When On A Free Fall

Some life experiences remain indelible in our memory.  One of such experiences happened to me in my pre-school years.  It is actually among the earliest memories that I have of my self.  One of my brothers, three years older than I, was my defacto playmate and so he too had a privilege to witness first hand, my experience.

Just like many other kids, we saw our house first and foremost as a playground, and secondarily as a shelter.  I guess I was about four years old.   Each of the house's two bedrooms had four unusually wide shelves that were neatly arranged upward on one wall, towards the ceiling.  My four older siblings had made the top shelf at my parents' bedroom to be their day-hideout joint.  They had stacked the shelf with story books and pillows, and they would often retreat there to play and relax.  To a four year old's mind, this was the coolest thing on earth.

The disturbing fact was that due to my height, I was never able to make it to the top shelf.  The best I could do was reach the second shelf and envy my siblings having the time of their lives at the fourth shelf.  However, I was determined to change this narrative.  One day, my older brother and I (the two of us being the youngest in the family) were home alone with the house assistant.  We got a brilliant idea to go and relax at the top shelf.  I was not only lucky to have the required determination to go up the shelves, I also had a cheer leader to motivate me to do so.

Both of us needed a stool to help us place our feet on the first shelf (it shows you how short we were).  My brother went first.  It was an exercise that required precision and muscle, because we had to first place our feet on one shelf and concurrently, our hands would hold the next shelf.  Then we would literally pull our bodies up until we climbed into the next shelf.  That was to successfully happen three times, if I wanted to reach the coveted destination of shelf number four.

My brother went first.  He was confident since he had made it to the top shelf before.  I imagine that this time round, he even felt more "phantom 💪" because he was demonstrating to his small sister how to make it to the top.  I watched him keenly, knowing that I would need to execute his tactics to reach the top.  Within a short time, my brother was at the top and the time to conquer my limitation had come.  I was ready! I was determined!

I stepped on the stool and onto the first shelf.  The space next to the shelves was usually vacant and we had actually moved the stool to this space just to help us climb the shelves.  I followed what I had observed my brother do to the letter.  I could hear him cheer me on from the top.  I could tell the excitement from his voice; he was ready to usher me in, into their world of classic relaxation.  My hands held on firmly to shelf number two and with all my strength, I pushed my self up and was eventually able to climb into shelf two.

I gasped for air and then positioned my self to repeat the exercise into shelf three.  I pulled myself up again and the joy of landing on shelf three was tangible.  I was only a shelf away from the coveted destination, and it would soon be my reality.  I caught my breadth and resumed to reposition my self to conquer the last step.  Looking down from the fourth shelf, my brother's eyes were right on mine, this time he was not saying much, perhaps just crossing his fingers that I do it right.

My feet on the third shelf, I lifted my hands to hold the fourth shelf.  Sadly, before I could hold the fourth shelf well, one of my foot stepped on something that made me slip.  Everything after that happened terribly fast.  I saw my self in the air falling backwards.  My brother's face was now one of "electrocuted phantom" (just joking 😅); to be honest I did not have time to think about him.

The first thing I remembered was the stool we had used.  It was the only thing on the space next to the shelves, so it was either I would have hit the ground or the stool hard.  The second thing I remembered was my need to repent because I knew I might die from the accident (thank God I knew how to pray because my parents had taken me to church at an early age).  I made a simple prayer, "God I know I have not been a good girl, forgive me and receive me in heaven."  Then I closed my eyes hard to await my fate.

The next thing that happened is that I opened my eyes only to find my self lying on my back, placed on the stool.  I had actually felt a presence gently place me on that stool.  Today, I know that God's angel did place me on the stool.  Of course I was shaken to the core.  Even with our young minds, we understood that something divine had happened.  We understood that I had escaped from a serious accident.  My brother quickly came down the shelves and advised that we go to bed and sleep (that is how shaken we were!).

During the 2019 Christmas holiday, my brother and I recalled this story and told it to our parents, this time with much laughter.  We let the cat out on our childhood mischief.

From the time of my fall, it took me an year or so later, to safely reach the coveted shelf number four.  However, one thing has remained beyond doubt, that on that particular day, God's hand rescued me while on a free fall.  I do not know what could have been the result if God had not intervened; whether a broken limb or a head concussion, only God knows.  We are forever grateful that God's hand reached out to me when there was no way of escape.

Science can never explain what I experienced that day.  You see, even if I had fallen exactly back to the same position where I had started my ascent from, I would not have safely lay on the stool.  I would have most likely hit it with a thud and then fallen to the ground.  The law of gravity required that I hit something (the ground or the stool) with the force occasioned by my velocity and weight. That day, God over-rid the laws of gravity to rescue a little girl.

This week, I have felt an unusual impression to share this story.  Perhaps those going through a free fall in an aspect of their life can relate with my fears as I fell back-fast towards the ground.  Perhaps some can relate to the helplessness that comes with a fall that you know you can do nothing about.  Perhaps some know the disappointment of having been so close to a breakthrough and then slipping away from it into an uncontrollable downward fall.  Perhaps some are at that point where you have closed your eyes and are waiting for the outcome- may be a broken rib, fractured limb or fatal head injury.

The good news is, God's hand is swift and able to reach out to you, hold you and place you onto a safe landing!  The physical reality are the facts before you and it is okay to acknowledge that what confronts you is beyond your human ability.  The truth however is that God is not over with you yet.  The things that confront you are not to destroy you and so you can bank on God's rescuing hand to come through for you.  There is no dungeon that is too dark for God; no pit that is too deep for God; no mire that is too messy for God; no valley that is too difficult for God.  Nothing, absolutely nothing fashioned against you, will destroy you.  This needs to be the faith in which you live by.

What does God require of you while in that situation that feels like a "free fall"?

We can learn from the life of Job.  Job, though a blameless and upright man, who feared God and shunned evil, faced testing.  Not once, but twice, he was tested.  Job moved from being a wealthy, prosperous and respected man to losing all his wealth and children in a single day.  Job (unlike the adventurous little me 😊) had not done any wrong to cause his troubles.  If anything, God's boast of his righteousness had made Satan to request for permission to test him.

Job lost seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred oxen, five hundred donkeys, a large number of servants, seven sons and three daughters, in one single day.  Everything happened so fast and Job was on his free fall.  Humanly speaking, Job should have entered into depression or may be he should have suffered a nervous breakdown or a heart attack.  However, his response to the situation is noteworthy:

• Job mourned- Job faced the facts and expressed his grieve for the loss.  Faith does not deny fact.  Instead, faith chooses to trust God, in spite of the facts.  During your free fall, do not deny the facts, do not suppress your feelings, but CHOOSE FAITH IN GOD.

 Job 1:20a At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. 

