DWELLING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD PART 2 - Who Can Dwell In The Presence Of The Lord?

From the previous part of this article, we have established that Sinners cannot DWELL in the presence of the all-consuming fire, the presence of the Lord!  It is a holy place, it is a holy ground.  This is evidenced in verse 14 of Isaiah 33 thus:

“The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear.  Terror seizes the godless.  “Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry.
    “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?”

Sin is an abomination to God – he hates sin, because He is a righteous God.  God is light; and darkness (representing sin) cannot overcome light, darkness cannot withstand light.  So, sinners tremble – they fear when they consider the presence of God where all there is, is an illumination of things as they are.  They fear the exposure that light brings, and since in the Presence of the Lord, the consuming (devouring) fire exposes sin, this is then not their abode.

As we have seen already, the Presence of the Lord is holy.  It is characterized by God and His attributes – love, joy, peace, goodness, serenity – an environment of Godliness.  It is God’s shelter; it is His secret place.  It is where God lives.  It is His glorious habitation.  King David, noted this about the presence of the Lord, “You will show me the path of life; In Your Presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

For one to live in the Presence of the Lord, they have to be vulnerable.  They have to acknowledge that the presence of God is a better place than any other that they know, can think of or even imagine.  A place that cannot be traded with any other.  They have to relinquish their own will and surrender to the will of another – the Lord God – hence making Him the Lord of their lives.

When God created man – Adam and Eve, He placed them in the Garden of Eden – in His Presence.  Here, Adam and Eve would experience God’s goodness through a great relationship that knew no sin – no disobedience, nor other Lord, other than the Lord God.   But what do we see after Adam and Eve disobeyed; after they allowed the lordship of the serpent by obeying him instead of God? “… God banished Adam and his wife from the Garden of Eden….” (Genesis 3:23).

The Presence of the Lord is Holy! It knows no Sin.  It is righteous.  It is just.  It is Godly.

Adam and his wife’s case above is similar to Cain’s (their son) in Genesis 4.  When Cain’s sacrifice was rejected by God, Cain became angry and dejected.  However, God warned him against his anger, noting that sin was waiting to attack and destroy him, and that he must subdue it.  He did not.  Instead he schemed to kill his brother, Abel.  Thereafter, God banished Cain from His Presence (verse 14).

So then, who can DWELL in the Presence of the Lord?

“The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. ‘Which one of us’, they cry, ‘can live here In the Presence of this all-consuming fire?’ “Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry. “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?”” Isaiah 33:14 (New Living Translation).

 “Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1 (New King James Version).

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?  Who may enter Your Presence on your holy hill?” Psalm 15:1 (New Living Translation).

Isaiah 33:14 is a proclamation that the sinners cannot dwell in the presence of the Lord.  It is too hot for them!  Who is this then that can dwell in the presence of the Lord?  It is not left for us to prescribe the attributes of this person, nor do we have to imagine what he looks like – the bible, thankfully presents to us such a person – HE WHO THAT DWELLS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.  What does he look like?  Here is he:

i.                    “Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.  Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.” (Psalm 15:2-5)

ii.                 ^“ Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong—these are the ones who will DWELL on high. (Isaiah 33:15-16)

iii.               The Godly – “Surely the godly are praising your name, for they live in your Presence.” (Psalm 140:13.   The same verse in the Amplified version reads, “Surely the (uncompromisingly) righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell In Your Presence (before your very face).

iv.               “…those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with mockers.  But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

Just looking at the above scriptures, we see, and really confirm that the presence of God is founded on RIGHTEOUSNESS, which essentially is, having a right standing with God. 

Many people have been kept away from the righteousness of God because they have approached it from their “own righteousness” perspective, yet the bible tell us clearly that our own righteousness is as filthy rags – it can’t get us to heaven, it can’t give us a right standing with God.  It focuses on self – that is it!  I know I can do this; I am well able; I have what it takes; (the skills, the connections, the money etc.).  It is dependent on one’s reliance on themselves, as opposed to reliance (surrender and yielding) to God and His word.  Self-righteousness is a great limitation to God’s access to us.  Yet, it is God’s righteousness that provides a platform, an avenue; a pathway for one to be able to:

v Exchange their will for God’s will

v Shun wickedness

v Embrace the truth

v Be renewed in light of the word of God

Thankfully, we don’t work to get God’s righteousness; we just acknowledge him and allow a renewal and a turnaround of our way of life.

