Christians go through a painful learning process in order to learn absolute reliance on God. When God humbled them and fed them with manna, which they knew not, neither did their fathers know that He might make you know that Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord does man live (Deut 8:3).
When an individual does not draw that conclusion, he prolongs the duration of that process within his life. This process is meant to be educative but its whole essence could be wasted if you refuse to learn the lessons embedded in it. Without successfully passing through this stage, a lifestyle of labour and striving sets in.
This was the mindset that Paul was trying to address in the Galatian church (Gal 3:1-8). The Christians in this church had been trying to match up to the standard. They had the desire to do God’s will but lacked the knowledge on how to perform. They found their faith to be dead due to their lack of knowledge (James 2:26).
When they met with this brick wall, they discovered that there was a right way of doing things which produces what they believed God for. This right method is communicated by God when an individual trusts in Him for the manifestation of their desires. In Gal 3:6, Abraham believed God and that belief was turned into a life of rightness.
As Abraham started living in that righteousness, he got the results promised. This spiritual principle is accessible to anyone who fulfils its demand of belief. If a person exercises genuine faith in God for financial prosperity, God communicates the righteousness of the expressed faith to such an individual i.e. He communicates the right way of going about it to the person. When the individual lives out that righteousness, results are produced.The Christian life is lived by the Spirit of God in us.
As Christians, we can only do the dictates of the Father by relying on the Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit longs to produce God’s excellent life in us. For instance, it is a good thing for an individual to envision and make some desirable confessions about his family life. However, he needs to rely on the Spirit’s guidance for wisdom on how to achieve the results he wants.
The future of a believer is hinged on obedience to such Spirit-inspired promptings. It is not based on any organisational code of conduct, but on the Holy Spirit’s dealings. These dealings are very personal they are based on the faith that the person has exercised in God that no one else knows about.
God’s work in you does not start until you lay hold on His will for you. The starting point is that every Christian in a vital walk with God embraces God’s will for their life. God started His work in Abraham when He declared His will unto him (Gen 17:4). When this work was initiated, Abraham started making decisions as the Holy Spirit revealed.
At that stage in his relationship with God, the Holy Spirit started regulating his decisions and actions. It was a father/son relationship because even when Abraham missed God’s will at some points, God lovingly corrected him. He then created opportunities for him to get things right all these took place without condemnation because God is always primarily interested in the relationship.
His only desire is that we approach Him by faith in order to obtain wisdom from Him, wisdom on how to inherit the promise (Gal 4: 1-2).
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Seed of Abraham
Genuine faith always moves God to open His treasury of wisdom to us. It is, however, worth mentioning that this learning process is not one size fits all. It is customised for every believer according to what is necessary for them. This is because what is necessary for one person might just not be right for the other. This thought should eliminate criticism as no one has any right to judge another man’s servant (Romans 14:4). The same thought is also against stifling doctrines and codes of conduct: adherence to codes does not necessarily mark out Abraham’s seed. The only distinguishing feature in all heirs of the promise is productivity in their endeavours whatever they do blossoms. Jesus emphasised this in John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples.
Even in desolate places, Abraham’s seed springs forth as a tender plant. Wherever he is situated, he reveals the arm of the Lord to the nations. Through discretion and wisdom, he becomes extolled (Is 52:13). As Abraham’s seed, every believer must personally take up the responsibility of walking in and fulfilling the covenant. It is a personal decision that every heir must make if he is to differ from the servant (Gal 4:1). Isaac and Jacob each made this decision at some points in their lives. And there was a famine in the land besides the first famine that was in the day of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech….. And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I shall tell you of… Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundred fold and the Lord blessed him. The man waxed great and went forward, grew until he became very great. And it came to pass . . . that Jacob said unto Laban, send me away that I may go unto my own place, and to my country. . . And Laban said unto him, I pray you, if I have found favour in your eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake (Gen 26:1-212, 30:2527).
As seen in the foregoing scriptures, every one that is the seed of Abraham should experience this quality of life. This level of manifestation should be seen in their daily lives. Just like Isaac and Jacob, our bosses and associates should be able to testify of the distinct productivity they have seen in us. When we take up personal responsibility as heirs of the promise, we become blessings to all and sundry. It is at this stage that life offers us a blank cheque every little thing we touch becomes a multitude (Gen 30:28, 30). This level of manifestation God only bestows on sons. Though we are all heirs, “. . . the promise was not to seeds as of many but t the seed as of one” (Gal 3:16). Even in Abraham’s biological lineage, the fullness of the promise was usually transferred to one man in every generation i.e. Abraham #8594 Isaac #8594 Jacob #8594 Joseph. This was in spite of the fact that there were several potential heirs in each generation.
