Monday 30 December 2013

The Scenery Behind the Scenes

Hello Friends!

This is definitely going to be my last post for year 2013. Since I started this blog in February of this year , I have been so overwhelmed by the amount of response and feedback I have received. They have kept me going on and I am particularly grateful to God; my never ending source of inspiration; He indeed has made my heart and mouth like the pen of a ready writer. I say a big thank you for everyone who has read and shared my posts. I appreciate you greatly.

Have you ever watched movies that keep you on the edge of your seat and make you very apprehensive?  I used to freak out whenever I watched thrillers. I won't forget easily my experience watching the action series; 24. I got so engrossed and caught up in it that I would always have palpitations whenever I saw it. Anyway, not until I started to watch the Behind the scene productions of movies did I realize that I needed not to have allowed my adrenaline rise for anything. The goriest , suspense filled part of the movies were all being acted out and when it seems as though there was an actor threading on a dangerous ground all alone,, there were scores of other people behind the cameras that we would not see# phew! Ever since that dawned on me, I never allowed movies to get me agitated. 



For someone who’s gone through so much this year, this is for you. For that person who seems to wonder what the essence of life as a result of debilitating circumstances, this is for you. Whoever is wondering why prophecies are not manifesting should read this. For that other person who’s doing introspection on how the upcoming year should be a better one and the best so far, you might want to read this to know what stance you need to take.

Friend, the trials you are facing in life is not new under the sun. Sometimes, when you are faced with a battalion of unfavourable circumstances, it is easy to think that no one could ever have had things so bad in life as you are but the bible; in 1st Cor 10: 13 tells us that “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.(Message Version). Be it as it may, there are the behind-the-scenes events  for everyone's life and every individual decides who calls the shots or whose shots He will obey. Without exalting the devil in anyway, we must realize he is doing all he can to gain control of the "production" of every life; whether Christian or not.

That there is war in your life is not new to God, as at some point there was war in heaven; God's own territory. Against even his creator, Satan waged war.
 It would surprise you that the enemy we are contending with does not care or respect anyone. He is always on the offensive and wherever you find opposition, contention, and any evil machination, the devil is there. Chaos is his trademark and that is what has been his primary occupation from way back.
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:7, 9 NKJV)


When pride was found in the devil, he needed to be ejected but he never wanted to leave.  Heaven is God’s residence, yet the devil; after he rebelled wanted to continue to remain there. If you don't resist the devil, he would want to continue to illegally possess what is yours. If he fought God concerning heaven, why won't he fight you?  Ephesians 4: 27 says “Give no place to the devil”! Don’t give him a foothold in your life. If you hold on to your faith and the victory that Christ has secured on the cross of Calvary, the devil knows you will win and so therefore will fight you to a hilt with every drop of his blood (if he has any).

As the year runs to an end, it’s a good time to take stock and re-strategize for the upcoming year. One thing I’ll like to remind us about is the fact that life is a battlefield; a battlefield with predictable and mostly unpredictable circumstances. You sometimes never know where the next shot is going to come from but you just have to always be on your toes. In a battlefield, actions and inactions are deliberate and every step must be well calculated. You won’t find anyone strolling casually and whoever does, does that at his peril. To succeed in life, we must have a soldier’s mentality and a battle-mind. An article I read which relates to preparing soldiers for war describes a battle mind as “a Soldier’s inner strength to face fear and adversity during combat, with courage.  It is the will to persevere and win.  It is resilience”. According to the same article, a soldier must-

·         Meet challenges head on.
·         Maintain his mental toughness.
·         Take calculated risks. 
·         Be self-confident.
·         Maintain positive thinking during times of adversity and challenge

Now to the good news!

In Christ, you are an overcomer. Revelations 12 in verse 11 says - And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Whatever it is you are contending for in life, Believe that God has done it already. You have been bought with a price and you are to glorify God in your spirit and body, which are God’s. Anything challenging your existence is not as potent at that precious blood shed on the cross and so therefore has to bow; if you won’t bow to it. Whatever package you desire from God has been totally paid for. Isaiah 53: 3-6 says He bore our reproach, our sicknesses, and disfigurements. Your warfare against sickness, poverty, failure, lack is already accomplished. John 19:30. (So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.)

As Christians, we fight from victory and not for victory. Any truth of the word you accept will face test and trials. It will stand the test of time. Just hold on to it. Stand your ground.There's nothing God has given or will give you that the enemy won't contend with you for. Hold your faith and a good conscience. ... You overcome by the word of your testimonies and the blood of the lamb.


