PART 5: DWELLING IN HIS PRESENCE - THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT PACKAGE (Continued)

It is year-end – yes, less than 24 hours to the end of 2018!  For the last couple of weeks, I have been reflecting on the goodness of the Lord.  I am so excited to conclude my reflections with this final part of the series – Dwelling in the Presence of the Lord – The Ultimate Package.  This is a continuation of what I had already covered in part 4.

I cannot overemphasize the spirit of thankfulness for God’s faithfulness, love and steadfastness, especially at this time of the year, and in consideration of His benefits in 2018.  Having said that, let’s get to our scripture references in Psalms 91.  Previously, we had looked at the benefits presented in verses 1 through 6.

Continuing, in verses 7-8, the bible assure us of the supernatural protection that God accords us as we dwell in His presence.  I do not know how many of you reading this article have experienced a war situation – where missile after missile fly over your roof, if not your head.  Where every now and then all you see are dead bodies around you, and at the end of the day, you emerge whole – unarmed!  

Supernatural Protection is part of the benefit package for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord.

“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.  Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.”

This protection does not apply only in the context of war – it could be in form of an accident, a robbery, sickness – anything really that the enemy uses to achieve his mission of stealing, killing and destroying.  The Lord God assures you today, and now as your read, that as you dwell in His presence, you have supernatural protection.  Praise the Lord!

In verses 9 to 10, the Psalmist further shows us the heart of God for those who dwell in His presence – No evil shall befall them!  Nor any plague or calamity come near their tent!  What a great promise!  What a great benefit from none other than the Lord God.; He who that has created us in His image;  He who that sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us, even after we had been separated from Him by sin! 

And now, He says, to you dear one;    

^“Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,  There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.”

Notice that the only condition to enjoying this great benefit is founded in verse 1 of Psalm 91 – dwelling in the presence of the Lord, and making Him your refuge.  Many times we struggle with safety and security issues for ourselves at individual, family, business, and even corporate as well as national levels.  It is not fun when every time you enter a shopping mall, a church and many other premises, you have to pass through a security check. 

Can you imagine a scenario where all people made the Most High God their dwelling place – there would be peace, there would be safety, there would be trust, there would be love even as God had intended it during creation – because He would take upon himself to secure all since they dwell in Him. 

As we dwell in the presence of the Lord, He promises to “give His angels [especial] charge over us to accompany and defend and preserve us in all our ways [of obedience and service].”  And these “angels shall bear us up on their hands, lest we dash our feet against a stone.” (Ref: Verses 11-12).

Supernatural protection is a function of dwelling in the presence of the Lord.

Where in the world will one tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent they shall trample underfeet, and yet not be hurt or harmed?  This only happens when we dwell in the presence of the Lord. (Ref: Verse 13)

Though we discussed “Deliverance” in the previous article, it further comes as a package together with Elevation & Promotion, in these final verses of Psalm 91. 

”Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].” (Psalm 91:14-15)

Many times when I have read these verses, I try to Imagine God’s attitude, as a King, a Master, and a Creator.  He is meditating on an individual who has a personal knowledge of His (God’s) mercy, love and kindness.  An individual who trusts and relies on God.  An individual who is certain that God will never forsake him, no never!  It’s thrilling, my friends! Verses 14 and 15 above represent the voice of our creator, our King, our Lord God, (out of an enthroned state, an exalted state); expressing his joy, and thus His benefits to us – I will set him on high!    He who that dwell in the presence of the Lord!

For the simple reason that you and I have set our love upon Him – because we have chosen to exalt Him, to honour Him, to adore Him and to give Him Lordship of our lives – He will deliver us!  Halleluyah!  And yes, He will not only deliver us, but He will set us up on high.  He will elevate us!  He will promote us!  Why, because we know and understand His Name.  And when we call on His Name,   will answer; and He will be with us in trouble, He will deliver us and honor us.

God's ultimate benefit package is not tailored for us to enjoy during our lifetime here on earth only.  It is tailored to overflow to our eternity.

