BELIEVERS DIGEST SERIES 6

BELIEVERS DIGEST (SERIES 6)
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL
“FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS AND THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied
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6.1 THE PRAYER OF JABEZ.
“A
nd Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying: Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel … And God granted him that he requested" - 1 Cor. 4:9-10. The name Jabez came up in the genealogy of Judah, one of the sons of Jacob. Judah inherited of the covenant blessing stored upon Abraham by God through Jacob and Isaac. The portion of Abraham’s blessing that Judah got was written in Gen. 49:8-12. God’s covenant of blessing to Abraham in Gen. 12: 2-3 is just a summary of God’s blessing over Abraham and his descendants. Isaac passed the blessing on to Jacob and not to Esau in Gen. 27:27-29. We never heard "the God of Esau" but "The God of Jacob" because it was in Jacob the blessing was deposited. It was Jacob who split and spread out the blessing over his children (Gen. Chapter 49).
Jabez was born through much sorrow and his mother cursed and gave him the name Jabez. Her reason for the name was, "because I bare him with sorrow." All through Jabez’s life before he realized who he was, he lived in sorrow. He was backward in all he did. He was always rejected among his mates and within the family. He never made it beyond average. It was at his turn that the whole thing would stop; the world was upside down for him; women had to run away as they heard it was Jabez coming. He was not recognised in the Church not to talk of his leading a group, or be selected for any function. He was just a follower to be pitied by everybody. He was used to wearing old shoes passed to him by his elderly ones and friends. He was the errand boy to everybody. Life was terrible for Jebez, everything fell out for him.
One day the man sat down and considered himself in the light of the available documents (the Law of Moses). He realized that as a man in the family line of Judah, he had access to Abraham’s blessing deposited in Judah by his forefather Jacob. He studied the Law of Moses (the scriptures) again and again. He refused to think of himself according to how people are thinking of him He refused to see himself as grasshopper while others proves to be giants. He began to realize that he too could have access to the covenant blessings bestowed upon Judah. He refused to be indifferent to this. Rather he called on God as stated in the following passage: "And Jabez called on the God of Israel".
Jabez identified himself with Jacob (Israel) or we can say he re-affirmed his position in Israel as one of her bonfire members. He called on that God and said: "Oh that thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain".
We don’t know for how many days, weeks or months he prayed that prayer but because he identified himself with the house-hold of Israel upon which the Abrahamic blessings were bestowed, God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: "And God granted him that which he requested". Then the Bible made it known that, as a result of Jabez’s prayers; he became "more honorable than his brethren". The glory of God came upon him and he began to excel. The hand of God upon him made ways for him in whatsoever he desired. Nothing was contrary to him again. All accepted him and in his absence meetings have to be postponed. He became the delight of men. He made his choice in marriage and was blessed with children. Due to God’s blessings on him, all others were relegated to the background while he was at the forefront.
The recorder of his story in the scripture did not mention the name of any of his brethren because the transformation of the life of Jabez is worth written in the book of records for the whole world to read and learn from. It was really a transformed life. Wherever apostle Paul spoke of his identity, he claimed the blood relationship to the Israelite who descended from Abraham. He made us know by the inspiration of God that it was to the Israelites that the law, the adoption, the glory, the covenant and the promises of God belonged (Rom. 9:4). But that, we that were far away from those Abraham covenant promises of blessing have now been grafted in through faith in Christ, to receive from the root and fatness of those promises (Rom. 11:17). It is only through faith in Christ Jesus that we can be partakers of God’s abundant blessing. It is by this same faith that we are saved. We move from faith to faith: "for there in is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith" – Rom.1: 7. From faith that saves to faith that receives from God on daily basis. What is the condition of your life: like that of Jabez? Get yourself immersed in God’s covenant blessing of Abraham (Gen. 12: 2-3), and pray the prayer of Jabez. This can be easily done after you have given your life to Christ. Remember that you move and live from one faith to the other.
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6.2 THE LOST SHEEP, WHO?
“I
say unto you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons, who need no repentance" –Luke 15:7.NKJV.
Jesus gave a parable of a shepherd that lost a sheep out of a hundred while tending his herd. He left the remaining ninety-nine to search for the lost sheep. He got it at last and invited his friends and neighbors to rejoice along with him. Any one who is not in Christ is a lost sheep. There is always the search by God through His grace and by His love for such a one to repent. Until there is repentance of the sinner, God does not give up. There is however joy in heaven when such a one repents and becomes right with God in righteousness and holiness.
Are all believers right with God? There can still be lost sheep within the fold of believers. Salvation without brotherly / sisterly love is incomplete. Such a one without love is a lost sheep in search of by the shepherd.
Salvation without putting off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying (col.3: 8-9) is an indication that such a sheep involved has drifted away, yea, is lost. The law of Christ requires that His sheep obey all "for whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).
