GOD REIGNS:
For the past three weeks, I’ve made a point of telling you about things that I’ve experienced in the walk of faith. Faith Works, Faith Makes, Faith Gives.
All these are meant to serve as a build up to this blog “GOD REIGNS”.
God reigns bring together the effectiveness, transparency, originality and the reproductive possibilities of the believer’s currency…… “FAITH”
After blogs about the practicality of faith in our daily lives, a principled approach to the concept of faith seems a necessity as my Christmas message because it concerns the one person that brought faith to our use---- “JESUS”
As I cannot spend this whole write up explaining as deeply as I want to, please bear with me and I pray that the Holy Spirit will minister to our hearts and expand His word in us.
Romans 4 vs. 3 (Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness)
Our justification by faith is what a lot of believers and unbelievers have struggled with in terms of understanding and application.
ABRAHAM
God is a perfect God and believe it or not, He has all things planned and nothing ever happens outside of his divine plan.
Abraham lived before Moses. By saying that I mean Abraham was alive and died before God gave Moses the law. So in Abraham’s days, or the days before Moses, there was no law. Walking with God then required Faith and that was what Abraham had.
God gave Abraham the promise that affects generations to come.
Genesis 12 vs. 3b (In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed) NOTE: Not only the Jews.
To make this clearer, Abraham had two sons, one of the slave woman (born of flesh) and one of promise. That born of flesh had to endure the hardship of living under the dictates of the flesh (Genesis 16 vs. 7-12), and that born of the promise was by covenant heir to the blessings of his Father (He just had to believe).
Galatians 3 vs. 9 (So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham)
MOSES
After 430 years of God making a covenant of promise with Abraham, Moses came onto the scene. As mentioned earlier, the covenant and Promise came before the Law. (Never forget that)
Why the Law?
Galatians 3 vs. 19 (The law was added because of transgressions, till the SEED should come to whom the promise was made: and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.)
The law was there to keep us under guard until the SEED comes in whom we can believe by faith and be partakers of the Abrahamic blessings.
CHRISTMAS
At such a period as this, we are celebrating the birth of the new born king that has come to give us life that we may have it abundantly… His name is JESUS (THE SEED)
Galatians 3 vs. 16 (Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say to the seeds as of many but as of one “And to your Seed who is Christ)
The Law expires when the Seed comes and folks Hurray!!!! The seed as come and we are free from the law.
The Seed brought faith with it to connect us to the blessings that Abraham received outside of the LAW.
(Galatians 3 vs. 23 – 25) (But before faith came, we were kept under the guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor)
That was why Paul said in
Romans 8 vs. 2 (For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death)
We are FREE…. This is the message of Christmas… the birth of the saviour of the world that brings Freedom.
Free from every form of oppression, hence we’re standing tall…. free from every form of depression, hence we’re living in joy, free from every form of recession, hence we’re in boom.
As we enjoy the turkeys that comes with Jesus’ birth, remember “FAITH WORKS, FAITH MAKES, FAITH GIVES and GOD REIGNS”
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
FAITH NEVER FAILS (3)
FAITH GIVES:
“Faith gives” characterizes our position when receiving from God.
Hebrews 11 vs.1 (Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen).
This 3rd part of “Faith Never fails” is a continuation of an event reported on 18th October titled “Fictional Tale”.
How does "re-born faith" comes into play when after a long faithful wait, it seems like what you’ve been hoping for is within reach only for it to not materialise.
I’m talking about a situation where, you’ve waited, you’ve hoped, you’ve believed and in faith you’ve been positioned. You were close to receiving it, but for one reason or the other.... you missed and the “faith” process starts again.
That was what happened to me a few months ago.... and it’s taken me some time to recover.
The few days I talked about in “fictional tale” came and I presented myself to the group. My fears were allayed as I was warmly received and in no time I was happy and kicking albeit after a few questions such as “so what happened to you the other day”?
Life was back to normal (group wise) and I was enjoying my new found opportunity.
