THE LORD GOD

 When John arrived Heaven in Rev. 4; the first sight he saw, were not the twenty-four thrones or thestreets of gold, or even the many angels in Heaven, No! He was confronted with a throne and the one that sits on it.

He saw other thrones as he panned away from the central throne. This was a very deliberate rendering of events.

When you consider it would have been easier to see the twenty-four thrones before focusing on the ONE then you will agree that scripture was very deliberate in recounting this event.

Therefore the implications of this rendering of events should not be wasted on the reader. I believe it was intentional, that God showed John this event in this order. Let's explore the implications

John seeing the central throne first, would be brought to the realization that there exists a Monarch in heaven and who rules the affairs of the heavens.

The implications for John and us, is that for him or us to advance in the affairs of heaven, he/we must recognize the Lordship of the one who sits on heaven's central throne where all true authority derives from!

Many call Him Lord, but do not bow to His Lordship. This act excludes them from participation in the affairs heaven. Making of them creatures that are limited to function only upon the earth.

Except we see where true Lordship comes from and respond accurately we become as mere men.

#ThesoverignGod

TO AN INCREASINGLY UNBELIEVING WORLD

Dear Atheist (or aspiring Atheist),

I know you are asking for a proof of the existence of God and only accept as fact, all things that are Scientific. You consider belief in God; as a baseless superstition for weak minds.

Please let me engage you on a few issues, I hope that you can take the time to consider all I have written.

The Explanation that is given by Science for the creation of the earth or our universe as we know it, is the Big Bang Theory! The theory in its simplest form states that a huge explosion occurred, and set in motion what has become our universe today.

One question that this theory has left unanswered is, Who or What set the explosion off? According to Science, we are not told of anything that set off such a huge explosion. It just happened and set in motion the events that became the creation of our universe!

The above, non-caused explosion does not to agree with the first law of thermodynamics which states that energy can neither be created or destroyed, but is converted from one form to the other.

In simple layman terms, you can not have a huge release of energy that has absolutely no source or cause. That energy must have existed in one form or the other before it was released or converted into another form.

With the Big Bang Theory, we are presented with an enormous amount of Energy that set everything in motion for the earth to come about without a cause or a known source. Scientists go on to offer this as fact, without questioning, WHO or What introduced this first creative burst of energy.

The argument of the design and the perfect conditioning of the earth to accommodate life, has not and can not be explained by science.

What makes the Earth habitable? It is the right distance from the Sun, it is protected from harmful solar radiation by its magnetic field, it is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere, and it has the right chemical ingredients for life, including water and carbon

We are told by science that if the conditions differed even slightly from what we have them to be, life on earth would not be sustainable. Surely it would take a betting man to think that all this came about by a stroke of luck and happenstance?

As complex a machine as our very being are, can we think we came about without a mind behind it? No complex being created us? No designer? A big bang, without ONE who set it off?

Science has told us to believe our universe with all laws that govern it, and the design that shows in every living came about without a Creator.

Just like a Book written without an intelligent mind behind it? The Alphabets just happened to fall into place to form the right words, which just happened to arrange themselves in the right order into sentences arrange in perfect logical order to form a best seller! That is what we are sold with the Big Bang, and we believe.

While these questions remain unanswered, we have the Evolution Theory thrust on us!

The interesting theory of how organisms advanced from micro-organisms to became the complex creatures we have come to know now. Even when there is no proven or verifiable documented evidence of this in our day or in days gone by of a change of species form one to another, we agree/belief this as fact, because, well, It is Science!

Science in its very own methodology, has an experimental approach, that seeks to test the idea being put out to be verifiable and reproducible.

Yet, we dare not and do not ask the various Scientists/biologist to produce just ONE proof of a change of Species that has occurred based on the theory of Evolution.

Again, we do not question Evolution because it is Science, even when they have no proof to show.

We dare not add to our contemplations, the acceptance of issues that we cannot prove via the scientific method of experimentation. Things like the mind, consciousness and emotions.

You accept and believe all this, but when it comes to the matter of God, you shout for proof.

You scoff at belief, but believe in the above theories that are not provable by science.

In the end, as Stuart Chase said “For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.”

The question I ask is, if I live my life, believing in the existence of God, and find that there is no God, what have I lost? Nothing.

However, if I live my life, believing that there is no God, and find at my death that there is indeed a God that calls me to account... What do I stand to lose? Everything, in my opinion.

Think on this.

WIDOW'S MITE :Sacrificial Giving not small giving

When we speak about the widow's mite, what exactly do we mean?