• Job worshipped- Job had an eternal perspective of life such that he admitted that, what he owned was very temporary and its source was God.  He acknowledged that all his possessions, including his children, was not a right but a blessing from God.  The giver had the right to take away the blessings whenever He chose to.  Job understood that God is forever worthy of praise, irrespective of our loss, pain, grief, disappointment and misfortunes.   During your free fall, GUARD YOUR PRAISE.

Job 1:20b-21 Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."

• Job guarded his mouth-  It was expected for Job to murmur and grumble before God, and accuse Him of being unjust.  He could have accused God of repaying righteousness with pain and shame.  However, Job understood the Sovereignty of God and he did submit to His Lordship.  No wander he never charged God of wrongdoing.  Your tongue, normally speaking from the abundance of your heart,  is a great weapon for in it lies life and death.  In a time of turmoil, do not allow your emotions to overrun you, such that you speak defeat, shame, dishonor and death.  During your free fall, TAME YOUR TONGUE.

Job 1:22  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:10b  In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job's response is not the usual, expected human response.  Assuming that Job's wealth was a business corporation, the corporation's CEO upon encountering such massive losses would have called a special board meeting to brain storm on the crisis and rushed helter-skelter to at least salvage something, albeit little.   Job's response, on the contrary, is one of rest.  It is one of utmost surrender.

Such a response is only possible when a person has a personal relationship with God.  God was no stranger to Job.  Job knew God, and for this reason he stood his ground even when his own health was in danger and his dear wife failed to understand his faith.  In times of shaking, what truly matters is your relationship with God- not even your Pastor's faith is enough to help you. 

Job 13:15a Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; ....

Job 19:25-27  I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes- I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!

Just as I called on to the God I knew, as a four year old girl, in my minute of crisis, you too will be required to call and trust God in your hour of need.  You can only hold fast to God if your faith is firmly rooted in Him.  Such rooting is personal and not congregational.  Your faith must be founded on an absolute trust in God; the God whom you have known and experienced as a person.  Such faith can be likened to that of a little girl who trusts his Father's ability to save, even in the most grim situation.  Such faith is founded on the understanding of God's immeasurable and unconditional love.

Just like in my case and in the case of Job, God's eyes are on you even as you be in your free fall.  During our fall, our faith is tested and it is brought forth as gold (Job 23:10).  We gain a right perspective of our lives as well as the world and its offerings.  More importantly, we experience God.  Our test becomes a testimony that no human philosophy or religious argument can take away.  Our eyes get a privilege to see God, and our hearts are forever imprinted with the divine encounter.

Job 42:5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

Your fall is not your end.  Perhaps for some, you have started getting accustomed to the conditions of your fall and you are slowly resigning your mind and heart to settle at the dungeon or in the valley.  God's plan for you is good; it is for a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  Trust Him to bring you back (restore) to a place of higher glory.  Only believe.  Job's life's ending is a testimony of God's Faithfulness.  Only rest in God's Faithfulness. 

Job 42:12-17 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.

He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.

And he also had seven sons and three daughters.  The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch.

Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.  And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

 I do not know what may have caused your free fall situation.  For some perhaps it is not even one challenge but rather several misfortunes happening concurrently.  God has got your back.  Trust God that He will show case the glory of His Might through you.

Join me in making this prayer: 

Dear Lord, I am in distress.  I realize my helplessness and apart from you I cannot carry the weight of all that confronts me.  It is dark Lord, and yet I acknowledge that you are the light.  It is scary, and yet I realize that you are always with me.  I ask for your intervention in my situation.  I ask that you may help me to remain steadfast in faith even as I wait on your deliverance and restoration.

I worship you Lord, because even in my situation, you are faithful.  I thank you for what you are working in me in this season, because my faith is being brought forth as gold.  I receive your victory.  I entrust my self to your hand that is able to give me a safe and victorious landing.  Receive my adoration, for you are worthy of worship.  Amen.

An Estranged, Adulterous Bride

The overriding theme of the book of Hosea is God's love for an unfaithful, sinful people.  The author of the book is Hosea and his name means salvation.  He is a type of Christ, who is instructed by God to marry an adulterous wife (Hosea 1:2).  The book was written between 753-715 BC.  At the beginning of Hosea's ministry, King Jeroboam II ruled Israel, and the nation was at its prosperous peak though its morality had fast deteriorated.  While some dwelt in plenty, the poor were highly oppressed (NIV Commentary).

I have utmost respect for prophet Hosea.  His ministry mandate was uniquely difficult and yet he obeyed.  God asked Hosea as follows, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord."  Please note that God revealed to Hosea the kind of woman that he was about to marry- an adulterous wife.  Yet Hosea went ahead and married Gomer despite his foreknowledge of the kind of wife she was going to be!  This is true obedience.

Hosea, an Old Testament picture of Jesus, reaches out and chooses to marry a woman whom he knew very well would not keep the marriage vows.  Isn't it humbling to know that Christ chose us and destined us to Himself in our filthy state.  As He bore the skin-wrenching strokes, one after another till they were thirty nine, He was doing it for a bride that did not know Him nor revere Him as God.  As Christ listened to the slander of the false witnesses before Pilate and as He endured the mockery of the crowd on the way to Golgotha, He was doing it for a people whose hearts were far from Him.

Those He loved and came to save, did not recognize Him.  They only afforded Him a crown of thorns and a notice of charge that read, "JESUS OF NAZARETH. THE KING OF THE JEWS".  The shame of being undressed in public and his clothes being divided by lot by those who crucified him; and the jeers and insults hurled to Him, were all borne for a sinful people.   Not even the excruciating pain of nails piercing His hands and feet could diminish His Love for mankind.  His foreknowledge that His very own Bride would at sometimes break covenant did not deter His willingness to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God.

John 10:18- No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

Hosea was appointed a prophet to Israel to demonstrate God's love and justice (through His marriage) and urge Israel to return to God.  Jesus Christ, willfully became the Passover Lamb and lay His life on the cross to demonstrate the love and justice of God.  He chose not to open His mouth, though oppressed and afflicted.  He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, but remained silent as a sheep before her shearers.  He was assigned a grave with the wicked yet He had done no violence and no deceit was in his mouth (Isaiah 53:7-9).

The price Christ paid for the penalty of mankind's sin was enough!  Christ's death was enough!  He cancelled the written code and its regulations that was against us and stood opposed to us (the penalty of the law for offenses committed). He took away the charge that stood against us, nailing it to the cross.  He disarmed powers and authorities and triumphed over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).  His blood shed on the cross is enough to take away our sin and reconcile us to the Father.

Christ, paid the price for His Bride, once and for all.  By reason of the Cross, you and I can be saved.  Salvation is by faith in Christ Jesus through incomprehensibly abundant grace that the Father has provided to mankind.  When you give your life to Christ, you are immediately reconciled to God and become a child of God.  Your status changes from "God's creation" to "God's child"; you join the family of God (John 1:12)!  You enter into covenant relationship with Christ.  You are betrothed to Christ!