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6.3 FLURISHING UNDER PRESSURE
“B
ut the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread…."
- Ex 1:12.
After the death of Joseph, the Israelites were oppressed in Egypt. But the more the oppression, the people of God multiplied and spread: pressure had no negative influence on them. Pressure, Oppression or Persecution on any child of God or group of children of God always results in progress.
The more the early apostles were oppressed, the more they receive grace to preach the word and to spread out. Persecution was the main factor that scattered them all over the place out of Jerusalem. This led to the spread of the Gospel. The gospel thrives well and better under persecution: so also is any child of God (the righteous). "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon" – Psalm 92:12. But the wicked (that were not oppressed) shall flourish like the grass (V7), which is soon withered. The righteous (the oppressed child of God) as the palm tree: long-lived that is not affected by the winter. The more it is pressed down, the more it grows. The righteous flourish under their burden. They shall be fruitful "like the cedar in Lebanon", they shall grow near heaven, stronger and fitter for use: they shall have majestic body and large branches. Their fruit shall be pleasant and they are evergreen. In old age they shall bring forth fruit: their strength of grace will not fail with the strength of nature: the righteous under pressure shall be cheerful and be respected by all around them.
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6.4 OH MAN OF GOD
“T
herefore you are inexcusable O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things" – Rom.2:1.
Any minister of the gospel becomes a judge of good and right. He, by the scripture, shall know and teach the people of God the right things to do as to stay off the bad. But then, the preacher (the man of God) stands before God for judgment.
"And do you think or imagine, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict? " – Rom.2: 3 AMP.
It is easier for "the man of God" to preach on love, forgiveness and giving. But do you love as well and forgives? What of your unloved reactions to other men of God or Church members (elders, non elders and even your wife)? Do you practice forgiveness? When last do you give out of that which belong to your children to a needy family in your church? Do you think you are called to be receiving as you preach on giving? What of your tithing: does it worth emulating by members of your church? It is easier to preach on prayer and evangelism; but do you practice both to always receive results? If you preach and did not practice, you become a blind guild. "Glory, honor and peace to everyone who works what is good", to the man of God first, and also to the church members: "for there is no partiality with God" –Rom.2: 10-11.NKJV
You have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else: Do you preach against and condemn the works of the flesh? Or you have a form of Godliness but deny the power of it? People are to turn away from you (11 Tim.3: 5). You must first have to nourish your own self on truths of the gospel and stand in it: for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16).
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6.5 UNITY
“A
nd the Lord said, behold, the people is one, and they have all one language and this they begin to do and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do"- Gen.11:6.
After the flock of Noah, the human race was of one language. They were not divided, and they agreed to build a city with a tower that will touch the heavens and make a name for themselves and not be scattered over the face of the earth (Gen.11: 14). Without delay they started building. God visited them and concluded: if the whole human race can be united in this way, then whatever they imagine or plan to do will be possible. God is a God of unity: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one –1John 5:7.
Jesus promised "that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven" – Matt.18: 19. Why then do we not have results of prayers even in our Churches? It is because we have different languages to issues. The apostles were "all with one accord" and they lifted up their voice to God with one accord (Act 4:24) so they got the results accordingly. But even within the Church executive members, there are different voices not to talk of within the enlarged church, hence no result of prayers. God disengaged the building of the tower of Babel by confounding the language of the people. It is that secret that the devil uses to disrupt the work of God, among the brethren. Even in the family of the people of God, there are lots of disparities – different voices, hence chaos and unsettled Christian homes. Always remember that God said, "behold the people is one, and they have all one language … nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagine to do "KJV.
"Nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible to them" Amp.
“If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them …"NIV.
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
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6.6 WRONG CHOICES - LOT
T
he bible speaks of Lot as a righteous man. This implies that he was good at heart (II Peter 2:7-8). He was a true believer in God, a saved man, who with no doubt must be included among those "who are saved by fire"- I Cor.3: 15. But his life was full of mistakes, which is worth learning from by us, to whom the end of the world has come.
Lot went with Abraham when that man of faith decided to answer the call of God to go into a country he had never seen. The blessing of Abraham affected Lot and he was materially blessed too. The weakness of Lot began by his love for those material things. His wife to her destruction largely shared this interest. The abundance of the possessions of these two men led to their separation. Due to strive between their herdsmen, Abraham gave Lot the opportunity to first choose a place of settlement so that the other side would be occupied by him. Abraham went about this in the kindest so as to reach an understanding with Lot. It did not occur to Lot to ask what God’s will was in the matter. Nor what affect the morals of the people who lived there might have upon his family. His choice was entirely based on worldly gain: the luxuriant vegetation and the trading opportunity that could come out of it. How do you make your choices? Lot believed in God, but mammon came first "…You cannot serve God and mammon (that is, deceitful riches, money, possessions or what is trusted in)"- Matt. 6:24 AMP.
