January 7, 2015 · 11:59 am

MY FATHER’S GOD

While waiting for my car to get washed on a sunny day, I sat under a tropical almond tree for a shade. After sitting for a while, I decided to ease off the boredom by walking around the tree. As I was doing this, I observed that all the leaves on the tree were not looking exactly the same. Some of the leaves were complete, while some had been turned into beautiful works of art by some leaf-eating insects. The insects had created exquisite patterns on some of the leaves by eating portions of the leaves in a creative way.

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Interestingly, both sets of leaves were still green and they appeared to co-exist happily together and the tree was still producing fruits as expected. I suspect that those half eaten leaves did not know that they had some problems. In fact, they could actually remain in that form for years if the insects choose to move on to greener pastures. This reminded me of what was written about Samson on the day that he was converted from a conqueror to a blind captive: He was ‘dead’, without actually knowing it.

Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. (Judges 16: 20 NLT)

Moving over from the Bible times to our present day; it is possible to exist in a church, where each service is indeed a wonderful fellowship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and not be part of that fellowship. We may busy ourselves with countless church activities and still end up as outsiders where it really matters. That fellowship is what God really wants from us and it is also what we need to fulfil our calling as per the new covenant:

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1Peter 2:9 NLT)

We can never know him personally, understand our place in Him, grasp the immensity of the glorious life he has planned for us and realize the utter extravagance of His work in us if we do not have that personal touch in our relationship with Him. The veil has been torn and we have unlimited access to the throne of our Father.

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It is becoming increasingly popular to pray to the God of our Bishop or the God of our Pastor or the God of our Father-in-the-Lord. This is not what our father desires. He wants to be my own God. He wants to be your own God. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the term “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” was no longer commonly used. It was used just once by Peter at his fist sermon, where he had to introduce God to the Jews.The apostles all understood the kind of relationship that God wants to have with us and related with Him accordingly. He was the God of Peter, God of John, God of James, God of Timothy, God of Silas. Each person had a personal relationship with Him. This is evident in Paul’s declaration in Acts 27:23 – 25

Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’  So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. (NIV)

From the highlighted words, it is very clear that God was his God. That personal touch in the above declaration is unmistakeable. God does not just want to be my father’s God; He wants to be my God. A good starting point is a consistent personal Bible study and a good start time is now. His grace is sufficient for you and the door is open.

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November 24, 2014 · 11:42 am

A SINGLE EVENT

I recently bumped into a programme on TV; I don’t remember the title of the preacher’s message, but some things he said just stuck. He asked a simple question: “Who is Jesus?” He went ahead to state that the answer to the question would depend on a single event. In his opinion, a single event can change the way you answer that question. After that single event, nothing in this world would be able to change your answer because you just know that you know, without a shadow of doubt.

The disciples of Jesus slept and woke up with Him every day as they went about the ministry. No matter how strong your argument may be, it will never change what they learnt from Jesus during those days. That is why John could speak with boldness in 1John 1:1

[We are writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands (AMP)

He was so sure of what he was saying because of that single event – Encounter with the Lord.

In my opinion, that single event today is a personal encounter with the Word of God, or put in another way, a personal revelation into the Word of God (definitely inspired by the Holy Spirit). This personal encounter is obtained at the place of diligent study. It is not obtained by talking about the Word. It is not obtained by knowing the Greek translation of some words in the Word.

The truth is that this encounter may not come from listening to the best teachers of the Word. That is why John 8:32 is very instructive.

Then you will experience for YOURSELVES the truth, and the truth will free you. John 8:32 (MSG)

I intentionally chose to emphasize ‘Yourselves’ because this encounter is essentially between you and the Holy Spirit. The teachers and preachers are essential in our walk, however if you must have that ‘single event’ experience that will make your faith to be cast in stone, you must invest in personal study and prayers. If this encounter is missing, circumstances may bend you into doubting what you previously believed and move you into the realm of rationalising the Word.

