bitterness and embraced love, he was able to see clearly the reason God allowed him to be hurt and betrayed. He thus appreciated the many lives his life and suffering had saved. His outlook changed from inwardly concentrating on his own pain,to selflessly looking at how others had been helped. He therefore said - And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.


Love causes us to interprete our pain through God's eyes and allows us to cover a multitude of sin committed against us. Like Stephen, we can therefore say- Lord forgive them for they do not know what they do. Through love, Joseph let go every bitterness that could have destroyed him. Embrace love today, let go off bitterness!


Key Scriptures: Genesis 37, 39-45





















WHAT IS NEXT?

Letting go - Part 3

Joseph was battling within himself. His good heart wanted to love his brothers unhindered. However, remembering what they did to him caused him to deal cruelly with them. He had bore great pain and betrayal in the past. Seeing his brothers suffer, assuaged his own pain and hurt.


The ordeal Joseph went through had somewhat changed his heart. When he had a dream as a teenager, he was excited, and loved to tell of how great he was to become. He did so with an innocent heart. When he was young, he would tell on his brothers if they did wrong, yet when he appeared before Pharaoh, he never mentioned of the wrongs done to him by his brothers, Potiphar's wife or by Pharaoh's butler. He was beginning to let go! As at when he appeared before Pharaoh, Joseph did not put himself first. He had grown to draw attention away from himself. When he interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, he suggested a solution by asking Pharaoh to look for a man to implement his suggested solution. He never recommended himself, rather Pharaoh found it fit to assign Joseph to implement his own suggested solution.


Seeing his brothers triggered a past hurt that caused Joseph to once again draw attention to himself. He showed his brothers over and over that he was in charge. He imprisoned them, threatened them, terrorised their emotions and virtually brought upon them great anguish. At the same time, love was calling out to express herself through Joseph. He would show his brothers love one minute, and the next minute terrorise them. He would throw for them a great feast one day, and the next falsely accuse them of stealing from him. Joseph was holding back from letting go. There was within him a cry for revenge and a cry to love.


Which did he choose? Did Joseph finally break free?


Stay tuned!





WHAT IS NEXT?

Letting go! Part 2

All throughout my Christian walk, I have heard many messages that have used Joseph to exemplify forgiveness and the need to be void of resentment and bitterness.


However, a microscopic study of Joseph's life shows traits of resentment and bitterness towards his brothers. We can only then imagine what he might have done to Potiphar and his wife when he finally became lord over them, and even their supply of food depended on him.


When the very ten sons of Jacob who had connived and sold him into slavery, approached him to buy food, Joseph recognised them. If Joseph was indeed not full of bitterness, he would have readily embraced them and revealed who he was to his brothers. But the pain and hurt in his human heart led him to show them 'where power lies.' To Joseph, his present situation was a perfect place and position to serve his brothers their just desserts.


And how invigorating to his hurt and bitter heart it was to speak harshly to his brothers, and to throw them behind bars for three days. Intermittently, his pain and bitterness was exposed as he hid and wept. Those tears, I reckon, used to be his daily routine in his time of pain and trials. When everything was so unfair. When often he wondered what was happening to him. As he tried to figure out why he had so many enemies.


Joseph was a good and godly man, but was sore at heart, and rightfully so! How many times do we as Christians pretend not to be hurt when indeed we are so pained. We are so often reminded to be forgiving that we feel condemned when we show bitter feelings. But truth is, even God bitterly expresses His pain and hurt when we choose to betray Him and walk in sin.


To be hurt and bitter after being badly hurt can be understandable. However, there is a greater force called love that can seat us above bitterness and hurt. As Joseph dealt with his brothers, he dangled between love and bitterness. The love in his heart made him show kindness to his brothers by returning their monies in their sacks.


Keep tuned as we study how Joseph eventually let go.






WHAT IS NEXT?

Letting go! Part 1

Joseph was a happy teenager, very much loved by his father who made for him a coat of many colours. He was a dreamer and quite talkative, I suppose. He freely shared his dreams of becoming great with his family. His heart was full of love - love for God, and love for man.


As innocent and pure as his heart was, he hated no one and expected same. But we live in a wicked world, where evil people dwell, and who can and may scheme against us. Joseph disregarded the truth that certain people harboured jealousy and enviness in their hearts. He learnt this painful truth when his own brothers tried to kill him, and eventually sold him as a slave.


As a slave, he learnt how cruel man could be as he laboured away in slavery chores. He also got to know God's faithful love and favour as he enjoyed preferential treatment by Potiphar. Not long after this, life threw another ugly blow. Through Potiphar's wife, he learnt how people could freely embrace sin, and the lies and betrayal in the hearts of human beings.


