Tag Archives: Jesus

August 28, 2016 · 5:30 pm

THROUGH WHO’S EYES?

I remember attending a party quite a while ago, when break dancing was the hit. As a four year old boy with very little self-consciousness and without any understanding of the concept of shame, I thought I was a really great dancer. You can’t blame me too much; after all I was seeing the world through my little eyes. My opinion must have been the right one as far as I was concerned.

As I took centre stage, people were clapping and laughing hysterically. I thought they loved my deft moves. However, like the little boy in “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, someone had the courage to bring me down from my high horse. My dancing was in fact nothing short of disastrous and I had no fleeting idea. This is much like what happens as we tread along life’s well-worn paths, we form opinions, our thought patterns are shaped and we develop customized perspectives towards almost everything. We almost always see ourselves as right, because we judge ourselves through the ‘self filter’.

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Looking at life generally and zooming in on our service in the Kingdom, we may actually have an incorrect view of what God demands from us, if we judge only through our own eyes. I guess the people that Jesus will address as He did in Matthew 7:21-23 will realize this too late:

‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

I can imagine how shocking and devastating it will be to hear that at the end of the road; after we must have thought to ourselves that we fought the good fight and finished the race well. We may even have had people cheering us on and singing our praises. But these opinions do not really matter in the end. Only one thing indeed matters – the view through God’s eyes.

When Jesus called His disciples, He had the priority clearly defined – Stay with me first before you go on to any form of service.

He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14-15

In staying with Him, we know Him more, we become more and more like Him until our will is lost in His will and our selfish motives and intentions for serving in the Kingdom become non-existent. Whatever service we are using to occupy till He comes should flow from that personal relationship and an outpouring of love for God – this is the will of God. He wants us more than whatever we can indeed offer.

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January 14, 2016 · 5:04 pm

TWO PHEASANTS AND AN EGG

Over the last holiday season, my kids and I got engaged in paying daily visits to 2 birds -a local breed of pheasants- that decided to breed at our backyard. There were two pheasants and an egg, so we christened one of the birds as Mama Pheasant and the other as Papa Pheasant. Each time we approached the new parents, they would make some noise that sounded like a tiny growl to ensure that we did not cross our limits and get too close. This was their way of ensuring that Baby Pheasant remained unharmed till the day of hatching and “manifestation”. Of course we never crossed our limits, not knowing what surprises the pheasants would spring at us if we dared.

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On one of the days, a thought crossed my mind as we were in the middle of our daily visit: the Baby Pheasant inside the egg had no idea of what was going on outside its shell and had no way of influencing the behaviour of Mama and Papa Pheasant. It had no way of begging its parents for protection; it did not have to do anything to earn the right to be protected. Yet it did not have any reason to fear. The parents were under obligation to offer the protection, even if it meant putting themselves in harm’s way – and they never failed. Day and night, they stood at their duty post, unwavering, unflinching and untiring.
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This is similar to the kind of covenant relationship that believers have with God. What an awesome privilege! Our covenant confers a plethora of promises on us. If we can take out time to understand the terms of this covenant in the Bible, we will live our lives in unimaginable peace. Just living, walking and working in the glory of the covenant. We will no longer give prominent place to enemies and fill our prayers with concerns about them. A highly superior version of the kind of protection that the pheasant in the egg got is just one of the benefits that we enjoy as believers.

If we are seated together with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6); if we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ (Colossians 3:3); if He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4); if the name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous run into and are safe (Proverbs 18:10); If the Lord is around us as the mountains that surround Jerusalem (Psalms 125:2), If the Lord will not allow the rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot of the righteous (Psalms 125:3) why should we be afraid of enemies. We should rather devote time to mediate on these promises day and night until they are ingrained on the tablets of our hearts. This way, we will be steadfast and unmoveable, working in the sound mind that God has given us instead of walking in fear.

The Bible verses referenced above are just a few of the reasons why we should be bold as the lion, living above fear of enemies. We will discover many more if we will be willing to search the scriptures diligently. We would then be able to treat them the way Jesus recommended in Matthew 5:43 – 48

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy’. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends] how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 One thing we can be sure of is this: No enemy in the form of man or devil can harm us if we remain under the shadow of the Almighty. It is our covenant privilege.