The initial step in dwelling in the presence of the Lord is allowing the Lordship of Christ Jesus in one’s life.  That way, He overrules the self as his Lordship takes over. 

^“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Acceptance of Christ and confession of His Lordship facilitates the process of one becoming a new creation altogether, and thus attaining the righteousness of God.    This is evidenced in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 21 here below:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new; For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

And voila, there we go – We have the ticket, the title deed to enable us access and DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.  We can now dwell, we can abide in the presence of the Lord. 

You might be a believer; or maybe you have not yet made up your mind to believe in the Lord Jesus.  The pathway is open to us all!  Thank God.  It is not for a few of us! It is for everyone who is willing to hearken to the voice of God and become vulnerable to him.

King David, even after having a wonderful relationship with God, got to a time when he sinned before God.  He did not only commit adultery with Bathsheba, but he went ahead and organized for her husband’s death.  But these very acts and the responses thereof reveal to us his heart; and really, the kind of a heart that can dwell in the God’s presence, as revealed in this excerpt from Psalm 51.  

 “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.   For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.   Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight… Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.   Make me hear joy and gladness… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.   DO NOT CAST ME AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by your generous Spirit”.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.”

An open heart to God, a heart that is willing not to cling to “self’ or hide from the presence of God – a heart that will surrender to God in worship, in repentance and in total reliance on Him – will dwell in His presence.  Sin casts one away from the presence of God. 

So, you might identify with David, either before the sin with Bathsheba or after he sinned with her.  Will you be vulnerable today – open yourself to God, with a contrite heart and dwell in His presence?  This, he will not despise.  His hands are outstretched to receive you.

And, yes, oh yes; there are benefits!  Great benefits of dwelling in the presence of the Lord!

Look out for Part 3 of this article:  “Dwelling in the Presence of the Lord – Are there Benefits?”

DWELLING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD - PART 1

What Does It Entail?

To dwell is synonymous with:  to inhabit; to reside; to live; to settle.  Dwelling also means thinking, speaking, or writing at length about (a particular subject).  This article presents the subject of dwelling based on the above meanings.  The article is majorly anchored in Psalm 91.

Before DWELLING on Psalm 91, let’s deviate a little and look at Isaiah 33:14-16:

“The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear.  Terror seizes the godless.
“Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry.
    “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?”
 Those who are honest and fair,
    who refuse to profit by fraud,
    who stay far away from bribes,
who refuse to listen to those who plot murder,
    who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong—
 these are the ones who will dwell on high.
    The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress.  Food will be supplied to them,     and they will have water in abundance.”

In Psalm 91, the psalmist brings out the importance of dwelling (living, abiding, SETTLING) in the presence of the Lord.

Firstly, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].”

A person dwelling in a place, is not in a hurry to leave or depart from that place – they reside there – it is their residence; where do they leave their residence for?  As believers, we need to LIVE, TO INHABIT, TO SETTLE in the presence of the Lord, even in His secret place; a place where we are assured of who we are in Him; a place where our identify is affirmed.  We need not have any doubts whatsoever of our relationship with God.  We need to have a permanence perspective.  Our living in the presence of the Lord is not a trial and error relationship with him, nor is it a “come-we-stay” sort of engagement – We dwell – We live – We reside and We settle in the presence of the Lord.

Like in the case of marriage, God instituted it as a permanent relationship (till death do us part).  However, on many occasions, there are couples who are in “come-we-stay” relationships, yet this is not the way God intended it to be.  Why do such couples embrace this kind of a relationship?  It is because the relationship is based on a trial and error approach.  The couples have not chosen to dwell, to settle with each other.  They have not yet affirmed each other – there are areas that they are still watching and assessing to determine if they will truly embrace each other as spouse for life. As a result, a spirit (mindset) of permanence cannot be embraced easily. 

Verse 2 of Psalm 91notes that: “I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!”