It is important to understand the Jewish culture on marriage to understand the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-3.  In that culture, a young man would betroth a girl by payment of dowry and legally the girl would become his wife.  However, he would not immediately take his wife with him.  He would first go to build a house for his wife (to prepare a place for her- John 14:3).  Once the house was ready, the groom would request the father to check and ascertain if everything was okay.  With the permission of the father, the groom would return to take his bride home.

All this while, the bride was preparing herself for her groom.  She would for example be put into a beautification regime and her activities restrained (a form of separation).  She would not know the exact day of her groom's return and thus she would wait in anticipation.  When she heard the sounds of celebration and jubilation from afar, she then knew that her groom had come to take her home.

You and I, betrothed to Christ, are the virgins that Apostle Matthew talks about.  We are to be ready for our Groom, Jesus Christ.  Not only must we have our lamps with us (salvation) but we must also  have our lamps trimmed and oils ready (full of the Spirit).  We must keep watching and prayerfully waiting for our Groom!

Revelation 22:17a The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"

The bride betrothed to a groom was supposed to keep herself in sexual purity.  On the day that the groom would take her home, she would enter the groom's house and there they would know each other and stay indoors for seven days.  A cloth stained with blood upon consummation would not only be proof that the bride was a virgin (Deuteronomy 22:17) but would also be a symbol of the covenant entered into and sealed with blood.

If during consummation the groom discovered that the bride was not a virgin, he was to bring a charge against his wife to the elders and the penalty for the sin of fornication was stoning to death (Deuteronomy 22:20-21).  In addition, once the two were married, if adultery was committed, both the man and woman who committed the adultery were to die (Deuteronomy 22:22).  This is how serious sexual unfaithfulness is to God, and for this reason He prescribed very harsh punishment to deter Israel from that sin.

Unfortunately, Israel at the time of prophet Hosea was accused of and judged for adultery (Hosea 2).  In wrath, God swore to make Israel like a desert; a parched land; and to slay her with thirst.  A desert speaks of barrenness.  It is a place with little life.  It is a hostile place.  Because of adultery, Israel would become a desert spiritually.  Nothing would flourish.  It would bear no fruit. It would become a parched land, its ground gaping with cracks from the sun's ruthless heat.

Israel was accused of going after lovers for food, water, wool, linen, oil and drink (Hosea 2:5).  Sadly, the Bride of Christ has forsaken her first love and she has gone after other lovers for wealth, fame, power, recognition and lustful pleasure.  God accuses us of spiritual adultery.  Since sin separates us from God, we have become estranged to our Groom.  We no longer hear His voice for the voices of lovers have dampened His still small voice. 

Jeremiah 2:32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.

Revelation 2:4-5 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

Just like God's judgement was upon Israel, His judgement is upon the Church today.  His judgement comes not to destroy but to restore.  God makes us a desert, a parched land and exposes our lewdness before our lovers, to lure us back to Him.  He wants to remove our sin-stained clothes and clothe us with robes of righteousness.  If only we would return to Him in repentance for our Groom awaits to receive us back with open arms and lavish us with His unconditional love.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Many preachers have labored much to teach believers on how to make wealth and prosper.   For some, their efforts have borne little or no fruit.  Please note that when sin is present, it corrupts and brings a curse to creation- the land; the skies; the waters; the livestock etc.  The land vomits mankind because of sin (Leviticus 18:28).  On the contrary, the skies and the earth responds to righteousness; the grain, the wine and the oil responds to righteousness (Hosea 2:21-22).  Many believers, in foolishness, have sought prosperity apart from God.  Sadly, mammon is their god.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God was so angered by Israel that He called them, "Not my loved ones" and "Not my people".  This must have deeply pained God.  Sin had separated God from the people He loved.  Yet as a demonstration of His unfailing love, He instructed Hosea to go and love his adulterous wife and redeem her from her lovers.  God's unrelenting love keeps pursuing the Church to return to Him.  In His anger, He remembers mercy.  Children of God, let us forsake our lovers and return to our Father.  His love is enough!

Hosea 3:1 Go show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress.  Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.

Hosea bought back his wife Gomer for fifteen shekels (170 grams) of silver and about a homer and a lethek (about 330 litres) of barley.  God's redemptive price for the Church has already been paid.  The Passover Lamb that was slain paid the entire penalty for sin committed in the past, present and future.  All that God requires of us is to return to Him in repentance and He is Faithful to forgive our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

A charge of prostitution stands against believers (Hosea 4).  God requires that we submit ourselves to Him in brokenness and contriteness of spirit that He may circumcise the foreskin of our hearts and inwardly transform us.  God requires that we rid ourselves of idols- things that we have exalted above God.  For some of us, our idols have been career success.  For some of us, it has been money; we have been willing to compromise our faith to gain wealth.  For others, political leaders and tribal affiliations have become our idols.  Whatever the idols, God requires us to forsake all and allow His Love to satisfy us.

Hosea was very forthright about Israel's judgement (Hosea 5).  Unfortunately, Israel did not heed to God's warnings and call to repentance (Hosea 6-7).  Consequently, Israel's capital city, Samaria, was destroyed by Assyria and the people taken captive (Hosea 8-9) in 722 BC.

God gives a diagnosis for Israel's rebellion.  He says, "Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself.  As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones," Hosea 10:1.  Sadly, as Israel prospered, their hearts turned away from their God.  They forgot God's kindness: the Lord who had delivered them from slavery; and the God who had bent down to feed them for fourty years in the desert (Hosea 11:4).

The 21st century Church is a very rich church.  It can be likened to the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22.  Though it is the richest in church history, it is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked spiritually.  Though its priests and members adorn in admirable clothes, spiritually they are naked.  Though they have vast information at their disposal and are advanced in knowledge, they neither see the signs of the times nor understand the seasons in which they live.  Though they excel in eloquence and exhibit glamour, they lack the oracles of God that are life and light.  Instead, they have built altars to other gods.

Christ is coming back soon and He is coming for a blameless Bride.  There is no debate about that.  Scripture is very clear about the kind of bride that Christ is coming for.  See the below scriptures.

Ephesians 5:25-27 ..., just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Revelation 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb '" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

Indeed blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of God.  Will you be there at the wedding feast prepared by the Groom when He takes us home?  Be prepared, for behold He comes soon (Revelation 22:20).  His coming for the Bride will be sudden; like the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Matthew 24:36-51; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 16:15).  Children of God who are found not ready for the Groom, like the five foolish virgins, will go through the Great Tribulation and though they may be saved, it will be through their blood (Revelation 21:4).