However, this type of productivity is not automatically obtained. It is only bestowed on heirs who are hungry for wisdom. Jacob, Isaac and Joseph were all men of understanding, who were ‘mind-full’ of their business. When we begin to walk in the fullness of this covenant, God communicates the spirit of excellence to us i.e. He causes us to develop a high degree of expertise in our work. This is because a successful enterprise can only be built when all resources (spiritual, intellectual and physical) are combined. No marriage or business is successful simply because the tool of prayer was used neither will anyone have a fulfilling career on the sole basis of intellectual soundness. Rather, an enriching life is only achieved when you accurately blend all these resources while towing the line of God’s plan.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Even in desolate places, Abraham’s seed springs forth as a tender plant. Wherever he is situated, he reveals the arm of the Lord to the nations. Through discretion and wisdom, he becomes extolled (Is 52:13). As Abraham’s seed, every believer must personally take up the responsibility of walking in and fulfilling the covenant. It is a personal decision that every heir must make if he is to differ from the servant (Gal 4:1). Isaac and Jacob each made this decision at some points in their lives. And there was a famine in the land besides the first famine that was in the day of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech….. And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I shall tell you of… Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundred fold and the Lord blessed him. The man waxed great and went forward, grew until he became very great. And it came to pass . . . that Jacob said unto Laban, send me away that I may go unto my own place, and to my country. . . And Laban said unto him, I pray you, if I have found favour in your eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake (Gen 26:1-212, 30:2527).
As seen in the foregoing scriptures, every one that is the seed of Abraham should experience this quality of life. This level of manifestation should be seen in their daily lives. Just like Isaac and Jacob, our bosses and associates should be able to testify of the distinct productivity they have seen in us. When we take up personal responsibility as heirs of the promise, we become blessings to all and sundry. It is at this stage that life offers us a blank cheque every little thing we touch becomes a multitude (Gen 30:28, 30). This level of manifestation God only bestows on sons. Though we are all heirs, “. . . the promise was not to seeds as of many but t the seed as of one” (Gal 3:16). Even in Abraham’s biological lineage, the fullness of the promise was usually transferred to one man in every generation i.e. Abraham #8594 Isaac #8594 Jacob #8594 Joseph. This was in spite of the fact that there were several potential heirs in each generation.
However, this type of productivity is not automatically obtained. It is only bestowed on heirs who are hungry for wisdom. Jacob, Isaac and Joseph were all men of understanding, who were ‘mind-full’ of their business. When we begin to walk in the fullness of this covenant, God communicates the spirit of excellence to us i.e. He causes us to develop a high degree of expertise in our work. This is because a successful enterprise can only be built when all resources (spiritual, intellectual and physical) are combined. No marriage or business is successful simply because the tool of prayer was used neither will anyone have a fulfilling career on the sole basis of intellectual soundness. Rather, an enriching life is only achieved when you accurately blend all these resources while towing the line of God’s plan.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Monday, March 17, 2008
On people and books (part 2).
Books are very powerful tools in the development of thoughts. For you to be able to develop a right plan of action towards the attainment of your goals you must seek the assistance of other people in form of advice, experience and knowledge.
The easiest way to get this done is by reading books. Books contain practically every event and knowledge that has shaped humanity. They contain the seeds for the events which are to come Concepts are developed and nourished through reading.
The power behind the printed page is this, when you read you have fellowship with the best part of that person, you are not hindered by the personality of the person, you have access to the most valuable and important thoughts of the person.
God is able to communicate with us without the personality of the person colouring the thoughts. The Corinthian Church confirmed this that the best part of Paul was his writings, when they said his letters were weighty and powerful but his bodily presence (personality) was weak and his speech contemptible.
His writings made a better impression than his person. Frank Gaebelein, a former editor of Christianity today, wrote: "Among the eternal resources available to the Church the printed page stands first." Isolation has only been right for people who have withdrawn temporarily from others for the development of thought by prayer and reading.
