Did you watch the last one? It was instructive. Do you not see that in a running competition all take part, but only one gets the reward? So let your minds be fixed on the reward 1Cor 9:24(BBE). “Yep! Hussein Bolt broke the world record in 100meters and 200meters. Imagine running 100meters in less than 9.8seconds yet looking so comfortable.” It is the 200meters I particularly noted. “Yes, it was more strenuous for him; he really had to work...” And every man who takes part in the sports has self-control in all things. Now they do it to get a crown which is of this world, but we for an eternal crown 1Cor 9:25(BBE). Actually it is not Bolt that I found most remarkable in that race. “Oh? Who could have caught your attention?”
Who came 3rd in that race, do you remember? “Yes I do; an American athlete came 3rd but was disqualified.” An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules 2Ti 2:5(ESV). It was a pity; he was already celebrating when he was called aside. In the replay it turned out he took 3 steps outside his lane in the curve. Imagine after all the training and efforts only to be disqualified; he got to the finish line but would not be crowned. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified 1Cor 9:27(ESV). “In fact some were crowned in the games and later had their medals removed because they took banned substances; I know one whose name had to be erased from the record books.” Yes, erstwhile multiple medal and record holder Ms Jones.
“I didn’t realise you were so keen on sports.” Well the Holy Spirit uses sports to teach us concerning our service to God. How terrible if after our labour and the cheers of men we be disqualified. “I should have known it was not sports you are after.” My dear it’s not enough that you are still in the race or got to the finish line, but did you serve according to God’s rules? “But who can know until the final day of judgement?” Just as it is the athletes’ responsibility to know the rules and know when they were breaking them God expects us to know now before the judgement day. Listen to the Holy Spirit, the chief coach, He’ll tell you; Paul knew. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing 2Ti 4:7, 8(ESV) . Are you running to win?
Sunday 31 July 2011
Thursday 28 July 2011
The Sanctuary Shekel Week 30, 2011
“What’s that?” The standard of measurement in God’s business: And all your judgments shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary, twenty gerahs shall be the shekel Lev 27:25(MKJV). “So how do you translate that to pounds and kilograms today?” It’s not that type of measurement that I refer to. “Which?”
Once the culvert and gutter in front of my gate was being built up, it cost me some money to do it... “What has this got to do with sanctuary shekels?” Hold on. It cost me a bit to build it, and the supervisor assured me it met recognised standards. For a couple of years or more there was no incident. Do you remember when the government began tarring the street roads? “How could I forget? The drainage was worked on at the same time.” Yes; the government workmen were digging up gutters and got to my place. “It’s up to standard” I insisted. “You don’t have to dig it up.” “We’ll see about that” he said. After looking it up he started digging, dismantled the culvert, and found it was indeed up to standard so they put it back for me. The workmanship of each person will become evident, for the day will show what it is, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work 1Cor 3:13(ISV). Boy did that teach me a lesson!
“So what has that got to do with the sanctuary shekel?” Don’t you get it yet? The sanctuary shekel represents God’s standard; the divine standard which never devalues or changes Jud 1:3 … the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. It is not the common place shekel, the shifting standard of this world. "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances Amos 8:5(ESV). The world has deceitful standards you know. You may get along with your standard for years, just like for so many years many people had their structures undisturbed and it appeared it did not matter so far you have something, but one of these days God will come and actually measure. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss… 1Cor 3:14, 15 (ESV). Any structure not up to standard will be destroyed.
“So how do I know if I am building to standard? How do I get this sanctuary shekel?” Why not get familiar with the standard himself? Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, Mat 11:29(GNB). What’s your standard?
Once the culvert and gutter in front of my gate was being built up, it cost me some money to do it... “What has this got to do with sanctuary shekels?” Hold on. It cost me a bit to build it, and the supervisor assured me it met recognised standards. For a couple of years or more there was no incident. Do you remember when the government began tarring the street roads? “How could I forget? The drainage was worked on at the same time.” Yes; the government workmen were digging up gutters and got to my place. “It’s up to standard” I insisted. “You don’t have to dig it up.” “We’ll see about that” he said. After looking it up he started digging, dismantled the culvert, and found it was indeed up to standard so they put it back for me. The workmanship of each person will become evident, for the day will show what it is, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work 1Cor 3:13(ISV). Boy did that teach me a lesson!
“So what has that got to do with the sanctuary shekel?” Don’t you get it yet? The sanctuary shekel represents God’s standard; the divine standard which never devalues or changes Jud 1:3 … the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. It is not the common place shekel, the shifting standard of this world. "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances Amos 8:5(ESV). The world has deceitful standards you know. You may get along with your standard for years, just like for so many years many people had their structures undisturbed and it appeared it did not matter so far you have something, but one of these days God will come and actually measure. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss… 1Cor 3:14, 15 (ESV). Any structure not up to standard will be destroyed.
“So how do I know if I am building to standard? How do I get this sanctuary shekel?” Why not get familiar with the standard himself? Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, Mat 11:29(GNB). What’s your standard?