In most cases, when people say, "I want to give my widows mite" or "just accept this widow's mite", it is usually in their context, a small amount, or the little they can afford to give at that time.

While we do not condemn their giving no matter how much they give, their calling what the gave their widows mite might not entirely be correct.

In most cases, it is not the same as what the widow gave in scripture, from where the phrase was coined.

Let me explain, the widow's mite according to scripture was not just the amount cast in by the widow.

Yes, the amount was small but you need to understand, that in the context of that widow, that amount had an impact on her *livelihood!!*

Think about this for a moment.

When the widow gave, I suppose, she had to forfeit a meal or two because she gave to the Lord.

When the widow gave, I suppose, it might have meant she had to walk home instead of catching a bus home.

When the widow gave, I suppose, it reduced her ability to buy some of the things that were necessary for her living(not luxuries oh but things necessary for her very living!).

My point is there was sacrifice, that impacted her living, in the "small" amount she gave".

*The impact of her sacrificial giving made the little she gave of more value than the much the rich men gave put together*

So when next you used the phrase Widow's mite, be sure of what you mean.

Never belittle your giving, no matter how little, when it comes from a place of sacrifice.

Be sure that what you gave cost you something and not just that it is small by your estimation.

God bless you

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7Bright Ukwenga, Noah D Psalmist and 5 others

Friend or Foe!

Like most of us, I had always thought I understood clearly who a friend is, in terms of human relationships.

I mean, one who has your best interest at heart and cares for your wellbeing, right? It seems pretty straightforward and simple, right?

I have held this notion until I came across two scriptures that have challenged this understanding.

In one of the scriptures, Jesus had just called a dedicated disciple-Peter, who was very concerned for his welfare and preservation of His life - Satan!

Later, he called one other disciple who had just betrayed him to a company that would eventually crucify him, friend!

Yes, I know you might think he did not really mean to call Judas friend, but the more I have read about Jesus, I find that He is not given to flattery.

He was not shy to call out men for who they truly are. I mean He called Herod, Fox. Called the Pharisees hypocrites, blind, children of their father the devil etc.

Based on these two instances of Peter and Judas, my definition of a friend is anyone who aids you towards the fulfilment of God's purpose for your life in that instant.

He/She may say unpleasant things to you, rebuke you or may even offend you, but always stir you towards the fulfilment of your God given purpose.

A friend does not encourage you to disobey God, a foe does.

A friend does not advise you to accept compromise in other to avoid difficult situations that are contrary to your Christian convictions. A foe does.

A friend doesn't encourage you not to be too hard on yourself or to pamper your flesh and ego. A foe does.

A Foe will support you down a path that encourages selfish living. Simply put, If he/she encourages you away from God, stop calling him/her "friend".

Those relationships that drain you of your Christian conviction and passion, are NOT worth keeping!

A friend will encourage you down the path of godly living and pursuit of God's purpose for your life.

In the light of the above, are you keeping ungodly relationships with people and call them, Friends? They continually lead you away from the purpose of God for your life but yet you have labelled them friends.

Some people who we are in "ships" with, be it relationships or friendships, bring hardships/losses in the journey of life, ask those that travelled with Jonah. They incurred losses of their valuable cargo as they themselves carried Jonah away from his God given assignment.

Have you also lost something precious/valuable trying to keep that male or female friend?

Is your relationship with God suffering because of your relationship with a man or woman?

It is time to discern who you have been walking with, and identify them for who they are. Are they Friend or Foe ?

RE-DIGGING THE WELLS!

Gen 26:18  And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 

Gen 26:19  And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 

Every time I have read or heard the story of Isaac's experience in Gen. 26:15,18 of how the Philistines filled or stopped the wells that His Father had dug, I have always understood it in the context of past revivals or moves of God by our fathers of faith being restored. In terms of reclaiming such lost ground or move of God they had.

I still believe that this is the most accurate contextual meaning of this scripture.

However, today this scripture came to my heart in another light. As it flashed upon my heart, it was not directed as a move of God through father's of faith, but at myself.

You see, John 4:13-14 speaks of a well that Jesus digs in every believer filled with the Holy Spirit and how that well is supposed to flow unto everlasting life.

We may not have  considered this, but just as wells of the move of God can be stopped in territories, so can it in our lives.

 

Have you had times when you seem to lose your joy in the spirit? When singing a song, prayer or Bible Study  is difficult and uninteresting? When witnessing is impossible. When there is lack of Joy within. When encounters with God are non-existent and hearing from God is difficult. Then the wells might have been blocked.