A believer cannot make the Lord God their Lord (Master), their refuge or fortress if they don’t completely trust in Him.  If their hearts are divided – some thoughts are in another god (idol) – could be a job, an investment, a relationship or whatever else one esteems higher than God, and other thoughts are on God.  Some help is seen to come from a different source other than God, while other form of help is seen (and expected) to come from God! Dwelling in the Lord, in His presence, cannot be achieved if one is not certain of who God truly is.  However, as one completely surrenders and yields to the obedience of the Lord Jesus, it becomes easy to have him as the Lord over one’s life - a refuge and a fortress.  Dwelling in the presence of the Lord requires a permanence attitude – it does not work with a come-we-stay outlook.

On the other hand, a sinner who has not yielded to the obedience of Christ is not stable.  Indeed, they shake, they tremble with fear – they are afraid.  “Which one of us”, they cry, “can LIVE in the presence of this all-consuming fire?” (Isaiah 33:14).  Sinners do not have a fixed dwelling place – they are neither here nor there.  Today they pledge allegiance to one person or thing, and tomorrow to another.  This staggering attitude is also characterized in their thought system.  They don’t dwell on God’s thoughts (His Word).  Instead, they are always scheming evil. A person who does not embrace a life of integrity will always want to ensure that they say the same thing as they said to the other person.  They want to protect themselves; as a result, they tell a lie.  Is it only me, or have you been close to a person who while speaking on phone, they say that they are in a different place of town!  For example, you are in a restaurant having a serious meeting with a client, or just having a good time with a friend or a family member.  The person sited in the next table picks a phone call, and after the usual salaams, you hear, “Oh, I am in Nakuru, I will be coming to Nairobi this evening”.  You are sited right inside Java in Gallaria!  What do you make of that!

Sinners cannot DWELL in the presence of the all-consuming fire, the presence of the Lord!  It is a holy place, it is a holy ground.

Who can dwell in the presence of the Lord?  I will explore this in part 2 of this article.  In the meantime, enjoy the Lord’s presence. 

GOD’S REST IS ANCHORED IN FAITH

Rest is an important part of a human being’s journey of life.  Ordinarily, a time of rest enables one to rejuvenate, to refresh and to plan and organize for the next activity, the next undertaking – the next thing. 

And for the believer who hears this voice, hearkens to it and believes, the Bible further says, “For we who have believed do enter that rest….” Hebrews 4:3a.

For one to take rest, it means that they have been involved in something intensive, tiring – something that leaves one exhausted; sometimes strenuous, something that required a lot of attention, detail, energy – could be emotional, mental, physical, even spiritual.

What is rest?  Simply put, to rest is to relax.  We can look at rest from different angles; for example, from the physical perspective, when one rests, it means they cease doing what they were focusing on and take a break.  On the other hand, spiritually, to rest is to find peace and calmness in a situation and in life generally.  It also means to be of a sound and an undisturbed mind.  To rest in the Lord, in many occasions means to find ultimate place of no sin, to get to eternal life after the end of life here on earth. 

This article will focus on spiritual rest.

As noted earlier, just as in physical tiredness, believers can sometimes get spiritually exhausted, tired and almost lack spiritual power to move forward to the next level.  Different life circumstances such as sickness, loss of loved ones, lack, broken relationships, loss of business or a job, or any other unfortunate situation could lead to spiritual exhaustion.  A lack of a deliberate move to feed on God’s word and lean on him fully, could also lead to extreme exhaustion and to a larger extent, a turning back to the world.

The Bible in Hebrews 4:2 notes that:

“…but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not MIXED WITH FAITH (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), by those who heard it.”

Whereas the scripture above was referring to the Israelites, it also carries a lot of meaning and impact for today’s believers.  Many are the people who on a regular basis, particularly on Sundays, get to hear the word of God.  In deed they fill churches, not only within our Kenyan borders, but worldwide.   They hear the word preached and as a result, many have a great deal of the knowledge it presents.  But unfortunately, they have not mixed this knowledge with faith – they have not personally relied, trusted and leaned on God’s power and wisdom to guide them in their daily lives.   And as such, it has very little, or no impact at all in their lives.  They live lives comparable to those who have no time for God, no place for God in their lives.

“As for those who didn’t believe, God said, ‘in my anger I made a vow; “They will never enter my place of REST.’””  This was God’s response to the Israelites who did not believe and for sure, did not enter the Promised Land.