The decision every believer must make: to put God or money and material things first? Many professing Christians make decisions on the basis of what they think will best promote them materially. Their spiritual welfare takes second place if it is considered at all. " Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the Cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly"- Gen.13: 12-13. Later he settled in Sodom. It was from the place Lot decided on his own to settle that he was carried away as captive only to be recovered by Abraham’s timely intervention. It is not uncommon for lukewarm Christians who have become careless in their Christian life to suddenly meet some terrible, unexpected disaster that leaves them in a state of despair. Lot could not at this time make good resolution; he waved the experience aside and settled fully back in Sodom. A little of Sodom had gotten into Lot’s heart and that of his wife, and they could not leave it. They so cherish it. Their children also had to share in cherishing the world and some were married to the wicked men of Sodom. Lot became one with a chieftaincy title of Sodom for we are informed that he " sat in the gate of Sodom". To sit at the gate at that time and in that place meant to be in a position of honor (remember he was a rich man). He and his wife became prominent citizens of Sodom.
Sodom was to be destroyed. But because of the intercession of Abraham, Lot and his family were warned on time to escape. All effort by Lot to rescue his married daughter and their husband failed. It is not tragic that when death strikes the unsaved, people weep and cry. When all the time when opportunity was waiting for them to do something, no attempt was made to save their souls. If Christian love lost souls as they profess, why do they not try to save them while it is yet possible to do so? Lot and his wife, together with their unmarried daughters were held by the angels and brought out of the city of Sodom. They were instructed not to look back, and not to stay in the plain; they were to escape to the mountain so as not to be consumed. But Lot made a choice of Zoar instead. He was permitted anyway; but Zoar too had come under the judgment of destruction but was spared for the sake of Lot. Lot did not stay long in Zoar but went on to the mountains. He could not returned to Abraham who would surely have welcomed him. The prodigal son returned to his father but Lot could not return to his uncle. He became unhappy and he gave himself to wine in an attempt to drown his trouble in alcohol. Those who defend the practice of drinking would do well to study the consequences as it affected the lives of Noah and Lot. In both cases, the habit not only brought shame to them but it had serious consequences affecting their descendants. Lot’s unmarried daughters had taken up to live the way of Sodom. They had become schooled in all the perversions of sex. Their incestuous acts while Lot was in a drunken stupor resulted in his becoming the father of the Moabites and Ammorites, nations which became perpetual enemies of Israel.
The heart of Lot’s wife was there in Sodom with her daughters and their grandchildren, and her heart also was loaded with the riches of the place. Lot’s wife began to fall behind as they all were plodding toward Zoar. She could not bear it any longer when she noticed the darkened sky with fire and brimstone; her feet were toward Zoar but her body was turned backward to behold the destruction of those things that took hold of her heart. She perished with Sodom. Jesus singled her out from among the Women of history, as a warning to all generations. To a great extent, Lot lived a wasted life. He fades from the scene of history. He little realized his great opportunities being favored by fortune to be the nephew of Abraham, the friend of God. His desire for material comforts, along with his wife, caused their children to take on the ways of Sodom. The only legacy Lot and his wife left for mankind is a solemn object lesson of how a wrong choice can bring a good man to a sad and bitter end. Lot saved his own life, but he lost his wife and children.
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6.7 EYES TO THE HILLS?
“I
Will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth" - Psalm 121: 1 – 2.
Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills? Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of princess who hold their heads toward heaven? Not from the mountains and hill, not from mountains around Jerusalem: sacred mount Zion and mount Moriah. Not even mount Moriah where a ram was freely provided for Abraham for a burnt offering that he had to conclude, "… in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen” (Gen.22: 14). That mountain cannot of itself provide a ram for an offering.
"Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is salvation of Israel"- Jer 3: 23.
"Woe to them that … trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came"- Amos 6: 1.
That is, woe to them that trust not in God but on mountains that are named "chief of the nation." Who or what is your mountain that you trusted in? Who or what is that "Chief of the nation" upon whom you so rely? Your Job or uncle or that politician that is in position today but may not be there tomorrow? etc. Woe unto the one who trust in that way, says the scripture. For he "will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert in a salt land where no one lives"- Jer. 17: 6 NIV We must lift up our eyes above the hills. We must look beyond instruments to God who made them. Our help comes from the Lord: in his own way and time. He who made heaven and earth can do anything.
