The Blessing of Work

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” - (Genesis 2:15, NIV)

Work, as defined by the dictionary, is an activity that involves mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. God’s intention is for man to work. He put Adam, the first man, in the Garden of Eden to tend and cultivate it. In creation, God worked daily for six days and after ending His work, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-2). Jesus also declared, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day…” (John 9:4). Below are some benefits and blessings of work:

Work Releases Potential: Potential simply defined is unused ability. It is what one can do that he or she hasn’t done. It is also what one can become that he or she hasn’t become. Work provides the opportunity for us to grow, develop and evolve. It leads to self-discovery and self-awareness. It is by working we discover our talents and sharpen our potential. It is also by working and releasing potential that human beings contribute their quota in solving human problems.

Work Brings Fulfillment: According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization or self-fulfillment is a human need, and it is the greatest need humans desire to fulfill. Though work, in itself, cannot bring maximum fulfillment (only God can), it still brings sufficient fulfillment to man. Even God as He created the earth was proud of His work each day. The Bible says, “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (i.e. suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely” (Genesis 1:31, AMP). After each day of creation, it was written that God saw that what He created was good, fitting, admirable and He approved of His work. In other words, God got some fulfillment from the work of His creation.

Work Releases Creativity: Human beings are co-creators with God. At creation, God gave man the basic raw material to continue the work of creation with Him. We unleash the creativity in us by applying ourselves to work, thinking through processes, and working with our hands to create and produce. From mixing ingredients and making food, drawing architectural plan and building structures, developing software programs and driving technological advancement, the creativity and ingenuity of man is released through the endeavor of work.

Work Is Antidote To Idleness: The Bible warns against idleness. Apostle Paul admonished young widows not to be idle and become busybodies as a result (1 Timothy 5:13). The truth is that we have a higher tendency to sin when we are idle. King David was idling in his palace at a time of war when he ended up committing adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-6). The Bible says in Proverbs 16:27 (TLB version) that, “idle hands are the devil’s workshop, idle lips are his mouthpiece.” The reverse is also true. We think less of indulging the human nature when we are productively engaging the mind and putting the body to work.

Work Brings Profit: The Bible says in Proverbs 14:23 that in all labor there is profit. It also says in Proverbs 12:11 that anyone who works his land will have plenty of food. Profit and productivity which come as a result of work supplant poverty. God has designed creation in such a way that we will always reap the labor of our hands. In His wisdom as we put our hands and minds to work, He blesses our work and teach us to be profitable (Isaiah 48:17).

CONCLUSION: Some spiritual, exercises as good as they are, cannot replace work. Prayer and fasting have their role, while working with our hands also has its place. God works through our prayers to accomplish for us what we cannot do. God will not do for us the tasks we can do for ourselves. And the dominion charge he gave man in Genesis 1:26-28 is still in operation and has not expired. It is all encompassing and will remain so possibly till God creates a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

Have a blessed month.

The Eagle Christian

“There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: THE WAY OF AN EAGLE IN THE AIR, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin” (Proverbs 30:18-19).

The eagle is a mysterious and amazing bird. Just as the lion is the king of the jungle, so the eagle is the king of birds and the air. God created the eagle to be amazing to illustrate to His children the kind of amazing life He wants them to live. Below are some characteristics of the eagle Christian:

Eats only fresh stuffs: The eagle bird, unlike the vulture, does not eat dead things. Christianity is a faith that truly offers living hope and life after death. The eagle Christian has his gaze on the future and doesn’t dwell on the past. He doesn’t dwell on past mistakes, past hurts and offences, past disappointments, fake doctrines, etc.  He realizes the past depicts the tomb, while the future depicts the womb. The womb carries potential to deliver life and the future. The tomb is undesirable because it has no potential nor possibility in the land of the living. Scripture reference: Isaiah 43:18-19.

Ascends to high altitudes: Some eagle birds fly as high as 30,000 feet where jumbo airplanes operate. The eagle soars and don’t flap its wings while at high altitudes. This energy efficient way of flying helps it to travel far without getting tired. And because it flies high it’s able to have a panoramic view of things. With a very astute eyesight, it can spot a prey five kilometers below. The vision of the eagle bird is very sharp.  And it also deals with its enemies, like the snake, by picking it with its strong beak and traveling high with it till it becomes destabilized. The eagle’s enemies are no match for it in the high altitudes it operates from. The eagle Christian who operates regularly in the Spirit confuses and totally unsettles his enemies. By soaring high with God in the heavenlies, the eagle Christian gains heaven’s perspective on life matters.