The things that block our wells may be sin, disobedience to instructions, lack of desire for God etc

I believe that the time has come for the wells to be redug again. It's time to begin to pray over our lives and land, that the wells that have began, that have become clogged, will be unstopped.

To unblock the wells we must be deliberate, just as Isaac's servants were. They redug the wells!

 Make an effort, take a fast, study your Bible, wake up and pray at Night. 

Do whatever it takes for a restoration of that sweet communion with God's Spirit. 

Re-dig your wells starting from today! 

The good thing about this is, if you found water before, you can find it again. God bless you as you arise and dig

BROKENNESS

Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 

Gen 28:20  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 

Gen 28:21  So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 

As I think of the word brokenness, I can only explain it with this analogy of a wild horse or stallion.

You see, when a wild horse is caught by a cowboy, it can not be riden immediately by a man. It must be broken.

The cow boy will keep the horse, till it trusts him to come near it and then he will put a saddle on the horse. 

When a saddle is put on the horse, the horse kicks out rebelling against the strange weight that has come on its back. 

It kicks to rid itself of this "yoke" or weight. It exercises it's whole body until it wears it's strength out and then a time comes when the horse accepts the weight of the saddle as a reality to be endured daily(have you accepted the weight of the cross daily upon your life? The cross is a daily weight not an occasional convenient weight)

When the Horse gets to this point, the cowboy then proceeds to the next phase.

He now attempts to ride the horse or stallion. 

When he mounts the horse, a new struggle begins, it kicks out viciously, uttering neighs and trying to unseat its rider.

Several times, it will succeed in throwing off this new weight(the cowboy) and then resumes it's activities of eating grass.

Again and again, the cowboy tries to mount and remain mounted. This he tries ,for as long as he can, and doesn't give up, until the horse gives up.

The struggle continues until the horse accepts the weight of its new master.

Without getting to this point of utter surrender, the horse cannot be ridden by anyone. 

The point at which the horse accepts the weight is the point of brokenness!

A long analogy, I know, so let me try and make the application short.

Jacob was a perfect example of a man that God needed to break. Imagine a man  after encountering God in Gen.28, still give terms upon which He will accept God as his God! He was a man full of his own agenda, that the yoke of surrendering to another, even if that other was the God of his fathers, was too much to bear. He gave conditions to God after the encounter, upon which He can accept God as HIS GOD. The vision of God and angels did not change his agenda. It took a breaking of his waist by an angel for the man to finally yield completely. What a man!

Many times we are like this, ever struggling with God and resisting HIS will. 

You may have wondered why God tested Abraham with killing of Isaac, if he did not want Isaac, it is the issue of brokenness. 

Many struggle with the yoke that Jesus places until the incur several needless wounds.

A broken vessel is useful in the hand of God. Let's ask him to help us on this. Stop the struggle but may God also not give up on us as he attempts to ride us.

Lord break me.

MADE IN HEAVEN BUT CHANGED IN TIME-PART 2

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.- John 1:6-7(emphasis added)

The aspect of the sacrifice of John in order to remain the same as heaven intended, was that he left home to stay in the wilderness eating locust and wild honey. He made all those sacrifices just to ensure that he arrived ,in as raw a state, as heaven ordained him to be.

The Bible said, he stayed in the wilderness, separate from home  and family comforts. If he had stayed in his father's house, he would have become a priest at best. He was surrounded by Priests, I am sure, he was the odd ball in the household. His experiences and the training he needed, would be different from those around him. The training of a priest and a prophet are vastly different.

Next He ate Locust and WILD honey. I wondered why the bible choose to state clearly that he ate wild honey. I believe that the writer wanted to emphasize that the source of his food was not from home or from the people. You see, Priests are usually feed from the sacrifices, brought from the people. The depended on the people to be sustained as they ministered but not John. His sustenance was not what they people brought, it was wild, as found in nature.

Child of God, sometimes it is better to feast on "locust and wild honey"than to compromise our stand on the sumptuous meals waived before us to make us compromise our stand or change our convictions. Like Daniel, who would rather eat vegetables, beans and drink water than feed on a feast fit for a king, John choose the path that remains unpopular.

 He so resolved and made decisions to remain unchanged by the tide of human opinion, that even his fashion sense did not swing with the latest fashion of the day. He still wore camel skin and belt.

The Bible warns not to be conformed to this world, all this is, so that we would achieve our heavenly ordination.

May heaven say of us " there was a man/woman sent from God;..... the SAME CAME" unadulterated, unchanged by the pressures of peer and foe. 

May God help us stay on course in our calling in God!