Fear is the greatest threat to our faith. With fear, faith cannot be expressed. As I was finding my feet in the group, I was equally nursing the fear of letting the group down again.
In 3 months, another d-day will come and doing a “NO SHOW” will be a disaster.
My experience a few months back brought me to tears, but I made it my duty to learn from my errors and with God’s help, new promises were revealed. It was these promises that energised the “re-born faith”.
As the days went by, the new D-Day was fast approaching. Every now and then, I was checking my diary to make sure nothing....as in nothing.... will take the opportunity away from me again.
Finally........the D-day dawned. After a torrid morning and afternoon.... evening came and I was dressed for what for me was “summer come round again”.
As I sat on the stage, looking down at the number in attendance ...... as I took to the stage ......my feet finding refuge in the floor, as I left the stage, a thundering applause echoed behind me, I paused to say “THANK YOU GOD”
A disappointing day in June has been replaced by an appointing day in December... It’s good to know my achievements and happiness are not weather based (lol).
I could have given up ages ago, I really wanted to, but the knowledge of what Faith gives kept me going.
Faith gave “Abraham the heart to sacrifice Isaac... believing that God can give him a child again.
Faith gave Sarah the strength to conceive and give birth at an old age even when there were no sophisticated delivery procedures (Hebrews 11 vs. 11)
Faith gave me a transformation “from doing a No Show to putting up a Big Show
Faith gives us an inheritance as God pleasers (Hebrew 11 vs. 6)
What can Faith give you this Christmas season?
Everything: from the most cherished gifts, to the appreciation of the new born king, to the opportunity in sharing the same faith with someone else.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
“Faith gives” characterizes our position when receiving from God.
Hebrews 11 vs.1 (Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen).
This 3rd part of “Faith Never fails” is a continuation of an event reported on 18th October titled “Fictional Tale”.
How does "re-born faith" comes into play when after a long faithful wait, it seems like what you’ve been hoping for is within reach only for it to not materialise.
I’m talking about a situation where, you’ve waited, you’ve hoped, you’ve believed and in faith you’ve been positioned. You were close to receiving it, but for one reason or the other.... you missed and the “faith” process starts again.
That was what happened to me a few months ago.... and it’s taken me some time to recover.
The few days I talked about in “fictional tale” came and I presented myself to the group. My fears were allayed as I was warmly received and in no time I was happy and kicking albeit after a few questions such as “so what happened to you the other day”?
Life was back to normal (group wise) and I was enjoying my new found opportunity.
Fear is the greatest threat to our faith. With fear, faith cannot be expressed. As I was finding my feet in the group, I was equally nursing the fear of letting the group down again.
In 3 months, another d-day will come and doing a “NO SHOW” will be a disaster.
My experience a few months back brought me to tears, but I made it my duty to learn from my errors and with God’s help, new promises were revealed. It was these promises that energised the “re-born faith”.
As the days went by, the new D-Day was fast approaching. Every now and then, I was checking my diary to make sure nothing....as in nothing.... will take the opportunity away from me again.
Finally........the D-day dawned. After a torrid morning and afternoon.... evening came and I was dressed for what for me was “summer come round again”.
As I sat on the stage, looking down at the number in attendance ...... as I took to the stage ......my feet finding refuge in the floor, as I left the stage, a thundering applause echoed behind me, I paused to say “THANK YOU GOD”
A disappointing day in June has been replaced by an appointing day in December... It’s good to know my achievements and happiness are not weather based (lol).
I could have given up ages ago, I really wanted to, but the knowledge of what Faith gives kept me going.
Faith gave “Abraham the heart to sacrifice Isaac... believing that God can give him a child again.
Faith gave Sarah the strength to conceive and give birth at an old age even when there were no sophisticated delivery procedures (Hebrews 11 vs. 11)
Faith gave me a transformation “from doing a No Show to putting up a Big Show
Faith gives us an inheritance as God pleasers (Hebrew 11 vs. 6)
What can Faith give you this Christmas season?
