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Keep Standing…

Having done all to stand…

This is an extraordinary season for our generation. We have seen sicknesses and pandemics before, but COVID-19 brings a new level of challenges in all spheres of life going by the scale of spread and impact on the world.

However, what is happening is not a shock to God. God knows the end from the beginning Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

Sicknesses, pandemics, earthquakes and other disasters were all predicted to be signs of the end-times in the scriptures, these are all consequences of sin and corruption and God allowed them to happen. Matthew 24:5-8

In the previous write-up we discussed about outlasting the season.

What do we do to endure the season and come victorious at the other end?

Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Take on the full armour of God.

Truth – Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 .

Refuse the lies of the enemy. Stick to the truth of the Word of God. What does God’s Word say about you, your life, your health and welfare? Even if the circumstances say otherwise, remain standing on the Word of God.

The breastplate of righteousness – Jesus makes you righteous so enjoy the status and take your authority in Christ.

Preparedness – Be prepared, be alert and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times. Be prepared for opportunities to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with as many as God will bring your way and using diverse means. Be prepared against any battle trick of the enemy. Be prepared for the coming of the Lord. Live prepared.

Shield of Faith – Know who you are and stand on God’s word. Even when you feel symptoms and the devil attacks your mind with all kinds of lies/messages, do not give in.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

We attack and push back on the enemy using the Word of God. Let us remember we have the name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

No matter the name of the disease, whether old or new, it is no match for the name of Jesus. Let us apply this word to our lives and we are sure to come out victorious.

God’s grace be multiplied over you.

Shalom.

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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Outlasting the Season

Outlasting_the_seasonDownload

Message shared – City on A Hill Christian Centre Edmonton -Fellowship meeting – 7th of March, 2020. We believe this is ever more relevant for our present day and as the world is passing through a unique storm at this time.

Be encouraged. We are built to outlast the season.

Shalom

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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Study: The Parakletos

Definition:

Summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid .one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate 2.one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor .of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins . in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant . of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

God is one but exists in three distinct personalities: ‘Behold the Lord your God is one’. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29-30)

God the Father, The Word and the Holy Spirit

They were all in action during creation in Gen 1.

The personalities are easily recognized in the dispensations of their interaction / revelation to man.

God the Father with the Interactions with Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham and the prophets until the coming of Jesus. (Gen 1, 2, Gen 5 , Exodus 3:4-6 )

The Word was manifested as the Son and named Jesus Christ. (John 1)

We see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit severally throughout the Bible. He anointed the prophets and Kings and used them as instruments, but there was no complete in-filing. (1 Samuel 11:3, Judges 3:10, 14:6, 15:14, 1 Samuel 16:13).

The Holy Spirit was promised through the prophets Joel, Ezekiel. (Joel 2: 28-29, Ezekiel 36: 27, Acts 2: 15).

Jesus is God the son and was empowered by the Holy Spirit before He began his ministry. (Matthew 3:16)

Jesus was declared as the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. (John 1:33)

Jesus promised the disciples that the Father will send the Holy Spirit after His departure. John 14:16-19, 16.

He is going to be the Teacher, Comforter, Parakletos – One called to walk alongside with us.

He will be with the believers in the place of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, judgement and righteousness. John 16:8

He gets the unbelievers saved.

He fills the believer with the Holy Spirit – the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:2-8)

He imparts the Fruit of the Spirit – character. (Gal 5:16-25)

He gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit for ministry.(1 Cor. 12)

His Personality:

The Holy Spirit is a person.

A person is described as someone who has a

Will, Intellect and Emotions.