You will definitely be tried and tested. When those days come, you will be able to say like Job:

Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him… Job 13:15

And like Habakkuk:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places… Habakkuk 3: 17 – 19

 

It all depends on that single event – Personal Word study. His grace is sufficient for you.

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October 22, 2014 · 6:16 am

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME

Reading Max Lucado’s book: ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT ME’, I came across a fascinating story of something that happened when he was a guide in the art museum. His job was very simple: Lead the visitors to the paintings, answer their questions and step out of the way. The idea was for them to take in as much of the painting as possible, without unnecessary distractions and diversions. He stayed on track for some time and did just as he was directed to do.  However, he soon started talking a bit too much, thus shifting the focus from the paintings to himself. Little by little, he began to unconsciously block the paintings and just going on and on with his stories. He was sharply brought back in line by these words: “This job isn’t about you Max. Don’t obscure my masterpieces”

Most ministers set off on the right track, initially preaching nothing but ‘Christ and Him Crucified’, until those wonderful remarks at the end of the service begin to pour in: “Pastor, I felt God all through the message, the message was speaking directly to me”, “That was a wonderful message, I have never heard it that way before”. The worship leader just wants to lead the church into God’s presence, but the compliments can’t be avoided: “Your voice was so angelic”, “The worship session was something else today, everyone was caught up in the spirit”. “I felt something like a shock during the opening prayer”

When these accolades start pouring in, we start planning to ‘Preach up a storm’ at every meeting and singing to strike the right chord that will generate those wonderful comments. This somehow affects all of us, not just the preachers, prayer leaders and the singers. We all have a way of unconsciously deflecting the glory that is due to God to ourselves.

The truth is that there is nothing really wrong with the compliments and we never really set out to take God’s glory. However, when we let our guards down, we fall for this age long trick. Little by little, one short step after another. The tiny seed is sown in our hearts and it just grows without restrictions.

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Our objective as ministers in any capacity should always be to direct people to God our source. We should always strive to count ourselves as nothing but mediums. We are similar to the donkey that God used to speak to Balaam, the fish that God used to call Jonah to order or even the rod of Moses that turned to a snake to reflect God’s glory.

When God moves via our ministration, it is not because of us, it is not about us. It is not for us. Paul planted, Apollos watered and the increase came because of God. It is all about Him. Our ultimate goal should be never to obscure the glory of God in any way, just like the moon reflects nothing but the light from the sun. May we never fail in this assignment in Jesus’ name.

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honour and glory of God. 1Cor 10:31

photcredits: allaboutgod.net

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September 9, 2014 · 11:29 am

ROWING WITH THE ANCHOR

I heard a funny story over the radio recently. A group of rowers wanted to undertake a challenge of rowing to another town in record time. The twist was that they would start the task at midnight with minimal illumination. They rowed as fast as they could all night, without stopping for a break. They had their minds set on the goal and they were not going to let a break cost them the record. At the break of dawn, with the first ray of light, they realized the unimaginable: they had not moved an inch. They were rowing with the anchor still firmly in place. 100% effort, but no productivity. Illumination makes a world of difference. It can indeed magnify your efforts.

By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. (Psalms 119:105 MSG)

During the days of the stock market boom, quite a number of people that I know had fancy spreadsheets and charts for monitoring stock portfolios. That did not stop their fingers from getting burnt when the bubble burst. Many of the people did not really know the “way” of the stock market. It was just a fun bandwagon to join and everyone got on board blindly.

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With benefit of hindsight, there are many wrong steps we’ve taken that we never would have taken if only we sought answers from the One that knows it all before taking the first wrong step . Many of us are stuck with the wrong partner, wrong job, wrong investments and I dare say many ministers have no business being ministers in the first place. Just becuase of failure to enquire of the Lord.