Everything: from the most cherished gifts, to the appreciation of the new born king, to the opportunity in sharing the same faith with someone else.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Thursday, December 13, 2007
FAITH NEVER FAILS (2)
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17 vs. 11)
FAITH MAKES
“Faith makes” is a journey of development.
It is concerned with the process of growth where each day, our love for and commitment to God is strengthened.
Zeal and expectations are some of the factors that fan our flame in God, but an unwillingness to grow nullifies the effects of zeal and expectation.
Growth is needed for survival in the physical world and so it is in the Christian walk. The individuals that end up surviving are the ones that are growing.
Admittedly, the intensity and scale of the challenges we face seems to be proportional to growth. .. i.e “To whom much is given much is expected”. (Luke 12 vs. 48)
The more matured you are, the bigger the problems you face. Likewise, the less matured you are, the smaller the challenges you face .......(roughly).
All things being equal, a young kid will be expected to look after himself or herself at the most, while a mother will be expected to carry the burdens of the whole nation.... I mean the family.
Does it then mean that what I (the clever one) should be doing is inhibit my growth so I can face small challenges?
NOT QUITE SO!!!!!
Whoever dishes out the challenges we face in life takes little or no consideration for our preparation, hence growth becomes a race against time because you don’t know when challenges or what type of challenges will come your way.
God assures us in his word that “in any situation we find ourselves.... there is a way out”... (1 corinthians 10 vs. 13) but it takes faith and a lot of it to see through God’s eyes.
The Berean Christians were concerned about growth and they verified Paul’s teaching with the bible.
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10 vs. 17)
Handling bigger things is a sign of growth and it can only be done with Faith in God.
The Devil will not harass anyone that is not a threat to his kingdom. My mum uses an illustration of being a chicken in the devil’s farm.
The devil will not chase the chicken in his farm, and he won’t disturb them either, rather, he’ll give them food, drink, shelter and provision until the day he’s ready to slaughter them.
Life is not that organised... that’s why seemingly random things happen... but the devil is much organised. So if you are not being thrown into a situation that takes God to handle.... check your growth level. ...you might just be a chicken in the devil’s poultry farm....
Don Moen wrote:
“And I will soar with wings like eagles....Held by the hand of God..."
Have you ever seen an eagle fly with the hand of God holding it?... I wouldn't think so.... but
there is a height the eagle attains, that it starts soaring ( i.e rise with little apparent effort)... so who holds it then?.... GOD does...
Its high time you stopped ferociously flapping your wings (chickens do that)... and start soaring with God's help.
Trust Him more with your life.... have a personal relationship with Him... read His word (the bible) and let the Holy Spirit peacefully make His abode with you.
I’m not content with being a chicken.... and I know I can’t fly alone... but “faith makes” me an eagle held by the Hand of God....
How about you?
Where there situations in 2007 that got you yo-yoing around like an "head-less" chicken?.... well then grow up... and soar like an “head-full” eagle...
It takes growth, it takes faith...it takes God.
FAITH MAKES
“Faith makes” is a journey of development.
It is concerned with the process of growth where each day, our love for and commitment to God is strengthened.
Zeal and expectations are some of the factors that fan our flame in God, but an unwillingness to grow nullifies the effects of zeal and expectation.
Growth is needed for survival in the physical world and so it is in the Christian walk. The individuals that end up surviving are the ones that are growing.
Admittedly, the intensity and scale of the challenges we face seems to be proportional to growth. .. i.e “To whom much is given much is expected”. (Luke 12 vs. 48)
The more matured you are, the bigger the problems you face. Likewise, the less matured you are, the smaller the challenges you face .......(roughly).
All things being equal, a young kid will be expected to look after himself or herself at the most, while a mother will be expected to carry the burdens of the whole nation.... I mean the family.
Does it then mean that what I (the clever one) should be doing is inhibit my growth so I can face small challenges?
NOT QUITE SO!!!!!
Whoever dishes out the challenges we face in life takes little or no consideration for our preparation, hence growth becomes a race against time because you don’t know when challenges or what type of challenges will come your way.