Will – separate unto me…, forbade us to go Acts 13:2, Acts 16:6

Intellect – Remind you, teach you, guide you John 14:3026, 16:13

Emotion – grieved the Holy Spirit, felt good to the Holy Spirit Ephesians 4:30, Isaiah 63:10. Acts 15:28

How important the Holy Spirit was to Jesus:

1. He prophesied Jesus’ coming. Joel 2: 28-29, Ezekiel 36: 27, Acts 2: 15

2. He conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary. Matthew 1:18-20.

3. He sealed the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16-17.

4. He led Jesus to be tested in The wilderness. To get him ready. Matt 4:1

5. Jesus ministered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:14, 18. Acts 10:38

6. His crucifixion was in the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 9:11-14

7. He was resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11

8. His post-resurrection ministry and ascension was by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-9

9. He made the promise to send the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-5.

John 1:32-34. John 3:34

His work in the believer:

1. He regenerates the believer. The same way He birthed Jesus. Your new birth is by the Holy Spirit. John 3:6, John 16:8

2. He lives in you. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 6:19, John 14:15-18.

3. The spirit seals the believer. Ephesians 1:13-14 To preserve you, and to guarantee your union with Him. Like the engagement ring of a promise.

4. The spirit adopts the believer. Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5-7

5. The Holy Spirit fills the believer Acts 2:4

6. He is the author of scripture 2 Peter 1:20, 2 Timothy 3:16

7. The Holy Spirit interprets the scripture. 1 Cor. 2:9-14 to understand the bible you need the Holy Spirit. He takes the scripture and gives life to it. The letter kills…2 Cor. 3:6

8. The Holy Spirit guides the believer Rom 8:14, Galatians 5:16-18, Acts 8:29

9. Anoints the believer. Sets them aside 1 John 2:27

10. Sanctifies the believer.1 Peter 1:23

11. The Holy Spirit provides fruit for the believer. Galatians 5:22

12. Empowers the believer. Gives you the ability to do what you have been called to do.1 Cor 12 Zechariah 4:1-6

How do you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

You ask for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13

The infilling can be experienced:

  1. Randomly as God chooses – e.g the day of Pentecost and as the disciples prayed. Acts 2, 4:31
  2. Laying on of hands. Acts 8:14-17.

The fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26

The character of God imparted by the Holy Spirit on the human spirit.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit,

 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”[2] The fruit is contrasted with the works of the flesh which immediately precede it in this chapter

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

How the power of the Holy Spirit is manifested.

Courtesy: www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/gifts/
  • 1 Corinthians 12:
  • Check your heart, motive.
    • Don’t seek the gifts for show. Seek because you want to be a vessel in God’s hands. He empowers the believer. Gives you the ability to do what you have been called to do.
    • The gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to showcase the power of God and help bring about His kingdom on earth. To lift up Christ in and through you. We must not desire the gifts for personal gains or entertainment Acts 8:17-21.

I Corinthians 12:3 The Holy Spirit exults Jesus. Brings the presence of the Godhead into man. John 14:23.

Conclusion

So we see we cannot really be a Christian nor live a successful Christian life without the Holy Spirit.

If you are born again and have not yet experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you need to consciously desire and ask for the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1 -7).

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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Surrendered

I have always wondered why there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction in the lives of believers who claim to know God. Darkness, confusion, indecision, fatigue, backsliding, depression and the likes seems to always take their turns plaguing. We cry to God for divine intervention looking for deep and genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit.

Part of the scenario may be that there is a time for everything and God might be preparing people for what He had called them into. However it suddenly became clear to me one morning while listening to the song by William McDowell “I give myself away” that it seems what we lack are surrendered believers.

Didn’t Jesus say ‘he that wants to save his life will lose it, but he that is willing to lose his life for the kingdom’s sake will gain it back …’ Matthew 16:25?

There seems to be a pattern to how Jesus recruited His disciples. The common instruction was usually ‘follow me’.

The question is are you a disciple of Jesus or you are just part of the crowd who cried ‘Hosanna’ one day and ‘crucify him’ the next? I know the disciples also ran away and deserted Him at some point, however once he restored and commissioned them, there was no looking back.

What is required is genuinely and deliberately giving up ourselves to God.