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6.8 DOING THE WILL OF GOD
“N
ot every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven"-Matt. 7:21. This injunction stands for those that confess Jesus as Lord and savior: the believers, the regenerate ones, yea the born again people that are assured their names are written in heaven. Those that rests in the conviction and confession of their faith in Christ. Those that are conversant with the scripture, and know what God intends for his children; but take God’s instruction for granted. They do not really do what God purposes of them, and they think God can change His mind on those issues that please their heart. God that said strike the rock with the rod in your hand today can say speak to that same rock tomorrow even though the same rod may still be in your hand. Even though it is the same water in a river, if you are to bathe seven times to receive cleansing, seven is seven with God. You might have toiled all night and day but catches nothing, yet if he says, "launch out thy net into the deep for a catch…" you need not argue. Even though it was water that was poured into the pots at the time when wine was needed, you just have to serve the master of the ceremony from that pot (where water was poured) at the command of the master who created water and wine. You don’t have to disturb your thought in unbelief as to what the M.C. would say if he realizes it was water.
It is not only enough to leave all and follow Christ. Even at that, many are still failing: they have not left all. If you are to leave all why do you fret about the unknown future? Learn a lesson from the Disciples of Christ that left all and lacked nothing. Are you empowered with all the gifts of the Spirit to serve in the body of Christ? What are the instructions He gave you to follow or His teachings in the scriptures to which you are not obeying? People are esteeming you highly but before God: "… that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God"- Luke 16: 15. If those that are highly esteemed among men are not doing the will of the master of their lives, they are abomination before God. No matter how highly talented and anointed you may be to organize and sing in a choral groups, and if God’s design for you is to be engaged in village evangelism or to be a Missionary, all your endeavour to entertain men in the city (in big churches) shall become valueless at the end. Yes, you call him Lord, Lord but are not doing the will of his Father.
Are you in the body of Christ? What actually has he called you to do? If you are called to sponsor village outreach or missionaries on the field and you give that sum to your Church in the city where men will esteem you high, you are doing a wrong thing. You are not doing the will of your father in heaven. Are you called to serve where people will not see and praise you? Abide there in. Let every man or woman abide in the same calling where he/she was called (I Cor.7: 20). " Art thou called being a servant? Care not for it…"
Doing the will of our father in heaven is all that will make us acceptable before God. The will of God is usually contrary to the will of man. The flesh (human mind) is always acting/reacting against the will of God "so that ye cannot do the things that ye would"- Gal.5: 17. So that your spirit being is not able to do what the Father pleases in the environment of the flesh. Except the man (flesh) agrees with the Spirit of God, then God’s will would dominate. Even in marriage, the will of God can be contrary to your heart desire. At times, your place of work may be out of God’s will no matter what comes in for you. Income at times doesn’t depict blessing from God. God may not be in it. Not all that are in money knows God. To fulfill God’s will at times may require your resignation from, or closing up of a lucrative job or business. At times to put aside that precious certificate as to answer God’s call. If Abraham, who left his father’s house to answer the call of God could as well give up his only begotten son after so long a time of waiting on God’s promises to receive him; and if Hannah could give to God her only Samuel without looking back to recapitulate how Peninah had treated her; If Shadrach & co could decide to serve God even though confronted by a burning furnace, and Daniel could prefer a low quality diet to feeding sumptuously on the king’s table; If Moses could choose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy in the king’s house, the pleasures of Egypt; and if Job could allow God to perfect his will upon his life and yet trust in Him, what then should prevent us, to whom the end of the world has come, from abiding in the will of our Father in heaven?
Jesus declared; "my food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of him who sent me and to accomplish and completely finish his work"- John 4:34. He sought not his own will, but the will of the Father, which sent him (John 5:30). He was able to accomplish that purpose, hence our salvation and deliverance from the hand of the devil. The happiest people on earth are those that abide in the will of our Father in heaven. They will be happy on earth, and settle with God in heaven at last even if such people are not esteem (at all) among men.
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6.9 HANDICAP: DO YOU EXEL OR PITY YOURSELF?

F
ANNY CROSBY had a faulty eye treatment at age 6 that resulted into her lifelong blindness. At age 8, she won over discouragement and wrote: "Oh what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world content I shall be. How many blessing I enjoy that other people don’t. To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot – and I won’t Instead of weeping and sighing, Fanny Crosby dedicated her blindness to serve God. Out of her rich Christian experience she composed "Blessed Assurance". She seemed to forget that she was blind. Phrases like "visions of rapture now burst on my sight" or Watching and waiting, looking above" expressed what she called "a foretaste of glory divine". Fanny Crosby, a composer of thousands of Songs was really more than a conqueror. Some other songs she composed are: Pass Me Not; I Am Thine, O, Lord; To God be The Glory; Rescue The Perishing; Near the Cross, and many more. She died at age 92.
