Saturday, December 29, 2007
2008
2007 is about to forever go, time lost in it will never be recovered. I pray that as we enter 2008, we be able to fully understand and fulfill our God ordained purpose and destiny. May His grace, mercy, love, strength, compassion, wisdom, favor, fear, understanding, glory and provision abound in 2008 and balance of our days in this life. Let our eyes be opened that we may see clearly beyond the natural but into the spiritual and into the future. May the benefits of Psalms 20, 23 & 91 be all ours. I love and appreciate you in my life. Stay awake to and in God’s full blessing and best.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
Daniel 11v32, “And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert {and} seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong {and} shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].
Jeremiah 9v24, “But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord”
Malachi 3v6, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Malachi 3v13-18, “Your words have been strong {and} hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily {and} as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts? And now we consider the proud {and} arrogant to be happy {and} favored; evildoers are exalted {and} prosper; yes, and when they test God, they escape [unpunished]. Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced {and} worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name. And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize {and} openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him.”
What is knowing God & What can we about Him?
•It is knowing and understating the full counsel of God. Knowing His attributes as revealed in His Word, having fellowship and a personal relationship with Him.
How do you know God?
Psalms 119v99-100, “I have better understanding {and} deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].”
•Through the word
•Through personal fellowship or communion with Him
What are the benefits, proof or results of knowing God?
Psalms 91v14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows {and} understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
Ps 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
Psalms 145v8-11, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy {and} loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]! They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,”
What kind of generation are we?
•Judges 2v10, “And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers, and there arose another generation after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, or even the work which He had done for Israel.”
•With generations coming and going, the true knowledge of God gets diluted and some of the things get lost.
•There are things and the knowledge about God that seem to prevail in different generations
•It seems the devil through ignorance and excesses keeps one generation confined to few aspects about God without grasping the full package.
•We need to have a balanced understanding and knowledge of God and not move from extreme to extreme.
Examples of generational excesses
A) Holiness
•There was a generation that concentrated in holiness and was only concerned about that to the extent of them ignoring the other practical aspects of life.
•Holiness is a standard and requirement in our Christian walk but its not all there is to know and preach, there is more to the gospel than holy living! You can be biased and go to extreme about holiness and protecting holiness and forget to walk in love, mercy, compassion, etc. You may sin against God and other believers because of limited knowledge about “holiness”.
•I heard that long back in the church, there was a generation that would persecute or even kill those that claimed that the earth was round. Probably because the bible talks about the 4 corners of the earth!
B) Money, riches & success evil
•1Timothy 6v10, “For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray {and} have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.”
•Matthew 6v24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by {and} be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in)”
•There was a time in the church when riches, wealth and money was deemed sinful
•Those that believed could have been genuine but ignorant.
•Some believed that being poor was humble
•They believed in Christians not having fun and good life on earth. They did not even believe in academic excellence, etc
•You can be covetous and proud without money in your pocket!
C) Holy Spirit & tongues
•When the church discovered or rediscovered that we can have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, some went to extremes.
•People thought that if you spoke in tongues you had achieved all there is in the spiritual life
•They thought that if you did not speak in tongues or were not Spirit filled, you were not a Christian
•Some thought that if you spoke in tongues you would not sin or that was a sign of being holy
•Some went even to extremes of addressing the devil in tongues or casting out devils in tongues!
•Some thought medical science was not right, everything had to be done through the Spirit. If you did use reasoning in some things, you were carnal.
•Some went into extremes about prophecy and being by the Holy Spirit.
•Their emphasis was on being anointed and used by the Spirit even without living godly lives.
D) Sanctification
•Some believed and were out of balance about living consecrated lives
•They taught being set apart for God and not associate with the world
•You could not associate or befriend people who are not saved
•You could not get advice from sinners even your parents or relatives
•You were not supposed to marry as that was being carnal or of the flesh
•Some felt so spiritual that they forgot that they still lived in a natural body with desires and feelings
•Some young man would say, “I can sleep in the same blanket with a woman and not do anything”!
E) Being Called
•There came a time when every young person was called into ministry
•If you received a word of prophecy and had hands laid on you, you were ready to minister!
•Some dropped out of colleges, universities & companies because they were called.
•Imagine coming from a not so rich a family, your parents having sacrificed greatly raising your college fees and then with one year left to graduate, you drop out because God has called you!
•Some thought if called you did not need any qualification where you could, the Holy Spirit would lead!
F) Without Direction
•There arose another generation that was some how directionless
•They loved God, lived holy lives, studied the Word, but when you follow their lives, they aren’t going anywhere
•They are roaming around the mountain!
•They seem very content with nothing
•Their extreme could be complacency or laziness.
•The greatest dream they have is marriage and children!
•Most of the times their marriages are not enjoyable again, they are just enduring.
•They can’t challenge you with anything, they can’t motivate you, they are not progressing or growing to anything. They are just waiting for heaven!
G) The Loose and light – yoyo generation
•There is another generation, mostly associated with our time, I do not like to be part of it either.
•They are loose in most of the things they do. They want simple and light things.
•It does note possess a genuine character, they are very deceptive.
•They may do a lot of things in church, but live in sin. They do not want to accountant. They do not want you to criticize them, you are not supposed to judge them!
•There is a very thin line (in any) between them and the world
•James 4v4, “You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.”
•We need to be careful; you may wound up being part of the world and end up an enemy of God.
•This generation does not believe in difficult things, it does not believe in being patient
•It is I know it all generation
•It is a generation that is light, loose, lazy, full of compromise & hypocritical.
•These days, in the world there is a lot of divorce, loose talking, lack of respect for parents, people demanding their rights and freedom, the things we buy in stores are not made to last, loose habits, etc
•It is unfortunate that we have allowed the same in the church and in our lives.
•Divorce is now common in church, respect and honor for parents and older people is lacking, people are very lazy, faithfulness is lacking, honest and integrity is lacking, etc
•There is no much commitment and accountability
•Anything can be done, there are no boundaries, people are free to do what they want! People do not want rules and regulations, they do not believe in dos and don’ts!
Which Generation are you on?
Proverbs 30v11-14, “A generation is, that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless. A generation -- pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed. A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up. A generation -- swords are their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from among men.”
•I want to be among the generation that will be balanced, walk in the full truth and light of the Word!
•I believe a human being’s life here on earth has facets or different aspects that need to full equally developed and worked on.
•Just like we need to exercise our physical bodies, we need to exercise our whole being.
•When working on or developing your body, you do not concentrate on one part and expect to be strong in all areas.
•There is a spiritual aspect of life, physical aspect, relational aspect, academic & professional aspect, financial aspect, moral & ethical aspect, family aspect, etc
•Being prayerful sound and spending time in God’s presence does not automatically makes you successful in all areas.
•Excelling in education and or financial issues does not make you successful in your spiritual life.
•Being faithful in attending church meetings does not make you balanced.
•You need to make a conscious and deliberate decision to develop all aspects of your life.
•I once heard a minister say “My wife is very good in the Word, she is better than me in studying the Word but I am better than her in prayer” I am not very sure whether that is proper!
•My desire is than I be able to help others and the next generation in the full package of the gospel.
•I desire to be balanced and help the next generation to be balanced
•I do not want to leave the coming generation with bits and pieces of the gospel
•I am afraid to leave the coming generation with the kind of loose and light gospel.
•I do not want to leave a generation without direction.
•I believe in the full package- holiness, consecration, being called, being successful, full of the Holy Spirit and power and other principles that the Word teaches.
Proper Knowledge Of God leads to success.
•1Peter 3v10-12, “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness {and} shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them].”
•It is important to know and understand that God wants us to succeed
•If you do not understand or are ignorant of God’s purpose for your life, you will not succeed
•There are principles that govern or operate in the spiritual realm which have to be followed for things to work
•Ignorance will lead you to death and failure
•The will of God is not automatic in your life unless you agree with Him
•Many times we think if it God’s will, it will work (without us doing our part).
•We need to find out, pursue and fulfill God’s purpose and or destiny for our lives
•We need to find out what the Word says we can do and do it.
•Being successful is basically fulfilling the reason for your being.
•Being successful I believe entails being balanced and progressive of doing well in all aspects of your life.
•We need to have good lives, Peter says “…who wants a good life…”, I want a good life. We need to plan for good life, be a generation that will succeed in everything and leave something tangible for our children.
•We need to prepare for our marriages and children. Find out how to have a good and healthy marriage, how to raise children, etc. Its not difficult to get into a relationship, its not difficult to have children, but it needs commitment to have a healthy marriage and taking care of your children.
•Let us live holy lives, have direction in life, seek God, pray, study the Word, be educated as much as we can, make much money as we can, preach the gospel, be resourceful and help other people, fear God, have health marriages & families, etc.
•Do not limit how God wants to use you, be it in ministry, business, politics, marriage, etc
•Let us aim and work on being that generation that will find out the full counsel of God, will not be limited and hindered by other people and lack of knowledge but will pursue God and impact others and much more the coming generations!
Jeremiah 9v24, “But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord”
Malachi 3v6, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Malachi 3v13-18, “Your words have been strong {and} hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily {and} as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts? And now we consider the proud {and} arrogant to be happy {and} favored; evildoers are exalted {and} prosper; yes, and when they test God, they escape [unpunished]. Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced {and} worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name. And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize {and} openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him.”
What is knowing God & What can we about Him?
•It is knowing and understating the full counsel of God. Knowing His attributes as revealed in His Word, having fellowship and a personal relationship with Him.
How do you know God?
Psalms 119v99-100, “I have better understanding {and} deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].”
•Through the word
•Through personal fellowship or communion with Him
What are the benefits, proof or results of knowing God?
Psalms 91v14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows {and} understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
Ps 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
Psalms 145v8-11, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy {and} loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]! They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,”
What kind of generation are we?
•Judges 2v10, “And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers, and there arose another generation after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, or even the work which He had done for Israel.”
•With generations coming and going, the true knowledge of God gets diluted and some of the things get lost.
•There are things and the knowledge about God that seem to prevail in different generations
•It seems the devil through ignorance and excesses keeps one generation confined to few aspects about God without grasping the full package.
•We need to have a balanced understanding and knowledge of God and not move from extreme to extreme.
Examples of generational excesses
A) Holiness
•There was a generation that concentrated in holiness and was only concerned about that to the extent of them ignoring the other practical aspects of life.
•Holiness is a standard and requirement in our Christian walk but its not all there is to know and preach, there is more to the gospel than holy living! You can be biased and go to extreme about holiness and protecting holiness and forget to walk in love, mercy, compassion, etc. You may sin against God and other believers because of limited knowledge about “holiness”.
•I heard that long back in the church, there was a generation that would persecute or even kill those that claimed that the earth was round. Probably because the bible talks about the 4 corners of the earth!
B) Money, riches & success evil
•1Timothy 6v10, “For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray {and} have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.”
•Matthew 6v24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by {and} be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in)”
•There was a time in the church when riches, wealth and money was deemed sinful
•Those that believed could have been genuine but ignorant.
•Some believed that being poor was humble
•They believed in Christians not having fun and good life on earth. They did not even believe in academic excellence, etc
•You can be covetous and proud without money in your pocket!
C) Holy Spirit & tongues
•When the church discovered or rediscovered that we can have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, some went to extremes.
•People thought that if you spoke in tongues you had achieved all there is in the spiritual life
•They thought that if you did not speak in tongues or were not Spirit filled, you were not a Christian
•Some thought that if you spoke in tongues you would not sin or that was a sign of being holy
•Some went even to extremes of addressing the devil in tongues or casting out devils in tongues!
•Some thought medical science was not right, everything had to be done through the Spirit. If you did use reasoning in some things, you were carnal.
•Some went into extremes about prophecy and being by the Holy Spirit.
•Their emphasis was on being anointed and used by the Spirit even without living godly lives.
D) Sanctification
•Some believed and were out of balance about living consecrated lives
•They taught being set apart for God and not associate with the world
•You could not associate or befriend people who are not saved
•You could not get advice from sinners even your parents or relatives
•You were not supposed to marry as that was being carnal or of the flesh
•Some felt so spiritual that they forgot that they still lived in a natural body with desires and feelings
•Some young man would say, “I can sleep in the same blanket with a woman and not do anything”!
E) Being Called
•There came a time when every young person was called into ministry
•If you received a word of prophecy and had hands laid on you, you were ready to minister!
•Some dropped out of colleges, universities & companies because they were called.
•Imagine coming from a not so rich a family, your parents having sacrificed greatly raising your college fees and then with one year left to graduate, you drop out because God has called you!
•Some thought if called you did not need any qualification where you could, the Holy Spirit would lead!
F) Without Direction
•There arose another generation that was some how directionless
•They loved God, lived holy lives, studied the Word, but when you follow their lives, they aren’t going anywhere
•They are roaming around the mountain!
•They seem very content with nothing
•Their extreme could be complacency or laziness.
•The greatest dream they have is marriage and children!
•Most of the times their marriages are not enjoyable again, they are just enduring.
•They can’t challenge you with anything, they can’t motivate you, they are not progressing or growing to anything. They are just waiting for heaven!
G) The Loose and light – yoyo generation
•There is another generation, mostly associated with our time, I do not like to be part of it either.
•They are loose in most of the things they do. They want simple and light things.
•It does note possess a genuine character, they are very deceptive.
•They may do a lot of things in church, but live in sin. They do not want to accountant. They do not want you to criticize them, you are not supposed to judge them!
•There is a very thin line (in any) between them and the world
•James 4v4, “You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.”
•We need to be careful; you may wound up being part of the world and end up an enemy of God.
•This generation does not believe in difficult things, it does not believe in being patient
•It is I know it all generation
•It is a generation that is light, loose, lazy, full of compromise & hypocritical.
•These days, in the world there is a lot of divorce, loose talking, lack of respect for parents, people demanding their rights and freedom, the things we buy in stores are not made to last, loose habits, etc
•It is unfortunate that we have allowed the same in the church and in our lives.
