The Worth of a Soul

'Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?' (Mat 18:10-12)

No price tag can represent the value of one's eternal life. Jesus died to pay the ransom for our souls, so every single soul is worth the life of the son of God. Describing the worth of our souls; Jesus said that, as a shepherd, He laid down His life for the sheep, meaning he laid down His life for the souls of men. He came ‘to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’ (Mat 20:28, John 10:11). Regardless of one's nationality, gender or age, their soul is priceless and precious to God. No wonder heaven goes into wild jubilation when one soul is won for Christ.

With this backdrop of knowledge, how serious should a Christian take the work of evangelism or witnessing? ‘According to the original Greek, ‘martyr’ means ‘witness’. Therefore, Jesus’ words to the disciples in Acts 1:8 can read ‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses (martyrs) to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’. The New Testament martyr not only personally testified to the truth and the power of Jesus Christ, but was instructed to take that witness to others regardless of the cost. In the book of Acts we read about the stoning of Stephen, making him the first to pay the ultimate price for that witness. It is at this time that the word martyr took on a much stronger meaning, as one who is not only a witness but as one who is willing to give his life or to be martyred for that cause. The very truth to which we bear witness comes at a great cost - it can cost us our reputation, popularity and prestige. It may even cost us our families, friends and lives (Tom white).

Whiles teaching about the value of every single soul, Jesus used the parable of the lost sheep to prove His point. He said that in the same way that a shepherd who looses one out of his hundred sheep will leave the ninety nine and go in search of the only one that is lost, it is the will of the father that not a single soul will perish (Mat 18:10-14).

There are many souls around you that do not know Jesus as their personal savior, and until they come to the saving knowledge of Christ, the Bible says they are headed for eternal damnation (John 14:6). Will you value their souls like Jesus did, and avail your self to be used of God to snatch them from eternal torment? Please do. All you need to do is share your Christian faith with them and pray with them and for them, the gospel is the power of God for deliverance. Witness to a dying soul today, you may save him from eternal damnation.

You Anoint my Head with Oil

‘You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever’ (Psalm 23:5, 6).

‘Shepherds in that area of the world and at the time, anointed their sheep’s heads with oil because of insects or flies. The area where this Psalm was written is dry and insects like these flies try to lay their eggs in an environment that is best suited for them. Sheep don’t have any means of protecting themselves from these flies and other insects that would land on their head, attempting to deposit their eggs on the damp, mucous membrane of the sheep’s nose. If successful, the eggs will hatch in a few days to form small, slender, worm-like larvae. In time they will work their way up the sheep’s nose into the head. Burrowing into the flesh and causing intense irritation to the sheep.

For relief, sheep will beat their heads with other sheep, trees or even kill its self. Often advanced stages of infection will lead to blindness. At the very first sign of flies among the flock, the sheep will become restless, running around sometimes to exhaustion as the sheep try to prevent the flies from landing on their heads. The shepherd will apply a remedy of oil, sulphur, and tar, smearing it over the sheep’s nose and head. Once applied the Sheep’s behavior immediately changes to a calmer and a more relaxed state.

Some see these flies as evil thoughts that come into the believer’s head. If left unaddressed, they can lead to temptation and sin. Which can in its self lead the believer to be blind to his or her current state. Throughout the Bible, oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Jesus, our shepherd, baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. Before we were saved our thoughts were of the ways of the world and we had no ability to do otherwise, but with the Holy Spirit we now have the ability to trust the Lord and to surrender everything, even our thoughts to Him. We can live in the flesh and run around like sheep to exhaustion or we can live in the spirit, anointed and lie down in green pastures.

Another reason shepherds anointed their sheep’s heads is due to the sheep’s desire to establish dominance among the flock by butting heads. The oil serves as a lubricant so their heads will deflect and not cause serious injury to each other. Again, the oil here can be seen as the Holy Spirit keeping us from hurting ourselves or our fellow believers with our issues of pride’.

Today may you seek to draw closer to Jesus your shepherd, so that you will be anointed and protected.

A Lesson from the Ant

"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter" (Proverbs 6:6-8).

"Man’s brain is the mystery behind all his gains. Every gain in life is a result of the use of the brain. No one reigns in life without the use of the brain. It is the effective use of the brain that secures you a throne here on earth. Every star in life is essentially sense-made. Heights in life are results of insights inside of a man. Success, therefore, is a product of the right use of the sense’ (David Oyedpo). Considering man’s unusual endowments, his uniqueness among all God’s creation is unquestionable. However, lack of wisdom and indiscipline renders many men unproductive. It is noteworthy how God can use some of the smallest creatures in His creation like ants, to teach man important life lessons of personal responsibility, discipline, planning, organization and diligence. Indeed God the author of life is the all-wise God. The ant is a remarkable creature, and below are some of the vital lessons that can be learned from their work attitudes. According to Finis Dake;

1.    They work quietly without a show and also work without complaining until their work is done.

2.    They are the most laborious or tough insects in existence.’ To make it in life you can’t afford to give up easily. Quitters never win and winners never quit.

