1Corin. 9:11 We have sown spiritual seed among you. Is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?
I recently spoke with a Pastor friend of mine about the condition of Christianity in a certain location. I was of the opinion that Pastors were failing in presenting the truth of the word of God in that particular location and pressed my point. He agreed with my point of view but said something that made me rethink my criticism of those Pastors.
I would like to state, first and foremost, that I do not still agree with the merchandising of the gospel that is currently going on, but I would like to ask that before we criticize we look closely at our own actions.
Lets get back to my story, I was angry that most of the messages focused people on material things and promoting infancy in the body of Christ. I feel, and still feel, that a message that makes one man a superstar and all others dwarfs, who need to depend on him to get direction, instead of the Holy Spirit, is very wrong.
However, the perceptive my friend brought needs to be considered.
Have you experienced an instance that a preacher feels the need to consult various gimmicks to raise money? Making a lot of ''prophetic'' promises to get a response. All sort of fund-raising techniques are consulted in other to get the people to give.
This I believe is wrong but consider this for a moment. My Pastor friend told me of an instance that a sincere full time pastor who went to that location to preach but could not get support for his young family. His wife had to accept a job that was far below her qualifications in order to try and meet the needs of the family. The pastor did not get adequate support from the congregation , he resigned, and went to pursue business ventures. He did not want to rob his congregation but he could no longer support his family being in ministry!
I have had to send money to a few full-time pastors who are not resident in my location. I now ask myself, if the believers they minister to, do not see the need to help them out financially, yet these same believers will criticize these same pastors!
Paul said in the above scripture that they have sown spiritual seed in the life of the brethren so was it too much if they reap material benefits from them? If men have labored over your life in prayer and yet nothing has ever left you to bless them. Then you my friend are irresponsible.
I believe that insincere pastors ,who promise all kinds of blessings, are best suited to exploit such irresponsible believer. I believe that they should get a pastor after their own heart!!
We complain that the church does not see the same power as in the days of Acts but check out what they church did to meet the need of others. Paul pronounced Phillipians 4: 19 on a people who had been a blessing to him and yet a stingy believer in our time will claim the blessing, while forsaking the principle upon which it stands. Missionaries are sent to the field and we care nothing about them but Muslims spend a lot to ensure that they build mosques very close to their homes.
Friend or not, I ask you, what have you done to bless your pastor?
Monday, 17 August 2015
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
THE SUMMARY OF THE LIFE OF A MAN WHO PRAYED....
James 5:17-18 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
If there was a portion of scripture, that I believe best summarizes the life of Elijah, it would be the one above.
When I read this chapter in the Book of James, at first glance the above scripture seems out of place. It seems as if James took a detour from what he was writing about, just to give an account of this man's life. However, when you consider the style of his writing, you will understand better what he was trying to say.
For instance in verse 10, when he spoke about suffering and how the believers should handle hardships, he gives them Job as an example. God's dealings in the life of Job was meant to be an example to all mankind in times of suffering. It was meant to teach us, that after all is said and done, the tender mercies of God will always endure.
Having understood, that each example given was meant to buttress the message that was being passed across, ELIJAH here then comes as an example of a righteous man who prayed to great effect. He did not just pray but he had ''much'' results from praying. So the example James offers us of a man who had results in prayer was the example of Elijah. Lets examine 4 things he said about him.
1. HE WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN
The first thing that we can get from earlier scripture, is the reason why Elijah's prayer was so effective. James was talking, first of all, about how effective the prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man can be. We know that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. This position has been afforded us by grace, but in our daily lives, we must live it out! Righteousness is in how you treat others. You can not lay claim on the position that grace brought you into as a license to be careless in your dealings with men. So the first way to have prayers that release tremendous power is to check your life.
2. HE WAS NOT SUPERHUMAN
When you consider the above, we may be tempted to think that Elijah was superhuman but James was quick to dispel that notion. He tells us first that he was a man and had the same kinds of passions that we have. I would like to state here that you have passions or desires stirred up, is not enough an excuse to sin. The ability to keep our passions under check is important if we are to have an effective prayer life.
3. HE WAS PERSISTENT IN PRAYER
James records that Elijah prayed and then he prayed again. In this age of positive confession, the place of praying once and again is often overlooked. In fact, in one of the instances where we see Elijah praying in the Old testament, he stayed at it for sometime, sending his servant 7 times to check for the sign he expected his prayer to create. These days we give up too soon in the place of prayer.
