Waiting Does not Diminish us

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy... Romans 8. 22 - 25 (Msg)

While Hannah was waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, Peninnah, having had children without stress, mocked her. She reminded Hannah, at every chance she got, how unfortunate it is that Hannah could not have children. Hannah must have been very sad. She must have asked herself questions. She probably wondered at some point whether God was not on her side. But it wasn't yet her time, she had to wait on the Lord to remember her and bless her with the fruit of the womb.

While we wait for something to happen, maybe for the contract to come through, for the breakthrough, for the expected job, for the promotion, for the transfer and so on, we may get a little concerned or even troubled especially if there are people around us who seem to be getting these things almost effortlessly. Probably you resumed job about the same time and you've both been working diligently but the other person gets all the recommendations and promotions. It is a pregnancy stage.

The early weeks of pregnancy, the mother is just so glad that it's finally happening; "I'm going to be a mum!"  But as weeks pass by, she could no longer wear some of her favorite clothes, she could no longer bend down like she used to, she now has to sleep in a certain posture, she has to be deliberate with what she eats and worse, she feels pains. The closer she is to the arrival of her bundle of joy, the more pains she feels. And then the pains climax, during labour. But it won't last and soon, she will be all smiles holding her heritage of God.

So we also, when our dreams and desires take so much effort from us but they seem not to be coming forth. We have been working and labouring for a while and we seem not to be seeing the fruits. It is because the fruit hasn't fully matured, for when the time is right, it will come forth and it will be as though we are in a dream. Maturity takes different time for different results. But one thing is sure, whosoever conceives and endures the pangs, will ultimately deliver and it will be worth more than the pains.

So when it was Hannah's time to bring forth, Samuel was the result and he was worth more than her time of waiting. Therefore, let the word of God console you, that waiting isn't shameful in anyway, we are enlarged in the waiting, and more joyful at the result of our expectation.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Receiving Divine Guidance

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

When it comes to receiving divine guidance, most Christians expect the spectacular. We want to hear an audible voice from heaven telling us what to do. But in reality, maybe just an handful have experienced that in a few times in their lives. Truth is that we can be led by God as his children in very simple ways that most people do not esteem.

In scriptures, we find an angel of the Lord coming to Mary the mother of Jesus and speaking to her about the child not yet born in her womb (Luke 1:26-38). However, for Joseph who later became her husband, he needed to fall asleep before he could get a direction from God about marrying Mary and the protection of Jesus (Matt 1:20-21). Don't assume you will get direction from God exactly the way your spouse, sibling, friend etc do. Have an heart to receive but don't be fixated about how it will come.

Even in human communications, we say someone has not communicated until the other party understands you. We must always trust God enough to know that He will get his message to us at the best possible means. Most people who received God's word in scripture were not out to get His word, but they did. Moses was tending the flocks of his father-in-law when he saw a bush burning and the bush wasn't consumed by the fire, that was enough for God to get His attention. Another classic example in the New Testament was when Saul who later became Paul was on his way to persecute Christians and a light from heaven, brighter than the sun stopped and changed his journey.

While we all might experience something dramatic once in a while, the primary and basic way God leads us is through our spirit. The spirit of a new creation believer is alive to God hence can receive directions from God, hence we must pay the utmost attention to it.

Don't wait till you are about to make a major decision before taking it serious. Due to the alarming rate of divorce amongst couples, many singles feel it’s important to hear the voice of God on the matter. But the area many fail is that you must have learnt what the voice or leading of God is to you as an individual on other smaller matters before attempting major ones. When to go out, whom to speak with, what to say, how do I present my words etc before taking such an important decision as marriage.

The part alot of people don't like is making mistakes. You will definitely make mistakes. However, what is important is the enormity of the mistake and what you learnt from the process. It is alright to make the mistake in the little things while you perfect your hearing ability. We are all products of right and wrong decisions we have made in time past. Don't say because you missed it so there is nothing like divine directions. Don't let your negative experience rob you of the next benefit you can receive from God. Give yourself time to grow and learn. Not every negative experience is God trying to speak with you.