Verse 16 notes that,

"With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

The context of salvation presented in the verse above is not 'giving one’s life to Christ.’  Only a born again believer gets to abide, to dwell on the presence of God, and further enjoy that intimate relationship of having the Lord as a "refuge, and a fortress".  So the salvation brought out in verse 16, is at a much higher level. 

You are already born again (and if not, this is a good time to give yourself to the Lord).  So the Lord is finally, after satisfying you with all the other benefits, going to save and rescue you from eternal damnation to His eternal glory.  You will have your eternity to spend with Him, to worship him and to love Him. You will be crowned with a new body, a supernatural body that will never know or taste pain, hunger or anger; a body that will never know death. You will have been saved from the stealing, killing and destruction of the devil and, translated to God's eternal Glory.  That's God's Final Ultimate Benefit for you and I. 

So, as we live here on earth enjoying every single benefit, let us not lose focus of the final ultimate benefit – eternity with the Lord God.  Let our every single blessing, our benefits aid us to prepare for this final and glorious benefit – eternity with the Lord God.

Praise His holy Name!  Amen.

And with only a couple of hours to 2019, it is important that we set ourselves to enjoy God’s benefits even at a higher level.  By choosing to dwell in his presence as presented in this series – dwelling in the presence of the Lord – we invite God to lavish his love on us.  We invite him to rejoice over us.

So shall you join me in wholesomely thanking God for all his benefits in our lives in 2018?  Will you also join me to welcome his dear presence to be our abode in 2019?

Let’s dwell in the presence of the most High God!

Shalom.

2019: TIMES OF REVIVAL – TIMES OF REFRESHING

As the curtains fall on 2018 and systemically, the doors of 2019 opens, I find myself racing to want to see, to want to know – to more or less have a preview of what 2019 contains. 

Earlier today, I shared with my two boys that I am very expectant of what 2019 holds for me.  This was based on meditation of Hebrews 10:35 that points out that, “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.”

As I look at 2018 (as highlighted in my previous articles), I see the blessing of the Lord.  I am overjoyed just to consider the faithfulness of God, which is for me, an anchor to my faith.  God’s faithfulness is my shield and buckler. 

The writer of Hebrews, reminds his audience in verses 10.32-34, of their earlier days in faith – what they had borne.  In the last part of verse 34, he notes that, “You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.”

It is on the basis of this last part, that he then tells them in verse 35, not to “fling away”, not to “throw away” – their confidence in the Lord.  The previous happenings determined how much they could trust God and have faith in him for the next season of their lives.

It is also on the same basis – the faithfulness of God all through 2018 – that I am expectant, that I have built my confidence to a higher level, even as the doors for 2019 open, barely in 48 hours. 

With the aforementioned, I still want to go back to continue reflecting – really take stock, I want to dig deeper into the goodness, the faithfulness; and the mercy of God in previous years, but specifically in 2018. 

Earlier today, I read Acts 3, as a reflection of Acts 4:13; and how amazing, it was to me – it gave birth to this article.  Acts 3 presents the story that many people have heard from their Sunday school days – Peter and John Healing the Crippled Beggar. 

After the healing miracle, the people were startled at this supernatural occurrence.  But Peter, boldly proclaimed to them, that it had nothing to do with their own power but, it was the God of Abraham, and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers that had glorified His servant and Son, Jesus Christ.  Peter further noted that this servant Jesus is the one the people had “… indeed delivered up and denied and rejected and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go.” (Verse 13).

In addition, Peter pointed out that the One that the people denied and rejected and disowned is the PURE and HOLY, the JUST and the BLAMELESS ONE.  Instead, the people demanded that a murderer (Barabbas), be pardoned and granted to them!

Not too long after pointing out these things, Peter called upon his audience to repentance.  The bible records in Acts 3:19 that:

“So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return (to God), that your sins may be erased (blotted out), wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord.” (AMP)

As the Amplified bible puts it out so clearly in the above text, to repent is to change one’s mind, intention or purpose on something.  It is like to take a 180° turn such that if you were walking towards the South, you turn back and walk towards the North. 

