Get The Monkey Off Your Back

Get The Monkey Off Your Back

We all have monkeys on our backs that hinder us from winning the race.  Athletes training for a race have monkeys on their backs they need to get off during their training period; they need to shed weight, change their sleep pattern, moderate their sexual life and adjust their diets, they have to drop some things, get the monkeys of their backs.

When I became a Christian I had to get many monkeys off my back. I had to change my speech, my circle of friends, the places I frequented. I had to trade bad habits for good habits. There was lots of monkeys on my back when I came to know the Lord but I began by not taking things for granted and just simply started thanking the Lord for my meals; each time I sat down to eat I thanked Him and asked Him to bless my meal; The first thing I did each morning as I awoke was to thank Him for waking me up and asked Him to direct me throughout the day; to take charge of my thoughts and actions.  Very small things can make quantum changes and I still do these small things

We all have things in our lives that hold us back and slow us down from getting to where we need to be, unnecessary weight, some little some big, unnecessary burdens dissipating our strength but The Apostle Paul teaches us that in order to run a good race we will need to strip of every weight that slows us down (Hebrews 12:1).  By shedding weight – getting the monkeys off your back, you gain strength. You become more focused, free and able to run faster. What monkeys do you need to get off you back? Are you carrying the guilt of a past life? Does your private life line up with your public life? Are you faithful to your Spirit or to your flesh? Getting the monkeys off your back is necessary to bring your spirit and your flesh into alignment.  They will never be in total agreement but they can align (Galatians 5:16). 

As Christians we have to know what to do and when to do what. Even our prayer life has to reflect Gods will.  We are running a race and God is the prize. Run the race to win the prize. Every successful athlete or businessman had to seek assistance to get rid of the monkeys on their backs that was hindering them from getting to where they wanted to be.  Ask God for assistance – Lord help me to not get entangled so as to distract me from the prize; bless or break every situation (Genesis 12:3); give me discernment to know what is of you (Psalm 119:125); Lord get the monkeys off my back!  Do not be afraid to ask (Philippians 4:6).

As Christians running the race, God will give you the strength to carry on but you will have to renew your mind and make some changes.You can’t put new wine in old wine skins (Matthew 9:17).When God is pouring His Spirit into you, you have to be ready. You have to be strong enough to get the monkey off your back.You will get tired, worn out, weary and that’s when the enemy comes to tempt you, to trick you into believing you are not strong enough to get them off but your strength lies in the Lord (Philippians 4:13 & Psalms 28:7).God works in you giving you the desire to carry on (Philippians 2:13-16). He will help you to get the monkeys off your back and at the end of the race He will reward you, He will say “Well done good and faithful servant”. (Matthew 25:21).

Get the monkeys off your back!!

You’ve Got The Power

You’ve Got The Power

I have heard it said many times in church and outside of church – the devil made me do it. Satan is on my back. I could not help it, I did not mean to do it – God knows my heart; and lots of other common sayings that make us feel good about what we did wrong.  If we are truthful, most of these sayings comfort us in our excuse and aids us in not taking responsibility for our actions.  From the beginning of time man has done wrong things and has been intentional about these wrongs.  Some of the things we do we have no excuse for doing it. Cain killed Abel; that was the very first murder. Cain was intentional about the wrong he was doing.

The truth is satan has no real power over us.  He has the power of suggestion which meets our power of thought.  He has the power of deception but we have the power of action.  Temptation can’t be avoided because it’s there to show us how strong we are not how weak we are. Temptation comes in various forms – financial, sexual, physical but it is necessary, it empowers us. There is no temptation too big for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). We've got the power!.

The enemy has the power of deception but we have the power to resist.  We can rest in the strength of the Lord.  If you don’t know the Word of God you won’t know you have the power.  There are no obstacles, challenges or tests that we can’t overcome because Jesus has already conquered them for us (John 16:33).  Tests and temptation are the fire that refines us. It is the process by which we are strengthened.  A blacksmith will hold his tools over the fire just long enough before it is ready for use.  We have the power to walk through the fire. It is easy to blame others or circumstances for our wrong doings, but we allow people and temptation to get to us.  We have the power to resist temptation and to make our own choices. Be intentional about your actions; the enemy is intentional about his actions.  He intends to kill, steal and destroy but we were created to overcome his temptations, we've got the power.  The enemy shows us the way to hell but God gives us the key to the way out (Psalm 119:105).  Bury Gods Word in your soul.  The power is in the Word.  Every trick or deceit can be destroyed by unleashing the Word.  Arm yourself with the power of the Word; wear the full armour (Ephesians 6:11).You've got the power! If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you are powerless, naked.  Know who you are and whose you are and then you will know the power you have.  When you know what you are you can act on what you know.  The enemy will try and hide the power but you don’t fight by might or strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). You've got the power! 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. You can only be tempted with what you like or miss and the enemy knows that.  Know your weaknesses and strengths, know what your kryptonite is and safeguard yourself against it.  Go into battle with a strategic plan; arm yourself.  The enemy has a strategy to deceive and suggest.  You need a strategy. You have the power to pull down his stronghold and arguments against God (Jeremiah 1:10)

Exercise the power…you've got the power.  Surrender to God and join forces.  There is strength in the Word.  To give up and surrender in the spirit is to be Christ like because with Him we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). You've got the power.  Jesus had the power to put an end to the work of the enemy and we are made in His image.  The enemy’s attempts could not kill Him, He put an end to the enemy’s attempts and said “It is finished”; He conquered the enemy…He had the power and now you have the power.  You don’t have to be Bible scholars to have the power just surrender and you will be on the winning side…you've got the power 

Are You Scared Of The Dark?

Are You Scared Of The Dark?

Don’t complain of dark places, light a candle.