4. HE PRAYED EARNESTLY
Elijah wasn't the kind of person who prayed and had his mind on the clock or while he chewed gum absentmindedly. His who attention was in his prayer. Pray for him was not a mindless exercise. He did not pray and hope that one of his prayers would hit the mark.
James then concludes with results he had. His prayers received the answers he prayed for! Too many pray and give up when no answer comes but not Elijah. We explain away the lack of answers and excuse the lack of effectiveness of our prayers but not Elijah.
Do you have a consistent prayer life?
If there was a portion of scripture, that I believe best summarizes the life of Elijah, it would be the one above.
When I read this chapter in the Book of James, at first glance the above scripture seems out of place. It seems as if James took a detour from what he was writing about, just to give an account of this man's life. However, when you consider the style of his writing, you will understand better what he was trying to say.
For instance in verse 10, when he spoke about suffering and how the believers should handle hardships, he gives them Job as an example. God's dealings in the life of Job was meant to be an example to all mankind in times of suffering. It was meant to teach us, that after all is said and done, the tender mercies of God will always endure.
Having understood, that each example given was meant to buttress the message that was being passed across, ELIJAH here then comes as an example of a righteous man who prayed to great effect. He did not just pray but he had ''much'' results from praying. So the example James offers us of a man who had results in prayer was the example of Elijah. Lets examine 4 things he said about him.
1. HE WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN
The first thing that we can get from earlier scripture, is the reason why Elijah's prayer was so effective. James was talking, first of all, about how effective the prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man can be. We know that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. This position has been afforded us by grace, but in our daily lives, we must live it out! Righteousness is in how you treat others. You can not lay claim on the position that grace brought you into as a license to be careless in your dealings with men. So the first way to have prayers that release tremendous power is to check your life.
2. HE WAS NOT SUPERHUMAN
When you consider the above, we may be tempted to think that Elijah was superhuman but James was quick to dispel that notion. He tells us first that he was a man and had the same kinds of passions that we have. I would like to state here that you have passions or desires stirred up, is not enough an excuse to sin. The ability to keep our passions under check is important if we are to have an effective prayer life.
3. HE WAS PERSISTENT IN PRAYER
James records that Elijah prayed and then he prayed again. In this age of positive confession, the place of praying once and again is often overlooked. In fact, in one of the instances where we see Elijah praying in the Old testament, he stayed at it for sometime, sending his servant 7 times to check for the sign he expected his prayer to create. These days we give up too soon in the place of prayer.
4. HE PRAYED EARNESTLY
Elijah wasn't the kind of person who prayed and had his mind on the clock or while he chewed gum absentmindedly. His who attention was in his prayer. Pray for him was not a mindless exercise. He did not pray and hope that one of his prayers would hit the mark.
James then concludes with results he had. His prayers received the answers he prayed for! Too many pray and give up when no answer comes but not Elijah. We explain away the lack of answers and excuse the lack of effectiveness of our prayers but not Elijah.
Do you have a consistent prayer life?
A SET HEART
Col-3:1-2: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth
One great challenge that faces preachers when the stand before a congregation is what to say that will capture their desires or hearts.
This method of ministry is however carried on, because the hearts of most believers are set on material things, most preachers have now adopted messages that satisfy that need. All their preaching and endeavor must end up in the corridors of one material blessing or the other.
Check the posters of programs of most churches and you will understand the priority of the Christian Church. Success for most in the Church today, is measured based on how much material resources they are able to amass. We boast in our achievements, even if such achievements will not outlast our very existence.
I wish at this point to ask you the reader, to examine your desires, ambitions and what matters most to you. Take stock of what emphasis you hold in your life, if all the things you hold dear are things that will perish with the earth then, your whole existence would have been a waste as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned.
Dear Pastor, If all your labor is to satisfy the needs of men alone and you are unable to stir their hearts towards God and living for his kingdom, then your ministry, even if it is great, will not amount to anything before God. In fact as Paul said:
1Co 3:13-15 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire
Where is your heart set, Oh Child of God? What has captured your desires? What is your ambition or vision in life? Are they of things above? Do you have desire for the things of God? What holds your attention? where or on what do you spend most of your resources on? such resources as your time, money, ability etc. The answers you give to these questions will give clarity as to where your affection is set.
Paul in the above introductory passages of scripture offers us an advice.Did you notice that he tells us to SET our affections. This means that if our affections are not set on things above, you can not blame the pastor of your church even if all his messages are focused on material things. You can not blame anyone else but yourself!