The time is short.  Put away your lovers/ idols child of God, and return to your Groom.  Let His Love satisfy you for He is all that you need for life and godliness.  I welcome you to take a minute and rededicate your life to God.  Renew your vows to the Lord and ask Him to renew your love for Him.  Enthrone Him as Lord in your heart and safeguard against all other idols.  Amen.

Hosea 12:6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.

Partnering with God for Revival

The universal Church of Jesus Christ undoubtedly lives in a seemingly difficult time of unprecedented crisis, plagues, calamities, uprisings and wars. Looking with physical eyes, it is easy to fear and be anxious about the future.  In fact, in ignorance, some may reminisce the good old days and wish that they never lived at such a time.

Countries that for many years knew financial freedom today grapple with decline in economic growth, non-performing financial markets, high inflation, deteriorating currency value, unmanageable debt and heightened levels of unemployment.  Humanly speaking, life is difficult.  According to a study done by Princeton University in 2015, there is an epidemic of hopelessness in the globe.  Among the countries examined (Australia, Canada, Sweden, UK, Sweden and France), increased deaths are not as a result of lifestyle diseases but rather as a result of suicide and drug/ alcohol overdoses.

Though there has been commendable breakthroughs in medicine, people's physical and emotional health is wanting.  Ruthless claws of viral/ bacterial outbreaks and cancer have devoured man and left many families in agony.  Health care has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and in many countries, it is only concerned with the rich and has lost its humane face.  The vulnerable in the society, orphans, widows, strangers, physically challenged and the poor are unable to raise often exhorbitant prices quoted for their treatment.

Wars and civil strife have befallen many nations, and the number of refugees globally are at the highest record in history.   According to UNHCR report 2019, 70.8 million people have been displaced from their homes, and 25.9 million of them are refugees.  Sadly, one (1) person is forcibly displaced in the world every two seconds, due to conflict or persecution.  Consider the children born in countries that have been in war for more than a decade.  Consider the trauma they have experienced by seeing dead bodies and hearing the sounds of explosions and guns, day in and day out.  Consider the emotional wounds and pain borne by women for loss of husbands to war, and sufferings of rape and other forms of sexual defilement.  Consider the groaning and agony of a husband separated from his wife and children, never to see them again.

Increased Islamic extremism has enslaved many and caused a great shedding of blood globally.   Consider the 7,328 people who died in Afghanistan as a result of terrorism activities, in year 2018.  Consider the over 10,000 people killed by Taliban and ISIL (only two terror groups) in year 2018.  Consider the people maimed and under-age girls betrothed in marriage to rebels in Northern Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad by Boko Haram.  Countries re-known for advanced security systems have also not been spared by the scourge of terrorism.  Far-right terrorism has increased in the West especially in Western Europe, North America and Oceania cumulatively recording a 320 percentage rise (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2019).

According to Open Doors USA, in year 2019, 260 million Christians lived in places where they experienced high levels of persecution.  2,983 Christians were killed for their faith (this captures only the recorded incidences so the actual number is likely to be higher).  3,711 believers were arrested, detained and sentenced in prison without trial.  These are not mere figures, they are children of God, dyeing, often for their faith.

The comfort however is that these occurrences have not caught God by surprise.  In fact, these occurrences are foretold in Scripture and are birth pains for the end of time.

Matthew 24:6-8 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 

In spite of the darkness that has filled the earth, looking with spiritual eyes, it is an exciting time for believers to be alive.  It is a great moment for the manifestation of God's glory in the earth.   The solution of earth's turmoils does not lie in a world leader who will unify humanity; it is not in better economic management (as important as this may be); it is not in any human intervention.  The solution of our time lies in God and God alone.  The manifestation of God's glory in the earth in tangible, unprecedented measures is what the nations and the kings of the earth need.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Revival is when God comes in manifest glory and inhabits the earth.  Revival is when great fear of God captures the hearts of men, and great conviction by the Spirit makes even the hardest of hearts to break down before God in repentance.  Revival is when the Spirit of the Lord is released upon the earth like a pent-flood and raises a standard against the devil.   Revival is when God comes.

Isaiah 59:19-20 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.  And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.
(King James Version)

Isaiah 59: 19-20 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.  For he will come like a pent-flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, ....
(NIV Version)

Looking at past revivals, I can only anticipate what God has in store for the End-time revival, considering that the glory of the latter church is foretold to be greater than that of the former.  Revival is not an out of this world phenomena that happens without man's involvement.  On the contrary, revival begins with and flows through men and women set apart for God.  God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11) thus God uses the vessels available to be carriers of revival, irrespective of their social status, level of learning, denomination, tribe or race.

In the Welsh revival that started in 1904, God used coblers (e.g. Smith Wigglesworth), coal miners (e.g. Stephen Jeffreys) and gifted writers (e.g. Donald Gee).  People from all walks of life, surrendered to God and hungry for Him, were used as carriers of revival.  Smith Wigglesworth (1859- 1947), a man who was taught by his wife how to read and write is referred to as an apostle of faith, because he positioned himself as a carrier of revival in his generation.  Stephen Jeffreys, a man who started working at the mines at the age of 12 years became one of the greatest evangelists of the 20th century and is quoted saying, "I want to go all the way with the Lord and He will make me a flame of fire."

Donald Gee (1891-1966), serving as a principal of a bible college left an indelible imprint on the lives of young men and women, and authored a globally read book, "Wind and Flame".   Howard Carter (1891- 1971) a man imprisoned for eight years for being a conscientious objector during the World War I, became a great prophetic teacher and dedicated his life to one mission- the will of God.  Harold Horton (1881- 1969), a song writer, was baptized in the Spirit and his talent reached new heights to impact the nations with anointed hymns and praises.

Similarly, the Azusa Street revival started by a meeting held in 1906 in Los Angeles, California.  William J. Seymour, an African American preacher led the revival.  William, born to liberated slave parents, was a man raised in abject poverty in Louisiana.  Since God knows no human limitations, He chose to use this man with no glamorous background and no impressive profile in religious circles to be the carrier of revival in his generation.

Think also of Lester Frank Sumrall (1913- 1996), a Louisiana "bad boy" who encountered Christ in his death bed and was transformed to a carrier of good news to the nations.  God used him to impact the nations with his evangelism, healing and deliverance ministry.  With no theology training, Lester was ordained a minister of the gospel when spiritual leaders in his church saw how God was using him to bring many lost people to the Lord.

These men, ordinary from a human assessment, were greatly used of God.  However, the revival story is not merely about them for they were only conduits through which the revival floods flowed.  The revival story is about the glory of God that became manifest in an unprecedented manner as these ordinary men availed themselves to be carriers of revival.  This glory resulted to hundred upon hundreds of men coming to the Lord within a few months of preaching the gospel in a region.  This glory led to the sick being healed; signs and wonders confirmed the preaching of the Word.  This glory led to such great conviction upon men and women that pubs closed and prisons recorded a decline in convicts.  This glory led to the church walking in the apostolic and prophetic grace, influencing governments and taking over territories for Christ.  This glory, is the glory of the Risen Christ!

