Be Strong and take Courage

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Isaiah 51:7-8Isaiah 51:7-8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. ⁸ For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

WP-Bible plugin “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.”

There is that subtle conflict that faces a man doing his best to follow the ways of righteousness and order his life according to the laws of God. Deep in his heart he knows that what he is doing is the correct thing. It is the lasting and eternally profitable thing to do. But then the rest of the multitude around him are making fun of him as if he is the stupid one.
They make him feel as if he doesn’t know what he knows. They deride him as if he’s behind, he’s backward… he’s outdated. The pressure often comes from the fact that he is alone and they are a multitude. He alone sees the value of what he is standing upon; all the others see value in something else. Worse still, the multitude can readily point to the benefits of their own way but he has to tell one long, lonely story of someone else, somewhere who benefited from this his own righteous way. And he and his principles look unreal, unreliable and in all sense unreasonable. That is the problem. That is the pressure. That is the source of the “fear” that God was talking about.

Yes, the righteous way is a lonely way. The godly route is a narrow route, it doesn’t accommodate the multitude. It doesn’t, most times, accommodate “colleaguing”! It doesn’t allow conferencing! No! It doesn’t allow comparisons and competition with mates and acquaintances. Those that must go that way must look straight on . . . focussed, only on Jesus and His demands. And that is a real pressure on mortal minds like ours.

Many times we wonder if God “understands” this pressure. Many times we wish He will just allow us go the multitude way . . . and, as God, still brings His will to come to pass, after all He can do all things. Can He not? Why doesn’t God work through the normal easy way of least resistance that the world and her multitude normally advocate? Simply because, God is not a man! And he is not like the sons of men that will eventually buckle under pressure! He knows the way of the multitude is the way of man . . . slippery and untrustworthy! He knows that one day, these same confident boasting crowds of men will come around to repent and say “I’m sorry, I goofed, after all, I’m only a man”. So instead of bending to our cry to save us from the pressure of shame and kindred resistance, He simply looks us in the face and says . . . .

Isaiah 51:12-13Isaiah 51:12-13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; ¹³ And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? were...: or, made himself ready

WP-Bible plugin
“I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?”

Who are you . . . that you should be afraid? I think that is where the problem is. I think that is the real issue! Most righteous men do not realise who they are. They probably know the value of the principles they try to live by, but they do not know the real value of being a righteous man! That’s why God asks the question . . . “who are you? Or better still . . . “who do you think you are?” Let’s get the question is simpler English . . .

Isaiah 51:12-13Isaiah 51:12-13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; ¹³ And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? were...: or, made himself ready

WP-Bible plugin – Bible in Basic English
“I, even I, am your comforter: are you so poor in heart as to be in fear of man who will come to an end, and of the son of man who will be like grass? And you have given no thought to the Lord your Maker, by whom the heavens were stretched out, and the earth placed on its base; and you went all day in fear of the wrath of the cruel one, when he was making ready for your destruction. And where is the wrath of the cruel one?”

Are you so poor in heart? Are you so unaware of the riches of Grace available to the righteous man? Are you so in disconnect from the reservoir of divine resources available in God and available to whosoever follows Him? Why are we so poor in heart? . . . And has so undervalued our heritage? Why do we fear the multitude . . .? and shrink under their mockery and reviling? Is it not because we have lost sight of who we are and lost sight of who our God is? Is it not because we have forgotten His antecedents? The Fear of man is poverty of a kind, a poverty of the heart!

Our poverty in heart is a reflection of our poverty of memory. The simple matter is that we forget. We forgot our Red Sea and the “standing wall of water” for us to pass! We forgot that He did it again in Jordan by another way . . . So He can be trusted to do it again and again in a million and one ways, if He says so! We forgot the Manna which our fathers freely ate and knew not how it came! We forgot the water flowing from the Rock inside an acclaimed Desert! We forgot the pillar of cloud by day, for shade; and the pillar of fire by night, for protection!We forgot, we forget. That’s the problem. We always forget! And so we focus on the wrong things and fear the wrong person!

Why fear man if you fear God?! Why succumb to Man’s pressure if you have yielded to God’s command?! Why shrink under the multitude’s reproach, if you have accepted God’s assurances?!