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6.10 THE TRIUNMPH OF FAITH

P
rophet Habakkuk concluded his prophetic messages by considering ruination that might happen on the field to tree crops of commercial values and in the livestock sector leading to negative result. To a farmer, such ruins are of great economic losses: tree crops infestations that prevent flowering and fruit bearing; death of livestock and the few ones that survived were diseased. "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, and the field 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"– Hab.3: 17-18. The prophet encourages us not to despair by whatever ruination, discouragement, affliction, losses etc that could come our ways as children of God. We are to have our faith rooted in God: when all is gone, God is not gone. "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation". If we find ourselves sitting upon ruins of our comfort, we need to sing praises and glory of God as the God of our salvation in whom we have to rejoice in our distresses. This implies that our hearts are not set upon earthly riches or our happiness bound up in them. Whenever we are met with losses and crosses of this world, remember that God is our strength and that he will carry us through whatever we come across on our way. Even if there is lack of provision, remember that man lives not by bread alone but by the word of God.
Job is a standing example in the bible. He was a well to do person but had to lose ALL including ten (10) Children in a single day and then to conclude: "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21). He was later afflicted with an incurable disease of sore boils from head to toe. His condition was so bad that his wife advised him to curse God and die. But the man of faith, who will not let calamities fade out God from his mind replied: "…shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall not receive evil?"- (Job 2:10).
Only three of his friends could visit at such a crucial time: all others had put Job aside as one reaping the harvest of his bad deed. These three friends summon courage at last to speak after several days of looking speechlessly at him. Job reaffirmed his integrity with God: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him"(Job 13:15). And he knew there was an appropriate time for all things, he preferred to wait until his change came - Job 14:14. He told his friends who concluded that Job had sinned and he was only been judged by God: "for I know that my redeemer liveth…and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God –"Job19: 25-26. He still had faith in God as his redeemer and horn of his salvation, not as "what kind of a God is this God?" He did not ask God for "why am I being afflicted…Why me?" His eyes of faith looked through to God. Remember the bible affirms, "…ALL THINGS work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to those who love God and are called according to (His) designed purpose? - Rom.8: 28 AMP.
ALL THINGS (negative and positive) whatever it may be, as long as you still have your breath, would work together with all situations around you for good. Only do not be pressed down with circumstances. Keep your faith in God. See God in all situations. Let God be magnified and not your circumstances. Let God not fade away but rather your situations (as you focus on Him). There will always be a triumph when one deals with God in true faith in times of adversity. According to prophet Habakkuk, God will give us feet "like hinds feet", and he will make us to walk upon high places. "The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery and my invisible army; He makes my feet like hind’s feet, and will make me to walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make (spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering or responsibility)"- Hab. 3:19.
Be supremely confident that he who leads into trials is faithful to make ways of escape. He will make us strong for our spiritual warfare: swiftly to run the way of his command and outrun our troubles. We shall later be successful in our spiritual, Physical and economic enterprises. The later end of Job was blessed more than his beginning; he triumphed by faith over trials. We can triumph too but by faith in God.
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6.11 BREAK THE TREND
A
dam lived 930 years and he died. Seth lived 912 years and he died. Enos lived 905 years and he died. Canan lived 910 years and he died. Mahalaleel lived 895 years and he died. Jared lived 962 years and he died. Enoch lived 365 years and… "And Enoch walked with God and he was not; for God took him"-Gen.5: 24. "And Enoch walked (in habitual fellowship) with God, and he was not, for God took him (home with Him)-AMP. After Enoch, was Methuselah who is known to be the oldest man that ever lived – 969 years. He made that record, beget sons and daughters and he died.
Generation come and go. You are part of it. People only lived and pass away. Six generations lived before Enoch came into the scene. The records of those generations were alike: "he begat sons and daughters and died" after living for hundreds of years. The life span is already shortened by God: "The days of our years are three score years and ten (70); and if by reason of strength they be four score years (80), yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away"-Psalm 90:10. We live for a very short period of time in comparison to the time of Adam & Co. Yet you can still break the trend of how people are living this short lifespan. Thousands of thousand never get to seventy and they beget sons and daughters and die. What do they achieve for God? You that are alive now can break that trend. It is not how long you live, but how much you are able to achieve for God. Others lived hundreds but Enoch only lived for about three hundred years yet, he broke the trend of men living and dying. He did not only begat sons and daughters, but he also "walked with God; and he was not, for God took him". He did not die. Others died but God took him away.
Scriptural records show that Abraham, Noah, Joseph, Moses etc walked with God and their records are kept so that we can learn lesson from them. Some like Pharaoh, Judas, Herod, Jezebel, etc had records that as soon as you hear their names, what was wrong about them comes to mind. What would this generation or your small clan or congregation remember you for when you die? They have known people that lived and died and had no remarkable impact. Breaks that trend: walk with God to affect this generation for good.
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6.12 GOOD OLD AGE
“A
ltogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man full of years; and he was gathered to his people"- Gen. 25:7.
If the scripture says, at that time, that Abraham was full of years, and that he died in a good old age (of 175), we need to sit and consider.
"And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated"-Deut. 34:7.
"And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old"- Joshua 24:29. Abraham indeed died in "a good old age" of 175 years. Life span continues to reduce thereafter.