You have got to understand the balance between books and people in evolving a right plan of action. All successful people are studious but also sociable. Too many people are studious but don't socialize so they don't find the proper balance in their actions by the knowledge they have acquired. Thought development towards a right plan of action must be interactive.
Jesus interacted heavily with people yet strictly maintained the process of development by being studious. He visited with friends, attended feasts and weddings. This was one of the problems the Pharisees had with Jesus, he was more of a socialite than a hermit.” Never let the devil push you out of this developmental process, that which helps your thoughts to grow (books) and that which is relational.
Whatever God intends for your life He would bring it primarily through the hands and the minds of men. He told John the apostle on the island of Pathmos "what thou seest write and send...." God commanded John to document his thoughts in the form of a book.
Today we can open the book of Revelation and have access to the knowledge John gained in his personal encounter with God. Without books, the knowledge and experiences of others which could be beneficial to us, would be wasted. The scriptures record that Daniel understood by books the purpose of God for the nation of Israel in his time.
He developed his thoughts by reading and then asked God to express, through events the thoughts he had acquired reading. No one else saw what he saw, for they did not understand that the plans of God for the future are contained in books available to them today.
Bill Gates testifies to the fact that had a man An Wang a Chinese immigrant who built Wang laboratories recognized the importance of compatible software applications there might not be a Microsoft today. He said he might have been an attorney or mathematician somewhere. Microsoft, his plan of action for the future, was born while reading the January 1975 edition of Popular Electronics magazine. He saw on the cover a photograph of a very small computer not much larger than a toaster oven and from that point on a stream of practical ideas flooded his mind.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
The easiest way to get this done is by reading books. Books contain practically every event and knowledge that has shaped humanity. They contain the seeds for the events which are to come Concepts are developed and nourished through reading.
The power behind the printed page is this, when you read you have fellowship with the best part of that person, you are not hindered by the personality of the person, you have access to the most valuable and important thoughts of the person.
God is able to communicate with us without the personality of the person colouring the thoughts. The Corinthian Church confirmed this that the best part of Paul was his writings, when they said his letters were weighty and powerful but his bodily presence (personality) was weak and his speech contemptible.
His writings made a better impression than his person. Frank Gaebelein, a former editor of Christianity today, wrote: "Among the eternal resources available to the Church the printed page stands first." Isolation has only been right for people who have withdrawn temporarily from others for the development of thought by prayer and reading.
You have got to understand the balance between books and people in evolving a right plan of action. All successful people are studious but also sociable. Too many people are studious but don't socialize so they don't find the proper balance in their actions by the knowledge they have acquired. Thought development towards a right plan of action must be interactive.
Jesus interacted heavily with people yet strictly maintained the process of development by being studious. He visited with friends, attended feasts and weddings. This was one of the problems the Pharisees had with Jesus, he was more of a socialite than a hermit.” Never let the devil push you out of this developmental process, that which helps your thoughts to grow (books) and that which is relational.
Whatever God intends for your life He would bring it primarily through the hands and the minds of men. He told John the apostle on the island of Pathmos "what thou seest write and send...." God commanded John to document his thoughts in the form of a book.
Today we can open the book of Revelation and have access to the knowledge John gained in his personal encounter with God. Without books, the knowledge and experiences of others which could be beneficial to us, would be wasted. The scriptures record that Daniel understood by books the purpose of God for the nation of Israel in his time.
He developed his thoughts by reading and then asked God to express, through events the thoughts he had acquired reading. No one else saw what he saw, for they did not understand that the plans of God for the future are contained in books available to them today.
Bill Gates testifies to the fact that had a man An Wang a Chinese immigrant who built Wang laboratories recognized the importance of compatible software applications there might not be a Microsoft today. He said he might have been an attorney or mathematician somewhere. Microsoft, his plan of action for the future, was born while reading the January 1975 edition of Popular Electronics magazine. He saw on the cover a photograph of a very small computer not much larger than a toaster oven and from that point on a stream of practical ideas flooded his mind.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Prepare for High Performance Tasks!
There are times in your life when there will be tasks that require high performance. At such times, you need to perform at optimum level. And because of the demand placed on you at such a time, it is possible for you to get stressed because of the perception that you do not have access to the mobilization of sufficient resources to meet the demand.