Our poverty of heart is often also a poverty of faith and confidence in God! We believe men more than we believe God. We fear more than we have faith. Meanwhile, Fear is faith in the opposite direction. Fear and Faith are equal and opposite. Faith says, “I believe God is able to do what He has promised. Fear says, “I believe the Devil is able to do what he has threatened. Fear is the exact reciprocal of Faith. As Fear is increasing, Faith is decreasing. As Faith wells up in the believer’s heart, Fear ebbs out from his thoughts and emotions! As you feed your fear with the words of men, you starve your Faith of the Words of God. So, really, its up to the righteous man to decide what to allow to fill his mind. So, let’s do a turnaround today! Lets give honour to WHOM honour is due and fear to WHOM fear is due! Let’s change the focus of our heart and redirect the thoughts of our meditation. Let’s dwell on the law of God hidden in our hearts. Let’s dwell on the righteous principles we already know. And the fear and the reproach of the multitude will soon lose their pressure on us.

Isaiah 8:12-14Isaiah 8:12-14
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. ¹³ Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ¹⁴ And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

WP-Bible plugin “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Originally published under the title the “Poverty of the Heart” by Gbile Akanni (Gleanings – www.livingseed.org)

Deuteronomy 31[6] Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Let God do A New Thing in your life.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God – Annual Holy Ghost Congress – themed “A New Thing” will hold Dec. 12th- 17^th 2011. As part of the yuletide events try something different to set the tone for the holiday season by attending. You can join online to be strengthened in your spirit. See Trailer below for details.

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Deliver Me From Earthwardness by Gbile Akanni

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Bro. Gbile Akanni

Lord, I found my passions going the way of the earth. Earthy desires, like those of the men of the earth, conspire to make me heavy towards you. Earthly attachments, earthy longings, earthward attractions still show themselves in my natural mien. I seem to battle, some of the time, with a force of gravity pulling me towards earth’s activities and earth’s concerns and earth’s matters. When Lord, would I actually be free to soar the realms above? Beyond sinful lusts and worldliness, I found a general mental earthwardness that makes me yet more comfortable with the men of the earth than with the eternal beings above.

Why is it that I prefer to talk with men than to commune with God! Why do I feel it an uphill to go plunge in the labour of prayer and intercession for the things of Thy kingdom? Why am I more relaxed, capable of consuming precious hours in the fraternity of humans than to spend a mere day alone with God? Why should I rather more easily plunge into hours of discussion with my wife, chatting with my brethren, disciples and men than to sit alone and have HIM come pour into my soul instead?

Why do I prefer Counselling to Communion? Teaching to Meditating on the Word? Ministry to Devotion? Why should earthly labour, even if for God, seem to be the sweeter than being with Him? Am I not earthy, earthly and earthward?
Earthly labour, earthy chores, earthly concerns, earthy cares . . . legitimate, not even sinful, seem to more easily carry the day to the detriment of returning and resting in the holy presence. Why do I go through the endless cycle of running out and running in, burning out and coming back for refill? Why do I prefer to be refreshed than to remain ever fresh? I detest this earthwardness! Lord please break its hold over me! It was David the King that cried . . .

Psalms 119:5-6Psalms 119:5-6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! ⁶ Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

WP-Bible plugin … “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”

O that my heart was pre-conditioned to seek Thy face! O that my reins would evermore long for Thy presence! O that my mind, my thoughts and imaginations are perpetually fixed on Thee! And my words, my deed, my daily traffic, all completely centred on You.

While I am bound in this earthly, earthy and earthward tabernacle, Lord, may I yet daily relish the secret ecstasy of Divine communion. May I possess as my permanent possession, the joy of living, moving and having my being in you. Let the rejoicing of my heart, the merriment of my soul and the excitement of my laughter be of finding You and feeling You in the centre of my bosom. Alas… I discover a new deliverance at last.

Psalms 19:14Psalms 19:14
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. strength: Heb. rock

WP-Bible plugin “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

(Gleanings from livingseed.org)

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A Different Army that is Coming

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Bode Ososami

John 15:5John 15:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. without me: or, severed from me

WP-Bible plugin says “I am the Vine ye are the branches, ye that abide in Me, the same bring much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing”. Jesus Christ is the Vine and every Christian is a branch of that Vine. The secret of fruitfulness then is to simply to abide in Him. When we talk about abiding, if I’m going to abide in a house, the first thing I need to do is to locate the house. If I am going to abide in the Lord. Psalm 34:10Psalm 34:10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

WP-Bible plugin tells us that the “young lion do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord, shall never lack any good thing”.

Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

WP-Bible plugin also tells us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Therefore, if I am going to abide in the Lord, I must seek the Lord and if I seek the Lord, I will not lack any good thing. Matt. 7:7-8Matt. 7:7-8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

WP-Bible plugin assures us that if we seek we will find.
However, the Bible adds certain conditions to our seeking and finding. Isa. 55:6Isa. 55:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

WP-Bible plugin tells us “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, all ye upon Him while He is near”. This means there is a time when we can seek Him and find Him. Proverbs 8:17Proverbs 8:17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

WP-Bible plugin says “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me”. Some seek God when it is already late, but you must seek Him first; first thing in the morning; before you go to work, before you get married…and so on. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33Matt. 6:33
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

WP-Bible plugin.
Now after I locate the house, I must knock at the door. The Bible says that”…if you knock it will be open unto you.” So I want to abide in a house, therefore I seek for it, I find it, I knock the door and the door is open. The next thing is I would want to do is check if it is suitable for me or not. Psalm 34:8Psalm 34:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

WP-Bible plugin says “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. Many have tasted the Lord and know that the Lord is good.

Another secret of fruitfulness is to be freed from the Adamic nature, bound by the inherent dust to strive and fail by receiving a breath of life from God. Dust must return to dust, but there is a Spirit man (a breath of life) received from God that must eventually return to God.

Genesis 2[7] And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ezekiel 37[9] Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. [10] So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. [11] Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. [12] Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. [13] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, [14] And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it , and performed it , saith the LORD.

Christian Revival is a phenomenon that transforms dust to a mighty kingdom army by the agent of the breath of God. When we speak of revival, we are not talking about meetings, but of a sovereign move of God, as seen in the Welsh revival. In the Welsh revival a nation was changed in weeks. Thousands of unsaved people, all at one time, were moved by a heavenly influence to repent. Pubs were emptied, the work place was ablaze with talk about salvation, and churches over-flowed with sinners wanting to get saved. The word ‘revival’ is used to explain the amazing results of an outpouring of the Spirit of God. A revival is here.

God will insist on holiness. If you are going to be revived and transformed and discover fruitfulness as never been seen, then you must be holy, abide in Him and receive that breath of life that liberates you from the curse of the dust and battles with creeping things.

A victorious and fruitful army of God is emerging. This army abides in the word of God, is strengthened to overcome and prepared to meet with Christ – Husband and Commander in Chief.

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THE COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIAN by Onuzo

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Bode Ososami

The first question you ask yourself is this: Is there any such thing as a counterfeit Christian in church and in the world? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said there is, and right there in church. Here is the story He told His disciples:

It is not for me to go round looking for the counterfeit Christians in church but to look inwardly and ask myself: “Am I a counterfeit Christian? Have I truly experienced Christ? Is He alive in me at home, at work and in church? It is not my neighbours that make me a true Christian. They are there to test whether I am really what I profess to be. My life as a Christian is to reveal the life of Christ to my world beginning with the people I live with at home each day from my spouse to the rest of my family and moving outwards to the place where I work and then to the church where I visit less frequently each week.

We must recognize that a lot of good can come from religious observance, without the knowledge of the true God and His Christ. Take the life journey of a fake currency. A fake $500 note may be used to buy bread to feed the hungry. The bread seller may then pass it to the rice seller and then to the meat seller and after a journey of twelve years it would finally arrive at the bank to be lodged by a car dealer. Then the bank subjects it to scrutiny and detects that it is a fake currency. Now the fact that it was and had always been a fake currency did not stop it from doing some good along the way. It might even have visited churches and done some good there too. But all that good could not change the fact that it is a fake currency posing to be what it is not. This is why supposed Christians could go far but never far enough to prove the reality of Christ. Only the grace of God in Christ Jesus driven by the Spirit of God can empower us to stand up to the pressures of compromise with evil. Counterfeit Christians may be hard to detect in church. We say here in Nigeria that every toad is squatting so it is difficult to say the one that has diarrhoea. In church we all put on our very best behaviours and try to say the nicest things to the most difficult people. At work, we lose some of the constraints of church. At home where we may be king and queen, we tend to lose even more restraint. How often do very nice people at church and at work turn monsters at home? How often do very nice people at church turn monsters at work? Monsters are generally uncommon in church but not altogether rare.