There are so many pointers in the Bible that encourage us to draw near and ask before leaping, but somehow we always contrive not to.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Prov 16 25 (NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30 21 (NIV)

“I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go. If you had listened all along to what I told you, your life would have flowed full like a river, blessings rolling in like waves from the sea. Isaiah 48: 17 -18 (MSG)

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Borrowing the words of the ageless hymn; “…Oh what things we often forfeit and Oh what needless pains we bear…” because we simply fail to ask in prayer and seek out the way from the Word. No matter what height we may climb to in life, we can never do without studying our Bibles and praying every day, with a view to becoming more like Christ. If this is not your normal way of life, I can boldly tell you that you are missing and you are most likely going to miss that ‘still, small voice’ when it comes to tell you which way to turn at the junction. There is so much light in the Word.

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July 15, 2014 · 10:18 am

THE THREE WORDS

I was in a Church service recently, where the minister said that the main portion of his message was going to be on three words that are difficult to say. As he went on with his prelude, he kept us guessing what those three words would be. I ran through my thoughts and concluded it was going to be either “I Am Sorry” or “I Love You”. I was way way off the mark.

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He finally came out with the three words: “Jesus Is Lord”. I didn’t get it because I believed you could even teach a smart parrot how to say those words. How difficult could that be? The verse of scripture in focus was the second part of 1 Corinthians 12:3:

“…and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”

To speak those words from the lips alone is as easy as easy can be. However to say them from the heart is very very far from easy and it can only be by the help of the Holy Spirit. It means handing over all controls – ALL – to Jesus. Withholding nothing; letting Him lead the way in EVERY decision; pleasing Him as a lifestyle, not only when it is convenient.

Most times, we say this and think we mean it. When in truth, we actually don’t. We only get to know that we didn’t really mean it all the while when our LORD tries to touch some no go areas of our lives. We call Him Lord, but somehow, we still manage to set limits for Him, which implies that He is not really in charge. If Jesus is Lord indeed, He should be in charge, with no limits.

The fact is that it’s not easy to realize that we have not made Him Lord indeed. That’s why we need the help of the Holy Spirit to say these three words. Like King David prayed, we need God to try our hearts and point out to us, the areas that we have reserved for ourselves. With this, we can hand over everything to Him and make Him Lord indeed.

“Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” Psalms 26:2 (NLT)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalms 139: 23 – 24 (NLT)

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March 30, 2014 · 11:32 am

LIKE YOU – LIKE ME

I heard an interesting story a while ago as I was listening to a Bethel Church podcast;

During a church meeting, there was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit with diverse physical manifestations. However, not everyone in the church was carried along in these manifestations. In order for the rest of the people not to feel completely lost, the minister nicely asked the people that were not ‘manifesting’ to write down all the thoughts that were going through their minds at that time. At the end of the meeting, he interacted with this set of people and deciphered from their writings that they were actually having encounters with the Holy Spirit, just that these were encounters of a different kind. A different kind that was not inferior to the other – just different.

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It’s so easy to look at what is happening in other people’s lives and want what they have, forgetting that we are all on different courses on the way to our expected end. Another trap that we also fall into frequently is to think that if the manifestation is not physical, then it is inferior. This makes us to erroneously glorify those physical manifestations.

Back in my University days, I had this friend that would always cry so much while praying. I judged him to be very spiritual because he always had a ‘deep encounter’ at every prayer time.  I really tried hard to start crying at my own prayer times, but my tear glands would never cooperate. In my ignorance, I equated the cry to an encounter with God and I looked down on myself and my prayer life because I wasn’t having that ‘encounter’. I also remember not falling down under the anointing in some services while others were being slain in the anointing and thinking something was wrong with me.  Thank God for what He has taught me since those days of ignorance.

In the second part of 2Corinthians 10: 12, we are advised not to compare ourselves with ourselves because it is not a wise thing to do and it has the potential of leading us into errors:

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However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. 2Cor 10: 12(AMP)

I believe the safest thing to do is to have that personal relationship and encounter with God, where what you do is not influenced by what another person is doing or what your pastor says. The only influence should be the Holy Spirit. You definitely can’t miss it this way. In other words, shift your standards from the ways of men to the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you try to be like someone else, you will only end up as a near perfect copy. Discover your course from God at the secret place and stay on course. His grace is sufficient for you.

