The Recession was Good for You

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Having the right attitudes to money and a stewardship mindset is important for financial success. The Bible contains a lot of wisdom related to this. Recently it was reported in Time (Moneyland) that the Charles Schwab 2011 Teens & Money Survey (Please download survey PDF report) suggested, if only in some small way, the recession may have changed attitudes and knowledge about money management in young people who experienced recession in one way or another. Attitudes are more positive and constructive than it was prior to the Recession.

Highlights from the data, from the online survey of 1,132 American teens between ages of 16-18:

“93% say their family was impacted by the recession
“64% say they are more grateful now for what they have.”
“58% say they are less likely to ask for things they want.”
“73% say it’s important to have enough emergency savings in case times get tough.”
“77% describe themselves as “super savers,” and only 23% say they’re “big spenders.”

Psalm 119[67] Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

There are consequences for doing things our way, this includes entering cycles of loss and ultimately the demise of all hope as crashes produce anger and more rebellion – even while grace still cries out that there is a way back. We can still find our path back to God, the Owner, who is ever seeking good stewards. A few more words to reiterate on stewardship.

1.God supplies our needs and will not have us hungry. He does not supply our carnal wants or wasteful excesses.

2.Covetousness is trying to be someone God has not gifted us to be and without the grace and abilities. This produces bitterness and anguish of spirit and much zeal without knowledge.

3.Remember, we do not own the gifts and wealth but we can have power with God to make wealth. God does not seek our permission to give or take that which belongs to Him. There are direct unfortunate consequences for seeking independence from God in managing His resources rather than depending on Him.

I will have you attempt solving the following puzzle. Three frogs were lounging on a fence facing a pond. Then suddenly there appeared a big fat insect. As the three frogs watched it strut towards the pond, one of them decided to jump down and go after it. Now, how many frogs were left on the fence?

Was your answer 2, 3, 1r 2, 3, 1
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3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

WP-Bible plugin or none? The correct answer is three. There were three left. One only decided to jump but he did not. It is not enough for you to decide to be blessed you need to act.

It is our doing and obedience that saves us and not our decisions. Doing is always costly and often painful. Perhaps the lessons from this Recession will lead to more than decisions.

Count yourself blessed O stricken and afflicted. I have encountered few who justified continued sin in their lives even with scriptures (as is common today) until mercifully struck down with financial or moral crisis and they found grace to cry and return to God for help. It was easier to appreciate the gravity of misdeeds before God and seek repentance. Today, they have corrected many ethical situations that previously plagued their finances, marriage and life in general. Crisis (though not the preferred instructor we wish God to appoint) also teaches vital disciplines of prayer, humility and obedience that are not as well assimilated in today’s user-driven word environment. Perhaps if we surveyed this aspect of the impact of the Recession, we may be able to establish improvements in our devotional life and like David also say…

Psalm 119 [71] It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

The Recession that did the most good was the affliction of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary that we might be saved and receive eternal life… Surrender your life to Him.

Now you are better armed to manage the windfall soon coming your way.

(Originally published in The Christian Post)

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Leading Change with a New Leap in Social Responsibility Evangelism

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Pastor Idowu Iluyomade

Churches in developing economies are stepping up on their role in Social Responsibility Actions. The Apapa Family of Parishes, which includes over a 1000 parishes in Nigeria, Europe and the USA, is part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God – one of the largest Pentecostal fellowship of Churches – and is making bold moves in Social Responsibility initiatives as it plans this Sunday 5^th June 2011 a special Crusade which merges ideals of Social Responsibility and Holy Ghost Revival.

Pastor E.A. Adeboye will be ministering to hundreds of thousands at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos in Nigeria and over 50,000r 50,000
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Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja! Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!

WP-Bible plugin hungry poor souls will be fed, clothed and helped to receive a perhaps more practical ministration – alongside the word of God which we pray ushers in a city wide Revival. The theme for the Crusade is “ Leading Change”

A Cancer Screening and Treatment Centre will also be opened as part of several initiatives in the Redeemed Christian Church of God which includes weekly feeding of the poor and hungry, free medical and other services and educational endowments and empowerment programmes for those who urgently need help to get back on their feet.

I John 3[18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Nigerians – a people blessed with a thirst for God and wealthy natural resources – are praying, as President Jonathan is sworn in for a new four year term of leadership, for a revival that transforms the hearts of men to seek God afresh and see the healing of a nation which over the years has been plagued with mind-boggling corruption, inept leadership, weak governance institutions and an overwhelming decay in infrastructure.

