THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUNESS

Few days from now, Christians all over the world would be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is indeed the greatest experience in the universe as we see that in the resurrection God made the greatest display of His power. The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that man can now be a partaker of the divine nature. Man can now possess the zoe-life of God. Man can now stand perfect before God through Jesus Christ because he is now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The power of sin had been broken. Man can now live above the elements of this world. The dominion of man has been restored and man is free again! Glory to God!

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, everything was good, beautiful, sound and in perfect order until sin made it’s way into the world. Suddenly everything became hostile, wild and aggressive. The once friendly animals suddenly became harmful; the still waters suddenly began roaring with the tendency to drown. The firmament became tensed. Everything that once supported man began fighting him. Man had fallen and darkness is everywhere. Man had lost his dominion over the earth. He had become helpless and defenceless. He had broken the hedge and the serpent had beaten. He had navigated from possessing everything to possessing nothing. The laws of the universe is now working against him and had suddenly become unruly to him. He had begun inhaling and exhaling evil and his heart had taken a dimension of progressive wickedness. Man had lost control over everything and even himself. What a blow sin had dealt to man. Now a cruel ruler has taken over man’s place of dominion. Satan had now become the god of this world – a place originally made for man. The same thing happens when sin steps into any man’s life. It’s always the same story. This is not a set up to magnify sin or its ability. It is just to let you know how the world became the mess it is today.

The effects of sin was everywhere. No wonder the first thing that was said about Jesus’ function on earth is “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV). Thank God for Jesus Christ! The Bible also tells us in 1John 3:8 “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (NKJV). Thank God Jesus came to deal with the sin problem and to restore man to his original position. When Jesus stepped in, light stepped into the world again. When Jesus stepped in, darkness disappeared – it couldn’t stand the dazzling light of the Light of the world. When Jesus stepped in, a world of darkness and confusion was suddenly illumined with the inextinguishable light (John 1:4,5). God’s remedy for the sin problem was Jesus. Jesus paid the price. He did it through the cross. He did it by shedding His precious, sinless Blood. He did it by becoming man’s perfect substitute, thereby, taking man’s place – suffering and dying on his behalf. Now 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us something amazing, it says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (NKJV). O what a sacrifice. What a treasure we’ve got in Christ Jesus. Now everyone who is born again have become new creatures possessing and becoming the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Now I want you to know that the effect of righteousness is more powerful than the effect of sin. Sin can’t stand righteousness just as darkness can never stand the light! Rom. 5:17 says “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NKJV). Glory to God! This is staggering!

The devil fears the believer who understands righteousness! Righteousness through Christ is the greatest force in the universe. The devil will do anything to keep the believer ignorant of it and filled with dead works. The man who understands righteousness in Christ will live the zoe-life of God naturally. He becomes a threat to the kingdom of darkness. O what a day it was when Christ became the Righteousness of the Believer. A perfect righteousness gift was imparted to the believer at the new birth – not a progressive one but a perfect one – perfected by the Son of God Himself. Friend, The effect of righteousness is equally seen in Isaiah 32:17 “The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (NKJV). This season let’s celebrate and enjoy the effects of righteousness and let the world know about the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ alone. Happy Resurrection!

SUPERNATURAL LABOURERS

I was studying St. Matthew’s Gospel chapter 9 the other day and when I got to verses 35 through 38, the Holy opened my eyes to something so amazing. Something I had never seen before. Something that was revolutionary. Something that got me so stunned that my only response was tears. I’ve been reading this passage for a long time but never noticed what exactly the Lord wanted me to see. O how it blessed me. Let’s read it together from the New Living Translation of the Bible:

“Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness. He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields.” (Matthew 9:35-38, NLT).