However, as Christians, we ought not to find ourselves stressed because the Word makes it clear that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (who supplies the resources for me to do all things) Phil 4:13. Therefore, we shouldn’t harbour any perception of not having sufficient resources at our disposal. We will however not see these resources, being physically manifested, when we are in our comfort zone. As Jesus told Paul, God’s strength is made known when our infirmities are unveiled. It is when we are at our wit’s end that God’s covenant is most significantly manifested.
Therefore, if we do not welcome challenging situations, we are never going to truly experience God’s grace.One challenge most people face is the ability to mentally lay hold of the resources made available to us in Christ even when it seems that there is a dearth of such resources in our immediate environment. One classic example is when demands are placed on Christian employees by their employers in their workplaces.
Deadlines are given to all employees and results are expected. Because of the lack of knowledge, most employees (Christians and non – Christians alike) get jittery and blame their frustrations on their bosses when actually Christians in such organisations should rise up at such strategic points in their lives and bring the essence of the Christian walk to bear on their work.The essence of this walk is that when demands are made on us, we should lock into the supernatural in a practical way and unveil the immense treasure which God has kept in us from the foundation of this world.
The unveiling of this treasure is what is known as God’s glory. We should therefore take pleasure when such demands are placed on us because when perceived and handled properly, they usher in seasons of great growth and of learning the secrets and laws of life.
Pastor Poju
However, as Christians, we ought not to find ourselves stressed because the Word makes it clear that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (who supplies the resources for me to do all things) Phil 4:13. Therefore, we shouldn’t harbour any perception of not having sufficient resources at our disposal. We will however not see these resources, being physically manifested, when we are in our comfort zone. As Jesus told Paul, God’s strength is made known when our infirmities are unveiled. It is when we are at our wit’s end that God’s covenant is most significantly manifested.
Therefore, if we do not welcome challenging situations, we are never going to truly experience God’s grace.One challenge most people face is the ability to mentally lay hold of the resources made available to us in Christ even when it seems that there is a dearth of such resources in our immediate environment. One classic example is when demands are placed on Christian employees by their employers in their workplaces.
Deadlines are given to all employees and results are expected. Because of the lack of knowledge, most employees (Christians and non – Christians alike) get jittery and blame their frustrations on their bosses when actually Christians in such organisations should rise up at such strategic points in their lives and bring the essence of the Christian walk to bear on their work.The essence of this walk is that when demands are made on us, we should lock into the supernatural in a practical way and unveil the immense treasure which God has kept in us from the foundation of this world.
The unveiling of this treasure is what is known as God’s glory. We should therefore take pleasure when such demands are placed on us because when perceived and handled properly, they usher in seasons of great growth and of learning the secrets and laws of life.
Pastor Poju
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wait on your vision
O, I know that I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God. I will in my thinking, stand upon my post of observation and station myself on the tower or fortress. And then I will watch to see what He will say within me and what I will answer as His mouth speaks to the perplexities of my complaints. And the Lord answered me and said Write the vision.
Engrave it so plainly upon the tablets that everyone who passes by will be able to read and easily and quickly as he hastens by. For the vision within your heart is yet for an appointed time (an opportune time). This means that the vision is for a time when opportunity will be created for it to be made manifest and it hastens to its fulfilment. It will not deceive you nor disappoint you. Though it tarries, wait earnestly on it (Hab. 2:1-3 Amp paraphrased).The word ‘tablets’ in the verse above refers to our hearts. We are to write the vision in our hearts with our tongues, which is the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1).
This means that it is every individual’s responsibility to fill their hearts with God’s vision for them, using the fruit of their lips (i.e. words shown to them by God). It is must be noted here that the appointed time referred to in Habakkuk 2 is not necessarily the ‘chronos’ or a fixed date on our calendar rather, it refers to the time when the opportunity for the manifestation of your vision will be granted. This shows that a man cannot act productively before the opportunities are created for him to do so. What he can do (in the process of waiting) is to make the vision plain.
He is to plant the vision in his subconscious by constantly declaring it in exact details. This is the major role that your spirit plays, by creating opportunities for the manifestation of those things that have been planted in it. This responsibility that is conferred on each individual makes it crucial for everyone to seek wisdom on how to draw the appointed season into their environment.
This means that individuals needs to learn how to bring circumstances to bear such that the turn of events become favourable for the manifestation of the dream lodged within them. The above statement lends authority to the fact that nothing is impossible (Matt 17:20) things only appear impossible when they are out of season.