Darkness is necessary. God does his best work in the dark. A seed is planted in the dark before it comes out into the light. God created the world in the dark.  Children are conceived and grow in the darkness of their mother’s wombs.  Weeping may last for a night (darkness) but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

In the beginning there was the Word and the Word was God, there was no light (Genesis 1:2) but God spoke into the darkness and brought light; He lit a candle (Genesis 1:3).  God created darkness and light; day and night but don’t confuse the night with the darkness of the enemy.  When God created night, it was for man to take rest. We gain strength in the night time. Don’t confuse Gods darkness with the enemy’s counterfeit.   Nobody enjoys darkness except satan. He is darkness and he uses that darkness to draw us to him but God delivers us into the light.  Satan can only operate in the dark and uses it to keep us there.  Whenever we want to do something wrong we turn off the lights; drug dens, parties; adultery; burglaries all acts of sin are carried out in the dark (Acts 17:11 & Isaiah 29:15).  People who do not walk in the Word of God are scared of the scriptures because it shines a light into their darkness (Job 12:22); it spotlights their sins, their wrong doings.

Even after becoming a Christian I entered into a dark place so that He could get my attention and draw me closer to Him. The faith I have and the word I share with you today were birthed in that dark place.  God needed me to light a candle. He took me there because He wanted to show me my potential; to bring me to His purpose for me and point me in the right direction.  When there seems to be no end to the darkness, no light at the end of the tunnel don’t be afraid of the dark, it is necessary. We have to be in a dark place to get disgusted with it for us to search for the light.  A plant will always seek the light.  At the end of a pregnancy term the beautiful child is birthed out of darkness into the light.  Everything of God is drawn to the light.  God is the Truth, the Way and the Light (John 14:6), the enemy is the prince of darkness; he wants to make us ignorant to the power of the Word of God.  Ignorance and darkness walks hand in hand (Ephesians 4:18).

Every successful journey has dark paths.  In order to get to your destination you will have to encounter some dark tunnels.  To get over the river you have to go through the Blackwall Tunnel or the Rotherhithe Tunnel – go through the dark to emerge into the light.  No one likes the dark tunnels but it’s God’s way of getting you to your destination.  Your tunnels and dark places are your route to your blessings. During your darkness hold on to the everlasting, unchangeable God (Isaiah 44:6) He will deliver you (Colossians 1:13).  He who delivered David from the bear, the lion and Goliath and made him a King (1 Samuel 17); He who delivered Joseph from the pit and prospered him (Genesis 37:36); He who delivered Jonah from the belly of a whale (Jonah 1:17 & 2:10) He will also deliver you from the hands of the prince of darkness.

To live in darkness is to be unequally yoked.  God does not want us to be unequally yoked.  He desires to bring light into our darkness to prosper us (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).  Water and oil can’t mix; day and night can’t mix.  We are the light of God shining in the darkness of the world.  Darkness is necessary; it is the place where we begin to look for the light.  It is where we gain strength and power over the enemy but it’s not a place where we stay.

Don’t be afraid of the dark; light a candle

One Wrong Turn

One Wrong Turn

Have you ever turned left when you should have turned right, or missed your junction on the motorway?  The next junction is always 20 miles away and all the way there you know this is wasted time and energy.  You know you are going the wrong way. Sometimes pride keeps us from going where God wants to take us.  There are times when we head off in the wrong direction and just hope that God is going to put us right even when we are doing wrong.  We say; God please get me out of this; even though we put ourselves there.

God’s grace will keep us where His will takes us.

Sometimes it’s a long way back to where we should have been in the first place.  Jonah ended up in the belly of the whale because he went left when he should have gone right (Jonah 1). I have never been in the belly of a whale but I know what it’s like to be out of position. Just like Johan God always knows where you are.  The issue is we don’t know where we are...we fall out of position, out of God’s will and miss all He has for us.

Stay in position!  Just like Jonah, God has a plan for you and even in your dark places God’s hand of favour can bring you through and back into position.

I remember being in a situation that was going nowhere good.  I felt like I was on a rollercoaster.  I had lost direction and lost my peace.  I called out to God.  I said; Lord, help me, I’m lost and I don’t want to go any further but I don’t know how to get back.  I’m losing my way.  Lord, help me; show me the way; give me what is good for me not what I want; Lord, bless or break this situation.  The Lord put it in my spirit.  Son I can’t bless your journey as I have not commanded you to go in that direction.  When He had broken that journey part of me broke too.  The amazing thing I realised was that God loved me too much to give me too much.  Even though I was heading the wrong way He put it in my spirit to call out to Him.  It was a bit like checking the Sat Nav.  He said turn around I will put you back on route. It’s a long way back but I will be with you.  He told me; Carl, the plans I have for you are for good and not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11); turn from where you have been.  If you seek me and seek me earnestly you will find me (Deuteronomy 4:29). He told me; remember not the former things, I will do a new thing in you (Isaiah 43:18). I surrendered and allowed Him to order my steps. 

We often have all sorts of ideas and plans of who we want; what we want and when we want it.  The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:2).  He and He alone shall direct our steps.  We may take some wrong turns and even fall but the righteous man shall fall seven times (Proverbs 24:16).  He is made righteous because he gets up after each fall and surrenders to God.  We can’t make it by ourselves, we were not meant to.  God’s grace and mercy has made a way.  He has called us friend.  He is always present in our time of need (Psalm 46:1).

One wrong turn! Jonathan took a wrong turn that lead to his death (1 Samuel).  He should have stayed with David but he followed Saul to his death.  How many times have we taken turns in our life that could lead to spiritual death or physical death?

Sometimes we want the right thing at the wrong time.  Have you ever been hungry? Have you ever wanted something that was bad for you?  It’s ok to be hungry but it’s best not to fill your face with McDonalds.  Esau had a legitimate hunger but he dealt with it in an illegitimate way (Genesis 25: 29-34).  Sometimes we have the same issues.  We get together with the wrong woman/man; job; friendship and pay the price of what God had for us.  Esau gave up his birth right for a bowl of soup.  Samson lost his direction because he had a weak will (Judges 16:13).  They all took one wrong turn.  We too have to be careful of that turn.  Esau still got blessed but who knows what that bowl of soup costed him.  What’s your bowl of soup? 