Sunday 17 July 2011
Who have you come to see? Week 29, 2011
Conferences are such a wonderful time; I find them very refreshing. “Oh yes. I get to meet brethren I have not seen in a long time; in fact I met my wife in one of such meetings. Each time I go to that conference ground I remember how we met.” God truly does many things at such meetings but I think it is for those who come to worship. Do you come to worship or to see brethren?
“What do you mean? I come for both.” Consider the Greek worshipers: Some Greeks were among those who had gone to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. They went to Philip (he was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and said, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."Jn 12:20, 21(GNB). Those who really want to worship do not want to see you. They do not come to conferences to see kinsmen or friends.
“You know Phillip is a Greek name and these people are Greeks.” No; they have come to worship so they want to see Jesus, not the presiding minister… do you remember the crowd that went looking for Jesus? “Yes He fed them in the wilderness.” That he did. They had come to him to hear him. They had no care for food. When evening was coming they were more interested in his word than necessary food like Job. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food Job 23:12(KJV). It is no surprise he fed them (Mar 6:34-43). When they started looking for him again it was not for his word. They wanted to force him into some things; they wanted bread, not the bread of life. This time around they were bitterly disappointed and left him (Jn 6:14-66). Just like Herod.
“I thought he wanted to kill Jesus?” His son: Herod Antipas also wanted to see Jesus, not to have his life changed, but to be entertained, to watch a miracle happen. Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him. He had heard about Jesus and hoped to see him perform some kind of miracle. Lk 23:8(GW). When Zacchaues wanted Jesus he left his home but Herod stayed in his palace, like the father who pretended to want to worship. Eventually he met Him; a bound and silent Jesus was sent to him. Beware lest a bound and silent Jesus meet you. Search your heart very well. If you worship me, the LORD your God, I will bless you with food and water and take away all your sicknesses. In your land no woman will have a miscarriage or be without children. I will give you long lives Ex 23:25-26(GNB). Who have you come to see?
“What do you mean? I come for both.” Consider the Greek worshipers: Some Greeks were among those who had gone to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. They went to Philip (he was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and said, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."Jn 12:20, 21(GNB). Those who really want to worship do not want to see you. They do not come to conferences to see kinsmen or friends.
“You know Phillip is a Greek name and these people are Greeks.” No; they have come to worship so they want to see Jesus, not the presiding minister… do you remember the crowd that went looking for Jesus? “Yes He fed them in the wilderness.” That he did. They had come to him to hear him. They had no care for food. When evening was coming they were more interested in his word than necessary food like Job. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food Job 23:12(KJV). It is no surprise he fed them (Mar 6:34-43). When they started looking for him again it was not for his word. They wanted to force him into some things; they wanted bread, not the bread of life. This time around they were bitterly disappointed and left him (Jn 6:14-66). Just like Herod.
“I thought he wanted to kill Jesus?” His son: Herod Antipas also wanted to see Jesus, not to have his life changed, but to be entertained, to watch a miracle happen. Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him. He had heard about Jesus and hoped to see him perform some kind of miracle. Lk 23:8(GW). When Zacchaues wanted Jesus he left his home but Herod stayed in his palace, like the father who pretended to want to worship. Eventually he met Him; a bound and silent Jesus was sent to him. Beware lest a bound and silent Jesus meet you. Search your heart very well. If you worship me, the LORD your God, I will bless you with food and water and take away all your sicknesses. In your land no woman will have a miscarriage or be without children. I will give you long lives Ex 23:25-26(GNB). Who have you come to see?
Sunday 10 July 2011
Whose revival? week 28,2011
“See that crowd? That’s a powerful man of God I tell you. He never fails to pull a crowd. This even exceeds last year’s overflow. Ah, I bless God!” What for; are you excited by crowds? “Haba this is the manifestation of God’s promise of revival. Have you not read the prophecy of revival in Micah, which is repeated in Isaiah?” In the last days the mountain of the LORD'S house will be established as the highest of the mountains and raised above the hills. People will stream to it Mic 4:1(ESV). Excuse me, what is the theme of this “revival” as you put it? “Limitless prosperity...” And last year’s..? “Sweat less success; and there were many testimonies of financial breakthroughs my brother.”
Sorry. That’s not the revival promised in Isaiah or Micah. “What do you mean? Look at the prophecy yourself. It talks of many peoples flowing into the house of God, declaring let us go to the God of Jacob, and that is happening here. Check out the mix of people. ” Yes, indeed what you have is a mixed multitude, not a revival. “Don’t get offensive”. I won’t; the Micah vision was of people who come to seek God, so as to walk in his ways. Then many nations will come and say, "Let's go to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them." The teachings will go out from Zion Mic 4:2(GW). “You mean this group comes for something else?” Can’t you see that their heart is on financial gain? And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain Eze 33:31(ESV). How many of the testimonies are like Zacchaeus’ "Lord, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor...Lk 19:8 or the woman at the well? "Come and see a man who told me everything I've ever done! Could he possibly be the Christ?" Jn 4:29(ISV). These meetings are about man, and end with glorifying the man of God for even you are focused on the man. In the Isaiah passage you spoke of, in God’s day it shall be different. The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day Isa 2:11(ESV). So this isn’t a revival. The only resemblance I see is a crowd I’m sorry. “What do we do?” We keep praying. Since God said it, it must come to pass but we must keep striking the arrows until we have the full victory prophesied.
