Divine Authority

‘Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds’ (Numbers 17:8).

  

Aaron’s rod that budded was one of the three things God commanded Moses to put into the Ark of the Covenant, and it signified divine authority. Today’s study is to establish the truth that, the awesome glory that Israel experienced through the Ark of the Covenant was only a fore-shadow of a far greater glory to be revealed in you through Christ. Divine authority was bestowed on man in the Garden of Eden. During the planning stage of God’s creation ‘…God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion...’ (Gen 1:26). The word dominion means authority to rule, so God made man to rule over everything He made.

It is important to note that, man’s ability to rule was dependent on his creation in the image and likeness of God. None of the other creatures where made in the image and likeness of God. God used the dust of the earth to give man a body to be able to live on earth. However, it was not until God breathed His Spirit into man that he took on God’s image and likeness. Clearly, it is the indwelling of the spirit of God that gives man the image and likeness of God and enables him to live a life of Dominion. Through the spirit of God in man, God reigns and accomplishes His purpose on earth through man. After man sinned and lost this divine authority, God chose Israel and used His dealings with them as a fore-shadow of the ultimate redemption that was coming to all men through Christ.

In Num 17:1-7, God established the authority that He had bestowed on Aaron when the people of Israel rose up against him. He commanded Moses to put the rods of all the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes in the tabernacle, the next day all the rods remained dry, only Aaron’s rod budded. God told Moses, ‘bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels…’ (Num 17:10). The Ark of the Covenant, its contents and their significance, were all painting a picture of the restoration that Christ was bringing to man. If the picture was that powerful, how much more the reality; if the judges in the old covenant were referred to as gods by God Himself, how much more a new covenant believer (Psalm 82:5-7, John 10:35)?

Through Christ’s incarnation and the outpouring of God’s spirit on all flesh which began on the day of Pentecost, God now dwells in men. As a Christian, you carry the spirit of God inside you. In essence, where ever you show up, God shows up. So Paul said ‘I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms’ (Eph 1:18, NLT). With the spirit of God dwelling in you, all of God’s power is available to you. ‘You are too loaded to be mistaken for a common man, you are in charge and you can have it as you want it in accordance with God’s will’ (D. Oyedepo). Indeed, like Adam did in the garden, you name things and they respond. You are a joint heir with Christ and you rein together with Him, far above all principalities and powers.

Today, I pray that you will realize your heritage in Christ and the divine authority He has given you. Arise in faith and exercise your authority over every work of the devil in your life. Name them, sin, sickness, poverty, marital problems; none of them has the right to rule over you. Exercise your divine authority over them, ‘not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord’ (Zech 4:6). The next lesson  is “Divine Provision”.

The Benefits of His Presence

'...the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant’ (Heb 9:3,4).

The presence of God is the key to the abundant life Christ promises. In the presence of God there is rest, joy, peace and liberty. Also, all the mountains of life become insignificant in God’s presence. In the  beginning, God planted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - His very presence. ‘The word Eden in the Hebrew language and in scriptures refers to the place of God’s presence’ (Isaiah 51:3, Eze 28:13 - Dr Myles Munroe). After man fell and was banished from the Garden of Eden, God’s purpose has always been to dwell among His children again. Due to this, He commanded the people of Israel to build a tabernacle so that He will live among them and the world will see His glory (Exodus 25:8). The tabernacle was made of an elaborate system of tents, portable and designed to be carried through the desert and set up wherever the people encamped.

When Moses followed all the instructions as the Lord had commanded and finished building the tabernacle, the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord that filled it was so strong that Moses could not enter it. Wherever they pitched the sacred tents, became a holy place. The tabernacle became the centre of the Israelite community while they were in the wilderness. Whenever they made camp, the camping place for each tribe was determined by the placement of the tabernacle. The Levites surrounded the tabernacle, and the families of Moses and Aaron always camped on the east side in front of the entrance. Even on the move, the tabernacle remained central, with six tribes preceding and six following.

It was divided into the Outer court, Inner court and Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy of Holies or Most holy place, and it was there that God met and spoke with Moses, precisely, above the Mercy Seat. The ark was a wooden box overlaid in pure gold (Exod 25:10-16). It measured about 4 feet long by 2 feet wide and 2 feet high.