The Holy Spirit made it so clear to me that Jesus was particular about the kind of labourers He asked His disciples to pray the Father to send into the harvest field. What kind of labourers was Jesus asking for? What kind of labourers were fitting for the great harvest? Jesus asked His disciples to pray the Father – the Lord of the harvest – to send in labourers of His kind. Supernatural labourers who would do exactly the kind of labour He was doing in the harvest field. What kind of labour was Jesus doing in the harvest field? We see it in verse 35 “Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness.” He was not only preaching. He was not only teaching. He was not only healing the sick. He was teaching, preaching and healing – all three! The problem is that we have never connected verse 35 to 36-38. We always start from 36-38 and begin to talk about the harvest. What a limitation. No! To get the harvest into the Father’s ban, we must do it the way Jesus did it – we must do the three! Jesus was not just talking about preachers but labourers after His kind – teaching, preaching and healing! O how we need this in a world full of unbelief, sickness, darkness and distress. When we teach, we impart the knowledge of the Word. When we preach, we announce or advertise the Kingdom of God. When we heal, we display the power of the Kingdom! Doesn’t the world need all three? Imagine what the world would be like if we have many labourers after this kind. Think about having Jesus mulitiplied and sent into all the world. That’s it! We’d run the devil out of business!

Jesus linked Heaven and earth during His earthly ministry – that’s the supernatural! (John 1:51, NLT). We His co-labourers should do the same! Faith is the link between the natural and the Supernatural! It all starts from simply accepting and believing this. No wonder in John 14:12 Jesus said to His disciples and to us in extension, “"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (NKJV). I strongly believe there’s a reason you are reading this piece right now. There’s going to be a spark up of the Supernatural in your life – get ready! God wants to use you to accomplish great things for His Kingdom. God wants all His children to walk in the Supernatural. He desires it for us more than we could ever desire it for ourselves. He knows that we’d have multiplied impact when the Supernatural is in operation in our lives. What would bring the crowd? The Supernatural! It simplifies the task and multiplies the result and impact.

If you are not doing the three, you won’t be as effective as you should. It’s time to get hungry for it! Tell the Lord, I want to continue the ministry of Jesus here on earth. I want to be the kind of labourer Jesus wants into the harvest field. “O Lord, we want all three!”. When you read Matt. 28:19 and Mark 16:15-18, you’d see that that is what the Great Commission is all about – all three! Nothing else will do. Let the spirit of supplication rise in you now as you read this piece. Be inspired now to pray for the Church – the body of Christ to arise and take on the divine responsibility given us by the Master – to teach, preach and heal the whole world. I believe that the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself like never before as we step out in faith. We shall experience more of His outpouring in all the nations of the earth. But we must act first. We must move. We must take the initiative! Mark 16:20 says “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” That is how it works. Smith Wigglesworth, of blessed memory, will always say “Acts of the Apostles was written because the Apostle acted.” The Holy Spirit lives (resides) inside the Believer – you and me! The move of the Church is the move of the Holy Spirit. Let’s take Him to the nations. He will speak through us, teach through us, preach through us and heal through us, glorifying Jesus everywhere! Become a Supernatural labourer today!

PONDER ON THESE: Matthew 10:7-8 “And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Luke 4:18,19 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Zach. 4:6 “…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.”

REFUSE TO COMPLAIN!

Lately, I walked into a hospital to agree in prayer with some sick folks and I was so changed by what I saw. I began to think about the goodness of God in my life. Many a times we take things for granted. God is just merciful and faithful.

It’s so amazing how so many times we slip into the realm of complaining without even thinking of it because we are so used to it. Many Believers don’t pray, they simply complain on their knees and think they have prayed. They say words like “Lord, why do I have to wait for this long?”, “Lord, when would you come to my aid, can’t you see how much I have suffered this thing?” and so on. God responds to faith and not complaints or tears. Complaining is never the will of God for His children. In fact it a sin to complain! For the Israelite, complaining made a 40 days journey that of 40 years and they [those who complained] even died not seeing the Promised Land. Complaining never pleases the Father. It makes us do stupid things. It starts in the mind and ends on the lips. It all begins when we refuse to think of and be thankful for what the Lord has done but meditate on what has not yet been done.