Thankfully for us today, the door to spiritual rest – to spiritual freedom, to a life informed by and founded in the word of God – is still wide open.  And not only is the door open, but a voice continually calls, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”  (Hebrews 4:7b).  And for the believer who hears this voice, hearkens to it and believes, the Bible further says, “For we who have believed do enter that rest….” Hebrews 4:3a.

It is not uncommon for a believer to find themselves engulfed in seemingly endless situations that present themselves as helpless and permanent, with one objective – blinding from the spiritual truth and ultimately causing spiritual blurredness. 

I have personally, on several occasions in my spiritual walk, experienced situations which, when I looked around, did a 360 degree overview of how to maneuver them, I felt helpless, distraught and to say the least, bound in that particular situation.  Looking at my abilities, capabilities, and generally my natural resources, it felt like I would never be able to pull through.  But, on the other hand, the good news is that, the minute, I turned to God and realized that He is my helper, my all in all, and as such fully trusted in him, I, without a doubt, and in the shortest time possible, found rest from the exhaustion, the weariness and the distraught that had been caused by the seemingly, helpless situation.

The word of God is “alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing, and effective); it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) – (AMP)

Looking closely at the above verse, we see the following:

i.                 The word of God is ALIVE and full of POWER.  This simply means that it is living – it is not dead.  The bible in this amplified version explains this word further – it is full of power, therefore making the word active, making it operative, energizing and effective. 

ii.                 The Word of God is SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD … Some time ago as I was reading this very verse, I saw the word of God as the doctor that operates on a patient in a hospital theatre.  For such a doctor His aim is to restore life, and energize it.  He has to be one that abides by every detail so as to be effective at the end of the day.  The word of God is more thorough – it is way beyond what doctors can achieve.  Indeed, while our doctors do a thorough job at their operating tables, the word speaks of itself further and says, “it is sharper than any two-edged sword”.  Again I imagine of the operation tools used by doctors – and without a doubt they are good, precise and up to the task, but not beyond what the word of God does – it penetrates to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature)!  My Oh My!  I am awed! I am bare before the Word – my spirit, my soul and my body (the joints, the marrow), and literally the deepest parts of me – are known by the Word.  From this verse, I see the ease in which the Word does his work of separation!

iii.          God’s Word does the impossible – exposes and sifts and analyzes and judges the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.  Yes, this is the word, and just in case you have any doubts, I would like to remind you that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.  (John 1:1).  Nothing is impossible with God.  Yes! God’s word is God Himself – no wonder he can expose and sift and analyse and judge our very thoughts and purposes.  How vulnerable are you to God?  Have you given him authority over your mind; and your purposes?  Can he alter your plans?  Can you bend your will in order to take his?

So How Do We Enter Our Spiritual Rest?

In addition to the voice calling and asking God’s people not to harden their hearts when they hear the call, God through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, further calls us saying,

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. (I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls).”

Mathew 11:28 (AMP)

If you are like me, your spirit must be racing in joy and excitement just by the reading of the above verse – and I just like the way the amplified version brings it out.  I just want to enjoy the ease, the relieving and the refreshing of God in my soul!!!

As we introduced the topic of rest at the beginning of this article, we noted that for one to need rest, they must have been tired or have experienced some kind of exhaustion.  The Bible here tells us – come to me (to the Lord God)!  The call here is specifically for those who are in labour (toil, hard work, challenges, difficulties, unbelieve) – they are burdened by the struggles of this world – rebellion, drugs, adultery and fornication, broken relationships, lack of trust, sickness, and all manner of things that cause tiredness and a blurring that keeps one away from God, away from believing and trusting in God thus causing a spiritual separation from Him.  God extends his love and calls to all – including those who have given their lives to him, but they are burdened by worldly pleasures or other forms of challenges.  Some have prayed and asked God to intervene in their situations and this seems to be taking long.  Whatever the labour, whatever the burden is, God calls and says, “I WILL GIVE YOU REST.  I will cause you to rest.  I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.

