A Christmas wish Week 52, 2016

I ask again: what was the blessing given to Abram? That blessing passed down through Isaac to Jacob and bypassing Esau. Was it material blessing? Was it money; plenty of it? Was it wives and children and land? If so Esau never missed out. Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob Gen 36:6(ESV). He had them all, and that before Jacob. God told Israel on their way to Canaan: Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession Dt 2:5(ESV). Yet he failed to get it for scripture clearly says: For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears Heb 12:17(ESV). Even Ishmael had children, wealth and lands from the Lord unto this day (Gen17:20). Since those God rejects also have wealth what blessing did he miss?

What was the blessing Jacob craved for even when an angel wounded him and he cried out "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Gen 32:26(ESV)? At this time of his life he had 4 women: 2 wives and 2 concubines. He had 11 sons and (at least) a daughter. His flocks and herds had multiplied so greatly he was the envy of his in-laws. Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, "Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth." Gen 31:1(ESV).  Why did he cry bless me (not bless me more, or bless me again)? What was he seeking he didn’t already have? I tell you there is much more to the blessing of God than material things. See what God says of Israel: Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen Rom 9:4-5(NIV). The Divine Seed Jesus came through Jacob, not Esau.

Consider Mary the mother of our Lord. Was she blessed? “Of course” you gasp. “If anybody was, she is.” But Jesus her baby was born in a manger, she gave birds as an offering in Lk2:22-24, all evidence of poverty (Lev12:8). Why is she blessed? In her womb she carried the Messiah. And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” Lk 1:35(ESV). She brought forth the Son of God Most High into the world. O that God will through you bring Jesus into your family, workplace, into your entire world. It’s a blessing those who run after money cannot touch. You cannot serve God and money. That’s my Christmas wish.

Merry Christmas!

God make me a blessing Week 51, 2016

Have you wondered at the promise God gave Abram in Gen 12:2(ESV)?  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  Did you notice the manifestation of this in the life of Jacob and Joseph? But Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you” Gen 30:27(ESV).  Bear in mind at that time that Jacob had no sheep or herds. He had laboured 14 years, and who was increasing materially at that time: Laban. Did you notice the same account with the slave boy Joseph? From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field Gen 39:5(ISV) . Later on however we see Jacob and Joseph greatly prosperous after this training phase.

Do we really understand what it means that you are blessed? Beloved it is time we claimed this promise (you will be a blessing) and insist it comes to pass in our own very lives. When you come into a home good things happen to them because of you. In your work place excellence and favour bring promotion for your employer and principal partner because of you, because God’s hand is upon you. That’s why Egypt was blessed because of the Israelites, Babylon blessed because of Daniel and his three friends, and the life of the wise men spared for their sakes. And it happens when your own status, your own material goods seem not to be increasing! Yea, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything 2Cor 6:10(ESV). The little captive maid in Naaman’s home brought a blessing to Naaman; even while she remained a captive girl. That’s the blessing!

If Abraham’s blessings are yours why is your employer so ready to get rid of you? Since you started working in a place has your employer, your master, been increasing and posting greater profits, or is he sustaining losses but your salary must keep coming? The material blessings are seen first in the life and business of Laban (who practiced divination) before we see it in Jacob. It was for Jacob’s sake and in due time manifested as his.  Can’t you see your employer has to be blessed first because of you? But no, we are in a hurry these days, and don’t care if our employers (be it government or corporate bodies or individuals) get value for their time, effort and investment in us. All we want is our promotion, our pay rise, our money. Can’t you see it doesn’t work that way scripturally? We cry before heaven the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The labourer deserves his wages." 1Ti 5:18(ESV)  but have not cried ‘God bless my master, my employer, because of me.”

You want to be blessed materially, and to prosper. But who is prospering and being blessed in all things you touch because of you? Would to God your cry will change to “O God make me a blessing to people today!”