I mean totally surrendering control to God. Asking Him to take our lives, giving Him our hopes, plans, aspirations, careers, family and everything we had imagined to be.

Hmm.

That’s the tough part. It is not easy for us – even as professing Christians to give up control. It is tough to submit our fantasies over to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to fully own us. It goes against the flesh, it flies in the face of a free secular society. We are afraid we will no longer fit into the society when we seem to have lost control over our lives.

How would it sound if you asked me where I want to be in the next five years and I told you ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I will be wherever God asked me to be’. You are already judging me thinking I have no direction or plans for my life. That’s one of the reasons why people find it challenging and difficult to surrender to God, because we do not want to look stupid before others. Meanwhile, such is the kind of openness and submission God is looking for.

How would Abraham have sounded when he responded ‘I do not know, God will show me’, in response to his friends and family asking him questions about where he was moving to when he told them he was relocating with his entire family?  He sure would have looked foolish back then. But he was not clueless, he was looking out and keeping close ears to God’s voice and directions.

Allow me to be blunt. Stop making plans that lead to frustration. Instead ask God to show you His plans for your life.

Ask him to reveal the next step that you are meant to take to you. Before you ask, be prepared to obey Him. (That’s another problem, many ask but are neither willing nor are they obedient).

In an effort to look sleek, clean and well organized, we have lost our sensitivity and openness to the Holy Spirit. We plan and organize but lack spontaneity, we lack that dynamic malleability that we used to have, eager to hear the Holy Spirit lead us on a daily and hourly basis. We have been robbed of that power that comes from total trust and obedience to Him.

I love the account of the story of David fighting the battle against the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:22-25  –

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

David displayed his trust in God by first inquiring if he should go up or not. He did not assume or jump to conclusion that since the Philistines were already here, then he must fight and probably go about it the same way they fought when they beat the enemy in the preceding verses. Again, he waited on God for clear directions. I pray for such wisdom, patience, ability to hear God clearly and attention to details. It will always be the difference between outstanding success and defeat.

I am always fascinated by Joshua’s experience leading the children of Israel to capture Jericho (Joshua 6:2-5.

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

 I am sure Army Generals and battle experts would argue marching around the city in the open glare of the enemy was a dumb war strategy. However, that was God’s instructions. We have to trust God enough to still carry out instructions that seemingly makes no sense to our human brain and experience.

 We also have to be willing to change our plans when we find out that they are out of line with God’s intentions and plans. Paul had wanted to go preach the word in Asia but the Spirit of God prevented them from doing so at that time (Acts 16:6). We would definitely have better outcomes when we are sensitive to the voice and inclinations of the Spirit in our day to day activities.

The Word of God is full of accounts of God’s people yielding over control to God and the ensuing results. This is not to say we will not have challenges or difficulties even after genuinely following the leading and instructions of the Holy Spirit, but we have the comfort that we are right at the center of His will and we have His backing and support in facing whatever comes our way. It is time to yield control of our lives over to God.

Shalom

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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Knowing God Personally

I have heard about knowing God for who He is – and that is true and important so we understand His nature, His love, Holiness greatness and awesomeness.

What about knowing God for yourself? Knowing God with a particular emphasis on the way you have personally discovered Him, the way you understand Him and the way you relate with Him personally. I believe the more effective revelation that works in life is our revelation or an understanding of God in a personal context. In the context of our personal stories, encounters and experience with God. I think everyone needs to have a personal relationship with God unique to them apart from how everybody explains Him. I mean you need to know God for yourself. How do you communicate with God? How do you connect with His Spirit – the Holy Spirit? How do you perceive Him – since you can’t see Him physically?

I believe the great names that we make reference to in the Bible were known for their unique relationships with God.

From the beginning of time God had revealed Himself to mankind and expected them to respond in their own unique ways.

Adam as the first man was introduced to life and to God as a fully grown man. His first contact with anyone was with God. God showed him around and shared his mission and purpose on earth with him. He had the opportunity to name all the animals. God put him to sleep and used one of his body parts in creating the first woman. That was awesomely unique. He faced a major test of obedience which he failed.