•Divorce is now common in church, respect and honor for parents and older people is lacking, people are very lazy, faithfulness is lacking, honest and integrity is lacking, etc
•There is no much commitment and accountability
•Anything can be done, there are no boundaries, people are free to do what they want! People do not want rules and regulations, they do not believe in dos and don’ts!
Which Generation are you on?
Proverbs 30v11-14, “A generation is, that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless. A generation -- pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed. A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up. A generation -- swords are their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from among men.”
•I want to be among the generation that will be balanced, walk in the full truth and light of the Word!
•I believe a human being’s life here on earth has facets or different aspects that need to full equally developed and worked on.
•Just like we need to exercise our physical bodies, we need to exercise our whole being.
•When working on or developing your body, you do not concentrate on one part and expect to be strong in all areas.
•There is a spiritual aspect of life, physical aspect, relational aspect, academic & professional aspect, financial aspect, moral & ethical aspect, family aspect, etc
•Being prayerful sound and spending time in God’s presence does not automatically makes you successful in all areas.
•Excelling in education and or financial issues does not make you successful in your spiritual life.
•Being faithful in attending church meetings does not make you balanced.
•You need to make a conscious and deliberate decision to develop all aspects of your life.
•I once heard a minister say “My wife is very good in the Word, she is better than me in studying the Word but I am better than her in prayer” I am not very sure whether that is proper!
•My desire is than I be able to help others and the next generation in the full package of the gospel.
•I desire to be balanced and help the next generation to be balanced
•I do not want to leave the coming generation with bits and pieces of the gospel
•I am afraid to leave the coming generation with the kind of loose and light gospel.
•I do not want to leave a generation without direction.
•I believe in the full package- holiness, consecration, being called, being successful, full of the Holy Spirit and power and other principles that the Word teaches.
Proper Knowledge Of God leads to success.
•1Peter 3v10-12, “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness {and} shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them].”
•It is important to know and understand that God wants us to succeed
•If you do not understand or are ignorant of God’s purpose for your life, you will not succeed
•There are principles that govern or operate in the spiritual realm which have to be followed for things to work
•Ignorance will lead you to death and failure
•The will of God is not automatic in your life unless you agree with Him
•Many times we think if it God’s will, it will work (without us doing our part).
•We need to find out, pursue and fulfill God’s purpose and or destiny for our lives
•We need to find out what the Word says we can do and do it.
•Being successful is basically fulfilling the reason for your being.
•Being successful I believe entails being balanced and progressive of doing well in all aspects of your life.
•We need to have good lives, Peter says “…who wants a good life…”, I want a good life. We need to plan for good life, be a generation that will succeed in everything and leave something tangible for our children.
•We need to prepare for our marriages and children. Find out how to have a good and healthy marriage, how to raise children, etc. Its not difficult to get into a relationship, its not difficult to have children, but it needs commitment to have a healthy marriage and taking care of your children.
•Let us live holy lives, have direction in life, seek God, pray, study the Word, be educated as much as we can, make much money as we can, preach the gospel, be resourceful and help other people, fear God, have health marriages & families, etc.
•Do not limit how God wants to use you, be it in ministry, business, politics, marriage, etc
•Let us aim and work on being that generation that will find out the full counsel of God, will not be limited and hindered by other people and lack of knowledge but will pursue God and impact others and much more the coming generations!
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Philippians 2v5-9, “Let this same attitude {and} purpose {and} [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God {and} in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped {or} retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men {and} was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased {and} humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,”
•The reason the bible talks of us having the attitude that was in Christ shows that we have a choice to make on what attitude we want to have
•We can choose to let the attitude of Christ influence us or not.
•Christ was influenced by a certain attitude or mind to go through suffering for us, He had a choice!
•You are what you are today and where you are because of your attitude
•Your attitude will determine your future also
•As a man thinks so is he. Prov 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].”
•Your attitude towards some things or issues in life will determine your achieving or not achieving those things
•Your attitude towards God and the things of God will determine what you do about Him
•Your attitude towards the gospel will determine your approach towards the gospel
•Your attitude towards the church will determine your approach towards church
•Some people think being fully committed to the church and giving your resources to the ministry is being too much
•Your attitude towards other people will determine how you treat them
•Your attitude towards certain tribes, races, practices, etc will determine how you treat those people
•Your attitude may be influenced by your background, how other people treated you, how you were taught, your company or the people you associate with, etc
•Your attitude towards success and people who are successful will determine your approach towards them and your own success or failure
•There are some who think being successful is being proud or pompous,
•To progress in life or in other things, you might need to break or make a radical change to your attitude
•When growing up, at school, I did not have a right attitude towards girls, that made me not even have compassion for them. I used even to beat up girls or mistreat them without care.
•Today my attitude towards women is different; I now understand women are a special specie. They need to be treated with care, love and delicacy.
•You need to have a right and positive attitude if you are to progress and succeed in life, have a winning attitude.
•Do not always see yourself as a failure, have an attitude that says, “I can do it.” You may have failed but that does not make you a failure.
The Battle of the mind (attitude)
•Romans 12v1-2, it is important to renew your mind or get your attitude changed. “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, {and} beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service {and} spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, {even} the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
•When you got born again, your spirit being was made a new creature in Christ but you soul / mind and body were not instantly changed.
•Your attitude is your responsibility, God can not force change on you. The bible did not say, “Pray God to change your attitude or to renew your mind”, you make the initiative.
•If you do not do something about your mind and or attitude, nothing will be done.
•Your attitude and or the state of your mind will limit your growth.
•2Corithians 10v3-6, there is a warfare or battle of the mind or attitude; some attitudes have to be brought to down to subjection! “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh {and} using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission {and} obedience [as a church] are fully secured {and} complete.”
•Luke 6v45, “The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.”
The Importance of a right attitude
•Your attitude towards marriage, young people, old people, man, women, work, church, family, education, etc determines what you do and your success or failure in those areas.
•Some people think that working is a curse; they think that working is enriching other people, their attitude towards work is skewed and hence they are not productive.
•At work we work under lot of pressure. We sometimes work odd hours up to even 21-24 hours a day on rare occasion. When I tell people that, they seem to feel pity for me!
•But, I am not really to be pitied for that!. Of coarse there has to be a balance to the matter, I am not saying we have to work 24 hours every day. There is need to rest, etc
•What motivates me in life is to be resourceful, helpful and have a positive and constructive contribution.
Examples
•1Chronicles 12v1-2, 8 David’s might men did not start at the top. “THESE ARE the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he yet concealed himself because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. They were bowmen and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones or shoot arrows from the bow; they were of Saul's kinsmen of Benjamin. Of the Gadites there went over to David to the stronghold in the wilderness men of might, men trained for war who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains:”
•Actually they started very low in life, 1 Samuel 22v1-2, “SO DAVID departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.”
•They were distressed people, in debt and discontented. Your current state and facts about your life do not necessarily determine who you are or will be unless you accept that state.
•The army of David came from people who were not renowned and successful at the time. David had a right attitude towards them.
•He did not chase them away and look for very high profile people.
•He accepted them, trained them, and helped instill a right attitude in them and produced the might man of valour out of them.
•It is better to work with a weak person than to work with a person with a skewed or wrong attitude.
•David’s man also had a right attitude though they were not perfect. They:
i)started where they were, in distress but chose to serve David when still a fugitive
ii)Could use both hands, that can signify balance in life
iii)Had faces of lions, brave and right attitude
iv) Strength of a gazelle, they were disciplined
•It is important to start where you are, serve those that you have opportunity to serve, be balanced, have right attitude and be disciplined, that will have a bearing to your success
•We still need to talk about discipline, commitment, sacrifice, patience and dedication today.
•We are living at a time when most things are instant. We are no longer used to waiting. Most things are spontaneous.
•Food is available almost everywhere in town, there are takeaways to avoid cooking, there are electric kettles, microwaves, etc to warm up things, etc. There are pampers for kids to avoid nappies. If not careful, that same attitude may creep into our spirit and we miss or lose Christian or biblical virtues.
•People need to know that they need to work and sow in life.
•Joshua had a right spirit or attitude in him about Canaan, Numbers 14v6-9, “And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes, And they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense {and} the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.”
•Caleb had a right victorious attitude even at the age of 80. Numbers 13v30, “Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it”.
Joshua 14v6-14. He still maintained the right attitude up the end and trusted God for victory.
“Then the people of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart. But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Changing Your Attitude
•For Abraham, God asked him to live his relatives to another land
•For Israelites, it took time (40 years) for the Egyptian attitude to depart out of them
•Sometimes you might need to change your company to develop a right attitude.
•The people that you hang around with, are they helping you to develop a right attitude towards life?
•1Corinthinas 15v33, company you keep will affect your attitude and in the long run your destiny. “Do not be so deceived {and} misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt {and} deprave good manners {and} morals {and} character”
•I am not saying do not associate with people but do not associate with people to the extent that they negatively influence your attitude.
•I have seen and listed to negative people, to them nothing is good, they are always complaining!
•I normally keep quite when in the presence of such!
•Proverbs 13v20, those that you keep company with will influence your thinking and attitude whether for bad or for good.
•Some people have a negative attitude towards success, prosperity, excellence and achievement. They believe that you need not be outstanding. Just be moderate and not go too far. Be like the rest.
•So, at times you need to drop your friends or people you associate with if you are to succeed.
•Abraham had to separate with Lot.
•Some believe that being mediocre is being humble and cool.
•I believe in success, prosperity, excellence and achieving in life whether spiritually or naturally.
•I believe in doing things with the best of my ability, I do not like being associated with failure and things that are not orderly.
•In your finances, work, education, etc have the right attitude.
•Many people who are poor or who lack in life are so because of their attitude.
•Many people who do not have much have a wrong attitude towards those who are successful, they say they are proud, “bayazenzisa”. That attitude will keep you poor.
•If somebody is successful, do not hate them, ask how they are doing it. Do not be covetous; you have the chance of you succeeding just like them.
•Have the right attitude towards money, do not worship riches but riches are good if you have a right attitudes towards them.
•Have the right attitude towards giving to the church, if you think giving to the church is making pastors rich, you will not give and you will remain poor.
•Mal 1:11-14, “ For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you [priests] profane it when [by your actions] you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, its food, is contemptible {and} may be despised. You say also, Behold, what a drudgery {and} weariness this is! And you have sniffed at it, says the Lord of hosts. And you have brought that which was taken by violence, or the lame or the sick; this you bring as an offering! Shall I accept this from your hand? says the Lord. But cursed is the [cheating] deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the [sovereign] Lord a blemished {or} diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible {and} to be [reverently] feared among the nations.”
•Normally, the natural disabilities and impairments cannot be able to deter you from being successful than wrong attitude. There a lot of people with disabilities that are achieving great things that able bodied people.
Conclusion
•Ecclesiastes 9v10 talks of doing everything with excellence, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going”
•In the creating, God did everything good, so, whatever you do, do it good!
•Jesus said being faithful in little things opens room for promotion or greater things, Luke 16v10-12, “He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest {and} unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest {and} unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?”
•The reason the bible talks of us having the attitude that was in Christ shows that we have a choice to make on what attitude we want to have
•We can choose to let the attitude of Christ influence us or not.
•Christ was influenced by a certain attitude or mind to go through suffering for us, He had a choice!
•You are what you are today and where you are because of your attitude
•Your attitude will determine your future also
•As a man thinks so is he. Prov 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].”
•Your attitude towards some things or issues in life will determine your achieving or not achieving those things
•Your attitude towards God and the things of God will determine what you do about Him
•Your attitude towards the gospel will determine your approach towards the gospel
•Your attitude towards the church will determine your approach towards church
•Some people think being fully committed to the church and giving your resources to the ministry is being too much
•Your attitude towards other people will determine how you treat them
•Your attitude towards certain tribes, races, practices, etc will determine how you treat those people
•Your attitude may be influenced by your background, how other people treated you, how you were taught, your company or the people you associate with, etc
•Your attitude towards success and people who are successful will determine your approach towards them and your own success or failure
•There are some who think being successful is being proud or pompous,
•To progress in life or in other things, you might need to break or make a radical change to your attitude
•When growing up, at school, I did not have a right attitude towards girls, that made me not even have compassion for them. I used even to beat up girls or mistreat them without care.
•Today my attitude towards women is different; I now understand women are a special specie. They need to be treated with care, love and delicacy.
•You need to have a right and positive attitude if you are to progress and succeed in life, have a winning attitude.
•Do not always see yourself as a failure, have an attitude that says, “I can do it.” You may have failed but that does not make you a failure.
The Battle of the mind (attitude)
•Romans 12v1-2, it is important to renew your mind or get your attitude changed. “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, {and} beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service {and} spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, {even} the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
•When you got born again, your spirit being was made a new creature in Christ but you soul / mind and body were not instantly changed.
•Your attitude is your responsibility, God can not force change on you. The bible did not say, “Pray God to change your attitude or to renew your mind”, you make the initiative.
•If you do not do something about your mind and or attitude, nothing will be done.
•Your attitude and or the state of your mind will limit your growth.
•2Corithians 10v3-6, there is a warfare or battle of the mind or attitude; some attitudes have to be brought to down to subjection! “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh {and} using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission {and} obedience [as a church] are fully secured {and} complete.”
•Luke 6v45, “The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.”
The Importance of a right attitude
•Your attitude towards marriage, young people, old people, man, women, work, church, family, education, etc determines what you do and your success or failure in those areas.
•Some people think that working is a curse; they think that working is enriching other people, their attitude towards work is skewed and hence they are not productive.
•At work we work under lot of pressure. We sometimes work odd hours up to even 21-24 hours a day on rare occasion. When I tell people that, they seem to feel pity for me!
•But, I am not really to be pitied for that!. Of coarse there has to be a balance to the matter, I am not saying we have to work 24 hours every day. There is need to rest, etc
•What motivates me in life is to be resourceful, helpful and have a positive and constructive contribution.