3.    They are highly industrialized or developed, in the sense that they work together in astonishing systems of organization to the best good of the whole community.

4.    None of them exists without a definite job in life to help meet the needs of the community.

5.    They have foresight for others, so they collect food in proper season.

6.    They fondly attach to the young and fight to death to protect their own homes and young from enemies.

7.    They are ingenious carpenters and masons, building their own system of homes and underground tunnels. They keep these homes scrupulously clean.

8.    Finally, they are intelligent and wise so they carry out life’s work without being forced to do so by a guide, overseer or ruler.

If the tiny ant can work with these wonderful qualities then you can do better. ‘The Creator of all things gave appropriate wisdom to all of His creatures; wisdom, that if obeyed, provides success in life, to reach one's full potential, whether man, beast or even insects (Wayne Blank). Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise…, all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Prov 6:6, Prov 14:23). ‘If ordinary minds have produced the outstanding results we see today, then God is expecting you to do better than that, to produce extraordinary results by the appropriate use of your God-given mind. If those who are not born again are still getting great results, then imagine how much God is expecting from you and me’ (David Oyedepo). Make the best out of your present season, remember seasons change, they don’t last forever.

The Test of Faithfulness

‘For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ’ (Heb 3:14, NLT).

Jim Elliot, the martyred missionary, said, ‘he is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.’ Let us cast off, give up, lay down and rid ourselves of all that gets in the way of serving Him with no reserves.’ Our faithfulness is tested by what we are prepared to sacrifice or give away for a course or a relationship. Jesus gave up His glory in heaven for you. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego gave up their comfort and favour with the king and were ready to sacrifice their lives in faithfulness to God. One might say ‘that was in the Bible’. There are countless Christians faithfully serving God all over the world today.

This story will inspire you; in 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden Dairy estate, he was already a millionaire. For his high school graduation present, his parents gave 16-year-old Borden a trip around the world. As the young man travelled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, Bill Borden wrote home about his "desire to be a missionary." One friend expressed surprise that he was "throwing himself away as a missionary. In response, Bill wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No reserves." Even though young Borden was wealthy, he arrived on the campus of Yale University in 1905 trying to look like just one more freshman. Very quickly, however, Borden's classmates noticed something unusual about him and it wasn't his money. One of them wrote: "He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. Bill Borden made one entry in his personal journal that defined what his classmates were seeing in him. That entry said simply: "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time."During his first semester at Yale, Borden started something that would transform campus life.

Borden's small Morning Prayer group gave birth to a movement that spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshmen were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups. Borden made it his habit to seek out the most "incorrigible" students and try to bring them to salvation. Borden's outreach ministry was not confined to the Yale campus. He cared about widows and orphans and cripples. He rescued drunks from the streets of New Haven. To rehabilitate them, he founded the Yale Hope Mission. One of his friends wrote that he "might often be found in the lower parts of the city at night, on the street, in a cheap lodging house or some restaurant to which he had taken a poor hungry fellow to feed him, seeking to lead men to Christ.

Although he was a millionaire, Bill seemed to "realize always that he must be about his Father's business and not wasting time in the pursuit of amusement. Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high paying job offers. In his Bible, he wrote two more words: "No retreats." William Borden went on to graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.

When news of William Whiting Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world... Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography. Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's plan. Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he had written: "No regrets." Reflect on your faithfulness today, God is counting on you. Remember you can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13)

Faithfulness

'…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life’ (Rev 2:10).

The word “faithfulness” is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe the way God always keeps His promises. It means keeping faith, staying loyal to something, or showing a strong sense of duty. In biblical Hebrew, “faith” and “faithfulness” are grammatically related. God is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations (Deut 7:9). Have you been disappointed by men? God is faithful; He will not leave you at the eleventh hour, nor will He leave you in deep waters. You can be sure of this; He will not leave you when the night is dark. His promise is I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5). Hold unto your faith in Him and His word. He says He is not a man to lie nor the son of man to change his mind. Simply put, you can always rely on God’s faithfulness because He honours his promises.

Christians should be inspired by God’s faithfulness. Faithfulness should be characteristic of God’s people. In the Old and New Testaments, “faith” includes “faithfulness.” That is, faith is more than just a momentary agreement with the truth of God. It is a commitment to that truth, and is shown through obedience. God uses human marriage to illustrate His covenant relationship with His people in the Old Testament and Christ’s love for the church in the New Testament. In marriage two people who have found each other, pledge to each other a lifetime of commitment. They vow to be devoted and loving, and promise never to leave or forsake each other. These vows of faithfulness are the bedrock of marriage. Similarly, every Christian has a covenant relationship with God, which should not be taken for granted. God expects us to be faithful to Him and to our fellow men.

‘Before David became qualified to rule as king of Zion, he first had to be found faithful in three places. Examine them carefully, for you too must pass these three tests:

First, at home in Bethlehem; that is where David learned to be responsible; to earn a living and support his family, to develop his relationship with God and to overcome the resentment of others because of God’s favour on his life. Charity begins at home. It’s here you become qualified to handle bigger assignments by being faithful in smaller ones. It is here that your character is developed and your dependability proven.