Esau, Jonah, Sampson, Moses, Solomon, Jonathan, Saul and the Prodigal Son:  All these men took wrong turns.  God still blessed them even though they had to pay a price.  God can bless you even when you’re in the wrong place but you have to have the right heart; a heart for Him. If those who are called by my name would turn from their wicked ways and repent, I will heal them (2 Chronicles 7:14).

God has made a provision for all our wrong turns

It’s not too late to make a U turn and get back in position.

Get There How You Can

Get There How You Can

I remember the day I surrendered my Life to Christ, It was not a pretty sight.  As an adult I was never a churchgoer, I wasn’t interested in what was being said there but on that day I was in church, I was sitting at the back of the church and the minister was preaching and God called me through her message.  He said to me “I am calling you, I want to heal you” and I knew that I had to stand up and go to Him.  When I stood up I was strong, my legs were firmly planted and I was a man but by the time I took the first step to the altar, I was a child.  I was weak, tears and sweat covered me.  I couldn’t walk strongly, I was not in control of my strength; I was weak but I knew that I had to get there.  The enemy didn’t want me to get there.  I was a man of pride; I had a reputation to uphold.  I didn’t want anyone seeing me in that state, vulnerable, broken, crying in public, shaking but God said come to me just as you are and I will renew you, I will strengthen you (Isaiah 1:18).  Trust Me and step out onto the water and you will be able to walk on the water (Matthew 14:29).  He said I will transform you and make you do things that will amaze people and they will know that it’s Me, they will see Me and My work in you and My name will be glorified, they will know that I am God (Exodus 29:46).  He saved me from this world and heaven rejoiced. 

God is calling you to him through His son Jesus by any means and He wants you to get to Him however you can.  He will bless and transform your life no matter how you come to Him (Mark 2:4) as long as you get there.  It’s not God’s desire for you to be broken, battered or suffering.  He is glorified when you are made whole.  He wants to prosper you and He can only do that when you come to Him.  Prosperity makes Him smile.

He wants us to come to Him however we can.  Some of us will have to get there with one leg missing and the other dragging; with a shrivelled hand (Luke 6:6); blind (Mark 8 22-25); with lifelong issues (Luke 8:43); dead (John 11:38-53); poor (1 Kings 17:7-24).  He wants to heal us of whatever is holding us back.  He will accept us in whatever state we arrive in; just get to Him.  Shout and beg if you have to (Mark 1:40-45); climb a tree (Luke 19:1-10).  Jesus himself had to get to the cross however He could.  He was whipped, stoned, ridiculed but He knew He had to get there.  He had to bear the burden on His journey but He knew He had to get there no matter what it took, no matter the embarrassment, the humiliation, the pain, the shame.  It was a long journey but He knew He had to make that journey because what was waiting for Him was far greater than anything He could suffer along the way.

We will have to go through some things, we will have to suffer and be shamed but it’s only a journey to what’s waiting for us.  Jesus could have easily decided that He didn’t want to carry the cross that He didn’t want to be embarrassed, humiliated, hurt or go all the way.  What if He’d let His pride dictate His journey?  Where would we be today?  That’s what we do.  We decide not to go on because we don’t want to be embarrassed, shamed, ridiculed or walk the distance and subsequently we divert our journey to our destiny.  Yes the pain sometimes may seem unbearable but God never gives us more than we can cope with. Our troubles are not new and exclusive to us (1 Corinthians 10:13) and when we are weak He will be strong for us (Isaiah 41:10)

The journey will be long, it will be hard but you will be filled with the strength and peace that only God through His son Jesus Christ can give to you.  Call on the Lord through your struggles, through your pain and He will answer you.  Even Jesus had to call out onto the Lord in His pain and submitted it to Him (Matthew 27:50).  On your journey you will suffer, you will hurt, you will be ridiculed but Jesus already conquered it all for you.  It’s already been dealt with – you’re on your way to ultimate Joy.

Take up your cross, suffer the shame, feel the pain, drag, crawl, run, climb but Get There How You Can...He is calling you, He is waiting. You just need to get there

Who You Rolling With Adam or Christ

Who You Rolling With Adam or Christ

Bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33)

As a young Christian I remember in the early days some of my friends saying things like; It doesn't matter if you do certain things. God will understand. These things were always wrong and against Gods word. They would say it’s ok to have sex outside of marriage, it's ok to continue smoking or it's only swearing God won't kill you for it. They were right God may not strike you dead but he sees and knows all, He is omnipresent (Hebrews 4:13). One small act of disobedience is a sin no matter how small it may seem and it is still wrong (1 John 3:4). Any of those little things could have major lifelong consequences. God will not kill you for sinning but you will be killing yourself (James 1: 14-15). One wrong decision can lead to physical death, a prison sentence, an unwanted child, a lost career and wasted future. Adam disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit, it was one little thing but that little thing brought man into sin and condemned Adam to spiritual death and woman to lifelong birth pain (Genesis 3:16 & 17). Wow just for eating an apple!!

Does any of this sound familiar? Well I was often tempted to follow the pack who was some of my closest friends but even at that early stage of my walk just like a small child, I knew I would have been disobedient and rebellious because God had placed His Word in me, I was aware of what sin was. So the question is would God understand? The answer is yes. What would He understand? Just like with Adam he would understand that he had given me clear instructions to protect me but I chose to be disobedient. That He had given me salvation but I walked away from it. That I’d chosen to live in bondage rather than be free.

We all have friends and people that we hang around with. Sometimes we need to look at the implications of these relationships. What compromises do we make to maintain them? What small things do we do as a result of those friendships or associations that have big long term implications?

In the beginning God created man...the male and placed him in the Garden of Eden, where he would never experience lack and gave him dominion over the earth. All he had to do was obey one commandment; do not eat from the tree of knowledge (Genesis 3:3).  Eating from that tree would be committing a sin and would lead to “death”.  Eve was not aware of the consequence of eating from the forbidden fruit and so gave into temptation.  Eve was taken out of Adam after he was given the word.  She was tempted and submitted to temptation because she did not know the Word of God. The word had not become real in the life of Eve.  Adam knew the Word but still gave access to sin which brought condemnation to the world. Men have sinned and paid the price for sin ever since. Have you heard the Word of God but still give in to temptation? Do you claim to know God but by your actions deny him (Titus 1:16) Maybe you have not heard the word or satan has hidden it from you.

