Month: January 2015

Morning Dew

Key Passage: Genesis 6-8

Key text: Hebrews 11:7 – “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household,”

Standing alone in a time of great conflict is tough. Tougher still if everyone has views that are so different to yours. One could be totally ostracised. Left to look like a lunatic, out of tune with the rest of the world or like they say “away with the fairies”. But people’s perspectives are often defined by the heights they have climbed in their minds or the depths they have plumbed. Most exceptionally brilliant people often appear like lunatics until you discover what they already know, then you turn the ridicule to respect. A good lesson of life is not to judge anyone until you can fully understand his or her perspective.

Noah was 500 years old, when God told him He was going to send rain and the ensuing flood will destroy the whole earth. God commanded him to build a contraption that had never been seen before and that he should collect all the animals and living creatures on earth two by two and some in their sevens, and bring them into this monstrous contraption called the ark.

One can only imagine, what it must have been like in Noah’s days. This very old man, building some monstrous vessel, and then collecting animals and saying there was a flood coming. People must have laughed at him. Sniggered. Cursed. Even called him a lunatic. A demented, geriatric, senile old baba. Probably lost his marbles. Noah on the other hand must have kept on saying guys I’m not crazy, God spoke to me. The world is going to be wiped out in a massive flood. This is the only place of safety. The more he preached the more he must have been ridiculed and laughed at. But Noah kept building and kept on preaching.

After 100 years of building and gathering all the animals into the ark, God told Noah and his family, eight people in all. His wife, three sons and their wives, that’s all. Just eight people believed. They went into the ark and God Himself shut the door of the ark. Then the fountains of the deep broke open, heavens poured down and the mother of all rains fell. At this stage, some people would have immediately realised they were wrong and Noah was right and would immediately besiege the entrance of the ark, knocking and begging Noah to open up, but God was the one who shut the ark and no one else could get in. Others would realise much later and just cursed Noah even more or blame him for not preaching hard enough, forgetting they had the old man for 100 years.

Noah stood tall in a generation of decadence and mass apostasy. The bible remarked that the whole world was full of corruption. But Noah was a man who had obtained the grace of God.
Let’s think about this for a moment; Noah stood alone on a message and assignment God gave him for 100 years. No external support except from his immediate nuclear family. What kind of faith is that? Noah was a giant of faith if one may say.

Two points need to be really considered today.
1. The ark is representative of the church. The world will be destroyed in a blazing fire and all the elements will melt, but those who are in the ark will be saved. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour will be saved. Have you received salvation in Jesus name? Are you in the ark? Are you part of the church?
2. For you man or woman of God, standing alone in a perverse place, taking a stand as a lone voice. Look at what Noah did and receive strength to persevere. He stood for at least 100 years. God is faithful; he would certainly do what he promised.

Let us pray: Father God, thank you for the example of Noah. I understand that some times I may have to be on my own in serving you. It does not make me wrong. Lord give me the grace you gave Noah, so I can stand my ground and not yield to pressure from well meaning, worldly influences that may seek to shake my foundations. Thank you for grace to stand and believe, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Key Passage: Genesis 18

Key Word: Hebrews 11:11 – “…because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

We are not all wired the same way. Some people are emotional and react a lot from their emotions. Some are more reflective and use their minds a lot. Others are in-between. Whatever point of the spectrum we fall, we all make decisions and carry out our convictions, regardless of how we got to the conviction. Abraham had many encounters with God. He was a man of experiential faith. God spoke to him personally many times and appeared to him, so Abraham in a sense had more experiences of God than Sarah had.

But the text today, shows us by faith Sarah herself, received strength to conceive seed and had a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. It is not enough to have a believing spouse or a believing father or mother or sibling. We all must develop our personal faith. Other people’s faith can carry you on the journey for a season, but there comes a time, when you must find God your self and get your faith going.

Faith is more personal than corporate. I believe this is one of the reasons why some people get certain miracles and others don’t. There are definitely other reasons, like timing and God’s knowledge of things. But the woman with the issue of blood was not marked for a miracle that day, but she provoked her miracle because she pressed into God and touched Him. Jesus was quite surprised at this and He remarked that someone had touched Him.

For years, Sarah had listened to Abraham’s Testimonies about God’s encounters and God’s promises. She was a loyal and dutiful wife and she definitely respected her husband, so she followed him. But the day came, when God spoke to her directly in Genesis 18. She laughed, not a laugh of unbelief like a lot of people say, but a life of expectation. The laugh of would this thing still happen? Am I still going to have this joy? “Therefore Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have become aged shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband), being old also?” Shall I still have this pleasure? It was also a laugh that signifies she will laugh. So it was a deposit from God.

