The Highway Of Praise

Highways are turnpikes or expressway with free flow of traffic. Highways don't have traffic lights or stops, since they are usually interstates or inter-city roads. They are freeway devoid of obstacles and encumbrances. Like highways, praise for the believer is the surest way of overcoming hindrances and obstacles, and getting our desires established after praying. The under-listed are ways to travel on the highway of praise, and the results we get as we journey in PRAISE.
Praise is comely: "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright” (Psalms 33:1 KJV). The synonyms of comely are beautiful, proper, pleasing, good, and attractive.  Praising God is good for the health and makeup of the believer. It makes the praise-full believer attractive and beautiful.  And God relishes the praise of the pure, blood-washed believer (Scripture reference: Psalm 92:1-4). 

 

Revel in thanksgiving. To revel is to take great pleasure and delight in something. Delight yourself in the Lord your God and He will grant your heart desires. The one leper who was healed was recorded to have returned to thank God “with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15-16).
Also, the lame man who was healed by Peter and John entered the temple walking and leaping and praising God (Acts 3: 8-9). We are to thank God with high praises, wild jubilations, and effusive singing. 

 

Ascribe greatness to God: Thanksgiving extol God's goodness. Praise extols His greatness. Worship extols His holiness. To ascribe greatness to Him (i.e. to praise Him) is to eulogize Him about His works. His works are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:3-4), great (Psalm 111:2), wonderful (Psalm 139:14), incomprehensible (Job 37:5), and visible in creation (Romans 1:20). The greatness of someone is measured by the greatness of their work. As we magnify His greatness, God in turn does great things for us, in us and through us. 

 

Increase is a result of praise: Just as warm air rises from the earth and condenses to form clouds which in turn fall as rain on the earth, so also when praises rise up to God the resultant effect is a rainfall of blessing. This waters the earth and causes the earth to yield to mankind. The desolate places of this earth are places where nothing is going up (Zechariah 14:17). A Christian who is praise-full will experience increase, much blessings and divine interventions (Scripture reference: Psalm 67:5-7).

 

Sacrifice of praise is highly regarded by God: A sacrifice is something offered to God at a cost. A sacrifice of praise is when we offer praises to God in distressful and inconvenient times.  Paul and Silas offered a sacrifice of praise to God while they were in jail and severe pain which they suffered after being bodily tortured in Philippi. They sang praises to God in this unpalatable moment and the result was an earthquake which loosened every prisoner’s chains (Scripture reference: Acts 16:16-34).

 

Eleventh hour miracle is an outcome of heartfelt praise: We are in the eleventh month. The eleventh hour is defined as the latest possible time before it is too late. I believe sincerely that a heartfelt, continued praise offered to God will make Him do in this eleventh month what He hasn't done in the last 10 months of 2016.  "Delight yourself in the LORD, And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart" (PSALM 37:4 AMP).

 

Conclusion: The highway of praise will take us from glory to glory, victory to victory, faith to faith, and triumph to triumph. As the year begins to wind up, engage this spiritual tool to the utmost, and you will experience His great blessings. Have a blessed month!

Pursue, Overtake and Recover All

“So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” - (1 Samuel 30:8).

David’s family and that of his followers were attacked and carried into captivity by the Amalekites. They were plundered and their houses were burnt. In consternation, David cried to the Lord inquiring of Him whether to pursue the invaders or not; and the Lord answered him in the affirmative. The three action words in this passage are Pursue, Overtake and Recover.

Pursue:  A man of God said the proof of desire is pursuit. What we desire is what we go after. Our pursuits show our interests and what our hearts delight in. Oftentimes, people pursue ephemeral and valueless things. Many don’t know what they should be pursuing in life. The only person worthy of pursuit is God. David, in this passage, was able to hear God and know what to do in time of crisis because he was a God-chaser and pursuer (Psalm 42:1-2). In these days of great anxiety, the only safe place is the bosom of the Almighty (Psalm 46:1). God highly commended David calling him a man after His heart, and made him win all his life’s battles because God was his pursuit. When we pursue God relentlessly, He leads us on the path of total recovery.