Sin started with the devil’s temptation and was handed down to man through Adam.  Adam allowed the serpent (the devil) to tempt him through Eve.  Adam thought he could get away with a little sin but one little sin leads to another little sin and another one until your whole life becomes corrupted with sin.  We have all tried to get away with one little sin at some time or the other but ultimately we never do get away with it because we then have to sin a little again to cover up the original little sin.  Adam knew what he did was wrong but instead of owning it and seeking forgiveness, he blamed Eve.  One little act of disobedience leads to another.

Through Adam’s act of disobedience sin became part of mans DNA but just as Adam sinned and gave us an inherent sinful nature, Jesus remained sinless and died for our forgiveness and salvation (1 Peter 3:18-22).  We were given death through Adam but God gave us life through Christ (Romans 5:12-21). Adam transgressed and rebelled and thought that there would be no consequences. There is no sin too little for consequences but there is no sin too big that God cannot forgive.  God’s Grace is sufficient to deal with the depth of our sins (2 Corinthians 12:9). He can and will forgive all our sins (2 Corinthians 2:10). The mercy of Christ can wipe out the punishment we have to pay for our sins but we have to seek Him and submit onto His will. Adam sinned and gave us a spirit of disobedience but Christ died to free us from that spirit. Through Christ we can overcome the nature of sin.

When we know and follow Gods word we avoid these situations and the implications that follow. If we turn from our sinful ways God promises to forgive us but we may still have to face some natural consequences

So who you rolling with?

The Power Of Seduction

The Power Of Seduction

 I do what I don’t want to do even when I know what I should do (Romans 7:15-16)

How many times we know what we should do but the enemy keeps us tied to what we don’t want to do? The enemy (satan) knows our past and so he uses that to keep us captive there, to block us from our future. 

Do you look at your reflection in the mirror of your soul but make no changes despite not liking what you see?   We want something, we want to get somewhere, we want to be someone but we allow the enemy to rob us.  We dock our boats in the harbour when it should be out at sea.

The Word speaks to us but the enemy steals the seed of hope.  He sells us a lie. How many times have we bought that lie?  Our future is where God is, He is calling us but we are locked in our past by the enemy through our family, friends, high schools, colleges, universities or even our jobs. We are being held captive but Jesus came to set the captive free (Luke 4:18), He came for the lost and broken hearted.  His Word nourishes, fulfils, replenishes and rebuilds us (Nehemiah 4:6-15).  Jesus said He will rebuild His Kingdom in three days; He was referring to His death and resurrection.  All that’s been stolen will be replenished (Joel 2:25).  In order to step into the future God has for us we have to die to our past, to ourselves, to the way of this world (Luke 9:23-24) and be transformed to the way of His Word by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).  Step out of your past and step into your future.

So you’ve got a cocaine habit; a pornography habit; a criminal mind an unforgiving nature but just as the enemy knows that and wants to keep you there in your worldly habit so does God know of your habits but He wants to free you of them and release you.  He wants to flourish you with the peace that surpasses all understanding.  He wants you to free your mind and the rest of you will follow. 

The enemy uses your weakness to keep you week, to tempt you but God uses your weaknesses to strengthen you (2 Corinthians 12:9).  The enemy relies on the frailties of your flesh but God sees past that and speaks to your Spirit.  He speaks to you urging you to come to Him through prayers, telling you to be anxious about nothing (Philippians 4:6).  Jesus Himself requested prayers to strengthen Him against the wills of the flesh (Luke 22:39-46) because the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.  The enemy relies on the weakness of your flesh to seduce you back into a particular pattern.  The Word uses the power of your past to seduce you out of your past into your future; a future free from captivity, free from the darkness of your past habits. 

Seduction is the key; there’s nothing wrong with seduction if it’s used in the sanctity provided through the Word of God.  The enemy uses things outside of that sanctity for destruction.  Sampson was seduced by Delilah outside of that sanctity (Judges 16:1-31) and he lost all his strength, he was held captive by his weakness but God used his situation and gave him another chance to fulfill his purpose.  God  strengthened him to bring him out of darkness back into His light. God will do it for you too.

What are your weaknesses?  What is your seductress? 

CONTRACT or COVENANT

CONTRACT or COVENANT

In the world we live in today we enter into all types of contracts, from mobile phones to contracts of employment to marriage contracts.  In business we enter into agreement with our clients in order to provide goods and services for a specific period of time with a pre-determined financial reward.  It is materialistic based.  It is based on potential provision of financial gain.  It is there because men are habitual in going back on their word and end up in court battles. It is therefore there to protect either party against the default of each other, it carries financial penalties. (e.g.: current news headline: G4S many failures in meeting contractual obligations). What is the penalty for breaking a promise to God? As Christians we serve a God that cannot lie or go back on his Word and change his mind(Numbers 23:19). His Word will never fail us or return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).   A contract is a short term means to a potentially long term financial gain.  Once it is broken or reaches its stated duration both parties are free to go off into different directions in search of another fixed term contract.

The word “contract” is not used in scripture, however there is an equivalent Hebrew word “Berith” which, in English translation means “Covenant”.  God works by Covenant not by contract.

Gods Covenant is His grace in our lives.  His Covenant is deeper than a contract; it’s more binding than an oath and stronger than a promise. His Covenant does not protect His position against you, it brings you into line with Him and into agreements as allies. His Covenant is unbreakable and limitless (Numbers 23:19).  It’s not based on your financial performance, circumstances, position nor is it conditional.  Whether you mess up or not, whether you fall short of meeting the agreement, His Covenant remains, it is everlasting (Genesis 17:7).  It’s His blueprint which strengthens you in your weakness.  It is the gracious agreement between the offended God and the offending sinner in which God promises salvation through faith in Christ. (Galatians 2:16; Romans 5:1 & 11:6)  All that is required of you is to by faith and obedience accept his Covenant (promise) and He will provide for all your needs. He will bless you through His Covenant.  (Genesis 17: 1-61 Abraham was blessed through God’s Covenant with Isaac).

