THE WILL OF GOD

The will of God for us is that we should fear Him. When we fear Him we become full of Him. The book of Ecclesiastes 12:13 admonishes us stating, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandment, for this is man’s all.” Evidently to know to fear God is to know and be consistent in obeying his commandments. Obeying the command of God demands full obedience and not half obedience. One that fully obeys Him is one that is full of the fear of God. To be full of His fear is to be full of His love. God is love and love is also the presence of God.
To fear God is to love God. Claiming to love God also comes down to obeying His commandments. Apostle Paul points it out that the purpose of God’s commandment when he stated, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.” (1Timothy 1:5-6) Paul was not talking about love that flows from the tips of lips. He was talking about a standard love that counts before God and the kind of love that is worthy to provoke God’s attention to acknowledge one for good.
To love (fear) God is to constantly dwell in His presence (His presence is His word) and not depart from His presence. God spoke, “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’” (Jeremiah 32:38-41) In the word of God, it is clear that it is not one’s title inside or outside the church that qualifies someone to be a man or woman of God but it is the fear of God that determines one’s status with Him. Going by the word of God as stated above, anyone that fears God undeniably takes a position to experience the goodness of God. It is also a joyous thing to God when we dwell in His fear. Without doubt, anyone that is doing what makes God rejoice over him/her, shall never lack His strength in their lives.  Why not fear God and allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength?
The love of God is what qualifies man to be considered as one that engages righteousness. 1John 3:10, “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” It is impossible for anyone that does not love his brother that he can see to claim to love a God that he/she has never met. The word of God encourages us to truly love in every aspect of our lives because love is truly of God. 1 John 4:8 declares it, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is Love.” It is the will of God for us to know Him and we can only know Him when His fear places us to know Him in love.
The fear of God is the love of God. To love God is to know Him, and to know Him is to see Him. The fear of God is to love and obey God’s commandments.  That fear is the conclusion of all that matters in life. It is perfectly certain that with the fear of God dwelling in man, God is faithful to establish man and guard man from the evil one.
The Apostle Paul prayed in 2Thessalonians 3:5, ‘Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the presence of Christ. It is worthy for any acclaimed believer who understands that determination can fail, but prayer will always prevail.
Personalize the prayer of Paul by praying: Direct my heart into Your love O Lord and into the patience of Christ.

BETRAYING JESUS

The bible recorded, “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.  And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him. (Mark 14:10-11)” Three points stand out in the above scriptural verse to talk about: Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve; Judas Iscariot went to betray Him; Judas sought convenient way of betraying Jesus.

Judas, one of the twelve: Imagine Judas, one of the closest to Jesus, answering as a betrayer of Jesus. Are you an acclaimed believer whose day would not pass without having betrayed Jesus by the word of mouth; by conduct; by thought or by what is seen? Falling for temptation in daily walk or despising the word of God testifies to being a betrayer of our Lord Jesus just like Judas.
The truth is that one would expect being around Jesus to be the last place for man to become a vessel that betrays Jesus, but it is not true. The route taken by Satan to use Judas is the same he is still using today to capture man and use man as a betrayer. Luke 22:3-4 identified the route for Satan, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. (Luke 22:3-4)” The heart of man is the only route for Satan to get hold of him as a vessel for betraying Jesus.
Satan gaining entrance into man is also man entering in with Satan. Jesus gave the word that it makes it impossible for Satan not to enter when He commanded, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38)” Satan entering into man is the same as man entering in with Satan. The only way for man not to become a victim of Satan gaining entrance is clearly in watching and praying as commanded by Jesus. The command of Jesus is in place for man to know and to offset Satan’s agenda. A failure not to watch and pray is a passage to becoming Satan’s victim.
Jesus’ command to watch and pray is not a confirmation that temptation is not going to show up at our doorstep, but it is a command for man to engage watching and praying so that Satan will not enter. Temptations will not stop coming at every opportune time; they will come but should not enter just as he entered into Judas. Jesus our Lord and Savior, on His way from watching and praying for forty days, was approached by Satan with a barrage of temptation but could not enter. After Satan’s final attempt to tempt Jesus and failure to enter, the Bible recorded Satan’s response, “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13)”

Judas went his way: The Bible stated that Judas “went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. (Luke 22:4)” Man’s way is not God’s way but God’s way is for man. Man’s way is always a way that seems right. Proverbs 14:12 identifies the way that seems right, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Are you taking to your way outside of God’s own way? As a believer, it is important you watch the way you take and let it not be outside of God’s way. Judas took to the way that seemed right for his sudden riches but it ended in death.
Judas sought to conveniently betray Jesus. Today’s convenient way of betraying Jesus is the same as it was in the times of the Bible. Today, deception, lying, and manipulation are conversant in the church and among believers. Deception, lying, and manipulation have become identities of many that claim Jesus as the Lord and Savior just as Judas was around Him. Indeed, Judas conveniently betrayed Jesus when he pointed Him out with a kiss. It is written, “And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? (Luke 22:47-48)” Are you betraying Jesus? Betraying Him will do Jesus no harm but instead the betrayer, setting oneself for self-destruction eternally.
It is time to come out of religion and into Jesus reality. Be numbered for Jesus, live life to be counted when it is counting time before Him. Repent and renounce your convenient way of betraying Him.
Jesus is Lord.