The Psalmist tells us that: "The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away"- 90:10. Life span for man now ranges between seventy and eighty years. Before eighty if by chance, it will be full of "trouble and sorrow". Only few people passes the age of 80 while very many don’t even get to 70. It was not so at the earlier time. "And the LORD said, my spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years"- Gen.6: 3. That was the beginning of reduction in man’s life span ever before the flood. Only Noah lived for 950 years after the flood. No man was recorded living for hundreds of years again after Noah. Abraham that came up after lived 175 years.
"God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually"- Gen. 6:5. That was the beginning. The evil act of man only continues on the increase and life span of man also decreases. We now die at an age (of less or more than 70) of a boy that is not ripe for marriage in the days of Methuselah. And yet we get to that seventy by chance; and if eighty, by trouble and sorrow. At the time of Abraham, they married at about forty: "And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebecca to wife". Gen. 25:20.
"And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith…" – Gen. 26:34. Nowadays we marry at thirty or there about. Forty is now considered too late for marriage. Only God knows what will happen in the near future. The Yoruba says, the death that killed a person very close by is telling on one to be ready as well. What are you doing now at this age of yours? Heavenly or worldly conscious? If by chance you get to 70 good, but if after that age you are still alive, "trouble and sorrow". Now is the time you can get "prepared to meet thy God
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
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6.13 TIME OF BLESSING
“H
ast thou but one blessing, my father?" Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?"- Gen. 27:38,36.
Isaac had to pass unto one of his sons, the covenant blessing of Abraham. He arranged for Esau but Jacob came instead. Esau came to be told that Jacob has been blessed instead of him, "yea and he shall be blessed". All that was said to Esau were not actually blessings that would make him excel over Jacob: "…And by thy sword shall thou live, and shall serve thy brother…"
Why could not Isaac bless Esau afresh from the same source (his heart and mouth) of blessing that he poured on Jacob? The time of blessing for that occasion was pre-determined and prepared for. That hour was different from all other hours. It was an hour of blessing. Jacob got in tuned, and was blessed. Unto the same man, in the same house and on the same day came Esau and he was told that the hour of blessing had passed (even though he was the one determined to be blessed). May we be at the point of our blessing in its time, amen. Those special 1 night, 3, 4,or 5 days programmes are designed to bless specific individuals. The woman with the issue of blood was specifically blessed that day and time.
Church special programmes are designed for specific blessings and for specific individuals. Would that person be you? Do not refrain from Special Church Revival outreach "for when you least expect your savior would arrive".
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6.14 SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD
“A
nd it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose"- Gen.6: 1 - 2.
That union of "sons of God" and "daughters of men" had no good record thereafter. For we read "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" - Vs 5. There are "sons of God" (the sanctified ones) today also in our society. There are also "daughters of men": the unregenerate ones that live after the dictates of the flesh. Union between these two groups for whatever would not yield a godly result. We are not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" – II Cor. 6:14.
As we have sons of God, so there are daughters of God. Likewise, as daughters of men are everywhere, so also we have sons of men. Sons and daughters of God are to be in union while the daughters and sons of men are for themselves until the time of their regeneration. Let there not be miss matching; for the end result of such is not always good: "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually".
The lifestyle of the "daughters of men" had corrupted the heart of the "sons of God" and so continuous evil imagination. The whole world was later destroyed by flood. With whom are you in union: Son or Daughter of men Or, Son or daughter of God?
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6.15 BEARING WITNESS?
“B
ehold now, I have two daughters which have not known man…" – Gen.19: 8. Lot spoke of her daughters that they have never slept with men. These were the daughters that said to each other in that same chapter: "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father"-Vs 32. Virgins will not conclude that way. Those daughters have experienced sleeping with men, which probably was unknown to Lot. How do they know that when wine is in a man, he loses self-control? It must have been an experience with them. Yea, Sodom had gotten into the hearts of those ladies and which was unknown to Lot. Could Lot ever thought his wife would look back from behind him?
No one can bear true witness of another. You cannot bear a true witness of your son or daughter. Only God knows the heart of men. Teach your children the way of the Lord, and pray along that they know God. You cannot bear a true witness of them. It was said of a woman who went to visit her daughter in a college. The woman was shown her daughter at a distance, but that woman could not admit that, that was her daughter for the tight trousers and jumper blouse that reveals the shoulder and belly which the lady wore. The mother said, "No, that is not my daughter; I know her, she can not be that one". At last, the lady got to her mother, and the mama was flabbergasted. The lady was also terribly ashamed of herself for she never dressed that way at home. Can you bear a true witness of your son or daughter?
A friend lend out his life time gratuity of about half a million naira to his trusted friend who promised to settle back after two weeks of a business deal. It was a hired killer that the trusted friend sent to the owner of the money after several weeks. It was God’s intervention that saved the owner of the money.