 

Photo credit: lisagroup.com.au, commons.wikimedia.org

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February 16, 2014 · 3:18 pm

SHADES OF HOLY

I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11: 45 (NIV)

Growing up, I have seen HOLINESS mean different things at different times and the evolution is not showing any sign of stopping. The definitions are somehow affected by level of exposure, class, geographical location and who you are relating with at the time.

I remember when it was a grievous sin for ladies to put on trousers on the streets and they dare not go close to a church dressed like that or …. It was a sign of holiness to ensure that your hair is always covered anytime you are in church or when any prayer is being said; that hair cover could well be a strip of cloth or a sheet of paper. Back in the days, even Jeans was a sign of ‘unholiness’ and if you were very rich, there must be something unholy about you. There was also a holy look, there were holy hairstyles and it was easy to spot ‘holy’ people out in a crowd.

It evolved from the way we look to the way we speak. Certain phrases came to be associated with holiness. I’m sure you can think of some of them.  And then the music had to sound in a certain way to be holy. You probably have your own experience on this.

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In all these things, one thing is certain and not in dispute: Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has had one definition of holiness and that definition will remain till the end of time. God really wants us to be holy because that is the only way we can relate with Him as He intends and eventually end up with Him. We can never attain to that level of holiness by our hard work or by trying hard enough. I believe holiness becomes natural to us as we get closer and closer to God. It is a fruit of intimacy with God at the place of prayer, worship and study of the Word. There are no set of rules that can help you get there. God just works it out in you as you spend more time with Him.

I recently heard something which I think summarises the pursuit of holiness:

The more you see God, the more you know Him. The more you know Him, the more you want to know Him. The more you know Him, the more you are changed by God. The more you are changed by God, the more you see Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 lays more credence to this:

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.

Devote more time, not just to church activities, but to developing your intimacy with God and you will become the definition of holiness. His grace is sufficient!

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February 9, 2014 · 2:45 pm

But Why Me?

I was driving around recently and my attention was caught by a funny mother-son scene playing out in my neighbourhood. I thought to myself: “I have definitely seen this before and I have acted this scene before”.  The mother got out of the car and released her toddler son from the shackles of the seat belt. She went to the other side of the car to attend to another infant and then without warning, the toddler took off.  With the infant in hand, she gave the toddler a chase and after some lengthy dribbling, she eventually caught up with the little one.

I have been involved in this sort of chase more than a couple of times and the temptation is always there in the heat of it all to think that other parents don’t have this kind of worry and that the case is peculiar to me and my kids. Anger and clouded vision created by the circumstances in which we find ourselves have a way of magnifying situations beyond what they actually are. We are often tricked into believing that we personify the term ‘long suffering’, and we involuntarily forget that the scriptures say that there is nothing new under the sun. Those questions that don’t have answers flood our minds: “Why is my own case different?”, “God what did I do to deserve this punishment?”, “When will I become like my mates?”,  “God Why…?”

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It’s not unusual to be overwhelmed by situations around us, but we can count on God to keep His promise, made in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT):

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Many more of these promises exist in the Bible and it is our duty to search them out.  They are there because our Father loves us. He loves us so much that He will not just sit by and watch us grapple with pain and anguish. Put your arm in His arm and let Him lead. He knows how to take care of what belongs to him.

What’s the storm you are passing through right now? Be encouraged! God is on your side if you abide in Him.

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January 5, 2014 · 12:07 pm

FEAR FACTOR

I hated reading books when I was much younger, especially when it was a fictional novel. My dad on his own part did what every good father would do: encourage my siblings and I to read as much as possible. I had no way of stopping the constant flow of books streaming down from my dad to us, but I had to develop a coping mechanism. I would just flip through most of the pages, pausing occasionally to read a few lines. Luckily, he never asked us to summarize the stories. I could not afford to pay the price of not ‘reading’ those books, so I just had to do something. Deep beneath whatever I did was the fear of my dad.