Examples
•1Chronicles 12v1-2, 8 David’s might men did not start at the top. “THESE ARE the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he yet concealed himself because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. They were bowmen and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones or shoot arrows from the bow; they were of Saul's kinsmen of Benjamin. Of the Gadites there went over to David to the stronghold in the wilderness men of might, men trained for war who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains:”
•Actually they started very low in life, 1 Samuel 22v1-2, “SO DAVID departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.”
•They were distressed people, in debt and discontented. Your current state and facts about your life do not necessarily determine who you are or will be unless you accept that state.
•The army of David came from people who were not renowned and successful at the time. David had a right attitude towards them.
•He did not chase them away and look for very high profile people.
•He accepted them, trained them, and helped instill a right attitude in them and produced the might man of valour out of them.
•It is better to work with a weak person than to work with a person with a skewed or wrong attitude.
•David’s man also had a right attitude though they were not perfect. They:
i)started where they were, in distress but chose to serve David when still a fugitive
ii)Could use both hands, that can signify balance in life
iii)Had faces of lions, brave and right attitude
iv) Strength of a gazelle, they were disciplined
•It is important to start where you are, serve those that you have opportunity to serve, be balanced, have right attitude and be disciplined, that will have a bearing to your success
•We still need to talk about discipline, commitment, sacrifice, patience and dedication today.
•We are living at a time when most things are instant. We are no longer used to waiting. Most things are spontaneous.
•Food is available almost everywhere in town, there are takeaways to avoid cooking, there are electric kettles, microwaves, etc to warm up things, etc. There are pampers for kids to avoid nappies. If not careful, that same attitude may creep into our spirit and we miss or lose Christian or biblical virtues.
•People need to know that they need to work and sow in life.
•Joshua had a right spirit or attitude in him about Canaan, Numbers 14v6-9, “And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes, And they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense {and} the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.”
•Caleb had a right victorious attitude even at the age of 80. Numbers 13v30, “Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it”.
Joshua 14v6-14. He still maintained the right attitude up the end and trusted God for victory.
“Then the people of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart. But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Changing Your Attitude
•For Abraham, God asked him to live his relatives to another land
•For Israelites, it took time (40 years) for the Egyptian attitude to depart out of them
•Sometimes you might need to change your company to develop a right attitude.
•The people that you hang around with, are they helping you to develop a right attitude towards life?
•1Corinthinas 15v33, company you keep will affect your attitude and in the long run your destiny. “Do not be so deceived {and} misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt {and} deprave good manners {and} morals {and} character”
•I am not saying do not associate with people but do not associate with people to the extent that they negatively influence your attitude.
•I have seen and listed to negative people, to them nothing is good, they are always complaining!
•I normally keep quite when in the presence of such!
•Proverbs 13v20, those that you keep company with will influence your thinking and attitude whether for bad or for good.
•Some people have a negative attitude towards success, prosperity, excellence and achievement. They believe that you need not be outstanding. Just be moderate and not go too far. Be like the rest.
•So, at times you need to drop your friends or people you associate with if you are to succeed.
•Abraham had to separate with Lot.
•Some believe that being mediocre is being humble and cool.
•I believe in success, prosperity, excellence and achieving in life whether spiritually or naturally.
•I believe in doing things with the best of my ability, I do not like being associated with failure and things that are not orderly.
•In your finances, work, education, etc have the right attitude.
•Many people who are poor or who lack in life are so because of their attitude.
•Many people who do not have much have a wrong attitude towards those who are successful, they say they are proud, “bayazenzisa”. That attitude will keep you poor.
•If somebody is successful, do not hate them, ask how they are doing it. Do not be covetous; you have the chance of you succeeding just like them.
•Have the right attitude towards money, do not worship riches but riches are good if you have a right attitudes towards them.
•Have the right attitude towards giving to the church, if you think giving to the church is making pastors rich, you will not give and you will remain poor.
•Mal 1:11-14, “ For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you [priests] profane it when [by your actions] you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, its food, is contemptible {and} may be despised. You say also, Behold, what a drudgery {and} weariness this is! And you have sniffed at it, says the Lord of hosts. And you have brought that which was taken by violence, or the lame or the sick; this you bring as an offering! Shall I accept this from your hand? says the Lord. But cursed is the [cheating] deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the [sovereign] Lord a blemished {or} diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible {and} to be [reverently] feared among the nations.”
•Normally, the natural disabilities and impairments cannot be able to deter you from being successful than wrong attitude. There a lot of people with disabilities that are achieving great things that able bodied people.
Conclusion
•Ecclesiastes 9v10 talks of doing everything with excellence, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going”
•In the creating, God did everything good, so, whatever you do, do it good!
•Jesus said being faithful in little things opens room for promotion or greater things, Luke 16v10-12, “He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest {and} unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest {and} unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?”
Thursday, October 4, 2007
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
Young's Literal Genesis 1:28, “And God blesseth them, and God saith to them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the heavens, and over every living thing that is creeping upon the earth.”
(Contemporary Version, “God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.”
MLB Genesis 9:1, “GOD BLESSED Noah and his sons and told them: Be fruitful, multiply and populate the earth”.
MLB Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly spheres through Christ,”
1.What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?
3106. makariÂzw~.
From G3107 = makaÉrioj~. To beatify, i.e. pronounce (or esteem) fortunate.Call blessed, count happy.
1293. HKÆRFbé~. From H1288 = ‚éRAbÆ~. Benediction; by implication
prosperity. Blessing, liberal, pool, present.
•But where man is in mind, to be blessed it is used in the sense of “happy” or “favored,”
•MLB Genesis 24:35, “and the LORD has richly blessed my master; he has become great. He has given him flocks, and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.”
•In the above scripture, blessings meant riches
MLB Proverbs 10:22, “It is the blessing of the LORD that brings riches and toiling will add nothing to it.”
Contemporary English Version, “When the LORD blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret”
•So, to be blessed among other things means: to be happy, prosperous, successful, healthy, rich, have enough or more than enough.
•To be blessed does not mean to be poor, sick, miserable, troubled, etc
2.How Do You Walk In The Blessing?
•Isaiah 1v19, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;”
•MLB Proverbs 22:9, “He whose eye is generous will be blessed, for he gives food to the poor.”
3.How To Be A Blessing?
•KJV-R (Webster) Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: KJV-R (Webster) Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
•Contemporary Version Genesis 12v1-3, “The LORD said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.”
•Genesis 39v 1“The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the king's [a] official in charge of the palace guard. 2-3So Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner. Soon Potiphar realized that the LORD was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. 4Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant, putting him in charge of his house and all of his property. 5Because of Joseph, the LORD began to bless Potiphar's family and fields. 6Potiphar left everything up to Joseph, and with Joseph there, the only decision he had to make was what he wanted to eat.”
•Genesis 30 25After Joseph was born, Jacob said to Laban, "Release me from our agreement [i] and let me return to my own country. 26You know how hard I've worked for you, so let me take my wives and children and leave." 27-28But Laban told him, "If you really are my friend, stay on, and I'll pay whatever you ask. I'm sure [j] the LORD has blessed me because of you." 29Jacob answered: You've seen how hard I've worked for you, and you know how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. 30You didn't have much before I came, but the LORD has blessed everything I have ever done for you. Now it's time for me to start looking out for my own family.
•Your employer should be blessed because of your working for them
•Your family should be blessed for having you part of them
•Your friend should be blessed for having you
•Are you a blessing to others? Do you add value to others or do you always drain others?
•Acts 20v35, “By everything I did, I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord Jesus said, "More blessings come from giving than from receiving."
•Exercise giving, start from where you are. Serve other people. Give from the little you have. It means a great deal to somebody when you give to them and meet their need.
•Give your time
•Help others even by serving at their occasions e.g. weddings, funeral, etc
•Be resourceful as a person, contribute to the success or benefit of others, be concerned about you will be of help to others more what you get from them.
•Giving somebody money for bus fare may be a great blessing to them if they are in need
•I have purposed in my heart that I will be helpful to others as long as it is my power to.
•Prov 22:9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
•Prov 19:6 Many will entreat the favor of a liberal man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
•I have been wakened up in the night, 2200, 2300, 0000 hours to help people with transport. Though at times it would be painful, I have done it with satisfaction knowing that I have been a blessing to somebody.
•I have given people free transport, even sinners have said to me “God bless you.”
•It is good for people to praise God because of your service to them.
•I always get satisfaction when I help and or give than when I receive from others
•I have employed or facilitated employment for a number of people, and that gives me joy.
•What is it that you have done for others? Have you been of any value to other people?
•At the same time, it has pained to see a need and fail to do something about it, see somebody in need and not have resources to help!
•My prayer and goal in life is to be resourceful enough that any need I see in people, I be able to meet.
•As an example, I desire to have different type of cars, sedans, trucks, buses, etc so that when somebody is getting married I be able to help, when somebody wants to carry something, I be able to help, when people need transport to somewhere, I be able to help.
Other Helpful Notes
4.Who Is Blessed?
Whom God chooses
Ps 65:4; Eph 1:3,4
Whom God calls
Isa 51:2; Re 19:9
Who know Christ
Mt 16:16,17
Who know the gospel
Ps 89:15
Who are not offended at Christ
Mt 11:6
Who believe
Lu 1:45; Ga 3:9
Whose sins are forgiven
Ps 32:1,2; Ro 4:7
To whom God imputes righteousness without works
Ro 4:6-9
Whom God chastens
Job 5:17; Ps 94:12
Who suffer for Christ
Lu 6:22
Who have the Lord for their God
Ps 144:15
Who trust in God
Ps 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; Jer 17:7
Who fear God
Ps 112:1; 128:1,4
Who hear and keep the word of God
Ps 119:2; Jas 1:24; Mt 13:16; Lu 11:28; Re 1:3; 22:7
Who delight in the commandments of God
Ps 112:1
Who keep the commandments of God
Re 22:14
Who wait for the Lord
Isa 30:18
Whose strength is in the Lord
Ps 84:5
Who hunger and thirst after righteousness
Mt 5:6
Who frequent the house of God
Ps 65:4; 84:5
Who avoid the wicked
Ps 1:1
Who endure temptation
Jas 1:12
Who watch against sin
Re 16:15
Who rebuke sinners
Pr 24:25
Who watch for the Lord
Lu 12:37
Who die in the Lord
Re 14:13
Who have part in the first resurrection
Re 20:6
Who favor saints
Ge 12:3; Ru 2:10
The undefiled
Ps 119:1
The pure in heart
Mt 5:8
The just
Ps 106:3; 10:6
The children of the just
Pr 20:7
The righteous
Ps 5:12
The generation of the upright
Ps 112:2
The faithful
Pr 28:20
The poor in spirit
Mt 5:3
The meek
Mt 5:5
The merciful
Mt 5:7
The bountiful
De 15:10; Ps 41:1; Pr 22:9; Lu 14:13,14
The peace-makers
Mt 5:9
Holy mourners
Mt 5:4; Lu 6:21
Saints at the judgment day
Mt 25:34
Who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God
Lu 14:15; Re 19:9
(Contemporary Version, “God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.”
MLB Genesis 9:1, “GOD BLESSED Noah and his sons and told them: Be fruitful, multiply and populate the earth”.
MLB Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly spheres through Christ,”
1.What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?
3106. makariÂzw~.
From G3107 = makaÉrioj~. To beatify, i.e. pronounce (or esteem) fortunate.Call blessed, count happy.
1293. HKÆRFbé~. From H1288 = ‚éRAbÆ~. Benediction; by implication
prosperity. Blessing, liberal, pool, present.
•But where man is in mind, to be blessed it is used in the sense of “happy” or “favored,”
•MLB Genesis 24:35, “and the LORD has richly blessed my master; he has become great. He has given him flocks, and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.”
•In the above scripture, blessings meant riches
MLB Proverbs 10:22, “It is the blessing of the LORD that brings riches and toiling will add nothing to it.”
Contemporary English Version, “When the LORD blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret”
•So, to be blessed among other things means: to be happy, prosperous, successful, healthy, rich, have enough or more than enough.
•To be blessed does not mean to be poor, sick, miserable, troubled, etc
2.How Do You Walk In The Blessing?
•Isaiah 1v19, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;”
•MLB Proverbs 22:9, “He whose eye is generous will be blessed, for he gives food to the poor.”
3.How To Be A Blessing?
•KJV-R (Webster) Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: KJV-R (Webster) Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
•Contemporary Version Genesis 12v1-3, “The LORD said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.”
•Genesis 39v 1“The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the king's [a] official in charge of the palace guard. 2-3So Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner. Soon Potiphar realized that the LORD was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. 4Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant, putting him in charge of his house and all of his property. 5Because of Joseph, the LORD began to bless Potiphar's family and fields. 6Potiphar left everything up to Joseph, and with Joseph there, the only decision he had to make was what he wanted to eat.”
•Genesis 30 25After Joseph was born, Jacob said to Laban, "Release me from our agreement [i] and let me return to my own country. 26You know how hard I've worked for you, so let me take my wives and children and leave." 27-28But Laban told him, "If you really are my friend, stay on, and I'll pay whatever you ask. I'm sure [j] the LORD has blessed me because of you." 29Jacob answered: You've seen how hard I've worked for you, and you know how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. 30You didn't have much before I came, but the LORD has blessed everything I have ever done for you. Now it's time for me to start looking out for my own family.
•Your employer should be blessed because of your working for them
•Your family should be blessed for having you part of them
•Your friend should be blessed for having you
•Are you a blessing to others? Do you add value to others or do you always drain others?
•Acts 20v35, “By everything I did, I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord Jesus said, "More blessings come from giving than from receiving."
•Exercise giving, start from where you are. Serve other people. Give from the little you have. It means a great deal to somebody when you give to them and meet their need.
•Give your time
•Help others even by serving at their occasions e.g. weddings, funeral, etc
•Be resourceful as a person, contribute to the success or benefit of others, be concerned about you will be of help to others more what you get from them.
•Giving somebody money for bus fare may be a great blessing to them if they are in need
•I have purposed in my heart that I will be helpful to others as long as it is my power to.
•Prov 22:9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
•Prov 19:6 Many will entreat the favor of a liberal man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
•I have been wakened up in the night, 2200, 2300, 0000 hours to help people with transport. Though at times it would be painful, I have done it with satisfaction knowing that I have been a blessing to somebody.