A Covenant is a sovereign pronouncement establishing relationships of responsibilities.  A marriage is a Covenant between man and woman to come into line and agreement where two becomes one (Malachi 2:14-16) in order to protect and strengthen each other.  It’s a sacred promise and an oath, not a contract to determine who retains the most at the end of the term.

Are you in a contract or a Covenant?  What are your relationships based on?  Is it contractual or Covenantal?

Are You Using Your Compass

Are You Using Your Compass

The Holy Spirit is there to remind us of our right standing with God but also to make us aware of our sins.  Jesus said He will send us a Comforter (John 14:26).  His Spirit in us is our Comforter. The Holy Spirit is there to speak to us about where we are and where we are meant to be. To show us what is right and what is wrong according to God’s Word.  It is our SatNav, our compass to the place of righteous in Christ. It is Christ in us. The Bible teaches us that we are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit and if a man does not have the Holy Spirit then he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).  We live in a world that does not have the Holy Spirit because the world is not seeking the Holy Spirit, a world that seeks human philosophy and not the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:5). Without the Holy Spirit we are continually faced with questions without answer because our minds are continually in the dark.  This world bases its’ faith in religious laws and rituals but we are made righteous by our faith in Christ (Romans 5:1)  Once our faith reaches its rightful place our Spirit will align with God’s laws. We are renewed as Christians by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It is only by the renewing of our minds that we can see clearly and come into line with the laws of God (Romans 3:28); (Galatians 2:16).  The Spirit is a gift given freely to us by God and it comes with benefits (1 Corinthians 12-14).  When we operate in the Spirit of God we gain the peace that surpasses all understanding, not that the world can give or take away (Philippians 4:6-7).  To operate in the spirit is to let peace be the umpire in our entire decision making.  God alone can give us that peace through His Spirit.  The devil cannot counterfeit that peace.  He lives in a world of confusion and does not understand the peace of God.  When we obtain that peace we no longer need to fight the unseen evils of the world.  The Spirit becomes our defender.  We no longer have to fight the things of this world by our might or strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit (Zachariah 4:6)

It is through the Holy Spirit and the conviction of our faith that we fall into obedience with the laws of the Word and Gods will (Romans 3:22-31).  As our Spirit grows we are drawn to do things that are pleasing to God.  As our faith grows so does our Spirit and we are then able to stand in obedience to the laws of God’s Word.  Obedience to the Spirit is key to a fruitful Christian walk and a devoted relationship with God. Every act of obedience is rewarded by God and no act of disobedience goes unnoticed (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Like any parent who rewards and disciplines their children, it isn't always done at the moment of the act.  As a child growing up I knew that when I did something good, an act of obedience, my parents would reward me..eventually, either by praising me or with a token gift.  At the same time, I also knew that when I did something wrong, an act of disobedience, at some point I will have to pay the penalty by way of some form of chastisement.  My obedience or disobedience never went unnoticed or unrewarded.  Disobedience is the sin that removes Gods Spirit from us.  Saul lost his life because of disobedience (1 Samuel 15:1-35); Moses never saw the Promised Land because of disobedience (Numbers 20:12). The Spirit of the Lord left Saul (1 Samuel 16:14), Samson (Judges 16:20) and Solomon (1 Kings 11: 1-13) but neither of them realised it until it was too late.  Obedience is the act of faith for which we are rewarded.  Noah obeyed God and was rewarded (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham was blessed for his obedience (Genesis 22:1-18).  Job was faithful and obedient and got double for his trouble (book of Job).

The whispers we hear; the voice of reason that makes us uncomfortable with any given situation; the awakening of our conscience to guilt or discomfort, these are the vessels used for awakening us to Gods Spirit in us.  It is an inherent blue print of what’s right and what’s wrong.  It’s our built-in compass.  Let the Spirit be your guide to the Truth, the Light and the Way (John 14:16)

The Promise And The Problem

The Promise And The Problem

How many of us run from the problem and rob ourselves of the promise?

We fail to get the promise because we don't want to deal with the problem. We want the fit body but don't want to go to the gym. We want the promotion but not the responsibility. We want armchair results but God said "I go before you to make your path straight" (Isaiah 45:2). He made a promise and He is not man that He will not fulfill His promise.  Actions comes before motivation and if we would only take the first step toward overcoming the problem He will walk us through the problem to the promise.  He is always with us.  To get to the promise we may have to go through the valley but He will not abandon us, His rod and staff (Word & Spirit) will be with us (Psalm 23).  When we step up and deal with the problem He will give us what we need on our journey. At the beginning of our journey we will be weak but He will strengthen us, He will give us our daily bread, He will feed us enough for each day of the battle. He gives us what we need on our journey to the promise. Once we make the first step He will energise us, He is the Waymaker (Exodus 3:21)

The promise always comes with a problem but God ordered us to have dominion (Genesis 1:26-28). The promise land was called the promise land because it was a promise but Moses and the children of Israel had to work to get there. They encountered problems on their journey.  God never said the journey to the promise was going to be easy but He said He will be with us all the way.  Joshua and Caleb saw giants in the promise land but Caleb knew that they had the favour of God and was able to take on the problem and win (Numbers 13:30). The land was the promise but the giants was the problem.  Don't rob your self of the promise by not handling the problem. 

Don't delay, the promise is on the way. The promise is hidden in the problem. What are the problems in your life that you're running from? Peter, Jesus' most loyal disciple wanted the promise of eternal life but when the problem before the promise came he bottled out (Mark 14:66-72).  He did not want the hassle of acknowledging Jesus as his friend.  His association with Jesus posed a problem for him. Adam and Eve was in the Garden of Eden, God gave them the promise of eternal life but the problem was the tree of knowledge. The promise was delayed because they couldn't handle the problem.