The fruitfulness of their ministries was not attributed to much study or natural giftedness; it was purely attributed to the anointing.  This is similar to the impact of encountering Christ that the apostles of Christ experienced.  John describes the encounter this way: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

It is with no doubt that the apostles were transformed to their core by the glory of Christ that they beheld for the three years that they related with Him closely.  This transformation is evident in the fruitfulness of their ministries and in the spirit of their minds.  Additionally, they became dynamites for Christ when on the day of Pentecost, they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The fulfillment of Joel 2:28-29 had come, which is the outpouring of God's Spirit upon all flesh.  Consequently, the world was turned up side down!

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 2:47b And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Acts 6:8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord; who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

One of the greatest blessings for today's believers is that we live at the appointed time when God is planning to open the flood gates of heaven and pour upon hearts of men and women His Spirit in a new measure, for End-time revival.  You and I have an invaluable opportunity to be carriers of revival.  I am overjoyed by the prophetic word for the East Africa region and particularly the nation of Kenya, which God intends to honor with the blessing of revival.  These revival floods shall flow from the East of Africa to the nations of the world.

What must you and I do to be carriers of revival?    Firstly, we must position ourselves in righteousness (be in right standing with God).  We must hate sin and love holiness.  We must not waver between two opinions.  The times we live in are such that they demand that you and I decide on whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15).  Those who sit on the fence will ultimately suffer in the hands of the devil, for compromised living.  You and I can no longer be double minded and survive the perilous times.  It is either you are for God or against God.  It is either you are on the Lord's side or not.  The battle lines have been drawn in the spiritual realm.  The forces of darkness against the angels of God.  Victory belongs to The Risen Christ!

Isaiah 59:20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord

Secondly, revival is ushered in through prayer because spiritual things are first birthed in the spirit before they are manifested in the flesh.  God is looking for men and women who will labour in the Spirit until they birth forth end-time revival.  Such labouring in prayer requires separation; it requires an adjustment of priorities; it requires a mind set on Jesus.  Sadly, some believers are so obsessed by worldly affairs that they can hardly perceive of the times and understand what they ought to do.  

1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do ....

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

If you have ears to hear, you will hear what God is saying to the Church in this season.  The message is important and central in God's agenda for the church that He is using various people and occurrences to communicate the message of revival and the need for consecration of the church.  The Spirit is bidding us to non-casual seeking of God's face. 

If you are keen, you will perceive a beckoning to the secret place, for Christ desires to reveal His glory to you.  The Father is ready! Jesus is ready! The Spirit is ready!  You and I need to prepare to usher in revival.  It is at the place of prayer that this preparation takes place; this is where a divine surgery is undertaken on my heart to give me a new heart, broken and contrite before God.  It is at the place of prayer that the fire of God burns away the chaff and makes me a flame of fire for God.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Thirdly, we must wait in faith for revival as watchmen appointed by God over our nations.  We must believe that God is willing and able to revive us, for without faith it is impossible to please God.  We must believe that God is a Rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  He is a Good Father.  He will release the floods of revival to flow through those who ask. 

Luke 11:11-13 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

As Simeon and Anna received a revelation about the birth of the Messiah and prayerfully waited for its fulfillment (Luke 2:21-38), so God requires that we wait in faith for the coming revival revealed to us through His Spirit.  I am availing my self to be used in the End-time revival.  I want to be a part of what God is doing.  I want to partner with God for fulfillment of His Word in our times.  I dare not insist on my agenda.  I dare not superimpose my plans to His.  I submit to Him and position my self in the righteousness that is mine in Christ Jesus; I choose to pray and wait in faith until revival is birthed forth in my nation.  To God be all glory, forever and ever, Amen!

Loving Jesus Above All Else

Many countries today are registering numerous people attending church every Sunday or Saturday (for the Seventh Day Adventists).  This is especially true in Africa.  Studies show that in 1900, only nine million Christians were in the continent of Africa.  Today, the number of Christians in Africa outnumbers that found in any other single continent.  2015 studies shows that Africa leads with 631 million resident Christians, followed by Latin America at 601 million and thirdly, Europe at 571 million (Gordon Theological Seminary Data).

What significant growth of Christianity in the African continent! It is a seventy-fold growth!  Indeed, God has been at work in this continent once known as the "black continent".  The light of Christ has shown on us through the gospel and given us life- abundant life!  We who were not a people, sometimes even thought of us second class creation, are now the people of God!

1 Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

There is no doubt that God has been good to mankind.  God's providence of salvation has given mankind a new eternal life.  A life that is dead to sin and alive in righteousness.  A life of enjoying all the providence of God's blessings- peace, joy, rest, fruitfulness, abundance, dominion, physical and emotional wholeness, and most importantly, communion with Our Father.  The gift of salvation is the greatest gift to mankind; it is the greatest gift to the continents of the world.

Having received this gift, it is easy to forget the worth of salvation.  It is easy to take for granted that gift that is familiar to many of us.   Since familiarity breeds contempt, it is possible for believers, who dearly loved God, to trample under foot the Son of God.  It is probable for believers to forget the invaluable price that was paid at the cross for our redemption from eternal condemnation and death.  When such forgetfulness plagues our minds, believers begin to indulge in sin as a matter of lifestyle.  The conscious is seared with sin and they no longer revere their Saviour and Lord.

Hebrews 10:26-29- If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Many in the body of Christ today have retained the rituals of Christianity but their hearts have grown cold to the guidance of the Spirit and they have left the path of righteousness.  They have maintained their church membership and mannerisms, but their hearts are not with the Lord.  Please note that what I describe here is not occasional stumbling to sin by a believer.  As long as believers are on the earth, they are yet to be perfected.  God remembers that believers are flesh and dust (Psalms 78:39), and though they fall seven times, they arise (Proverbs 24:16).   Thus, what I describe here is a believer whose heart is set on knowingly violating God's word.

How can a person who knew the Lord so well and experienced the warmth of His embrace, the joy of His liberty, and His indescribable peace that surpasses human understanding, forsake all these for worldly and temporary things?  This question rightly reveals the wickedness of the heart of man.  He is gullible to the lures of sin.

The fallibility of man was known to God as He dealt with Israel across the Jordan prior to them entering the promised land.  For this reason, God took time to guide them on how they were to order their lives if they were to flourish in the promised land and enjoy its blessings.  For emphasis, God did not address the matter once or twice, He did it severally.  It was important for Israel to follow God if they were to be established and take over the entire land of promise.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2  Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.  Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.  Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronomy 8:1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

The Old Testament is the New Testament foretold; the Old Covenant a foreshadow of the New Covenant.  The words of God through the prophets speak to us who are in the New Covenant in profound ways, to reveal to us God; to teach us the wisdom of God; and to build our faith in God.  These words in Deuteronomy though spoken to Israel by Moses, are being spoken to us the 21st Century church.  Oh, how the Lord desires that we walk in His paths of righteousness if we are to experience the full blessedness of our Salvation!