Enoch was unique too and he walked with God until God took him.

Noah had a unique relationship with God being the only one in His generation that gained God’s approval.

Moses saw the burning bush, Moses went up on the mountain to be with God, God revealed himself to Moses in unique ways and Moses remained a meek man. Exodus 33:11 says ‘The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend’. He knew how to depend on God to fight for him. Moses wrote the Pentateuch – The first five books of the bible. He led the Israelites out of slavery.

Joshua was Moses’ assistant, he always accompanied Moses whenever Moses went to be with the Lord in the tent. Exodus 33:11 …’Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.’ Joshua was a man of war but he learnt to serve and study Moses. Moses had laid his hands on Joshua to take over the mantle of leadership from him once he departed. God spoke to him and encouraged him to be strong and be of good courage and promised him His support. Joshua had a unique mission as he was called to lead the Israelites into the promise land.

Hannah prayed to God from the depth of her heart asking for a son and made a vow to give him back to God, God heard her and answered her prayers and she was faithful to her promise (I Samuel 1).

Name them; Samuel, David, Solomon, Hosea, Mary, Jesus, Peter, Paul as well as countless others in the bible. They each knew God for themselves and had a story to tell.

What is your story? Who is God to you? How have you encountered Him? Do you spend time with Him? God relates with you on a one-on-one basis. He wants you to know Him as your father God. As big as He is, He wants to relate with you personally. It’s not good enough to know Him as your Pastor in church or anyone else describes God. It is important to discover him as He is for yourself. So be encouraged today and press in into God.

13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, declares the LORD,….(Jeremiah 29:13)

I like the way the Amplified version renders it;

13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

It speaks of conscious intention and intensity. Seeking to know God with a deep longing, requiring Him as a vital necessity, making your walk with God the first priority in your life. Walking with God must come first before any other thing in your life.

‘Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. ‘ (Psalm 37:4).

It is a new season and it is time for each person to seek Him and get to know Him as He wants to be known.

Shalom!

–

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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I am who I am – I offer no apologies.

Understanding the uniqueness of your personality.

In a judgement driven world where people draw conclusions about others so quickly based on preconceived notions and biases, where the suicide rate is on the increase and self-hate is becoming a common term, it is so important to come to an understanding of who one is and to embrace oneself especially where no one else offers an embrace.

I need to know that I am unique and I am specially created by God for a specific purpose. If I fail to appreciate this truth, I am bound to compare myself with others, veer off-track and possibly end up not fulfilling the purpose for my design.

In Psalm 139: 14 David captures it beautifully;

…13For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;…(NASV).

David was known as a man after God’s own heart, God testified this about him. (Acts 13:22) Could David’s attitude and practice of praise and worship be attributed to the fact that he knew and appreciated the truth about his uniqueness?

There is power in coming to terms with oneself, accepting who you are from the perspective of God and loving yourself as made by God in His own image.

 

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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Focus on the Engine (2) – The God-kind of Love

The fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the evidence of His presence. Galatians 5:22

The first characteristic of the fruit of the spirit to be mentioned is love.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

1 John 4:7-8

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

According to C.S Lewis, there are four commonly recognized types of love, namely; Philia (friendly bond), Storge (empathy, natural family bond), Eros (Erotic or romantic bond) and Agape (unconditional love) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Loves)

 

We are focusing on Agape, the God-kind of love in this conversation.

God is love. That is His nature. Love is who He is.

We as humans made in the likeness of God have been endowed with love in our spirits.

 

We are empowered to love as God does.

Colossians 3:12-14

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Love is first and the chief virtue we must exhibit. It so important in the scheme of our spiritual well-being that every other character,

 

gift or act will only be acceptable in the context of love. Love must be the foundation and it is the cement that holds our spiritual structure in place.

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

The God-kind of love is a call to a higher standard of living. To obey this call, a believer must be ready to live beyond the normal, carnal, sensual or instinctive level of behavior.