Always remember that you become better at every new attempt. Making a practice of hearing God will help you in every area of life. Don't be hasty to act on the decision you take, sometimes give the decision time.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Speaking the Truth

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2 Cor 13:8

One of the virtues every Christian should imbibe is the habit of speaking the truth always. The truth is almost a scarce commodity in the world we live in and many a times we contribute to it as Christians. But our nature is righteousness and true holiness. We must give expression to it at any point in time.

Sometimes speaking the truth might cost us loosing some privileges and opportunities but would we rather stand before men than God? Our father knows how to reward us best, so we can go all out knowing we have his backing.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and light to our world. The very moment the salt in our food start tasting like the food, instead of the salt that it is, it becomes useless. So our relevance in the world we live in can only be known when we actually live out our true identity.

People around us must be able to put their money down on our words alone, because we have shown overtime that we say the truth at all times. We should not be someone who change with the environment they find themselves. Our badge must always be on. We must say the truth because of what it is, not to spite or suite anyone.

Sometimes there might be a material reward for telling the truth and this becomes the reason why some tell the truth. Our lives should go beyond immediate gratification. We shouldn't just live for what we can gain for immediately. Many people occupying one leadership position are there because they stood for what was right not necessarily for what will favour them. And while in the immediate such character might go unrewarded, they come handy in the future.

If you did not witness an event, no need speaking on it since you might not have all the facts. Don't also forget that overstating the fact is no longer the truth. If you counted only 20, don't announce at least 20. Even when marketing your products and/or services, don't overstate what you or your product can do just to get another client or customer.

We must also stand for the truth. Don't just say it, defend it, if need be. By speaking and standing for the truth always in our homes, offices, institutions  and wherever we find ourselves, we soon make lie and deceit to fade out and make truth the order of the day.

The price to pay to speak and stand for the truth in Our society today may be high, but it is worth it. Our words will be judged eventually, what good is there looking good in the sight of men but not accepted before God because of our words.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Prepared For a Use

 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. Luke 19:29-35

So Jesus had just finished teaching the parable of the master who hired laborers at first, third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hour and decided to pay all one penny each as he had agreed with the ones he employed at the first hour (Matt 20) and next, he was on his way to Jerusalem. I believe we know Jesus wasn't a man who had properties scattered all over the many places he visited. He had, however, enough of all he needed. So technically, he had no donkey of his own to take him to Jerusalem.

But it had been said by the prophet that Jesus had to ride on a donkey. Not just a donkey, but one that hasn't been ridden before, a brand new Colt (Zec 9:9). Awesome! But how shall these things be? Valid question, if you ask me. But Jesus wasn't even there when the prophesy came. All he had to do was live the prophesy so there was no way he'd ask how anything was going to be.

So, because there's a word that has to be fulfilled, somebody, whose name we don't know, has a colt, fed the colt, and displayed it where the disciples coming for it would find it at the time that it's needed. So when the disciples came, they were not confused. Even if there were donkeys, there was only one colt which hasn't been ridden before. So, they took it.

It wasn't recorded that the people on ground shouted thief!!! They simply asked a legitimate question and when they heard it was the Lord that had need of it, they didn't ask; "who's the Lord?" Why? Because it wasn't a coincidence that their colt matched the description that Jesus gave the disciples. So everyone went their preferred ways. Jesus rode on the colt. Prophesy was fulfilled.

Now here's what struck me. Jesus wouldn't have been less Jesus if he didn't ride a colt. He didn't need to ride the colt but the people needed to see their humble messiah on a colt entering Jerusalem triumphantly. So, it was for the people. Of course, I'm guessing it's more comfortable for Jesus on the colt than if he had walked.  Nevertheless, he rode on the colt, the prophesy was fulfilled and the people were able to recognize that here was the messiah! And they paid homage because they saw what had been said.

In the same way, we should remember what has been said of us, that we are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. If He said we are the light, then He already knows about the darkness and He sure has given us the torch for illumination and because the torch is electrically charged, He has also provided electricity. It is however our duty, to plug the torch to power, get it charged and switch it on for illumination to come. Jesus didn't wait or expect that the owner of the colt would bring it to him. He didn't assume that the owner of the colt knew him. He was aware of the provision and went straight to cash in on his cheque.