Pastor Idowu Iluyomade the Pastor-in-Charge, speaking for the family of Parishes noted recently in the Punch Newspapers:

“Our main focus right now is Christian social responsibility because we believe that every organisation has an obligation to give back to the society and over the years, people know churches as organisations collect tithes and apart from some of the big orthodox churches that have done quite a lot in the society, Pentecostal churches, not many of them have been impacting on the society as such. So that is the thrust of the RCCG now, and particularly the Apapa Family. We believe that we should be involved in solving the social needs of the society and in that mode, sharing the love of Christ. So that is the heartbeat of the church right now. We believe that the church as change agent, should take the lead to sensitise and galvanise and challenge our nation’s spiritual, business and political leaders to be new champions of the new Nigeria. …

Through the years, through various programmes by the church, we have impacted various sectors of the society. We’ve done a lot of work in the education sector, but the major initiative is the cancer screening and treatment centre. From the statistics that we have, between 100 and 500 Nigerians are diagnosed every year with all manners of cancer and we believe that is one of the ways our church can contribute to complement what the government is doing. The government can’t do it all alone. The centre will be highly-subsidised and equipped with top of the range equipment. Right now, we have acquired a property in Surulere, it is being refurbished; the equipment are already in and we’re believing God that on June 5, Pastor Adeboye will dedicate the centre. It is going to be a full-fledged diagnostic centre and our plan is that wherever Apapa Family is represented in Nigeria, there will be each of these initiatives that we have started. “

On June 5, 2011ne 5, 2011
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WP-Bible plugin, at the Apapa Family EXCEL Crusade in Tafawa Balewa Square, Pastor E.A. Adeboye will minister on the theme “Leading Change”. As other interest groups traditionally outdo themselves in fawning adulation and undeserved praise singing of status-quo, many observers are praying this leap will also be the advent of a new enlightened advocacy and better positioning for the church in Nigeria as a catalyst for improved governance, leadership accountability and social harmony even as a new chapter in a fledgling democracy unfolds.

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Tribute to David Wilkerson – A True Hero

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Founder of World Challenge, Inc.,David Wilkerson was perhaps best known for his early days of ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in New York City, as published in the best-selling book The Cross and the Switchblade. Reverend David Wilkerson passed on Wednesday, April 27, 2011l 27, 2011
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Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja!

WP-Bible plugin. This post is to his blessed memory and features some of his writings.

WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29John 20:29
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29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

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Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

WE ARE TESTED BY OUR FALLS AND FAILINGS

I do not mean that Christians who fall back into old sins and turn back to the world are being tested. No, those believers face a shipwreck of faith.

But Peter warned, “Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:172 Peter 3:17
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17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

WP-Bible plugin). Peter is warning believers who are growing in holiness and are set on following the Lord.

Some of you may have taken a fall in spite of all the progress you’ve made with the Lord. If I asked you what caused your fall, you might answer, “Brother Dave, it was a fit of anger. I was provoked by my own family and I blew up. I can’t understand it. I thought I was becoming a little sweeter, a little more like Jesus. But somebody just pushed the wrong button and I lost it.” You may say, “I’m only human. How much am I supposed to take?”

It does not matter that you were provoked or even that you were in the right. The provoking simply proved you need deliverance. Scripture says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor [fighting], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice [grudges]” (Ephesians 4:31Ephesians 4:31
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31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

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God is going to keep testing you until you say, “I’ve got a spirit in me that’s got to go.” You will see no growth in Christ, no peace at home or on the job, until you can say, “You’re right, Lord—take it out!”

If you’re being tested in this area, or any other area for that matter, you may be thinking, “I feel so unworthy. How much ground have I lost? Does the Lord still love me?”

Dear saint, if you have truly repented, you haven’t lost any ground whatsoever. God puts his loving arms around you and says, “I allowed that to happen so you would see what’s in your heart. But you’re making progress. You’ve said you want to walk with me, and I’m teaching you. I know what’s inside of you and I’ll allow you to be provoked until you get rid of it all.”

Are you being tested? If so, just pray: “Lord, you’ve put your finger on some areas in me. Pluck them out of my heart. Encourage me, Lord, that I’m not going backward—I’m going forward with you!”

HOPE IN THE COMING STORM

David gives us a clear picture of Jesus’ attitude in the face of the coming storm. He speaks prophetically of Christ, saying, “I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved” (Acts 2:25Acts 2:25
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25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

WP-Bible plugin). The literal meaning here is, “I was always in his presence, beholding his face.” David quoted Jesus as saying, “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope” (2:26).

Here is the secret: Jesus kept the Father always before his face! Jesus continually sought out secret places to be shut in with his Father. And it was only after being in God’s presence that Christ came forth to minister, fully persuaded that his Father was always with him. “He’s at my right hand—and nothing on this earth can move me.” The Greek word for move here means “agitated or shaken, disturbed.” Jesus was saying, “None of these problems, evils or coming events can cast me down or shake my confidence. My Father is in complete control.”