Gathers with other eagles. Eagles do not mix and associate with lesser birds. Most birds fly in flocks, but eagles usually fly alone or in pairs and only with other eagles. It doesn’t associate with the turkey that is a lazy, heavy and earthly bird. Though the turkey has wings it rarely flies. The eagle also does not associate with the peacock that is showy, self-absorbed and prideful bird. Neither does the eagle associate with parrots that are usually talkative and mimic others. The eagle is a very disciplined bird that minds its association. The eagle Christian is mindful of his association. He knows bad company corrupts good character and only seeks relationship with other eagle Christians that can sharpen him.

Leans on God: The eagle believer, like the eagle bird, trusts entirely on the Wind (Holy Spirit) to soar. The eagle bird will sit on a rock and wait patiently for wind currents to come when it wants to soar and travel to another location. We are only able to soar and do great exploits in life as we partner with the Holy Spirit. And partnering with the Holy Spirit requires patience, obedience and faith in God. By the flesh or human effort shall no man prevail. The eagle Christian realizes that he is God’s representative on earth, so he/she learns to wait on God for directives, renewal of strength and working of miracles. 

Embraces storms: The eagle bird isn’t one to shy away from storms or challenging weather. While other birds are scampering for safety in trees and hideouts, the eagle stands tall against the storm. Its mentality is that of conquering the storm not being subdued by it. The eagle is confident in the storm because it knows it is equipped and built to overcome it. King David, an exemplar of an eagle believer, said should war break out against him, he will be confident (Psalms 27:3); Apostle Paul says in all things we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37); Apostle Peter said we should not see it as strange when trials come (1 Peter 4:14). Storms and challenges of life come to certify the Christian and his faith. We don’t pray for storms to come but when they do come, we are assured by the grace of God because we are overcomers in Christ.

CONCLUSION: When the eagle bird is caged, it begins to live the low life and do things it wasn’t designed to do. It becomes lazy, eats dead stuffs, and its beak becomes weak, and it operates far below its potential. The Bible says we should stand firm in the liberty Christ has given us, and we should not be entangled again by any yoke (Galatians 5:1). May we live up to our potential in Christ in Jesus’ name.

Walking in The Supernatural

“And these signs shall follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV).

The supernatural is the realm of the unseen. It is superior to the visible, natural realm and controls the events in it. There are two major dimensions of the supernatural: the negative and positive supernatural. These two dimensions are at loggerheads. As born-again believers, it is God’s intention that we represent Him in the seen realm by solving problems through our faith and influence in the unseen realm. Below are some of the ways by which we can rein and walk in the supernatural:

Walking in love: The main motivating factor in the positive supernatural realm is love, while hatred and enmity are what characterize the negative supernatural. Hatred for God and His creation is what motivates the negative supernatural. Divine (Agape) love is a force that is as strong as death. When it is in operation it is irresistible. Jesus walked in the supernatural while here on earth because He walked consistently in love.  He walked into the funeral procession of a dead man who was the only son of his widowed mother in Nain, and on seeing the widowed mother the Bible says He had compassion on her and raised the dead child (Luke 7:11-16). Genuine, raw and unadulterated love of God will always manifest God on the scene (when necessary) and cause us to command victories in the seen realm. Walking in love is displaying the attributes found in 1 Corinthians 13, particularly verses 4 to 8, on a consistent basis. May the supernatural love of God fill our hearts to overflowing in Jesus’ name.

Walking in the Spirit: Simply put is being under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. When people are under the control of alcohol, they exhibit certain traits. They are loquacious, bubbly, intemperate, and irrational. When one is under the control of the Holy Spirit certain traits are also evident.  Praise and worship, courage, joy, utterance, gifts of the Spirit, etc. become evident. The anointing within the believer is activated and rises to higher proportions for performance. The Holy Spirit is loosened, and the anointing is released. We are enjoined as believers not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Regular infilling of the Holy Spirit is necessary to check the unfruitful works of the flesh and cause us to walk in the supernatural.  