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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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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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November 10, 2013 · 1:12 pm

HYBRID ECLIPSE

I guess you were also caught up in the eclipse fever.  It was all over the place that on Sunday, 03/11/2013, a hybrid solar eclipse will sweep through most parts of the world, with Africa having the best views. I was really looking forward to witnessing the eclipse.  The anticipation was almost palpable all around, especially with the international news media reminding us practically every hour. The day finally arrived and hours turned into minutes and then…I did not see anything. All the preparation was in vain. The closest view I got was from the news.

In preparation for this rare occurrence, many people committed immense resources, while a few travelled to choice locations for ‘Prime time’ viewing. And to think that the best scene would last for just a measly four minutes…

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And what is four minutes when compared with eternity. If we could quantify all the efforts expended in the preparations for the eclipse, it may actually turn out that it’s more than we spend in preparing to reign with our Father – preparing for the place where only the spotless and the blameless can reign.

In the third chapter of Peter’s second letter, he gave some very sound counsel that demands more than just a close look:  

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If we lay it to heart that our time on earth is just like the passing four minutes of the eclipse, we will be motivated to spend less time chasing THINGS and channel our energy towards this most important preparation. If it were not possible to live holy and godly lives, Peter would not have encouraged the people to work towards it. The same also goes with being found spotless and blameless.

The King of Kings is looking forward to welcoming us to that glorious reign. Let’s make every effort and be on our guard so as not to miss out. Great grace is available.

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September 8, 2013 · 3:16 pm

BABEL

And the whole earth was of one language and of one accent and mode of expression. Gen 11:1 (AMP)

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What do you think would have happened if God had not multiplied and mixed up the language of the people who were building the tower at Babel? Would that tower have actually reached heaven? Well, the Lord said that nothing could be restrained from the people as long as they could imagine it. The UNSTOPPABLE force of unity.

Can you even begin to imagine what the world would be like today if the Church spoke the same language; If in spite of our denominations, we could still come together to achieve one purpose – the establishment and advancement of God’s Kingdom. I believe that was the kind of Church that Jesus had in mind as he prayed in John 17: 20 – 21

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Apostle Paul was surprised when this epidemic of disunity broke out in the Corinthian church. Some were promoting the gospel according to Apollos, while others were promoting the gospel according to Paul. If only we can look through his eyes and say what he said:  “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

 The focus should be on this God who makes things grow. If only we can stop advertising our denominations when we evangelize and actually spread the gospel according to Jesus Christ. This is our commission as soldiers of the cross. Where did we start going off our original course?

God please let your spirit break out and break our walls down. Let Jesus be our focus and let our one goal be the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Let your glory fall.

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July 14, 2013 · 2:47 pm

Neighbourhood Jesus

In a Sunday school class some time ago, a little boy made a remarkable statement. The teaching on that day was on the person of Jesus Christ. After the teacher carefully described Jesus by His character and attributes, the little boy stood up and said that he had seen Jesus in his neighbourhood. The immediate response in the class was a mixture of scorn and surprise. The boy went ahead to describe a man that lived in their neighbourhood that matched the picture painted by the teacher. How profound that boy’s statement was.

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I believe that is the kind of life that we are called to as Christians; known as Christians by the life we live, not just because we announce that we are Christians. The early apostles were first called Christians because they were observed to be behaving like Christ, they did not choose the name and then went about announcing it to the people. That was the message that Paul tried to pass across in Galatians 5:1 (AMP)

 “Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].”

If we are copying God and following His example, it will show. It’s often very difficult to differentiate between an original item and an imitation if they are placed side by side at the market. Have you ever wondered why Judas had to specially point out Jesus with a kiss to those that came to arrest Him? Obviously, the disciples were not 12 identical twins. Can we all get back to that place, where we will be known by our fruits? Can we be known as Christians, not because of what we have filled in a form or because we said so, but rather because it is evident in the way we live? God’s grace is sufficient.

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