Overtake:  To overtake means to catch up and ambush. David caught up with the enemies and ambushed them (1 Samuel 30: 16-20). Prophet Elijah was able to bear footedly outrun the chariots of King Ahab, his enemy (1 Kings 18:45-46). Two hundred out of the six hundred soldiers that started out with David became battle-weary and they stayed back (1 Samuel 30:10). When we learn to wait on God, He renews our strength. To win spiritual battles, we need supernatural strength that is beyond the ordinary. We also need to be attentive to hear the voice of the Lord in crisis moment. And God is always willing to speak in challenging times, if we seek Him (Psalm 50:15). Divine strength and divine leading are a-must-have in life’s battle in order to of recover what is yours.

Recover All:“So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking…; David recovered all” (1 Samuel 30: 18-19). Thus, David was able to turn around a very hopeless situation. Because his heart was stayed on God, David   received supernatural direction and strength. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a full package of recovery, redemption and restoration. God’s will is that we recover all we have lost through enemy attacks, carelessness and disobedience.  But many carry a mentality of no one has it all. May we experience a shift in our mentalities today in Jesus’ name.

Conclusion: Receive grace in this new month to pursue, overtake and recover all.  You will possess all your possessions in Jesus’ name.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

www.rccgpittsburgh.net

http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

The 3 Ps Of Righteousness

“…to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ” (Romans 3:26).

The Greek word for righteousness is “Dikaiosunē,” which essentially means divine approval, divine verdict or divine justice.  Apostle Paul makes us to realize there is a divine perspective to righteousness vis-à-vis the human perspective (Romans 10:3). This write-up seeks to highlight the divine perspective of righteousness.

The Position or Platform of Righteousness:  Every child of God stands on the platform of righteousness before God, whether he or she realizes it or not. God declares sinners who exercise faith in Christ (as Savior and Lord) not guilty, and He accepts and causes them to approach Him by the blood of Jesus. He makes them to stand on the platform of righteousness before Him. King David, an Old Testament saint with uncanny insight into the New Testament encapsulated this reality when he said: “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You that he may dwell in Your courts …” (Psalm 65:4). This truth is the whole essence of our redemption: that a just God justifies sinners who demonstrate faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). Righteousness is an imputed gift.

The Posture of Righteousness: Posture here means an inward attitude or stance or viewpoint. Abraham’s sins were cancelled and blotted out, and he was declared righteous because he had faith in God (Romans 4:1-3). He was willing to obey God, so he took risk and followed God blindly. His inner posture and desire was inclined to pleasing God at all times, even to his own detriment. A posture of righteousness comes by carrying the mentality that we are justified before a just and holy God because of the shed blood of Christ (Titus 3:4-7). This mentality is different from when one thinks he is vindicated because of his or her own righteousness and good deeds.

The Practice of Righteousness: Anyone who deliberately violates the law even if he is a law keeper and enforcer is still a lawless person (1 John 3:4). Many policemen, who in the course of duty murdered in the name of self-defense, are prosecuted and punished, if found guilty. Of what use is a sown seed which never germinates into a fruit-bearing tree? Yes, we have the seed of righteousness in us, but the only way we glorify God is when we allow the seed within to grow and bring forth good fruits to our world (Matthew 5:16). Apostle John wrote: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).  The righteousness we practice is akin to how light dispels darkness in the world.

CONCLUSION: The above-listed points capture what divine perspective of righteousness is about.  Jesus was made sin apart from His righteous deeds; we were also made righteous apart from our sinful deeds. Now that we have been made righteous, Heaven expects and demands from us works and practices of righteousness.

 

Operating In God's Economy

And do not seek what you should eat or drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:29-31).

God has an economic system that is diametrically opposed to this world’s system. As born again believers in God’s Kingdom, it is imperative for us to know how His economic system operates so as to avail ourselves of the blessings therein.