Secondly in the cave of Adullam; by living among the misfits and rejects of society David learned to give of himself to others, without expecting anything in return; to love and serve others even when his own life was under attack. Adullam is where our kingdom dies and God’s kingdom is showcased through us. It is here that God deals with every self seeking, self serving motive in our hearts. Sadly speaking some of us never make it out of this cave (1 Sam 22).

Thirdly on mount Hebron; the word Hebron means ‘covenant’. It was the highest mountain in Israel and there was no easy road to the top. It was uphill all the way. It is that way with covenant relationships; they require loyalty regardless of circumstance, Truthfulness regardless of cost, forgiveness regardless of pain’ (Bob Gass). Remember, God rewards faithfulness. It brings eternal rewards (Heb 3:14), a good reputation and trust from others (prov 3:3,4). God chooses to accomplish great deeds through faithful people (Ruth 4:11)

God always has a remnant of faithful followers. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego found them selves in a foreign land but remained faithful to the point of death (Dan 3).

In your covenant relationship with God are you being faithful to Him? The next lesson is, 'the test of faithfulness'.

Servant Evangelism

 “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22).

Servant Evangelism is serving that that leads to sharing the Gospel. It is evangelizing with the attitude of a servant; knowing that in God’s kingdom the best servant is the greatest person. Servant evangelism can also be defined as been sensitive to the needs of others, having compassion on them, serving them and sharing the gospel with them. As we sow the seeds of love in the lives of the people around us, we should look for opportunities to share the gospel with them. It is said that, “more people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world...” The great commission is a command to save lives through servant hood evangelism.  Servant hood Evangelism is more of an attitude in evangelism than a formula for evangelism.

During the earthly ministry of Jesus he balanced the informational gospel with the incarnational gospel; by practically serving people and meeting their needs in addition to preaching the gospel. 

Jesus’ love for men was revealed in his servant hood evangelism, and He taught the disciples to do likewise (Mat 25: 31-46). The message of Jesus cannot be separated from the life that He lived. Both the story of the Good Samaritan and Jesus feeding the five thousand are great examples of servant evangelism. In the two stories, Jesus and the Samaritan were moved with compassion to serve the needy and demonstrate the love of God to them. Remember, ‘religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world’(James 1:26).

“Kindness is a language that the mute can speak and the deaf can understand.” The Salvation of a sinner is accomplished by the Holy Spirit; however, men are indispensable tools in the hands of God when it comes to evangelism. God has given the church the message and ministry of reconciliation and it is important for us to "preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words". To be fruitful in our evangelism efforts, we need to be strategic and see evangelism as a process but not an instant effort. THE COMPONENTS OF SERVANT EVANGELISM MAY INCLUDE SHOWING COMPASSION TO OTHERS, SERVING THEM, PRAYING FOR THEM AND FINALLY SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH THEM. The church is the channel of God’s power and love.  Remember, Jesus did not only preach the Gospel but lived the gospel; he did not only pray for the lost but met their needs as a servant.  

Regardless of the contemporary barriers in evangelism, with the attitude of servant evangelism and prayer, all the barriers will be overcome (Mark 6: 41, 45-46). Remember the benefits of Servant Evangelism are countless (Luke 14:23, John 6:25-35, Dan 12:3). A fruitful church is a church that is relevant in its community.  It is time to reach beyond ourselves and touch others with the love and power of God. As we scatter the seed, water it and wait through prayer, the Lord of the harvest himself shall bring the increase and save souls from ETERNAL DAMNATION. “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17). 

Remember, “David after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay” (Acts 13:36). Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today (the present) is a present from God. Serve your generation now for life is brief.  

Peace in Stormy Times

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6-7).

Peace is the assurance of spiritual well-being resulting from the consciousness of the right relationship with God. The Peace that the believer enjoys are three kinds; peace with God, being at peace with one’s self - inner peace and being at peace with one’s neighbors.  It is important to note that one can only have inner peace and peace with his neighbors after enjoying peace with God through Christ.

Rom 5:1 teaches that in the package of justification – peace with God through Christ is inclusive. It says, therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. This study focuses on the personal or inner peace that a Christian enjoys as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. A close study of Phil 4:6-7 reveals that one can only enjoy the peace of God when he is anxious for nothing, takes everything to God in prayer and lives a life of faith, trusting in the goodness of God. The last key to enjoying the peace of God is contentment. This requires an enjoyment of your blessings as you live with an attitude of gratitude – living each day with the innumerable blessings of the Lord in full perspective. 

In illustrating true peace, let’s consider two cats. One is sleeping under the shade of a tree after a good meal; the second is sleeping on a stick that is standing in a river which is being tossed to and fro by the river’s turbulent currents. Which of these two scenes illustrate the peace of God? Definitely it is the latter. Peace is not the absence of adversity but calmness or the condition of freedom from disturbance in periods of great adversity. It is the mental triumph over adversity that comes as a result of one’s total dependence on God. This can only be possible when one trust’s in God’s goodness and takes all things to Him in prayer with an attitude of gratitude or contentment. 