That hatred has progressively dissipated and I’ve been changed. I was reading a book recently: Prayers of a God Chaser by Tommy Tenney. I saw a paragraph that I could relate the above story to.

“It seems to me that most, if not all of the great sacrifices and ‘surrenders of the soul’ in history were founded upon and motivated by love rather than fear. Is there any doubt that Jesus’ surrender of His will in the garden was birthed in His love for the father and for us?”

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Beyond my childhood escapades that were motivated by fear, the excerpt above describes the exact opposite of what is mostly obtainable in our time. Fear of the cankerworm drives us to tithe and give. Fear of the ‘diseases of the Egyptians’ makes us get involved in serving in the household of God. Out of fear, we sacrifice our time and resources in doing ‘things’, hoping that one day; it will be enough to swing the hand of God in our favour. Fear even colours our prayers – sometimes we fear the enemies more that we fear and believe God. Fear just makes us forget who we are in God as well as the promises we have in God.

At the very root of this fear-driven motivation is the absence of personal Bible study. If I can get myself to study, I will really understand that: “… God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” and that “ No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.” Moreover, I will constantly have it at the back of my mind that God is not moved by the things I do, because He looks beyond the actions to the motives behind those actions. If it were not so, Jesus would not have told the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee was a perfect ‘doer’, yet the Publican received justification at the place of prayer.

It is all about LOVE and it’s simply that simple. I guess this is a good time to do that self-check to determine what our motives are for all the things that we seem to be doing for God. It’s possible that the miracle workers that Jesus spoke about in Matt 7:22 – 23 did not do this check at the right time. Result is not a proof of God’s presence. Love and the fruits of love…

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matt 7:22-23 (NIV)

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December 10, 2013 · 8:07 am

COURAGE

1997. The year of many firsts in my life. Some things that happened in that year are permanently etched on my memory – never to be forgotten. It was my first year as an undergraduate, the first time I wore a pair of Jeans, the first time I ate in a ‘buka’ and the first time I slept ‘69’ on a hostel bed. One of those firsts reminds me of my absolute lack of courage and guts in those days.

I was in a Christian fellowship of first year students and in order for us to begin the process of having the school ‘pass through’ us; we formed visiting pairs, which changed every week. One of those weeks, I had to visit someone in the girls’ hostel. All the courage I thought I had just disappeared. But for the fact that I had to give a report of the visit, I would have abandoned the idea. I made many false starts: I would leave my room, all psyched up and when I got to the last turn before the room; I would take the opposite turn. This happened twice and with the third trial, I managed to pull myself to the door of the room and tapped gently on the door.

I sat on the only chair that was available in my host’s corner of the room. I slowly took the drink that I was offered and pretended to be busy memorizing her collection of pictures. I crossed the first hurdle; the next hurdle was to hold a meaningful conversation. On this particular day, that did not just happen for me. At least I had visited the room and I was not going to default on my assignment.

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I can look back at that event now and have a good laugh at my own expense. However, lack of courage could cost us some very important things that we won’t be able to laugh about. Lack of courage could mean that we’re not able to share the good news of the gospel to someone that is gallantly heading the wrong way or we are not able to pray for that sick person, even when we have been given the power to lay hands on the sick for healing. You may actually have your own example of what this has cost you. All sorts of thoughts could run through our minds and drain any courage that we have been able to muster: “What if he doesn’t get healed when I pray”, “What if I get trashed for sharing the gospel”, “What if … (fill in your own blanks)”

However, the Word of God is complete and has more than enough profitable prescriptions for this malaise, this is just one of them: 2Tim 1:7

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (NIV)

“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.” (AMP)

“God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.” (MSG)

If you really understand this verse, then there is no stopping you by God’s grace. You may only get one chance to take that leap.

photocredits: autismaspirations.com

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