Aug 23, 2017 |
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1
Once upon a time it was a glorious thing to be called the name born again Christian.
It was a distinct identity that stands you out as separate from the world of sin and corruption.
Even though the name came with added persecutions but the true identity of the person was never in doubt.
The world knew then that whoever voluntarily took that decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and become born again was ready to carry the cross of Jesus Christ.
The name Born again was a good name to bear.
Today that name born again Christian has lost its meaning and impact on the world. When you hear the name today even amongst the community of true believers its like lets “wait and see approach “.
So many fakes, I mean so many false born again had saturated the world that the good name that had attended to that name is literarily lost.
Today when someone gives his or her life to Christ they are called with the name of the Christian group that has won them for Christ. Rather than be called a born again Christian we call them a Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal, Redeemer, Winner, Fousquarian, Apostolic etc.
Born again Christian is now defined according to the “culture” of the group that is cultivating the Christian product and we no longer have a clear good name of being born again.
What about looking for a born again business man, businesswoman, teacher, caterer, engineer etc.? You are much more comfortable to do business with somebody that is simply a professional in the field of your need rather than look for that good name born again.
Where has that identity and distinction that characterized the first set of followers in Antioch gone?
“It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” Acts 11:26
What are you doing today to that good name “born again Christian”?
Aug 21, 2017 |
“And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
I was driving my younger son to school when we encountered a detour with no clear alternative route to take to the destination. Unfortunately the GPS could not help because it kept redirecting me back to the closed road each time I tried to go around the blocked way. I noticed some other cars going around and trying to circle around the blocked highway and their previous knowledge of the road kept could not get them pass that point too.
I then imagined what life could be when you are on a clear direction following given instructions and all of a sudden there is an encounter that was not part of the planned journey of life.
What do you do when you encounter such an obstacle in life that you cannot figure out what to do immediately because your experience and knowledge did not predict such outcome?
Complete and total reliance on God help us to navigate around such encounters
HE says you will hear a voice behind you that will direct your paths and actually tell you what your next move should be.
No matter what issue in life you may be going through and there seem to be a misstep.
Don’t panic get back to God and HE will practically walk you through the challenge telling you what to and how to turn you to go left or right.
“Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he’ll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he’ll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: “This is the right road. Walk down this road.” You’ll scrap your expensive and fashionable god-images. You’ll throw them in the trash as so much garbage, saying, “Good riddance!” Isaiah 30:19-22.
When things don’t go as scheduled please ask God.
When your programmed “GPS” fails you He will guide you through.
HE will never leave nor forsake you .
Aug 16, 2017 |
“When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.” Matthew 9:23-26
Determine today to put the noise and the crowds around your awaiting miracle out and truly focus on Jesus in order to receive your miracle.
The ruler in the above story could have been emotionally trapped with the noise and the crowd that told him the daughter was dead but he listened attentively to Jesus and moved beyond the crowd and the noise.
Furthermore he had to drive them away on Jesus’s instructions.
There could be a lot of “noise and crowd” around your situation and you are listening and analyzing them.
The noisome wailing around the situation is always welcoming to your human flesh and soul.
It gives you a sense of connection to the reality of the situation.
However remember that you are first and foremost a spiritual person that must walk in the supernatural.
To walk and receive in the supernatural you have to do what Jesus did.
Jesus went in and followed the Fathers instructions to Him and the miracle happened.
Make up your mind today to believe the report of the Almighty God.
Don’t believe the report of those who say they are like grasshoppers and the giants cannot be defeated.
Be like Joshua and Caleb and with faith and positive confession possess yourpromised land.
Today follow Jesus all the way don’t get distracted with the noise and the crowd around your situation.
Go Spiritual.
God made you in His Image as an overcomer.
Whatever you have started based on HIS word HE is able to accomplish.
Aug 14, 2017 |
Obadiah said, “But what have I done to deserve this? Ahab will kill me. As surely as your God lives, there isn’t a country or kingdom where my master hasn’t sent out search parties looking for you. And if they said, ‘We can’t find him; we’ve looked high and low,’ he would make that country or kingdom swear that you were not to be found. And now you’re telling me, ‘Go and tell your master Elijah’s found!’ The minute I leave you the Spirit of God will whisk you away to who knows where. Then when I report to Ahab, you’ll have disappeared and Ahab will kill me. And I’ve served God devoutly since I was a boy! Hasn’t anyone told you what I did when Jezebel was out to kill the prophets of God, how I risked my life by hiding a hundred of them, fifty to a cave, and made sure they got food and water? And now you’re telling me to draw attention to myself by announcing to my master, ‘Elijah’s been found.’ Why, he’ll kill me for sure.” 1 Kings 18:9-14
Are you lately in a situation like Obadiah was and you are saying to yourself what have you done to deserve this?
You have served God to the best of your ability but the results you get are not matching your expectations? .
It appears that rather than God showing up HE is requesting you to do more risky of foolish things that will further make more mockery of your faith?
You are not alone in what you are going through. Keep Holding on.
That encounter with Elijah resulted with manifestation of the victory God had purposed yet it required one more faithful obedience to God by Obadiah to facilitate this.
“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” Galatians 6:9
Don’t give up now. Consolidate your victory. Step out one more time in faith with God and like Elijah told Obadiah “ As the Lord of hosts lives, before Whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today.” 1 Kings 18:15
The Victory and the Reward is around the corner don’t give up.
Aug 11, 2017 |
”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”(Matthew 7:7)
Did you ever prayed? Do you like to pray? Do you want God to answer to your prayers?
I think that Jesus wants to teach some important things about prayers. I don’t know how do you pray, I don’t know how often do you pray, I don’t know what you’re praying about, but I know what Jesus wants us to learn.
In order to pray, we need to recognize our failure. Jesus starts saying: ”Ask”. When you don’t have something, you ask to receive that thing. This is what Jesus is saying this. First, you need to realise your needs, your failure. We are not perfect. We don’t know them all. We are very limited. We are weak. We are instable. We need so many things. Well, to all of this kind of people, Jesus said: ”Ask”. Erroneously we often say heaven help those who help themselves.This statement is not Biblical. God wants you to depend on HIM in the finished work of Grace.So ask
But not only this. It’s not enough only to ask. We have some responsibilities as well. First, we ask, but secondly we seek. This is a very important lesson. Not only to ask, but also to seek. What to seek? Jesus is telling us in chapter 6 from Gospel of Matthew to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. And in the prophets, God said that we will seek Him and we will find Him, if we will seek Him with all of our hearts.
And the last important thing that Jesus is teaching us in this passage, is that we need to have a permanent relationship with him. He says: ”Knock”. Remember Revelation 3:20? It’s all about a strong relationship with Him. A continuous relationship.
So, I’m asking you again: Do you want God’s answer to your prayers?