Beloved, if we’re going to face the coming storm, then we need to be prepared so nothing disturbs our spirit. And the only way to do that is to spend time in the Father’s presence beholding his face. We have to be shut in with him—on our knees, practicing his presence, seeking him—until we’re thoroughly persuaded he’s at our right hand.

God is clearly telling us, “Don’t be moved or agitated by anything you see. Keep your eyes focused on me and you’ll retain your joy.” And, according to David, Jesus testified, “Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance” (Acts 2:28Acts 2:28
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28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

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It’s as if Christ is telling us, “I faced everything you’re going to face in the closing days of time. I had the same foreboding feelings, because I saw the coming storm. But I ran into the presence of my Father, and he lifted all my concerns. He showed me the outcome to it all. And in his presence I found all the joy, hope and rest I would ever need—to the very end. I have peace and joy because I’ve been with him.”

“My flesh shall rest in hope” (2:26)

In the life of David Wilkerson, hear the groans of a warrior who knows that the Kingdom of God endures violence and only the violent push the Kingdom agenda forward by force not by great planning and management. May God convict us anew of our prayerlessness and excess time before the TV and internet. The midnight groaning and wrestling with the kingdom of darkness to wrest souls of men and women from the clutches of “Pharoah” to let God’s people go out of bondage and serve Yahweh. Church is not an entertainment center, it is meant to be the equipment center for a militant band in active combat.

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Prominence or Importance

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Bode Ososami

The Bible speaks of many silent labourers such as Mordecai who did not seek advantage from Esther’s position as Queen … nor demand reward for his contributions to protecting the King. For him the gate was his position until God gave fresh instructions. Eventually God moved on his behalf at the right time.

Sam Kputu writes below on Prominence or Importance … we may be prominent but just irrelevant or an outright nuisance.

In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity – 1Corinthians 12:22-24

‘’In this life, there are elephants and there are ants, there are eagles and there are chicks’’, the preacher said. ‘’To be a star and shine for God, you must give up your ant mentality for an elephant’s, your chicken mentality for an eagle’s’’The crowd clapped and yelled hallelujahs, some standing on their feet. The preacher had just stroked a salient human desire for prominence and recognition; and this because we so often equate prominence with importance, and the headlines with the frontlines. With God, this is not often so, ‘’… In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary…’’ (1 Corinthians 12:221 Corinthians 12:22
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22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

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In the movie industry as in car racing, and indeed many other sports, there is always a back up team working behind the scenes. Many times the headlines belong to those in front of the cameras, but you ask those involved and they will tell you how critical the back up team or backlines were. This is also so true of the Christian life and ministry. So often, we regard the ‘’great men or women of God’’ as those ones who grab the headlines (sometimes for the wrong reasons) and those who attract the celebrities and cameras, yet our scripture of meditation today says, ‘’…. And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen…’’ (1Corinthians 12:23)

Two accounts in the Bible serve to bring out this truth to me; in Exodus 17, the Amalekites attacked Israel, Moses asks Joshua to take an army and go down the valley to battle while he went up the mountain to pray. The Bible records that this battle against the Amalekites was decided, not by the soldiers in the frontlines but by Moses, Aaron and Hur in the background.

Another account is in Romans chapter 16, the ministry of Paul the Apostle; there are at least thirty (30) names Paul acknowledged as people who helped his ministry among the Romans, but how often do we hear of Epenetus, Andronicus, Aristobulus or Junia? Yet these were some of the many who laboured in the background to make Paul’s ministry the glory and success that it was. And heaven holds a record of them.

Are you labouring faithfully in the background and somehow feeling or being made to feel unimportant? May be you are one of those silent but effective intercessors behind a ‘’great man or woman of God’’? Or you may be a faithful, sacrificial contributor to a great mission and kingdom cause but you never get a mentioned in the newsletters? Or perhaps you are effectively building God’s kingdom in some suburb or by-way of society and there is the temptation to move to the highways of society in order to attract the headlines? Do not yield to such a temptation. Bloom where God has planted you.

Remember friend, that in God’s kingdom, prominence does not necessarily equate to importance, and the frontlines do not always make the headlines.

Remain faithful.

Sam Kputu

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Religion, Social Responsibility, Terrorism & Poverty Eradication

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Socially responsible investing or Corporate Social Responsibility also known as sustainable, socially-conscious, or ethical investing and approaches, describe alternative ways to maximize both financial return and social good for peoples and nations. Typical areas will include the environment, social justice, and corporate governance. An area that has become more compelling – more so in recent times and linked possibly to unrests all over the globe is Poverty Eradication. This is not just about donations to poor nations but rather helping them get back on their feet …in a sustainable economic model that works for them in the medium to long term.