When the season of a vision comes, the opportunities for its manifestation are presented to the visionary. Things that appeared impossible when the vision was out of season suddenly become achievable. Therefore, it is possible that an ignorant man will probably never experience the joy that comes from creating opportunities for the realisation of the dreams in his life.
This is because their realisation appear impossible to him. In order to turn this tide, he needs to acquire the “technology” of how the spirit-man operates in his environment to actualise the dreams in his heart.This spiritual principle is so effective that even when it was not yet time in God’s plans, Abraham still got part of the manifestation of God’s promise to him (the many nations would be realised later through his descendants). If Abraham (as well as other heroes of faith) had held in dominant thought the country from which they came, they would have created opportunities to return to it.
This means that their spirit would have worked upon this major thought it would have created enabling conditions for that thought to have been realised in their environment, this is the power of the human spirit. It is therefore necessary for you to be at rest because every dream in your heart will come to pass. It will neither deceive nor disappoint you if you understand the place of timing. Know that timing is everything when it comes to the manifestation of vision.
Do not step out just because you feel like doing so, wait until the enabling opportunities have been created and the situations are in alignment if you are to succeed.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Engrave it so plainly upon the tablets that everyone who passes by will be able to read and easily and quickly as he hastens by. For the vision within your heart is yet for an appointed time (an opportune time). This means that the vision is for a time when opportunity will be created for it to be made manifest and it hastens to its fulfilment. It will not deceive you nor disappoint you. Though it tarries, wait earnestly on it (Hab. 2:1-3 Amp paraphrased).The word ‘tablets’ in the verse above refers to our hearts. We are to write the vision in our hearts with our tongues, which is the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1).
This means that it is every individual’s responsibility to fill their hearts with God’s vision for them, using the fruit of their lips (i.e. words shown to them by God). It is must be noted here that the appointed time referred to in Habakkuk 2 is not necessarily the ‘chronos’ or a fixed date on our calendar rather, it refers to the time when the opportunity for the manifestation of your vision will be granted. This shows that a man cannot act productively before the opportunities are created for him to do so. What he can do (in the process of waiting) is to make the vision plain.
He is to plant the vision in his subconscious by constantly declaring it in exact details. This is the major role that your spirit plays, by creating opportunities for the manifestation of those things that have been planted in it. This responsibility that is conferred on each individual makes it crucial for everyone to seek wisdom on how to draw the appointed season into their environment.
This means that individuals needs to learn how to bring circumstances to bear such that the turn of events become favourable for the manifestation of the dream lodged within them. The above statement lends authority to the fact that nothing is impossible (Matt 17:20) things only appear impossible when they are out of season.
When the season of a vision comes, the opportunities for its manifestation are presented to the visionary. Things that appeared impossible when the vision was out of season suddenly become achievable. Therefore, it is possible that an ignorant man will probably never experience the joy that comes from creating opportunities for the realisation of the dreams in his life.
This is because their realisation appear impossible to him. In order to turn this tide, he needs to acquire the “technology” of how the spirit-man operates in his environment to actualise the dreams in his heart.This spiritual principle is so effective that even when it was not yet time in God’s plans, Abraham still got part of the manifestation of God’s promise to him (the many nations would be realised later through his descendants). If Abraham (as well as other heroes of faith) had held in dominant thought the country from which they came, they would have created opportunities to return to it.
This means that their spirit would have worked upon this major thought it would have created enabling conditions for that thought to have been realised in their environment, this is the power of the human spirit. It is therefore necessary for you to be at rest because every dream in your heart will come to pass. It will neither deceive nor disappoint you if you understand the place of timing. Know that timing is everything when it comes to the manifestation of vision.
Do not step out just because you feel like doing so, wait until the enabling opportunities have been created and the situations are in alignment if you are to succeed.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Friday, February 15, 2008
Watch your step here!
A man who was a famous tree climber was guiding someone in climbing a tall tree. He ordered the man to cut the top of the branches, and during this time when the man seemed to be in the greatest danger, the expert said nothing.
Only when the man was coming down and had reached the height of the eaves did the expert call out for him to be careful. “Watch your step coming down”. I asked him why he did that because at that height he could jump the rest of the way is he chose. “That’s the point” said the expert.