Can you bear a true witness of your friend, business partner or neighbor? Is it not one of the partners in marriage that brings in AIDS or other form of sexually transmitted diseases or break marriage vows? Can you bear a true witness of your wife / husband? What of between church members and the Pastor, Reverend or Bishop? WHAT OF AMONG THE CLERGY?
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6.16 FRUIT IN HIS SEASON
“B
lessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper."- Psalm 1:1-3NKJV .
The godly man is likened to a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season and whose leaves never wither. A godly man is one that fears the Lord and walk in the light of his word. One that delight in doing the will of God; one that hates evil. Such a person will want to serve God no matter the circumstances ("in season and out of season"). He will desire to please God first. It is such a person that is blessed continuously-always in the pipeline of God’s blessing.
Fruit bearing depicts what comes out of a man in speech, in action (Character) and in Production. Jesus says "ye shall know them by their fruit…A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" Matt.7: 16 - 20. It is what is in you that you will produce: nature of flesh or of the seed of God. What you have in you is what you will produce: good or bad. You are destined to bear fruit.
What kind of fruit do you produce? "That brings forth its fruit in its season": What good deeds are you known for (Such action of yours that are fruits produced by you)? If such is daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly, you are to be in production. Tree crops are known for production at their particular season. Except such a tree is stricken by a disease or is dead. If trees (since the time of creation) do produce their kinds in their season, how much more we (human) that are created in the image of God? Some will bear their fruit of good deed once and forget about it. Some repeat such the second or third time and put such action aside. God never take away His blessings from man. It is man that refuses to bear fruit of good deeds: to support an evangelism outreach or a mission work, a ministry or a special form of giving that affects lives for God. The bible admonishes us "not to be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not"- Gal.6.9. Are you known for certain kind of production in the gospel arena: Publications, Song or drama, an outreach or other form of presentation? Remember, "That brings forth its fruit in its season". The work of evangelism must be done "in season and out of season" as to make full proof of your calling to them that are within and without the church.
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6:17 ACCEPTABLE OFFERING
“A
nd the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect" – Gen. 4:4-5.
The LORD God had respect (regard) for Abel and his offering. That means, Abel was an acceptable giver of an acceptable offering. No offering can be acceptable if the giver is not acceptable to God. Cain was not acceptable; his heart was not right with God. He and his offering were rejected: "But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect" If you are not acceptable unto the Lord, your offering also cannot be acceptable. Abel was acceptable to God, and God had respect unto him and to his offering. Has God any respect for you? Are you acceptable to God? If not, whatever your offering (and tithe) might be, such would not be acceptable unto the Lord.
"… That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable sacrifice"-Rom.12: 1. Your reasonable presentation to God is first of all, your life: Your whole self, your body and your intelligence.
It is you that God need to use and not your sacrifice: "Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, nor have you delight in them; You have given me capacity to hear and obey (your law, a more valuable service than) burnt and sin offerings which you do not require"- Psalm 40:6 Amp. Your obedience to God’s law is more important than your sacrifice, yea than your offerings. For the world belong to God and the fullness there off (Psalm 50:12).
Giving up of your whole life to God is the most acceptable sacrifice. To that, God will have respect (regard).
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6:18 OCCASION TO FALL
“T
hat no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s (or sister’s) way"- Rom. 14:13.
"…Woe to that man by whom the offences cometh"-Matt.18: 7.
If woe were to that man or woman that put occasion of fallen in his brother or sister’s way, what would be the portion of the one that has fallen? Yea, one that allowed himself or herself to be made to fall? It should be the same WOE. That is, woe unto him or her that fall off from the grace that holds him (her).
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6:19 THE GRACE OF GOD
“A
nd God is able to make all grace abound toward you"-II Cor. 9:8.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God"-Rom. 5:1-2.
Grace is always referred to as unmerited favor that the human race receives freely from God. It is a divine favor that cannot be paid for by man. God in his mercy granted that favor through the death of his only son on the cross. The grace is for all human races to be entered into simply by believing in the death of Christ. Christ paid for the grace of God on the cross. We could not merit it. The grace was not in operation before the death of Christ. It was the law that was given through Moses that the Israelites lived by. The law caries with it, condemnation: It was a ministration of death (IICor. 3:6-9). The law can never give life: "for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law"- Gal. 3:21. The law was only given as our schoolmaster, our trainer or guardian to guide us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith through grace (Gal. 3:24). The law allowed "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" Ex. 21:23 – 25. It allowed also for stoning to death of victims caught in adultery robbery, killing, and witchcraft e.t.c The laws forbid leprosy in the camp for such is to be cast out. The breaker of any law was to be dealt with according to the weight of the offence. The Psalmist therefore concluded: "If you, Lord, should keep account and treat (us according to our) sins, O Lord, who could stand?" – 130:3.