God’s economy is free from anxiety: Our opening text says God knows we need material things. As a good Father, He provides sufficiently for His children. It is only weird children who will doubt their parents’ willingness to give them the things they need, particularly when they know their parents can afford it. It is an assumption for many children that their parents will provide for their needs. The Psalmist emphatically says he has never seen the righteous forsaken and his seed begging for bread. It is necessary for us to also see God as our Source and Provider, and not just our Savior and Healer. Anxieties about finances and supplies simply shows we have little faith (Luke 12:28).

God’s economy is free from greed: The wealth of the world is predicated on and motivated by greed. The craving to have more and more rules the world’s system. Jesus said a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions even when he has a lot (Luke 12:15). Though God wants us to have things, He doesn’t want things to have us. Things are not God. One of the reasons why God commands us to give generously and regularly is to avoid been consumed by greed. A man of God said: “the only proof you have conquered greed is your giving”

God’s economy is not just monetary: The net worth of an individual is his Assets less Liabilities. Money can only answer to things, and not all life’s issues.  For believers in Christ, our net worth is much more than riches or what it can offer; our real asset is our relationship with God (Jeremiah 9:23-24). God told Abraham (and by extension us) that He is His exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). True riches are more than things. True riches refer to the ability to get prayers answered, ability to hear from God, ability to have peace of mind in the midst of turmoil. It is also good health, divine favor, divine wisdom, etc.

God’s economy is a partnership: Jesus entered Peter’s boat on Lake Gennesaret by purpose. There were two boats, but He entered Peter’s and ended his financial struggles and toil (Luke 5:1-11). Tithing is neither an old nor new covenant issue; it is actually a timeless covenant issue. We are stewards of God’s possessions because He owns all things; we don’t own anything. He owns it all. This understanding should help us surrender our finances, business and careers to Him. When He becomes our senior partner indeed, our heavens open and lack disappears. God is looking for trust worthy partners like Peter.

God’s economy is a mindset:  God’s economy rest solely on the law of seed time and harvest (Genesis 8:22). It is about sowing and anticipating the harvest from the seed intentionally planted. It is about having a mind that seeks to glorify God in all things and at all times. It is a mindset of possibilities in spite of odds. Isaac planted in famine and his crops yielded supernaturally (Genesis 26:1-3, 13-14). It is a mindset that doesn’t give up. Isaac kept on digging wells till he got to Rehoboth (the place of his enlargement). This mindset is totally opposed to that of this world. In the world you accumulate for leverage; in God’s economy you liquidate for leverage (Proverbs 11:24-26).

CONCLUSION: Are you a bona fide member of the Kingdom of God. If not, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior today. If you are, are you operating fully in God’s economy? Receive faith, courage and a heart of obedience to begin to operate God’s economy.

 

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

www.rccgpittsburgh.net

http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

Your Thoughts Are Entities

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).

An entity is synonymous to something real, living and separate. An entity is an object not necessarily material. Many times, we don't think of our thoughts as objects that are real and living. A certain man of God said the most important things in life are your thoughts, and the most powerful things in life are the words that we speak. Our words emanate from our thoughts and thinking patterns (Matthew 12:34). Below are some things to consider:

Thoughts Are Real: Our values and beliefs are shaped by the way we think and all these determine who we are. Our destinies are also determined by our value and belief systems. Jesus said: "The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things"(Matthew 12:35, AMP). What we produce in our lives are the results of our thinking patterns.

Thoughts Are Changeable: The Bible enjoins us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).  Humans are “programmable” creatures. Our brains register events of pain and pleasure, and have a tendency to replay and repeat them even when they are destructive. Habits are formed when we keep allowing the brain to replay events of pleasure. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit in the believer are powerful change agents. As we fix our minds on the Word of God, we gain quality and higher thoughts that eventually produce quality mindsets and people.