The ark contained three items that showed how God related to His people:

1.    Tablets with ten commandments; a reminder of God’s guidance and His holy standard (Exod 25:16)

2.    Aaron’s rod; a reminder of God’s authority (Num 17:1-8)

3.    A golden Jar filled with manner; a reminder of God’s daily provision (Exod 16:33-34)

The tablets, Aaron’s rod and the Jar of Manna, signified God’s divine guidance, divine authority and divine provision respectively. The lesson here is that, in the presence of God we receive ‘Divine Guidance’, ‘Divine Authority’ and ‘Divine Provision”. In the new covenant which we belong, our human bodies are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwells within this temple. Consequently, it is every Christian’s birth right to walk in God’s divine guidance, authority and provisions. The key to enjoying these benefits is to seek God, be focused on Him in communion, and yield to the Lordship and guidance of His Spirit and Word.

By yielding to the Holy Spirit’s control and subduing the deeds of our flesh, His glory within us bubbles up and overflows until people around us experience this glory and its benefits. What are the needs in your life today? Remember, His divine power has given us all that we need for life and godliness and those that are lead by the spirit of God are the son’s of God. The next topic of Study is ‘Divine Authority’.

Leave

‘Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. (Gen 12:1).

Abraham is one of the Bible’s most important figures. He is referred to as the ‘friend of God’ (2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23). Though Abraham was childless, God’s promise to him was, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through you’ (Genesis 12:3). After his father - Terah’s death, God told Abram, Leave ‘your country, your relatives, and your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you’. This command was the basis of God’s ‘covenant’ with Abram. This study is focused on the command God gave Abram to leave. Abram, trusting God’s promise, left Haran at the age of 74 without knowing where God was taking him.

God’s purpose for every individual is different. Like Jeremiah and Paul’s example, God knows all men and ordains each one for a particular purpose even before they are a clot of blood in their mother’s womb (Jer 1:5, Gal 1:15). Parents may sometimes get unplanned pregnancies, but the children that come out of those situations are in God’s perfect plan. That is why abortion is against God’s will. Because God’s purpose for everyone is different, it is important for you as an individual to see yourself as a unique person sent on earth with a unique purpose. When you realize your uniqueness and the uniqueness of your purpose you will be careful to live a life of consecration and not follow the masses to do things because everyone else is doing them. For ones destiny to be fulfilled it is important not to follow the crowd but the cloud of God.

Leave your Country: Every country or geographical location has its own culture or believe systems. In the case of Abram, ‘there was a moon cult in the city of Ur, and Abraham’s old name Abram probably referred to the moon god or another pagan god. His parents were part of this moon Cult’ (iLumina). For Abraham to fulfill God’s purpose for His life he had to leave that ‘world’ of idol worship to a new ‘world’ of the worship of Jehovah, the true God, the creator of Heaven and earth. That is the first step to fulfilling ones destiny. By surrendering your will to God and believing in Jesus as your savior, you are born again into a new world spiritually. Through this new birth all things become new and you live a new life based on the principles of God’s word, but not the philosophies of our world, which is basically based on the worship of self and materialism (2 Cor 5:17).

Leave your family: Naturally people love their families. Leaving your family can signify leaving some things you love most in life. There are many things, habits and companionship you possess, which can prevent you from fulfilling the purpose God has for you. After becoming a Christian you have to avail yourself to God’s guidance so that God can prune you and take away all toxic habits and relationships. This is a difficult process that many Christians fail at. Abraham brought a lot of problems on himself when he didn’t fully obey this command and took Lot his nephew with him instead of leaving all his family. His wife Sarah was the bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, as a couple they were one, so her situation was different.

Leave your father’s household: In those times fathers had the responsibility of training their son’s in their profession. Even now fathers teach their son’s the basic lessons of work and life, so this command can signify leaving the normal way of doing things in a particular career or vocation and doing it the way God is directing you. Many people that were ordained to bring new ideas and innovations to bless and transform our world failed as a result of trying to be like everybody else, to please men. Being like everybody else is no achievement. If God is leading you into something new, be strong and courageous and take that step of faith. Trying something different always involves risk taking and may make you unpopular at the earlier stages.