Acts 3 [6] Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

The Peruvian society made some progress in this regard when in the 80s, after battling for years with terrorism, averted crisis by focusing on bringing the impoverished and the poor “into the system” i.e. working at eliminating extralegal societies through a revamp of their governance approach.

Fresh thinking and investment is needed to realign the governance of most developing countries to progressively eliminate these extralegal arms by integrating them into the formal legal structures and revisiting institutional arrangements to help the less advantaged segments emerge as a meaningful part of society – still fully recognising their educational and traditional limitations.

Deuteronomy 15 [11] For the poor shall never cease out of the land…

One of the reasons for the continued poverty of a large proportion of the rural population is that the system not only does not work for them, but works against them. To cope with this situation, these poor but hard working and entrepreneurial people create their own extra-judicial systems to survive out of the system. These systems add up to a complex but powerful “extra-legal” form which in many cases is more real to those who believe this is their only means of survival. For example, many people who live, own and survive on a piece of land through traditional family/community arrangements do not hold the title to that land/property. Hence they do not get the usual benefits like loans and registration of their business. Disputes are always easy to stir up and reliance on oral and community traditions make them even more vulnerable. In order to survive, they are forced to create their own rules, and live within their own system and forge strong but subtle underground and extralegal alliances to protect their interests. They have their own system on how to manage licenses, how to get married, how to raise a family, how to enforce their contracts. In most developing countries, the extra-legal society can represent the majority of the country. In Peru 98% of all businesses were extra-legal. They constructed most buildings, managed almost all of public transportation. Some would call these the informal sector.

Eugen Huber created a single legal system in Switzerland. He made the law simple enough for common people to understand. He went to the grassroots to find out what people understood to be the truth i.e. what they believed in. He created a bottom up process. The wealth owned collectively by poor people is huge, but is very fragmented. The solution was to amend the laws from inside, and to make the elites understand that changing this situation will reduce terrorism, create and open up vast markets within the country itself. Revisions on systems related to property rights, access to capital, and capability to reach external markets now allowed poor people to generate wealth.

One observes a misguided conclusion that the poor are looking for democracy … and that the crises in the Middle-East or in any dictatorship will be solved mainly by a supply of the right dose of democracy…But what we continue to see is that democracy is only a tool that works with other frameworks and which will be resisted if there is cause to suspect (rightly or wrongly) that other trusted safety nets will be upset one way or another …This is where religion becomes a culprit.

The voice of religion steps into the gap often where the existing government “compassion” models fail. Many drift into the social and economic umbrella provided by faith groups who readily see these gaps as opportunities to recruit zealots who eventually imbibe the belief structures of their “helpers” … sometimes unfortunately graduating into misguided instruments of terror. This answers the confusion of many who seek to understand how a people that are not religious go to war (apparently) under a religious banner. The common denominator that points at the solution to the puzzle are the huge segments of poverty, social disaffection and despair of an oppressed populace mostly disenfranchised and not seeing a system working for them…highly vulnerable to manipulation.

America and Europe will applaud every time an election is free and fair and a western-type democracy is force-fitted on a people…and then wonders why the tensions. But what is needed for sustainable peace is not always another Oxford trained democrat but perhaps new simpler legal and governance models that integrate the poor into the economy, banks for the poor, simple legal structures that allow the poor and traditional citizenry to have basic property rights, access to capital and access to capital which work for simple people with little education. If the governments do not offer these alternative models, then underground structures will do so and this is what feeds the natural demand for Hamas and other ”Brotherhood” organisations that are more trusted (by their own people) than the formal government bureaucracies. The tensions in nations can be an opportunity for new wealth by adaptations to capture or integrate the extralegal segments of societies now delinked from the mainstream of their economy … perhaps someday making extra-legalism, which sooner or later sometimes will degenerate into terrorism, more of an extraneous irrelevance. (Pls see related articles for more context below)

Article on post-election crisis in Nigeria

Nigeria elects Christian President in landmark Election. Islamists say No

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The Quarry Site not Harvard Business School…have you been there?

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Bode Ososami

‘’Though God desires to use men on earth to accomplish His divine purposes; He does not rush any man into spiritual leadership. He takes time to prepare every vessel before He presents him or her to men as His mouthpiece on earth’’

This is so crucial and of great importance as many are of the opinion and belief that becoming a leader has a great deal to do with the quality of your academic qualifications, the amount of knowledge and information you have, the kind of association and institution you belong and have studied etc. Well, as good and necessary some of those things are, it is never a substitute for yet a training that comes as a result of God Himself sharpening such men and women to fit into what I will call ‘’ an Enduring and Effective Leadership under God’’.