GETTING HIS ATTENTION

The Bible records about the healing of blind Bartimaeus. “Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called…” (Mark 10:46-49) Bartimaeus called Jesus in an unusual manner. He called Him as one that knew Him; not as one who only heard about Him from a third party. Demonstrating to God that we know Him is a way of getting uncommon attention from Him. The Bible confirms that those who know their God shall carry out great exploit. (Daniel 11:32) It was a great exploit when a blind man called out for Jesus from among a thronging multitude and was able to get an answer. In his calling, Bartimaeus received his sight.
The same way Bartimaeus called (by crying out to the son of David) and got  instant attention from Jesus, a woman of Canaan also cried out to Jesus and could not get an instant attention from Jesus. It is written, “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’” (Matthew 15:21-22) In the case of Bartimaeus, Jesus stood still but a woman of Canaan got a different response from Jesus.  “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 15:23-24) Jesus and His disciples’ response was enough to discourage the woman of Canaan and made her to turn her back to Jesus. Instead of her giving up, however, she pressed further. She persisted to receive by resisting all discouragement. The Bible records, “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Matthew 15:25) Despite her appeal, Jesus answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:26)  Jesus’ answer made her to insist and persist for her miracle. The woman responded to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matthew 15:27) There is absolutely no better way to describe persistence than that of this Canaanite woman before Jesus. Jesus eventually answered her, “’O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28)
Is there any way you are expecting to get an answer to your prayer request the same way your neighbor received answer to his/her request? Jesus is the Master healer. He alone is the One who gives and takes as He pleases. Evidently, there is no place or reason for giving up with Jesus.
Looking at Bartimaeus and the Canaan woman, both cried out to Jesus. It is true that crying out and crying silently are two different things. Often times, challenges demand crying out but man opts rather to cry silently. Are you crying silently where a challenge calls for crying out? Man does have a need to understand that crying out is not a sign of weakness. Bartimaeus and the woman of Canaan cried out regardless of the multitudes and eventually got Jesus’ attention.
–Both were attempted to be quieted but refused to remain quiet.
–Both called on Jesus in an unusual manner calling out, “Son of David”.
–Both did not get same response. Bartimaeus got a stand-still attention from Jesus while the woman of Canaan got a repeated snub which eventually delivered delayed answer to her.
The case of Bartimaeus and the Canaan woman demonstrated that Jesus is the Master who answers to all in an unpredictable manner but shall never fail to answer those who reach out and do not give up in their request.
As documented in the Parable of the Persistent woman (Luke 18), this Canaan woman demonstrated what it means to be persistent in getting an answer to prayer. The parable of the Persistent Woman, narrated by Jesus, proves that:
–Prayer needs not those who pray and lose heart. Often time, man engages prayer with back up plans; looking for help outside of prayer. We are to stay focus on getting an answer like the Canaan woman instead of looking outside of our trust in Jesus.
–Prayer is meant to trouble Heaven when we engage asking, seeking and knocking relentlessly (Matthew 7:7) until answers come forth.
–Prayer demands continuity and not becoming weary.
The Canaan woman could not give up when she engaged with the healing word of God.

Resist denial, remain persistent and insist on having your expectation become manifested.

WHEN CHALLENGES PERSIST

Challenges by nature  serve as a call to battle or contest. Challenges have the tendency to be ugly and painful, especially when they persist or refuse to cease. When challenges persistently become painful, it is possible to cause man to wonder or question if God remembers or sees them in those challenging situations. Are you facing a long enduring challenge that seems like it will never end? It is important to understand and know that God is not asleep and at appointed time deliverance shall come as you continue to remain focused on God for His intervention. Jesus already warned about challenges being undeniable in the life of man. However, the antidote for challenging time (tribulation) is peace for those who receive and believe in Him. John 16:33 buttressed, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In this world, tribulation will come either man likes it or not. However, it is better to accept Jesus for the purpose of having peace during tribulation or man can make the choice of not having Jesus to engage tribulation without peace. In challenging situations, patiently waiting on God is the key and, how one chooses to wait determines the outcome of waiting. It is certain when we wait on God, God will not fail and the time of waiting cannot be wasted. The Word promised in Isaiah 64:4-5, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
When challenges persist and it seems like heaven is not attending, one needs to attend to the words of God as identified in Psalm 71:10-11. The psalmist must have been   facing challenges when he stated, “For my enemies speak against me; and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, saying, God has forsaken him; pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.”(Psalm 71:10-11) The psalmist, after having mentioned his challenge went further to identify what he did while waiting on God for intervention.