 

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Each of these attributes would warrant a study on their own and I encourage you to take out some time to find out what they mean.

If you focus on love, you have pretty much everything needed covered.

Jesus said the way the world will identify and distinguish his disciples in His absence is by their living out the love nature of God in them.

34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Love is a key requirement and a key character, we all need to work on ourselves to live it out.

The reason why this is so difficult to do is because living out the Love of God is so contrary to the human nature.

The human nature is sinful and it is so selfish (the human nature seeks after self-interest first), the human nature is so impatient and finds it difficult to wait for anything or anyone. We especially live in an age of instant gratification and quick fixes. The human nature is proud and seeks recognition and respect from others at all costs. The human nature is competitive and comparative, it judge other so quickly and would always want to be first. When he does not have his way or someone else seems to be doing better he is full of envy and jealousy, keeps records of wrongs and finds it difficult to forgive. Finds fault easily and would argue loudly and fiercely to make his voice heard above everyone else’s.

Love is not self-seeking and is not easily angered – not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoings but rejoices with the truth. You are not showing the love of Christ to a thief when you rejoice with him about his loot and you join in to enjoy the stolen goods instead of calling him out on it.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Which means love is always positive about other believers.

It is almost impossible to live out Agape love, except by the nature and grace of God in us. That’s another occasion when the confession ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ comes in handy. We walk in the spirit and not by the flesh.

We are not perfect yet and will never be until Jesus comes but we can keep improving as we consciously walk in love. Don’t say ‘that’s who I am, I am a very plain person and small things make me angry and when I am mad I must express myself’. You have to learn to use your self-control which is another fruit of the spirit. Joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness are powerful companions to love in the fruit of the spirit. Let us put them to use and our engine will become better for it. We will produce better fruits for God by so doing.

God bless you.

‘Laolu Oyeyemi

 

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Focus on the engine

God is far more interested in the state of your ‘engine’ – the state and workings of your heart – (your inner being) than on what is visible on the outside- the body.

I love the story depicting Samuel’s struggles as he went to anoint a king for Israel from the house of Jesse.

1 Samuel 16:1

And the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

It is interesting that God did not reveal the name of the particular son He had chosen to Samuel. Even though Samuel was a prophet he still walked in his limitations as a human being. Naturally he had the picture of how a king should look like in his mind, after all Saul was a tall, well-built man and it would only be fair for God to give them someone that looked similar, right?

 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

A novice car buyer may be enthralled and get carried away by the smooth and shining paint of a car presented to him, but a smart buyer will look beneath the hood and check out the state of the engine, start the vehicle and ask good questions to find out the general condition of the vehicle. Experts will argue that the most important part of the vehicle is the engine. When people judge by outward appearance alone, they miss out on God’s will and purpose because God does not judge like men do.

The key indicator of the state of your well-being as a believer is predicated on the state of your inner man. (Your heart – the way you function inside, your thought pattern and process).

“For as he thinks in his heart so is he:” Proverbs 23:7

 

4:23

23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

If the hidden parts are in the best of conditions, the outer part will complement the total package and functionality of the vehicle or being. However a beautiful outer part with defective inner workings would eventually end up in the dump yard, useless and rusty.

It is my admonition that we consciously work on our inner parts.

If you believe in the Lord Jesus and you have made Him your savior and Lord then your spirit is regenerated and made alive in Christ. However you still have a lot of work to do on your mind (the seat of your will, emotion and intellect)

Romans 12: 2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.…

One key teaching of Paul that addresses our character and depicts what is really important to God is in  the book of 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 12:31 ‘Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way’.

 

1 Corinthians 13

  1. If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ……

Vs 13 “three things will endure Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”.

The yardstick with which to measure a sound inner man is the degree to which we genuinely live out the love of God.

How is love defined? What are the characteristics of Love? It all still boils down to how we think, process and act or react to events on a daily basis.

