Serving in Honesty

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16: 6-7

Know God and serve Him with an honest heart. If we know God and serve Him honestly He will respond to us. God responds to us based on how our heart is. God searched the heart of Eliab but rejected him as King over Israel. If God is not answering your prayers, search your heart. Search the way your heart is moving and the purpose you are asking what you are asking.

When we do things for the wrong reasons our ministry will fail, even if the things we do seemingly are the right things. When God rejected Saul it took another 13 years of him on the throne even though God had already left him. David was waiting in the wings. God is faithful to us all but he expects our faithfulness in return.

When we try to do things outside of God we lose touch of ourselves. We complain and react in anger always. Most of the problem is us. We are busy blaming others for the happenings in our life. This is not right.

Serve God well. It doesn’t matter whether things go according to how you want it to or like it. You can’t stay somewhere you are not happy and continue to grumble. Let us begin to change our mindset. Where ever we are it shouldn’t be about what we can get but more on what we can give.
The Lord will help and encourage us all. He will give us the wisdom to the right thing at the right time that will attract favour and success in all areas of our life.

Remember this - we serve in a conditional world. It is a world of action and reaction, you must first do before you get the reward.

NEW BEGINING

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldeans, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. Genesis 11: 31-32

Terah died at the edge of breakthrough, God can replace anyone of us. We must always be prepared because many things are combined to limit success and progress. Never for once think the world is fair, and you must be ready for a war. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephisians 6:12 KJV. 

As parents we are to make our children know about the evil around them, because not everyone think the way we think. Some people are naturally evil and some are naturally good. So you must be prepare to experience the good and the bad side of life, if you can anticipate life, you must eliminate life. It is important that we stop looking back, because doing so won't let you move forward .

1. Don't allow temporary situation to become permanent situation.
2. We need to be alive and hopeful, and never give up (Saying  a living dog is better than a dead lion)
3. You need to start afresh and you must know this God, because God never count you out.
4. You need to hear a word from God, because it's one thing to know God and another thing to hear Him it is important to hear God from God.
5. You need to behave God and run with the word Matt 21 vs 21-22, Gen 11 vs 27-37.

How do we hear from God

• Still clear voice
• Audible voice 
• Inward witness
• Through dreams and vision
• Quiet time
• God speak figuratively
• Through the pastor
• Through a donkey: it can be through someone who is not born again. 

Regularly in God’s Presence Pt 2

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.Genesis 5:22-24

After Adam had sinned and the fellowship with God had broken, God looked around for another man who would dwell in His presence and fellowship with Him. God found Enoch and the Word of God makes us understand that Enoch didn’t live long like those who had lived before him but because he walked with God and dwelt in the presence of God, he was not found (did not die). To dwell simply means this is the regular thing we usually do. When God took the children of Israel out of Egypt and they asked for bread, God said that they take only that which is sufficient for each day. God did so that they may rely on him each day and return to him each day.

Dwelling in God’s presence is always coming back to God, because He enjoys hearing our voice, he enjoys hearing our prayers, he enjoys having fellowship with us. Hence the reason why God took Enoch as a replacement for Adam to have a man that fellowships with him. Those who dwell in the presence of God are God pleaser, not men pleaser. Afterward God began to look out for that man who dwelt in His presence and found Noah. God used Noah because He was there with God always. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.Psalm 16:11 KJV. When Noah passed on, God looked for another man and found Abraham. Gen 12:1-3

Abraham began to walk with God, he began to be a God lover and he transferred this love to his family, His servants and children got to know his God. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.Gen 18:19 KJV. God testified that he knows Abraham and that he would teach his children. So God opened up to his friend Abraham about his plans concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. As a friend of God dwelling in God’s presence He would share his secrets with us. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. Gen 18:22 KJV. Notice that when God began to talk to Abraham His friend, the angels turned away. Abraham communicated with God as a friend, and God related with him as a friend; listening to what he had to say. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:3, 7 KJV. 

Abraham left as a defeated friend and because he was a friend of God, the friendship compelled God to spare Lot who is the family of Lot. He couldn’t afford to offend his good friend who dwelt regularly in his presence. Abraham didn’t ask God to spare Lot, but God did it because of friendship.

God is calling us today to the glory of his presence. Moses was another man who dwelt in the presence of God. God called Moses Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.  Ex 3:10,12. The principles of God does not change. God loved the people of Israel and He wanted to commune with them. The bible makes us understand that God spoke with Moses face to face and mouth to mouth because he dwells in God’s presence. God was always talking to the children of Israel through Moses. In Psalm 103:7, we read how Moses was shown the ways of God and the children of Israel saw only His acts. Since Moses dwelt always in His presence he knew the ways of God.

Every time God gets upset, and He rarely does, when someone who dwells in his presence intervene He pays attention. Therefore when it was time for Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead, He could only do it because He was always in the presence of God. In John 15:15 Jesus called the disciples his friend because they dwelt with him regularly.

God is always seeking for himself that person who would dwell in his presence. That person who would practice relationship with God and not religion. This way the works of the enemy will not be able to stand where we are. What God wants is that man who ignores his phone and all forms of distraction while we are in His presence.

Regularly in God’s Presence Pt 1

 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: Mark 3: 13-16 KJV

These was the last event that preceded the appointment of the 12 disciples. Jesus declared is clear intention for us as children of God  and for us as His called. Jesus called and they came unto him. Why did Jesus call them? He called them that they should serve him. The primary reason why Jesus called us is that He want us to be with him “That they should be with Him”. That He might send them forth to preach, to heal the sick and cast out devils.

