May 3, 2017 |
“Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!” Psalm 148:13
In the Bible a name was not only identification but an identity as well
Many times a special meaning was attached to a name. Names had among other purposes an explanatory purpose e.g. Jabez 1 Chronicles 4; 9-10 “Because I bore him out of sorrows “Nabal is another example whose names means fool 1 Samuel 25:25.
In different cultures we give names based on meaning.
Does your name have a meaning or history to you?
Our text today says Praise the name of the Lord for HIS name is excellent
Throughout the scripture God reveals Himself to us through His names.
When we study these names the central personality and nature of the one who bears them become clearer to us.
Who is God to you?
Is He your most High God, All Sufficient one? Master, Lord of Peace, the Lord who will provide?
Is He your Father?
We must be careful not to make God an “it” or “thing” to which we pray.
HE is our Jehovah Raah, the Lord our shepherd.
God know us by name and we should know Him by His too
Friends do call each other special names that are known only to those circles of friends and once they hear that name they respond.
In sports as the cheerleader calls out the names and sing praises of the players they play better.
Husbands and wives call themselves special names based on their relationship to each other which makes effects on their relationship to each other.
“Hallow be your name.”
To hallow is to make holy or set apart as being worthy of absolute devotion .to hallow the name of God is to regard Him in that special revelation to you.
What intimate name do you call God?
Do you have that continuous personal relationship with Him ?
Who is God to you?
May 1, 2017 |
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“And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel;for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”Genesis 32:28
In the above verse Jacob became Israel. Earlier Jacob had recorded some successes before this time. He had through manipulation got his brother’s birthright .He had also deceived his father Isaac to get his blessings and he made it to Laban where they both outwit each other and by all means life was better for Jacob at the end of his contract with Laban
He had to return to his homeland and he realized he was going to face Esau then he was afraid that nemesis might catch up with him.
Then he had an encounter with God, which permanently changed his status with God and man.
You may have achieved some success in one-way or the other but do you really have that true blessings form God?
Are you living and fulfilling your purposeful life today?
Jacob knew that even before he was born God had purposed to bless him.
“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”. Romans 9:13
Jacob made up his mind to completely surrender his destiny to God and from that encounter not only his name changed his status also changed.
You too like Jacob may know what your destiny is supposed to be.
That purposeful life of yours can truly become a reality if you will totally yield your all to God almighty and let him from now on declare you like Israel that you have truly prevailed.
Apr 28, 2017 |
“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.” 1 Samuel 2:26
There should always be a balanced relationship with our spiritual growth and purposeful relationship with people.
As we can see from the life of Samuel, he grew in his personal relationship with God and the Israelites that he judged at that time.
Samuel was current with God and with the people.
Somehow today some of us are so close to God we do not have relationship with people while some are so close to the people that we completely depend on what people say to take action on any issue.
The Bible makes it clear that we cannot claim we love God and yet do not love the people created in HIS image.
Being spiritual is not an excuse to look down on other people and parade in spiritual arrogance.
It was also recorded of our Lord Jesus Christ that “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” Luke 2:52
Today let us challenge ourselves to maintain a proper balance between our relationship with God and the people HE has assigned us to.
Samuel could say at the end of his ministry that even though he was close to them but he never abused that relationship. “Now testify against me in the presence of the LORD and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.” 1 Samuel 12:3
How many can stand today like Samuel did and make such declaration?
Examine yourself today to be sure that you are close to God and also blameless before the people.
Samuel did it, Jesus did it and Apostle Paul could also make such bold declaration when he said I have fought a good fight of faith.
Today lets perfect our walk with God so that we can continually grow in favor with the Lord and with people
Apr 26, 2017 |
“Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” Act 8:13,18-24
There are still the likes of Simon the sorcerer in our churches today daily exploiting the church to make personal gain.
They are into every move of God in the church, searching only for the spectacular in every meeting thinking money can get them the gifts of God to use for personal glorification
Unfortunately we don’t have so much of Apostle Peter who quickly and truthfully discerned by the Holy Spirit what was wrong and arrested the situation.
The Simon the sorcerer today is leading some in the church astray by using money to buy leadership positions thereby perverting and commercializing the gospel.
The challenge for us today as true believers is that do we recognize this evil in the midst of God’s people and have grace to stop such wrong move in the church?