Always overcome the temptation to complain because it’s a sin. Worrying and complaining are identical twins they both produce doubt – the enemy of faith. “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.” (Heb. 11:6, NKJV). We must fight these from our lives with all earnestness. How do we do that? Simple! Always think of things to be thankful for. Don’t just set your attention on things yet to be achieved. We have the power to choose our thoughts (Phil. 4:8). For every one reason the devil gives you to complain, you must give yourself a hundred and one reasons to be thankful to the Lord! Thanksgiving turns your prayer requests into a praise report. Thanksgiving gives you a shout in your spirit! Never let the devil steal your shout – it’s your note of victory!

When you forget the goodness of God, you tempt and limit Him in your life (Ps 103:1-7; 78:40-43). I strongly believe that Psalm 103 can help you live a thankful life everyday. There’s so much to be thankful for. We can’t thank Him enough. The thankful life is the victorious life! For the thankful one, miracles happen everyday! He lives the wonderful life (Ps 71:7). The life of ‘what manner of man is this?’ The Christian life is the wonderful life – a life of unending springs of wonders! Don’t be perturbed by the present mishaps in the world. Jesus says for us to look up in moments like this (Luke 21:28). Hope this edifies you. Blessings!

LITTLE BEGINNINGS

Many folks lack the courage to start small. They want to start big but unfortunately they end up accomplishing nothing. Most of the time over-ambition and pride gets in the way of people and make them despise starting small. They think about what people may say or think of them. Well, if you must walk with the Lord, you must think differently. Zechariah 4:10 declares “For who hath despised the day of small things?...” Saint, only a fool despises the days of little beginnings. I will never forget the Parable a Minister once spoke over my life and ministry a couple of years ago. He just quoted Matt. 13:31-32 which says: “…"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."” (NKJV). Ever since that day, I’ve always walked with that consciousness and remained thankful to God for the privilege of starting small and watching things grow. The things of the Kingdom always start small and grow. We can’t afford to escape the process of growth. No cutting corners in the Kingdom of God! As we go through the process, there are many lessons that we must learn along the way, these lessons are divine and customized for us based on what we are called to do. We can’t do away with process (experience) if we must do things God’s way. Take a look at the life of Joseph, one of the Patriarchs, he had a big dream of royalty and leadership but his initial story was that of servitude, slavery and mistreatments. We later see that all these things were to prepare him for the throne. We can’t afford to appear at the top crude. We’ve got to be refined and the process is not any easy.

As it is often said, only the grave is built starting from the top to the bottom. Dr. Oral Robert, of blessed memory, always talked about the seed principle. He taught that everything starts with a seed. It could be seed-ideas, seed-time, seed-money, seed-faith etc. Seeds are small. Every seed is a potential fruit. It’s just a matter of time. So, it’s ok to have a big vision but be humble enough to start small. Starting small is the seed for finishing great. This generation seek avenues to ‘fast-track’ things. No one wants to go through the normal process. We’ve got to learn the art of starting small, be faithful at doing small things and watch them grow. In my knowledge of what a divine vision is all about, I see that God never gives any man the whole picture of the vision at the onset. Why? Because He wants us to walk step by step with Him all along. If He ever gives us all the details at once, we’d run off and make a big mess of it. God is looking for sons and daughters through whom He would birth His purpose on the earth. People who don’t mind waiting on the Lord as He works in and through them. People who manifest the fruit of patience. People who are willing to walk at the same pace with God – not hasty folks.

One thing about the Kingdom of God is that, though it starts small but it is ever progressive! It doesn’t get stuck in the rut. It doesn’t remain small – it spreads like wild fire. It starts like a mustard seed but it advances to become a great tree where the birds of the air can come and nest. This is what it’s all about. It’s ok to start small but it’s a tragedy to remain small. Paul, speaking to Timothy – his son in the faith – said “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” (2 Tim. 4:15, NKJV). Paul, by the Spirit of God, was simply telling Timothy – and us in extension – that progress is not automatic. But there are things that one must do to experience constant progress. Paul explains that if we meditate on that thing – vision, dreams, goals etc – ever so often, and give ourselves entirely and unreserved to it (i.e. focus), it is impossible for us not to make progress, in others words, visible progress is inevitable! Progress cannot be hidden just as failure cannot be hidden – they are so visible. Sometimes the reason we don’t experience progress could be that we don’t stick with things for too long, we easily give up, give in and compromise.

