“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight path in the desert, a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3)
The prophet Isaiah in the above text was telling the people of his time to make preparation for the visit of God. John the Baptist also echoed the same words in Matthew 3:3 as he prepared the Israelites for the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah. In the days of Isaiah when kings want to travel, they sent two sets of messengers ahead of them – the herald and the repairer of the breach (Isaiah 58:12). The herald is the announcer announcing the intending coming of the king. The second sets of messengers are the repairers of the breach. Their own job is to repair broken bridges, build new bridges, patch the highway, expand the highway the king will be travelling in and generally make the route of the king more expansive and totally devoid of encumbrances. The king will not usually travel till the highway is prepared, and the reason for this is because the king usually have a large retinue accompanying him with treasures, goodies, etc. Whenever a king arrives, it is said he has come in all his glory. The queen of Sheba had camels that brought gold, spices and special stones (2 Chronicles 9:1).
In like manner, God wants to come into our lives with His blessings and fullness but there is need for us to prepare the highway He will travel in. Below are three vital areas we need to prepare in our lives for His visit:
Prepare the way in your heart: The doorway of God into our lives is our heart. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). If the doorway of our heart is wide open for God, it means it is wide open for the heavy duty blessings He wants to deliver. The Bible enjoins born again believers to keep vigilant watch over their hearts because that is where life starts (Proverbs 4:23, MSG). Our hearts must allow God room to operate by regularly meditating on Him.
Prepare the way in your priorities: Our priorities are things we give utmost attention to. Our time, talents and treasures flow in the direction of our priorities. Our lives center on our priorities. Jesus commands us to make God and His kingdom our priority (Matthew 6:33). In God, all things hold together and He alone should be the threshold of our lives. Chinua Achebe, the African author said things fall apart when the center cannot hold. When things become the center of our lives, other aspects of our lives become displaced. Jesus alone is the Center that can hold all facets of our lives together (Colossians 1:17). Put Him right where He should be today!
Prepare the way in your expectations: It is common knowledge that when an important guest is coming to visit our homes, churches or communities, we make preparations in the form of adjustments. We clean, renovate, cook meals, and generally get prepared because we are EXPECTING a VIP. If we are truly expecting the VIP of VIPs in our lives, our conduct will reflect it. Our aim in preparing for special guests is to please and make them glad. Our life goal and aim should be to please our Maker. The Bible says God travels the Highway of Holiness and no darkness is in Him at all (Isaiah 35:8). What adjustments have you made in 2012 to warrant the coming of the King with His fullness into your life?
Conclusion: The coming of Jesus is imminent, and it is only those who are prepared for His coming that will be raptured and not be ashamed at His coming. The five foolish virgins were left out of the wedding banquet with the Bridegroom because they were unprepared. The five wise ones who had made adequate preparations were granted entrance (Matthew 25:1-12). In what areas of your life are you coming short and need to make adjustments? Receive the grace of God to make the preparations and adjustments today and you will be glad you did. The King is eager to come as you make Him a glorious highway.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Divine Wisdom (June 2012)
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17)
Divine wisdom is heavenly wisdom which is from above and also above all (John 3:31). This is in clear contrast to demonic and diabolical wisdom (James 3:15-16) and also human and intellectual type of wisdom. Divine wisdom produces peace and pleasantness (Proverbs 3:17), and it cannot be compared to human, common sense wisdom.
The Bible Knowledge commentary defines wisdom as being SKILLED in Godly living. Skill is the ability to do something dexterously or very well. By divine wisdom, we are able to handle life challenges and issues very well. We have the right perspective to life by the wisdom of God. By divine wisdom we rule, reign and live life maximally and limitlessly.
Below are some truths about divine wisdom:
Divine wisdom is a personality: In Proverbs 8:22-31, wisdom was presented as a personality who worked with the Creator while creating the universe. Divine wisdom is the foundation on which everything that will endure and last is built. Jesus Christ is the Wisdom and also the Power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). By wisdom God founded the earth and by understanding He established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19). Jesus is the Wisdom of God who was there at the beginning when God created the world. To possess Christ is to possess divine wisdom.