So also, we who are called by his name, should deliberately find out the provisions that has been made for us through what has been spoken concerning us and when we find it, we better cash in on it. Because the moment it was said, the provisions had been made. And the use of what has been provided is what will announce our arrival. They have also been told how to identify us but that won't happen until we ride on our colt.

 If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Love: God’s Nature

In the last article, we discussed the love of God for you and ended with the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. It is instructive to note that even though Bible Commentators captioned the story as the parable of the Prodigal son, the parable is more about the father than the son. In actual fact the entire chapter has a central theme, ‘the redeeming love of God’. From the lost sheep that was searched for and found by the shepherd to the lost coin that required a complete sweeping of the room before it could be found to the prodigal son and finally the elder brother who refused to enter the house and the father had to go outside to urge him to come in, we find the same heart of love expressed towards sometimes undeserving recipients.  Jesus used the four stories to reiterate the same point, that God is Love and he is committed to doing good.

David knew this. When he made a mistake by counting Israel and he was to pick a punishment for his error, hear him "This is a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands." 2 Sam 24:14. It was also the same certainty of God’s nature of perpetual goodness that made Jonah to head for Tarshish instead of going to warn them at Nineveh as he was instructed to. This is what scripture says of him after God forgave the people of Nineveh “he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people.” Jonah 4:2 (NLT). Jonah was willing to bet on God’s goodness and love.

Perhaps the most important evidence of God’s nature of goodness is God’s own description of himself.  In Exodus34, we see God introducing himself and His character to Moses. ‘Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."’ Exo 34:5-7. God’s overwhelming attribute is love.

Some might ask, ‘if God is this good, then why destroy the world with flood or Sodom with fire?’ The answer is the same as to why a doctor removes a cancerous part from a patient in order to save the patient. God sent the flood in order to save humankind. ‘The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.’ Gen 6:6(NIV). Having a heart filled with pain are definitely the emotions of a love being. And on his way to destroy Sodom, he revealed his plan to an intercessor who kept interceding until it was not logically possible any longer, yet God still spared the few righteous persons found in the city.

Another question might be, ‘why doesn’t God step in before bad things happen?’ A major attribute of a love being is the respect of the choices of others. No matter how much a man loves a lady, as long as the lady refuses to accept or reciprocate the love, the man can do little about his love. The same way God has given man the ability to make a choice and to live by the consequences of the choice. God can only do as much as we allow him to do in our lives. Just as Moses said in wilderness, ‘I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live’ Deut 30:19, it is still our responsibility today to choose life.

In conclusion, God is love and it is His nature to do good all the time. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17). We serve a good God and you have a right to expect good from Him all the time because His only disposition towards His children is to do us good.

Hallelujah!!!

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot benefit fully from His love. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Love: The Father's Love

Love is in the air. 💕

 It’s the season of love and we will spend a couple of weeks dwelling on love. Love is perhaps the most fascinating word in human history. Every great story is given a love angle, the movies that last longest in our memories are centered around love. From a tender age, we are inundated with ‘Happily ever after’, ‘knights in shining armour’ stories. Majority spend most of their lives in search of love. So then, what is love? The answer is not that straight forward as there are four variants of the word. The first kind of love is the Eros which is the emotional love, it is what most mean when they say ‘I love you’. It is purely based on feelings and could be selfish and unstable. The second kind is the Phileo love, which is the love that exists between family members. It is the natural affection one feels towards a sibling or a child.  The third kind is the Philadelphia, which is the love that exists between friends, it is called the brotherly love. It is very close to the Phileo and is sometimes used interchangeably. The fourth and final kind of love is the Agape love. This is the God-kind of love, it is the unconditional commitment to doing good and is not dependent on the recipient’s actions.

Every love story and movie seeks to portray this love. But they often fall short because there is only one that can perfectly model the agape love and guess what? He is in love with you. God is love and He loves you unconditionally and is committed to do you good. He is constantly thinking of you. Hear what the scriptures says ‘For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ The popular scriptural verse in John 3:16 would still be true if it reads thus; ‘For God so loved me, that He gave His only begotten Son, …’. God went the extra mile for you by giving his only son that you might be with Him. If He did not spare His own son for you, there is nothing else He cannot give you, if you will only respond to His love.