I have come across so many people who seem to be static in life and as peculiar as each of their challenges are, one thing is common among many of them, they refuse to start small. They refuse to start with what they have. They have big dreams but they refuse to start out with small things. How unfortunate. The person who wants to be a world evangelist who goes to the nations declaring the Gospel shouldn’t mind preaching to a soul on the street, in his neighbourhood, in the work place, in a car etc. at least one soul at a time. When God sees your faithfulness and passion with few souls, He’d let you reach a crowd. He’s the One who promotes. The great Evangelists Benny Hinn, Billy Graham and Reinhard Bonnke and the likes equally had little and humble beginnings but today the story is different. Your dream is only a seed for your future – it’s got to be worked out to produce a harvest! Here’s the idea: Think big but start small. It’s a divine principle! Authentic and durable success always starts small. Starting from the top could be suicidal. If God could start great things in small ways even though He could as well get anything done at the snap of His finger, why shouldn’t we learn the art of starting small and watching ourselves grow? There is something about being a part of the process of growth. It’s exciting! Isaac was all God needed to produce a whole nation – Israel. Jesus was all God needed to produce a whole new race called The New Creatures – the twice born men! There is virtually nothing too small to be a starting capital. And as long as God’s hand is on it, growth is inevitable!

There are so many lessons we must learn in this life and every level we get to serves a purpose. Every step on the ladder is very crucial to the next one. So if success must not only be obtained but also sustained, we must learn to start small and go through the process of growth. David and Moses were both faithful shepherds of sheep before they became shepherds of people. Some of Jesus’ first disciples were first fishers of fish before they become fishers of men. Sometimes we might have to first learn the art of following before we become true leaders. We might have to first learn to serve before we can be served. Honestly, it takes real humility and courage to start small. Do not seek to impress people, go for a lasting success – start small and make progress. It’s just a matter of time! If growth must be experienced, then we can’t escape starting small. According to the Kingdom, if you can’t handle small things, then you can’t equally handle great things. Faithfulness in little things guarantees faithfulness in great things. If you’re too big to handle small things, then you’re too small to handle big things! If God can’t commit small things into your hands then how would He commit great things into your hands – selah!

What is that dream in your heart, start doing something about it today. That is the aim of this piece. That is what this reading encounter is all about. That is why I have written this thing. Get inspired! Let the Kingdom of God reproduce itself in that thing that you are doing and enjoy God’s best as He takes you from one level of glory to another! Blessings!

THEY BOTH LAUGHED

I used to think only Sarah laughed in unbelief when God reassured her of still giving birth at her old age. But it came to my awareness lately that Abraham also laughed in unbelief. In fact he laughed first before Sarah followed suit (See Gen.17:17-19 & Gen. 18:11-15). Genesis 17:17-19 says “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!" Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” (NKJV). Abrahams laugh was a big one. The Bible tells us that he fell on his face and laughed! That’s big laugh, it sounds like he had a laughing session of doubt. Doesn’t it? Sarah had long passed menopause, and here God is still saying she’d have a child. They didn’t laugh because it was funny but because they doubted. They had stretched their faith to the elastic limit. But what strikes me most is the fact that even Abraham – the father of faith – laughed in unbelief. We hardly hear that Abraham laughed in unbelief. No, we wouldn’t mention that. Abraham is taken to be the superman while Sarah’s laugh is always our instance for unbelief and doubt because we think Abraham was such a perfect man who had a perfect faith.

Abraham believed God quite alright but he never had a perfect faith all the time. God always made up for his deficiencies as He does for us today. Well, their laughter didn’t stop God. He didn’t give up on His plan even though they laughed in doubt. If we must possess a perfect faith before getting God’s attention then I wonder who will ever get His attention. God always gives us the opportunity to start out and grow in faith. The more results we get by using our faith, the more we are encouraged to use it and the stronger it becomes. We must grow in faith! Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah 90 years old when they had their first baby – can you beat that? Well, how long have you waited? If God kept His words to Abraham, He sure would keep His Words concerning you if you remain in faith and wait patiently. Patience is not just waiting, it is waiting with the right attitude says Joyce Meyer. Real faith is built on the knowledge of God and His Word. The bases of faith is to know who God actually is and then what He says would mean much to you.