If you are in the will of God and you are under pressure from men be encouraged by the words of John Wesley ‘a fair exchange, if by loss of reputation we can purchase the lowest degree of purity of heart’. John placed higher value on “a clean heart, a single eye, and a soul full of God! Today be bold and leave the world of sin, the things you love and the normal way of doing business, all creation is waiting for your manifestation, imagine what would have happened if Abraham had failed to leave (Rom 8:19).

A Desperate Desire

‘Do not get drunk on wine but be filled with the spirit’ (Eph 5:18, NIV) 

A drunk man doesn’t get that way by just talking about alcohol, or looking at advertisements for liquor. No, he gets drunk by drinking! And the more he drinks, the more alcohol controls him. We say he is under the influence of alcohol. Another power takes over which transforms him into someone he was not before. One minute he is nice and quite the next he is loud and boisterous. This describes the kind of attitude Christians ought to have towards the spirit or presence of God. Every Christian should desire for more and more of the infilling of God’s Spirit.

It is a desperate desire for more of God’s presence that leads to an experience of God’s glory or manifested presence.  God is omnipresent, but it is those who earnestly desire Him that experience His manifested presence. Exodus 33 gives an account of Moses’ desperate desire for the presence of God. As a result of Israel’s disobedience, God told the nation of Israel that even though His presence will not go with them to the promise land, His angel will go ahead of them. In essence, their dreams were going to be fulfilled, but without God’s presence. The response of Moses was ‘…If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here’ (Exodus 33:15). 

Moses’ reaction to God’s offer, speaks volumes about the value Moses placed on the presence of God. Moses was not ready to receive anything in life in exchange for the presence of God. Not even a fulfillment of his lifelong dream of getting to the Promised Land could replace his hunger for God’s presence. No wonder God gave him a second chance to be in the Promised Land. Moses stood on the mount of transfiguration with Jesus and Elijah thousands of years after he died. It is important to note that the mount of transfiguration is in the center of the Promised Land (Luke 9:18-36).

Pursuit is the proof of desire and desire is the proof of love. Moses’ love for God was proven by his desire for His presence and this desire was proven by his pursuit of God’s presence. Exodus 33:17 further reveals the heart of Moses, ‘Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting’. Similarly, Jesus had the habit of getting away to spend time with the Father and the Holy Spirit. What is your greatest pursuit in life? It clearly reveals your greatest love. Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was and His response was, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart…’ (Mat 22:37)  

Those who know how to get away and spend time in the presence of God are filled with the spirit. They are the ones who walk in divine guidance, divine authority, and divine provision. Today, may God grant you the grace to get away from the cares of this world and may you receive the grace to love Him with your all and seek Him with your all. Remember, those who seek Him find Him, and blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled

The Battle is the Lord's

“Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chron 20:15). 

The earth is a spiritual war zone, and the wars being fought spiritually have their physical manifestations in our lives in diverse ways. Rev 12:7 clearly reveals this truth, it says that there was war in heaven and the devil and his angels prevailed not. The twelfth verse says ‘… Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time’. Paul the Apostle confirms this truth in Eph 6:12 that, ‘we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers….’ The truth is, regardless of your race, gender, age or vocation, you are at war with the devil and his kingdom, and his motive is to steal, kill and finally destroy you. Thank God the Bible says, ‘whatever is born of God overcomes the world…’ you are already a winner (1 John 5:4).

It is important to note that, our earthly warfare is a lifelong one. In every war there are different battles. The Second World War for instance, was made up of different battles. So the fact that one particular battle in your life has ended does not mean that the war is over, another battle will surely come, but the Bible says the weapons of our warfare are not canal but mighty pulling down strongholds (2 Cor 10:4).