Now, in the context above, Peter called on his audience – the people, including the religious leaders of the day, to repent on their ignorance in delivering up and denying and rejecting and disowning the Lord Jesus, to the extent of having him crucified.  Ignorantly, they asked that a murderer be released for them. 

(It is through this ignorance that these people did not take into account, that the Lord Jesus, whom they denied had paved way for them to be heirs of the blessing of our father of faith, Abraham.  They did not take into any account of any “good” that Jesus had done.   They just wanted to do away with him).

Please note that, there were times of revival, times of refreshing that awaited them – but only after they repented – turned away from their evil deeds.

In our context today, God has given us a whole set of 365 days in 2018 – let’s take stock by simply counting our blessings and acknowledging him.

More importantly, let’s find out:

Are there ways in which we have delivered up Christ Jesus?

Did we deny Him?

Did we reject Him?

Or did we disown Him?

Are there areas that we did not allow him to reign – we did not allow him authority in our lives – might it be in our decision making?  Might it be in our relationships?  Might it be in our families (spouses and children, siblings and parents)? 

Are there habits and hobbies that are not aligned with the word of God that we have carried all along and it is taking too long to disconnect from?

Did we reject Christ Jesus when we rejected that old mama, or that lady that made such and such a request? 

Did we deny Christ access to our thoughts?

Did we deny Him when we decided to do a certain thing in the office/home and not the other?  Did we deny Him?

Did we disown Christ in our way of life with our friends simply because we wanted acceptance from them? 

Have we denied Christ by any use of our social media?

Did we ask for a “murderer” instead of embracing Christ?  Did we embrace a lifestyle that leads to death (spiritual and physical)?  Did we embrace friendships that disconnected us from our relationships with Christ?  Did we take up jobs that made us turn back on Christ?  Did we get ourselves into destructive lifestyles by disowning Christ?

Are there ways in which we have delivered up Christ Jesus?

Did we deny Him?

Did we reject Him?

Or did we disown Him?

Dear reader, it is not all lost.  Our God is a God of second chance, many chances indeed.  And the good news is that there are times of refreshing, times of revival waiting for you in 2019 – in fact, any time now.

You only need to take stock and come back to the Lord and REPENT.  Let Him erase, blot out and wipe away your thoughts and actions that led you to deny Him, to reject Him and to Disown Him!

Change your mind, change your intentions, change your attitude, and change your purpose.  Change your lifestyle!  Change your friends if you have to.  Change!  Repent and enter a new season of revival and refreshing!  Be refreshed from the heat of 2018, be renewed and get a new perspective of life in Christ Jesus in 2019.

Join me, let’s expect in great anticipation, the revival and the refreshing of Christ Jesus in 2019!

Amen!

REFLECTIONS CROSS OVER

As part of my reflections during this holiday season, the Lord is giving me a deeper revelation into the purpose of the birth of Christ! 

Let's check out Isaiah 9:1-7.

For a long time, I have only focused on Isaiah 9:6.  That, “… a child is born to us, a son is given to us .... These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of peace.”   This is great news and we thank God for it.  That Christ Jesus is the wonderful counsellor and in Him is all the counsel we will ever need.  Besides, He is the Mighty God – Sovereign, Supreme!  He is our Everlasting Father. (Are you disturbed, distressed, confused and feeling rejected that your earthly father has not been all you expected, or is not there at all?  We have an Everlasting Father in Christ Jesus!  Embrace Him and enjoy his everlasting Love.)  He is also our Prince of Peace – Peace that surpasses human understanding can only be found in Christ Jesus!  Glory to God!

But now, let’s go back to the beginning of this portion of scripture – Please remember God revealed this word to Isaiah over 700 years before Jesus was born!  God revealed to Isaiah that:

"… the time of darkness and despair will not go on forever."

A time is coming when the glory of the Lord will fill the earth!  People in the dark will see a great light, and there will be great rejoicing!

Now, look at verse 4:

"For God will break the chains that bind His people and the whip that scourges them!"