Mat 8:23-27 paints a dramatic picture about the peace of God. Jesus was travelling on a boat with His disciples when the storm began to swell up, sweeping over the boat. Naturally, the disciples begun to panic and there was a great commotion in the boat. However, the intriguing part of this story is that, Jesus was fast asleep in the midst of this boisterous storm.  A Christian can be in the same stormy boat of life’s challenges with many others, but still enjoy the peace of God. We may all live in the heat of the same economy and the storms of the time but the difference will be the peace of God and the rest that he offers to those who love Him and enjoy His presence.

If you are leaving in anxiety, it may be because you may have lost peace with God. Real peace is tested in the midst of a storm. Regardless of the personal challenges you are going through, today may you enjoy the peace of God through total dependence on Him, gratitude and faith.  May ‘the God of peace be with you… Amen’ (Rom 15:33).

Strength Beyond the Physical

^‘In the day when I cried out, you answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.’ (Psalm 138:3). 

On Psalm 138:3 James Nalton comments, ‘it is one gracious way of answering our prayers when God doth bestow upon us spiritual strength in our souls; if He does not give the things we desire, yet if He gives us strength in our souls, He graciously answers our prayers. What is this spiritual strength? I answer, it is a work of the Spirit of God, enabling a man to do and suffer what God would have him without fainting or backsliding’.

The soul of a man is made up of the mind, will and emotions. After God created man from the dust of the earth, all man’s organs were in place but it was not until, God breathed into man, that he became a living soul (Gen 2:7). When God breathed into man it was His spirit that man received (Job 32:8). This clearly reveals that, the empowerment of the spirit of God gives strength to the soul of man. Without God’s empowerment Adam could have never functioned. It takes strength beyond the physical for one to be delivered from sin and live a fulfilled life. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us the strength He brings goes into the core of our being and fully empowers us from within. The power we receive makes us do that which is far beyond our wildest imagination.

DL Moody’s story will bring you much encouragement. ‘He became a spokesman for God and a changer of nations. But if you'd met him early in life you wouldn't have thought it was possible. Although he was raised in church, he was spiritually ignorant. When he moved to Boston he began attending a Bible-preaching church. In April of 1855, a Sunday school teacher came to the shoe shop where he worked and led him to Christ. A month later, when he applied to become a member of that church, it was clear that he knew nothing about the Bible. One of his Sunday school teachers later wrote, 'I've never met anyone who seemed less likely to become a Christian of clear and decided views, much less fill any place of public usefulness.' So they asked him to take a year of Bible study. During his interview with the membership committee a year later, his answers were only slightly improved. He was barely literate and used atrocious grammar. Nobody on that church committee thought God would ever use him. But they were wrong.

The people who say you will never amount to anything for God, are wrong too! Every oak tree starts as an acorn. Jesus began in a stable but He didn't stay there. David was a shepherd boy with a slingshot but he became Israel's greatest king. Joseph was a prisoner but he became prime minister. Understand this: you are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. So take all that you have and all that you are, place it into God's hands and be willing to start small’ (UCB - Word for today).

What are the struggles you are going through in life today? Do you feel like you are at your wits’ end? Stop depending on your own strength and ask God for strength for your soul. By strength shall no man prevail (1 Sam 2:9). If you are not a devoted Christian, surrender you life to Christ today. You can accept Christ by repenting of your sins and believing in Him as the Son of God who came to die for your sins (John 3:16, Mark 1:15). If you are already a born again Christian, ask God to give you the grace to totally depend on Him, and seek more of His empowerment through the overflow of His Holy Spirit in you. Remember, with God all things are possible to those that believe (Mark 9:23).

The Blessings of Abraham

‘I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ (Gen 12:2, 3).

The blessing of the Lord is the master key to living a life of fruitfulness, multiplication and total dominion. Anything else can only yield to fruitless labour. It will interest you to know that after God created man in the beginning, the next statement that is recorded is ‘then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply...’ (Gen 1:28). Also the last thing Jesus did before His ascension is that He blessed the disciples (Luke 24:51). This clearly reveals that the epitome of Christ’s mission on earth was the restoration of the blessings Adam and Eve lost when they sinned. In essence, Abraham’s blessing was only a prelude of God’s restoration of His blessings for mankind and all His creation.

The blessings of Abraham were fulfilled in Christ, He was Abraham’s descendant who brought blessing to all mankind. After man sinned and fell short of God’s glory, a curse took the place of our initial blessing. This was a curse that affected not only men but all of creation (Rom 8:19). But, glory to God that in His mercies and divine providence, He had already made a provision and a plan for our deliverance from that curse before the foundation of the world. What manner of Love is this? ‘All who dwell on the earth will worship him... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’ (Rev 13:8).