Walking by faith: Faith in God deals with the unseen realm. Once something manifests in the seen realm, the work of faith is done over the matter. Faith is said to be the handle on things we cannot see. It lays hold on the promises of God (without letting go) till it manifests in the physical world. As believers we walk by faith and not by sight. The unseen realm is real to us and we seek to be influencers in the unseen realm. Once our influence increases in the unseen realm it will also increase in our personal world and in the natural realm. Abraham pleased God, became a friend of God, and had righteousness credited to him apart from works because he walked by faith with God. Apostle Paul, on seeing a crippled man from birth so enthralled and engrossed in his preaching perceived the cripple had faith to be healed. Paul seized the moment, joined faith with the cripple, and pulled him up and he began to walk (Acts 14: 8-10)

CONCLUSION: Walking in the supernatural also entails displaying the wisdom of God in every situation. The kinsmen of Jesus at Nazareth, while scoffing at Jesus, wondered and asked, “where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” (Mark 6:2). Walking in the supernatural is about using divine resources to solve human problems. May the supernatural become common place in our lives and ministries commencing from this month in Jesus’ name.

The Eagerness of God

One dictionary meaning of eagerness is keen or ardent in desire or feeling, and impatiently longing. My first interaction with the title “The Eagerness of God” was in my teen years with a Christian radio program so called. My late father will gather my siblings and I around a radio every Sunday night to listen to this program. The program centered on world evangelism and the preaching of the gospel. And the renowned preacher (Apostle Timothy Obadare of blessed memory) was apt in capturing that title because God is very keen in saving the souls of mankind. Below are some other areas of God’s keenness and eagerness viz:


His eagerness to redeem: Redemption is about the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), deliverance from the
power of sin (Psalms 40:2-3), rescue from the oppression and tyranny of satanic forces (Colossians 1:13-14), freedom from curses (Galatians 3:13-14), obtaining a glorious inheritance (Ephesians 1:18), and eternal salvation in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 9:15). All these and many more were purchased legally by the blood of Jesus. The ransom God paid, after the first man (Adam) sold mankind to sin and Satan’s captivity, was the blood of Jesus. God was so eager to rescue mankind that it pleased Him to make Jesus, His beloved son, the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

His eagerness for fellowship: God is a relational God who is always seeking for true worshippers (John 4:23-24). The reason for redemption is to draw mankind close to Himself so as to relate and have warm fellowship. God will always come down in the cool of the day to fellowship with the first human beings, Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8).  The man Enoch, one of the patriarchs in Genesis, was recorded to have suddenly disappeared because he was taken alive by God to heaven. He disappeared because God so much enjoyed fellowship with Him (Genesis 5:21). When Jesus died the veil that was separating the Holy of Holies (where God dwells) from the inner court in the temple was ripped supernaturally. This signifies access and the eagerness of God to have mankind come to Him and relate with Him.

His eagerness to bless: Many people do not doubt God’s ability to bless but many doubts His willingness to bless them largely due to perception of their unworthiness and failures. In Matthew 8:1-3, a leper came to Jesus telling Jesus He has the ability to heal him, but he wasn’t sure if Jesus was willing to do so. Jesus responded promptly and said I am willing and He touched the leper (a symbol of sin) and healed him. It is through Christ that the blessing of Abraham comes to the Gentiles (Galatians 3:14). The blessing of the Holy Spirit is received because of faith in Christ not by works of righteousness (Galatians 3:5). God is eager to bless those who engage Him in childlike faith.

His eagerness for reconciliation with mankind:“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19). From the quoted scripture and some others, we see that the sins of non-believers in Christ are technically forgiven, and that God is just waiting for them to accept the offer of His forgiveness. Jesus Christ was given to mankind to save and not to condemn. People end up in hell by refusing the offer of salvation in Christ Jesus.  God’s long suffering towards sinners is because of His eagerness to have them saved (2 Peter 3:9). And because of this eagerness He has given all born-again believers the ministry of reconciliation. We are to co-labor with Him in reconciling men to Him.