But thanks be to God who granted us the GRACE IN CHRIST JESUS for our salvation from the curse of the law by making Christ a curse for us (Gal. 3: 13). With the grace comes forgiveness of all manner of sins and deliverance from their accompanied consequence; strength to carry out duty or ministry task; healing form all forms of diseases; living and growing physically and spiritually; possessing different kinds of possessions for our enjoyment, e.t.c. By this same grace we are saved through faith and not of ourselves, for it is the gift of God. Salvation is not of works lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).
The grace of God is infinite; it is abundance and can never be exhausted by man. In whatever circumstances of man, God has promised that his grace is always sufficient to carry us through. (II Cor. 12:9). To the weak and to the strong, the grace is the same. God's strength is made perfect in weakness. Apostle Paul agreed with that and he concluded: "most gladly therefore will I ratter glory in my infirmities…for when I am weak, then am I strong" – II Cor. 12: 9-10. That is the work of God’s grace. Let not those that are strong and wise (in their sight) feel contented for under the grace of God, there is no glorying of any man. All are the same and God’s grace would not be deficient unto any. He that is strong and wise will have no excess; and he that is weak and poor will have no lack. That is the grace of God. Let him that do preach to thousands not boast himself and let not he that think he is making no impact fret; the grace of God is sufficient for both. The grace that was meted out to those that were called into the Vineyard in the morning watch was the same as to them that were called at noon and in the evening. All were granted equal amount of grace. The grace that was given to the one operating in ministry with millions of silver and gold is the same as that of the one operating on "widow’s mite". It is faithfulness to the call of God that makes a difference: the grace is the same.
It is this same grace that enables the worst of sinners to be freely justified and to stand before God as one that had never committed a sin: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ " – Rom.5: 1. Grace came into operation when Christ was hung on the cross. That was the end of the law and its consequence. The thief that was condemned to die by the law went together with Christ into paradise through the operation of grace. The grace of God can be misused. Those who have tasted it before through the goodness of the word of God, and have shared in the Holy Spirit and the heavenly gifts can trample it under feet. If such a one falls away form grace, it can be impossible to bring such back to repentance. For by their action of disappointing the grace of God, they have crucified to themselves a fresh the Son of God, and put him to an open shame (Heb. 6:4-6). It is easy to fall away through the love and pleasure of the world: subjecting oneself to the dictates of the flesh than to God. Those things that make the world look good (music, electronics, films, games, e.t.c) can take hold of a man’s heart and make him lost from the grace of God. The world system is making spiritual things scarce while sensual things become common. When you taste some of "those things", they addict. You need to haste away from the world taste or else it overtakes you. Learn to live by the grace of God in the face of oppositions, or else you live by what is available (the world system).
Be diligent not to lose the grace of God so that you can be found in Him in peace. Do not twist and misconstrue the scriptures to please your lustful desires. Beware lest you fall from grace and from your steadfastness: "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ"- II Peter 3:18. That is the only way to challenge the world system. Progress and advance in grace. Do not be stagnant in the grace of God. Do not settle for less, advance in what God has provided. Accept the strength (grace) that is in Christ.
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FEED ON GOD’S WORD: Read the word, feed on it. Let it become the living word to you, not just columns of truth and opinions of men. Jesus wants to be known as the living Christ coming out of the pages of the Bible to us.
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6:20 THE LITTLE THAT YOU CAN DO
G
Od said to Joshua: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them - to the Israelites. 3I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses"- Joshua 1:1-3 NIV.
Joshua, by the grace of God, was able to possess the land of Canaan by conquering thirty-one kings of that land. He was used by God to divide the land for the tribes of Israel. Later in Joshua’s ministerial life, he became "Old and stricken in years". And the LORD said unto him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over"-(13:1). If Joshua, who was prepared by God for many years under the tutelage of Moses and commissioned to possess the land of Canaan for the Israelites, was not able to completely possess the whole land, then every child of God in any area of ministry should understand that whatever is being done through the grace given by God is only but little for: "there are still very large areas of land to be taken over".
Remember that, that same task (ministry) was left behind by Moses; and the elders that lived after Joshua could not also complete it. Each one of them did just very little they were able to achieve. No mater how highly we esteem our present day ministers and General Overseers, they are only able to do very little when you compare the percentage of their congregation to that of the Christians in their areas (not considering their state and the nation at large). It is always very little that each one can accomplish. There always remains "very large area of land to be taken over".
God’s work is to be done by the grace He has given. Remember, no matter the extent of accomplishment it is always very little. In whatever situation, faithfulness to do the little is what God requires not the number of years of service or wideness of your area of operation. You can only do a little. Many shall come after you (as many had already gone before you) that will do just very little as well: for there will always remain very large areas of ministerial assignments to be accomplished.
"And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities"- Luke 19:17.
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
•••
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