‘Abraham was a tenth generation descendant from Noah’s son Shem. He was born, raised, and lived the first 75 years of his life in Ur of the Chaldeans. Ur was the capital of Chaldea and the largest city in the world in Abraham’s day. It had a population of 65,000 people and was strategically located along the Euphrates River as an important trade city. It was a cosmopolitan city that boasted one of the strongest economies and some of the greatest technological advances in the ancient world. Most of the houses in Ur were two story villas with 13 or 14 rooms and plastered interior walls. Some of the homes even had in-door plumbing. It had all the comfort and security you could ever want’ (Jason R. McConnell). Regardless of all their civilization, Abraham together with all of the people of Ur was living under the original curse that was upon all mankind. Abraham had to leave Ur to possess the blessings of God.

Like Ur, the 21st century is seeing developments in all fields of study, which are intended for the betterment of man’s life. However, those that are not in Christ are still living in bondage in various aspects of their life. Without the blessing of God there is nothing like fulfillment. Adam and Eve were physically the same people after they sinned, but because the blessing of God had been replaced by a curse, there was no way they could be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth. They totally lost their dominion or authority to rule the earth as God intended (Gen 1:26).

‘God counted Abraham righteous because of his faith, not because of his actions. Abraham failed many times. He sinned against God in many ways, but through his faith, God counted him righteous. The salvation of our souls today goes back to these words. Nobody enters God’s ultimate Promised Land only because they are good people or because they have done good deeds. We are just like Abraham. We are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory. We have disobeyed God and we deserve to be punished for our sins. But God is rich in mercy; he counts our souls righteous in His sight through our faith in His son Jesus Christ’ (Jason R. McConnell).

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior? There are many who acknowledge Him as the savior of the world, but have not accepted Him as their Lord or master. Today make Him your savior and master and you will forever be blessed. The blessings of Abraham are yours.

The Lost Glory

‘And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind’ (Ecclesiastes 4:4).

“I don’t know who I am,” he told the newspaper. “That might sound stupid. I really have no idea. All my life I’ve been drinking and drugging and partying, and all of a sudden this comes to a stop.” (Mike Tyson).These words of Mike Tyson, the former Multi-million Dollar Heavy weight Champion, brings to light man’s insatiable quest for fulfillment in life. Human beings all over the world are searching for fulfillment and their sense of purpose in different places, most of which are the wrong places. 

 The Drama in the Garden of Eden after man sinned, paints a crystal clear picture about the state of the fallen man. After man lost the Glory of God; in an attempt to cover himself or restore what was lost, the most valuable replacement he found were some fig leaves (Gen 3:7). Since then, we have been in constant search of restoration of that lost Glory. There is a vacuum in every man, a chasing after some kind of joy, peace and fulfillment. The truth is that; the answers we seek and the strength we need, can be found only by feeding on God's Word and fellowshipping with Jesus in prayer. Simply stated, nothing else works.

 The sad reality is that many in this age measure their Self-worth by their Net-worth, and many Christians have fallen as prey to the worship of this ‘god of materialism’. They determine the value of their fellow men by the kind of clothing they wear and the toys or cars they drive, but not the Glory of God upon their lives. Thank God the Bible does not say that driving in a Jaguar the hope of Glory but rather ‘Christ in you the hope of Glory’ (Colossians 1:27).

Many are being enslaved by the insatiable desire for more and more at the expense of family and the most important things in life. Their lives confirm the words of Solomon ‘And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind’ (Ecclesiastes 4:4). God’s message for you today is, re-prioritize your life. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."(Luke 12:15).

After being the wisest and one of the richest men in his time; Solomon, the man with seven hundred wives and three hundred girlfriends said at the end that ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!…, Everything is meaningless!...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind’ (Eccl 12 :8, 13)

What controls your life and has the final authority in your life, Is it God or material things? The one that controls your life is your god. ‘You cannot serve both God and money’ (Mat 6:24). Choose Jesus, and you will have fulfillment in this life and the life after.

Grow in His Grace or you will be Disgraced

‘And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ (Luke 5:39)

‘People haven’t liked change for a couple thousand years. Willingness to embrace change is a key difference between great organizations (including churches) and those that are willing to settle for mediocrity and eventually become obsolete. You may think you’re doing people a favor by keeping things the same to keep people happy, but many times, what’s comfortable isn’t what’s healthy. Organizations need to change. Relationships need to change. People need to change. We hate change, but we need to change’ (Tony Morgan - Why We Need Change). This lesson is focused on two essential components of growth, which are change and productivity.

There cannot be life without growth and the average person desires to see growth in every endeavor. Even for Jesus the son of God to fulfill His purpose in life He had to grow, not only in stature but also in wisdom (Luke 2:52). However, as painful as change might be, there cannot be growth without change. Many interpretations have been given to Jesus’ parable in Luke 5:39 and one of them is that, people usually hold unto what they are used to. After they developed a taste for a particular type of ‘wine’, when they taste something different, they don’t like it initially. Because they think that the former, or familiar, ‘wine’ is better. However, if they continue to drink it, they may later realize that the newer ‘wine’ truly is better and they can be brought round to new ‘wine’, given time.