God’s intention of giving Christ is to rescue us from the destructiveness of the devil, thus easing, relieving and refreshing our lives.  He wants everyone to be eased, to be relaxed, to be refreshed so as to be able to believe in him and have a personal relationship with him – Thank God He is not calling and directing us to a third party!  He is calling us to HIM!  “Come to Me”, He says.  He wants everyone to have a personal relationship with Him. Will you draw near to him today?  Will you lean on him?  Will you confidently trust him and surrender your life to Him?  Will you allow him to operate on you; to expose and sift and analyze and judge your very thoughts and purposes so that you can walk in freedom and clarity in your life? 

It doesn’t matter what kind of labours you might be in right now, what kind of burdens you are experiencing, God is calling with an aim to ease you from these labours and burdens – Will you yield to the call today,

NOW and enter God’s rest?

YOUR FAITH IN HIM WILL OPEN A DOOR TO YOUR REST.

Blessings!

DESPITE ALL THESE THINGS, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS

 I am certain that if you are an ardent reader of the bible, the words of the above title sound familiar.  Do they?  Let’s us explore them further. Looking at the first phrase “despite all these things”, we are basically saying – “these things notwithstanding”, or “nevertheless”, or “regardless of these things”.   “These things” – what things? Which ones?  We will look at the phrase “these things” in a while, but for now, let’s consider the next phrase, “we are more than conquerors.”

To conquer is to overcome, or to be triumphant or victorious.  So then, being more than conquerors, means to have exceeding victory; victory beyond the norm, victory beyond the expected. 

Putting things into perspective, the bible in Romans 8:37, states that:

“Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

(King James Version)

In the New Living Translation, the same verse reads:

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us”.

Conquering, many times is associated with wars and battles.  In the Old Testament, the Israelites conquered many cities and nations as they matched through them to the Promised Land.  After their settling though, they ignored and disobeyed the promises of the Lord their God.  And sadly, they were taken into captivity by the foreigners who had no relationship whatsoever with God.  In fact, they worshipped idols made with human hands.  The end of Isaiah 42 (verses 18-25), presents a wailing prophet.  Isaiah presents God’s agony/distress over Israel as they could not see or hear him out.  They were in a world of their own – they had rebelled against the Lord their God.  And he asks, “Will not even one of you apply these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you?.... They were set on fire and burned, but they still refused to understand”. (23-25).

But then, the same prophet Isaiah starts chapter 43 with an astounding voice of victory!

“¹But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.    I have called you by name; you are mine.”

But now … irrespective of your disobedience; your disobedience not withstanding … The one who formed you says, “do not be afraid”.  That is Israel’s creator and redeemer!  And yes, our creator, and redeemer through Christ Jesus.

Let’s turn back and revisit the title of our message, “DESPITE ALL THESE THINGS, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS”.  This is Paul speaking to the Romans, now in the New Testament.  He tells them, that despite all these things, overwhelming victory is theirs in Christ Jesus!  What things are these?  At the beginning of Romans Chapter 8, Paul talks to the Romans about life in the Spirit.  He notes that there is therefore no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus; that though their bodies will die at some point, their Spirits will live, again through Christ Jesus. 

Having established that they, and ultimately us, have Eternal Life in Christ Jesus, Paul asks a question that I need everyone reading this post to ask himself/herself:

“Can anything ever separate us (you/I) from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted , or are hungry or cold or in danger or threated with death?”

It is after asking these questions that Paul writes, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us”.

So, we now get to see the genesis of “these things”. 

These things: 

v  Trouble

v  Calamity

v  Persecution

v  Hunger

v  Cold

v  Danger

v  Threats

v  Death

These things.  These things present all the challenges we face during our lifetimes.  These things can be in any form – sickness, lack, poverty, anger, bitterness, death, broken relationships, theft, rape – these things.  Not good things! Does it is mean that when we face these things God no longer loves us!  Absolutely not!  For despite these things, we are more than conquerors!  We are victorious!

These things could happen to us either through our making or otherwise.  For whoever believes, we have an enemy who will always want to make sure that you do not walk in the way of obedience, the way of life, even life eternal.  As a result, these things will befall us.  But despite these things we are more than conquerors!  We are victorious!

Our victory is not won by us – thank God!  Christ has already won it for us!  And as in the case of the Israelites above, He is confirming to us that in the midst of these things, he has called us by our names!  He has redeemed us, so we should not be afraid.  Look at verses 2-5 of Isaiah 43:

² When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.  ³ For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia^[a] and Seba in your place. ⁴ Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.”