Such kind of training in order to become an effective leader is not something new, it has and will always be the only proven means by which God makes the men and women He uses. For example, looking at the life of John the Baptist, he ‘’was a child born with a prophecy around his neck of what he would accomplish for God, in preparing the way of the Lord. Yet God took him to the wilderness to prepare him for thirty years before the day of his showing unto Israel…’’

God’s credentials of making a leader that would become a mouthpiece for Him only comes to be when such men have only been formed at the Quarry Site. God is never in haste to fill any vacuum in responsible and correct leadership.

He might even permit the enemy to continue to occupy the arena until He can find a man or a woman whose life He can pour Himself into them, then will the purposes of God be revealed to all to see. Oh! Not even my zeal can make Him be in haste. Eloquence and being charismatic is not enough to occupy the seat for God. Even if you want to prove a point, it won’t be Him sending you to the Gates. It is a serious concern that many haven’t been formed by the hand of the Almighty and they are assuming positions of authority in the Church.

‘’No matter how urgent the need for a leader is in God’s work, God does not become nervous and hasty in rushing unprepared, untrained and untrimmed men into the helms of affairs in His Church. Crash programme of Leadership development and placement is alien to the biblical pattern of ministry.’’

What is the Quarry Site?
The quarry site is a place every man being prepared for spiritual leadership must go through. Bible Colleges, Theological Seminaries and training institutes are very useful, but do not replace the quarry in God’s evaluation for making men fit for divine assignments’’

When King Solomon in 1Kings 6 was given an account of the Temple that the Lord had commissioned him to build, it was as it were a graphic illustration and an heavenly mandate by God of any man that wishes to build along-side Him His Church, His people(the Temple). It is important to understand that God has no new method other than the one that has always been, meaning that whatever He does and command has the ability and capability and the potency to transcend generations……God’s word is eternal and ever relevant.

At this point, can we settle it in our hearts that God’s word is eternal and ever relevant…..His position on what He intends to do through us is still the same? In fact when we seem to get it wrong, He reminds us of His promises and the ‘’terms and conditions’’. Hallelujah!!!

When Solomon gave the account of the temple that was built, he said ‘’ And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.’’

It is clear that the living temple God is building in our time is the one where the stones are lives of men and women called out the darkness into His marvellous light. The critical issue in all this is that all the stones that were used in the building of the Temple were stones pre-finished, cut into shape and size, dressed to fit into specific and specified positions in the temple. All chiselling, all hammering, all filing and smoothening had been done at the quarry under the instrumentality of various machines and the supervision of the quarry manager.

There was no cause for noise or trial and error. The stone used for the building was made at the quarry site, not at the point where the building was taken-off. There was no reason to cause disruption, distractions because the building was taking-off. It was a noiseless exercise where every ‘’stone’’ served a specific assignment and there was no jealousy, division as to what ‘’stone’’ is important or not. There was no much sweat, no human effort and human activities, these all fitted in to one purpose, the building of the Temple.

God’s ministry today is experiencing a short-fall in men whose mission is to see the ‘’temple’’ built, several have started well but suddenly at the point of getting them admitted to the quarry site where men are formed, they roll away as undone and uncooked men with no definite assignment. It has led to several “break-aways” we now see on our streets in the guise of ministries with big and bogus names. Men give titles to themselves at will, just to appear to be the greatest. At the quarry site is where God prepares and trims men to fit the specific calling He has placed in their lives. When God calls a man, He also creates a space for him or her in the Body of Christ to operate. It is during the quarry experience that all the issues of life and character, the need for enlargement of capacity in grace and spiritual gifts are perfected.

The Quarry is the first place God calls His choice men into. No one became anything significant in God’s service until deliberately positioned in this challenging place.

Extract from Pathway to Leadership by Bro. Gbile Akanni – Peace House Publications visit www.livingseed.org or www.livingseeduk.org for details.

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Poured Out or Well packaged ?

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Sam Kputu

‘’As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God…But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice…’’ @ 2Timothy 4:6; Phil.2:17, NLT

A guy penned this note to his sweetheart: ‘’Darling, I love you so much and I’m often short of words to express my heart to you. Life without you is like a sea without water, or like a pen without ink. For you, I can brave the waves of the sea, run through blazing flames; what will I not do for the love of you? I will see you tomorrow, if it does not rain…’’

Does that sound funny and ridiculous? Perhaps; but it sounds pretty much like a ‘love note’ from many a believer to God. We write and sing many songs in praise of God and in celebration of our love for Him; we write many poems, posters and even books in expression of our love for God. But all that shows up as mere sentiments when the real test of love comes.