•I have given people free transport, even sinners have said to me “God bless you.”
•It is good for people to praise God because of your service to them.
•I always get satisfaction when I help and or give than when I receive from others
•I have employed or facilitated employment for a number of people, and that gives me joy.
•What is it that you have done for others? Have you been of any value to other people?
•At the same time, it has pained to see a need and fail to do something about it, see somebody in need and not have resources to help!
•My prayer and goal in life is to be resourceful enough that any need I see in people, I be able to meet.
•As an example, I desire to have different type of cars, sedans, trucks, buses, etc so that when somebody is getting married I be able to help, when somebody wants to carry something, I be able to help, when people need transport to somewhere, I be able to help.
Other Helpful Notes
4.Who Is Blessed?
Whom God chooses
Ps 65:4; Eph 1:3,4
Whom God calls
Isa 51:2; Re 19:9
Who know Christ
Mt 16:16,17
Who know the gospel
Ps 89:15
Who are not offended at Christ
Mt 11:6
Who believe
Lu 1:45; Ga 3:9
Whose sins are forgiven
Ps 32:1,2; Ro 4:7
To whom God imputes righteousness without works
Ro 4:6-9
Whom God chastens
Job 5:17; Ps 94:12
Who suffer for Christ
Lu 6:22
Who have the Lord for their God
Ps 144:15
Who trust in God
Ps 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; Jer 17:7
Who fear God
Ps 112:1; 128:1,4
Who hear and keep the word of God
Ps 119:2; Jas 1:24; Mt 13:16; Lu 11:28; Re 1:3; 22:7
Who delight in the commandments of God
Ps 112:1
Who keep the commandments of God
Re 22:14
Who wait for the Lord
Isa 30:18
Whose strength is in the Lord
Ps 84:5
Who hunger and thirst after righteousness
Mt 5:6
Who frequent the house of God
Ps 65:4; 84:5
Who avoid the wicked
Ps 1:1
Who endure temptation
Jas 1:12
Who watch against sin
Re 16:15
Who rebuke sinners
Pr 24:25
Who watch for the Lord
Lu 12:37
Who die in the Lord
Re 14:13
Who have part in the first resurrection
Re 20:6
Who favor saints
Ge 12:3; Ru 2:10
The undefiled
Ps 119:1
The pure in heart
Mt 5:8
The just
Ps 106:3; 10:6
The children of the just
Pr 20:7
The righteous
Ps 5:12
The generation of the upright
Ps 112:2
The faithful
Pr 28:20
The poor in spirit
Mt 5:3
The meek
Mt 5:5
The merciful
Mt 5:7
The bountiful
De 15:10; Ps 41:1; Pr 22:9; Lu 14:13,14
The peace-makers
Mt 5:9
Holy mourners
Mt 5:4; Lu 6:21
Saints at the judgment day
Mt 25:34
Who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God
Lu 14:15; Re 19:9
Monday, September 10, 2007
BREAKING THE NORM
Genesis 26v1-6, “AND THERE was a famine in the land, other than the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you. Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants to multiply as the stars of the heavens, and will give to your posterity all these lands (kingdoms); and by your Offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, {or} by Him bless themselves, For Abraham listened to {and} obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commands, My statutes, and My laws. So Isaac stayed in Gerar. And the men of the place asked him about his wife, and he said, She is my sister; for he was afraid to say, She is my wife--[thinking], Lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she is attractive {and} is beautiful to look upon.”
Troubles and challenges will confront us all in life.
Being called by God or being Christians does not exempt us from challenges
As Christians, we are not guaranteed or promised a life free of challenges but we are promised victory, there is no victory without a fight.
Is 41:10, “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror {and} be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen {and} harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up {and} retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness {and} justice.” 1 Cor 15:57, “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the above scriptures, we are promised God’s company and protection in the midst of challenges.
The magnitude or level of challenges will differ but we all have to confront or be confronted with situations at one point or another in life.
There are different ways and methods we use to handle situations and many a times we do what we have seen others do.
When the famine confronted Isaac, he probably thought of how Abraham had reacted to the same challenge.
The bible does not say it, but most probably Isaac was intending to go to Egypt like his father had done because we hear God saying, “Do not go to Egypt.”
Gen 12:10-13, “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive (intense and grievous). And when he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, I know that you are beautiful to behold. So when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say, I beg of you, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
So, we can deduce that Isaac was using the same tactics that his father Abraham was using.
At times we need to be careful because what worked yesterday may not work today or what worked for somebody may not necessarily work for you.
The methods used by your parents may not be relevant for us today.
Using The Natural Example
In the bible days, people used to travel long distances preaching the gospel, it may not be necessary for us now to use the same modes or methods now that we have modern technology, vehicles, tvs, internet, satellite, etc.
History tells us that our forefathers used to wear animal skins for clothes, it is not necessary for us to use the same methods today.
The generation before us (our very own parents – in Zimbabwean context) grew up at a time when attaining standard 6 was considered being educated. Things have been changing ever since, it went up ZJC, O’ level, A’ level, tertiary qualification and currently the minimum qualification for employment though not officially said is a degree.
In days to come, the minimum qualification could be a Masters degree. May be in the days of our children it will be a PHD!
So, young people keep on developing yourselves as much as you can. Do not settle for what worked for those ahead of you, aim for more!
What worked for your parents in terms of education, may not work for you. In the same way what worked for you may not work for your children.
In the natural we need to adapt to change, technology, etc.
Our grand parents used to say town life was not right, people needed to live in the rural areas. Even if you were working in town, you needed to go to the rural areas every week. It was said people did not need to have formal accommodation in towns, town life was not good!
Some of our parents failed even to register for free family houses that the councils were giving to people.
Some older generation men send or used to send their wives to the rural areas and them (the man) would be staying in town. I can not understand Chipo going to ekhaya / kumusha (rural areas) and I be in town!
Experience or God’s Leading?
Like we said, we may face the same challenges that our parents faced or our children may face the same challenges that we faced.
It does not necessarily mean that what worked for our parents will work for us, nor does it mean what worked for us will work for our children
It is sometimes natural to want to use the same methods used by our parents or those ahead of us. Isaac used the same lying tactic used by Abraham that his wife was his sister.
Elisha used the same method used by Elijah of striking the river with the mantle and it worked but it may not always be the case.
Kin 2:8, “And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they divided this way and that, so that the two of them went over on dry ground.” 2 Kin 2:14, “And he took the mantle that fell from Elijah and struck the waters and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? And when he had struck the waters, they parted this way and that, and Elisha went over.”
It is important to find out what God says at any given situation and not always refer to experience.
When confronted with water problem, Moses used his rode, in Joshua, it was a different formula!
Ex 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land; and the waters were divided. And the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Josh 3:15-17, “And when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were in the brink of the water--for the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest-- Then the waters which came down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt [Dead] Sea, were wholly cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. And while all Israel passed over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan”
I am not saying experience is wrong, but at times God may want to lead us differently, and so, we must not get bogged down with our previous methods.
It is important to follow God’s leading and ways of directing us.
David had war with the Philistines for more than two occasions, in all instances he asked from God before going to attack. God gave him different strategies in each instance. 2 Sam 5:17-25, “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went up to find [him], but [he] heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver [them] into your hand. And David came to Baal-perazim, and he smote them there, and said, The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters. So he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]. There the Philistines left their images, and David and his men took them away. The Philistines came up again and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of the Lord, He said, You shall not go up, but go around behind them and come upon them over opposite the mulberry (or balsam) trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then bestir yourselves, for then has the Lord gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines. And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.”
It is to be noted that in both the above instances, the Philistines came to attack David from the same place but he in both instances inquired of the Lord.
Sometimes, if we are not careful, we may even use the methods of the world and sin against God, David did that mistake. 1 Sam 6:10-15, “And the men did so, and took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the box with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors. And the cows went straight toward Beth-shemesh along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right or the left. And the Philistine lords followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh Now the men of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there; and the men split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box beside it in which were the figures of gold and put them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices that day to the Lord.” Here, we see the Philistines using a cart to carry the ark of God.
2 Sam 6:1-3, “AGAIN DAVID gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000. And [he] arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim] to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, Who sits enthroned above the cherubim. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.” We see David using the same method used by the Philistines, carrying the ark of God using a cart!
How Does God Lead Us?
The way God always talks to you or leads you in your daily life.
Do not always look for the spectacular
God normally uses simple ways to talk to us
i) Your conscience or your spirit man voice
ii) Simple reading the Word or listening to somebody speaking the Word
iii) Inward intuition, “green light” sensation
iv) Holy Spirit speaking to you audibly
v) Prophecy. It is to be noted though that in the New Testament, prophesy was not usually used for guidance but confirming what God had already told the person for whom the prophecy is intended. Acts 21:8-15, “On the morrow we left there and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven [first deacons], and stayed with him. And he had four maiden daughters who had the gift of prophecy. While we were remaining there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to [see] us, he took Paul's belt and with it bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit: The Jews at Jerusalem shall bind like this the man who owns this belt, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (heathen). When we heard this, both we and the residents of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested {and} bound {and} imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus And when he would not yield to [our] persuading, we stopped [urging and imploring him], saying, The Lord's will be done! After these days we packed our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.”
In the above incident, Paul did not receive guidance from the prophetic word but only a prediction or foretelling of what would befall him. It was not prophesied that he should go or not go to Jerusalem.
The bible says that they that are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. (It is said that the Greek work translated sons there literally means mature children), Rom 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”.
I have obeyed or followed simple the leading of my conscience and have seen great results in my life
As an example, this teaching came as Pastor Ncube was preaching on the above text and I began writing things I felt were being impressed by the Spirit in my heart, I will give other examples later.
Break The Norm If Need Be!
If your parents or others you know had marital or marriage problems, you might have seen them use certain methods to address their problems
Others used to fight or husbands used to beat up their wives, etc, this will not work for you. It might have seemed to have worked for somebody but it will not work for you.
You need to apply what God says about things to bring solutions, Isaiah 34:16 “Seek out of the book of the Lord and read: not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail, none shall want {and} lack her mate [in fulfillment]. For the mouth [of the Lord] has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them.”
When there was a need or lack in my family during my father’s days, he left Zimbabwe and went to “Wenela” in South Africa to work in the mines; that is not what I need to do today when I face the same challenges!
Your answer, destiny, purpose may be quite different from that of your parents or leaders; hence your methods may also be different.
Your parents could have acted in a certain way in certain situations but you might need to act differently as your purpose in life could be different.
When growing up, there was a time we washed maize seeds for food, I cannot expect Tereo our daughter to do the same!
You need to purpose in your heart to obey and follow God’s leading for your life
You might need to build or learn from what others did and do better
Do not settle for the same things that your parents achieved, aim for more.
If your parents or those before you attained O’ level, aim for degree(s), if your parents owned a bicycle, aim for a car, if they did not own a house, aim for one. If your parents have a house in the low density suburbs, aim for one in the low density!
If your parents are renting one room, aim for more.
When I started to look for my own rented accommodation, I started with renting two rooms, in the high density, then moved to a 3 roomed cottage in the medium density, them a 3 bed roomed flat in town, then a 3 bed roomed house in the low density (Hillside)!
When I moved to Hillside, I had discouragement from many people including my closest friends. It was genuine concern from some of them of course. Even some of my superiors at work discouraged me to move there. Even my wife did not quite agree with the idea. The rent then was Zim$20 million in March 2006. That was quite a huge some then. But, I knew what I wanted, I new my destiny. People said that you can’t afford to secure your own accommodation if you pay such kind of rent. They said I would rather move to the high density areas and save money for a stand or house. Some said I did not even have much assets to justify renting such a house.
In such criticism and advice, I still did what I thought was right for my family; I took the risk and moved to Hillside, many of those people now enjoy visiting us at Hillside.
At times you need to stand your ground and do what is right inspite of criticism.
Advice Or Discouragement?
I am not saying people should not take advice, I am not saying young people should not listen to their parents; I am not saying do listen to your friends.
I am saying above all; listen to what God is saying.
Sometimes when people discourage you from doing something, it would be because of the risk involved but at times you need to take risks in life.
I have listened to advice many times and stopped some of the things I would have wanted to do.
But at times I have listened to my heart and did what I believed God wanted me to do despite what others thought.
When I got a job as a clerk in Innscor, some people discouraged me, saying I should not leave my then current employer. I did not know Innscor much then but I decided to leave and join Innscor. Today, praise God I did the right move. This company has done a lot in my life; I have grown much when at Innscor. I started driving there, I started being a manager there, it was there that I could afford to live at Hillside, etc
But it is not always the same methods that work. There was a time when there was restructuring at Innscor, my them boss left for another company. In that company it was like they were getting part of their salary in forex. I also got a job there; I went and worked there for one day. In the process my managers at Innscor were advising and negotiating with me to come back, I felt led to go back. I am glad I went back for I believe even today that I was not meant to leave!
So, it is important to listen to what God says, do not just do what others did or what you did and it worked for you yesterday, obey what God is saying now.
At times God’s ways may seem foolish, risk and not making sense, but if it is God, you are better off obeying Him.
At times our parents, pastors, leaders and friends may see things differently from what God wants or what we perceive.
I 100% believe in advice but at the same time I believe in God’s leading. Advice and or counsel should not substitute God’s leading.
There was a time that I wanted to make a decision about my life and ministry. I shared my thinking with pastors M. and G. I then asked Pastor M to informally tell our senior Pastor A. Ndlovu. (That was before I was pastor). A Ndlovu indicated to pastor M. that he would allow me to make that decision, I simple listened to his word, I stopped what I wanted to do. I am glad that I listened to him!
At the same time in my life I have made very risky and awkward decisions but I would have felt led by my conscience. E.g., when I made the decision to marry Chipo, there were some that did not like me marrying somebody from a different tribe as she is Shona. Even today some ask me, what is your wife’s surname or where does your wife come from? After I tell them you can tell that they are surprised. Well when I decided to marry her, those that understood me knew that I stand by my decisions and very few publicly opposed me!