‘How can God love me with my lifestyle?’ someone may ask. In Romans 5:8, ‘But God has shown us how much He loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!’ (GNT) we see that God did extend His love towards us in our sinful nature. Even your shortcomings are not enough to separate you from His love. Also, situations and circumstances are neither proof of God’s love nor can they remove us from His love. Consider this, scripture ‘And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.’(Rom 8:38-39 NLT). Nothing means nothing.

One of the greatest examples of God’s love is recorded in Luke 15 as narrated by Jesus, it is the parable we call the ‘parable of the Prodigal Son’. The second son demanded for his inheritance and wasted it in a foreign land. Thereafter he summoned courage to go back to his father to ask for forgiveness and be hired as a servant, verse 20 describes the reaction of the father: "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”(NLT). Whereas the father could have seen the son and be angered by him (justifiably so) or even convince himself to only forgive him if he is truly sorry, yet what we saw was a father running to the son to welcome and restore him with so much love in his heart and without conditions. Notice also that the father saw him ‘a long distance away’ which could only have meant that the father had been eagerly anticipating his return.

Regardless of the picture of God people might have painted to you (and yes, we will discuss the person of God the next time out), regardless of who might have betrayed your love or disappointed you, regardless of who else loves you; please be assured of God’s love for you.

God loves you passionately.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot benefit fully from His love. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Walking with God

Happy new year.

It’s a new year and a season of making resolutions. And rightly so, for we can set the course of this year and years after by the decisions we make now. So, if you don’t mind, let me suggest one resolution that you should add to the list if it is not already there. A personal walk with God.

A personal walk with God is a commitment to know God for yourself and to develop a relationship with Him. It is tuning out the noise of the market and focusing on Christ alone. Scriptures says ‘… but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.’ Dan 11:32(NKJV). The strength you need to go through life victorious is in knowing God. A personal walk with God involves a fellowship with the word of God (Jesus) and the Spirit of God.

And the word was made flesh. Jesus is the living word of God and we should have a thirst for the word. Reading and meditating the scriptures is to fellowship with the word. Kindly note, that the word is both the old and new testament. For the old testament is the new testament concealed and a shadow of what is to come.  Fellowshipping with the word is not complete until we commit to doing it. Jesus said the wise man is he who hears the word and does them (Matt 7:24-25). Make a resolution to do the word this year.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom 8:14. Our walk with God is defined by our fellowship and submission to the Holy spirit. It is the spirit of God that reveals to us the plans of God for the now and also the secrets that God has kept for us from the foundation of the world. Spend time praying in the spirit and listening to the spirit this year, it is what will make the difference. It is sometimes said that ‘a regular study of the word is all a Christian needs’; well, hear what the master said on the matter ‘But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you.’ John 16:7 (NLT). Since Jesus said it is best for a believer for the Holy spirit (comforter) to come, then we undermine ourselves by not maximizing the relationship.

In summary, walking with the lord this season starts with committing a defined time to commune with God and listen to him. No, it doesn’t have to be a whole hour, start where you are. If all you can do now is 20 minutes of praying daily, then do it. What is important is the consistency.  ‘I will do it anytime of the day when I am free’ will not work, you might have realized by now that there is hardly ever a free time, we make time for what we feel is important. So dedicate a specific time (morning, afternoon or night) to fellowship with God and His Spirit. Aside this set time, take time to pray under your breath all through the day, 20 seconds here, 30 seconds there. It sets a spiritual atmosphere around you.

Read and study the word of God daily. The Bible is the manual that God has given to us to guide us and in it we know the person and the eternal will of the father for us. So it is expedient that we discover this on a daily basis. But don’t just read it, deliberately pick a portion for meditation throughout the day. Say the scripture to yourself, think about it, in so doing your mind is renewed to God’s word and its realities. For in doing this will our success and prosperity be established (Ps 1:1-3, Jos 1:8).

‘And Enoch walked with God’, this can be your testimony too.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, then life here is anchorless and eternity is bleak. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you.