Part of our self-examination as Christians must hinge on the word conversion or change. The truth of our faith is that God put on human nature so that through faith the nature of God can be experienced by man. It is not just that we become children of God by faith. It is that through faith we begin to reveal the nature and character of God in our dealings with others in the world. Faith draws down the spiritual inner strength that drives the change. And this is the change that must be for us to be sure that we are no counterfeits. A young Christian asked me the other day how one could change his way of life. My response was straight forward: The first step is a very strong desire to change. The Holy Spirit always works effectively where He can see very strong desire. When we study the Word of God with this quality desire, the life of Christ will stare us in the face as we study and the Spirit of God will empower us to effect the necessary changes like – unyielding love, humility, integrity, kindness, compassion, willingness to forgive others as well as ourselves, self-control, self-denial in the pursuit of righteousness, consistent rejection of compromises with evil, seasoned speech that edify the hearers at home, at work and in church, suffering for what is right and much more. Nobody can work these works of righteousness in their own strength. We all need daily, nay moment by moment inner strengthening by the Spirit of God to stand up for Christ in this world. The truth we must grasp is that Almighty God gave us eternal life in the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Through the knowledge of Christ, this eternal life is expressed in this world through our lives. This is that eternal life which our Lord Jesus Christ described in these words:

John 17[3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It is when my life reveals that I know God: when my dealings with others show forth the character of Christ, then I can be assured that I am no counterfeit. It is for this reason that we must make a difference wherever we are as Christians because we are expected to reveal the character of Christ no matter the cost. This is a daily challenge and that is why those who had gone before us admonished us in this way:

Genuine Christians know the daily struggle to keep on the straight and narrow road at home, at work and in church. Counterfeits tend to struggle in church to stay godly but lose all restraint at work and at home. If a nation that boasts that 50% of her population are Christians is not being transformed, then the churches in that nation must be full of counterfeits. This calls for deep self-examination. It poses a challenge to each Christian. We must know that God has called us into Christ so that the world around us can see Christ in us and through us. Every nation will change when a good percentage of its people are changed. I cannot control change outside of myself. My greatest challenge as a Christian is to be a changed person so that the world can see the nature of Christ in me and through me. If the world around me is not full of light, then it is either that I bear no light at all or that the light I carry is weak and faint and so cannot dispel the darkness around me. As Children of Light, let us rise and shine ever so brightly in every corner of our world – church, work or home, to the glory of our God. He who has called is very faithful and is a true and consistent rewarder of all those who love and serve Him. Our labours can never be in vain either in this world or in the world to come.

May the Holy Spirit empower you to take your place in the frontline of the struggle for righteousness in the very place where you are now, to the glory of God and His Christ, Amen.

Here is the true test of counterfeit Christianity for each and every professing Christian, myself included…

Dr. Onuzo is an acknowledged conference and seminar speaker in different parts of the world. He continues to be available for the work of the ministry despite his busy clinical work. He is also the Associate Pastor of the National Headquarter’s Church of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria. He is married to Mariam, a medical doctor and they have four children: Dilichi, Chinaza, Dinachi and Chibundu

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Remembering Martyrs and 9/11 again

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Late Brother Mark Ojunta - Calvary Ministries

About this time last year, I wrote an article “Recession proof love – Remembering 911” which focused on the impact on incidents as this on our hearts and difficulties in loving the unlovable. Still finding it relevant – I have republished the thoughts in that article. Please read on - and also find my other related articles - as you spare some thoughts also for many other nations, peoples and families in other geographies that have been devastated by terrorism …. I also received the letter in my mail – I have republished below

Dearly Beloved Colleagues,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is to inform you that the burial for our late bro. Mark Ojunta who was shot by the Boko Haram on the night of August 27^th, 2011 has been fixed for September 30^th , 2011 by his parent. This burial will take place in his village in Abia state.

Our late brother died at the age of 36 years as a martyr on his field among the Kotokos, first martyr in CAPRO in our 36 years of existence as a ministry. All our staff in Shuwa Arab, Kotoko and Kanuri were on the list of this sect to be killed. The National office immediately evacuated our missionaries when this was known. Bro. Mark took his family out on Friday but he went back to the field because he had convert class with some believers on Saturday. It was in the night that the sect came to where they were staying, knock at the door and he tried to escape but could not get away.

“Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7: 56Acts 7: 56
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

WP-Bible plugin. Jesus the Lord stood up from His throne for Stephen as he was being ushered into His presence as the first martyr. What a glorious way to be translated into the presence of the Lord. Bro. Mark died among the people whom the Lord sent to reach with the love of Christ. Wednesday of that week brother Kola Kehinde, our National Coordinator in UK spoke with him about the possibility of him coming to join the UK team. His response was, he wants to invest more years into the work among the Kotokos and hand it over to believers before he can consider leaving. What a passion and commitment! Four days later he was translated into the presence of His Master. “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? …. “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Hallelujah!!!