How did Sarah develop her faith?
The bible tells us exactly how she arrived at her faith and was able to receive the strength to conceive seed and hold the baby till full term, despite her old age. She judged Him faithful who had promised. So Sarah, being a practical woman, with her feet on the ground, one who used her mind a lot, did her research and looked at all the evidence and with overwhelming proof, she judged God as faithful. She did not arrive at her conclusions by her emotions or experiences alone, she dug deep and asked many questions and then finally she ended with the statement “God is FAITHFUL”.

This is deep. She said to herself that God never fails. That God always delivers what He has promised. That God has no record of failure. That God always shows up on time. That God is never late. That God will do what He says He would do. God can be trusted. She then made up her mind that though there were huge physical evidences against what God said, God is too powerful and too faithful to say what He cannot do. So if He said it, He would definitely do it. And the rest like they say is history.

Are you facing impossibility in your life? Are you facing an immovable mountain? Are you looking at some physical evidences that say you are sick, you are terminal, you can’t recover, you can’t get out of this? Are you deep in debt and don’t have a way out? Whatever you may be facing, I want you to know that God is Faithful. If you would call on Him, believe His promises, you will certainly overcome and He will come through for you.
We all can develop the faith of Sarah.

Let us pray: Father God, You are faithful. You never fail. Please help me today to lay hold of your promises in my situation and let the reality of your promises overshadow the physical evidences that are confronting me. Lord, you are God and nothing is impossible for you. I believe, please help me to receive. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Key Passage: Genesis 4:1-5

Key Text: Hebrews 11:4 – “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain”

3.The third point is not unlike the first one, but it is worthy of a separate mention. Abel gave his gift trusting God. There are offerings we give to God that really we find coming out of our convenience. We can afford to give that and there will be no real sacrifice on our own part. Gifts that do not touch us. David said in 2 Samuel 24:24 – “nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing”. I suggest Cain’s gift was a convenient gift, whilst Abel’s gift was a sacrificial gift. It cost him something.

4.Lastly, I believe Abel’s gift was a type of first fruits offering. He gave the very first produce from his livestock to God, but Cain brought some of the produce of his farm. The emphasis here is on first. The very first set. Think about it. This is why the bible states that God respected Abel and his offering. Not just his offering, but his person.
Proverbs 3: 9-10 – says
“ Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

When you give God your first fruits, you are really saying He is number one in your life. No one and nothing is more important. Pure and simple. It is a gift that honours God.

So it is safe to say that though both Cain and Abel brought offerings to God, Abel clearly had a different heart condition to Cain and it affected how and what he gave to God. He was a righteous man. He was a man of honour. He was a respecter and worshipper of God. He was a man of faith. Faith in God. This is why the bible states that God respected Abel and his offering. Not just his offering, but his person. God is in to honour big time!

Let’s Pray: Father thank you for showing us the reason why Abel’s gift was respected. Help us to always remember that You always honour those who honour you and you always reward those who come to you in faith. Lord help us to learn to offer you our very best and never get into the habit of giving you scraps and leftovers. Help us to place the proper emphasis on honouring you always. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

I am Just Thinking….

I am so disturbed by the current debate going on in our country, especially among the body of Christ or what we call ‘believers’. There is such a strong debate as to who should rule over the nation and the divide is simply along religious lines. Honestly this looks innocent and well meaning enough, but looking deeper into the matter, one begins to see a strong delusionary trend. When did the church of Jesus Christ begin to look to the political world to solve our national issues? What has happened to the Church in Nigeria? Have we become so apostate that we really do not understand our role as the agents of change in our society? Or is it that we have been lulled into this deep slumber by the Delilah of money and the Jezebel of materialism, that we have become blind and powerless? I am just thinking….
Let me say this in the most unequivocal way, the future of Nigeria is not in the hands of any political party or politician. The ‘broom’ will not sweep and the ‘umbrella’ cannot cover. GEJ or GMB are not our messiahs. The learned Pastor as good as he is cannot solve the problems of Nigeria. I say this with every sense of responsibility. We are setting these people up for a fall. We are placing on them a task that is way beyond the scope and power of any single person to accomplish. I am just thinking….
Jeremiah 17:5-6 states “Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited”
The problem of Nigeria was not created exclusively by GEJ, OBJ, IBB or whoever else we want to call in these popular three initialled craze going on now, though none of them can be absolved of complicity in the matter. YAI is also a major contributor. YAI (You and I). Our problems have been developing over many generations and the biggest culprit is the Church. How can a nation with the largest church on earth, the biggest prayer meetings, the greatest evangelistic meeting in the history of the church, and one of the country’s with the greatest number of professing Christians globally, estimated at about 50 percent, be in such moral and economic decay? How can we who are called Children of God sink so low as to now look to political messiahs to solve a problem that is squarely on the shoulders of the church? Who is the custodian of truth, integrity and morality in a society? Whose job is it to uphold and model it? Who has been charged by God to be salt and light? I am just thinking….
Please do not misunderstand me, I respect our leaders and I want righteous leadership. But it just so happens that leaders are a reflection of the people they lead. If the people are righteous, then a wicked ruler or an unrighteous leader will not emerge. It is an impossibility. Our leaders are us. Pure and simple. I am just thinking….
This is the kernel of the matter. You and I as believers have become so secularised. We call bad good and good bad. We love money. We worship at the altar of mammon, hedonism and hubris. We are immoral. We are decadent. We are extortionists and peddlers. We profess Christ, but He is not our Lord; Because He is either Lord of all your life or He is not Lord at all. Many so-called believers in Christ have gone down the altar to accept the Christ as their saviour, but refuse to bow to His Lordship. We, yes, you and I are the problem of Nigeria and we should face this fact sooner than later.