What is the true test of love? The Bible teaches two ways by which God’s love and our love for God and His people is manifest: OBEDIENCE and SACRIFICE:

1.OBEDIENCE: ‘’Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me…Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn’t difficult’’ @ John 14:21; 1John 14:21; 1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. The Gospel According to St. John ¹ ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. comprehended: or, did not admit, or, receive ⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. ⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: power: or, the right, or, privilege ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. ¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? ²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. that prophet: or, a prophet? ²² Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? ²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. ²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. ²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? ²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. ²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. taketh away: or, beareth ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. ³¹ And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. ³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. ³³ And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. ³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. ³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; ³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! ³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, where dwellest thou? dwellest: or, abidest ³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. about...: that was two hours before night ⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. the Christ: or, the Anointed ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. ⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. ⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. ⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. ⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

WP-Bible pluginJohn 5:3John 5:3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

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2.SACRIFICE: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son… We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help -how can God’s love be in that person?’’ @John 3:16; 1John 3:16; 1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Gospel According to St. John ¹ ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. comprehended: or, did not admit, or, receive ⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. ⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: power: or, the right, or, privilege ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. ¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? ²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. that prophet: or, a prophet? ²² Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? ²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. ²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. ²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? ²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. ²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. taketh away: or, beareth ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. ³¹ And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. ³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. ³³ And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. ³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. ³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; ³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! ³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, where dwellest thou? dwellest: or, abidest ³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. about...: that was two hours before night ⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. the Christ: or, the Anointed ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. ⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. ⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. ⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. ⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

WP-Bible pluginJohn 3:16-17John 3:16-17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

WP-Bible plugin, NLT

We live in an age of caution. The world teaches us to take care, avoid risks, and insure everything: your life, your cat, your cell phone and even your false tooth. And whereas one is not advocating irresponsible living, we must reckon with the fact that, when it comes to our journey with God, our love for God, and faith in Him, demands complete abandonment; and that is risky. And it runs contrary to worldly wisdom that advocates a well-packaged and secured life. God demands that our lives be poured out life as an offering and a living sacrifice to Him. How do we identify a life poured out to God?

A poured out life is lived in complete abandonment to God and His purpose. A poured out life is uncontainable; it goes wherever He leads and sends. A poured out life is contagious; it brings God’s impact upon men and communities

How much of our lives are we willing to let God have? How far are we willing to go in the service of the Lord and the brethren? When do we get to tell the Lord, it is enough? Do not seek to PACKAGE your life; POUR IT OUT to the Lord and watch your life grow in meaning and impact.

‘’If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life…’’ @ Matthew 16:26-27Matthew 16:26-27
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

WP-Bible plugin, NLT

The writer, buti Sam KPUTU is your brother. He has a passion for the Lord, His word and His world. His desire is to see God’s word’s taught simply, believed entirely, lived practically and shared powerfully by God’s people to as many in God’s world that are yet without the basic truth of the word.

God bless you!

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In Light of Eternity…Ravenhill’s Biography – A Great Book for those seeking God

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Few are raving about a wonderful book I just read “In light of Eternity” The Life of Leonard Ravenhill by Mack Tomlinson….truly a masterpiece to be cherished and a goldmine of spiritual gems and inestimable treasures. I have often pondered why we must give much enthused attention to sifting through thinly disguised abominations promoted with clever disputing – literary “pork” harbouring worms that only pollute body and spirit while we shut the window and draw the curtains against fresh air and far more beautiful enlightened views of the jewels of God as found in this well written biography of a believer.

I had heard several of Ravenhill’s messages and thought I knew what to expect…but still was struck at the inspiration of bold truths we hear are passé by today’s spiritual arrivistes. Though only a well told biography you cannot but be strengthened by the timeless verities evidenced in a man who stood for old-fashioned holiness and with his dying breath still proclaimed not just in words but even more in uncommon living example..”It is possible to live a holy life…I did it”… To a generation whose highest morality is “do your best” – this must be revolutionary insight. The book is rich in thoughts about God, words of light, letters of encouragement, poetry, hymns and truths that go to the depth of the soul to bring spiritual beggars out of the dung hill…to set them among princes again, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.