You owe yourself the responsibility to set your own heart, no one else can do it for you.
Check your heart dear friend and see where your heart is set on.if all it is set on is not on things above where Christ is seated then you need to seek God in repentance.
One great challenge that faces preachers when the stand before a congregation is what to say that will capture their desires or hearts.
This method of ministry is however carried on, because the hearts of most believers are set on material things, most preachers have now adopted messages that satisfy that need. All their preaching and endeavor must end up in the corridors of one material blessing or the other.
Check the posters of programs of most churches and you will understand the priority of the Christian Church. Success for most in the Church today, is measured based on how much material resources they are able to amass. We boast in our achievements, even if such achievements will not outlast our very existence.
I wish at this point to ask you the reader, to examine your desires, ambitions and what matters most to you. Take stock of what emphasis you hold in your life, if all the things you hold dear are things that will perish with the earth then, your whole existence would have been a waste as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned.
Dear Pastor, If all your labor is to satisfy the needs of men alone and you are unable to stir their hearts towards God and living for his kingdom, then your ministry, even if it is great, will not amount to anything before God. In fact as Paul said:
1Co 3:13-15 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire
Where is your heart set, Oh Child of God? What has captured your desires? What is your ambition or vision in life? Are they of things above? Do you have desire for the things of God? What holds your attention? where or on what do you spend most of your resources on? such resources as your time, money, ability etc. The answers you give to these questions will give clarity as to where your affection is set.
Paul in the above introductory passages of scripture offers us an advice.Did you notice that he tells us to SET our affections. This means that if our affections are not set on things above, you can not blame the pastor of your church even if all his messages are focused on material things. You can not blame anyone else but yourself!
You owe yourself the responsibility to set your own heart, no one else can do it for you.
Check your heart dear friend and see where your heart is set on.if all it is set on is not on things above where Christ is seated then you need to seek God in repentance.
Thursday, 30 July 2015
WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND PRIORITY?
Mat
6:19-23 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and
steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal:
For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body
shall be full of light. But if thine eye be
evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is
in thee be darkness, how great is
that darkness!
I will try in a round-about way to lay the
foundation of understanding the above scripture and would ask you the reader to
think more deeply about the above scripture. I will be limited in my
explanation because of the lengthy illustration I will give. I trust the Holy Spirit will do a better job
than I can in explaining the above. So here goes:
During my undergraduate days, I once gave a
book to a lady who attended the same Christian campus fellowship as I did. You
see I loved, and still love, reading Christian literature, so much so that if I
wanted to give a gift to someone, you would most likely get the latest book I
was reading, if such a book was or is a blessing to me. So I gave away a lot of
“Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill” to various people at varying times.
For me then, it was only natural to give
this Christian Lady the book I was currently reading that had been a blessing
to me. Well, after I gave her the book, she politely collected it but never
spoke to me again (Ok maybe she did speak to me but I guess our friendship was
not quite the same again after that).
Why? You may ask. Good question in my
opinion because I felt that I had given her a treasure.
Thinking about it now, I am almost smiling
and kicking myself at how stupid I was! The problem was actually obvious from
the very title of the book. I gave her a book titled (now don’t laugh)“HE CAME
TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE” written by Rebecca Brown. I hope you can at least
appreciate why she was upset with me.
Hey, don’t get me wrong, the book is a great book and I still have a
copy in my library today but I guess I should have thought about the
implications of giving her that book and how it could be perceived given the
title first of all.
Before you write me off completely, as a nut head who would give his
wife a toaster for a wedding anniversary gift (who does that? I wonder.), I would like to say in my
defense that I believe that when any one reads a Christian literature the
emphasis of the book, if it is of any use, speaks to you according to the
dealings of God in your life at that moment.
Many may have read the Book “He came to set the captives free” and
come away with a fear of demons and the very real depictions of our battle with
the spiritual realm but not me.
When I read that book (and when I still read it) what stood
out/stands out for me was/is not the encounters with demons. I found in the
pages of that book a moving story of an “ordinary” woman who though a medical
doctor was faithfully serving the Lord. As I read it, I found a woman who had a
very real and intimate relationship with God despite a very busy schedule of
medical practice with all the attendant odd hours on call duty. My heart was
stirred that a medical doctor, despite how busy her schedule was, could find
time to develop such a close relationship with God.