How will all this happen? The government of the Son we have been given will expand, it will be peaceful and, IT WILL NEVER END! HE WILL RULE FOREVER WITH FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE.....The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this! (verse 7).

Hallelujah!  Close to 3000 years later, we have Jesus, the child, the Son, whose government of fairness and justice will never end!  We have Jesus, who is the light, and that same light He has given to us! We have Jesus, who has broken every chain and every bond of captivity and all who believe in Him have been set free!  Thank God that we are redeemed through his blood! 

Reflecting back on this, I am reminded of the same Isaiah, still prophesying about Jesus in Isaiah 61:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me … to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed….to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has come, and with it the day of God’s anger against their enemies.  To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair.  For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.” (1-3)

This prophesy was fulfilled in Luke 4:18-19.  Jesus came to set the captives free!

So, my reflections take me to this path:  For sure, without a doubt, Jesus, came to set us free – from all forms of captivity and bondage!  Jesus did this when he defeated the devil; He died and rose again!  He is alive!  Without a doubt, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil! (1 John 3:8).

Following the above, every believer, then, should walk in total freedom – freedom from sin, from failure, lack and defeat – so as to show forth the glory of God! 

So, is there an area that I have been bound? Am I chained in any way?  Am I walking in darkness yet the light is here? Have I been set free from sin that so easily besets me?  Am I set free from anger?  Am I set free from fear?  Is my mind renewed to the word of God so my thoughts are aligned to His will?  Do I live my life in accordance to His statutes? Do I pray?  Do I read His word for this renewal to come?  Am I bound in ungodly relationships?  Am I bound?  Am I bound? 

Are my words, and really, my day-to-day life aligned with the word of God – do they attest to the freedom that Jesus so preciously bought for me at Calvary?  Am I free?  Am I free?

For me, this calls for a holistic and continuous review - especially as I (we), by the grace of God trust to enter into a new year in less than a week.  I do not want to enter into 2019 with any baggage, with a bound-mind, in a chained relationship, in a wrong and negative attitude – I want to enjoy the freedom that Christ Jesus was given to me, and to the world, by God to deliver!

Let's take these reflections a little higher and look at the wider picture – are there areas that the church is chained and bound yet Christ destroyed all the chains?  Is the church walking in darkness of any sort, yet we have the everlasting light?  Can you and I stand in the gap – for us,  for our children, for our friends and families, for our colleagues, our leaders – for the church of Jesus Christ? And for those who are still in darkness, those who have not yet tasted this freedom!  Can we stand in the gap?

We have the light, will you let it shine on?

REFLECTION – THE POWER BEHIND TRANSFORMATION

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12

The art of reflection is not a common phenomenon in many people’s lives, not at least in the so fast-paced world that we have become in recent years.  With lifestyles focused on today and now, the thought of taking time to look back on issues is never too close to one’s priorities.  Life is too fast, too quick, and as such, people want things done now and now – without thinking through the foundation that their actions are based on, or at least the results thereafter.

According to the Wikipedia, “Reflection is the change in direction of a wave front … so that the wave front returns into the medium from which it originated.”

“A reflection is a thought or writing about something, particular in the past, or what one sees when looking into a mirror or body of water”, notes “www.yourdictionary.com.”  

Further, a reflection is a “serious thought or consideration”, as outlined at www.bing.com.

Following the descriptions above, and in order to inform this article, I would want us to look at reflection as a “serious and intentional thought process that considers one’s past in preparation for the future”.

Before Paul asked the Corinthian Church, who thought that they stood firm – and were stable in their faith – to take heed, lest they fall, he had previously reminded them of their ancestors long ago in the wilderness.  He pointed out specific things that had happened to them.  Some of the reminders include: 

v All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them;

v All of them walked through the sea on dry ground;

v All of them were baptized as followers of Moses;

v All of them ate the same spiritual food;

v All of them drank the same spiritual water; and

v God was not pleased with most of them. (See 1 Corinthians 10:1-5).