Another important aspect of growth is productivity. True growth can only be measured by development, or increase in productivity. Without increase in productivity or improvement, growth can be deceptive. In John 15 Jesus taught His disciples that He is the vine and they are the branches and any branch that is physically grown but remains unproductive will be destroyed. One of the challenges of the church today is discipleship. There are many ‘mega churches’ but the billion dollar question is, are the members of the mega churches real disciples whose lives are been transformed through God’s word, and are they been productive? Rick warren once said that, ‘you cannot build a healthy church fast. You can get a crowd fast, but a crowd is not a church. A crowd can be turned into a church if you have a process. The key to a healthy church is disciples not just a crowd. Rome was not built in a day and a healthy church is never built in a day’. His testimony was that in 4 years his church – Saddleback, had sent 8,000 of its members into 68 countries as missionaries. It takes discipleship to achieve that level of productivity in a church.

It is God’s will for every child of His to grow, develop and be productive in all life’s endeavors. The sad reality is that most people settle for the little achievements, without maximizing their God given potential. As a Christian, God wants you to grow in your knowledge of Him, in character and in productivity, as you yearn to know Him more every day. Be inspired the words of Paul, ‘I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 3:14). Grow in God’s grace or you will be disgraced. The next lesson of study is Knowing God’.

The Benefits of Knowing Him

‘Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue’ (2 Pet 1:2, 3).

Through our knowledge of God we become like Him and partake in His divine nature (2 Pet 1:4). So Jesus said, ‘And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called gods why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God? …’ (John 10:35, 36). Jesus made this statement in reference to Psalm 82:5-7 when God rebuked the Judges that they are gods and sons of the most high, but because of lack of knowledge and understanding they will die like mere men. Clearly we realize that by knowing God, one seizes to be a mere man, his original position as one created in the image of God to have dominion and rule over all of God’s creation is restored. Today, may you seize to live like a mere man, as you are transformed from one level of glory to another through God’s Word.

Heb 2:10 says that ‘In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered’. In essence we are restored to glory, in the order of Christ when we know God. Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, He was the only begotten son, but by His death, resurrection and ascension He became the first born among many sons of God who have been restored unto glory. When Christ was raised up, Christians were raised up together with Him. We are joint heirs with Him, reigning in heavenly places far above all principalities and powers (Eph 1:21).

Through our knowledge of God our eternal life is assured, but our life on earth is also glorified. So Peter said that ‘grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord’ (2 Pet 1:3). As we get to know God more; fellowshipping with Him in prayer and His word, we become more sensitive to the promptings of His Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, long suffering, etc which are the nature of God is revealed in our daily lives. We begin to walk in God’s communicable attributes. The sinful nature of self begins to die and we are taken over by the love of God. Like Christ, we become selfless and do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in lowliness of mind esteem others better than ourselves. We don’t look out only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others. We become a river of living waters from which life flows to multitudes. When one dies to self many are brought to life abundance.

‘His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him’ (2 Pet 1:3). Through our knowledge of God and by His divine power we receive everything that we need on earth for a good life and godliness. God takes care of us and supplies all our needs from His glorious riches (Phil 4:19). Through His word we receive good health and also gain wisdom to make wealth to become a blessing. In Acts 4:34 as the disciples yearned for God, they received the outpouring of God’s spirit and became selfless, giving to each other, and there was no needy person amongst them.

Love for God which is revealed in the unwavering pursuit of God, is the key to knowing God. Psalm 25:14 says ‘the secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant’. Your Passion determines your position and your position determines your possession. Seek God with all your heart, you will know Him and become strong doing exploits.

Knowing God

‘And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’ (John 17:3).

God is not a myth that was created by man, but he is the author of life who created man, and both the seen and unseen world (for man’s benefit). He is more real than the word real. His greatest passion is to reveal Himself to man and commune with him. In the first sentence in the Bible He reveals himself to man; ‘In the beginning God’ (Gen 1:1). Knowing Him goes beyond intellectual knowledge; it is a personal spiritual journey. To Know Him is to understand His ways or character, how He thinks, His acts, His principles and His requirements for man (Psalm 103:7). He is a Spirit and the natural mind cannot comprehend His ways, it takes love for Him, revealed in a pursuit of Him, to know Him. As an individual who loves God, hungers for Him and pursues Him with all his heart, his spirit man is quickened and enlightened about God.

God can be known in a personal way. Enoch walked with Him until he was taken up (Gen 5:24). Moses was declared to be a friend of God. He prayed that he wanted to know God more, even after God spoke with him face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. David was so hungry for God that his prayer was, ‘Oh God you are my God and earnestly I seek you’ (Psalm 63:1), he also said ‘my soul is consumed with a longing for your law’ (Psalm 119:20), no wonder he was a man after God’s own heart. God has revealed Himself to men all throughout history; today He is still revealing himself to men.