See you in 2014 and remember, you decide who calls the shots!

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour yet? If you don’t, then say the prayers Here.

The Pen.....

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Let's Delve into "Twelve" in the Scriptures

The twelfth month is usually a time of thanksgiving, celebration, giving of gifts and it connotes the end of a year.  It’s a good time to look back and appreciate what God has done in the outgoing year and look forward to endless possibilities in the New Year. All over the world, Christmas Celebration is in the air already and we must not forget the essence of Christmas- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son". That’s why Christmas is synonymous to giving. This period, let’s extend our love to not only those we know but the many people out there who for one reason or the other are not able or can’t afford to celebrate Christmas.


We see from the scriptures that God our Father has always been a Giver. When He created Adam, he breathed into Him His very own Life. He was willing to share part of what made Him God with man and He said “let us create man in our image”. In spite of the decadence we see in the human society, we must never lose sight of the fact that we have been created in His image. That mindset will help us overcome whatever it is life hurls at us. God saw darkness in Genesis chapter 1 and it did not deter him- He spoke and there was light. If he had hesitated, you and I won’t be here today. He can’t be deterred anyway, He is the Almighty! 

So I wonder what it is about 12 in the bible.  All through the Old Testament; right from the book of Genesis and into the New Testament unto the book of Revelation, we see that figure appearing again and again.
  • We see the 12 tribes of Israel.
  • We see that following the exodus, Moses built 12 pillars on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:4).
  • We see 12 stones being set as a memorial after the Jordan River was crossed (Joshua 4:3). 
  • We see that 12 stones were attached to the breastplate of the priestly garments bearing the names of the twelve tribes (Exodus 39:8-14).
  • We see the 12 spies sent to spy the land of Canaan (Deut 1:23)
  • We see Jesus appearing and speaking his first words at the temple at age 12(Luke 2:42)
  • We see Jesus choose 12 people as His disciples.
  • We see the Woman with the issue of blood of 12 years healed(Luke 8:43).
  • We see the 12 year old daughter of Jarius raised from the dead.
  • We see 12 basketful of remnants packed after Jesus fed the multitude( Mark 6:37).
  • We see the 12 gates twelve gates to the city on New Jerusalem, 12 angels as gatekeepers and the names of the 12 tribes written on the gates. The gates are 12 pearls and the wall will be on 12 foundations which bear the names of the twelve apostles (Revelation 21: 12).
  • We see the tree of life will bear 12 kinds of fruit for the twelve months for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2).

Monday 9 December 2013

Martha's Hands, Mary's Mind.

 A picture of un-identical Twins from Medipharm.com

Seven billion people on earth, diverse races, different faces, yet God has made everybody unique with our different tendencies, personality and character and you know what? He loves every single one of us just as we are!
 
I love to do a study of characters in the bible and I believe that for every one mentioned, even if it’s in one single verse of the scriptures, they are mentioned for a reason and there always will be something to learn from them.
Two ladies that come to mind this morning are the sisters of Lazarus; the friend of Jesus that was raised from the dead. That family was especially close to Jesus and He loved them dearly.
Only a few people had the rare privilege of having Jesus come visit them in their homes. We recollect He was at Peter's house and He raised His mother in law from fever, He was at Zacchaeus's house and also at the house of the siblings known as Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” (Luke 10:38, 40 NKJV).

We see that Jesus was quite close to them as he was going to have lunch in their home, but as usual; never losing focus on what He was sent to do, He started to teach whilst waiting for food. Someone needed to get lunch ready and we see Martha playing the perfect hostess. That was her core area; doing what she loved doing; organizing things, setting up for events, catering, etc. She just had a knack for doing all of those things and ensuring everything was hunky dory . So whilst Jesus was teaching, with Mary at His feet, aptly learning,  Martha was all over the house, putting everything in place to make the Master comfortable. She couldn't hide her disgust when her sister refused to lend a helping hand and she blurted out in anger asking why Jesus would allow her sister sit at His feet whilst she was cooking and getting the table set. 

We can conclude easily that Martha was the outgoing one. She probably met Jesus at a crusade and being an extrovert she was, she was able to convince him to come to her house where her sister was as well. On the other hand, we see a more introverted Mary whose priority was feeding on the word and building herself up spiritually. She wasn't a hands-on person but more of an intellectual and into herself kind of person. Jesus must have gone to their house several times but on two out of the three recorded occasions when Jesus came into their house (the third was when Jesus came to raise Lazarus from death), she was always with Him, learning, asking and answering questions and reasoning with him . She was always found at the feet of Jesus.