Today even those that doubted are blessed by her being my wife because I realized that my destiny is attached to her. (I say this with an honest heart, there are positive things that were not going to be seen in my life had I not gotten married to her. And as matter of fact, I have tried to imagine, I do not see anybody that would have been ideal for me except her. I have seen women and ladies from a distance I have not seen one who would really match me like her!)
Today there are things that I / we do that other people seem not to understand, e.g. we are teaching our daughter Tereo to speak English and not Ndebele or Shona. We know why we are doing that, we slightly understand her destiny. So, some have queried why we are doing that, some have deliberately talked to her in Ndebele not because they do not know English but because they are trying to oppose what we are doing. I have seen that and laughed to myself. I have gone beyond doing things that are meant to please other but to do things that I believe are right. I am not afraid to be unpopular with what I do. I am not afraid to be criticized, I am not afraid to be mocked for what I believe!
You need to obey God’s leading for your life, He knows better
When Paul was going to Jerusalem, his friends tried to stop him but he would not, Acts 21:12-14, “When we heard this, both we and the residents of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested {and} bound {and} imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not yield to [our] persuading, we stopped [urging and imploring him], saying, The Lord's will be done!”
When Jesus talked about His death, Peter tried to discourage Him, Mark 8:31-33, “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must of necessity suffer many things and be tested {and} disapproved {and} rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again [from death]. And He said this freely (frankly, plainly, and explicitly, making it unmistakable). And Peter took Him by the hand {and} led Him aside and then [facing Him] began to rebuke Him. But turning around [His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have a mind intent on promoting what God wills, but what pleases men [you are not on God's side, but that of men].”
A Word To Parents
Some parents have good plans and good intentions for their children but that may not be God’s plans for their lives.
We need to ask ourselves, what do we want for our children, is it our will or God’s purpose for their lives?
Sometimes our children may want to do things that we do not understand, but if it is God, let us allow God’s will to prevail.
As parents, we need to release our children to the will and purpose of God.
We can not always detect to them what they should do especially when they get older.
During generations past, parents used to tell their children who to marry or not to marry; they used to find wives for their sons, if that worked then it cannot work now. Actually the bible has this to say, Proverbs 19:14, “House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, {and} prudent wife is from the Lord.”
So, it is the duty of parents and their responsibility to provide for their children and leave or give them an inheritance and houses. (What is it that you are giving and or will leave for your children? What inheritance? What houses?)
I have purposed in my heart that when my children get married, I should give them houses at least as wedding presents.
Despite the fact that parents are responsible for providing and leaving inheritance for their children, we are not supposed to decide for them what to do, No, not even with the inheritance we leave for them!
I do not think it is proper also to choose careers for our children, we can advise and help them to decide but I believe that the final decision has to come from them. Unless if God has specifically told you what they should do but even then, God would need to also talk to them also.
Do not force your children to be like you or to do things the way you want, you had an opportunity yourself to live your life and do what you wanted, why not afford your children that opportunity also?
As a parent you may think you know more, fine, but God knows better than you do, so, pray for your children and ask God to help and guide them but do not force them to do things your way.
Troubles and challenges will confront us all in life.
Being called by God or being Christians does not exempt us from challenges
As Christians, we are not guaranteed or promised a life free of challenges but we are promised victory, there is no victory without a fight.
Is 41:10, “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror {and} be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen {and} harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up {and} retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness {and} justice.” 1 Cor 15:57, “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the above scriptures, we are promised God’s company and protection in the midst of challenges.
The magnitude or level of challenges will differ but we all have to confront or be confronted with situations at one point or another in life.
There are different ways and methods we use to handle situations and many a times we do what we have seen others do.
When the famine confronted Isaac, he probably thought of how Abraham had reacted to the same challenge.
The bible does not say it, but most probably Isaac was intending to go to Egypt like his father had done because we hear God saying, “Do not go to Egypt.”
Gen 12:10-13, “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive (intense and grievous). And when he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, I know that you are beautiful to behold. So when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say, I beg of you, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
So, we can deduce that Isaac was using the same tactics that his father Abraham was using.
At times we need to be careful because what worked yesterday may not work today or what worked for somebody may not necessarily work for you.
The methods used by your parents may not be relevant for us today.
Using The Natural Example
In the bible days, people used to travel long distances preaching the gospel, it may not be necessary for us now to use the same modes or methods now that we have modern technology, vehicles, tvs, internet, satellite, etc.
History tells us that our forefathers used to wear animal skins for clothes, it is not necessary for us to use the same methods today.
The generation before us (our very own parents – in Zimbabwean context) grew up at a time when attaining standard 6 was considered being educated. Things have been changing ever since, it went up ZJC, O’ level, A’ level, tertiary qualification and currently the minimum qualification for employment though not officially said is a degree.
In days to come, the minimum qualification could be a Masters degree. May be in the days of our children it will be a PHD!
So, young people keep on developing yourselves as much as you can. Do not settle for what worked for those ahead of you, aim for more!
What worked for your parents in terms of education, may not work for you. In the same way what worked for you may not work for your children.
In the natural we need to adapt to change, technology, etc.
Our grand parents used to say town life was not right, people needed to live in the rural areas. Even if you were working in town, you needed to go to the rural areas every week. It was said people did not need to have formal accommodation in towns, town life was not good!
Some of our parents failed even to register for free family houses that the councils were giving to people.
Some older generation men send or used to send their wives to the rural areas and them (the man) would be staying in town. I can not understand Chipo going to ekhaya / kumusha (rural areas) and I be in town!
Experience or God’s Leading?
Like we said, we may face the same challenges that our parents faced or our children may face the same challenges that we faced.
It does not necessarily mean that what worked for our parents will work for us, nor does it mean what worked for us will work for our children
It is sometimes natural to want to use the same methods used by our parents or those ahead of us. Isaac used the same lying tactic used by Abraham that his wife was his sister.
Elisha used the same method used by Elijah of striking the river with the mantle and it worked but it may not always be the case.
Kin 2:8, “And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they divided this way and that, so that the two of them went over on dry ground.” 2 Kin 2:14, “And he took the mantle that fell from Elijah and struck the waters and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? And when he had struck the waters, they parted this way and that, and Elisha went over.”
It is important to find out what God says at any given situation and not always refer to experience.
When confronted with water problem, Moses used his rode, in Joshua, it was a different formula!
Ex 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land; and the waters were divided. And the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Josh 3:15-17, “And when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were in the brink of the water--for the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest-- Then the waters which came down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt [Dead] Sea, were wholly cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. And while all Israel passed over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan”
I am not saying experience is wrong, but at times God may want to lead us differently, and so, we must not get bogged down with our previous methods.
It is important to follow God’s leading and ways of directing us.
David had war with the Philistines for more than two occasions, in all instances he asked from God before going to attack. God gave him different strategies in each instance. 2 Sam 5:17-25, “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went up to find [him], but [he] heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver [them] into your hand. And David came to Baal-perazim, and he smote them there, and said, The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters. So he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]. There the Philistines left their images, and David and his men took them away. The Philistines came up again and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of the Lord, He said, You shall not go up, but go around behind them and come upon them over opposite the mulberry (or balsam) trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then bestir yourselves, for then has the Lord gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines. And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.”
It is to be noted that in both the above instances, the Philistines came to attack David from the same place but he in both instances inquired of the Lord.
Sometimes, if we are not careful, we may even use the methods of the world and sin against God, David did that mistake. 1 Sam 6:10-15, “And the men did so, and took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the box with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors. And the cows went straight toward Beth-shemesh along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right or the left. And the Philistine lords followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh Now the men of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there; and the men split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box beside it in which were the figures of gold and put them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices that day to the Lord.” Here, we see the Philistines using a cart to carry the ark of God.
2 Sam 6:1-3, “AGAIN DAVID gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000. And [he] arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim] to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, Who sits enthroned above the cherubim. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.” We see David using the same method used by the Philistines, carrying the ark of God using a cart!
How Does God Lead Us?
The way God always talks to you or leads you in your daily life.
Do not always look for the spectacular
God normally uses simple ways to talk to us
i) Your conscience or your spirit man voice
ii) Simple reading the Word or listening to somebody speaking the Word
iii) Inward intuition, “green light” sensation
iv) Holy Spirit speaking to you audibly
v) Prophecy. It is to be noted though that in the New Testament, prophesy was not usually used for guidance but confirming what God had already told the person for whom the prophecy is intended. Acts 21:8-15, “On the morrow we left there and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven [first deacons], and stayed with him. And he had four maiden daughters who had the gift of prophecy. While we were remaining there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to [see] us, he took Paul's belt and with it bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit: The Jews at Jerusalem shall bind like this the man who owns this belt, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (heathen). When we heard this, both we and the residents of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested {and} bound {and} imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus And when he would not yield to [our] persuading, we stopped [urging and imploring him], saying, The Lord's will be done! After these days we packed our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.”
In the above incident, Paul did not receive guidance from the prophetic word but only a prediction or foretelling of what would befall him. It was not prophesied that he should go or not go to Jerusalem.
The bible says that they that are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. (It is said that the Greek work translated sons there literally means mature children), Rom 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”.
I have obeyed or followed simple the leading of my conscience and have seen great results in my life
As an example, this teaching came as Pastor Ncube was preaching on the above text and I began writing things I felt were being impressed by the Spirit in my heart, I will give other examples later.
Break The Norm If Need Be!
If your parents or others you know had marital or marriage problems, you might have seen them use certain methods to address their problems
Others used to fight or husbands used to beat up their wives, etc, this will not work for you. It might have seemed to have worked for somebody but it will not work for you.
You need to apply what God says about things to bring solutions, Isaiah 34:16 “Seek out of the book of the Lord and read: not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail, none shall want {and} lack her mate [in fulfillment]. For the mouth [of the Lord] has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them.”
When there was a need or lack in my family during my father’s days, he left Zimbabwe and went to “Wenela” in South Africa to work in the mines; that is not what I need to do today when I face the same challenges!
Your answer, destiny, purpose may be quite different from that of your parents or leaders; hence your methods may also be different.
Your parents could have acted in a certain way in certain situations but you might need to act differently as your purpose in life could be different.
When growing up, there was a time we washed maize seeds for food, I cannot expect Tereo our daughter to do the same!
You need to purpose in your heart to obey and follow God’s leading for your life
You might need to build or learn from what others did and do better
Do not settle for the same things that your parents achieved, aim for more.
If your parents or those before you attained O’ level, aim for degree(s), if your parents owned a bicycle, aim for a car, if they did not own a house, aim for one. If your parents have a house in the low density suburbs, aim for one in the low density!
If your parents are renting one room, aim for more.
When I started to look for my own rented accommodation, I started with renting two rooms, in the high density, then moved to a 3 roomed cottage in the medium density, them a 3 bed roomed flat in town, then a 3 bed roomed house in the low density (Hillside)!
When I moved to Hillside, I had discouragement from many people including my closest friends. It was genuine concern from some of them of course. Even some of my superiors at work discouraged me to move there. Even my wife did not quite agree with the idea. The rent then was Zim$20 million in March 2006. That was quite a huge some then. But, I knew what I wanted, I new my destiny. People said that you can’t afford to secure your own accommodation if you pay such kind of rent. They said I would rather move to the high density areas and save money for a stand or house. Some said I did not even have much assets to justify renting such a house.
In such criticism and advice, I still did what I thought was right for my family; I took the risk and moved to Hillside, many of those people now enjoy visiting us at Hillside.
At times you need to stand your ground and do what is right inspite of criticism.
Advice Or Discouragement?
I am not saying people should not take advice, I am not saying young people should not listen to their parents; I am not saying do listen to your friends.
I am saying above all; listen to what God is saying.
Sometimes when people discourage you from doing something, it would be because of the risk involved but at times you need to take risks in life.
I have listened to advice many times and stopped some of the things I would have wanted to do.
But at times I have listened to my heart and did what I believed God wanted me to do despite what others thought.
When I got a job as a clerk in Innscor, some people discouraged me, saying I should not leave my then current employer. I did not know Innscor much then but I decided to leave and join Innscor. Today, praise God I did the right move. This company has done a lot in my life; I have grown much when at Innscor. I started driving there, I started being a manager there, it was there that I could afford to live at Hillside, etc
But it is not always the same methods that work. There was a time when there was restructuring at Innscor, my them boss left for another company. In that company it was like they were getting part of their salary in forex. I also got a job there; I went and worked there for one day. In the process my managers at Innscor were advising and negotiating with me to come back, I felt led to go back. I am glad I went back for I believe even today that I was not meant to leave!
So, it is important to listen to what God says, do not just do what others did or what you did and it worked for you yesterday, obey what God is saying now.
At times God’s ways may seem foolish, risk and not making sense, but if it is God, you are better off obeying Him.
At times our parents, pastors, leaders and friends may see things differently from what God wants or what we perceive.
I 100% believe in advice but at the same time I believe in God’s leading. Advice and or counsel should not substitute God’s leading.
There was a time that I wanted to make a decision about my life and ministry. I shared my thinking with pastors M. and G. I then asked Pastor M to informally tell our senior Pastor A. Ndlovu. (That was before I was pastor). A Ndlovu indicated to pastor M. that he would allow me to make that decision, I simple listened to his word, I stopped what I wanted to do. I am glad that I listened to him!
At the same time in my life I have made very risky and awkward decisions but I would have felt led by my conscience. E.g., when I made the decision to marry Chipo, there were some that did not like me marrying somebody from a different tribe as she is Shona. Even today some ask me, what is your wife’s surname or where does your wife come from? After I tell them you can tell that they are surprised. Well when I decided to marry her, those that understood me knew that I stand by my decisions and very few publicly opposed me!
Today even those that doubted are blessed by her being my wife because I realized that my destiny is attached to her. (I say this with an honest heart, there are positive things that were not going to be seen in my life had I not gotten married to her. And as matter of fact, I have tried to imagine, I do not see anybody that would have been ideal for me except her. I have seen women and ladies from a distance I have not seen one who would really match me like her!)