What does God require of the Church today?  What must we do as believers of our time to safeguard against disobedience?

 God requires that the Church of Jesus Christ to feed itself with the Bread of Life- His Word.  God instructed Joshua to meditate on His law day and night, that he may prosper and have good success (Joshua 1:8).  Many preachers and motivational speakers today are giving people many "wisdom nuggets" on prosperity.   When human wisdom is popularized and presented as the Word of God, many believers chase prosperity and success apart from the principles of God.  Stop the rat race!  The wisdom you need for life and godliness is already given you through God's Word.  That word, which is a lamp and light, will guard your heart from worldliness and keep your mind set on Jesus.  That word will preserve you in righteousness and give you true prosperity and success.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21  18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Many believers want Jesus.  That is why they show up at church every Sunday.  That is why they got saved and baptized.  That is why they observe Christian holidays and participate in Christian festivities.  However, the tragedy is they do not want Jesus above all else that they want in life.  For them, Jesus is a "good-to-have" and not a "must-have".  Because of this condition, believers have opened up a loophole for idolatry in their lives.  Since Jesus is not their ultimate need and desire, they are willing to compromise Jesus for worldly things.  God says to us, "Stop the religious show!  I am not interested!"

Consider a Christian accountant who gives a false report as directed by his/her manager to not only safeguard his/her job but also to secure a promotion.  For this Christian accountant, salvation is good but is not the greatest treasure in his/her life.  Sadly, other things have higher priority.  Perhaps the career is higher prioritized than Jesus in his/her life.  Or what about that young mother who suffers lack and decides to relate intimately with a married man (commonly known as "sponsors" here in Kenya) for her survival.  Or what about that aspiring Christian politician who dishes out money to potential voters because his/her country's system dictates that money is the best means for convincing voters.  Yet all these three congregate on Sunday at a service and since they have learnt the language and mannerisms of Christianity, they may hypocritically worship God and perhaps even serve Him and heftily contribute towards church projects. 

God requires today's believer to revere Him and to love Him above all else.  When we love God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, obeying Him is not burdensome and serving Him is a delight.  We must model our lives after Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).  We must follow Jesus; He alone must we follow.  Truly, from the depths of us, we must love the Lord with all that is within us.  Not hypocritically, as some are fond of doing.

The fear of God must return to the Church; all else believers should expect judgment- severe judgment.  The God of Love is also the God of Justice, lest we should forget.

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

1 Peter 4:16-17 16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 

God requires that believers safeguard their hearts against the corruption of worldly riches and pleasures.  Undoubtedly, in God there is abundance.  That abundance is as a result of His grace and has nothing to do with our righteousness.  Indeed God is a Good Father, and so He lavishes His children with abundant blessings.  However, He requires that we will not love money nor serve it.  No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  If a person's love is money, there his/her heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

God requires that we safeguard our hearts from idolatry of riches and wealth by observing the principle of giving.  Africa and many other continents of the world are suffering from the repercussions of greed.  Greed is a sin of idolatry.  Many believers today are struggling to attain riches and wealth at whatever expense.  Some hoard wealth to themselves even when there is no reason to.  Unfortunately, in so doing, they deny themselves the privilege of being conduits of God's blessings in their communities, nations and the continent at large.

When we love Jesus above all else, we will love those He loves.  We will be glad to join Him in His agenda on earth.  Giving to the course of Christ will be such a joy and delight.  God does not need our resources, but He has privileged us with an opportunity to partner with Him in His work here on earth.  For the 21st Century believer to walk in the fullness of God's blessings, he/she must pay his/ her tithes; be compassionate about the less fortunate in society and share with them as God provides.  If believers are to eat and be satisfied in the land, we must observe the command in the below scripture.

Deuteronomy 26:11-12 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.  When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

God is calling the 21st Century believer to renew his/her love vows to Him.  He is calling us to forsake all else and follow Jesus.  He is calling us away from religion to the blessed secret place of intimately knowing the Lord.  He is calling us to renewed resolve that we will serve Him, and Him Only, irrespective of what others think or say (Joshua 24:15).

I pray that you will make this your payer: "It is You Lord that I need; it is communing with You intimately that I long for; it is You Lord that I thirst for above all else; it is You Lord that I will labour for, spending my self unreservedly for Your purposes.  You are the Greatest Treasure in my Life.  I commit to love you and obey you in good times and in bad times,"

Be of Good Cheer & Walk in Victory, Child of God

I sometimes see life as a cyclist on a bicycle.  As long as the cyclist is on the bike and desires movement, they will utilise the peddles.  The foot peddles represent the various seasons of life that we have to experience to progress in life.  Think about it.  The foot peddles move up (high seasons) and down (low seasons), and sometimes are on balance in horizontal position (moderate/ so-so seasons).

Usually, the cyclist is not worried about the foot on the peddle in down position because he knows that this is only temporary.  As long as the bicycle is in forward movement, the peddle will come up again.  On the other hand, the cyclist is also cognizant of the fact that the peddle in the up position will at some point shift its position.  No position is permanent for the foot pedals.

The up-down movement of the peddle facilitates progress and it is by no means designed to reverse the bicycle.  Do you know that to reverse the bicycle, normally you have to put at least one foot off the pedal and reverse the bike using your hands?  Similarly, life is full of seasons that come in varied lengths and intensity.  These are both enjoyable and challenging seasons; joyous and sad seasons; restful and warring seasons.  Just like the bicycle analogy, these seasons all work out for good and for fulfillment of God's grander plan for our lives.  As long as your feet are moving in forward direction on the bike peddles, expect progress and not retrogression!  Keep pressing on; do not give up!

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Paul assures us that all things work out for the good of those who love the Lord.  God has called you and I according to His purpose, and He is Faithful to align all occurrences to work out for the fulfillment of that purpose.   As long as we are hidden in Christ, no challenge, no set back, no disappointment, no loss will deter you from your destiny.  However, you need to know this!  This needs to be your persuasion as you journey through the seasons of life.  Whatever life brings, may you always know that your entire life is safe and secure in God's hands.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God has assured us of victory in all things!  We are not to conquer in some seasons of life.  No, we are to conquer in all seasons of our lives!  In fact, we are to do more than conquer; our victory as believers is to exceed expected standards of victory.  It is a divinely given victory that defies all odds.  It is a victory that defies the economy's prospects; the doctor's report; the opinions of society; your family background; your physical limitations; only to mention but a few.

You and I need to be convinced about this.  You and I need to profess this daily in our lives.  You and I need to live in the revelation of this truth, that we are more than conquerers.  It is not enough to just believe it; live it!