“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation he fell asleep…” Acts 13:36Acts 13:36
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: after...: or, after he had in his own age served the will of God

WP-Bible plugina. May the Lord help us all to serve God’s purpose for our lives. Please pray for Sis. Ema, his wife, Kambe (3yrs) and Akira (9mths) their children for grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. For his father, mother and his sisters. Pray for wisdom and provision as we prepare for the burial. Blessings.

Amos Aderonmu, International Director,Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) www.capromissions.org …reaching the nations since 1975

In the times of abundant iniquity, the love of many – Jesus Christ said would grow cold. In the bid to survive even as media networks fan the fiery embers of fear for fiendish gain …as increased competitiveness for scarce resources and harsh economic climate persists – many must find themselves vulnerable to a hardening that always comes surreptitiously to the unguarded.

Matthew 24[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

I ask myself – how can I make the love of God in my life that manifests in practical acts of charity for others especially those I perceive as unlovable … recession proof? I also ask myself some questions…

Would I still love God if suddenly sent to the back of a lonesome desert? Or suddenly denied of a much desired breakthrough? How warm would my love be if suddenly exposed to very different cultures and peoples?
When faced with opposition and strong resistance that cause me to buckle – can I still be thankful? Am I happier when I have my way and miserable and fretful when I can not?
Do I (in subtle ways) take credit for the good things God is doing – forgetting to thank Him? Do I despise His chastening not thanking Him for the things I do not understand or like?

What separates children of God in the Bible, with recession proof love for God and His creation, from the others who struggle?

I discern three principal things worth noting …

They trusted completely in the work of God in their life and others and in all the events impacting them…knowing that all things must work out for their good as they obeyed Him.
They relied more on spiritual weapons – principally prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit, leaning always on the mercy of God.
They never saw themselves in any way disadvantaged or at a loss – when events appeared contrary to their expectations – knowing God has limitless avenues to work out and fulfil destiny.

I recall a scene in a Christian film I watched of a blind man offered his eyesight but only if he accepted to serve the devil and bear his mark forever… He received sight for a few minutes and was asked to make a decision…would he rather remain blind and be saved?

If riches, enlightenment and great influence would cost me my salvation would I agree to let these go? Would I turn my back to Jesus If I risked losing all the comforts, social safety nets and wealth as a result of obeying Him completely…

A.M. Royden said “Learn to hold loosely all that is not eternal”. Jesus once met a rich man who would not follow Him.

Luke 18[23] And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. [24] And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Jesus – the best preacher ever – the living word … could not convince this rich man. How come we have so easily convinced Him? Perhaps we have presented to him a more practical perspective.

As we remember 911…and the painful lingering memories… let us also remember what the Bible says about love…

I John 4[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. [17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [19] We love him, because he first loved us. [20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

I John 3 [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

The real plan of September 11 to defeat a nation may have worked far more effectively than many would think if it has lured many out of dwelling in love…even love for the unlovable. Lord, help me – that in these unusual times my love may be found recession proof…never waxing cold.

Amen

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The Greatest and Wealthiest place ever – Heaven.

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Bode Ososami

There is a place of greatest wealth and unimaginable luxury and abundance with beautiful mansions that are yours forever. I speak of mansions built of precious stones that never depreciate or need repairs. I do pray to see you there – someday.

John 14 [1] “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

For Paul, to live was to abide in Christ, knowing Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering – but to die was great gain, for through death – crowns, mansions and glory in Heaven will settle all reproach and accounts in His favour, even as he enters to unsurpassable beauty and wealth. Perhaps you imagine, you are already a good Church going man, living in wealth with trillions and will live till 150years, having managed every crisis and come up even stronger, healthier – the Bible has a different perspective. Your long period of bliss on earth is described as just a few days full of trouble compared to His eternal wealthy place.

Job 14[1] “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. [2] He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

Indeed, not all will die, but the dead will rise first – and the early saints believed so much in this superior resurrection that many of faith refused deliverance.

Hebrews 11 [35] Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

There is no space ship that will take anyone in this body to this place of greatest wealth. Even if there were, a body suited for eternity is needed to enjoy the wealth forever. A second in God’s wealthiest place will cause all who enter to wish they had given Him even more, loved Him even more, trusted and believed Him more, sacrificed even more, and been more obedient. They would all wish they had been martyred and wish they had dedicated their careers, time and talents – for how could we possibly have doubted a God so good and faithful?