He continued to enjoy God's constant love as he languished in prison for a wrong he did not do. He became the favourite of the prison warden. He was also used by God to interpret dreams that came true. And yet he had to learn the unfaithfulness of man. The King's butler forgot to fulfil his promise to make mention of him to help set him free.


Joseph had been there, seen it all, and got the 'T shirt.' He no longer trusted in man. Jeremiah 17:5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.


Just when Joseph let go trusting man, God came through for him. By unusual circumstances, he rose from a prisoner to the position of second in command of all Egypt. He wielded great power. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is where Joseph begun the second phase of his lesson on letting go.


Stay tuned.......












WHAT IS NEXT?

The simple hearted

Psalm 116:6 “The Lord protects the simple hearted; when I was in great need, He saved me” 

The simple hearted is one that has a child like heart - one that is not haughty, revengeful, arrogant, jealous or full of anger. The simple hearted is undefiled and pure in heart. The simple hearted does not seek to hurt back those who hurt her, is forgiving and meek. To such, God shall quickly turn and render help to.


Jesus said to his disciples - “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child. Matthew 18:3-4


Aside the childlike characteristics that we have described above of a simple hearted person, another most important trait of a simple hearted person is to be innocent of evil. Children are innocent of evil. To be like children, we must strive to do good and eschew evil ways, and even refrain from discussing evil.


Romans 16:19 Everyone has heard of your loyalty to the gospel, and for this reason I am happy about you. I want you to be wise about what is good, but innocent in what is evil.

Ephesians 5:3 Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you.


We must re-consider our ways and pray and act like David in Psalm 131:1-3 Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me. Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever!



WHAT IS NEXT

The heart God despises.

Psalm 51:17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.


God called David a man after his own heart, not because David's ways were perfect, but because he regarded God, and respected His voice and choices.


When Saul pursued David wrongfully, David still held Saul in high esteem as God's chosen and anointed and therefore laid not a hand on him. Saul on the other hand was not ready to lay aside his choice for God's, and rather fought God and his servant, David.


God accepted David and rejected Saul. For God despised Saul's heart. Saul did not have a broken and contrite spirit. Saul cared about himself than the welfare of God. He did not mind giving excuses when God warned and rebuked him through Samuel. David on the other hand, as human as he was, accepted his mistakes and sins, and with brokenness of heart and spirit repented when rebuked.


The fiances of Lot's daughters in Sodom and Gomorrah mocked at God's warning to destroy their city because of their sin. Contrarily, the people of Nineveh repented profusely when God warned them by Jonah. God destroyed the fiances of Lot's daughters but spared Nineveh. This is because God despises an unbroken and unrepentant heart.


God loves the sinner but hates sin. If we continue to disregard Him and His voice, we are headed for destruction, for He despises a heart that disregards Him. However if our hearts melt at His Word, and with brokenness of heart and spirit regard Him and repent, He shall be gracious to us, forgive us and heal us.





WHAT IS NEXT?

Love elevates!

Key scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Jesus came to Earth out of love for the World. His ministry and submission to God was borne out of love. Jesus died on a cross out of love for a world that needed salvation.



Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 


God is calling us who follow Jesus to love like He loved. Love should make us endure unfair treatments and unnecessary shame just like Jesus did.


In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!


This kind of love that places others before us is a type that elevates. This love if in our hearts pleases God who in return shall reward us accordingly here on Earth, and/or in the hereafter.


Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. 










WHAT IS NEXT?

A greater call to love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.


This world can bring us pain, great pain. Jesus said"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” John 16:33. We may face cruelty at the hands of loved ones and strangers alike. We will come across situations where we must either endorse a lie and be embraced, or speak the truth and be dejected. We would come across incorrigible characters, crafty people, angry folks who will literally try our patience, and try our patience, and try our patience until we feel at the end of our tether.


Certain situations we find ourselves in could be demeaning and certain people may take advantage of our kindness and treat us in a condescending way. Oh how easy it is to lose our cool at irritable things, but God is calling us to a higher place of love, where we have to try our best to endure irritability as love is not irritable or resentful. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It is time to move into this greater power of love.

1 Peter 1:22  Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Precious trust

Abraham led Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him to God. He believed in obeying God even though it would cost him his greatest treasure in life. Such beautiful trust!


The widow who gave her widow's mite gave all she had to offer. She simply trusted God to take care of her.


Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose death over idolatry.  They offered their very lives to serve God.


Our call to serve God must be grounded on trust and faith. We ought to believe He is, and shall reward us as we trust Him, obey Him and love Him.


Will you still serve God even if you lose many loved ones and your physical possessions like Job did? Do you equate your love for God based on what you get from Him?


Ask yourself whether you are building your faith on a strong foundation or not. For the storms of live may strike, and then your foundation will be exposed.


Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.





WHAT IS NEXT?

Jesus, our anchor!

Hebrews 6:19-20 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.