God assures us in his word that “in any situation we find ourselves.... there is a way out”... (1 corinthians 10 vs. 13) but it takes faith and a lot of it to see through God’s eyes.
The Berean Christians were concerned about growth and they verified Paul’s teaching with the bible.
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10 vs. 17)
Handling bigger things is a sign of growth and it can only be done with Faith in God.
The Devil will not harass anyone that is not a threat to his kingdom. My mum uses an illustration of being a chicken in the devil’s farm.
The devil will not chase the chicken in his farm, and he won’t disturb them either, rather, he’ll give them food, drink, shelter and provision until the day he’s ready to slaughter them.
Life is not that organised... that’s why seemingly random things happen... but the devil is much organised. So if you are not being thrown into a situation that takes God to handle.... check your growth level. ...you might just be a chicken in the devil’s poultry farm....
Don Moen wrote:
“And I will soar with wings like eagles....Held by the hand of God..."
Have you ever seen an eagle fly with the hand of God holding it?... I wouldn't think so.... but
there is a height the eagle attains, that it starts soaring ( i.e rise with little apparent effort)... so who holds it then?.... GOD does...
Its high time you stopped ferociously flapping your wings (chickens do that)... and start soaring with God's help.
Trust Him more with your life.... have a personal relationship with Him... read His word (the bible) and let the Holy Spirit peacefully make His abode with you.
I’m not content with being a chicken.... and I know I can’t fly alone... but “faith makes” me an eagle held by the Hand of God....
How about you?
Where there situations in 2007 that got you yo-yoing around like an "head-less" chicken?.... well then grow up... and soar like an “head-full” eagle...
It takes growth, it takes faith...it takes God.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
FAITH NEVER FAILS (1)
Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)
Welcome to December.... a month of Thanksgiving. 11 months have gone by and in a little while... 2007 will be a year in the past.
This month I’ll put my thoughts together and write about faith. As believers, we would have at one point or the other exercise our faith. Be it in small matters or big matters. The truth is “without faith, the Christian journey seems an impossible pilgrimage”
(Hebrews 11:6 ---paraphrased)
What are you to expect in the coming weeks as we count down to Christmas and the New Year.?
Faith Works
Faith Makes
Faith Gives
God reigns
FAITH WORKS
Faith Works is a story of belief in God until all other options have passed you by.
I was at a gathering a couple of weeks ago and I got a word from God through the preacher on the night concerning an issue.
What I am putting my faith in God for however has a time frame. The organisation concerned made it clear that if necessary things are not done by a certain date, there will be consequences.... and I’ll lose out.
I believed God for what He had said and I sat back and watched as the deadline came and went. At this point all I can now do is fervently hold on and wait for God’s intervention. I couldn’t make God hurry, neither do I want unbelief to guide my actions, so I held on.
After a while the situation seems to be getting worse and I started to get really concerned. Things are getting out of hand and I or someone has to put an end to it.
Logically, I can try and slow down the pace of what is going wrong but as the deadline for any remedy is come and gone... I’ll just have to wait and see.
With a troubled countenance, God led me to call the organisation with a specific warning “do not lie”.... so I thought... ooooooooooook....
I spoke to a representative of the organisation and she didn’t waste time in telling me the deadline date had come and gone.... like I didn’t know. After a lengthy conversation, she decided to call me back the next day with the view her senior manager might be able to help me.
Tomorrow came as usual and at 2:50 pm, while I was sweating over a project due in for 3pm, my phone rang.....guess who? ...yep that’s right... It’s the organisation following up on my almost impossible request.
Did I pick up? ....you bet... I sure did and as I listened to the syllables of the words being pronounced at the other end of the phone, the sweat on my face trickled down faster. The holdup caused by frowning had gone... I’m full of smiles now....
It’s been done... the change has been made and the time frame issue was neglected... Amazing
I breathe a sigh of relief but as soon as she hung up, the sweat came back..... It’s 3:02....and my project isn’t finished.