Romans 1:17b The righteous shall live by faith.

One of my friends some years back was confronted with stage four cancer that threatened to take away her life.  The doctors' reports painted gloom.  During this season, Romans 8:37 was revealed to my friend and I and it was our rhema word for the season.  We stood on God's word that we are more than conquers and we would proclaim it in almost every conversation we had: sisi ni zaidi ya washindi (we are more than conquerers).  We said it, we sang it and the Lord showed Himself strong in that situation, in accordance to His word.  Today, about six years later, she is alive and serving the Lord!

Contrary to God's desire, it is unfortunate that in a time of crisis, we sometimes run away from God rather than running to God.  Feelings of anxiety, despair, bitterness, impatience and hopelessness make our hearts to grow cold and to turn away from our Father.  Those who live in the revelation of Romans 8:37-39 will hold fast to God, for they know Him as a Refuge.  They that have learnt the discipline of looking on to God will receive strength that enables them to charge against an army, to scale walls (Proverbs 18:29) and to quench all flaming darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16).

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Like children, we must learn to rest in the loving arms of God.   Rather than spending time pitying ourselves and praying for lapse of a season, let us choose to rejoice in the workings of God in and through us while we journey through that season.   Let us pray for an eternal perspective to life, such that our hope will not be pegged on what is earthly (temporary) but what is eternal (permanent).  God desires that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death in victory.  In so doing, our lives become a living testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness.

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

In this season of Christmas, irrespective of your circumstance, choose to celebrate and walk in the victory that is your inheritance as a child of God.  Do not let media reports, society's opinions, economic forecasts, doctor's reports and family background to cause your heart to be downcast.  Rejoice in the Lord!  Again I say, Rejoice, for this is the plan of God for you (Philippians 4:4)!

Last month on one quiet evening, in a hotel room in Lusaka, I was broken-hearted and repentant.  I was repenting on my own behalf and on behalf of my nation Kenya for the sin of grumbling and hopelessness.  These two are manifestations of the flesh that are often borne when man looks to any other thing, apart from God, for help.

On this particular day,  my heart had been deeply convicted during a conversation I had engaged in earlier in the day with delegates attending a work meeting. Among those attending the meeting were delegates from African countries and during tea break, we conversed about the situation in our home countries.  Some were coming from countries with significant challenges, but to my surprise, their level of hope and positivity was commendable.  The conversations provoked a necessity for objective self-evaluation on my "gratitude and hope thermometers".

I realized that I and my country men (Kenyans) had grumbled unnecessarily.  Perhaps, we are chronic grumblers- those that whine about the half empty glass and consciously ignore the water filling half the glass.  The object of our trust has been wanting.  We have put our trust in shaky ground: politicians, economic forecasts and media reports.  Many Kenyans exhibit hopelessness in their conversations, and the church which is meant to be a place of refuge for the hopeless, has not been spared.  Sadly, the conversations of many believers exhibit negativity and hopelessness, in a measure that relatively compares to that of non-believers.

What happened to children of God, called to be beacons of hope?  Abraham's life challenges believers to build their lives on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and not on temporary/ material things.  Abraham obeyed God to leave his homeland and follow God's guidance to a promised land.  Though he received and obeyed the promise of God, he lived in tents like a stranger in a foreign country.  Not only he, but his child Isaac and his grandchild Jacob also lived in tents, though heirs of God promise.

This seemingly delay of God's promise should have made Abraham and his descendants hopeless.  However it did not.  Abraham's focus was on God (the giver) and not on the promise (the promised land).  This gave him an eternal perspective of life.  Hebrews 11:10 says that Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

For this faith, founded on the Maker of heaven and earth, Abraham was commended.  In fact, God was proud to be surnamed as God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for He had prepared a heavenly city for them (Hebrews 11:16).  Friends, our father Abraham showed us the way of faith:  Faith in God who is a Good and Faithful Father.  It is a faith that rises above delay, physical weakness, emotional hurt, human reason and wisdom.

As I sought the Lord in that room in Lusaka, God impressed upon me two questions which I believe He is asking us (believers) today:

• Why are you downcast, child of God?

God commands you to put your trust in Him; to keep your praise to Him (which is a spiritual weapon) and to remember Him (His Love, His Faithfulness, His Victory, His Grace, His Mercy, His Promises fulfilled in the past etc).

Psalms 42:5-6 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

• In what/ whom is your trust?

Psalms 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame

I pray that in this season of Christmas, hope in the promises of God will be renewed in you.  I pray that your faith will be strengthened and in obedience to God, you will live by faith.  I pray that you will be of good cheer irrespective of your circumstance.  I pray that God's Victory will be manifest in your life, to the praise and glory and honor of God!

Be Restored in Your Spiritual Authority- Part II

From part I of this discussion, spiritual authority is the legal ground to exercise spiritual power.  We learnt that spiritual authority is inherent in our restored relationship with the Father through Christ, since all who believe are made Sons of God (John 1:12).  Righteousness is key in exercising spiritual authority and this is attained only in Christ, as believers surrender their lives to life long sanctification.

Also noteworthy from the previous discussion is that Christ commissioned us and gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19; 28:18-20), to open doors for the blind to see, the lame to walk, the oppressed to be liberated and the sick to be healed.  The exercise of authority requires a believer to live by faith, firstly through seeking to know God through the revelation of His Word; moment-by-moment focusing on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; and spending time in the secret place of prayer.

A pertinent example in exercise of spiritual authority is the police man who standing on the road side, is able to flag down cars and the driver stops to listen to authority.  The police man may be the ordinary man in your neighbourhood, perhaps with a physically weaker stature than many people in his hood.  However, whenever he puts on his police uniform and walks out of his house, he is able to exercise the authority conferred to him by his enlisting authority.  Similarly, believers are commanded to clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).  This instruction is given in the context of living in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Believers are to always be dressed for duty, with the full the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  We are to sleep in the Armour, and go on vacation in the Armour, and to the mall in the Armour, and for work trips in the Armour.  Like the policeman, we are to exercise our authority wherever and whenever God leads us to, in order to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, and to build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10).

Soldiers are trained never to put down or put off their Armour while in the battle field.  My mother, a retired police officer, went for a promotion of rank course in the mid 90s and always came home with exciting and memorable stories.  One of the unforgettable stories that she told me is that when out in the jungle, they used to sleep in their uniform, boots, backpack positioned on their shoulders and each soldier holding on to his/her ammunition.  The body would be so fatigued that all joints and muscles ached, but they were trained not to give in to the lure of comfortable sleep.

On one of those nights when my mum and her fellow soldiers were out in the jungle, the trainers stage managed an attack where they began to fire at the tents where the trainees were sleeping.  Each soldier, as trained, quickly took cover and begun to crawl to his/her designated ditch to take their counter-attack position.  Fire exchanged for a while until they heard the voice of their Commander shouting out for ceasefire.  Each soldier was instructed to stay at their position for inspection and the trainers came by, ditch by ditch, evaluating each soldier.