All these are for those with salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and who live a life surrendered to and controlled by Him – not just Church goers. If you have all wealth, assets, health, success, acclaim, happiness, greatness and other things this world offers and Jesus is not Lord and Saviour in your life, then you will be as a fool who conquered most things but got the most important wrong.

Luke 12 [16] Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. [17] “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ [18] “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. [19] ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ [20] “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ [21] “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

You did not heed to a most important teaching of Jesus who said;

Luke 12[29] “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. [30] “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. [31] “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Can you not see that the natural life, the corruptible body and the best this world offers is already destined to ashes - for all one day perish and the earth will be “burnt up”?

2Peter 3[7] But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Hebrews 9[27] And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Will this final crisis be only a chariot to usher you into the greatest wealthiest place of all where pain is completely conquered? It could be something to look forward to with earnest expectation…a place of no tensions.

Revelation 21[4] “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

However, without a life surrendered to Jesus Christ, you cannot see the wealthiest place and death begins the greatest negative crisis that continues forever. If you find you can ignore the invitation Christ gives to you, consider again how this other great crisis was described and the journey down the bottomless valley of hopelessness never to come up again. Is this where you are destined to end up? You do not believe all this of course. But supposing you are wrong…is it worth the risk?

“Heaven is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark” says Stephen Hawking but whose report will you believe?

Isaiah 53 [1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Come to Jesus, today….article largely culled from the book Wealth Out of Ashes by Bode Ososami

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With Wings Like an Eagle

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Bode Ososami

The modern English name of the bird is derived from the Latin term aquila by way of the French aigle. The Latin aquila may derive from the word aquilo, the Latin version of Greek boreas, or north wind.

Enough of looking up to men or women either at their virtues or their shame – look up and consider God as the Eagle who emerges with an unstoppable fury, speed and power as the wind. Surely, no man but only God could possibly have given the eagle its marvelous abilities. The Lord once explained to Job that the eagle has built “her nest on high” (Job 39:27Job 39:27
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27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? at...: Heb. by thy mouth

WP-Bible plugin) at the tops of the very highest trees or cliffs. Men can neither reach nor disturb even his most feeble plans and arrangements – so much so like the agenda of God for His people… unstoppable.

Unlike many birds, which abandon their nests after their young are hatched, the eagle keeps building upon her old nest, remodelling it, year after year. God has not abandoned you nor will He ever abandon His people. Eagles have wings wonderfully designed wings to soar (gliding with very little wing movement) for long periods of time at incredible speeds over 150 mph – at altitudes as high as 10,000 feet - and not tired.

The wisdom and power of this being God created helps us consider greater possibilities in the Creator concerning your situation. Take your eyes off the splendour and depravity of men for a moment and consider God and His awesome deeds reminding us of His unmatchable capabilities. Reflect on the following passages in scriptures that occurred or are prophesied to occur with lightning speed and unstoppable force to achieve what no one could stop or even anticipate hindering even in the slightest way …

Genesis 5[24] And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Exodus 14[21] And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land , and the waters were divided.

I Kings 18[44] And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot , and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. [45] And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. [46] And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

2 Kings 2[11] And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Acts 2[1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I Corinthians 15[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Pastor E. A. Adeboye – General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God writes concerning the 59^th Annual Convention themed “With Wings like an Eagle”…

“ It’s an exciting journey as you prepare to ascend to the top; therefore you need to be focused and let nothing divert your attention or distract you throughout this Convention. Be determined to enter into a deeper relationship and intimacy with your heavenly Father through fervent prayer, heartfelt worship and meditating on the Word of life.

The benefits of flying high like the eagle are immense; for the just shall live by faith. This means that you are able to soar above fear, failure, traps and snares of the devil. It also means that your insight and perception of spiritual matters become very keen …”

Indeed we are in times that many things are happening within and without that cause us sometimes to tremble with wonder…Turn your eyes off these things for a moment and consider Him who makes His saints an amazement against all daunting odds.

RecessionproofChristianlife invites you to be part of the landmark Convention holding from Monday 8^th – Sunday 14^th August, 2011 either online or directly - please do visit the site on the 59^th RCCG Annual Convention for more details …

You were created for the supernatural … to soar with wings high above the mountains … to excel, fulfil destiny and overcome the challenges of life … and ultimately be with the Master Eagle in His Eternal heights far above the shadows. Let God help you.