How God spoke to her heart while she worked and brought her attention
to errors she made at work. How that by living out her “ordinary” Christian
life in such a dark work environment, many were delivered from the captivity of
Satan. I cheered at the victory that God could bring to a place if just only one
of us could just walk with Him like she did. I came away with the understanding
that even the weakest of us could by partnership with a great God, be used to
bring about a great deliverance.
I read about the 3 months she spent seeking God for a more intimate
relationship and that set my desire for God on fire. While I cannot claim to
have achieved any of her results, because of my inconsistency, I still long for
such a close walk with Jesus. I also learnt a lot about deliverance.
My point is then that when I read the book, I believe I came away
with a different understanding than the lady. Thinking about it now, one reason I think that
happened (if she actually read that book and was still angry with me) could be
because of what I considered to be most important to me. I had a very different
focus and understanding because of the dealings of God in my life.
Friends, the perspective you hold in this life matters a lot.
Depending on your relationship with God, what you consider most
important in your life can be clearly seen. Many consider their careers in life
more important than a relationship with God, hence, they devote great amount of
time to further their careers and very little to the things of God. When they
sit in a church service, they are on a stop watch and can’t seem to get out
quickly enough.
What is most important to you? What have you given your life, time,
and energy to serve? What is most important to you based on your perspective?
In reading the bible too, if you make prosperity your priority, what
you might see in every page are things that feed that desire. Anyone can get
the scriptures to say anything based on their perspective but the one thing
that God wants us to focus on is Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let
your eye be singularly on Him!
Some do not believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, this
perspective has made them merely tolerate and not treat it so seriously. They
study it to poke holes at what is said or to get good basis for philosophical arguments
from it but never to see how to develop a real relationship with the living personality
the Bible speaks about in all its books. The world has made the feminist Bible to
suit the need of women who may feel marginalized but the Bible was never about
us but about Him!
That is why Jesus could speak to people who studied the scriptures
diligently but still did not recognize who all the scriptures spoke about when
he stood before them. They were blind because he was not their focus in
searching the scriptures. They sought religious doctrines and not a living
relationship.
Friends, let your focus and desire be Jesus! If it is, then your
whole body will be full of light and you will never walk in darkness. Make
Christ your unique goal
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
GOING?... AT WHOSE COMMAND?
Gen 26:1-3 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Gen 26:12-13 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
What makes one location better than the other, for a Christian, is not how good the economic situation of one location compared to what is obtainable at the other.
Many look for greener pastures and compare locations to make their choice of which is a greener pasture. The basis of their deductions as to which location is preferable to the other, is based on what they can see or what their senses have perceived.
Some have great ambitions and have gone to great lengths to secure visas or green cards. Telling lies, falsifying documents and submitting to various degrading treatments just to secure this.
For instance, let me ask this: Is living in America better than living in Nigeria?
If you believe the bible then understand that Isaac sowed in a land of famine and prospered. What makes a land of famine better than a land that did not have famine?
Well, the answer to the above lies in what God has told a man.
What makes one land better than the other is that we step into it at the command of our God. Whether he bids us to serve him in a land of famine or in a land of plenty our response and considerations should not be influenced by which we perceive is the better location but obedience to God's command.
America is a better location than Nigeria, if God sent you there but if God sends you to Nigeria and you leave for America, if you succeed in your journey, then you would live wasted life. May God stop us from embarking on Jonah-like journeys. It was God's mercy that made Jonah not to succeed in his journey.
Is God resisting your journey? May we not succeed in having our way apart from God's will.
Gen 26:12-13 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
What makes one location better than the other, for a Christian, is not how good the economic situation of one location compared to what is obtainable at the other.
Many look for greener pastures and compare locations to make their choice of which is a greener pasture. The basis of their deductions as to which location is preferable to the other, is based on what they can see or what their senses have perceived.
Some have great ambitions and have gone to great lengths to secure visas or green cards. Telling lies, falsifying documents and submitting to various degrading treatments just to secure this.
For instance, let me ask this: Is living in America better than living in Nigeria?
If you believe the bible then understand that Isaac sowed in a land of famine and prospered. What makes a land of famine better than a land that did not have famine?
Well, the answer to the above lies in what God has told a man.
What makes one land better than the other is that we step into it at the command of our God. Whether he bids us to serve him in a land of famine or in a land of plenty our response and considerations should not be influenced by which we perceive is the better location but obedience to God's command.