The above lessons, warnings, examples were documented for not only the good of the Corinthian church, but also for our own good – that we may learn from them.  After all that had happened to the Israelites – God walking with them and supernaturally providing for them and protecting them – He was still not pleased with some of them.  The lessons are to prepare us in our way of life so that we do not displease God. 

According to the Message Version of the Bible,

“These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.”

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (Message Bible)

Earlier in Chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians, Paul had talked to the Corinthian church and admonished them on how to remain firm in their faith.  He had given them an example of how an athlete has to do all that it takes so as to win the race.  He also gave them an example of his own life.

Essentially, Paul, was calling upon the Corinthians to take a reflective path in their lives; to look at their origins; to turn back on the path they had followed as believers so as to amend in any ways that were not right before God, and thus match forth in maturity in their faith.  He was calling on them to transform their lives.

The same Paul called upon the church in Rome – pleading and urging them to become living sacrifices for God.  As he did this, he noted that it was not possible for the Romans to attain this status unless they stopped conforming to the old ways of life, and embrace a new way of life by being transformed.  The Bible records that:

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”

Romans 12:2 (Amplified Classic Bible)

In order for transformation to take place, a reflective attitude has to be embraced.  As mentioned earlier, we all live in a fast-paced world – patience is a value that is running out so quickly, even among believers.  However, for you and I, the Lord God calls us to transform ourselves so as to know his perfect will for us.  For this to happen, we’ve got to stop conforming, and for us to stop conforming, we’ve got to take an account of what areas we are conforming in – we have to reflect back on our past lives – our entire lifestyles. 

What attitudes and behaviours have you carried from your past life?  What have you embraced in fast-paced life that you cannot afford to give God his time, because you feel time constrained?   Consider your prayer life.  Consider your friends.  Consider your worship.  Consider your thanksgiving.  Consider your thought life.  Consider your music.  Consider your words.  Consider your favourite TV programmes and movies.  Consider your dressing.  Consider – take a reflective gear!  What has this world (this age) rubbed unto you?  What have you adapted that is drawing and derailing you back from knowing and living in the perfect will of God?

It is only after a reflection of the above (and as the Spirit leads), that one can now be transformed, changed and renewed. 

In the process of reflection, the Lord reveals not only what needs to be changed, but he brings into remembrance the things that He has done, thus causing a spirit of thanksgiving. 

In Psalms 103, King David, called upon his soul not to forget what God had done for him – in other words, he had to reflect and remember.  He remembered that:

v God had forgiven all his iniquities,

v He had healed all his diseases,
He had redeemed his life from destruction,
He had crowned him with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

v He had satisfied his mouth with good things - so that his youth was renewed like the eagle’s.

King David chose to remember; he chose to reflect.  It is upon his reflections as documented in Psalm 103, that he calls on the God’s angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, and heed the voice of His word, to bless the Lord.  He further calls on all God’s hosts, His ministers, who do His pleasure, to bless the Lord.  And finally, he calls on all God’s works to bless the Lord in all places of His dominion.

As we draw to the close of the year, I urge us to call into remembrance the benefits of the Lord upon our lives.  Like David, I personally choose to remember what God has done for me this year (and years before), so that as I enter into 2019, I am not grumbling over what I did not accomplish.  I choose to have faith and confidence in God who did, knowing that He will do yet again.  God gave me health – He healed me over and over again; he provided for me; satisfying my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed like an eagle’s.  God has seen one of my sons through to the completion of form four. God has grown me spiritually, God has enlarged my circle of faith-based friends!  God has opened great doors for ministering His word through writing and speaking engagements. God has done great things for me in 2018, and the year is not yet over!  I bless His Name!

What has God done for you – reflect and lay a foundation for your transformation.   

Transformation is engineered by reflection.  This article calls on you dear reader (and I), to engage a reflective gear on our lifestyles.  By the grace of God, we have a powerful tool of reflection in the Word of God.  I invite you to join me to mirror ourselves in God’s Word so as to see the areas we have conformed and thus transform so as to be able to walk and work in God’s perfect will for us. 

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

James 1:23-25 (NLT)