Thoughts Are Entities: We live life from within us. We draw inspiration, and otherwise, from our minds and thinking patterns. Until God convinced Gideon he was a mighty man of valor and capable of defeating the Midianites, Gideon wasn't ready to make any move against them. But once his thinking pattern changed about himself, he made the move against the Midianites (Judges 7:14-16). The battle of life is won or lost, first and foremost, in the minds of men. Thoughts are entities.

Thoughts Are Controllable: The clarion call is to always be conscious of your thoughts. Our main text above says we should focus our thinking on noble things. The Amplified version of 1 Corinthians 14:20 says: "Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men]." Adult people take charge, while infants don't. We are to take charge of our thoughts (Proverbs 4:23). Psychologists tell us it takes approximately 21 days to change a particular thinking pattern.

Conclusion: Repentance is always as a result of deep, reflective thinking. The prodigal son, upon seeing how low his life had sunk, made up his mind to go back to his father's house, where there is abundance. God has given us the responsibility to decide what manner of life we want. It's not enough to desire a quality lifestyle; we must be willing to pay the price for it by changing our thinking, and as a result our ways. Have a blessed month.

 

Made By Grace (March 2016)

“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6, NIV)

Biblical grace has a few definitions: It is God’s power at work in the believer (Acts 4:33). Grace is also unmerited favor and kindness of God brought to man by Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9). Grace is also charis, from where we have the word charisma, which is a divinely conferred gift or talent (Romans 12:6-8). Below are some different manifestations of grace that is expedient for the Christian in order to maximize life here on earth:

Sufficient Grace: “And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness... Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God spoke to Apostle Paul (and to us), in the above-quoted Scripture that His ability is at our disposal whenever we are at our wit’s end. When we are helpless in ourselves is really when Divine help is most available. There is need for Christians to carry the mentality of sufficient grace particularly in times of distress.

Sustaining Grace: This grace makes the believer a finisher. It sustains the believer in times of great opposition and challenges. It also enables the believer to hold on and finish well. Zerrubabel, the Governor of Judah, was encountering challenges from the Samaritans in finishing the temple he started.  Zerubbabel was instructed to shout Grace Grace at the place of the construction (Zechariah 4:7). Grace will produce divine supply to finish whatever He has purposed to do in our lives.

Sanctifying Grace: The Word of God sanctifies and cleanses through the vehicle of grace (Acts 20:32). The grace of God does not justify sin, but justifies the sinner. The woman, who was caught in adultery by the Pharisees and scribes and brought to Jesus, was instructed by Him to go and sin no more (John 8:1-12). The words Jesus spoke to her were empowered words of grace that produced divine ability in her, which effected a transformation in her. This grace produces discipline in the Christian, enabling him or her to fulfill divine purpose, and to live above sin (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Superabundant Grace: “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7, NKJV). Divine grace is always massive and cannot be maxed out.  In reality, we cannot earn divine blessings by our own efforts.  God’s intention is always that by blessing us beyond our imagination, the undeserved blessing will spark off thanksgiving, worship and outright obedience to Him. If divine blessings are truly earned by human effort, it will result in boastfulness which God abhors. This grace is released because of the ministry of Jesus (Galatians 3:13-14)

Saving Grace:  “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through (your) faith.  And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving), but it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Our ultimate salvation, as Christians, rests totally on the grace and mercy of God.

CONCLUSION:  As money works for rich men, so does God intend that His grace should work for the Christian in this world. The currency we spend and invest in as Christians is the grace of God. The grace of God is a maker of enviable destinies. Align yourself with God today and let Him raise you.  Stop abusing grace by justifying sin, and stop killing grace by condemning those God has justified. Step up in grace by the grace of God.

 

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

www.rccgpittsburgh.net

http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

Embracing Change

Change is an inevitable part of life. Change will always come to everyone whether they are prepared for it or not. We shouldn’t see change as an enemy because it is a reality of life and necessary for growth and development. The world we live in has undergone many changes in the last ten years in technology. Older gadgets have giving way to newer, better and more efficient ones. Mankind is daily discovering and improving on things that make the world a better place. The only constant in life is change.