2 Chronicles 20 gives an account of Judah being ambushed by several nations from various directions. Sometimes, the troubles of life and our enemies come in multitudes and from various directions. King Jehoshaphat got news that, "a vast army is coming against you from Edom’. Judah’s enemies were the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites. Interestingly, these enemies were distant relatives of Israel. Edom is another name for Esau, Jacob (Israel’s) twin brother. Moabites and Ammonites descended from Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew or Israel’s cousin (Genesis 19:36-38). Sometimes, the people closest to us are the people the devil uses against us. The good news is that, finally Jehoshaphat led Judah to defeat these enemies.

They keys that led to Israel’s victory and will lead to yours are;

1.    Listen to the word or guidance of God, every battle is different and should be approached as such (2 Chron 20:15, Prov 3:5).

2.    Realize that, the battle is the Lord’s and hand it over to Him, don’t rely on your own strength (2 Chron 20:15, Heb 2 :16).

3.    Do not be afraid nor discouraged by the fierceness of your battle, you have won it in advance (2 Chron 20:15, 17, Isaiah 41:10).

4.    The winning principle is the triumph of faith not the principle of the survival of the fittest (1 John 5:4, D. Oyedepo).

5.    Take a step of faith, go out to face the enemies, and the LORD will be with you (2 Chron 20:17).

6.    Stand firm (persevere) and see the deliverance the LORD will give you (2 Chron 20:17).

7.    Celebrate your victory and give glory to God after the battle is won (2 Chron 20:17-22).

8.    Remember, strength is born out of struggle, through the battles we fight in different aspects of our lives, our spiritual strength and character is built up (James 1:2-4).

Happy is the Person whose Sins are Forgiven

'Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven... whom the Lord does not consider guilty...' (Psalm 32:1-2 NCV).  

Jesus perfects those that are being made holy. All men who believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins are instantly cleansed from their sins. They instantly receive the righteousness of Christ (Justification). However, many fail to appreciate the power of the cross. Even after repenting of their sins they find it difficult to accept the forgiveness of God and forgive themselves. They hold unto the past, and rob themselves of the future that God has ordained for them. Peter denied Christ three times and Judas also betrayed Christ. Both of them felt sorry for what they did, but the difference between the two of them is that, Peter accepted the forgiveness of God and forgave himself but Judas did not, and ended up committing Suicide.

The truth is, there is nothing that you can do about the past, and you can't walk backwards into the future. For you to embrace the future that God has ordained for you, you need to turn your back to the past, start afresh and move forward. The future God has in mind contains more happiness than any past you can remember. Jesus used the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate the power of the cross; that all who repent of their sins and return to their heavenly father receive the compassion and pardon of the father, not forgetting the restoration of their blessings. This study reveals some important lessons about the prodigal son’s restoration.

·                ‘He came to his senses’: meaning he repented. He had a change of mind and heart (Luke 15:17).

·                ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you’: He acknowledged his sins and confessed them (Luke 15:18).

·                ‘He got up and went to his father’: When you fall down don’t remain there, pick something up and get up. Learn from your mistakes, make an effort and take steps to return to God and redeem your blessings (Luke 15:18, 20).

·                He said ‘I am no longer worthy to be called your son…’: Like the prodigal son, most of us think we are not worthy of God’s blessings, but the good news is God sees us through the cross. Quit seeing yourself through your own lenses and see yourself as God sees you (Luke 15:21) .

·                “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet’ (Luke 15:22): Through the cross, God forgives and restores all men that repent and believe in Christ, no matter their sins (John 3:16).

·                ‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found…’: Heaven is rejoicing and celebrating your repentance so join them. (Luke 15:23,24)

The blood of Christ cleanses the believer’s conscience. So ‘boldly go into the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God, to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:22). Stop punishing yourself with the 'if only's'. After sinning and having God pick him up, David wrote, 'Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven... whom the Lord does not consider guilty...' (Psalm 32:1-2 NCV). Forgive yourself because God has, and you are 'accepted' (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV). If you have wronged others, confess your faults to them and restitute where possible. Learn from your mistakes and allow God to take care of the past.

The Righteous Shall Grow and Flourish

‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing’ (Psalm 92:12-14). 