There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. (John 12:2, 3 NKJV).

Mary did something so significant and unforgettable that landed her recognition in the bible and for which eternity will remember her for. She broke a box of oil that could have been sold and anointed Jesus with it. She did not only anoint Jesus but the fragrance of her act affected the entire house including everyone sitting in there as the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. The oil was an expensive one and it might have costed a fortune but she knew what mattered was giving her best to her Master, Her lover. She might not have been able to cook but she knew what to do to touch the Saviour’s  heart and that she did. We however see Martha doing again what she knew how to do best; serving.

4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”(John 12/;4-8)




Wednesday 4 December 2013

Inspiring things I see in Isaac.....

Hello everyone!

As the year wraps up, it’s a good time to reflect on what God has done for us in the course of the year. A faithful God He is! You might not be where you want to be, be rest assured that with God in the equation, you are doing just fine... Be grateful!



 In this post, we will be doing a character study on the life of Isaac. Something in the scriptures caught my attention lately and it is the fact that, of the three patriarchs in the Bible, only Isaac didn't have his name changed. We remember Abram had his name changed to Abraham whilst Jacob to Israel; both men by God, however, Isaac didn't have any need to change names because God gave Abraham his father a name for him when he had not even been born. “Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. Genesis 17:19

Isaac was the first(after Adam) amongst the few persons recorded in the Bible that God named. When you are named by God, there's never any need to have your name changed. He names you by What He has purposed for you. For you and I, God may not have appeared to our parents to give a specific name for us but  Hallelujah, we have a God, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth have been named( Eph 3:115)

So back to Isaac's story, I got motivated to study his life beyond the surface. Such a great man he was. As earlier pointed out, of the three patriarchs, he din't have his name changed, He didn't move out of Canaan all through his life and he lived longer in age than the other two patriarchs. I realized also, that there were fewer incidents in his life compared to his father’s and his son’s –Jacob yet he lived a successful life. T
he man was kind of a subtle but powerful character.

 I have picked out 8 distinct things (8 Ps') in his life that made him such an iconic person.

1. Pampered (but not spoilt)

To a large extent, from childhood, He was someone who had everything already prepared for him. He simply entered into the harvest of his father’s labor. Right from his early days, he enjoyed a lot of attention and love.  We remember his father throwing a feast for him when he was weaned and because his half-brother- Ishmael mocked him, He was literally banished alongside his mother Hagar. His father had paid a price for him and all he had to do was to enjoy God’s blessings. He was a pampered boy but he wasn't a spoilt brat.

When the time came for Marriage, he sat at home whilst his father's servant went searching for a wife for him. God was merciful to him; he got a blessed, God-fearing   and favoured woman without taking a step out of his home.

And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east. (Genesis 25:5, 6 NKJV).

Lesson 1 : Never take for granted whatever God has blessed you with. Make good use of it.


2. Prosperous
He inherited all His father gave him, yet God blessed him immensely. Not just because of the promises of God, he worked hard also. He didn't go to sleep with all he inherited. He was hard-working; sowed in the land and reaped a hundred fold. He had servants and he made good use of their services.  It was apparent he had the genes of prosperity in him; nonetheless by being hard-working, he enjoyed God’s blessings maximally.

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-14 NKJV).

And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi. (Genesis 25:11 NKJV)

Lesson 2: When God is with with you, whatever it is you lay your hands on will prosper. Don't be deterred by your current circumstances. Keep moving!


3. Promised Child
Abraham his Father was someone who walked with God. We know him as the father of faith and a friend of God. God gave Him an assurance, a promise 25 years before Isaac came that He was going to give him a seed in the person of Isaac. Like I earlier mentioned, God gave his name even before he was born. He was prepared for such a time as that and being promised many years ahead of time, He came just at God’s appointed time.

Lesson 3: You are a promise to your generation and generations unborn. Do not fail them!

4. Purposeful
He had a specific purpose; as revealed before He came into the world. He was the seed of Abraham in whom all the earth would be blessed.  God had successive interest in him and He was an object of God's special interest. He understood this and obeyed God to the letter. When God told him not to move away from Gerar in the time of famine, he didn't struggle with the instruction, he promptly obeyed. We understand the purpose of Isaac's life when God demanded that Abraham sacrificed Isaac, his beloved child; typifying what God Himself was going to do with Christ- He was going to send His only begotten Son; Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Isn't it amazing that God called Isaac Abraham’s “only son” ? Look at the scripture below.
Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”(Gen22:2)

Lesson 4: Have you identified why you are here? The secret to achievement lies therein!