To embrace change, we need to realize that life will constantly demand changes from us, and hence we should be willing and ready to make the necessary adjustments when the need to do so arises.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22). Different seasons of life call for different adjustments. For instance, warm clothes are needed in winter; spring signifies hope and preparation for summer; summer brings sunlight and vitality, signifying action time; and at fall when the trees begin to shed off their leaves, it may be necessary to take inoculation against flu. Each of these seasons come with demands on mankind to make one adjustment or the other, and such is the reality of life.  Below are some truths to consider about embracing change:

Change is God ordained: God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6); His love is constant and His faithfulness is sure. However, He initiates changes, and this is why He is called the unchangeable changer. The Bible says He changes times and seasons (Daniel 2:21). And because He causes change to occur, He will sometimes force change on us in order to move us to the next season or level in life. Most often than not, change is required to enter into the next level of our lives.

Change is challenging: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spot? Then may you also do well who are accustomed to do evil" (Jeremiah 13:23). This scriptures point out how difficult it is to change what one has been accustomed to. We should realize, as Christians, that God doesn't want us to change independent of Him. Change is difficult, but it is possible with the help of God.

Change is necessary: If we fail to change, we will stagnate and remain in the rut. A story is told of the Swiss watchmakers who manufactured 65% of watches in the late 1960s, with 90% of the profits in the world market. The time came when the technology of the quartz crystal became the fad, but the Swiss refused to embrace this change and kept sticking to their brand. By the 1980s, Japan had become the largest manufacturer of wristwatches in the world. People lose their territories when they fail to make the necessary changes.

Change is possible with God’s help: Right thinking, right beliefs and right exposure to God via the influence of the Holy Sprit and His Word can make change not as daunting as it appears to be.  “Not in your own strength, for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you energizing and creating in you the power and desire both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight” (Philippians 2:13, Amp).  For change to be effortless, what is needed is Holy Ghost power and not self will power.

Change should be embraced: Many times, God ordained changes come wrapped up with challenges and seeming setbacks.  Abraham was asked by God to leave his family to an unknown place that will be shown to him as he embarks on the journey (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham obeyed, not knowing he was signing up for a glorious future.  Today, virtually all world religions acknowledge Abraham as their father. What change has God been demanding from you? Has He been demanding genuine repentance from you? What instructions have been coming to you persistently with little nudges? Obedience to God is signing up for a glorious and unfathomable future (Ephesians 3:20).

Conclusion: Embracing genuine and lasting change is embracing the eternal Word of God wholeheartedly. Jesus Christ is the Word Personified (Revelation 19:11-13).

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

www.rccgpittsburgh.net

http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

Living Intentionally in 2016

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17 AMP).

To be intentional is to be deliberate about something. It is to take utmost responsibility for one's life and actions.

 Set Goals: One definition of goal is the end to which effort is directed. Apostle Paul says he presses towards the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14). He had a goal in mind he was aiming for. Having no goals is like playing a football match without a touchdown line or playing soccer without goalposts. Goal setting also involves identifying something one wants to accomplish, and then establishing measures to accomplish it within a set time frame. Nothing is dynamic until it first becomes specific.

 Redeem The Time: Time is the only commodity that is irreplaceable in life.  Note that time is a commodity to be traded. When it is diligently and wisely used, it yields handsome dividends. Time invested in good education produces a strong mind over time. Time is of such great importance that when someone spends time with us, we thank them for their time. While money is replaceable, time isn't. To redeem the time is to be diligent and maximize the opportunities we get in life. It also means having a sense of urgency about one's assignment because the days are evil. To make the most out of time, one has to be careful to avoid procrastination and idleness.