When Jesus died on a cross, the curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn into two. This was symbolic of Christ's death paving way for us to be reconciled with God. Jesus acted as the final High Priest to sacrifice on behalf of our sins. He sacrificed his own life for us to find peace with God.


Now, we can be certain to come boldly to God's throne and find help when we are in need - Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16


Also, we need not despair, no matter what life throws at us, we are sure of an expected good end through Christ Jesus. Our inheritance is secure, for we are seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus -Ephesians 2:6. We are therefore anchored to God through Jesus. We are co- heirs with Jesus. Our father owns Heaven and Earth.... therefore nothing should bother us on Earth.







WHAT IS NEXT?

A Strong Foundation

Life can bring fierce storms for us to weather. Whether we can or cannot depends on the foundation we have built in life. Just like a building with a weak foundation may face collapse in the face of a gale, so will a heart that is shallow in belief and faith.


When David was pursued by His enemy, he survived because he trusted in a Supreme being and had faith in His ability to deliver
him.  Job trusted God even though he was disappointed at the treatment being meted out to him. Joseph never lost faith in God in spite of what he suffered.


We will be tested in life, and tried by diverse circumstances. Our tenacity depends on our positivity intake. A positive outlook during difficult times does not just happen. It depends on what we feed our minds and heart on.


Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Fill your heart with positive beliefs and words to create optimism. Let your heart know peace and eschew strife. Let it love forgiveness. Do away with bitterness.
Embrace love and refrain from hatred. Be happy for others and avoid jealousy and selfishness. Learn to be content, work hard and dream big always.


If you envelope all these in a patient and grateful heart, you would have built a strong foundation for your life and any battle you may encounter.




WHAT IS NEXT?

Say what you want to see.

In Numbers 13-14, we read about the twelve spies that Moses sent to spy the promised land. Ten of them came back with a bad report - But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. 
“We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 


However, two of them by name Caleb and Joshua chose to give a positive report - Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”


God was very unhappy that the ten spies and a greater number of Israelites disbelieved His power to save them, so He made sure they died before entering the promised land. On the other hand, Caleb and Joshua who spoke positively were able to enter the promised Land according to God's Word - Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.


Caleb and Joshua got what they said they will get - God helped them to possess the promised land in accordance to their faith and words. Speak what you want to see. Say what you want to get. Your words will make or mar you. So watch them!



















WHAT IS NEXT?

Dwell on good things

Job 3:25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

When calamity struck Job, he uttered his fears. He had harboured those fears mentally. His fears had come home to roost.  Thoughts become things! Thoughts are like negatives that develop into pictures.

Job pictured losing everything he owned. He pictured being deserted by his loved ones. Eventually his fears came to pass.

We ought to picture good things happening to us.  Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

WHAT IS NEXT?

The creative power of thoughts.

Mark 5:24-29  A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.


We become our thoughts - Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Whatever we think is what we will attract. What we dwell on in thoughts, we tend to act it, and/or attract it. The above woman with the issue of blood believed in her mind that if she touched Jesus's clothes she will be healed. She acted upon her thoughts and touched His clothes, and instantly she was healed. She attracted her thoughts.


Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.


What we think in our hearts and believe God to do, He shall do. When we ask Him in prayer to do it, He will do it. We must only believe, think positively and act appropriately where needed!





WHAT IS NEXT?

The humble act of seeking God

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

As human beings, God has given us our will power to choose to put Him first in our lives, or not. We are daily saddled with physical responsibilities - family, work, personal, et cetera. To make room for God in our schedule takes great sacrifice. God sees this kind of sacrifice as an act of humility. Seeking God takes giving up other things that you would normally have considered important. It requires saying to yourself - "all other things can wait. This is priority!"

When we decide to place God in first place, we automatically allow God into our lives. This places our human desires in second place. God is exalted, and we are humbled. As we seek God, He breaks us up like a fallow ground that needs breaking up to be fertile. God convicts us of our sins in His presence, and when we succumb to His conviction, and turn from our wicked ways, He then looks upon us with compassion and love. Reaches out to us to forgive us, heal our land and restore us.

Many lives are barren. They are unable to bear good fruits of righteousness. Lots of nations across the World stand unfruitful. They are bearing fruits of economic hardships and crime. If you and I shall arise and seek God for our very lives, and for that of others as well as for nations, God shall bring His forgiveness and fruitfulness to bear.

Press on the upward way of humility and cause great change through God's power. For one shall chase a thousand- Joshua 23:10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.





WHAT IS NEXT?