CONCLUSION: We serve an awesome God who is very zealous, enthusiastic, eager and passionate about man. In which way and manner has He been tugging your heart to get better and reciprocate His kind gestures? The Psalmist in relishing God’s goodness greatly declared “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). One good turn deserves another! Become better this month by becoming more zealous towards Him.

When Failure is Fatal

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 

Failure is not intended by God to be fatal or terminal for a child of God. The scripture quoted above attests to the fact that we have setbacks or failures, but we recover from them by the grace of the Almighty. The downfall of a child of God is not his or her end. Failure really is a part of the process of success just as death is part of the process of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:36). Winston Churchill said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure without the loss of enthusiasm.” Literally, all the patriarchs listed in the faith hall of fame in Hebrews 11 failed at some point in time but they bounced back to the point that they became models of faith. Even nature tells us that God’s intention is that we always recover. Trees that have become bare due to harsh conditions in winter always bounce back in spring and summer as they grow back leaves and luscious fruits. But there are occasions when failure can be fatal and terminal. Below are occasions when failure is fatal:

When we refuse to change: The Bible calls someone who refuses to change a fool. In Proverbs 27:22, the Bible says, “though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.” This scripture says if you afflict a fool with severe punishment akin to grinding him with a pestle in a mortar, he will still not change his ways. People who refuse to adjust and mend their ways make failure final. All men fall; it’s only those who refuse to get up that end up having terminal failures (Proverbs 24:16).

When we internalize failure: Failure is largely an external event. The fact that someone failed an exam or an event planned didn’t work out well doesn’t make one a failure. Just like success needs to be managed, so does failure need to be managed. We manage failure by separating ourselves from unfavorable outcomes particularly when we have a string of them. One isn’t a failure until one adopts a mindset of failure. People do extreme things like committing suicide because they internalize failure and make if fatal and final. We should teach our younger generation how to handle failure particularly those who are very competitive that failure is not an enemy and it’s ok to experience failure occasionally. That failure makes you a better person, more knowledgeable and adept. People we call successful today have failed in many ventures in the past.

When we isolate ourselves: The Bible says woe is the man that is alone when he falls because he has no one to help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:10). The prophet Elijah became depressed and suicidal principally because he was alone. He was alone on Mount Carmel when he confronted 450 prophets of Baal (an idol), and he attested wrongly that he is the only prophet left in Israel. The powerful prophet Elijah was a lone ranger with no affiliations whatsoever. There was no one to inspire or encourage him. Little wonder he suffered a burn out, became depressed and asked God to kill him when Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, threatened him. It was the mercy of God that intervened for the prophet whose ministry ended shortly after the encounter on Mount Carmel. When we have no positive and strong support, failure can be final and terminal.

CONCLUSION: Failure is fatal for the person who refused to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and lapsed into eternity in that condition. It is said that in the grave there is no repentance. God has provided a way out for mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. He is our Qualifier and Savior. Have a blessed month!

 

The Power Of Testimonies

“Now the man from whom the demons have departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, return to your own house, AND TELL WHAT GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU. And he went his way and PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY WHAT GREAT THINGS JESUS HAD DONE FOR HIM”­ - (Luke 8:38-39).

The dictionary defines testimony as evidence, firsthand authentication of a fact. Testimony is also defined as an open acknowledgement. In the above text, Jesus healed a mad man who had a legion of demons resident in him. He wore no clothes; he was untamed and lived in tombs. After the miraculous healing, this man wanted to follow Jesus on His missionary journey. Jesus declined and told him to go and tell what the Lord has done for him. Below are some salient truths about testimonies:

Testimonies are a great tool of encouragement: The Apostle Paul enjoined Christians to comfort each other with the comfort each have received from the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God has purpose behind everything He does; He is not a haphazard God. He will work miracles, heal and deliver one just to serve as an encouragement for another. A common feature of the early church was informality and their unstructured way of holding services. This was majorly so because of the high premium placed on encouraging each other (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Testimonies beget testimonies: Testimonies will usually birth more testimonies. We are prone to believe real life stories more than Bible stories. Bible stories usually look far fetched but life testimonies bring the power and faithfulness of God closer home. A brother in our church gave a testimony of how he lost his lucrative job and how he was led to prayerfully plead his case with his superior. God worked on his boss who in turn pleaded his case out of so many cases, and eventually he was recalled back. A while after this, another brother lost his job and from the encouragement from the earlier testimony he was able to trust God, and also got recalled back to the same job. What God does for one, He is willing to do for another.

