The Christian Heritage

And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." Exodus 17:9

The enemies were around and Moses been the leader of the nation of Israel gave Joshua an instruction to choose men to go and fight the enemies. Moses did not join in the physical battle, he went up a hill with Aaron and Hur, but he was much also into the battle though not physically. Moses went up the hill to pray for the battle going down. He stood in the gap and the position he took that day was a determinant factor for the victory that day.

As I read the account of this battle, the whole event portrayed the Christian life to me. I see a lot of Christians who simply take life from a physical standpoint. They are all about strategy, planning, career etc, and it all ends there. They see their progress in life largely as a product of their own human effort. They just believe if you put in the required efforts alone, all will be fine. This has worked for them and they also preach the same to others.

Some even go to the extent of talking down on other Christians who might not appear to be as successful as they are but more religious. They see other’s religiosity as the reason they are at that present position in life. They forget there are people more successful than they are who are very spiritual too. They have separated their faith from every other area of their life. Sometimes, it so happens that someone has built a successful career without any serious spiritual commitment and then see no reason to now bring their faith into it.

This kind of Christians remind me of how Joshua must have fought in the battle with all his might, skill and expertise. However we can see that victory didn’t come to them solely because they fought well or outnumbered their enemies. Victory was theirs because there was a man of prayer up the hill interceding for them. Joshua would have made a great mistake that day if he assumed his might alone brought the victory. Our Christian heritage will always be useful at whatever stage we find ourselves in life.

As Christians in a changing world, we mustn’t lose touch with our spiritual heritage as we sojourn this world. While it is good to have all the necessary qualifications on the job, it is better when we are also armed spiritually on the job. Our spiritual heritage is our cutting edge as we navigate this world. When all the known human strategies fail us, we can withdraw spiritual resources from heaven’s bank. We shouldn’t wait till all our plans go south before we realize that there is a God in heaven who is always with us. Never talk down on others spirituality today because it might just be what will save you tomorrow.

Steps Of Faith

And look, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment. Matthew 9:20

One thing that caught my attention about this woman is the audacity she had to go in the crowd towards Jesus. According to the custom of her day, she was regarded as unclean and should not mix in the crowd lest she makes others too unclean by touching her.

She had been in this condition for 12 years, yet she didn't change her mindset to accept this condition as her new way of life. She did all she could to get out of it, even when it cost her her material possessions. She saw Jesus and knew that if she could simply touch his garment, not him praying for her after a fast, she would be whole.

Although getting in the crowd was against the law, she nonetheless went in, knowing fully well it held the key to her healing. She knew how to receive her healing and what she needed to do to receive it. Touching Jesus garment would give her her healing, while getting close to Jesus was what she had to do.

Knowing that God can heal, deliver or set free from whatever bondage or situation as never been the hindrance for many, but taking a step in that direction. If this woman only knew about how she would get her healing from Jesus but did nothing about it, then we probably would have not heard of her story.

The singular most important reason we heard about this woman is because she chose to become the actor in her own story by going against the odds. How many times the Holy Spirit has prompted us to give our money for a project in church, devote more time for him in service, pray for a sick one or reach out to an unsaved fellow. Even when we know very well that those actions would open us up to receive more from the father, but we explain them away or find a thousand and one more reason not to do them.

Having a strong faith is important as well as taking steps in line with our faith. The only way someone will know you are in faith is not merely by you confessing it, but when they see you take bold steps that will bring those confessions to life. The only way to see what you believe in come to pass is to take those steps of faith.

Seeing The Other Side

"I know the LORD has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone is living in terror. For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Joshua 2:9-11. NLT

The story of the twelve spies Moses sent to the Promised Land is quite popular and the reports they brought back even more so. Even though God’s word had gone ahead promising them the land, the majority came back with factual, evident-based report; the land was good and the people strong and big, for added effect, they even described how they must have seemed small in the eyes of the inhabitants. The minority report on the other hand did not dispute the facts but they chose to believe God and his abilities more than the evidences before them. Of course, the majority had their way and they died in the wilderness.