It’s not everybody that follows the Evangelist /Pastor everywhere that has the pure motive of serving God.
In the above verses the laying on of hands for the gifts of God were for true believers who will genuinely do the work of God but Simon the sorcerer wanted to lay his own hands on anyone that can pay the right price.
Today the Simon the Sorcerer has gotten the ability and now gives gifts and titles to anyone in the church.
No wonder people are confused with people bearing Christian titles but no manifestation of the true power of God in their lives.
Check the fruits of their lives first don’t just get deceived by the long titles and advertised gifts they claim they can do.
Today be like the true Apostle Peter to discern and put a stop to the sorcerer and sorceress that are now mingling in the church of God.
By the power of the Holy Spirit let us truthfully discern the motives of those around us seeking to have the ability to do the things of God but have no genuine personal relationship with God.
When a believer is true to God he or she will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to manifest HIS gifts for HIS own purpose alone and not for exploitation
Apr 24, 2017 |
” And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.
And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:15-6.
Naomi, Ruth’s mother in law had seen so much of tragedies and failures that made her put limitations of what God can do and had resolved to just fold her hands in an all hope is lost attitude.
Ruth had inner convictions while Naomi was looking at the facts of life what we sometimes call the empirical evidence.
Apparently Naomi had knowledge of Yahweh that she and her late husband shared with their two sons from where Ruth as a wife to one of the sons had a purposeful encounter with the God of destiny.
Ruth in the verse above positively confessed that Naomi’s people shall be her people and she knew inside of her that her journey to purposeful fulfillment of her life destiny was in following Naomi to connect with her people.
She did not allow the incidents of the death of her father in-law, her husband and his brother to shake her off her God given destiny.
How are we today allowing one or two incidents to derail our God given destiny?
One experience of disappointment had made some people walk out of marriage, business and personal relationships. Yet clearly at the beginning you know what God has clearly told you about the relationship.
We do easily find offence with the church, pastor or ministry where God has specifically assigned us to blossom and be fulfilled.
It could even be an idea that heaven has revealed to us that will prosper us but two or three disappointments has made us to abandon that dream.
To some it might be failure of an examination and you had given up on the career and profession altogether.
Today I want to remind you of the inner conviction of Ruth that made her stay true and because she believed, confessed and acted on her purpose, her life today is linked with the lineage of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Many Christians today wrongly completely depend on the social media to form opinions and take life crucial decisions that should be bible based .
Are you one of them ?
Let God be your guide ,search the scriptures and spend time in prayers.
Be like Ruth and stay true to your destiny and do not limit yourself to the current circumstances of life like Naomi initially did.
Apr 21, 2017 |
“One day in the eighteenth year of his kingship, King Josiah sent the royal secretary Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to The Temple of God with instructions: “Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought to The Temple of God that the doormen have collected from the people. Have them turn it over to the foremen who are managing the work on The Temple of God so they can pay the workers who are repairing God’s Temple, all the carpenters, construction workers, and masons. Also, authorize them to buy the lumber and dressed stone for The Temple repairs. You don’t need to get a receipt for the money you give them—they’re all honest men.” 2 Kings 22, 3-7
This is the testimony of King Josiah about the priests and the foremen who were handling the construction of the temple. “You don’t need to get a receipt for the money you give them—they’re all honest men.”
What type of testimony can be given about you as you handle money?
Can you be described as honest and a receipt is not required for all the money given to you?
Your reasoning is that that maybe they were honest because they were handling God’s money?
How do you today handle God’s money especially designated money for specific projects?
Can you be trusted with any form of money?
Whether the money is for the public, church or family we are required to be honest and accountable.
Do you still struggle to pay your tithes and give to the poor?
It has often be said that mankind has 3 principal areas of tests namely money, sex and power. How do you fair in these areas?
God’s desire for us is to be trusted in all areas of our life.
Money for the temple work was given in the above story with full assurance that those men will deliver on their given assignments.
Are you delivering on your God given assignments including money?
Do people trust you with their money?
The Bible encourages us to examine ourselves daily in the faith.
If your handling of money is examined what report will we find?
Let us rise to the challenge of being accountable and it can be said of you too that you are an honest person and whatever is entrusted to you can be relied upon