Testimonies are reminders of God’s goodness: After the Israelites crossed River Jordan, God instructed Joshua to have 12 priests take up 12 stones from the midst of the Jordan and lay them on a plain ground in public glare. God requested this so that in times to come when their children and generations after ask them about the stones, they will testify that God opened the Jordan River and made them pass through on dry ground. It is clear God wants us to recall over and over again what He did for us in the past.

Testimonies defeat the enemy’s plans and purposes: “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Because testimonies are public acknowledgement and proclamation of God’s goodness, it brings God fully into the picture to rout out His enemies. Satan, the accuser of the brethren, cannot stand nor handle a Christian who goes about proclaiming His goodness.

Testimonies foretell the future: Revelation 19, verse 10b states, “… For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” By considering what God has done in the past, one can accurately predict what He will do in the future (prophecy). David, the shepherd boy in the valley of Elah testified to King Saul how God used him to kill a lion and a bear while trying to rescue his sheep from them. He was so sure that God was going to use him to kill Goliath the giant (1 Samuel 17:34-37). He was able to predict accurately the outcome of the fight between Goliath and himself. God has a track record that what He has done before He will do again.

CONCLUSION: One of the reasons for less supernatural acts in today’s church is that we don’t place enough premium on what God has done in the past. We don’t stimulate ourselves enough along the path of recalling past events that will activate raw faith in other believers.

Sharpen The Edge

“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10, NKJV).


Cutting edge in the secular world simply refers to the latest or most advanced stage in the development of something. Cutting edge institutions are those which are at the top of their game. Divine wisdom requires Christians not just to be celestially equipped and relevant but also to be terrestrially equipped and relevant. Evangelism becomes easier for the Christian as we attain to some worldly success. There is need for Christians to compete favorably in the marketplace, and to do that we have to continuously up our game and sharpen our tools. The following are some tools (edges) to sharpen:

Skill Set: “So he (David) shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands” (Psalm 78:72, KJV). The referenced scripture tells us that David was very effective as king over Israel because he had a good heart and many skills. He had musical skills, leadership skills, people’s skills, poetic skills, literary skills, sling shooting skills, etc. He had character and was charismatic in displaying varied skills.  Many patriarchs in the Bible like Joseph and Daniel excelled in their time because they had great skills. Skill is the know-how. It is to have the knowledge of some craft in an increasing measure. Skill, although, is a work of grace still has to be worked on and perfected. There is need to give diligence in discovering, developing and deploying our giftedness and skills. Those who do so are the ones who stand before the kings and presidents of the earth.

Creativity: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the skies display His craftsmanship” (Psalm 19:1, NLT). Our God is the Creator and the Master Craftsman. He is the brain behind the beautiful universe we live in. Because He is a generous God, He didn’t finish the work of creation but allow man, who is the zenith of His creation, to continue the work of creation. There are still many gaps in human societies, and creative people fill these gaps by producing what is needed. Human societies are also still evolving. It is creative people who introduce new things, replacing the old through refinement and innovation. Being made in the image and likeness of God makes us creative. To exhibit creativity, we have to believe in our God-given abilities and harness the power of the mind. Start from where you are today and begin to think of how to better your world.

Spirituality: Being able to access the Spirit realm and the mind of God is a plus for the believer and the world at large. There are certain worship songs we sing in our churches today that angels sing in heaven. This is so because someone was able to download from the heavenlies. The Bible says that one of the reasons we have the Holy Spirit is for us to know the wonderful things God has freely given to us (1 Corinthians 2:12). Sharpening our spiritual edge will make us more receptive to the Holy Spirit resident within us.  Sharpening our spiritual edge entails deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit, more meditation in the Word and a heart of obedience. These are the days the wisdom of God will be displayed through the church of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:10).

CONCLUSION: Preparation time is never wasted time. The time the tree cutter is using to sharpen the edge of his equipment is never wasted. Being hasty and lacking preparation make people live mediocre lives. We increase capacity and enhance effectiveness as we create ample time for constructive thinking, honing our skills, and deepening our spirituality. Have a blessed month.