 Die Daily To Self: Living in pleasure (of sin) is not living intentionally. Apostle Paul said I die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). Jesus said we should carry our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). The cross implies the crucifixion of the sinful Adamic nature in us. To die daily is to (daily and regularly) deny our human nature of its lusts and cravings. It is to tow the line of self discipline by the help of the Holy Spirit resident within us. By dying daily we are able to manifest the holiness and glory of God to our world (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

 Lean On Grace: Grace, as defined by someone, is the power of God available to meet our needs without any cost to us.  Grace is a maker of men and destinies (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace makes us accomplish great things for God (Zechariah 4:6-7).  A resolute mind isn't enough to live intentionally in 2016. His grace is greatly needed. Even when we fail, we are able to recover ourselves, dust ourselves up and continue by His grace (Proverbs 24:16).

Do The Expedient:  The expedient things are the helpful and beneficial activities we engage in. By doing the expedient regularly, we cultivate good habits. Psychologists tell us it takes 30 days to change a habit. The convenient is contrary to the expedient, and it usually doesn't deliver good results. Doing the convenient all the time is akin to cultivating poor habits that will never yield great results. Success is not a product of one time event; rather, it is a product of a string of expedient activities.

Give Yourself Away: "Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation he fell asleep" (Acts 13:36, NIV). Jesus said he came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom (Mark 10:45). You are never remembered for what you get; rather, what you are remembered for is what you give. To intentionally live is to serve your generation according to the will of God. Look for ways to serve in your family, church etc in 2016.

Sow Seeds: The law of reproduction is predicated on planting a seed (Genesis 8:22). Every seed reproduces after its kind. Deliberate living is to plant seeds of what you intend to harvest. Farmers are deliberate seed planters.  A farmer who doesn't plant in the planting season will have nothing to harvest during harvest seasons. Prudent farmers don't consume all their harvest. Every harvest includes the seeds for the next planting season, and the number of seeds sown determines the size of the next harvest. Believe in this principle to your benefit; ignore it to your disadvantage.

Conclusion: May your life take a leap forward in this leap year in Jesus’ name, as you make every effort to live intentionally. Happy New Year!

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.org

Memorial Stones (December 2015)

Memorial stones were monuments set up by God’s people in the Old Testament to celebrate and commemorate His goodness, faithfulness and interventions for them. The Bible is replete with such monumental events. For example, Jacob set up a memorial stone and called the place Bethel when he had an open vision of God reaffirming the covenant He had with Abraham, his grandfather (Genesis 28:10-22); the Israelites were instructed by God to celebrate the Passover as a memorial of how they were delivered from bondage in Egypt. The Passover feast is a memorial stone (Exodus 12:21-27); Joshua was instructed by God to take out twelve stones from the Jordan River after the river was parted by God for the Israelites to pass through. The stones were set up at Gilgal (Joshua 4:1-8,21); Samuel, after the Israelites’ decisive win over their Philistine arch enemy, took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called it “Ebenezer”, saying, thus far the Lord has helped us. (1 Samuel 7:12). Some significance of memorial stone includes the following:

Reminder of Divine Help: The spot where the Israelites defeated the Philistines (after national repentance and fasting) was the same place Samuel set up a stone, calling its name “Ebenezer”. Twenty years before, they had been defeated by the same Philistines at the same place. However, this time round, God turned the tides against their enemies and gave them victory, and hence the memorial name “Ebenezer”.  Thus, the place of their former defeat now became the place of their victory.

Reminder of Divine Encounter: Jacob saw a vision of open heaven and angels descending and ascending. He set up a stone and called the place “Bethel”, meaning the house of God (Genesis 28:18-20).  At salvation, when a sinner genuinely repents and turns to Jesus, the light of Heaven shines into his or her soul, and inexplicable joy invades the soul. This experience is a divine encounter. Reliving past encounters is always a spring and motivation to ride on with God!

Reminder of Our Divine Inheritance: Another memorial instituted for Christians by our Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord’s Supper, also called Holy Communion (Luke 22:17-21). Rightfully partaking in the Lord’s Supper brings to our benefit the redemption riches and treasures we have in Christ (e.g. divine healing, protection, illumination, etc). It also reminds us of the great sacrifice which Jesus undertook on our behalf. And for this, we should be eternally grateful to God. When we participate in this sacred memorial, we obey our Lord Jesus and declare that He is our eternal portion.