Today there are things that I / we do that other people seem not to understand, e.g. we are teaching our daughter Tereo to speak English and not Ndebele or Shona. We know why we are doing that, we slightly understand her destiny. So, some have queried why we are doing that, some have deliberately talked to her in Ndebele not because they do not know English but because they are trying to oppose what we are doing. I have seen that and laughed to myself. I have gone beyond doing things that are meant to please other but to do things that I believe are right. I am not afraid to be unpopular with what I do. I am not afraid to be criticized, I am not afraid to be mocked for what I believe!
You need to obey God’s leading for your life, He knows better
When Paul was going to Jerusalem, his friends tried to stop him but he would not, Acts 21:12-14, “When we heard this, both we and the residents of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested {and} bound {and} imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not yield to [our] persuading, we stopped [urging and imploring him], saying, The Lord's will be done!”
When Jesus talked about His death, Peter tried to discourage Him, Mark 8:31-33, “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must of necessity suffer many things and be tested {and} disapproved {and} rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again [from death]. And He said this freely (frankly, plainly, and explicitly, making it unmistakable). And Peter took Him by the hand {and} led Him aside and then [facing Him] began to rebuke Him. But turning around [His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have a mind intent on promoting what God wills, but what pleases men [you are not on God's side, but that of men].”
A Word To Parents
Some parents have good plans and good intentions for their children but that may not be God’s plans for their lives.
We need to ask ourselves, what do we want for our children, is it our will or God’s purpose for their lives?
Sometimes our children may want to do things that we do not understand, but if it is God, let us allow God’s will to prevail.
As parents, we need to release our children to the will and purpose of God.
We can not always detect to them what they should do especially when they get older.
During generations past, parents used to tell their children who to marry or not to marry; they used to find wives for their sons, if that worked then it cannot work now. Actually the bible has this to say, Proverbs 19:14, “House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, {and} prudent wife is from the Lord.”
So, it is the duty of parents and their responsibility to provide for their children and leave or give them an inheritance and houses. (What is it that you are giving and or will leave for your children? What inheritance? What houses?)
I have purposed in my heart that when my children get married, I should give them houses at least as wedding presents.
Despite the fact that parents are responsible for providing and leaving inheritance for their children, we are not supposed to decide for them what to do, No, not even with the inheritance we leave for them!
I do not think it is proper also to choose careers for our children, we can advise and help them to decide but I believe that the final decision has to come from them. Unless if God has specifically told you what they should do but even then, God would need to also talk to them also.
Do not force your children to be like you or to do things the way you want, you had an opportunity yourself to live your life and do what you wanted, why not afford your children that opportunity also?
As a parent you may think you know more, fine, but God knows better than you do, so, pray for your children and ask God to help and guide them but do not force them to do things your way.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
PURPOSE 2
Jer 1:4-12, “¶ Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant." ¶ The word of the LORD came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it”
Gal 1:15 “But when God, who had set me apart {even} from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased”
Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;
One of my great passions is to see and or help people discover who they are, understand and fulfill their God given purpose / destiny.
How do you find out your purpose?
The way God always talks to you
Do not always look for the spectacular
God normally uses simple ways to talk to us
i) Your conscience or your spirit man voice
ii) Simple reading the Word or listening to somebody speaking the Word
iii) Prophecy
iv)Holy Spirit speaking to you audibly
v) Inward intuition, “green light” sensation
How to keep yourself on track?
-Write down what God reveals to you about your purpose
-Research as much as you can about how to pursue your purpose
-Take time to prepare yourself in line with that purpose
-Be always sensitive to the leading of the Spirit
-Leave a consecrated life
-Associate with people with like vision or purpose
-Always look at the opportunities that God opens for you
-Find the people that your destiny may be attached to, God will use certain people to help you progress or connect you to your destiny
Work / Press Towards Your Purpose
For you to achieve anything in life, you have to dream about it. Pursue you purpose and dream about it.
I do not recall any big thing in my life that God just gave me without Him having given me a vision / dream
Prepare yourself for your dream, study and improve your education where you need to, confess your dream, pray for your dream, be positive and patiently wait on your dream
Do not allow circumstances or people to destroy or prohibit you from fulfilling your purpise
Importance Of Dreaming / Having a Vision
It is like before God makes you achieve something in life, He first gives it to you as a dream, imagination or vision
So, I believe God will show you your purpose and give you a vision of it.
The bible says God will do far more than what ask, think, imagine. Ephisians 3v20
God also says I will give you as far as your eyes can see, Genesis 13:14-15, “And Jehovah said unto Abram…Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”
Deut 11:24, “Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.”
From the examples of people we studied above and my personal experience, it is like God will take you and show you a glimpse of the future, then let you work or walk towards it
So, your vision or dream will determine how far you go in life.
Your vision can limit you. If you do not dream and envision life, you will not prepare yourself, if you are not ready then you cannot be entrusted with great things
Supernatural Revelation or Guidance In Purpose Pursuit
1 Tim 1:18, “This charge {and} admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired {and} aided by them you may wage the good warfare”
There are things that have been prophesied about my life, some I have seen, some are starting to manifest, some I have not seen.
I am waiting on God and working on my part towards those things
I have received prophesy about being called as a minister of the gospel (teacher), being a leader, being anointed to demonstrate God’s power, I have received prophetic prayers about my being a business man, etc.
I am working towards those; I am preparing myself and checking every opportunity that may arise!
But, we need to also balance up the issue of prophesy, in the New Testament prophecy mainly comes (from other people) to confirm and not to lead.
Normally God will show you things and confirm them through prophetic utterances
2 Tim 1:6-7, That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm {and} well-balanced mind {and} discipline {and} self-control.”
Stir up those things that God said about you, do not let them die!
You have a destiny and purpose for living, pursue it.
Others may not understand you, follow your purpose
Gal 1:15 “But when God, who had set me apart {even} from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased”
Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;
One of my great passions is to see and or help people discover who they are, understand and fulfill their God given purpose / destiny.
How do you find out your purpose?
The way God always talks to you
Do not always look for the spectacular
God normally uses simple ways to talk to us
i) Your conscience or your spirit man voice
ii) Simple reading the Word or listening to somebody speaking the Word
iii) Prophecy
iv)Holy Spirit speaking to you audibly
v) Inward intuition, “green light” sensation
How to keep yourself on track?
-Write down what God reveals to you about your purpose
-Research as much as you can about how to pursue your purpose
-Take time to prepare yourself in line with that purpose
-Be always sensitive to the leading of the Spirit
-Leave a consecrated life
-Associate with people with like vision or purpose
-Always look at the opportunities that God opens for you
-Find the people that your destiny may be attached to, God will use certain people to help you progress or connect you to your destiny
Work / Press Towards Your Purpose
For you to achieve anything in life, you have to dream about it. Pursue you purpose and dream about it.
I do not recall any big thing in my life that God just gave me without Him having given me a vision / dream
Prepare yourself for your dream, study and improve your education where you need to, confess your dream, pray for your dream, be positive and patiently wait on your dream
Do not allow circumstances or people to destroy or prohibit you from fulfilling your purpise
Importance Of Dreaming / Having a Vision
It is like before God makes you achieve something in life, He first gives it to you as a dream, imagination or vision
So, I believe God will show you your purpose and give you a vision of it.
The bible says God will do far more than what ask, think, imagine. Ephisians 3v20
God also says I will give you as far as your eyes can see, Genesis 13:14-15, “And Jehovah said unto Abram…Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”
Deut 11:24, “Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.”
From the examples of people we studied above and my personal experience, it is like God will take you and show you a glimpse of the future, then let you work or walk towards it
So, your vision or dream will determine how far you go in life.
Your vision can limit you. If you do not dream and envision life, you will not prepare yourself, if you are not ready then you cannot be entrusted with great things
Supernatural Revelation or Guidance In Purpose Pursuit
1 Tim 1:18, “This charge {and} admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired {and} aided by them you may wage the good warfare”
There are things that have been prophesied about my life, some I have seen, some are starting to manifest, some I have not seen.
I am waiting on God and working on my part towards those things
I have received prophesy about being called as a minister of the gospel (teacher), being a leader, being anointed to demonstrate God’s power, I have received prophetic prayers about my being a business man, etc.
I am working towards those; I am preparing myself and checking every opportunity that may arise!
But, we need to also balance up the issue of prophesy, in the New Testament prophecy mainly comes (from other people) to confirm and not to lead.
Normally God will show you things and confirm them through prophetic utterances
2 Tim 1:6-7, That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm {and} well-balanced mind {and} discipline {and} self-control.”
Stir up those things that God said about you, do not let them die!
You have a destiny and purpose for living, pursue it.
Others may not understand you, follow your purpose
Thursday, August 9, 2007
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ON EARTH?
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ON EARTH?
Wenzeni Emhlabeni? Wayitei Panyika?
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear {and} be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].
•When you get to heaven, what will you hold as your accomplishments on earth?
•Others while on earth obeyed God and did or achieved great things.
•Paul says we are core laborers (workers) with God which means we are to work with Him. (1Cor 3v9)
•Jesus said My Father is working and I work like Him (John 5v17)
•The bible says, in a great house are many vessels (2Tim 2v20-21)
•There is something that everybody can do or accomplish
•Despite your age, gender, race, tribe, you can do something. You could have wasted many of your years or time, but from where you are, you can accomplish much. Samson did more at his death than in his lifetime. (Judges 16v30)
•As a body of Christ, each part of the body has a function (1Cor 12v13-20)
•Refuse to live and go without achieving anything
•Be resourceful as a person
•Contribute something to your family, church, society, generation, etc
Others Did Their Part
•Others in the bible did their contribution, Paul, Peter, Docus, Moses, Abraham, Bezaleel, Cornelius, the Shunamite Woman, Anna, Hanah, Esther, etc
•Outside the bible we have:
-Martin Luther
-Martin Luther King, stood for human (black Americans) to the point where he was killed for that.
-Charles Finney
-Billy Graham (It is said that about 210 million people (almost 14 times Zimbabwean population) in 185 countries have attended his meetings. In the so called his last preaching weekend, about 1 360 were saved. He has advised American presidents, been invited by presidents in other countries.
-Reinhard Bonke (He has seen 42 million saved in five years and is targeting 100 million in 10 years)
-Oral Roberts, has conducted over 300 crusades in 6 continents,
-T.D. Jakes has church with 28 000 people, second largest in America
-Pastor Chris, has preached to 3 million people in one service
-Kenneth Hagin
-Benny Hinn
•I like saying that when Dorcus died, the church had something to hold in their hand to seek God for her resurrection, what about you? What can we hold? (Acts 9v36-39)
•Kenneth E. Hagin testified about one of the faithful Christian in his church who fell from the roof and died, the guy used to pay tithes faithfully, above 10%. Hagin prayed for him saying God, you know this man gives… The man rose from the dead. After his resurrection, the man said in heaven God told him that Hagin would not let him go and He opened a curtain and heard Hagin praying before he came back.
•Let me pause here for something very important. By serving God and doing great things we need to put a balance.
-I do not mean break away ministries. I do not mean disrespecting spiritual parents, disobeying leaders, running and climbing on people’s shoulders to get recognition.
-Young people need to honor and respect their physical parents at home and church leaders.
-Do not build your business and or ministry by exploiting or cheating your employer or former church.
-I will illustrate this by an example about one of my relatives. He was raised under the care of his aunty (mamo mdala) who raised him as his own son. There are a lot of challenges that they endured together. When he was old, he seemed successful in material things and even got married. He built good houses in rural areas. He began to be arrogant and did not want to relate with everybody in the family. One day after I had used his axe he shouted saying I had damaged it. I did not know there were pending issues. Then his “mother” aunty came in and they started talking. The argument heated up to the extent where they were literally insulting each other with strong words/ insults. The man said that he was now relocating from the home back to his father. And for sure days later he pulled down his houses and went to build in his father’s home. Few months after they disputed again with his father and he left to build outside near the father’s place. His marriage broke down, he divorced and re-married. He got sick and died later and his family was destroyed, today, he is forgotten.
-There is a warning for young people with great dreams for life. Do everything in the fear of God and in obedience, lets you shutter your dreams and cut your life short.
Sober Question To Ask
•What history or legacy will you leave?
•After you are gone, what will you be remembered for?
•The bible says we will all appear before Jesus to give an account. What will you hold or give account for before Him? (2Cor 5v10)
•What crown are you worthy?
•Other people are known for the wrong things they do or have done. (fornication, slander, theft, discouraging others, etc)
•What are you known for?
•Some will go with souls to heaven, what about you?
•I heard somebody preach at the cemetery about 3 Ws “Wazalwa, Wadla, Wafa” (Born, ate & died). This should not describe you.
•You need to ask yourself / God about your contribution to this generation and generations to come.
•Wenzeni emhlabeni? What have you done on earth? Let it be a serious question that you ask yourself every time.
•What have you done for your family? What will you leave for your children? What will you leave or be remembered for by your relatives? 1 Tim 5:8, “If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obligation in these matters].”
•What have you done for your church? What will you be remembered for by the church?
•What have you done for the society / nation? What will the society or Zimbabwe remember you for?
•When you get to heaven, what will you hold in your hand to present before Jesus? What will you answer when asked?
•Everybody has something that they can do.
•It does not matter how old or young you are, you can do something. You might have wasted many years but can still achieve something with the time left.
There is a sacrifice to make
•If you are to achieve anything meaningful, you have to make some sacrifice(s)
•Some were persecuted, some sacrificed their money, comfort, time, friends and some even lost their lives.
•Nelson Mandela is counted among the top 4 great people worldwide in this century, he sacrificed.
•To achieve great things, it will have to cost you something. For God to get you and me, it cost Him something.
•Jesus said to take up the cross and follow Him. Luke 14v26-27
My Desire
•Personally, I cannot die now, I have not done my part, I have not prepared for my family & children. I have not done much for my nation and society. I have not done much for the church. I can’t go now!