Sorry. That’s not the revival promised in Isaiah or Micah. “What do you mean? Look at the prophecy yourself. It talks of many peoples flowing into the house of God, declaring let us go to the God of Jacob, and that is happening here. Check out the mix of people. ” Yes, indeed what you have is a mixed multitude, not a revival. “Don’t get offensive”. I won’t; the Micah vision was of people who come to seek God, so as to walk in his ways. Then many nations will come and say, "Let's go to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them." The teachings will go out from Zion Mic 4:2(GW). “You mean this group comes for something else?” Can’t you see that their heart is on financial gain? And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain Eze 33:31(ESV). How many of the testimonies are like Zacchaeus’ "Lord, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor...Lk 19:8 or the woman at the well? "Come and see a man who told me everything I've ever done! Could he possibly be the Christ?" Jn 4:29(ISV). These meetings are about man, and end with glorifying the man of God for even you are focused on the man. In the Isaiah passage you spoke of, in God’s day it shall be different. The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day Isa 2:11(ESV). So this isn’t a revival. The only resemblance I see is a crowd I’m sorry. “What do we do?” We keep praying. Since God said it, it must come to pass but we must keep striking the arrows until we have the full victory prophesied.
Tuesday 5 July 2011
He shall run and not be weary week 27, 2011
His walk wasn’t normal as he came from the bedroom for morning devotion. He just could not swing the legs well and was rotating it. No; it couldn’t be a viral infection. Not my son. I decided he had to go to school nonetheless. He did, but got progressively weaker I spoke to his teacher to spare him any strain. In fact she had to carry him into the class at a point. When I returned to pick him in the afternoon he could not walk. Back home it got worse. He had to be carried to wherever he needed to go and we quickly arranged a visit to the Orthopedic Surgeons the next day. After examining him an urgent visit to the pediatric neurologist was recommended. Needless to say we went immediately. Flashes of caring for a child crippled through childhood were coming to me, and had to be rejected in the name of Jesus.
At the neurologist’s place we had to use the push chair our children used from their 6th month to get him around. My 4 year old could no longer walk, standing itself was an effort. The neurologist confirmed he had a sudden onset of paralysis, said that he be given no injections, be allowed to rest completely, and return to see her in two weeks. School was out of the question; the weakness progressed to inability to clean up after toilet. In that period I gave him a cup to drink from and it slipped through his hands to the floor. He could not hold it. I knew of a fatal condition characterized by ascending paralysis. Might that be happening? No! In the name of Jesus Christ, no. He wept in frustration. It was hard to console him. What was happening to us? My wife wept.
His grandmother suddenly visited the day after it started, driven by an urge to stay a while with us. But for this definitely one of us would have had to stop work to look after him. Brethren were alerted to lift us up in prayer, and a chain of prayer quickly organised. We were counseled to run around, to do this or that, but were not quite convinced it was the way to go. Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today... The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent Ex 14:13, 14(ESV). In discussing the condition and developments God helped us not to say “He is crippled”. As a toddler he had fitted twice when febrile; and God had intervened. Suddenly on his fourth birthday without warning he convulsed. I mourned my failure, but it was the last of it. He has only needed paracetamol once thereafter in over 3 years; I have not noted any fever in him since. By God’s grace I will not. "It shall not be," said the LORD Amos 7:3(ESV).
When we returned to the neurologist movement had returned to the limbs, within a month he could walk, nay, he now runs! they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint Isa 40:31
At the neurologist’s place we had to use the push chair our children used from their 6th month to get him around. My 4 year old could no longer walk, standing itself was an effort. The neurologist confirmed he had a sudden onset of paralysis, said that he be given no injections, be allowed to rest completely, and return to see her in two weeks. School was out of the question; the weakness progressed to inability to clean up after toilet. In that period I gave him a cup to drink from and it slipped through his hands to the floor. He could not hold it. I knew of a fatal condition characterized by ascending paralysis. Might that be happening? No! In the name of Jesus Christ, no. He wept in frustration. It was hard to console him. What was happening to us? My wife wept.
His grandmother suddenly visited the day after it started, driven by an urge to stay a while with us. But for this definitely one of us would have had to stop work to look after him. Brethren were alerted to lift us up in prayer, and a chain of prayer quickly organised. We were counseled to run around, to do this or that, but were not quite convinced it was the way to go. Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today... The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent Ex 14:13, 14(ESV). In discussing the condition and developments God helped us not to say “He is crippled”. As a toddler he had fitted twice when febrile; and God had intervened. Suddenly on his fourth birthday without warning he convulsed. I mourned my failure, but it was the last of it. He has only needed paracetamol once thereafter in over 3 years; I have not noted any fever in him since. By God’s grace I will not. "It shall not be," said the LORD Amos 7:3(ESV).
When we returned to the neurologist movement had returned to the limbs, within a month he could walk, nay, he now runs! they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint Isa 40:31
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