 

(To be Continued…)

 

Shalom

 

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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Fight the Good Fight

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‘Fight the Good fight of the Faith’. 1 Timothy 6:12

In recent days, this word has been ringing in my spirit and I just want to take a deeper look.

What did Paul mean when he wrote this evergreen admonition to his son in the Lord, Timothy?

(It is interesting to know that here is a type of fight that is good. It’s not ok to be timid or passive about this one folks.)

The preceding verse 11 sheds some light into why this is a fight:

11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

So two tasks are laid out in this instruction:

  1. Flee from these things
  2. Pursue certain things namely: Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Okay so considering the first task.

What are we fleeing from? It seems it’s going to be a real challenge to do: he did not just say walk away, or wish away or avoid whatever it is, he says ‘flee’. If you are not determined or fast enough you might not be able to escape this thing.

No wonder it is a fight. One is chasing you while the other is ahead of you. The moment you stop running after the one you are pursuing, you are at the risk of being caught by the one chasing you. Whoa! You are in-between two forces until you take a hold on the eternal life –the essence of what you have been called into. Anytime you let go of eternal life, you are at the risk of getting caught by what you are fleeing from.

Pretty interesting… I wonder what it is we are fleeing from.

Again let’s see the preceding verse to get the answer:

Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.…

Oh I see! It is the Love of money.

That is what we are meant to flee from.

The word explains that the love of money is the root of all evil, and that by craving money, some have wandered away from the faith and have a long list of sorrows and regrets to look back at.

Admittedly, it is so tempting to crave money, who naturally does not want lots of it? After all the bible says ‘money answers all things’.  Eccl.10:19 which means money can buy you stuff and having lots of it means you are able to acquire lots of stuff. Many believers are quick to quote this scripture to justify their keen interest at making or acquiring more money.

Jesus however says the quality of a man’s life does not depend on the abundance of the ‘stuff’ you are able to acquire.

Luke 12:15
And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.

It seems Paul is just re-echoing Jesus’ words in Luke which also cautioned against greed.

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

In the court of God’s judgement, the value or worth of your life is not going to be based on how much stuff you were able to acquire.

Is it not really true that it is the clamor for more money that leads to all kinds of corruption and atrocities? Almost all evil can be traced to the desire to have more money, which seemingly confers more power and influence.

All the temptation to dabble into corruption, greed and forgery is an appeal to have more money.

The temptation to gamble away the little you have with the hope of hitting the jackpot is an example of a lure due to greed. The media is busy helping to bombard your mind with the allures of gambling and hitting the jackpot. It is a scheme to lure you away. I realize this is a touchy issue and a lot of argument is going on around whether playing the lottery is good or not, since this is even government supported. My counsel is that you be sober and vigilant, the devil is going about like a roaring lion looking for whom to devour.

Jesus says money is a god, an idol called Mammon.

13Noservant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

The King James Version renders it this way:
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

So money is like a god many have chosen to serve whether they realize it or not.

So that is what we need to flee from, the love of money.

So having fled from the love of money, Paul advised Timothy to pursue after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Pursuing after righteousness is a deliberate action. The emphasis is on the verb ‘pursue’ which means to follow in order to catch ….

Paul counsels Timothy to give up chasing after money and instead follow the path of righteousness, godliness, love, perseverance and gentleness. Each of these Godly characters require an in-depth study to deeply understand and imbibe them. One thing I know is that you will never be able to catch them if you are preoccupied with the love of money.

I pray the Lord will help us understand that as God’s children and members of His kingdom, God is responsible to meet our needs and He’s more than able to provide for us when we put our whole trust in Him.

Matt 6:31-33

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek  for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If it was a fight in the days of Paul, how much more in this day and age. It is indeed a fight to maintain our focus and stay on the course God had set for us in the midst of a barrage of distractions. However the battle presents itself, we can rest on the truth that His grace is more than sufficient to carry us through.

Shalom

Olaolu Oyeyemi