I don’t know what rivers of difficult you have waded or are wading through right now, but I know; I am persuaded through the word of God that you will not drown. The oppressive fires you have passed through or are passing through right now, will not burn you, nor will the flames consume you.  They will leave you refined for the purposes God has planned for you.  Because God gave Jesus as our ransom.

Because despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us, my friend, I would want us to boldly agree with the word of God and declare it aloud.  Let your heart find rest in the word of God – the true, unchanging word of God. 

“Can anything ever separate us (you/I) from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted , or are hungry or cold or in danger or threated with death?”  Can any of these things separate us from His love?  Join me and let’s declare boldly! No, they can’t!

“Death can’t, and life cant.  The angels can’t, and the demons can’t.  Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell, can’t keep God’s love away.  Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, NOTHING IN ALL CREATION WILL EVER BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

Therefore dear reader, do not dwell on these things, consider God’s call on you now; He says to you: “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”  (Isaiah 43:18-19).

DESPITE ALL THESE THINGS, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!!!

A TIME OF REFRESHING

A TIME OF REFRESHING
Ummmhhhh!  That’s what I just needed!  It is so refreshing!  This is a most common response after one has taken cold water or soda on a sunny afternoon!  And in deed it is refreshing!  The taste and the feeling thereafter results to a holistic relaxation.  And who doesn’t want a relaxation!
To refresh is to revitalize, to enliven, to reinvigorate, to rejuvenate, to recharge and to revive!  This is what exactly the Lord would want to do with you through this word.  He wants to refresh you – to renew you, to energize you and to reposition you. 
Throughout this past week, the Lord has been speaking to me about times of refreshing, times of comfort.  In His word in Isaiah 40:1-5, the Lord God says,
“Comfort, comfort my people.”  He continues to say “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.  Tell her that her sad days are gone and that her sins are pardoned.  Yes, the Lord has punished her in full for all her sins.” (1-2). 
Waah, what a refreshing word from the mouth of God! Dear one, as you read this word, receive it as yours – the Lord says, receive comfort, be comforted.  Be renewed, be strengthened!  Receive His life and walk in it.  Your sins are pardoned, you are free from the bondage of sin - short term and long term (eternal).  Eternally, Jesus paid the price for you, he took away and really became a curse so you can receive His blessing.  You are set free!  Break free and walk in that freedom.  Whatever bondage might have entangled you, exchange it with the freedom that Christ bought for you.
And in the short term, you may have gone through some tough times – in your family – with your children or spouse, in your other relationships, in your finances, at your place of work.  We are not immune to the world system!  You feel like you are in a desert – dry, withered with no hope. The Lord says, Be refreshed!  Be comforted!  It is over.  Don’t let your faith be hindered by these life challenges!
You may even be at a worse place where you feel like what you are going through is as a result of a sin or sins in your life – the Lord says, it is finished!  Your sins have been pardoned.
So arise and live in comfort and peace.  For your sad days are gone! 
Dear reader, I would like you to know that the kind of comfort God is offering to you is eternal!  It endures, it changes not – and it is available to anyone who opens their heart to receive it.  Jesus speaking to His disciples talked about the comforter and told them that “But the COMFORTER (Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the HOLY SPIRIT ….”  (John 14:26 – Amp)
If we look closely to the above descriptions (names) of our comforter, the Holy Spirit, we realize that He is indeed a refreshing Spirit!  He stands by us – at all times!  Praise the Lord!  He is our advocate: He is our strengthener, our helper and intercessor!  He will refresh you, He will renew you no matter where you are at.  But, there is one thing you have to do – allow him in and give him permission to refresh you.
Still in the scripture referenced above, (Isaiah 40:1-5), we see God further speaking and saying, “Make a highway for the Lord through the wilderness.  Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God.  Fill the valleys and level the hills.  Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots.  Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.  The Lord has spoken!” (3-5).
It is not God to make the highway, it is us – it is you and I to make a highway for the Lord to pass through the wilderness.  Your circumstances, may have left you completely dry, worn out, so scotched by the sun, you feel feeble and weak.  These have drained life out of you.  But the Lord says that in that wilderness, make a highway for him to pass through!  How will you do this?  He says, straighten out, make a smooth road for him through the desert!  And, fill the valleys and level the hills.  What are these curves, the valleys and the hills?  Are there things that the Lord has been speaking to you about and you have been reluctant to heed to His voice?  What double standards are you applying in your life?  Is it at home?  Is it at work?  What is that hill that you have to level?  What is that curve that you have to make straight?  The Lord says, “Make a Highway for him in the Desert!”  In the middle of the very challenges that are draining your strength, make a way!  Your comforter is just waiting for you to say – Holy Spirit, take over, you who is my helper, help me.  He is waiting for you to allow him to intercede for you, to stand by you as you relinquish what you are holding on which is not of God.  Make that curve straight!  And as you do this, the Lord shall pass through the Highway you have made for him and behold, He will reveal His glory!  And all people will see it together! 
It is a time of refreshing!  Open the door to the comforter and receive His comfort! 