Our first priority for been called to be disciples, workers, pastors, children of God is primarily that we may be with God in fellowship. What brings out God's glory anywhere is the level of our relationship with Him. This is why marriage as ordained by God (between a man and a woman) is for a means to have fellowship between the man and the woman. This is why we are seen as the bride of Christ, to have a fellowship and companionship with our partner who is Christ Jesus.  When God created man He did so that man may have fellowship with him. And God created a woman to fellowship with man, to talk and reason together with the man; for man to have a partner that walks the same path with him. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:21 KJV. God wants you and I to come into his presence on a regular basis to praise him, fellowship with him, and meditate on his word. But the truth is we fail to understand this purpose from God.

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?Yea…: Heb. Yea, because, etc. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.Genesis 3:1-3 Why would the devil chose to speak to Eve? Eve was not the one who received the instruction. The man was the one who was given the commandment. But the role of the woman is to fellowship with her man, she talks and expects that man listens. Adam (man) however who God created for fellowship finds it hard to understand the reason for fellowship. This is to talk and communicate with God and the people we have a relationship with.

We must understand that God created us to have fellowship with him. When we do these on a regular basis our life would have the significance we seek.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.1 John 1:3 KJV. We have no idea how much God longs for us to come into his presence. If we would only cultivate the habit to fellowship with Jesus, we would see the glory of God. The thing about Jesus is that He was/is an image of God’s presence. The typical daily schedule of Christ was to wake up in the early hours of the day to fellowship with God. He did same in the evening Luke 6:8-12. He wakes up early and sleeps late just so that He would be in the presence of God.

    1. Adam was the first man. God came down to fellowship with him daily. God would come down in His glory, but it is impossible for the glory of God to come down if there is no one to reflect that glory
    2. Is the presence of God your priority? The glory of God has to be brought down unlike the gift of healing. We must therefore find time to dwell in God’s presence at all times. This way anytime we seek God, He will honour us and minister.
    3. Be a regular in the presence of God and not a sometimes visitor. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 KJV

The Christian Character Part 2

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mathew 16:24 KJV

A lot of us Christians take the work of God and our walk with God for granted. We seek to do things in a way that is soothing to us as individuals. God is very finicky about the life that we lead as a Christian.

The bible says that Ruben slept with his father's wife and the father heard and pretended like he didn't hear. They were still doing things together but he didn't say anything. That is how God deals with us. He waits and watches to see what we would do. Everything we have done God has seen and heard, even to the thoughts of our heart (good or bad).

When something good comes somebody's way it is not luck, or a mistake but it is God giving reward to the works of our hands. God is a God of equity and fairness and he is concerned about the life of the people who call him their own. The price of Christianity is very high and most of us live purely by grace. There is a price to be paid for everyone of our actions either good or bad.

God examines our heart all the time to see what is inside our heart. A lot of Christians do not fear the Lord, we see God as a being who is far away; who is lenient and would look the other way when we do wrong. Everywhere you look the children of God are emulating the characters that is seen in the life of non-Christians. Christ said that anyone who wants to follow him has to forsake everything that would act as a distraction and take us away from the path of righteousness.

The life of a Christian is to be one that exemplifies the life of Christ, exhibiting the characters that Christ laid down for us while he walked the earth.

Remember that God is watching. He wants to see our life, would it reflect his nature? If we are going to be Christians let us be Christians. Let us examine ourselves and see if our actions are right. Before we take that action let us ask ourselves if it would bless God and shine a path to the people around us of the goodness of the Lord.

The Power of God

 And he said unto him, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?” Exodus 33:16

The presence of God in the life of man is power and the existence of God is His power. God’s power is evident all around us. In everything we see and touch, everything we can feel. It is by His power alone that we are alive and standing here.

It was this power that changed the live of a poor man in the land of Israel during the reign of King David. As the ark of God was been accompanied back to the temple it shook and Uzzah thought to help so the ark doesn’t fall. The presence of God in the ark which could not abide sin gave an instant punishment. However, that same presence and power worked differently in the life of Obed Edom. When the ark was taken into his home instead of death it brought grace. Obed Edom enjoyed the grace that spoke for him and brought him before the king.

God’s power is found in the word and promises he has given to us. When we talk about the power of God; we talk about His presence and his grace that changes lives. The power of God removes from our life shame and fear. Which is why Paul said "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." For the power of is evident in the gospel of Christ. 

How do we assess the power of God?

• By prayer and fasting Matt 9:29
• By exercising our faith (you can only work in faith when you walk in faith) 
• Studying and meditating upon his words Joshua 1:8
• By serving in obedience and without complain
• By been consistent in or walk with and work for God 

When we work for God, He will give the ability to access and reflect His power and the reward that comes with been used as a vessel of His power. It is the power of God that works in us through Christ that will transform us from the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

Giving - Built on a Foundation of Love

Giving is the foundation of love. Rom. 8:1

"Giving is freely and lovingly transferring of the possession of something of ours to our brethren and all those around us in need."

The foundation of giving is found in love because for us to really give selflessly we must first love and show love. This would make giving, to man and to God, an easy and simple way of life.

When we do not have love in our heart towards God and our fellow man we would find it difficult to give. When we talk about giving, we need to understand that giving comes from the foundation of love.

Mathew 22: 37-40 speaks of the greatest commandments of all. A command to love God and to love our neighbour. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1 John 2:10 KJV

Giving built on a foundation of love brings us into the light and this light shows him the way that he does not stumble.

What do we have to give?

1. We have time to give
2. We have our money to give
3. We give possessions 
4. We give a listening hear
5. We give prayers
6. We give our service to God and man
7. We give our talents
8. We give our knowledge
9. We give our skills

Which ones of these and more do you give in love? Let us remember that God so loved the world that he gave. God gives because he loves us and if we are made in his likeness after his Image then we must also give because we love God and our fellow man. 

When we give, we give to the Lord. So when we give to our fellow man, we should do so without any expectations. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27