•I ask myself; I was born 28 years ago, got saved 13 years ago, got baptized in the Holy Spirit and have been talking in tongues for 12 years, have been working/ employed for 10 years, have been in BICC Lobengula for 10 years, have been married for almost 4 years, have been an accountant for 4 years, have been Youth pastor for over a year; what have I achieved so far? How many lives have I positively impacted?
•I want to be able to say like Paul, “MLB 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my death has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Beyond that there is laid away for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me in that Day, and not to me alone, but to all who have loved His appearing."
•I want Jesus to say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you were trustworthy in a little, I will appoint you over much. Share the happiness of your master.” MLB Matthew 25:21
Wenzeni Emhlabeni? Wayitei Panyika? What have you done on earth?
Wenzeni Emhlabeni? Wayitei Panyika?
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear {and} be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].
•When you get to heaven, what will you hold as your accomplishments on earth?
•Others while on earth obeyed God and did or achieved great things.
•Paul says we are core laborers (workers) with God which means we are to work with Him. (1Cor 3v9)
•Jesus said My Father is working and I work like Him (John 5v17)
•The bible says, in a great house are many vessels (2Tim 2v20-21)
•There is something that everybody can do or accomplish
•Despite your age, gender, race, tribe, you can do something. You could have wasted many of your years or time, but from where you are, you can accomplish much. Samson did more at his death than in his lifetime. (Judges 16v30)
•As a body of Christ, each part of the body has a function (1Cor 12v13-20)
•Refuse to live and go without achieving anything
•Be resourceful as a person
•Contribute something to your family, church, society, generation, etc
Others Did Their Part
•Others in the bible did their contribution, Paul, Peter, Docus, Moses, Abraham, Bezaleel, Cornelius, the Shunamite Woman, Anna, Hanah, Esther, etc
•Outside the bible we have:
-Martin Luther
-Martin Luther King, stood for human (black Americans) to the point where he was killed for that.
-Charles Finney
-Billy Graham (It is said that about 210 million people (almost 14 times Zimbabwean population) in 185 countries have attended his meetings. In the so called his last preaching weekend, about 1 360 were saved. He has advised American presidents, been invited by presidents in other countries.
-Reinhard Bonke (He has seen 42 million saved in five years and is targeting 100 million in 10 years)
-Oral Roberts, has conducted over 300 crusades in 6 continents,
-T.D. Jakes has church with 28 000 people, second largest in America
-Pastor Chris, has preached to 3 million people in one service
-Kenneth Hagin
-Benny Hinn
•I like saying that when Dorcus died, the church had something to hold in their hand to seek God for her resurrection, what about you? What can we hold? (Acts 9v36-39)
•Kenneth E. Hagin testified about one of the faithful Christian in his church who fell from the roof and died, the guy used to pay tithes faithfully, above 10%. Hagin prayed for him saying God, you know this man gives… The man rose from the dead. After his resurrection, the man said in heaven God told him that Hagin would not let him go and He opened a curtain and heard Hagin praying before he came back.
•Let me pause here for something very important. By serving God and doing great things we need to put a balance.
-I do not mean break away ministries. I do not mean disrespecting spiritual parents, disobeying leaders, running and climbing on people’s shoulders to get recognition.
-Young people need to honor and respect their physical parents at home and church leaders.
-Do not build your business and or ministry by exploiting or cheating your employer or former church.
-I will illustrate this by an example about one of my relatives. He was raised under the care of his aunty (mamo mdala) who raised him as his own son. There are a lot of challenges that they endured together. When he was old, he seemed successful in material things and even got married. He built good houses in rural areas. He began to be arrogant and did not want to relate with everybody in the family. One day after I had used his axe he shouted saying I had damaged it. I did not know there were pending issues. Then his “mother” aunty came in and they started talking. The argument heated up to the extent where they were literally insulting each other with strong words/ insults. The man said that he was now relocating from the home back to his father. And for sure days later he pulled down his houses and went to build in his father’s home. Few months after they disputed again with his father and he left to build outside near the father’s place. His marriage broke down, he divorced and re-married. He got sick and died later and his family was destroyed, today, he is forgotten.
-There is a warning for young people with great dreams for life. Do everything in the fear of God and in obedience, lets you shutter your dreams and cut your life short.
Sober Question To Ask
•What history or legacy will you leave?
•After you are gone, what will you be remembered for?
•The bible says we will all appear before Jesus to give an account. What will you hold or give account for before Him? (2Cor 5v10)
•What crown are you worthy?
•Other people are known for the wrong things they do or have done. (fornication, slander, theft, discouraging others, etc)
•What are you known for?
•Some will go with souls to heaven, what about you?
•I heard somebody preach at the cemetery about 3 Ws “Wazalwa, Wadla, Wafa” (Born, ate & died). This should not describe you.
•You need to ask yourself / God about your contribution to this generation and generations to come.
•Wenzeni emhlabeni? What have you done on earth? Let it be a serious question that you ask yourself every time.
•What have you done for your family? What will you leave for your children? What will you leave or be remembered for by your relatives? 1 Tim 5:8, “If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obligation in these matters].”
•What have you done for your church? What will you be remembered for by the church?
•What have you done for the society / nation? What will the society or Zimbabwe remember you for?
•When you get to heaven, what will you hold in your hand to present before Jesus? What will you answer when asked?
•Everybody has something that they can do.
•It does not matter how old or young you are, you can do something. You might have wasted many years but can still achieve something with the time left.
There is a sacrifice to make
•If you are to achieve anything meaningful, you have to make some sacrifice(s)
•Some were persecuted, some sacrificed their money, comfort, time, friends and some even lost their lives.
•Nelson Mandela is counted among the top 4 great people worldwide in this century, he sacrificed.
•To achieve great things, it will have to cost you something. For God to get you and me, it cost Him something.
•Jesus said to take up the cross and follow Him. Luke 14v26-27
My Desire
•Personally, I cannot die now, I have not done my part, I have not prepared for my family & children. I have not done much for my nation and society. I have not done much for the church. I can’t go now!
•I ask myself; I was born 28 years ago, got saved 13 years ago, got baptized in the Holy Spirit and have been talking in tongues for 12 years, have been working/ employed for 10 years, have been in BICC Lobengula for 10 years, have been married for almost 4 years, have been an accountant for 4 years, have been Youth pastor for over a year; what have I achieved so far? How many lives have I positively impacted?
•I want to be able to say like Paul, “MLB 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my death has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Beyond that there is laid away for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me in that Day, and not to me alone, but to all who have loved His appearing."
•I want Jesus to say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you were trustworthy in a little, I will appoint you over much. Share the happiness of your master.” MLB Matthew 25:21
Wenzeni Emhlabeni? Wayitei Panyika? What have you done on earth?
Monday, July 30, 2007
VALUE SYSTEM OF A BELIEVER
MLB Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do they light a lamp and place it under a grain measure, but on a stand; then it shines for everyone in the house. Similarly let your light shine among the people, so that they observe your good works and give glory to your heavenly Father.”
MLB Isaiah 60:1-3, “ARISE, SHINE; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and a dark cloud the nations; but the LORD shall arise over you, His glory shall be seen upon you. Nations shall walk in your light and kings in your dawning radiance.”
•We need to walk in the light of the understanding that the glory and or light of God upon us.
•We need to change our attitude and walk in understanding of who we are in Christ
•We should not let other people, situations, etc detect to us who we are
•We need to have a correct and right value system about ourselves
•We need to have the correct esteem about ourselves
•The scriptures above tell us to “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE” and ARISE AND SHINE” That leaves us with the responsibility to shine and not God.
•For you to let your light shine, you need to have a correct value system about yourself and correct self esteem
•Remember the world is in darkness and we need to shine
Things that may influence your value system
•self esteem
•background
•how other people treat(ed) you
My example:
a) I came from a divorced family, my parents divorced when I was about 5 years old. I saw the day my mother was fired from home. That made my understanding, appreciation or value of a woman/mother very skewed.
-because of that background, my current appreciation of a woman (that includes my wife) needed God’s grace
-I did not really experience what we call a mother’s love. When I was now grown up and had access to a relationship with my mother, I did not have any passion for her. I could not fake it, it was not there. I had to decide to accept and love as my mother.
-I saw my father beat up my step mother, I saw my cousin wounded by his wife.
-Beside my real mother, there are other 3 women that I had to address as mother before my father died!
b) Also when growing, I was in a harsh background.
- I remember I used to eat with my cousins (Michael & Sipho), who were 6 years and 11 years older than I. You can see that for me to have enough, I had to brace myself up!
- There was no much love, I had a lot of unpleasant nick names, I remember my grandmother used to call me “isivoko sikaMahleka lesi”, others used to say I have a big head, big eyes, big eye brows (they are big that I have to comb them every morning), big teeth, e.t.c
-As a young boy, I had suicide thoughts at times, to kill myself, I only lacked the courage to!
c)On top of that, I was poor. I did not get enough food, clothes, school requirements, etc.
d) But I started having wishes about life. I would imagine myself succeeding in being rich. I used to think like this: “when I get to 18 years, I will do or be this, when I get to 30, I will be this, and a thought will come, “and then you will die” When that thought came. I would stop thinking about the future because by then I did not have the solution for death as I was not born again.
You can see from the above that I have all the natural reasons to have a low self esteem and not amount to anything in life. But when I got born again, praise God, I refused to let that affect me. The bible says in Christ I am a new creature. I saw myself in light of who I am in Christ. Today, I do not feel inferior to anybody! I stand with and or before anybody, no matter how great and I do not feel any less! But I had to get my mind renewed by the Word and see myself in the light of who I am in Christ.
Walk in the light / glory
•You can choose not to let your background or up bringing affect you
•You have to get your mind renewed by the Word and change your thinking
•See yourself valuable, God loves you as He loves Christ.
•You were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1v17-19
•Change the specks or eyes that you look yourself with
•Find out what the Word says God made you to be and walk in that light. Let the glory or light of God be seen in your life.
•If you understand, you will walk in holiness, success, prosperity, health and be a blessing to others.
The Full package of the Gospel
•Sometimes I have heard people talk negative about “faith preachers” or what they call the “American gospel”, they say the gospel is not about healing and prosperity. Well I agree there are extremes in teachings at times but something for sure, the gospel is not about poverty and sickness!
•By now I should be on record that I do teach about success and prosperity, I do not apologize for that, I believe and live by that conviction and will continue to teach it! The bible teaches that and that settles it!
•The reason we have to break it down into faith, love, healing, fruit of the spirit, gifts, prosperity, etc is that many a times we do not understand everything at one go. The whole package of the gospel or salvation has all the above and more.
•People criticize divine healing saying God uses sickness to correct us but when they get sick they rush to seek medication!
•Some criticize prosperity and success teaching but borrow money to meet their needs! They seek money every day but do not believe God wants us to have money, how ridiculous!
2Peter 1v4, Ephesians 1v3
There are enough resources in this world
•Let me challenge you if you think you are rich or if you think there are no resources in the world
•It is said if we were to share the earth’s resources equally, we would all have enough.
•It is said in the world, 20% of nations and or people own 80% resources while the 80% population has 20% of the resources
•An average annual income per person in the world is about $US7500 (about 37 million Zim dollar per month) and in America it is over $36000 (about 180 million Zim dollar per month).
•There is therefore no reason for people to abuse the resources when children of God are suffering. (Ecclesiastes 10v7)
•One American businessman has a $12 million (720 bill) penthouse, a $40 million (2.4 trill) mansion ,a $20 (1.2 trill) million vacation home
•Bill Gates, the richest (once) had over $US100 billion wealthy though now has 56 bill, his house is about $US125 mil (7.5 Tril). Salary plus bonus $US966667 (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
•The 100 top billioniers in the world joinly have over $US1.4 trillion
Value System
•You need to change the way you treat others also. Value yourself right and value other people right also.
•If you understand the value of other people, then you will treat them right.
•Value and treat your spouse right
•Value and treat your children right
•Value and treat other brethren right
•The way you treat others may also be influenced by the way you were raised and treated yourself.
•Despite your background and history, you can change your destiny and future. You can change the face of your family, church, city, etc
•When I look at myself and the call of God in my life, I do not see myself inferior or less important to the other international speakers of our day. It does not matter the size of my light, what matters is to walk in what God called me to be.
•Your value is not determined by material things or possessions.
•What you have or do not have does not add or subtract value from you.
•Do not place your value (and that of others) on things that lose value like possessions and money.
•With the glory of God upon you, you can change and positively affect those around you, your family, church, society, city, generation, etc.
•You can break curses and bad things that have been in your blood line or genealogy.
•Rise up and walk in the favor of God
•Understand that you have God’s grace, love, nature, ability, light, glory, mercy, etc
•See yourself in the light of that which God has done for you
•You have God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit in you!
1John 4 v4
MLB Isaiah 60:1-3, “ARISE, SHINE; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and a dark cloud the nations; but the LORD shall arise over you, His glory shall be seen upon you. Nations shall walk in your light and kings in your dawning radiance.”
•We need to walk in the light of the understanding that the glory and or light of God upon us.
•We need to change our attitude and walk in understanding of who we are in Christ
•We should not let other people, situations, etc detect to us who we are
•We need to have a correct and right value system about ourselves
•We need to have the correct esteem about ourselves
•The scriptures above tell us to “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE” and ARISE AND SHINE” That leaves us with the responsibility to shine and not God.
•For you to let your light shine, you need to have a correct value system about yourself and correct self esteem
•Remember the world is in darkness and we need to shine
Things that may influence your value system
•self esteem
•background
•how other people treat(ed) you
My example:
a) I came from a divorced family, my parents divorced when I was about 5 years old. I saw the day my mother was fired from home. That made my understanding, appreciation or value of a woman/mother very skewed.
-because of that background, my current appreciation of a woman (that includes my wife) needed God’s grace
-I did not really experience what we call a mother’s love. When I was now grown up and had access to a relationship with my mother, I did not have any passion for her. I could not fake it, it was not there. I had to decide to accept and love as my mother.
-I saw my father beat up my step mother, I saw my cousin wounded by his wife.
-Beside my real mother, there are other 3 women that I had to address as mother before my father died!
b) Also when growing, I was in a harsh background.