THERE IS A WORK IN YOU.

THERE IS A WORK IN YOU


God created us for a specific purpose.  He orchestrated everything to work towards our alignment towards this work.


Our Identity in God


The Bible in the Amplified version notes in Ephesians 2:10 that:

“For we are God’s (own) handiwork (his workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, (born a new) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which he prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us to live).”

In line with Genesis 1:26, we note that we are created in GOD’s image and likeness.  Why His likeness and image – why not just a special likeness or any other belonging to His entire creation? 

So that we can be “masters over all of life” (Genesis 1:26b).  He created us in his image and likeness so that we can take charge and dominion – we can have complete authority (authority in line with his image and likeness) – authority that descends from him.   So that when this authority is exercised, rightly, then His will here on earth will be done as it is in heaven.


As any instrument/item made by man has its origin and therefore the blueprint manual from the manufacturer, so is the human being (you and I).  We cannot be able to function ultimately within our purpose without the image and likeness of God, our creator, our manufacturer.  Indeed, even as we came to life physically, God had it all planned in accordance to his purposes for us.  Psalms 139:13-14 brings this out so clearly. 

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb…your workmanship is marvelous!”


There we are – God’s workmanship!  We are crafted by him and him alone.  We are his artwork, his masterpiece, we are unique – really out of this world!  And yes, we are out of this world.  We are not created in the class of animals, no, not.  Not in the class of any living creature, but we are created in the Image and likeness of God. 


Isn’t it amazing, truly, a wonder, to notice that we are created just a little lower than God, and as in Genesis 1:26 above, he has bestowed ALL his AUTHORITY ON US!  Take a look at Psalm 8:5-6:

“For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with you glory and honour.  You put us in CHARGE OF EVERYTHING YOU MADE GIVING US AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS!”

What is your identity?  Do you really know who you are – Your source? Your roots?
 
The above scriptures (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 139:13-14 and Psalm 8:5-6) provide us with the most authentic source of who we are. 


Sometimes we may not feel, leave alone accept and have it anchored in us that we are the image of God, and that he has given us authority over all!

We live in a fallen world – the enemy came and his whole intention was and still is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10.10a).  As a result, sometimes life challenges and difficulty experiences can blur the truth about our identity!  But that is what they just do – blur – but they do not change the truth that WE ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND THAT HE HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR EACH OF US!


Yes, the challenges you have faced (in form of broken relationships, lack and poverty, sicknesses, failed businesses, rejection and all the nasty things the devil throws our way) may leave you feeling worthless, but the undaunted truth of the word of God is that YOU ARE HIS, AND HE HAS A PURPOSE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR YOU.  And that there is a specific path that he would want you to follow so as to fulfill this purpose, because in it you will find “good life”!  Hallelujah!


Right from the beginning, God put his purpose in us – to take charge of everything He made! 


Examining the Work


Back to our opening scripture – Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are God’s (own) handiwork (his workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, (born a new) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which he prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us to live)”.

A closer review of the above scripture reveals the following:

1. We are God’s own handiwork – his workmanship – his masterpiece.


2. We have been recreated in Christ Jesus, i.e. born a new or born again, so that we may do the good works.


It is only through recreation – our being recreated and reconstructed a new through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, that we are able to do the God works. 