The critical question is how can one know God? In Exodus 33:13 Moses said this prayer to God, ‘If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you’. From this scripture the Clear lesson is that, we know God through the teaching of His word. Secondly, we know God through a desperate desire and a pursuit of Him through prayer. Paul the Apostle prayed, that he may ‘know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death’ (Phil 3:10). Those who seek Him and search for Him with all their hearts find Him, so your greatest desire should be to know Him. Jesus said that, ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’. In essence He was saying that there are some mysteries or hidden Keys in the Kingdom of God that lead to eternal life, which every believer needs to Know, and it is your duty as an individual to Search for understanding into those issues. ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the glory of kings to search out a matter (Prov 25:2). Also, God reveals Himself through all His creation, especially through man who is created in His image (Psalm 19:1).

Paul taught in 2 Cor 3:18 that as we seek God, we see and reflect His glory. And the Lord who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image, from one level of glory to another level of glory. Some of us have stayed at one level of glory for far too long and Spiritual complacency is killing us. If there has ever been a time that you should be hungry for God’s word, it is now. The dangers of not knowing God are countless. In Hosea 4:6, God said to the people of Israel, ‘my people perish for lack of knowledge’; this was the indictment or condemnation delivered by Hosea the prophet of mercy to the people of God, that they were ignorant of the things of God. He meant that the thing that is going to let the people of God perish was not the strength of the philistines, Syrians or the Babylonians but their ignorance of the WORD of God. May you not perish for not knowing God. Knowing God in a personal relationship is the only way to a fulfilled and eternal life. The way to eternal life is to know Him through Jesus His son. The next lesson of study is ‘The benefits of Knowing God’.

The Most High Rules in The Affairs of Men

‘You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses’ (Dan 4:25).

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who reigned 605 BC – 562 BC. He conqueredJudah and Jerusalem, and sent the Jews into exile and is also credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and also known for the destruction of the First Temple (Wikipedia). However, as a result of his sin and pride, this ruler of this Neo-Babylonian world empire was driven from human society and was made to live in the fields with wild animals and to eat grass with them as a cow, and was drenched with the dew of heaven. It is believed that his form was not changed into that of a beast but he was stricken mad and he avoided man’s company and was cast out because of his tyranny. He remained in this state for ‘seven years’ until he acknowledged and learnt that the Most High God rules in the affairs of men and that He gives them to anyone He chooses. Before the incident occurred it was prophesied by Daniel and it all happened just as he prophesied (Dan 4).

At the end of the seven year period, Nebuchadnezzar looked up to heaven and thanked the Most High, and praised and honored Him as the one who lives forever, that his power lasts forever and His kingdom lasts from one generation to the next. And he also declared that, ‘everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to God. He does whatever He wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth, and that there is no one who can oppose Him or ask Him, “what are you doing?” (Dan 4:35). Just as he was making those declarations, his mind came back to him. His royal honor and glory were also given back to him. His advisers and nobles wanted to meet with him again. He was given back his kingdom and made extraordinarily great. Then he said, ‘now I, Nebuchadnezzar, will praise, honor, and give glory to the King of Heaven. Everything He does is true, His ways are right, and He can humiliate those who act arrogantly’ (Dan 4:37).

The main lesson here is that the Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, reigns on high and is sovereign; He has the power to do anything and everything, in accordance with His purpose, and for man’s benefit. He even changes human governments in favor of His children. God’s word translation renders Dan 4:25 as, ‘the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes’. Sometimes in our times of trials we tend to limit God and his ability to do all things. But the truth is God can do anything and everything. With men some things are impossible but with God all things are possible to them that believe (Mark 9:23).

Today, take those limits off God, He reigns in the affairs of all men. If you will acknowledge Him as the God of all creation and the savior and master of your life, He will deliver and restore you like He did for King Nebuchadnezzar, believe in Jesus and you shall be saved together with your household (Acts 16:31). 

Waiting Patiently for the Lord

‘I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps’ (Psalm 40:1). 

"Patience is the willingness to respond to irritating circumstances with love, grace and kindness as you wait on the Lord to guide you in how to handle a situation" (James Merritt). Also, patience is what God gives you when bad things remain unchanged. Faith comes by hearing, but sometimes, patience comes by silence. Psalm 40:1 is a Messianic Psalm and it foretold Christ’s agony in the garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross, and how He responded in patience, trusting the Father to help and deliver him. Like Christ, all men have their periods of Gethsemane and Calvary. It is the place where the pains of our troubles seem unbearable and throwing in the towel and giving up on one’s faith in God, sometimes seems like the best option. However, in periods like that, holding unto one’s faith in God a little bit longer and staying faithful to Him always leads to victory.

Waiting for the Lord, involves patient endurance. Abraham was already 75 years old when God promised that he will be the father of many nations, but it was after Abraham was 99 and his wife was 90, that they finally had Isaac (Genesis 21:1-2). So Heb 6:15 says ‘after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise’ . ‘Those that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain’ (Matthew Henry). So, apart from faith you also need patience to fulfill your destiny. Also, it is impossible to wait on the Lord without prayer. It is the strength we receive from the Lord through prayer that makes waiting possible. In Psalm 40:1, the psalmist said that God listened and heard his cry, meaning he cried unto God in prayer.