Sadly, one of the most experienced soldiers in the troop was found to be bare footed.  He had removed his boots at night to take a comfortable nap and when the attack was suddenly staged, he moved out of the tent in haste, not having time to put on his boots.   As harsh as the discipline might seem, the soldier was immediately dismissed from the promotion of rank course.  He was not ready for higher responsibility!

Similarly, believers are in a a 24-7 battle field and we must discipline ourselves to be always clad with the full Armour of God!  Anyone who does otherwise is not fit for exercise of spiritual authority.  Irrespective of number of years in salvation, the principles of God's Word never change.  The command remains: put on the Armour of God!  Like the uniformed traffic policeman on the roadside or the armored soldier on patrol, is your spiritual authority being felt by your family, colleagues, neighbours, and the society at large?

It is without doubt that a soldier's mandate comes with authority.  This authority gives him/her the legal ground to exercise power.  A well trained soldier knows when to exercise certain powers because his/her objective is to accomplish the work entrusted to him/her by the master.   A traffic policeman by the roadside may need a pistol and handcuffs to enforce the law whenever need arises.  A soldier in a banditry stricken land needs more than a pistol to enforce the law in his/her area of jurisdiction; he may need an AK or G3 type of rifle and more sophisticated tools.  Simply, the authority of a soldier is complemented by weapons of power, as circumstances demand.

Spiritual power is endowment of divine strength and ability to a believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Great Commission.  The Gospels are very clear on this Commission, it is not something to be imagined or speculated on, it is expressly articulated in scripture.

Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16-15-18, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 

Luke 24:45-49, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

John 20:21, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 

Following the conferment of authority to the disciples for fulfillment of the Great Commission, Jesus further promised the gift of the Father, the Blessed Holy Spirit.  He sternly instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for divine empowerment (Acts 1:5).  The disciples now fully Commissioned waited in Jerusalem for dunamis (greek word for power used about 120 times in the New Testament).  On the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), the disciples received divine strength and ability to be effective witnesses of Jesus Christ!

Men who had been shy, doubtful and uneducated became dynamites for Jesus!  God's Dunamis was at work in them and through them for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.  The Book of Acts provides a great historical record of the early church moving in spiritual authority and power.  It was not a "fake it till you make it" gimmick.  No!  The ability to perform signs, wonders and miracles was inherent in them by reason of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  God's power was evident in their daily lives.

The apostles in Acts 5, for example, discerned that Ananias and Sapphira had lied to God in bringing in an incomplete offering.  The discernment of spirits is a gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). Consequently, they exercised their spiritual authority to pronounce judgement on the couple's disobedience.  In Iconium, Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas were speaking effectively, in the authority of Christ, and many believed.  However, a circumstance arose.  Some Jews incited women and men of influence in the city against the two apostles.  For the advancement of God's work amidst the opposition, God confirmed Paul and Barnabas message through miraculous signs and wonders.   Miraculous power is a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:10).

On another dramatic occurrence, Paul was preaching late in the night at Troas, and a man listening to Paul by the name of Eutychus fell from a window on third storey and died. Paul went to where he was lying, threw himself on the dead young man and wrapped his arms around him.  The young man was resurrected and many comforted by God's doing (Acts 20:7-12).  The power that raised Christ from the dead was at work through Paul's life to raise the dead! 

The apostles had certainly received the Gift of the Father (the Holy Spirit)!  Not earned but given freely!  Theirs had only been to tarry in Jerusalem in obedience to Jesus' instruction and wait with expectation for the infilling of the Spirit.  Consequently, the apostles not only lived and ministered in spiritual authority but they were also empowered by the Holy Spirit and operated in gifts of the Spirit.  Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit?  If not, what are you waiting for?  The blue print to receiving the Holy Spirit is in Scripture: desire; ask; wait in expectation; and receive the gift of the Father.

"Authority comes in the Commission.  Power comes in the encounter," by Bill Johnson

However, I need to caution that believers are called to pursue God and not power.  In God, are inexhaustible blessings and gifts (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11).  Our heart's cry needs to be like that of Paul in Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death."  As we eagerly desire spiritual gifts, we are to pursue a deeper relationship with God, for in so doing we follow the way of love as commanded in 1 Corinthians 14:1.

The late Dr. Myles Munroe in teaching about spiritual authority and power, highlights that they are three symbols of a Kingdom: crown, sensor and sceptor.  Crown represents power; sensor represents influence/ glory and sceptor represents authority.  Psalms 45:6 states, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." Additionally, David prophesied about the Anointed One in Psalms 110:2 and said, "The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies."

He who has the sceptor (authority) has the other two, crown (power) and sensor (influence).  However, it is possible to have power but no influence or authority.  In Genesis 49, Jacob is recorded blessing His sons.  Regarding Judah, Jacob prophesied, "The scepter will not depart from Judah".  David and Solomon, descendants of Judah, had the scepter to rule over Israel.  In addition, their power and influence is demonstrated in the accounts of scripture.  For example, other kings would temporarily leave their kingdoms to sit at the feet of Solomon and gain wisdom.  This was great influence!   However, it would be misleading to focus on Solomon's power and influence independent of his authority.  When Solomon allowed worldly affairs, including marrying foreign women and allowing worship of their gods, his authority begun to wane.

The late Dr. Myles notes, it is possible to be anointed but not legal. Simply put, some believers who received the gifts of the Spirit during their earlier days in salvation, have allowed their hearts to be corrupted and to grow cold to God and they have thus walked away from the way of righteousness.  Sadly, they continue to minister in the gifts of the Spirit since the gifts and call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).  However, they have little impact in advancing the Kingdom of God because the devil is not afraid of a believer's power but authority (reflect on the story of the ten plagues by Moses).

The more you meditate on scriptures regarding the matter under discussion, the more you realize that often when we live defeated Christian lives and are ineffective in ministry, it is not because of inadequate power but that our legal ground to exercise power is compromised.    For some believers, sin has compromised their legal ground to exercise power.  For others, unbelief while for others, complacency in seeking God in the secret place.  It is no wonder that on the Day of the Lord, some will be crying out to the Lord saying, "Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?  Did we not cast out demons in your name? Did we not perform many miracles?"  Matthew 7:23 states that Jesus will painly say to them, "I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers." 

Are you born again? Are you a Son of God?  You were created to exercise spiritual authority in Christ Jesus for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.   In your service to the Lord, God has provided divine strength and ability through the Spirit's power, and we see the manifestation of this power through various spiritual gifts.  This blessedness is yours in Christ Jesus!  May God help you and I to be restored to a life of spiritual authority and power. Amen.