Every young Christian must read this book to hear the different voice of someone who rudely screams in the wilderness that a life of true devotion and full consecration to God is not just feasible but is the expected norm. Len says holiness comes more easily when we live, see and act always “in light of eternity” . It is no wonder that the truths concerning eternity remain today’s most attacked pillars…the real target being the purity of our walk with God. Len was a man who prayed probably more than he did anything else and spoke of many he knew who also prayed – which he called “Life’s highest Calling” every day for hours. He prayed not to be known or successful but for a deep-rooted Revival (God’s way) which he believed only God could send.
(See Video below)

In his 40s, Len was involved in an awful hotel fire incident (November 1951) which he escaped only with very serious internal and bone injuries that could have silenced many mortals … but this is a man who must live to tell us how he overcame the shadow of debilitating pain and death itself to live out a full destiny that proved to our generation a rare walk with God. When in 1994 – a life of 87 yrs passed like a vapour…. relatively few came to his funeral. But then all his life, he sought to point men and women away from himself and back to Christ. So why should his death be any different? He did have one regret he expressed in his last year:”If I had spent more time alone with God rather than preaching and planning how I was going to change the world, I would be a very different man” … Leonard often read in his sermons a favourite poem quoted in the book titled “A hundred years from now” by Walden Parker…

It will not make much difference, friend, A hundred years from now
If you live in a stately mansion or on a river scow;
If the clothes you wear are tailor-made or pierced together somehow,
If you eat big steaks or beans and cake … A hundred years from now.
It won’t matter your bank account or the make of car you drive,
For the grave will claim all riches and fame and the things for which you strive.
There’s a deadline that we all must meet and no one will be late.
It won’t matter then all the places you’ve been, Each one will keep that date.
We will only have in eternity – what we gave away on earth,
When we go the grave, we can only save the things of eternal worth.
What matters, friend, the earthly gain for which some men always bow?
For your destiny will be sealed, you see … a hundred years from now.

Leonard Ravenhill was perhaps even more blunt in his poetry…see below “Excerpts from Heart Breathings” By Ravenhill.

No peace like a river attendeth my way
My sorrows like sea-billows roll.
This heart-breaking lot has just taught me to say,
It is hell, it is hell in my soul.

My sin – O the grief of this guilt in my heart -
My anguish, not part, but the whole,
All adds up to loss, and I bear it alone;
It is hell, it is hell in my soul.

Now Satan can buffet, sore trials can come,
When life is all out of control;
My conscience just burns, and dark memories haunt,
It is hell, it is hell in my soul.

But, Lord, haste the day that will chase off this night,
And scatter this doom from my soul.
With tears I repent, so, dear Lord, let me know
There is hope and relief for my soul.

With great condemnation I fall at Thy cross,
To confess, not in part, but the whole
Of a sin-blighted life, and to cry to be cleansed,
And to plead, “Take control of my soul.”
Only then can I joy and rejoice as I sing
Now it’s well, it is well with my soul.

(Enjoy video below)

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Prayer points for Middle-East, Earthquake victims, Revival and the Present times

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Bode Ososami

These are times of fires, quakes and disturbances but also times of revival. One way we may respond is in the place of prayer. Prayers are best when helped by Holy Scriptures and patterned to God’s ways of working in the affairs of men. In the Middle East there are strange socio-political flames burning. In Egypt a new democracy perhaps is about to be birthed. In Nigeria, there is a political transition. Earthquakes in New Zealand. We need to perceive the invisible, hear the inaudible and be guided and helped to remain on the right path where divine help already waits. We need His abundant grace and mercy for God to overlook what only He can forgive and send His angelic hosts to rescue from many unseen traps.

Begin by thanking God for His goodness and kindness. All things are possible to you, if you believe. Confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, forsake the old ways and your past sins and ask for the impossible things in your life. Receive grace to make needed corrections. And believe in JESUS name!

I summarise below five suggested prayer points linked to current themes.

1. Middle-East: Let the Holy all consuming fire of God stop every other strange fire from erupting in more riots and chaos. Let the true fire of heaven lick up every fire that burns to entrench more darkness, stop revival and the spread of the gospel. Amen

Judges 15[6] Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

I Kings 18[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

The Philistines would rather see their own burnt than be the bride of Samson.

The prophets of Baal knew how to send strange fires on the earth but this time in the presence of Elijah they could not. The fire of God when it came down…licked up everything on its path.

2. Election/Leadership Transitions: Lord frustrate every insincere political alliance that will bring hardship to the people with a curse of heaven, that the people may rejoice under new leaders. Amen

Judges 9 [19] If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: [20] But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

Abimelech (son of a concubine) sourced funds from Baal and hired vain persons from Shechem and Milo to kill all the sons of Gideon except one that hid himself so he would emerge as leader. A curse was pronounced on the insincerity of his murderous and greedy rule. Later we see this alliance culminating in mutual destruction.