“As long as the man was up at a dizzy height and the branches were threatening to break, he was afraid, so I said nothing. Mistakes are always made when people are at the easy places.” These words are in perfect accord with the precepts of the sages. In football too, they say that after you have kicked out of a difficult place and you think the next will be easier, you are sure to miss the ball.
There is a challenge in failure and confinement and there is also a challenge in victory and success.
Jesus, in teaching on the parable of the kingdom, spoke in relation to the three basic challenges that the heart of every person must confront.
1. The Challenge of Ignorance.
2. The Challenge of Offences
3. The Challenge of Bitterness (when things do not work out as planned)
When your hope is deferred and expectations seem cut off by opposition, bitterness tries to take root in the heart (seeking to poison the whole cycle of the events of our lives) through the negative words we are tempted to speak (in murmuring and complaining) during such times.
Hell seeks to ignite our lives through our tongue, poisoning every relationship we have, cutting short our productivity. The challenge of success and growth is the most deceitful of them all.
Gradually the enemy of our souls lays ambush and if we are not informed, we self - destruct. Great military generals have said that the greatest danger occurs at the moment of victory.
The law of God inserted into the earth at creation says that contained in every fruit is the seed for future fruit. When we obtain some measure of success, contained within it is the seed for greater achievements the greatest challenge though is that the body of the seed always differs from the nature of the seed in it.
Discernment and the need for obedience to the still small voice within our souls is more important now than ever before. Quietness of the soul must replace emotional outbursts. The pattern and the rhythm of events that produced this level of success would differ from that which is to come.
When you attain some measure of success, step back and understand that in the rhythm of life the same set of circumstances would never produce a repeat of the same set of actions.
History and the Scriptures are littered with the ruins of victorious empires and the corpses of leaders who did not learn how to handle the challenges of victory.
Success naturally makes us less adaptable to circumstances it goes to our head and makes us emotional. Feeling invulnerable, you make aggressive moves that ultimately undo the victory you have gained.
For example you start talking to people in ways you shouldn’t, developing oppressive tendencies, paying less attention to detail etc. ‘Success is a lousy teacher it makes smart people think they can’t lose (Bill Gates).
Your mind is tricked into believing that it’s your wisdom and character that are responsible for your success. The first thing you must do is to give all the glory to God. It rightfully belongs there.
If this is not done, that blessing (be it a promotion on the job, an expansion in your business, favour in the right quarters, a marriage, etc) might turn into a source of pain.
“If you would not hear and if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord, I would even send a curse upon you and I would curse your blessing. (Mal 2:12)
Rule 1: Give glory to God before He causes darkness and your feet stumble on the dark mountains.
Rule 2: Be courteous. Be very respectful of elders and those in positions of authority.
Rule 3: Help the poor and the less privileged.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Only when the man was coming down and had reached the height of the eaves did the expert call out for him to be careful. “Watch your step coming down”. I asked him why he did that because at that height he could jump the rest of the way is he chose. “That’s the point” said the expert.
“As long as the man was up at a dizzy height and the branches were threatening to break, he was afraid, so I said nothing. Mistakes are always made when people are at the easy places.” These words are in perfect accord with the precepts of the sages. In football too, they say that after you have kicked out of a difficult place and you think the next will be easier, you are sure to miss the ball.
There is a challenge in failure and confinement and there is also a challenge in victory and success.
Jesus, in teaching on the parable of the kingdom, spoke in relation to the three basic challenges that the heart of every person must confront.
1. The Challenge of Ignorance.
2. The Challenge of Offences
3. The Challenge of Bitterness (when things do not work out as planned)
When your hope is deferred and expectations seem cut off by opposition, bitterness tries to take root in the heart (seeking to poison the whole cycle of the events of our lives) through the negative words we are tempted to speak (in murmuring and complaining) during such times.
Hell seeks to ignite our lives through our tongue, poisoning every relationship we have, cutting short our productivity. The challenge of success and growth is the most deceitful of them all.
Gradually the enemy of our souls lays ambush and if we are not informed, we self - destruct. Great military generals have said that the greatest danger occurs at the moment of victory.
The law of God inserted into the earth at creation says that contained in every fruit is the seed for future fruit. When we obtain some measure of success, contained within it is the seed for greater achievements the greatest challenge though is that the body of the seed always differs from the nature of the seed in it.