Divine wisdom is steeped in mysteries: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7). “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33). God’s mysteries are deep, unfathomable realities that cannot be accessed or comprehended by the human mind. The deep things of God (His wisdom) are only revealed and made manifest by the Spirit of God. As our fear and reverence of God increases, we are able to access divine wisdom which beautifies, enlightens and enhances our lives.
Divine wisdom versus human wisdom: The foolishness of God commences where human wisdom ends. To the human, unregenerate mind the preaching of the gospel (divine wisdom) sounds nonsensical, but therein lies the salvation and deliverance of mankind. Human wisdom doesn’t work miracles but divine wisdom is altogether miraculous. Divine wisdom isn’t against rational thinking; divine wisdom understands human wisdom but human wisdom does not understand divine wisdom. To access divine wisdom, one must be willing to lay aside his/her human wisdom. “Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up to date with the times. Be God’s fool – that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19, MSG)
CONCLUSION: God doesn’t want His children to operate human/intellectual wisdom alone. Human wisdom is not sufficient to handle the issues and challenges of life, and also to live life limitlessly as God desires for His children (John 10:10b). God is calling His children to a deeper and closer walk with Him where He will divulge and regularly impart them with His wisdom that will make them shine as stars in this present world. As we desire this Wisdom above rubies and gold, we become an astonishment to our world.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
Divine wisdom is heavenly wisdom which is from above and also above all (John 3:31). This is in clear contrast to demonic and diabolical wisdom (James 3:15-16) and also human and intellectual type of wisdom. Divine wisdom produces peace and pleasantness (Proverbs 3:17), and it cannot be compared to human, common sense wisdom.
The Bible Knowledge commentary defines wisdom as being SKILLED in Godly living. Skill is the ability to do something dexterously or very well. By divine wisdom, we are able to handle life challenges and issues very well. We have the right perspective to life by the wisdom of God. By divine wisdom we rule, reign and live life maximally and limitlessly.
Below are some truths about divine wisdom:
Divine wisdom is a personality: In Proverbs 8:22-31, wisdom was presented as a personality who worked with the Creator while creating the universe. Divine wisdom is the foundation on which everything that will endure and last is built. Jesus Christ is the Wisdom and also the Power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). By wisdom God founded the earth and by understanding He established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19). Jesus is the Wisdom of God who was there at the beginning when God created the world. To possess Christ is to possess divine wisdom.
Divine wisdom is steeped in mysteries: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7). “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33). God’s mysteries are deep, unfathomable realities that cannot be accessed or comprehended by the human mind. The deep things of God (His wisdom) are only revealed and made manifest by the Spirit of God. As our fear and reverence of God increases, we are able to access divine wisdom which beautifies, enlightens and enhances our lives.
Divine wisdom versus human wisdom: The foolishness of God commences where human wisdom ends. To the human, unregenerate mind the preaching of the gospel (divine wisdom) sounds nonsensical, but therein lies the salvation and deliverance of mankind. Human wisdom doesn’t work miracles but divine wisdom is altogether miraculous. Divine wisdom isn’t against rational thinking; divine wisdom understands human wisdom but human wisdom does not understand divine wisdom. To access divine wisdom, one must be willing to lay aside his/her human wisdom. “Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up to date with the times. Be God’s fool – that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19, MSG)
CONCLUSION: God doesn’t want His children to operate human/intellectual wisdom alone. Human wisdom is not sufficient to handle the issues and challenges of life, and also to live life limitlessly as God desires for His children (John 10:10b). God is calling His children to a deeper and closer walk with Him where He will divulge and regularly impart them with His wisdom that will make them shine as stars in this present world. As we desire this Wisdom above rubies and gold, we become an astonishment to our world.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
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