Song of Solomon 4 [16] Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

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Relationships, Happiness and Aspirations by Alan Pasho

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Relationships can be complicated. Often they put us in new and unexpected situations and they can be a drain on our energy and strength. Sometimes we can develop negative attitudes toward those who are closest to us. Often, we expect too much from others, that they should be the answer to fulfilling our needs so that we will be happy. And herein lies the real problem that first, we fail to recognize that we are looking to the wrong persons for satisfaction. And second, we fail to recognise that happiness, joy and satisfaction depend on what we do and how we respond.

The truth is that it is not possible for human relationships to fulfil all of one’s needs. There is only one source of fulfilment and satisfaction which is through Jesus, God’s Son, and the Anointed One. He is and has all that we will ever need.

While the world tells us that we need certain relationships and certain things in order to be happy. The reality is that true satisfaction comes primarily from the Lord rather than from others or from things. Our relationship with him will minister to and bring fulfilment of our deepest needs and produce the happiness and joy that we are all searching for. Plus, He fills us up with joy, wisdom and strength so we can minister to to others; to our spouse and our family, to our neighbours, co-workers and community so that we can be a blessing to them. So it is our relationship with the Lord that should be our first priority. If he is satisfied with us, we too will be satisfied with our lives and our relationships.

How do we apply this then? What steps should we follow to find this happiness in our lives?

1. Spend time with the Lord Jesus each day in worship, praise and prayer; to learn to listen to his voice; and bring your thinking in line with his by meditating on his word.

2. Discover what your assignment is during your time spent with the Lord. Assignment? What assignment. Yes, we all have an assignment. You see, we are his representatives (2 Corinthians 5:202 Corinthians 5:20
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20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

WP-Bible plugin), the Lord has things he needs us to do and people he needs us to assist, just like the disciple, Ananias, in Acts 9:10-18Acts 9:10-18
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10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. ¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, ¹² And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. ¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: ¹⁴ And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. ¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: ¹⁶ For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. ¹⁷ And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

WP-Bible plugin. We all have a calling and a purpose to fulfil in the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:30Ephesians 5:30
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30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

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3. We stay obedient to his word following the guidance of his Spirit.

4. Practice loving God and showing his unconditional to love to others (Matthew 22:36-40Matthew 22:36-40
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36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

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5. Walk by faith and stop relying on what you see (Proverbs 3:5Proverbs 3:5
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5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

WP-Bible plugin, Romans 1:17Romans 1:17
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17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

WP-Bible plugin, 2 Corinthians 4:182 Corinthians 4:18
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18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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6. And learn to stop following the impulses of our flesh by yielding to the control of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26Galatians 5:16-26
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16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ye...: or, fulfil not ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. affections: or, passions ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

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What happens as we follow these steps? We discover that joy does not come by gratifying our own desires but by bringing gratification to the Lord and fulfilling his desires. And as the Lord’s requirements are met, our needs will be taken care of, just like He promised in Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33
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33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

WP-Bible plugin, “But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.” Thus, we never have to worry or be anxious. He will take care of our needs. We just need to be faithful in fulfilling what he has called us to do.

It is normal for us to focus on pursuing our hopes and dreams for a better future. Some are working toward completing an education. Others are looking to be employed with a bigger salary in better position or with a new company. Another may be seeking to be the best in his field of expertise or the best in her sport. Some may be seeking to move to a better house in a better neighbourhood. And others are desiring something new in their lives: to start a new business, to have a baby, to take a trip to visit a new destination or to start a new relationship. Most of these aspirations have to deal with our daily physical existence. But what goals and aspirations do we have concerning our spiritual lives, concerning our relationship with God and concerning our effectiveness for God’s kingdom?

Seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33
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33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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How often do we ever hear believers say things like:

“I aspire making abiding in Christ my daily habit.”
“I want to learn how to receive God’s guidance and direction for every difficulty and challenge I may face.”
“My goal is to excel in bringing people to Christ through personal evangelism lead by the Holy Spirit.
“I want to bring glory to Christ though my testimony and talents.”
“My goal is to see people delivered and healed through sharing and proclaiming God’s word.”
“I want to dedicate my life to prayer and intercession for individuals to be delivered, peoples set free and nations opened to hear the gospel of Christ”

For most of us Christians it often seems that these goals that we have to satisfy the physical, emotional and financial needs of ourselves and our families should take precedence over our spiritual development and our relationship to the Lord Jesus and his kingdom. Yet, after being a Christian for 37 years I have come to see things differently. For over these years I have had the opportunity to discover, among those things which I aspired to obtain, which ones were worth pursuing and brought satisfaction. Too much of the way we think and our desires and aspirations have been shaped by the world’s standards. We have been taught by the world to value possessions, status and power and even sin; but these things will never completely satisfy us; they are not enough in themselves to make us happy. Meanwhile, as we were busy seeking the things that the world tells us are important, the Lord has been busy also. He has been trying to get us into the position where we can hear from him, learn his principles and receive his blessing that will bring us true satisfaction.