It wasn’t until later in the evening that I was able to digest the scale of the break through.... and I learnt this from the experience:
“You can never lose out on anything while sincerely waiting on God”.
We tend to live our lives by having God as “one of many options” rather than having Him as “the option”........
The Bible says.........Colossians 1:17 “In Christ all things consist” (including all the other options) ..... So when you’ve got God, you’ve got it all.
The year is coming to an end.... and I don’t know how long you’ve been hoping and praying for that “one thing” to be done. I got news for you..... Hold on....God’s got it all in control.
Truly, the days will come when:
“You’ll only survive because you’ve got the real thing”....
“It’s gonna be truth or consequences”
“You’ll have to work with God when you can’t understand or explain where He’s taking you”
“You’ll have to stand on his word when it doesn’t look like its working”
(word for today- Dec 3/07)
Is this the day? ... ... be rest assured folks.... .... ....“Faith Works”
Welcome to December.... a month of Thanksgiving. 11 months have gone by and in a little while... 2007 will be a year in the past.
This month I’ll put my thoughts together and write about faith. As believers, we would have at one point or the other exercise our faith. Be it in small matters or big matters. The truth is “without faith, the Christian journey seems an impossible pilgrimage”
(Hebrews 11:6 ---paraphrased)
What are you to expect in the coming weeks as we count down to Christmas and the New Year.?
Faith Works
Faith Makes
Faith Gives
God reigns
FAITH WORKS
Faith Works is a story of belief in God until all other options have passed you by.
I was at a gathering a couple of weeks ago and I got a word from God through the preacher on the night concerning an issue.
What I am putting my faith in God for however has a time frame. The organisation concerned made it clear that if necessary things are not done by a certain date, there will be consequences.... and I’ll lose out.
I believed God for what He had said and I sat back and watched as the deadline came and went. At this point all I can now do is fervently hold on and wait for God’s intervention. I couldn’t make God hurry, neither do I want unbelief to guide my actions, so I held on.
After a while the situation seems to be getting worse and I started to get really concerned. Things are getting out of hand and I or someone has to put an end to it.
Logically, I can try and slow down the pace of what is going wrong but as the deadline for any remedy is come and gone... I’ll just have to wait and see.
With a troubled countenance, God led me to call the organisation with a specific warning “do not lie”.... so I thought... ooooooooooook....
I spoke to a representative of the organisation and she didn’t waste time in telling me the deadline date had come and gone.... like I didn’t know. After a lengthy conversation, she decided to call me back the next day with the view her senior manager might be able to help me.
Tomorrow came as usual and at 2:50 pm, while I was sweating over a project due in for 3pm, my phone rang.....guess who? ...yep that’s right... It’s the organisation following up on my almost impossible request.
Did I pick up? ....you bet... I sure did and as I listened to the syllables of the words being pronounced at the other end of the phone, the sweat on my face trickled down faster. The holdup caused by frowning had gone... I’m full of smiles now....
It’s been done... the change has been made and the time frame issue was neglected... Amazing
I breathe a sigh of relief but as soon as she hung up, the sweat came back..... It’s 3:02....and my project isn’t finished.
It wasn’t until later in the evening that I was able to digest the scale of the break through.... and I learnt this from the experience:
“You can never lose out on anything while sincerely waiting on God”.
We tend to live our lives by having God as “one of many options” rather than having Him as “the option”........
The Bible says.........Colossians 1:17 “In Christ all things consist” (including all the other options) ..... So when you’ve got God, you’ve got it all.
The year is coming to an end.... and I don’t know how long you’ve been hoping and praying for that “one thing” to be done. I got news for you..... Hold on....God’s got it all in control.
Truly, the days will come when:
“You’ll only survive because you’ve got the real thing”....
“It’s gonna be truth or consequences”
“You’ll have to work with God when you can’t understand or explain where He’s taking you”
“You’ll have to stand on his word when it doesn’t look like its working”
(word for today- Dec 3/07)
Is this the day? ... ... be rest assured folks.... .... ....“Faith Works”
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