God said we are to wear Him at all times (Ephesians 6:11) and we will be protected from the problem.  We were created to be conquerors not to be conquered (Romans 8:37), to be overcomers not to be overcome.  Go through the problem don't let the problem go through you. He will make you the head and not the tail    (Deuteronomy 28:13) Don't let the tail wag the dog, let the dog wag it's tail.  

The Promise is yours, the problem is His

Are You Prepared To Stand Alone

Are You Prepared To Stand Alone

If we are totally honest, standing alone can be uncomfortable and most of us avoid it wherever possible.  We even fear it.  But God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Abraham had to leave all that he knew to enter a foreign land where he was alone (Genesis 11:39 & 19:9).  God had to get him out of his comfort zone in order to use and bless him. The Lord promised Abraham that He would make his descendants as plentiful as the stars in the sky. Ask yourself these questions : Are you in your comfort zone? Can God pour out His blessings on you where you are and if He did would you recognise that God had sent them? 
The truth is we never stand alone. Our Heavenly Father always stands with us, even if we don't realise or recognise Him.  Maybe we need to stop depending on family, friends and familiar things. Familiarity breads contempt, contempt breads bad company and bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33).  Gods word teaches us to not lean on our own understanding but to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Standing alone does not mean being alone. We can be surrounded by people and still feel alone if they are the wrong people.
Right decisions are not always popular but that does not mean they are not right.  Popular decisions are often wrong.  Pontius Pilate made a decision to free Barabbas and crucified Jesus.  At the time it was a popular decision but was it the right one?  If we stand on the Word of God when making decisions, He will order our steps. Noah heard from God when he decided to build the ark (Genesis 6:14). This decision made Noah look silly and unpopular but when the rain came everyone wanted to be next to Noah. 
When I surrendered my life to Christ many people thought I was crazy and could not understand why I wanted to turn away from the  things of the world.  They thought I'd lost the plot.  Some of them stepped away from me.  Overnight my popularity plummeted.  I had gone out on my own against the norm but I knew then as I know now that it was the best decision I ever made.  I received immediate peace.  The peace that surpasses all understanding, not the peace the world could give to me or take away (Philippians 4:7).  Many of my friends are still chasing, seeking the peace that I have, they look for it in multiple relationships, night clubs, drinks and drugs.  My unpopular decision served me well.  I was prepared to stand alone and stand for Jesus.  This decision was not about being popular, it was about my salvation and eternal life. It turned out to be the one single decision that transformed my life as well as the test of my life and my faith in Jesus.  What decisions are you facing?  What's at stake and who is guiding you?
Just like Abraham, by faith I followed where God led me and I realised He led me here, far away from my comfort zone and all I knew to raise me up to be the man He wants me to be and to bless me so I can bless others.  Just like when the Lord blessed Abraham. God will get the glory and praise because my life would be a testimony of what He can do.  I came away from my comfort zone with neither man or woman by my side.  My decision was to be bold and follow where the Lord leads me.  God said to Joshua, "Be bold and of good courage" (Joshua 1:9).  He said "Every place that the sole of your feet tread upon I will give to you" (Joshua 1:3).  Where is God asking you to go?
God can do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask for (Ephesians 3:20).  Will you stand alone with Him?  My decision to start my own business in the midst of a recession was like Noah and the ark which was built when there was no rain.  Many said to me that I was crazy and I shouldn't do it because it was the wrong time, I didn't have the money or the experience and in the natural they were right but I had Gods Grace and I heard His voice.  He didn't tell me to get a regular job, He told me He didn't have a job for me but He had a business for me.  He said step out and step up, be bold and courageous. We all want to walk on water but remain in the boat.  Major decisions are often made by a minority like Jesus and the twelve disciples. A few good men can change the world. People like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Moses, David, Joshua and Caleb...heroes but still men.  God promised that though 1000 may fall at your left side and 10,000 at your right nothing shall  touch Gods anointed (Psalm 91:7)
No eyes have seen no ear heard nor has it entered the mind of man all that God has planned for him (1 Corinthians 2:9) :  Will you stand alone for Jesus today?

WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD

WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD

What do you do when the rubber hits the road?  What do you do when things have gone totally wrong?  It's all gone pear shaped.  The marriage is broken.  Little Johnie is not at uni but is selling drugs and gone to jail.  You've lost your job.  The doctor says you have a lump in your breast.  Your mother just died.  The house is going to be repossessed.
We all know someone who has faced something like this.  Maybe you have too.  The devil has the art of deceit  darkness, devastating decisions, depression, distraction and ultimate destruction.  We know that he is a liar (John 8:44).  What do we do when we've prayed, fasted, tithed, cried and things are still not changing?  The devil wants us to say "where is God now?"  to question the power of God but I say that God is exactly where you left Him.  He is in heaven dealing with what you can't deal with.  He is watching just as He watched Jesus go to the cross for us.
We call all things as if they are so even if they are not so, we declare it so so that it can be so because Jesus said so (Romans 4:17).  In other words, speak victory over your situation; in the midst of your battle praise Him and give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  It's easy to praise God when we have what we want but what do we do when the rubber hits the road and the world says no.  We call on and wait to see what God says.  
I personally had a Job experience (Bible book of Job). I lost my job, my car as well as being separated from my family and all I held close.  My status and all I thought I stood for was gone...why? why is this happening to me? I asked myself.  So I called out to my God.  He had finally got my attention and it was then that He placed me in the words that I write today.  He said, hold on...can you still praise me now?  I want to know your heart...can you still worship me now?  Like Paul and Silas when they were in prison (Acts 16:16-40)...will you still lift up My name?  You may be in the wilderness now, but that's where Jesus went and that's exactly where God wanted Him.  God will never leave or forsake you.  It matters not what you go through, He's not brought you this far to leave you.  You may be in a storm feeling abandoned but if God is in the boat with you, you are in the right place.  So as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death fear no evil because God is with you.  When Moses went to ask for the freedom of the children of Israel, the Lord was with him (Exodus 3) and He will remain with you today in your difficult time....seek your Father who is in heaven,  He is waiting for your call.  Remember He knows and sees all.  He went ahead and dealt with all that concerns you.  The key is that He is waiting to see what you will do.  Will you seek Him or believe the lie of the devil?  When you have done all you can do in the natural, seek the Lord as He works where we can't see.  That's what you do when the rubber hits the road