- I remember I used to eat with my cousins (Michael & Sipho), who were 6 years and 11 years older than I. You can see that for me to have enough, I had to brace myself up!
- There was no much love, I had a lot of unpleasant nick names, I remember my grandmother used to call me “isivoko sikaMahleka lesi”, others used to say I have a big head, big eyes, big eye brows (they are big that I have to comb them every morning), big teeth, e.t.c
-As a young boy, I had suicide thoughts at times, to kill myself, I only lacked the courage to!
c)On top of that, I was poor. I did not get enough food, clothes, school requirements, etc.
d) But I started having wishes about life. I would imagine myself succeeding in being rich. I used to think like this: “when I get to 18 years, I will do or be this, when I get to 30, I will be this, and a thought will come, “and then you will die” When that thought came. I would stop thinking about the future because by then I did not have the solution for death as I was not born again.
You can see from the above that I have all the natural reasons to have a low self esteem and not amount to anything in life. But when I got born again, praise God, I refused to let that affect me. The bible says in Christ I am a new creature. I saw myself in light of who I am in Christ. Today, I do not feel inferior to anybody! I stand with and or before anybody, no matter how great and I do not feel any less! But I had to get my mind renewed by the Word and see myself in the light of who I am in Christ.
Walk in the light / glory
•You can choose not to let your background or up bringing affect you
•You have to get your mind renewed by the Word and change your thinking
•See yourself valuable, God loves you as He loves Christ.
•You were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1v17-19
•Change the specks or eyes that you look yourself with
•Find out what the Word says God made you to be and walk in that light. Let the glory or light of God be seen in your life.
•If you understand, you will walk in holiness, success, prosperity, health and be a blessing to others.
The Full package of the Gospel
•Sometimes I have heard people talk negative about “faith preachers” or what they call the “American gospel”, they say the gospel is not about healing and prosperity. Well I agree there are extremes in teachings at times but something for sure, the gospel is not about poverty and sickness!
•By now I should be on record that I do teach about success and prosperity, I do not apologize for that, I believe and live by that conviction and will continue to teach it! The bible teaches that and that settles it!
•The reason we have to break it down into faith, love, healing, fruit of the spirit, gifts, prosperity, etc is that many a times we do not understand everything at one go. The whole package of the gospel or salvation has all the above and more.
•People criticize divine healing saying God uses sickness to correct us but when they get sick they rush to seek medication!
•Some criticize prosperity and success teaching but borrow money to meet their needs! They seek money every day but do not believe God wants us to have money, how ridiculous!
2Peter 1v4, Ephesians 1v3
There are enough resources in this world
•Let me challenge you if you think you are rich or if you think there are no resources in the world
•It is said if we were to share the earth’s resources equally, we would all have enough.
•It is said in the world, 20% of nations and or people own 80% resources while the 80% population has 20% of the resources
•An average annual income per person in the world is about $US7500 (about 37 million Zim dollar per month) and in America it is over $36000 (about 180 million Zim dollar per month).
•There is therefore no reason for people to abuse the resources when children of God are suffering. (Ecclesiastes 10v7)
•One American businessman has a $12 million (720 bill) penthouse, a $40 million (2.4 trill) mansion ,a $20 (1.2 trill) million vacation home
•Bill Gates, the richest (once) had over $US100 billion wealthy though now has 56 bill, his house is about $US125 mil (7.5 Tril). Salary plus bonus $US966667 (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
•The 100 top billioniers in the world joinly have over $US1.4 trillion
Value System
•You need to change the way you treat others also. Value yourself right and value other people right also.
•If you understand the value of other people, then you will treat them right.
•Value and treat your spouse right
•Value and treat your children right
•Value and treat other brethren right
•The way you treat others may also be influenced by the way you were raised and treated yourself.
•Despite your background and history, you can change your destiny and future. You can change the face of your family, church, city, etc
•When I look at myself and the call of God in my life, I do not see myself inferior or less important to the other international speakers of our day. It does not matter the size of my light, what matters is to walk in what God called me to be.
•Your value is not determined by material things or possessions.
•What you have or do not have does not add or subtract value from you.
•Do not place your value (and that of others) on things that lose value like possessions and money.
•With the glory of God upon you, you can change and positively affect those around you, your family, church, society, city, generation, etc.
•You can break curses and bad things that have been in your blood line or genealogy.
•Rise up and walk in the favor of God
•Understand that you have God’s grace, love, nature, ability, light, glory, mercy, etc
•See yourself in the light of that which God has done for you
•You have God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit in you!
1John 4 v4
The Knowledge Of The Glory
Glory means: Brilliant showy splendor, brilliance, sparkle, glitter.
Ex 33:13-34:8, “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth? And the Lord said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, {and} mercy in My sight and I know you personally {and} by name. And Moses said, I beseech You, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY. And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy {and} loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy {and} loving-kindness. But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen. THE LORD said to Moses, Cut two tables of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables, which you broke. Be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. And no man shall come up with you, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mountain; neither let flocks or herds feed before that mountain. So Moses cut two tables of stone like the first, and he rose up early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy {and} loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
•The glory of the Lord may mean different things depending on the context
•In many instances and in this lesson we will study it as God’s manifest presence, Ex 40:34-35, “Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
•When God was leading Israel out of Egypt to Canaan, the Glory of God appeared in the form of: a) Cloud - Ex 24:15-16, “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day [God] called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” Ex 16:10, “And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud!”
b) Fire - Ex 24:17, “And the glory of the Lord appeared to the Israelites like devouring fire on the top of the mountain.”
•The glory was “kept” in the ark of covenant, Ex 25:21-22, “You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony [the Ten Commandments] that I will give you There I will meet with you and, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the Testimony, I will speak intimately with you of all which I will give you in commandment to the Israelites.” 1 Sam 4:21-5;10, “ And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel!--because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, The glory is gone from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken. THE PHILISTINES brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. They took the ark of God into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon [their idol]. When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left him. This is the reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He caused [mice to spring up and there was] very deadly destruction and He smote the people with [very painful] tumors {or} boils, both Ashdod and its territory. When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god. So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let [it] be carried around to Gath. So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had carried it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing an exceedingly great panic [at the deaths from the plague], for He afflicted the people of the city, both small and great, and tumors {or} boils broke out on them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as [it] came, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people!”
Heb 9:5, “Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.”
•Israel had a condition of experiencing the positive aspect of God’s glory – Purity!. Is 33:13, “Hear, you who are far off [says the Lord], what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might! The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the godless ones. [They cry] Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with those everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud {and} from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil. [Such a man] will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; water for him will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; [your eyes] will behold a land of wide distances that stretches afar.”
The Glory Of God In Israel vs In The church
In Israel, the glory of God appeared physically and they could see it with their eyes. The children of Israel were not born again, they were spiritually dead. They were not spiritually alive hence God had to deal with them in the physical. They could not fully grasp, see or understand spiritual things. The church has been made alive in Christ, we are born again and our spirits alive in God. We are spiritual alive and can see, grasp and understand spiritual things. Gen 22:16-18, “And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] {or} begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed {and} [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard {and} obeyed My voice.” This scripture is often quoted to mean Israel is the sand and the church stars. I believe there is some truth in it.
1 Cor 15:46, “But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.” Mostly, God would deal with Israel in the physical but He deals with the church in the spiritual. With that understanding, let’s go back to out subject. The glory of God appeared in Israel in the physical but we do not see the same in the church. But this does not mean that the glory of God is no longer seen or experienced in the church.
Cor 3:6-4:7, “[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers {and} dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory {and} splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade {and} pass away, Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater {and} more splendid glory? For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor {and} glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]! Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds {and} excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ]. For if that which was but passing {and} fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains {and} is permanent abide in glory {and} splendor! Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely {and} openly {and} fearlessly. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. In fact, their minds were grown hard {and} calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void {and} done away. Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds {and} hearts But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off {and} taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold {and} engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) {or} become faint with weariness and exhaustion. We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate {or} handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight {and} presence of God to every man's conscience. But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing {and} obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying {and} veiled [only] to those who are lost. For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image {and} Likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forthd [as i] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God It is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.”
•In the church the glory of God is manifested in Christ
•It is the Holy Spirit that revels that glory to us
John 17:22-24, “I have given to them the glory {and} honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one {and} perfectly united, that the world may know {and} [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
Christ came to restore unto us the glory of god which we lost when Adam sinned. Rom 3:23, “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives.” That glory is in us and we are to live in it. We are not to see the glory at a distance in the form of a cloud or fire but that glory is in us. Eph 3:16, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened {and} reinforced with mighty power in the inner man BY the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].” Col 1:27, “To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within {and} among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.”
Heb 10:20, “Heb 10:19-23 “Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom {and} confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated {and} dedicated {and} opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh, And since we have [such] a great {and} wonderful {and} noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, Let us all come forward {and} draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance {and} absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled {and} purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water. So let us seize {and} hold fast {and} retain without wavering the hope we cherish {and} confess {and} our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) {and} faithful to His word”
The glory or presence of God was confined in the Holy of holies in the Old Testament but Christ opened the way for all of us to experience the glory. We all have access into the presence of God and experience His glory in us always.
We live in the dispensation of which God said, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. “ Hab 2v14
We do not to go around looking for clouds and pillars of fire, we just look into our spirits for there is the glory!
Ex 33:13-34:8, “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth? And the Lord said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, {and} mercy in My sight and I know you personally {and} by name. And Moses said, I beseech You, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY. And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy {and} loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy {and} loving-kindness. But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen. THE LORD said to Moses, Cut two tables of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables, which you broke. Be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. And no man shall come up with you, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mountain; neither let flocks or herds feed before that mountain. So Moses cut two tables of stone like the first, and he rose up early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy {and} loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
•The glory of the Lord may mean different things depending on the context
•In many instances and in this lesson we will study it as God’s manifest presence, Ex 40:34-35, “Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
•When God was leading Israel out of Egypt to Canaan, the Glory of God appeared in the form of: a) Cloud - Ex 24:15-16, “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day [God] called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” Ex 16:10, “And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud!”
b) Fire - Ex 24:17, “And the glory of the Lord appeared to the Israelites like devouring fire on the top of the mountain.”
•The glory was “kept” in the ark of covenant, Ex 25:21-22, “You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony [the Ten Commandments] that I will give you There I will meet with you and, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the Testimony, I will speak intimately with you of all which I will give you in commandment to the Israelites.” 1 Sam 4:21-5;10, “ And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel!--because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, The glory is gone from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken. THE PHILISTINES brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. They took the ark of God into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon [their idol]. When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left him. This is the reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He caused [mice to spring up and there was] very deadly destruction and He smote the people with [very painful] tumors {or} boils, both Ashdod and its territory. When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god. So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let [it] be carried around to Gath. So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had carried it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing an exceedingly great panic [at the deaths from the plague], for He afflicted the people of the city, both small and great, and tumors {or} boils broke out on them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as [it] came, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people!”
Heb 9:5, “Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.”
•Israel had a condition of experiencing the positive aspect of God’s glory – Purity!. Is 33:13, “Hear, you who are far off [says the Lord], what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might! The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the godless ones. [They cry] Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with those everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud {and} from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil. [Such a man] will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; water for him will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; [your eyes] will behold a land of wide distances that stretches afar.”
The Glory Of God In Israel vs In The church
In Israel, the glory of God appeared physically and they could see it with their eyes. The children of Israel were not born again, they were spiritually dead. They were not spiritually alive hence God had to deal with them in the physical. They could not fully grasp, see or understand spiritual things. The church has been made alive in Christ, we are born again and our spirits alive in God. We are spiritual alive and can see, grasp and understand spiritual things. Gen 22:16-18, “And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] {or} begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed {and} [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard {and} obeyed My voice.” This scripture is often quoted to mean Israel is the sand and the church stars. I believe there is some truth in it.
1 Cor 15:46, “But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.” Mostly, God would deal with Israel in the physical but He deals with the church in the spiritual. With that understanding, let’s go back to out subject. The glory of God appeared in Israel in the physical but we do not see the same in the church. But this does not mean that the glory of God is no longer seen or experienced in the church.
Cor 3:6-4:7, “[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers {and} dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory {and} splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade {and} pass away, Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater {and} more splendid glory? For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor {and} glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]! Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds {and} excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ]. For if that which was but passing {and} fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains {and} is permanent abide in glory {and} splendor! Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely {and} openly {and} fearlessly. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. In fact, their minds were grown hard {and} calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void {and} done away. Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds {and} hearts But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off {and} taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold {and} engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) {or} become faint with weariness and exhaustion. We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate {or} handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight {and} presence of God to every man's conscience. But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing {and} obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying {and} veiled [only] to those who are lost. For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image {and} Likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forthd [as i] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God It is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.”
•In the church the glory of God is manifested in Christ
•It is the Holy Spirit that revels that glory to us
John 17:22-24, “I have given to them the glory {and} honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one {and} perfectly united, that the world may know {and} [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
Christ came to restore unto us the glory of god which we lost when Adam sinned. Rom 3:23, “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives.” That glory is in us and we are to live in it. We are not to see the glory at a distance in the form of a cloud or fire but that glory is in us. Eph 3:16, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened {and} reinforced with mighty power in the inner man BY the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].” Col 1:27, “To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within {and} among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.”
Heb 10:20, “Heb 10:19-23 “Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom {and} confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated {and} dedicated {and} opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh, And since we have [such] a great {and} wonderful {and} noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, Let us all come forward {and} draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance {and} absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled {and} purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water. So let us seize {and} hold fast {and} retain without wavering the hope we cherish {and} confess {and} our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) {and} faithful to His word”
The glory or presence of God was confined in the Holy of holies in the Old Testament but Christ opened the way for all of us to experience the glory. We all have access into the presence of God and experience His glory in us always.
We live in the dispensation of which God said, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. “ Hab 2v14
We do not to go around looking for clouds and pillars of fire, we just look into our spirits for there is the glory!
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