Jeremiah 17: 7-10
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings”

Rather than these heavy political rallies and billions of dollars expended on whipping up sentiments and trying to convince people of a future that is at best an illusion, we as the body of Christ should go into mass repentance. We should call solemn assemblies and weep between the porch and the altar. We should ask for God’s forgiveness and receive His grace and power to turn away from sin and live in righteousness. We should purge ourselves of the sin that has overtaken all of us and stay there till the grace of sanctification is released. We should stop talking about material prosperity if we cannot teach about spiritual prosperity. We should call for radical disciples of Jesus Christ, rather than preach an easy faith that denies the realities of the cross. We should all comeback to the reality of Coram Deo. I am just thinking….
2 Chronicles 7:14 states “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins and Heal their land.”
He never gave the job of national restoration to any politician or political party, because he does not hold them accountable. If 75 million Nigerians, all turn from sin and say no to bribery and corruption. No to immorality. No to materialism. No to lying and deception. No to robbery. No to disorderliness. No to stealing. No to injustice. No to mediocrity and no to oppression. What type of nation would we have? What type of government will we have? Can you see the folly and the error? We have put the cart before the horse. I am just thinking….
Are you guilty of destroying this nation? What part are you playing in tearing it down? If this nation is to change, it must start with you. Yes, you child of God.
I certainly have played my part, now I chose to repent and turn. I ask God to forgive me. I confess my part in making this nation the way it is. I am ready to change. I am ready to help build a nation where truth and righteousness reigns.
I am just thinking, but perhaps God will use these musings of a believer to ignite something in just one more heart today.
I believe in Jesus Christ and His power to redeem a lost soul. I also believe He is the only one who can turn a nation round, because He holds all power in His mighty hands.
I am just thinking…..

Why Faith.

Morning Dew

Key Passage: Matthew 8:5-13

Key Word: Matthew 8:8 – “But only speak a word”

Integrity is a rare human quality. In a recent conversation with some friends, one of the guys asked why it is that people of seeming integrity always seem to compromise and lose their footing once they ascend the dizzying heights of power and popularity. Many reasons were advanced in support of these ‘fallen’ giants, but none of the reasons really satisfied. I think we can simply say these people lacked integrity and lest we sound sanctimonious, we were clear we all would probably follow them into the same ignominy, except we receive a dose of strong grace from God. Integrity among other things, means a person will do what they say regardless of the personal costs. They would be held accountable to what they say. Let me say again, that this is a rare human quality.

This is why I believe God demands faith from us. In our confused and unregenerate minds we forget that God is not a man, that He should lie. We forget that God means what He says and says what He means. God is not a joker or at all frivolous. When He speaks, He backs up everything He says with His unalloyed integrity. That’s why those who want to walk with Him, must learn how to absolutely trust His word.

In today’s story, we read of a Centurion who came to Jesus and asked for his servant to be healed. Jesus offered to go with him to his house and heal his servant, but the Centurion asked Jesus not to bother coming. He instead requested that Jesus just speak the word and he knows his servant will be healed. “The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”

The Centurion had absolute faith and confidence in the words of Jesus. He knew that His word is law. It cannot but be fulfilled. This statement caused Jesus to marvel. I believe Jesus was really impressed with this man’s faith, that He said this was “great faith”.

Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”

May I suggest that God is impressed, when He finds people on the earth who absolutely trust His word and fully expect His promises to be fulfilled in their lives. Why would we really doubt God? Why would we distrust His word? Why do we doubt? Really if one takes time to consider God’s record and who God is, then we really have no business doubting Him. His word created the heavens and the earth. His word upholds the entire creation. His word is absolute integrity and if you trust His word, then you are a person of faith.

Why Faith? I believe God is always looking for people on earth who would trust His word. Pure and simple. Are you one?

Let’s Pray: Father God, forgive me for ever doubting your word. You are not like men whose words cannot be trusted. Please give me grace to always trust your word and stand on your promises. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.