You’re Not Ready For This: Don’t push yet

You’re Not Ready For This:  Don’t push yet

A pregnant woman in the throes of labour must learn to breath and push at the right time in order to give birth to the baby she is carrying. She has to wait and go through the contractions before she can push.  She has to endure pain and hardship before birthing what she is carrying.  She has to exercise patience and tolerance before she can receive and hold the blessing of her child.  Although it is her body enduring the pain, she is dependent on the midwife and doctors, the professionals to guide her and point her to the exact time to push.  Until she has fully dilated she is not ready to birth what’s inside her but when she gets to that point of complete dilation, she is guided through the pushing process until her gift is birth.
This is much the same as when God is about to take us to the next level of birthing what He’s placed in us.  He takes us through the pain and guides us into the delivery of the gift. He is the professional. We have to endure before we enjoy.  We have to learn to be patient in the midst of the pain.  Endurance is not about being made to suffer, it’s about being made stronger, it’s about being prepared, it’s about being made ready to receive His gift to us (Hebrews 10:36 AMP).  There are aspects of us that need chipping away in order to smooth our edges.  We need refining.  We need shaping.  A diamond has to go through the hottest fire in order to be refined, to be perfectly shaped.  God will take us through the fire but we won’t get burnt (Daniel 3:22-26 AMP).  It is the preparation process for our purpose.  Until we have been refined, gone through the fire and be made fit for purpose, we are not ready for what God has for us. Until we are fully open to His way and will we are not ready to receive the gift.  When God is refining us sometimes the situation looks disfigured, ugly and bent out of shape but just as the potter and the clay; the clay can’t tell the potter what he should make or dictate the process by which the end product is achieved.  The clay has to go through a shaping, refining process.  During the birth of a baby the worst pains are just before the baby is born but what a joy when the birth takes place.
Sometimes we need to go through pain while our dreams and ambitions are being birth.  The pains may last for hours, days or even months; the length of my night and your night may be different as will be our waiting times but weeping may last a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5 AMP).  Joseph, Joshua, Moses and many other profound people of the Bible went through trials and challenges before the dream materialised.  We will all go through trials but remember God is in control.  Even Jesus had to go through trials and pain but what joy He received in the end.
God has placed something in us that He has a plan and a purpose for but He needs us to be ready for it.  He needs us to be strong, to be refined and ready to push and give birth to it.  He makes no mistakes and the process He takes us through is only a journey to our destiny.  It’s a building and strengthening process.  Pregnancy lasts nine months during which time the baby, the gift on the inside is developed, refined and formed.  At the end of the nine months when the gift has been made perfect, the gift carrier has to go through a process to be made ready to receive the gift. (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Peter 5:10; John 23:10).  Be comforted in the knowledge that your trials are Gods way of developing and preparing you to give birth.  To receive the joy He has purposed for you

The Seed Is In You

The Seed Is In You

When we look at an acorn it looks so insignificant. It's just a seed compared to an oak tree but do you realise that without the seemingly insignificant acorn there will be no oak tree? God placed His seed in all of us and hides success in what we deem to be strange places. Sometimes under past failures.Opportunities don't always come with a sign saying opportunity written on it. Some of the successes in my life came off the back of disappointment or were hidden by previous failures.  

David was on the backside of a mountain deep in sheep dung when the prophet Samuel sent  to get him - David was the successor for Saul (1 Samuel 16:11). God had already chosen David for great things although no one could see it, not even David himself. The acorn was already an oak tree. David was overlooked by his father Jesse and his brothers. Many of us have experienced this in our families and relationships but David was God's chosen vessel from the beginning of time. God makes no mistakes. David may not have been as big or experienced as others but God chooses His vessels in advance. He chose David and He's chosen you also. The Word says "the first shall be last and the last shall be first".  David came from the backside of a mountain to the battlefield. He needed no armour or shield, just the spirit of the Lord. The seemingly insignificant shepherd boy had the seed of a king. What seed are you carrying? David came from mediocrity to notoriety. God did it for him and He can do it for you. Saul offered his armour and spear but David refused.  He walked with the spirit of God, a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17:45). God will use what you have in your hand. What do you have in your hand?  

Many of us have bought into the lie of the enemy. You can't do this; you can't have that; you can't go there...lies and more lies. I too bought into that lie as a child but the Lord had placed a seed inside me and the acorn burst and grew into an oak tree that now writes these words. The devil is a liar. When the Lord puts a seed in you, there will be a harvest.  It doesn't matter if the world says you're not smart enough, not qualified enough or you don't have the right education or background. We are heirs to the throne of the Almighty (Romans 8:17). We can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:10-13). David brought down Goliath with a shiny stone and a sling shot. God qualifies us not man. What giants do you have to tear down?  God has qualified you.  The seed of success and glory is already in you. Whatever you were told you can't do is not important. David was laughed at by his brothers but God had provided all David needed for the battle ahead. I believe God has done that for me. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23-26). The Word says seed time and harvest will always exist. The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. God has a huge harvest for us but we need to labour. You are an oak tree even if you feel like an acorn. Tap into the seed God has put in you and don't buy into the enemy's lie and believe the seed isn't there. The Lord came to give us life and the fullness thereof. Satan came to kill, steal and destroy.  The first thing he will steel is your joy but "Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world" (1 John 4:4).  God's seed is in you and you are destined for the Throne.

All In Good Time : Stuff

 All In Good Time  :  Stuff

There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV).  God makes no mistakes and He will only take us to the place where He wants us to be at the appointed time.  He will only give to us what He has waiting for us at the appointed time.  How long will it take Him to get us there, for it to be given to us? Time...God’s time.

