The Futility of Idol Worship

Isa 41:21-24 “Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. Behold, you are nothing, and your work is nought; an abomination is he who chooses you.” (RSV)

Israel was surrounded by many nations whose gods supposedly had special powers, such as raising crops and providing victories at war. These gods however failed to deliver. A god with limited or no power at all is really not a god.

When we are tempted to put our trust in something other than the living God – money, career, family or even military power – we should stop and ask some serious questions.

Will it deliver? Will it unfailingly provide what I am looking for?

God delivers. With him is power and might.

When he makes a promise, he keeps it. When he blesses no one can curse and when he lifts up, no one can pull down.

The Psalmist said: “… put your trust in the Lord.” (Ps. 4:5b). David was a man that passed through series of trouble. He fought with the bear and the lion. He fought with Goliath. King Saul chased him through the wilderness. His own son Absalom planned a coup against him. In all, God gave him victory, because he put his trust in the Lord.  

Are you having troubles today? Put your trust in the Lord, he will give you victory. The size of your troubles does not matter, what matters is the size of your God. Remove your eyes from your troubles today and set them on Jehovah – surely he will give you victory.

Ps. 71:21 “Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.”

If you will dare seek the Lord today, he will increase your greatness and comfort you on every side.

You will not die in shame.

You will not be disgraced. God who fought for David will fight for you and you will hold your peace.

Keys To Distinction – Part Three

The key of planning: Lk. 14:28-32 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?

 Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build, and wasn't able to finish.'

Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?”

While vision has its source in God, planning has its source in man. 

To plan effectively;

·       Define the task – understand what you want to do before embarking on it. If you are not trained in that area, you can consult a professional.

·       Identify your tools – your resources to execute the vision. It’s time to count the cost. It’s time to know whether you have the right people, material and funds for the project. Remember to connect God through prayer.

·       Define your target – your goal. Most people are not effective in project execution because of poor planning or no planning at all. While faith is good, it works better when you are looking up to something and believing God for grace. Planning will make you to have focus on the altar of prayer. Praying without planning causes vagueness in one's prayer life. You must define your target.

·       Define your timing – Every plan that has no deadline cannot be realized in time. Timing like planning keeps you focused. Timing makes you conscious of your target.  It helps you identify your dream killers and keep away from them.

Every time that can be useful should not be wasted.

1Co 2:10-11 “… for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God…even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

Visions come from God, therefore we should learn to involve the Holy Spirit in our planning. The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God. He provides the ingredients for effective planning.

Dear guest, you have postponed that book for a long time, why not start writing it now.

What day are you going to start composing that song; it has stayed long in your mind.

Don’t you think it is time to start that painting, that project, that business? 

Remember the world is waiting for you to manifest the glory of God.

Make your life count.

It’s Time To Be In Christ

Rev. 19:11-17 "...and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war...His eyes were as a flame of fire ...And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood...And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 

The Jesus that rose is greater than the Jesus that died. In his human form, it was possible to arrest him, torture him and crucify him. When he rose, he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. 

He came as a lamb, now he is a warrior. 

 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Rom. 8:1) 

Are you in Christ Jesus? 

Do you belong to him? 

Have you received him as your Lord and Savior? 

 If not the door is wide open for you to come in. Come as you are, Jesus will make you whole. 

Remember, time is fast running out. You need to be in Christ now – tomorrow may be too late. 

 May God give you understanding.

Keys To Distinction – Part Two

The key of Vision: Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams…”

Visions and dreams are the basic means through which God accomplishes great things. When God wants to do a great thing, he chooses a man and gives him a vision.

“…your sons and daughters will prophesy…” means they will put their back to their past and turn their front to their future. A man without vision has no direction. He’s like a sailor without compass. Vision is to the believer on earth what the compass is to the sailor in the sea. Vision is the compass with which we navigate the ocean of life.

When God sends you on a mission, he does not give you all the details. When Abraham left his father’s house, he did not know that there was a Pharaoh on the way who will take his wife from him. He did not know that he will grow rich, inherit land and have an Isaac. He did not know he will have servants that will fight and rescue his nephew Lot from captivity. He did not know that one day God will sit and eat in his house.

As long as God is with you, he will see you through.

When the children of Israel left Egypt they did know that they will encounter the red sea and mara (stream with bitter water). They did not know they’ll face the Amorites in battle. They did not know they’ll encounter the river Jordan. Little did they know their menu would be manna and quails.  

As long as God is with you, he will see you through.

1 Chr. 29:12 “…and in your hand is power and might; and in your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.” (WEB)

God has all it takes to see you through your trials and temptations. If he has sent you, he will see you through. He will fight all your battles. I don’t know what you are passing through today. I don’t know the mission you are set to accomplish. God will see you through.

Remember, God does not change and he does not fail. He does not sleep neither does he go on holidays. Come to him today by faith and trust him. He will not fail you.

Dropping a comment here could also help.  

                                                                           

Keys To Distinction – Part One

                      

Introduction: Is. 22:22 “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

Key is used as the ensign of power and authority; It’s the mark of office, either sacred or civil. It shows that one is fully in charge. This series is aimed at equipping God’s people to take charge of issues of life.

Every individual must discover his place in destiny. Until he discovers his place, he cannot make an impact on his generation. Discover your uniqueness and you will be distinguished. Discover your area of maximal advantage and you’ll excel. Find out what you can do better than others in the same profession. Find out what you can do better in the ministry. That is what will mark you for distinction and that is what will make you a celebrity.

Distinction means a role model – a point of reference, a benchmark etc. If you are a man or woman of distinction, your colleagues will see a difference in you. To be distinguished, you’ll have to be ahead of others in a particular niche.

Have you ever wondered why Coka Cola is on top of other soft drinks? There’s a smile or laughter only you can give. Everybody has something unique in him. Discover yours and excel by it.

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Jesus was distinct. While others were busy complaining of sickness and demons and the difficulty in the Roman system, Jesus went about doing good and solving problems – healing the sick, raising the dead and delivering possessed people from the grip of the devil.

I don’t know what you are passing through in your life today. This same Jesus is able to deliver you from it. All you need to do is to believe in him and surrender your life to him. Now is the time, tomorrow might be too late.

In the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, there were exorcists (demon casters). Jesus was different because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power – that’s what distinguished him from others.

We need to get more of God into ourselves if we must excel like Jesus. How do we get more of God into ourselves – by studying his word and given heed to it. The more of God’s word we have in us, the more victorious we’ll emerge and the more success we’ll have. The word of God is a carrier of virtues. It is able to make you a man or a woman of distinction.