Righteousness is the key to the Christian’s dominion; it is the scepter or sword of state of God’s kingdom (Heb 1:8). Even though it is every Christian’s birth right to reign as a king in life, without righteousness no Christian can reign. Sin made man lose his dominion anyway. In psalm 92:12-14 the psalmist compares the life of the righteous to that of a palm tree and the cedar of Lebanon. "The palm grows slowly, but steadily, from century to century, uninfluenced by those alternations of the seasons which affect other trees’ (Barnes Notes on the Bible). Even in old age the palm tree bears fruit, so is the life of the righteous. 

The Palm tree provides a great part of the diet of the East. Its leaves are made into baskets. The palm tree produces juices, the threads of the leaves makes ropes and its wood is used as building materials and for fire wood. Indeed the palm tree Signifies consistency and multi dimensional fruitfulness, so has God made the righteous. God’s blessing upon Adam and Eve was the primary key to their dominion and fruitfulness (Gen 1:28). They lost the blessings after they sinned. Glory to God, the last thing Jesus did before He ascended was that He blessed the disciples (Luke 24:51). Hallelujah!!! The blessings of God on the righteous have been restored. As a Christian, you are blessed and ordained to prosper in all your endeavors. The psalmist says you are like a tree planted by the streams of waters and everything you do shall prosper (Psalm 1:3).

Secondly the Psalmist says that the righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. It is said that the best, tallest, largest, and strongest cedars grow in Lebanon. Because of the blessings of the Lord on the righteous he will be the best, tallest, largest, and strongest among his peers. In Heb 1:9 it was said of Jesus that, ‘You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;   therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions, by anointing you with the oil of joy’.  The benefits of living a righteous life are enumerable. ‘The Cedar of Lebanon can live up to 1000 years, it can also grow to become 100 feet tall and 40 feet around the trunk, it signifies stability, longevity and honor or majesty (Finis Dake). God promises the righteous long life, prosperity with good health (3 John 1:2).

Christians are justified and made righteous at their Spiritual birth; the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer. As long as a Christian remains in Christ he is clothed with the righteousness of Christ and God sees him through the righteousness of Christ. However, as God works in us, we are supposed to work out that which the Holy Spirit is accomplishing in our inward parts, by making a conscious effort not to sin. ‘For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins’ (Heb 10:26). We are not saved by our righteousness but our righteous deeds become a result of our salvation. It becomes a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Christian. 1 John 3:9 says ‘No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God’.  

Are you going through difficult times, regardless of the righteous life you are leading? Be assured that the troubles you are going through are only for a period. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers Him from them all. God will surely reward you for your faithfulness in this life and the life after. On the other hand if you are living in sin, this is the day of your deliverance, surrender your life to Christ by repenting of your sins and believing in Him.

Beneath the Armor

‘Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy’ (2 Kings 5:1).

Naaman, the commander in chief of the Syrian army had led his nation to many wars and delivered his people through glorious victories. He was regarded as a great and honorable man, but beneath his great armor was a great weakness. Naaman had leprosy, a sickness which was gradually eating up his skin, entire body and entire destiny. Naaman’s leprosy was a time bomb that was waiting to explode and wipe away his past achievements and present glories if not dealt with.

There are many lessons that can be taken from Naaman’s story. Many at times, God in His grace and through His Spirit convicts us of our weaknesses, but we sometimes hide behind our successes and do nothing about them. The truth is that, those weaknesses may destroy the labor of a lifetime if not dealt with in a timely manner. Our justification is an instant miracle but discipleship is a journey of a life time. Through our yielding to the Holy spirit, God through the washing of His word molds or changes our character to fit the image of Christ (Ephesians 5:26). Going on memories lane, there are countless numbers of great men that were destroyed by character flaws.  

Essential lessons from Naaman’s story regarding the steps to deliverance from personal weaknesses are:

·                Acknowledge your weakness; the way to get it right is to know that you are wrong (2 Kings 5:5).

·                Seek your deliverance diligently through prayer, anything God will do prayer can do.

·                Receive godly counsel no matter who God chooses to use to counsel you. ‘An erring believer is grateful to a friend for correcting him, not angry’ (Martin Luther). Remember, Moses hearken to a man after God talk to him face to face. (2 Kings 5:3-5, 13, Mat 5:5).