It might seem as though time is gone and there is no more hope of seeing that promise come to pass, God still wants you to hold on to His Word. He is ever faithful – He never lies to anyone. If He says it, He’d surely make it good. The Scripture declares “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12 (NKJV). Notice, it didn’t just say faith but it says FAITH and PATIENCE. We need the both to be stable until the promised good is delivered unto us in the natural. We have an assurance from the Lord Himself in Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

The truth is, God never expects perfect faith f

rom us before doing things in or through us. He just expects a child-like trust. Sometimes we know too much to doubt but children don’t know that much – they easily trust! Most times God promises us things that make us laugh because of the inability of our minds to comprehend or accommodate them. God is bigger than our minds! Has God promised you something that made you laugh lately? Well, if you don’t have such promises from God, perhaps you are still dealing with the small things of life. If you walk with God, most of the time He gives you visions that make you laugh and sometimes in order to keep from doubting you may just try not to think about it much but just keep saying “Lord, I believe you anyhow.” Just trust God anyhow. You don’t need to know how He’s going to do it. Just trust Him all the way. He is faithful!

LET GOD MAKE YOU

No man ever comes to God and goes back the same. When we come to God in total surrender of our lives, tremendous change is inevitable. The Word of God declares in Matthew 4:19 “And he [Jesus] saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Want to be made in life? Follow Jesus! – that’s all it takes. All through the New Testament, we see men who where simply nobodies, nonentities but when they came to Jesus He made them significant. They came as minuses but they left Him pluses! He placed value on their lives. Think about His twelve disciples (apart from Judas Iscariot who gave in to the devil and walked away from the Lord ending up in a suicide), they were common people – fishermen, tax collectors, laymen. He simply gave them an order consisting of just two words “follow me”. They obeyed. All they did was just follow Him and He made them world changers! They became the wonder of the ages. They became the Apostles of the Lamb, even having a special place at the throne of God and in the Kingdom. It’s so amazing what God can do with a life that is solely committed to following Him. No matter who or what we are here in this world, if God hasn’t made us we’re not made – we’re simply nothing! Jesus says “… for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5b, NKJV). Emptiness is what we get after we’ve done our best to become something void of God’s design! Our significance and usefulness to the Kingdom of God only comes from our following the Master – Jesus Christ.

Many people seek to be self-made. They cut God out of their lives and expect to be made through their academic qualifications, money, status, achievements, titles etc. How dare you disconnect from your source and expect to have it made? It’s really amazing how so many people look to men to be made. How in the world would a man look to a fellow man to be made? Think about the flaws and limitations of a man. Most unfortunate is the fact that many Believers in Christ still look up to men or things to be made. But these have never made anyone. I think apart from the fact that this is a deception from the devil; it is also a function of the wrong definition of what success really is. I believe until we come to a proper understanding and definition of what true success in life is, we can’t attain it. When a man comes to know that success in life is not in what one has but in who one is, it will change everything. Success in life is about discovering and following God’s plans for your life. Success in life is doing the will of God. Success in life means to do and finish what you were born to do – God’s mandate on your life (John 4:34). We must be careful not to let our attention drift from the Lord. We live in a world where people are easily carried away by what they can see and the desire to meet up with men’s expectations of them. People live to impress each other and that is why they are seeking to be self-made or forced to look to things to be made by them. They can’t walk on with the Lord. They feel the Lord is too slow with things. They wind up in depression. How unfortunate!

Following Jesus is a personal thing – absolutely! John 21:19-22 points this out so clearly: “…Then Jesus told him [Peter], “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who among us will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.”” (NLT). We can only be sure of ourselves when it comes to following Jesus. We might not be able to judge rightly whether someone else is following Jesus or not but we can be sure about ourselves. Following the Lord has a lot to do with personal conviction. In following the Lord any thing aside focusing our attention on Him is a distraction just as it was with Peter when he asked Jesus about John. God loves to deal with His children on one-on-one bases as though they were the only child He’s got.