So what about your current dreams and aspirations? How do they related to the Lord and his kingdom? Perhaps you are putting too much emphasis on your self and your earthly life. But there is more, much more if we would bring our aspirations in line with the Lord and his kingdom as Jesus explained to his disciples:

Most assuredly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be…John 12:24-26John 12:24-26
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24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

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See more in God is my Source Blog by Alan Pasho

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I cannot Come Down.

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Aiden W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer’s impact for the Kingdom of God is immeasurable. Like the prophets of old, he proclaimed the Word of God as he understood it – without compromise. His call was clear – repent from all sin, wholeheartedly embrace the cross, and follow Jesus in complete obedience.

I just read his biography by Lyle Dorsett “A passion for God”… refreshingly different. I have quoted the last paragraph in this book which is an extract from the timeless writings of Tozer. Remember we are in the last days …whatever you want to do for Christ do it quickly, if you need to repent do it quickly.

It may be justly said that the writer of these lines is of all men the least worthy to call Jesus Lord or to speak in his sinless Name. Amen. So be it. Nevertheless I have a soul to save, a God to glorify, and no one can stand sponsor for me before the great assize. There I must stand alone; and if it should be necessary that I stand alone for a little while here, I shall not wish it had been otherwise when the day comes. If my fellowship is worth asking then it will be given to the saintly man, the humble man, and the holy. He who would call me to his side must have garments that smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces. Let him show me his scars and then command my service. I shall not withhold it. Gladly will I toil beside the man who reminds me of my Saviour. As for the others, let them not trouble me. I am trying to show forth the glory of Him who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. It is a great work and I cannot come down.

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The Journey of ‘The Cake’ by Bemigho Omayuku

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Bode Ososami

I was thinking about cakes recently and how much “joy” they bring to my life; but of course, well made very sweet and lovely cakes. Only those who have an appetite for the wrong things will understand what is going on in my mind.

Anyway, cakes were on my mind and I was smiling. Then I began to think of the trouble it goes through to become this thing that I see and seemingly fills me with joy. The thought of what the cake goes through to become what I like amazes me. The journey of cakes is interesting because before it gets baked, you don’t even want to taste it; it doesn’t look anything like what it will become. For some cakes, even after they are baked, they still are a far cry from what is presented at the event for which it was made. Indeed, the grander the event is where the cake will be presented, the worse the experience of the cake. Various ingredients are added to the flour and as each gets added, the cake goes through an experience because it has to be properly mixed. The mixing experience is no better even when the mixer is a machine.

The baker also has to be careful. He is required to pay attention to every detail so that the cake comes out just as it should. A little more of one ingredient than necessary may create another kind of cake. It has to be the right ingredients in the right quantities and at the right time. From one cake to the other, quantities and ingredients are different. Finally, the mix is ready and it goes into an oven for baking and at the right temperature. There is no cake without the mix getting in the heat. If the heat is too much, it burns the cake; if it is too low, mix becomes something else.

You would think that is where it ends but when it comes out, it has to be tidied again. Rough edges have to be trimmed to make it look nice and then if it is going to a real grand event, it needs to be iced beautifully. Icing is another experience altogether for the cake. Then as they say ‘voila’ cake is ready. It gets to the event and gets pride of place. It is absolutely on display. It displays the skill and craftsmanship of the maker.

I then realized that the story of our lives as Christians is just like the journey of the cake. When God is done, we put on display; displaying the manifold wisdom and craftsmanship of our God. We are like the cake in a grand event, on display and taking pride of place wherever we are. We are a city set on a hill and covered with the glory of the one who made us. What people see when they look at us is greatness of our maker.

Right now you may not be the finished cake ready for eating; you may be getting mixed or even in the oven and people are wondering what is going on. Take heart, it is because they don’t know what you will become. It is not their fault either; God has not revealed it to them. Only those that know about baking will understand what is going on and will begin to see the end even from the beginning.

What you are now, does not almost describe where you will end up or what you will become. The master baker Himself is at work. He is very skilled and has never produced terrible cakes. He always completes all his baking; never leaves any half baked. I can say confidently that He is good at what he does.

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