3. Revival : Lord, you had enough mercy and grace to spare Nineveh – a people with no pastors, churches, meetings, prophets or even any prayer intercession, Send revival that will revisit the nations,homes, neighbourhoods and your church – exposing oppression, pride, corruption, secret defeats, vices, ambitions and error ; a revival that will reach far into the uttermost corners of Korea, Middle East, Japan and China. Lord spare us! Just as you spared Nineveh and ushered revival. Amen

Jonah 4[11] And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

4. Comfort for the Hurting: Holy Spirit…you are the promised Comforter. Come and calm and comfort the hurting and the pained all over the world (shaken with earthquakes and turmoil) as mortal men cannot. Give us the Comforter. Amen

John 14[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

5. Let there be Light: Lord, your children are engulfed in strong deceptions and darkness once again seems to have covered much of the earth. Because of mercy, send your light and separate the dark and evil from the pure and true…let the distinctions be clear and unambiguous and make us children of your light. Darkness could not stop your separation. Do it again. Amen

Genesis1[1] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [2] Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. [3] And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (Amp)

May God answer our prayers and let our cries be acceptable and find His favour at His throne room of grace and mercy. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

Also pray for the author and this blog.

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The DNA of God’s Spiritual Champions – 5 Important Patterns

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Bode Ososami

As we look at the word of God … we often see a mix of individuals portraying a varied blend of journeys and processes and how these impact the pleasure of God. However we do see some rare individuals that simply stand out as His stars….and can discern some common elements that convince us that perhaps there is a DNA to identify God’s stars.

Genesis 25[30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage ; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

The verdict on Jacob is unequivocal as a champion. He is one of the few like David – for which a clear final score is awarded. Romans 9[13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

There are perhaps 5 distinct elements observed in divine stars ..

1.They have a completely different sense of values from that which is common and prevalent. You could say they can see great worth in that which seems worthless … or better still they are not men and women of today’s values. They are of the future. They are privileged to enjoy a rare view of crowns and victories many years in the future when others see only today. Whatever already exists now has less attraction or little or no importance to them. They can put the past behind and the present in the right context…knowing the far future is the most important. God has given them dreams that perhaps others will not understand or appreciate.

2. They are sowers who do not consume their seed. They understand that a great future is only great because of a seed rightly sown today. Sowing can be inconvenient and tough and requires forgoing comforts, complements and present gratification. They do not wait to be celebrated by today’s men and women … and even though envied and perhaps appreciated for what they have now…they still see their current realities as seed for a future only they can see.

3.Champions are raised and trained in desert and wilderness conditions….if you want to find a tough athlete that will stand the test of time…find one who has been raised over an extended period in the toughest conditions. These are the people who will not be spoilt by their first victory or be bewitched by early blessings . Jacob released his meal to Esau … not because he was not hungry. Esau felt the pangs of hunger and was ready to sell his future … Jacob in the same situation saw an opportunity to advance his future. What you do in tough times of hunger and famine reveals a lot about your future.

4.God’s stars see present colleagues as temporary company and are prepared for loneliness. This understanding helps them not to be competitive…their goals are completely different and not within the radar of their present company. They are eagles that must fly alone eventually having surpassed others sometimes through conflicts and bitter hatred. Jacob and Esau were twins but could never be friends. … Esau means well but does not possess the vision embedded in the DNA of Jacob. Soon they must part. Likewise champions know they will part soon with many presently around them.

5.They have a rare God-given vision of a destination of supremacy and dominion that is incontestable and indisputable – without losing humility and simplicity. They will move naturally towards this goal without institutional supervision. They know they have not reached their goal when they perceive rivalry and arbitrary battles for what they have found or attained. This helps them to release and move forward…knowing they are yet to arrive at their predestined place.

Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC (born 6 April 1926) is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the largest single grouping in the 2007 elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, he was elected First minister of Northern Ireland.He was subsequently ennobled on 18 June 2010 as Baron Bannside, of North Antrim in the County of Antrim.

There are not many who will understand or be interested in these dimensions and as such this post is certainly not for all. But if this is you…you are definitely a rare breed – even though it does not seem so today. Be encouraged in God…soon you may be required to take the stage in government, ministry, commerce or in Industry and shine for your God as His champion. But also many champions will always be in the background but equally recognised as His vital levers in a confused world. See blog on many faceless church members God also considered as divine Champions working in a team for a common goal.

These patterns suggest the stamp of God’s approval and interest. How can we be sure these patterns are of God and not something else? … Again God’s word declares without ambiguity.

Hebrews 12[14] Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Our lives must ultimately give evidence to God’s holiness and purity. There can be challenges as Jacob had … and detours like David experienced…but His champions are always restored back to the path of His holiness and divine standards.

Galatians 6[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

God is never mocked …ultimately the absence of His holiness (especially humility) will only cause Him to say He never really knew us.

May God help us and make all who read this post His champions. Amen

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