·                Obey divine guidance (2 Kings 5:14)

·                Have faith in God’s willingness and ability to deliver you through the power of His spirit.

·                Don’t give up until you see your deliverance, every giant was once a baby (Mat 5:6).

·                After you are delivered give glory to God and lift up others in a similar situation (Luke 22:31-34). 

God is concerned about our comfort but the truth is He is much more concerned about our character. God’s desire for you is that you will not be the best among your peers, but maximize your potential and be your best. Remember the words of Apostle Paul, ^‘brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press….’ (Philippians 3:13-14)

Our Uncountable Blessings

‘Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me’ (Psalm 103:1, 2 - NLT). In Psalm 103, David the psalmist, records some of the most profound reasons why we should be thankful to God and express our gratitude in the form of praise. He outlines thirty benefits or blessings we receive from our maker that should inspire us to praise Him.   A careful study of Psalm 103 reveals that David only unveils the tip of the iceberg, in terms of the actual number of our blessings. Our blessings are indeed uncountable. As you consider the blessings outlined in Psalm 103, count your blessings personally and you will remember what the Lord has done. For one to enjoy the journey of life it is important to learn to count your blessings daily. 21 of our uncountable benefits (PSALM 103:3-19) 1.    Forgiveness  of all sins - Verse  3 2.    Healing of all diseases - Verse 3 3.    Redemption from all destruction - Verse  4 4.    Crowning with loving kindness - Verse 4 5.    Crowning with tender mercies - Verse 4 6.    Satisfaction with good things - Verse 5 7.    Renewal of youth like eagle’s - Verse 5 8.    Justice of all oppression - Verse 6 9.    Knowledge of God’s ways   Verse 7 10.  Knowledge of God’s acts  Verse 7 11.  God’s compassion and mercy - Verse 8 12.  Patience of God - Slow to anger - Verse 8 13.  God’s unfailing love - Plenty of Mercy - Verse 8 14.  Temporary reproof, not continual - Verse 9 15.  God not remaining angry forever - Verse 9 16.  God’s merciful dealings with our sins - Verse 10 17.  God not dealing harshly with us, as we deserve (Patient tolerance) - Verse 10 18.  God’s infinite mercy to fearful ones -  Verse 11 19.  Removal of our sins far away - Verse 12 20.  God’s fatherly pity to His children, Verse 13 21.  Membership in God’s eternal Kingdom (Verse 19)… Considering God’s innumerable blessings, let your soul and everything within you praise Him and ‘make His praise glorious’.  If God is not tired of showing us His goodness, why should we be tired of saying thank you? Tomorrow’s study is about ‘The Power of Gratitude’.

How to find a Mentor

‘But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God’ (Ruth 1:16).

One of the most valuable assets your career can have is a good mentor. The Billion dollar question is how do you find or choose a mentor. A mentor/ protégé relationship can be initiated by either of the two but it is more often initiated by the protégé. Below are testimonies of three people about their mentors. The first Protégé states, ‘I know the value of mentoring. I have had several mentors in my career, and i treasure them all. My mentors have given me wisdom, encouragement and direction. They have propelled my success and continue to influence me to this day. They are my inspiration and I would do anything in the world for them’.  

The second says ‘I have had mentors that I've had lunch with, one's that I've house sat for, some that I just read about and even a few I just follow on the internet,…they are adding value to my life …’ The third says ‘my mentors are people I just "clicked" with upon first meeting them. A mentor does not have to be anyone famous but they do have to have whatever you lack and are willing to share. 

One of the keys to getting a mentor is service. The Bible has countless examples of protégés that got the favor of their mentors through service. Like Ruth to Naomi or Elijah to Elisha. Through service your mentor’s anointing rubs off on you. The key is humility; this is someone’s story of how he approached His mentor. ‘I wrote my mentor and asked what I could do to help them. Once I was in their space, I just asked them every question I could. I know they probably thought I was so "green" but they were happy to share and impart their wisdom. You can also get mentored by buying all of the products and participating in all of the programs that a mentor has.  I have found that as I "studied" a certain mentor, I began to really know them’. It is said that ‘the secret to having a good mentor is be willing to give before you get. The more you put into the relationship - the more you will get out of it.