America is a better location than Nigeria, if God sent you there but if God sends you to Nigeria and you leave for America, if you succeed in your journey, then you would live wasted life. May God stop us from embarking on Jonah-like journeys. It was God's mercy that made Jonah not to succeed in his journey.
Is God resisting your journey? May we not succeed in having our way apart from God's will.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
Higher Platform: The Speaking voice (Part 1)
Higher Platform: The Speaking voice (Part 1): "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the firs...
Monday, 6 July 2015
SET YOUR HEART ON HIS FAITHFULNESS
Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
As I thought of God's faithfulness the below analogy came to mind.
The best navigation equipment are installed on every ship to ensure that the can be guided to harbor safely. Captains are trained to navigate ships using several of these navigation equipment, however, their mastery of these equipment will not be enough to ensure them a command of a ship.
He needs to be trained to be guided by one more way.
The captain in addition to knowing how to navigate with these equipment must add to his knowledge how to navigate without them!
So that if there ever comes a time, when these equipment fail, He has, as a guide, something outside of his sphere of influence and control but which holds its position, remaining sure no matter the conditions he is faced with.The Captain must then learn to navigate using the Stars!
The reliance on the unchanging position of the Stars makes it suitable to be used to guide a ship for the well trained.
You see we all want to get to safe harbor, whatever that would mean to each of us. In our journey through the turbulent waters of this life,a lot of people have chosen to navigate through life using their intellect alone through forecasts, science, opinions of men and various other means. At this time when the economy of many nations are failing,navigating life, using these navigation 'tools', will not be to the advantage of anyone especially not for the believer. As the predictions about the days ahead are not too favorable.
The time has come for us to look up and receive guidance for our path and the course of our life from the Light that can not be influenced by anything that the world has to offer.
Those who get their direction from the ONE who never fails, in a world were a lot is uncertain, will always find a guiding light in the midst of darkness. Trust in Gods faithfulness and personality should be our unshakable confidence when all else fails.
Job was such a man who had all around him fail. When this happened, he could only look up to the only one that is stable in the midst of the storms of life. He said: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
Job looked beyond his circumstance and diseased body to the faithfulness of God. His truth that God will remain faithful after all is said and done saw him through and so can it us.
Someone authored our faith and he can finish it. The Psalmist said I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help...My help comes from the Lord. Your help doesn't lie in any other.
Look beyond your circumstance to the God that remains constant and be guided by the light in His word and trust in his faithfulness. Your 'ship' will arrive at a safe harbor if you do!.
As I thought of God's faithfulness the below analogy came to mind.
The best navigation equipment are installed on every ship to ensure that the can be guided to harbor safely. Captains are trained to navigate ships using several of these navigation equipment, however, their mastery of these equipment will not be enough to ensure them a command of a ship.
He needs to be trained to be guided by one more way.
The captain in addition to knowing how to navigate with these equipment must add to his knowledge how to navigate without them!
So that if there ever comes a time, when these equipment fail, He has, as a guide, something outside of his sphere of influence and control but which holds its position, remaining sure no matter the conditions he is faced with.The Captain must then learn to navigate using the Stars!
The reliance on the unchanging position of the Stars makes it suitable to be used to guide a ship for the well trained.
You see we all want to get to safe harbor, whatever that would mean to each of us. In our journey through the turbulent waters of this life,a lot of people have chosen to navigate through life using their intellect alone through forecasts, science, opinions of men and various other means. At this time when the economy of many nations are failing,navigating life, using these navigation 'tools', will not be to the advantage of anyone especially not for the believer. As the predictions about the days ahead are not too favorable.
The time has come for us to look up and receive guidance for our path and the course of our life from the Light that can not be influenced by anything that the world has to offer.
Those who get their direction from the ONE who never fails, in a world were a lot is uncertain, will always find a guiding light in the midst of darkness. Trust in Gods faithfulness and personality should be our unshakable confidence when all else fails.
Job was such a man who had all around him fail. When this happened, he could only look up to the only one that is stable in the midst of the storms of life. He said: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
Job looked beyond his circumstance and diseased body to the faithfulness of God. His truth that God will remain faithful after all is said and done saw him through and so can it us.
Someone authored our faith and he can finish it. The Psalmist said I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help...My help comes from the Lord. Your help doesn't lie in any other.
Look beyond your circumstance to the God that remains constant and be guided by the light in His word and trust in his faithfulness. Your 'ship' will arrive at a safe harbor if you do!.
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