3. God predestined – he planned beforehand – the good works, and it is upon us to discover these good works.


4. In doing the good works, we have to walk through the paths that God also prepared ahead of time.


5. And in walking through the paths that God prepared for us, then we live the good life, which he also prearranged and made ready for us to live!


Our lives were all planned out by God before we became!  Is it a wonder that God tells Jeremiah that, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.” (Jeremiah 1:5).


Many times a lot of people assume that being in the purposes of God is being in the five-fold ministry of Pastors, Teachers, Prophets, Apostles and Evangelists.  These are only a part of the paths that lead us to the purposes of God.  You could be doing your general shop business and you are in the purpose of God.  You could be teaching in a school, and you are in the purpose of God.  You would be leading a government ministry or a corporate or private entity and still be in the purposes of God.  The determining factor is:  Are you doing it in a renewed state? 


From the beginning, we have seen that God created us in his image and likeness so that our services (our purposes) may be executed in his likeness and image – in his way.  So what kind of an attitude do we need to adopt to execute the purpose of God in our work – it is none other than “DO IT AS UNTO GOD”.  Embrace an attitude of stewardship – where you know and are fully persuaded that whatever you do, you are doing it on behalf of God, you are representing God, you are serving him by taking charge of the space, the knowledge, the skill, the expertise that he has given you. 


The Renewed Mind


Our new identity in Christ only comes as we embrace him as Lord and Saviour in lives.  We give him authority to lead and to govern our lives.  This new identity comes after one exchanges their self-will with the will of Christ Jesus in their lives. 


A self-willed, self-governed and self-led life in any area of work focuses and works towards selfishness.  Yet this is not in the will of God, it does not aid in achieving his intended purpose in our lives. Self-will will only pursue self-interests.  It is in light of this, that God warns us “Not to be CONFORMED to the world (this age), (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but to 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).


ONLY a renewed mind will work out the purpose of God.  Many people including born again believers, have been accustomed to the way of the world – its behaviours and customs – in business, in relationships, in families, in all areas of life – they follow through the worldly norms.  This only keep one blinded and completely off the purposes of God. 


However, a renewal of mind – a transformation – a change – from the worldly to God’s ways is available.  This is what Romans 12:2 presents to us – to turn away from the worldly system.  This renewal comes as one embraces a new behavior, a new attitude, a new way of thinking that only comes when the old is gone.  The renewed mind is able to prove and embrace the good and acceptable and perfect will of God – his purpose for us.  The New Living Translation puts verse 12 this way:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God TRANSFORM YOU INTO A NEW PERSON by changing the way you think.  THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO, AND YOU WILL KNOW HOW GOOD AND PLEASING AND PERFECT HIS WILL REALLY IS.”


Renewal is available for everyone – Only DO NOT CONFORM but be ye TRANSFORMED.  Position yourself to do the work in you.  Position yourself to take charge of that which the Lord has given you.  Position yourself to represent God here on earth.  As you do so, all self-interests will be exchanged for God’s interests.  Corruption will be a thing of the past.  Murder, theft and robbery and all other vices will disappear in light of men and women who have positioned themselves to follow after the purposes of God.  Amen.

Selah! Take Time and Think Before Indulging

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is also the author of Ecclesiastes. It is interesting to note that this man, was the wisest of his time, and the bible notes that no one before him or after him has held such wisdom.

In Ecclesiastes 3, he writes:

For everything, there is a season; A time for every activity under heaven.

2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.


For everything there is a season,


9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

It is possible to reckon that all there is in life is to enjoy oneself with all that the Lord God has given.  While enjoying is good, it is important to understand the context in which one is enjoying himself or herself.  There is a scope, there is a destiny, there is a plan that God has put in place for every man and woman to live in.  Whereas this may be in grey and not black and white, the scriptures provide a clear pathway on how to trend on these grey paths.

So as we plan to indulge in that which God has blessed us with - our monies, our power - the question to bear at all times is, how does this contribute to my getting to God's destiny for me? Is is pro or against?  

After all is said and done, God's purpose and intention for every human being is that we may fear Him (revere and worship him)!  Shall we worship the Lord with our blessings? With our intellect, with our voices, with our friends and families, our monies, our assets - with all that He has blessed us with!

Selah!