The heart that appeals to God - Part 2

1 Samuel 15

When Saul sinned and Samuel was sent to him, Saul acted as if he had done nothing wrong - 1 Samuel 15:13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

The instruction Saul referred to was -This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” 1 Samuel 15:1-3

Saul had partially obeyed God, he tried to cover his sin and kept insisting he had fully obeyed God - But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.  The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

Saul chose to keep Agag the king of the Amalekites, as well as some of the sheep and cattle of the Amalekites. This was a clear violation of the instructions God had given him, and yet he strutted around, piously professing obedience to God. God detests such behaviour. He cannot stand pretense. He said in His Word - Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

Saul's heart of pretense did not appeal to God. Saul was more concerned in proving himself to his fellow men. 1 Samuel 15:30  Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” Contrarily, David was a man that put God before men. He danced before the Lord for all and sundry to see -2 Samuel 6:14-16. When Nathan confronted him about his sin, he fasted in repentance before all his men.

God appreciates a broken and contrite heart. A heart that readily repents of sin, and which strives to please Him. God loves the heart that puts Him before men, and chooses Him over pleasing men.  









WHAT IS NEXT?

The heart that appeals to God

Adam and Eve sinned against God. When God confronted them, they came up with one excuse after the other. They did not do the decent thing of apologising and asking for forgiveness.

David sinned against God and when God sent Nathan to confront him, he readily accepted his mistakes. David did not for a second give an excuse. After all he was the King and had great power. He was seduced by Bathsheba who chose to bath outside. He never said you know what, I am a man with feelings and can go astray.

Instead he admitted his sin and acknowledged having sinned against God by doing evil to his fellow man. At this time in David's life, he realised one very important characteristic of God - Psalm 51:17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

David had discovered what his predecessor, Saul did not know. God knows we are mere mortals and can sin. However, He loves a heart that accepts upfront his/her sin and turns from it. God detests excuses for sin, and abhors the heart that sets out to willingly disobey Him when it knows His truth.




WHAT IS NEXT?

Shut the mouth of fear and doubt!

Zechariah was a righteous priest of God. He had faith in God and prayed to Him, as well as served in God's temple.


God deemed it fit to reward his righteousness and to answer his prayer, so He sent His angel Gabriel to Zechariah - Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.


The righteous Zechariah was expected to praise God who had answered his prayer.  Contrarily, he chose to allow fear and doubt to take over. Zechariah who was filled with fear at the sudden appearance of the Angel Gabriel, lingered in fear, even though God had warned him not to.


Looking rather at his physical condition, rather than God's ability, Zechariah doubted God. Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”


When we pray, we must not doubt, nor continue to see the enormity of our physical problem as this will dwarf our faith. We should watch our words after we have prayed. We need to keep quiet over our human fears, and simply bask in God's good promise.


The angel of God shut Zechariah's mouth - the source of his doubt and fear. Our fear can cripple our blessing and nip it in the bud. The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”


God is about to visit you - please shut the mouth of fear and doubt so that you can safely deliver your miracles.



WHAT IS NEXT?

The heart God loves

God described David as a man after his own heart. Acts 13:22  After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;he will do everything I want him to do.’


God loves a heart that loves Him and delights in Him, and in His Word. David was such a man. He was conscious of God in every area of his life, even as a shepherd tending sheep, he relied on God to fight wild animals that attacked his flock. He acknowledged God as his source of strength and being.


Excerpts from Psalm 119 :
I delight in your decrees;    I will not neglect your word.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth,    for I have put my hope in your laws.
You are my portion, Lord;    I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart;    be gracious to me according to your promise.


God is seeking for men that revere Him and obey Him. He wants both our profession of love for Him, and our actions to tally.

Can God say of you - he will do everything I want him to do.’




WHAT IS NEXT?

The Thankful Heart

The truly thankful heart gives thanks at all times - good or bad. Like Job, a very thankful heart praises God when He gives, or when He takes away.


1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


Daniel who loved to pray had his enemies plotting against him. Now he had been instructed not to pray. What he loved was being taken from him, and yet he gave thanks - Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 


Paul learnt to give thanks even in prison. He had a truly thankful heart. We must cultivate such a heart for it pleases God. Like Job, can we say - Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”


















WHAT IS NEXT?

Trusting God in grief.

We may lose a righteous man to death and ponder why God could not have prevented it. But Isaiah 57:1 comforts us - The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

God may take away a righteous man at an unexpected time. Though to man, it may seem God has let us down at such times, to God it may be necessary for the good of that one to be called to glory at such a time. God is wiser than man , and even His foolishness wiser than the wisdom of man. 

God  has good plans for us that work for our good. But fortunately and unfortunately it's the good and bad that work for our good. In the Kingdom of God, all things ( good and bad) work for our good. We ought to love God in spite of whatever happens to us. We must still have faith in Him whether in life and death. Whether God shows up or not, we must still serve Him. For our walk is by faith and not by sight. And we must love God not 'BECAUSE OF ' but 'IN SPITE OF.'

Apostle Paul best describes all I have shared today in Romans 8 - 

 ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

 ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

 ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

 ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

 ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AMEN AND AMEN!!!!!

WHAT IS NEXT?