Even before we were born God had a plan for us. He chose to put us on the earth (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV).  He had already decided what He was going to do with us and where He was going to take us but there is a process to our progress.  Our journeys are not mistakes it was planned and where we are is where He meant for us to be.  Sometimes He keeps us where we are so that we can see some stuff, go through some stuff, live some stuff in order to know some stuff to be able to testify to some stuff.  Sometimes we have to fall down to be able to rise up (Micah 7:8 NIV).  Sometimes He will take us out of our comfort zones in order to bring us into our purpose zones (Matthew 19:21 NIV). The stuff we go through is only an endurance test to take us to our enjoyment rest.  The Bible tells us the story of Job who in the eyes of the Lord was found blameless but he had to go through some stuff in order to be refined and become as pure as gold (Job 23:10 NIV).  Job was an innocent man but he had to go through some stuff and at the appointed time he emerged pure as gold.  As people living in the natural we are quick to believe that we are ready for a blessing, that we have done all that’s required of us and that we are blameless and deserve the blessing.  God is not a respecter of man and He will decide when we are refined enough and able to handle the blessing He has for us.  All success stories are filled with struggles and coping with stuff before the glory day.  We go through stuff because if the blessings are given to us before we have the strength to handle it we will wreck it.  Even Jesus had to go through stuff before He got to the next level...We have not yet been tested to the point of death.  God makes no mistakes and His plans for us are according to His time.  If we would only praise Him at all times (1 Thessalonians 5 NIV) He will bless us with the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

His Delay Is Not Denial

His Delay Is Not Denial

God’s delay to answer our prayers is not a denial of the things we ask for.  His time is not our time and His ways are not our ways.
We operate in the times and ways of the world, the natural but God operates in the supernatural.  When we pray, we pray for where we are and what we can see but our God is omnipresent. (Psalm 139:7-10 NIV). He is where we are and where we’re going.  He sees what we see and what we can’t see so He answers our prayers based on what He has for us and where He’s taking us.  His answer to our prayers is based on the bigger picture, a picture we can’t see because we operate in the natural.  He operates in the order of things to come and takes us through a process to get us there.  All things worthwhile have to go through a process; wine always tastes better after its aged. The grapes has to be crushed, refined, left to settle for a while before being bottled but the longer it stands the better it tastes; Recipes has ingredients but in order to enjoy the end product it has to go through a process of time to be cooked; The changing of the seasons goes through a process. During each season the one to follow is being developed, it’s being processed in time.  Sometimes we have to endure before we can enjoy; it’s the refining, strengthening process.  He takes time to answer our prayers because He needs us to drop some things off.  The delay is so that he can prepare us to propel us. All good things take time to happen, to develop so God delays it for a reason, it may tarry but it will come to pass (Habakkuk 2:2 NIV).  What now?  Ask yourself, how many times I’ve been given something and wasted it? How many times I’ve said “If only I hadn’t done that I would be better off now”?  “If I knew then what I know now”?  If we’re not prepared we can’t prosper.  God’s delay is our preparation.

Our Mission : Gods Work

Our Mission :           Gods Work

(John 20:21 (AMP) Then Jesus said to them again “Peace to you! (just) as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you.” And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”

Jesus was sent to us to carry out the works of God the Father.  He was made flesh so that he could walk amongst us in order for us to see and believe the works of the Lord and just as the Father sent Him filled with His Peace, so He has filled us with that Peace so that we can carry out the work of the Father.  He filled us with the Holy Spirit, the knowledge and power to do the works of the Father.

Jesus had a mission to complete and He walked and talked amongst the people of the earth ensuring that the mission was achieved but along the way He continually strengthened Himself by eating the Spiritual Food, fasting and praying; a process of replenishing Himself.  He went about His mission steadfastly feeding everyone not just by telling them of the Good News but by being an example of the Good News. 

We all have a mission.  We have all been given access to God’s Word and our mission is not to just read the Word and strengthen ourselves in the Word but to preach the Gospel of the Word.  Our mission is to practice, preach and teach the Gospel whether we are at home or on missionary work in Africa.  We are called first to be doers of the Word and not just readers of the Word.  It is our mission to bring the Word to the world and so we must live the Word as well as preach and teach the Word.

(Matthew 5:13 (AMP) You are the salt of the earth but if the salt has become tasteless how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and be trampled underfoot by men”). We are the salt of the earth, we season the earth but we can’t do that by simply reading the Word.  We don’t buy salt and leave it in the cupboard in the hope that our food will be seasoned because we have the salt.  We use the salt to add flavour to our food, to make it edible.  The word of God is given to us to be used, to bring God’s flavour to each other and this can only be achieved by hearing, teaching and living the Word.  God poured out his Holy Spirit into us just as we are to pour it into the world.

As Christians, Kingdom people the world watches what we do and say, how we live our lives.  Everything we do must line up.  (Matthew 5:16 (AMP) Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven).  We are disciples of the Word.  (Disciple: to be disciplined in our ways; to be imitators of what we are taught).  Disciples are imitators of their teacher and so we must disciple and imitate what Jesus did.  We must walk in line with the scriptures. We must have all our business in order.  We must go about our Fathers business in like manner as Jesus did. How do we deal with life and its challenges?  We must be seen to deal with life’s challenges with Christ and bring the Word to the world.

(Matthew 5:17 (AMP) “Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfil them”).  God the Father sent Jesus on earth not so as to do away with the Law but to fulfil them.  To do the Works of the Father so that we may know His grace and mercy.  He came so that we could learn from Him what is required of us to complete our mission.  It is by bringing to life the seed planted in us by God that we bear fruits, that we strengthen each other in the Way of the Lord.  We are called to our mission by not just the things we do in our private life but by being an example of God in our public life also.  God wants us to be examples of His grace which fulfils the Law

So what is our ultimate Mission?  It is to be walking, talking, breathing, living examples of the Father.  It is to be servants of the Lord - a servant administers to the needs of others and in turn is rewarded for his good work.  God administers to our needs and is rewarded by our good work