Discernment and the need for obedience to the still small voice within our souls is more important now than ever before. Quietness of the soul must replace emotional outbursts. The pattern and the rhythm of events that produced this level of success would differ from that which is to come.
When you attain some measure of success, step back and understand that in the rhythm of life the same set of circumstances would never produce a repeat of the same set of actions.
History and the Scriptures are littered with the ruins of victorious empires and the corpses of leaders who did not learn how to handle the challenges of victory.
Success naturally makes us less adaptable to circumstances it goes to our head and makes us emotional. Feeling invulnerable, you make aggressive moves that ultimately undo the victory you have gained.
For example you start talking to people in ways you shouldn’t, developing oppressive tendencies, paying less attention to detail etc. ‘Success is a lousy teacher it makes smart people think they can’t lose (Bill Gates).
Your mind is tricked into believing that it’s your wisdom and character that are responsible for your success. The first thing you must do is to give all the glory to God. It rightfully belongs there.
If this is not done, that blessing (be it a promotion on the job, an expansion in your business, favour in the right quarters, a marriage, etc) might turn into a source of pain.
“If you would not hear and if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord, I would even send a curse upon you and I would curse your blessing. (Mal 2:12)
Rule 1: Give glory to God before He causes darkness and your feet stumble on the dark mountains.
Rule 2: Be courteous. Be very respectful of elders and those in positions of authority.
Rule 3: Help the poor and the less privileged.
From the Desk of Pastor Poju
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Tongue Asset
What food is to the stomach, thoughts are to the heart of man. As the nature of the food you eat (whether the right or wrong type) will ultimately determine the state of your body so does the nature of thoughts you allow into your heart ultimately determine the state of your life.Success, failure, poverty, wealth etc are the products of your heart.
As there is food that can damage the body so there are thoughts that can damage one’s cycle of life. If we knew what power thought had and understood how to ‘eat’ them, we would have found how to regulate the events of our lives. We would not for one moment play around with thoughts related to failure, defeat, doubt or any other negative thing.
The Word of God by definition is the expression of the thoughts of God towards humanity. They are good and not evil to give you your expectations in life. When you have set goals and have a defined purpose, dreams or aspirations learning to feed on the thoughts of God is the mighty step towards realising your goals.
My son, eat thou honey because it is good and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul when thou has found it, then there shall be a reward and thy expectation shall not be cut off. (Proverbs 24:13 – 14) what honey is to your physical being the thoughts of God are to your soul. It gives a reward i.e. your expectations shall be exceeded.
Jesus taught that it is not what enters a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out. For what goes in (i.e. food) enters into his stomach and then it is passed out into the draught. He said that what goes into his mouth cannot defile him because it cannot reach his heart.
What comes out of his mouth (i.e. words) can defile him because these enter into his heart and once it gets into the heart in abundant measure it enters into the life experiences of the person.
If you want to get anything into your life experiences then learn to use your tongue knowing that your words feed your heart and whatever stays and grows in your heart becomes your life.
Pastor Poju Oyemade
As there is food that can damage the body so there are thoughts that can damage one’s cycle of life. If we knew what power thought had and understood how to ‘eat’ them, we would have found how to regulate the events of our lives. We would not for one moment play around with thoughts related to failure, defeat, doubt or any other negative thing.
The Word of God by definition is the expression of the thoughts of God towards humanity. They are good and not evil to give you your expectations in life. When you have set goals and have a defined purpose, dreams or aspirations learning to feed on the thoughts of God is the mighty step towards realising your goals.
My son, eat thou honey because it is good and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul when thou has found it, then there shall be a reward and thy expectation shall not be cut off. (Proverbs 24:13 – 14) what honey is to your physical being the thoughts of God are to your soul. It gives a reward i.e. your expectations shall be exceeded.
Jesus taught that it is not what enters a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out. For what goes in (i.e. food) enters into his stomach and then it is passed out into the draught. He said that what goes into his mouth cannot defile him because it cannot reach his heart.
What comes out of his mouth (i.e. words) can defile him because these enter into his heart and once it gets into the heart in abundant measure it enters into the life experiences of the person.
If you want to get anything into your life experiences then learn to use your tongue knowing that your words feed your heart and whatever stays and grows in your heart becomes your life.
Pastor Poju Oyemade
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