Running another man's vision Week 50, 2016

Why did Terah fail in the attempt to reach Canaan - Terah took his son Abram...and they journeyed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they had gone as far as Haran, they settled there Gen 11:31(ESV). -but when Abram arose to do it he succeeded? And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came Gen 12:5(ASV) . Did Terah lack zeal, did he lack resources? No. There are many lessons to be learned from this botched attempt to get to Canaan. Terah was not headed for Canaan because God asked him (Terah) to move there, but (this is me reasoning it out) because Abram his son was headed that way. “Well Abram if you say God has asked you to get out of Ur and go into Canaan let’s all go there!” It was Abram’s vision Terah was attempting to run, not God’s vision for Terah. No wonder he failed. 

There are many people who study the lives of others in an attempt to imitate what they did. It results in a very avoidable source of frustration. I want to say this: like Terah you cannot succeed running another man’s vision. “Now wait a minute” I hear you say. “God expects us to follow good examples and imitate good people.”  Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith Heb 13:7(ISV). Not in that way. Did you notice what we should imitate? Their faith. That universal faith to be applied to every circumstance, every instruction God gives. Have you forgotten  we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function Rom 12:4(ISV) in the body of Christ? Can the nose succeed if it runs the vision of being an eye? Peter could never succeed running Paul’s vision. In fact, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised Gal 2:7(ISV). You know when he went over to Antioch his outing was faulty.

Don’t begin any ministry because another person is in it; find out what Jesus wants YOU to do. "Then I asked, 'What am I to do, Lord? Act 22:10(ISV). Don’t start running a programme for your church, a school or hospital or such simply because another church is running it successfully; except if that is what Jesus has directed and that the time has come. Have we forgotten even Paul, apostle to the gentiles, seeking to move into a gentile region to preach but being resisted by the Spirit (Acts16:6-7)? I’m not speaking about asking God whether to tell the truth or help the needy. That has been clearly dealt with in scripture: If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God?  My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action1Jn 3:17, 18(GNB) .

Some things must die week 49, 2016

Terah begat Abram but had to die before Abram could be moved by God into Canaan. Not surprisingly for as long as he was led by his father he could not get to where he was called into. Terah begat Abram so understandably separating from him would be difficult. It was death that separated Terah from Abram and then we see God move in his life. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living Act 7:4(E SV). Who are those, what are those things that pretend to help you along on your journey to worship Jesus, to serve God, but end up preventing you from moving towards Him? They are any action springing from the flesh i.e. the carnal sinful nature. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit Jn 3:6 (ESV).The flesh must die. It will promise to take you where God said you are destined for, but it will not get you there. Indeed it cannot, for those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom 8:8(ESV).

Let’s be clear: this is not a call for some old woman in your village to die, or some wicked uncle to become paralysed. No. We also have been born of the flesh; we must separate from it by death. So put to death your worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry) Col 3:5(ESV).  Like for as long as Abram was led by his father and he didn’t separate from him he was stuck in Haran, so also can no man make spiritual progress until the flesh is dead. It takes the power of God to move a man from Haran. To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty strength which Christ supplies and which is at work in me Col 1:29(GNB).  Please stop trying by your own generated power; you’ll simply get stuck. Has death separated you from the flesh yet? It must die first. Then we can begin to move forward. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live Rom 8:13(GNB) . It is something each of us has to do; in the power of His Spirit. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires Gal 5:24(ISV). Claim it, pray it, speak it into your experience.

Abram started out from Ur because of God’s call, have you started a work, a business, a service because of God’s call? For as long as we allow worldly principles to lead any endeavour of service our progress (if at all) shall be cut short and stagnation ensue. How many times has mammon spoken to us and said “I’ll get you the souls, the breakthrough, the healing, anything you need from God if you have enough of money. I answer everything. Just follow me!” and we have followed money, and been stuck in Haran. How many times have we heard God’s call to get ministry done, get works of service done and a competitive spirit comes in to say “I’ll lead you there”? But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding 2Cor 10:12 (ESV). Let’s plead for His power to move us forward Heb6:3.