As we wait for God, it is important to trust his goodness and faithfulness. Knowing that God is good and He has allowed your troubled times for a purpose, gives one strength to hold on. Secondly, reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness also brings strength in troubled times to remain faithful to him. ‘Christ is the Rock on which a poor soul can alone stand fast. Where God has given steadfast hope, He expects there should be a steady, regular walk and conduct’ (Matthew Henry). Finally, after God has delivered you out of the ‘horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set your feet upon a rock, and established your steps, it is important to sing his praise, so that many will hear of the glorious things He has done, stand in awe of him and put their trust in him. ‘We overcome the enemy not only by the blood of the Lamb but also, by the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11).

Do you feel like giving up? Have the faith to wait a little bit longer. ‘There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough to help the unworthiest of all that trust in him’. ‘Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever’ (Psalm 125:1). Trust in God through prayer, hold unto his word and endure the present storm. As you wait on him remember He is a good and faithful God.

The Pressure of the People

‘When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” (Exodus 32:1-2)

Aaron is quickly associated with a number of historical events in Israeli history. What are some of the events that you think of when Aaron’s name is mentioned? It could be his going to Pharaoh with Moses to demand the release of Israeli slaves; being the founder of the Priesthood; he and Hur holding up Moses arms in battle; the gold calf incident; etc. What is the one incident with which Aaron is typically identified? It will be the gold calf worship at Sinai (Ex 32) - John L. Kachelman, Jr.

A contemplative analysis of Exodus 32 will reveal that Aaron acted under pressure. Like Aaron, many of us fail God and make the wrong choices when we are under pressure from the Church, family, friends, school mates or work associates. However, the real test of a person’s character comes when the person is in an environment that is very supportive of wrong choices. Many people have behaved in ways that destroyed their future, because of Mob psychology or Herd mentality - where people do things because of the influence of their peers, adopting certain behaviors and following trends that they wouldn’t, if it were left to them alone.

Seneca, the Roman philosopher once said, ‘it is dangerous to attach one's self to the crowd in front, and so long as each one of us is more willing to trust another than to judge for himself, we never show any judgment in the matter of living, but always a blind trust, and a mistake that has been passed on from hand to hand finally involves us and works our destruction. It is the example of other people that is our undoing; let us merely separate ourselves from the crowd…’

Unlike Aaron, Moses’ reaction to this particular situation is an example to every believer. Instead of pleasing the crowd he pleased God and showed spiritual leadership. ‘Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him (Exodus 32:25-26). Moses was able to hold unto his convictions and faith in God when the whole of the nation of Israel was moving in a totally opposite direction. Christians don’t live their lives based upon the feelings of the moment or popular opinion, but by the instruction and guidance of God’s word.

Are you under pressure to make some wrong choices or disobey God? Remember the words of Apostle Paul, ‘don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you’ (Rom 12:2- MSG). Remember, ‘each of us will give a personal account to God’ (Romans 14:12- NLT).

Being Planted in His House

‘Those who are planted in the house of the LORD…Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, (Psalm 92:13, 14). 

The Bible in Basic English translates Psalm 92:13 as ‘Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will come up tall and strong in His gardens,’ and this translation paints a magnificent picture about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. ‘The word Eden in the Hebrew language and in scriptures refers to the place of God’s presence’ (Isaiah 51:3, Ezek 28:13 - Dr Myles Munroe). God planted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - His very presence, and because they were in His presence, they were continually empowered to reign in life. In His presence the only option they had was to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and exercise dominion over all of God’s creation.

Moses understood the power of being planted in the presence of God. So he said to God, if Your presence does not go with us, do not send us out of here’ (Exodus 33:15). In the presence of God there is peace, joy, liberty, rest and all that one needs for life and godliness. Like a planted tree gets its nourishment from the nutrients in the soil, so does man get his strength from his relationship with God. The woes of Adam and Eve began immediately after they sinned. Now when God was drawing close to them, they were running from His presence. Finally they had to be banished from the Garden of Eden (the presence of God) because of their sins (Gen 3:8, 23, 24).  

Now, through Christ all men have been reconciled to God, but each one has an individual responsibility. You can either choose to be planted in the house of the Lord or not. You can be restored by believing in Christ, repenting of your sins and beginning a relationship with Him, or keep running away from Him to your own detriment. Today, many are still running away from God, even though God is running to them.  They have magnified the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and pride of life above God. They are chasing after the wind and seeking for some joy and fulfillment they never find. The truth is only Christ can fill the emptiness in man.

Others have also become frequent visitors to the house of the Lord. But ‘God is interested in those who are planted in His house, not just visitors who only come to His house or presence when they are in need’ (E. A. Adeboye). The truth is, no one can fool God. God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what he sows. God’s promise to you is, ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!’ (John 15:5-7)

Regardless of your sex, age or race; fruitfulness in life is a must, as long as you remain in God by seeking Him with all your heart and obeying Him. Do you think that it is too late to be used of God?  ‘The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work’ (Matthew Henry). All you need to do is to be planted in His house and your fruitfulness will be a surety.