First, the psalmist stated, “But I will hope continually…” (Psalm 71:14) Hope can be identified as the heartbeat of faith because faith is the substance of things hoped for. (Hebrews 11:1) As a believer waiting on God, one must know to hope continually. The life of a believer is like that of a race runner and it is clear that continuity is the rule of a race. To stop hoping is the evidence of faith-failure. Until heaven intervenes, hoping on God without complaint is a sure way to wait on God and not waste.
Secondly, it is mentioned, “And I will praise You yet more and more.” (Psalm 71:14) As challenges increase giving God all the attention through praising should never reduce but increase. God inhabits the praises of His people. Are you praising him enough instead positioning yourself as a vessel of pity? God will show up at an appointed time. Do not stop praising Him, but rather increase praising Him by setting praise worship time between you and your God.
Thirdly, “My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits.” (Psalm 71:15) Our righteousness is in Christ Jesus, He is our salvation in God. To engage challenging times by talking more about God’s righteousness and salvation to others rather than constantly talking about one’s challenge is enough to get heaven’s attention for God’s intervention. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, were set to die in the furnace of fire because they refused to serve any other god beside the Almighty God. In spite of the threat they were facing, they did not stop talking about their salvation from God and responded to the threat from the king by saying “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”(Daniel 3:16-19) When we declare God in our talk, regardless of the challenge He will decorate us with divine intervention. The three friends of Daniel, regardless of their challenge, declared God through the words of their mouth and God showed up on their behalf. No man knows the limit of God’s deliverance power of saving His people but it is certain that He alone is the Almighty deliverer.
The psalmist identifies the fourth action to be engaged with when waiting in time of challenges stating, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God.” (Psalm 71:16) The word of God is the strength of God. Exodus 15:13 buttressed the truth that the word of God is the strength of God when it stated; “…You have guided them in Your strength.” Truly, God used nothing else to guide the Israelites to the Promised Land but by His word which is also His presence. Why not engage the word of God, the manual of life to navigate through persisting challenges? God is true to His word and He shall never fail. The word of God is the strength of our salvation. Rest in the word to resist your challenge; be strong and do not be discouraged, your challenge shall subside and His name shall be glorified in your life.

WORD IS REST-SOLUTION  

Our rest is in the promise of God. Your New Year’s resolution will not give you rest. Let your resolution be in the presence of God. The presence of God is in the word of God. The New Year will answer as a year of no lack because the word of God promised it and you make the choice to dwell in the word of promise. It is written, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4) If you will let (allow) patience you will know no lack. The word of God is saying; allow patience to disallow lack in every area of life. Allow patience by obeying God; by keeping His testimonies; pray and not loose heart.
Obedience: Obedience is the key to maintaining His presence in life. It was simple obedience that delivered Noah from the destruction of the wicked world. God commanded Noah to build an ark against flood in a region that hardly saw rainfall. Noah obeyed as commanded and when the destruction time came up he was delivered. The bible recorded, “so those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16) Noah was shut inside God’s command, a place of his obedience. It was a place of his rest, a place of no lack.
Keeping His testimonies: The word declared in Psalm 119:2, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies who seek Him with the whole heart.” God blesses and add no sorrow. It is impossible to seek Him with the whole heart and not found Him. Those who seek Him shall end up in His Company and they shall know no lack.
Praying and not loose heart: Jesus used the Parable of the Persistent Widow to point out that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1-8) Engage prayer consistently and not allow doubt or fear. In your prayer do not loose heart but be restfully focused on God and you shall know no lack. Will you allow patience to have its place in you so that you lack nothing? Engage the word of God, the word of is true for man to use as the resting place.
All through their journey in the wilderness, the children of Israel were being led constantly by the presence of God. God’s presence gave them direction and leadership which always resulted in rest when they were obedient. All God did to lead them was send His word through Moses. Without doubt, the presence of God is the word of God. It is written: “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction”. (Psalm 107:20) The word of God delivers. Wherever deliverance reigns, rest abides resides. Your New Year’s rest-solution is in the word of God; not in your own word. John 1:1-2 talked about the Word that is more than able to keep man as a resting place, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Jesus is the Living word of God. John 1:14 also testifies, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The same word that was in the beginning exists throughout all generations and forever more.
Jesus alone is the rest solution for anyone who will accept and allow the word to have its place in his/her life. In one’s heart there is desire. Often time at the beginning of a New Year, man determines declarations of their heart’s desire (New Year’s resolutions) but fall short devoting to their declaration. In your determination allow prayer to prevail. Pray the word of God for patience to have its place. Ask God to direct your heart into the love of His name and into the patience of Christ Jesus. (2Thesalonians 3:5)
Clearly it remains to be true that hearing the word and having a receptive heart, not a hardened heart, gives rest to man. Hebrew 4:1-3 states, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it for we who have believed enter that rest…”
In the New Year, have restful desire. Devote to hearing His word day and night. Do not hardened your heart and He will never leave you nor forsake you. God is true to His word only if man will take to His word.