The Blessings Of Dwellers (September 2013).

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord….to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4).

 

It was King David’s utmost desire to build the ark of God a house, and also for him to dwell in God’s temple. To dwell means to remain in a place as a resident. This is different from visiting a place. A green card holder in the USA is called a permanent resident, and this is different from a visiting status or a visitor. As a green card holder, there are benefits and privileges he/she has that a mere visitor into the USA isn’t entitled to. King David wanted to dwell or be planted in the house of God (Psalm 92:13), which is different from nomadic living. Cattle rearers in Africa are mostly nomads who have no permanent home but move about constantly in search of pasture for their cattle. Nowadays, we have so called believers who are spiritual nomads because they have no church home, but are busy wandering and visiting places of worship in search of supposed green pastures. The scripture above, and several others make us to realize there are blessings for those who are dwellers in God’s house that spiritual nomads or uncommitted visitors will not have access to. Below are some of the blessings of dwellers:

 

Dwellers partake of His goodness: In Psalm 65:4, the Bible says there is goodness in the house of the Lord. The beauty of the Lord is made manifest in His house because praise, worship, glory is accorded Him there; the atmosphere and environment of worship is right for Him to manifest His beauty. The scripture above tells us King David longed to dwell in God's house in order to behold His beauty therein. Also, God’s faithfulness is feasted on in His house (Psalm 37:3). Testimonies, sermons, hymns, spiritual songs and exhortations about His workings are all pointers of His faithfulness, and this engenders Him to further prove faithful to dwellers.

 

Dwellers enjoy divine covering: Whenever a lion is pursuing a herd of antelopes, his main aim is to isolate one antelope out of the pack and then descend on that one. It is almost impossible to break into two a bundle of twenty pencils using your hands. One isolated pencil  by itself is easily broken. Dwellers enjoy protective cover or corporate anointing that casual, non-residents in the house of God don’t enjoy.

 

Dwellers receive solutions to the nagging questions of life: One of the reasons David wanted to dwell in the house of God was to inquire in His temple. The same David was in dilemma when he saw the wicked and the ungodly prospering, the answer to his dilemma was revealed to him in the house of God (Psalm 73:17). If someone dwells long enough in the house of God, his/her nagging questions will be answered and his problems will be resolved. This is true because God rewards diligent seekers (Hebrews 11:6). Someone said patience with others is love, patience with oneself is hope, and patience with God is faith. Be patient where God has planted you and He will surprise you there. Moving from church to church is like transplanting oneself every time (James 1:6-8).

 

Dwellers enjoy support: Every local church or assembly is a family unit. There are numerous ways  a church family renders support to its members. Spiritual/prayer support, emotional, financial, marital, physical, etc. are some of the numerous blessings dwellers enjoy in a church setting.  Church assemblies in westernized cultures have served as a buffer to many immigrants from developing countries that would have been swallowed up by the complexities in these societies. Many scientific polls on longevity, relieving stress and living fulfilled lives   point to regular church attendance as a factor in handling life challenges and pressures. The Bible enjoins us not to forsake the assembly of the brethren as we see the day of the Lord approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

 

CONCLUSION: There are several other blessings that are bestowed on dwellers other than the aforementioned. We honor God with our presence when we come into His house, and those that honor Him, He honors back (1 Sam 2:30).  The Bible says those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:13). There are nutrients in the house of God that those who are planted and rooted there partake of. Have a blessed month.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

The Power Of Sacrifice (August 2013).

“Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” -Psalms 50:5 (NKJV)

 

Simply defined, a biblical sacrifice is offering something precious and costly to God. It is forgoing or surrendering something for the simple reason of wanting to please God and doing His will. It is giving up some benefits, pleasure and privileges in order to attain something better.

 

The Bible is replete of people who made sacrifices to God.  Enoch paid the price of habitual, close intimacy with God and he was raptured even before the forthcoming rapture was ever mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 5:24). David offered praises to God always when convenient and inconvenient, and God testified of him and honored him by making him an eternal dynasty (Jeremiah 33:19-22). Apostle Paul surrendered all, his pedigree, his Judaism position, his accomplishments, etc that he might gain Christ, and power was released to him (Philippians 3:7-10). Elisha gave up his lucrative family business for ministry sake, became Elijah’s servant and at his death, the anointing in his bones resurrected a dead man (1 Kings 19:19-21). The old lady named Anna was always in the temple in Jerusalem where she served God daily and nightly in fastings and prayers, and the result was that she saw Jesus before she died (Luke 2:36-38). Pastor Adeboye of the RCCG gave all his retirement benefits as a college professor to ministry work when he was called to full time ministry, the result is a worldwide impactful ministry. The Holy Ghost congresses which he hosts have the largest single congregation in the world today. Jesus left His glory in Heaven, chose to become a man, died for mankind, made Himself of no reputation, and He was lifted and giving a name above all names as a result. He also offered mankind the antidote for the complex issue of sin. The following are some truths worthy of note about making sacrifices to God:

 

Sacrifices though costly is a free will offering: God is fascinated by a cheerful giver. Jesus wasn't compelled to offer Himself as sacrifice for mankind. He willingly laid down His life. Abraham offered Isaac willingly and not because he was coerced. Peter and the apostles left all to follow Jesus willingly. For a sacrifice to be acceptable, it has to be willingly offered. Yes, God make demands on His people, but He wants His people to willingly surrender and give up.

 

Sacrifices commit God and release His power: The anchor scripture above talks about saints who cut covenant with God by their sacrifice. A covenant simply defined is God’s promises backed by an oath. After God made promises to Abraham, he further went ahead to swear to Abraham after he attempted to sacrifice Isaac, his son (Genesis 22:15-18). He made him the father of nations through whom the nations of the earth will be blessed.  The new covenant of grace was signed, sealed and delivered to mankind because of the sacrifice of Calvary. A worthy sacrifice offered in faith to God will always provoke Him to commit irrevocably to the person who made the sacrifice.

 

Sacrifices release the next level or season: God Almighty is the controller of times and seasons. He determines when a season ends and a new one occurs. A new season started for Solomon when he sacrificed a thousand cows as burnt offering to God. In order to enter a new season of life, to make a sacrifice is imperative. Many experience delays in season because they aren't willing to make any sacrifices. God loves revolutionaries and risk takers who will risk all for Him. To go up with God, you have to give up.  

 

Conclusion: Believers of nowadays know little or nothing about sacrifice. This is why the church seems to be powerless. What is God asking you to surrender for His cause and His Kingdom? What is that precious thing God is asking you to give up? Though it may be big deal to you, but it will result into blessings unimaginable and unfathomable for you and your offspring. The new covenant of grace in Christ didn’t obliterate making sacrifices to God.

 

Have a blessed new month in Jesus name.

 

Ade(Gboyega) Esan

 

Appropriating God's Promises (July 2013).

“…. By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).

Apostle Peter calls God’s promises great and precious. Through these promises, we partake in His divine nature ruling and dominating the earthly sphere where we currently occupy. His promises for His children span across health, mercy, prosperity, peace, restoration, a circumcised heart, angelic ministration, etc. Below are some ways of appropriating His promises for our lives:

Appropriating by Knowledge: Knowledge is power and knowledge is light! Knowledge is revelation which is having intimate understanding of something. There are two basic types of knowledge God will want us to have and these are heart knowledge of Him and experiential knowledge. The Psalmist said the entrance of the word of God produces light (Psalm 119:130). Every time the word of God penetrates deep into the soul of someone, it enlightens and a miracle occurs (Psalm 19:7-10). The second type of knowledge, the experiential knowledge is what David displayed when he confronted the challenge of Goliath. David recounted that God delivered him from the bear and the lion, and will do same with Goliath. David knew by experience that what God has done once in his life, He will do again a second time. An earnest desire to know God is a must have in order to appropriate His promises!

Appropriating by Obedience: Almost all of God’s promises have conditions attached to them. A few are unconditional, for example He says He will pour His Spirit on all saints at the last days (Acts 2:17). Though Jesus purchased all of God’s benefits and promises for us (2 Corinthians 1:20), there are still conditions attached to them for the simple reason of personal responsibility. For example, the scriptures say “the secret of the Lord are with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant (Psalm 25:14). This scripture reveals that the condition for downloading specialized information from heaven is the fear of God. Once the conditions are fulfilled, the promises are ready to be received. The wonderful truth is that the promises of God are more than worth paying the price of obedience for.

Appropriating by Faith: The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 that “For all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are Yes, and in Him also Amen, to the glory of God through us”. The promises of God are only accessible through Jesus Christ. Faith in the finished works of Christ is the platform for receiving God’s promises. Many do not doubt God’s ability to deliver His promises, but many are not sure of His willingness towards them. But God’s willingness to deliver is also Jesus Christ who was rejected by God on the cross of Calvary, so that those that believe on Him might be qualified and made partakers of God’s promises.

Conclusion: There are God’s promises for now and also for the hereafter. One of the promises for life after now is that those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 12:3). God’s plan is that we enjoy all of His earthly promises now and also be a partaker of His eternal promises. This is your portion in Jesus name!
Have a blessed new month.




Ade(Gboyega) ESAN