Jesus says: “Follow Me.” That’s an instruction! It is either obeyed or disobeyed. There are no middle grounds. There are no assumptions. You are either following the Lord or not following Him – it’s that simple. In obeying that instruction, all you need do is to follow Him! He alone knows the way! In Him there is total security. In Him a glorious future is guaranteed. He wants to make you. You might have given up in life or even lost confidence in yourself. Yes, this is the right time to follow Jesus. There’s still hope – 100% with Jesus on the lead. We often hear terms like “the making of a man” or “the making of a film” What does it mean? There’s always a story behind the glory. There is always the ‘behind the scene’ part of every movie or man. The making of something worthwhile is always never without a process. But too often many only see the glory and never think of the story. When we follow Jesus, it might take some time for us to be made. Sometimes it might seem as though God is too slow with the process. We just want a quick fix. But we must always remember that He knows exactly what He’s up to and at the appointed time He would display us to the world as His finished product. Glory to God! So we must trust God through the process of life. Just trust Him, it’s just a matter of time!

When God makes a man, He’s really made! When God makes a man he can stand anywhere are defend the cause of Christ. When God makes a man, He [God] becomes responsible for his sustenance. Only in Christ are we made. Those who look to men, things or elsewhere to be made are bound to be disappointed. Only God is the original Maker, every other person or thing was made. (John 1:1-4, Gen. 1). So we don’t look to the ‘made’ to be made, rather we look to the Maker to be made. Let God begin the process of working out His plans and purposes for your life. Let God make you! It’s really a choice for us to submit to the Lord to be made. If our motive in life is to honour God with our lives by living for His purpose, then we must let God make us. Our pursuit in life must align with God’s perfect will for us if at all our lives must make Kingdom sense. I don’t want to stand before God on the day of judgement and be told ‘you only lived for yourself.’ No! I want my time and activities on earth to make Kingdom sense. That’s why I must depend on Christ to be made, that’s why I must follow Jesus with all my breath – everything inside of me! I believe this is true for you too. Eccl. 3:11a says: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (NKJV). Let God make you!

Prayer: Father in the Name of Jesus, we trust you with our lives. We desire to be made by you. You are our source and we want only that which comes from you. We receive grace to follow you every single day of our lives. Amen.

DO RESOLUTIONS WORK?

On the first day of January every year, we hear a lot of commitments from people popularly called ‘New Years’ resolutions’. Everyone’s got a new resolution for the year. However, by 31st of January, the resolution is already compromised – defeat and shame is everywhere – and then we wait for the next year to make another New Years’ resolution. When are we really going to get tired of this madness, at least for the fact that it doesn’t just work! The New Year itself has got nothing to offer – it can neither make you better nor worst. It is God who changes the times and seasons. It’s quite amazing that at the end of every year no one dares to mention how far he or she went with their resolutions. It’s so clear that it was just a flop!

Paul the Apostle said in Rom.7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” (NKJV). Resolutions don’t work because they are based on human efforts or will power (the flesh) and no man can conquer himself by mere human will power. Besides, the Lord never receives anything that is of the flesh. If it must glorify God or be acceptable before Him, then it’s got to be by the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:6,7 read “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” (NKJV). Many people fight with various bad habits and addictions to no avail. It takes a higher force to conquer one’s self. It’s the Holy Spirit who releases that force into our lives when we invite Him into the matter.

Friend, the good news is that change is possible! What you need is not a new resolution but a revolution – a radical change! If you are born again, it’s time to ask the Holy Spirit to take over the matter. Let Him destroy the yoke. Today is the best day for it. Isaiah 10:27 says “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” (KJV). Just get into the Word and see that that desired change is possible. See the liberty you have in Christ and appropriate it to yourself for “…'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.” (NKJV) and if you are not born again, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! Just read and act on Romans 10:9-10.