Then years later, we get a rare view of the other side, a peep into the mind and the thinking of the inhabitants of the land. ‘We are all afraid of you, everyone is living in terror’, what a huge shock, oh what missed opportunity. If only the ten spies had heard these themselves, they would have marched immediately; instead they died unsung. Joshua and Caleb (minority reporters) had always known the truth though; God was busy behind the scene preparing the way for them, moving mountains for them.

How so much like today, where physical evidence is taken over and above God’s word. Just because we cannot see the other side, we are tempted to walk by sight. Beloved, there is more to it than the facts, God is still at work in the situation and all He asks of you is to believe Him. They might indeed be giants but in their hearts, they are terrified. Hold on to God’s word, he will come through for you. That sickness is not unto death, don’t give up; the marriage will be restored, don’t despair; your breakthrough will come, just hang in there. He that has promised is able to accomplish it.

Even when you can‘t see him, he is working, even when you can’t feel him he is working; he never stops working for you. Shalom.

Seeing Differently

Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. Numbers 14:9

Come to think of it, these young men had so much guts. In a world where when you don't follow the norm, you are called different names. I don't think this incidence was the first time Caleb and Joshua had a different opinion from the norm or general opinion. And they definitely had something working for them to be chosen as representatives of their individual tribes.

Ten men reported the people they saw as giants, which indeed is true in reality, but these two men brought a different report. What others called giants, was what they called 'bread'. This shows that whatever the people they went to spy out looked like physically meant nothing to them. They refused to be swayed by their looks.

Could it be that this two men had eye defects that made them underestimate the giants? I don't think so, instead I think they had an image of the invisible God in their minds who was bigger than any giant they saw with their physical eyes. The giants however tall and mighty they appeared meant nothing to them. Instead they reaffirmed that with God on their side, they could have the giants for lunch.

This two men nursed no fear whatsoever for the giants that was why they could face the multitude of people and tell them not to fear the giants. They didn't acknowledge the sight of the giants but were more conscious of the God they had. God on their side they were sure of possessing the land. God on their side they were sure of an imminent victory.

How many times do we shake at the sight of opposing situations and circumstances and forget about the God who not only is with us but dwells within us now? Victory over the giants of life doesn't come by merely having God, but a deep rooted consciousness of him. He was God to the whole nation of Israel, but two young men distinguished themselves by their thoughts and words that they had a God with them. And with God on their side, the giants came down before them. God will always come through for anyone who magnifies him above the physical 'giants' before them.

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. 

BREAKING FREE

2 Peter 2:2

As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.

The starting point for every believer is to start out as a babe. No new convert assumes a matured status as soon as they receive the life of God. Although this is where we all start, we should go beyond it by growing up. This kind of growth is not physical and can't be seen with the natural eyes. However, it must be continous, no matter how small the progress we are making now.

The challenge with many Christians when it comes to spiritual growth is that growth is in inches and may not be noticeable until after a long while. We tend to give up after a period of consistency because we see no visible changes yet in our life. But in reality, inasmuch as we commit to spiritual activities like spending time daily in prayer and the word, and fellowship with other believers, we are definitely growing.

This is where we usually fall for the enemies' lies that nothing is happening after being consistent for 10days and yet no sign. Whereas we are actually growing and the only way to grow is to be consistent. Since we are already on the path of growth, we should not be deterred if the symptoms of those habits and addictions still persists. Its in fact an evidence of growth in certain cases.

Each time we take a break on our commitment, it stifles the process especially when we have an end in view. For someone trying to break of on some habits, total commitment to the process is essential. The more entrenched we are in habit requires more tenacious effort in spiritual activities till they wear of. Never be discouraged, keep at the daily prayers and meditations in the Word irrespective of how inconvenient it might be.

Always keep the end in view. A fierce and aggressive commitment to spiritual activities over a period of time will always produce victory over negative activities we desire to break of from.

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.