Reminder to Future Generations: Because God wants His people to always remember what He has done, and also relay same to succeeding generations, He asked Joshua to pick out twelve stones from River Jordan and set it up as a memorial. We have celebrations, thanksgiving services and testimonies because we want to communicate God’s faithfulness, goodness and mercy to generations coming after us. Similarly, the Thanksgiving was started in 1621 by the early settlers in North America to celebrate God’s goodness. Today, it has been statutorily adopted as a national holiday, serving as a memorial to this and future generation of the goodness and faithfulness of God to their ancestral parents.

CONCLUSION:  Memorials are necessary because humans have a propensity to forget God’s goodness in times of adversity, turmoil and challenges. Many look back at the end of the year and feel God hasn’t done much for them. Many may have real reasons not to grateful, but God still wants us to set up memorials for what He has done – however great or small they might be. We may have lost certain things, but He is the reason we have not lost all.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.org

Drop That Burden (November 2015)

“Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22)

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “burden” as something oppressive or worrisome. It is something one bears with difficulty and obligation. A burden is opposite of a blessing; while blessing brings delight, a burden causes pain. A burden weighs down the soul and the body (Luke 13:10-13). A burden casts down. It causes a bowing down of the head. Below are different types of burden people bear:

Burden of Sickness and Affliction:  In Luke 13:10-17, we read the story of a daughter of Abraham who was bent over for 18 years. A spirit of infirmity was responsible for her condition. When Jesus met her in the sanctuary on a Sabbath day, He healed her. Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil in our lives, to relieve us of heavy burdens, and to rescue us from the tyranny of oppression. His power and anointing are still the same as of old. Fasting and fervent prayers in the name of Jesus will break the yoke and burden of affliction.

Burden of Sin: Habitual sin is a sickness of the soul. It weighs on the soul, leaving a dent of no-confidence on the sinner in the presence of God (Luke 18:13). The Bible calls sin a weight which hinders us from making strides in the spirit. It is a wedge that causes separation from God.  The burden of sin is removed when a sinner receives the forgiveness Jesus offers to all mankind. Jesus was manifested to save from the power, penalty and eventual presence of sin (Matthew 1:21).

Burden of Shame:  Shame or reproach is something that denotes disgrace, dishonor and embarrassment. Shame is a burden that bows the head. Shame is the "buts" in our lives that question the authority and power of God. Shame points to those bad reference aspects of a person’s life: “Naaman was also a mighty man of valor BUT a leper” (2 Kings 5:1). However, in Christ our case is different: “For Christ did not please Himself, but it is written, the reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me” (Romans 15:3, AMP). Jesus suffered shame on the cross of Calvary so that we will be partakers of His glory.

Burden of Debt: This is a burden people impose on themselves. Borrowing money to buy liabilities and finance our lusts isn’t God’s will. Borrowing money to buy assets isn’t God’s best either. Not having debt is God’s will. The borrower is servant to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). The borrower who can’t pay his debt will always be afraid of the lender. God wants us to be totally free and not in any form of captivity. As we become financially responsible and eschew profligate and ostentatious lifestyle, God clears our debts and blesses us.

Burden of Care: The care and concern of this world can constitute a burden. When we focus our thinking on the issues and necessities of life, we worry and become burdened by them. We lose confidence and trust in God as a result. The cares of this life are thorns that emasculate the efficacy of the Word of God in a person’s life. This care, if not dealt with, releases negative toxins into our bodies that lead to all manner of sicknesses (Proverbs 17:22).

CONCLUSION
Let us receive grace in this new month to drop our burdens at the feet of Jesus, the only true Burden Bearer. Let us receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit afresh that terminates yokes and burdens. Jesus’ burden is light and easy. As we team up with Him by taking on His burden, He will relieve us of other illegal burdens in Jesus name.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.org