Characteristics of a good mentor or things to look for in a mentor include:

1.       Experience: Mentors are typically older, but that is not a rule.

2.       Character: Your mentor should be a person that you respect and admire.

3.       Similar Goals: Find a mentor that has goals similar to yours.

4.       Availability: It helps when a mentor is available for interaction. It can be great to have a really successful person mentoring you, but if they aren’t available to meet, your relationship is limited.

5.       Open-mindedness: You need a mentor that is open-minded. This will allow you to progress in a way you need to progress, not necessarily in the way the mentor would prefer.

6.       Caring: We all want people to think what we’re doing is important especially our mentor. A mentor needs to care about your success just as much as you do.

7.       Focus: You want a mentor who is able to not only focus on you and what you would like to achieve, but also help you focus.

8.       Believes in You: A mentor needs to believe in your potential.

9.       Openness and Honesty: A mentor/protégé relationship is most beneficial when you can both share experiences and bits of information that a normal acquaintance wouldn’t know about you. Openness and honesty also help build credibility and trust between the mentor and protégé.

 (     Source: http://happinessisbetter.com/2009/03/30/10-things-to-look-for-in-a-mentor). 

Finally, remember that what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. Elisha, the protégé of Elijah accomplished twice what his mentor accomplished, because of the double portion of anointing he received from him. Interestingly, during the transfiguration it was not Elisha but Elijah his mentor who appeared together with Jesus and Moses (Luke 9:28-36). God honors and rewards faithful mentors. 

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 Value of Mentoring

‘Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity’ (1Tim 4:12).

‘Wisdom determines the success of your life. There are two ways to receive Wisdom: mistakes or mentors’ (Mike Murdock).Mentors are the difference between poverty and prosperity; decrease and increase; loss and gain; pain and pleasure; deterioration and restoration." Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as "a trusted counselor or guide." 

For their Mentor/Protégé Program, the Anesthesiology Department of Cleveland’s Metro Health System defines a mentor as "a wise, loyal advisor or coach." Professionals in the fields of law, architecture and medicine all practice mentoring. In times past, boys were taught to farm and hunt and girls used to go through puberty rites in other parts of the world, all with the motive of mentoring the younger generation. 

Every sports man needs a coach or mentor, similarly, any one who is dreaming of success needs a mentor, therefore seek a mentor. A grey haired person may not have anything but experience. Build on the foundations laid by the fathers and learn from their experiences. Through mentoring one receives knowledge that was acquired in a life time, and the ceilings of mentors become the foundations of protégés or mentees. ‘A protégé is an enthusiastic learner. The Uncommon Protégé will invest everything to stay in the presence of the uncommon mentor (Mike Murdock). ‘A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels’ (Prov 1:5).

There are many people around us with undiscovered and un-nurtured potentials. God has endowed them with unique potentials, but these potentials are going waste, because they haven’t discovered their potentials them selves and the few that have, don’t know how to turn their dreams into a reality. Many leaders are quick to go after the fruits in people, but only a few are sensitive enough to discover the seed in an individual and patient enough to nature it into fruition. Mentoring is crucial for growth and development in every society. success without a successor does not last. Going through Church History, most of the revivals that did not last were partly due to the lack of mentoring. So Jethro told Moses, ‘If you do this thing, and God socommands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace" (Exod18:23). Elijah and Elisha also had a mentor/protégé relationship. Mentoring was also practiced in the early church. In 1Thes 2:7 Paul said'...we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children’. Paul and Timothy’s relationship is viewed by many, as a mentor/protégé relationship.

As a parent you are the first mentor in your children’s lives. ‘As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate’ (Psalm 127:4,5).

The future of the church rest on the next generation of leadership, ‘everything rises and falls on leadership’. Circular singers like Justin Timberlake are mentoring and grooming the next generation of singers, is the Universal church mentoring or grooming the next generation of leaders? ‘Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:’ (1 Sam 13:19). As a leader may you be a blacksmith in the kingdom of God, preparing the next generation of leaders by sharpening their swords. The next topic of study is ‘How to find a mentor’.

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 dieing soul today, you may save him from eternal damnation.