Above Only

Above Only

A New Testament version of Deuteronomy 28 might be written like this: ‘It has now come to pass that Jesus has fully obeyed all the commands God gave. If you believe in the Lord Jesus as your Savior and Lord, trusting in His death, resurrection, and soon return, the Lord your God will elevate you above all nations of the earth. You are fully blessed in Christ. As a result, these blessings will follow you. You will be blessed wherever you live, work, and play. Your enemies will scatter from you. Your bank account and investments will be blessed. You will be blessed in your fields and businesses. The work of your hands will prosper, and you will bear abundant fruit, profit, and good results. You are blessed with children. Whatever you touch will be blessed. You will be blessed throughout your journeys, projects, and transitions—from beginning to end. You will receive sufficient natural rain, divine favor, and the Holy Spirit for bountiful harvests. Because of your faith in Jesus, no curses will ever follow you.

You will be above only - never beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13). God is never beneath, and His covenant lifts you to His level and position. That means if you are pressed down, you will resurface to the top (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9). You recover quickly. You keep yourself under control. You have enough grace to handle any situation. You are not stressed. You are unstoppable in finding your way to the top. You rise above storms. You have the freedom to obey God. You can walk in the fruit of the Spirit. You are truly free from all forms of bondage and curses. This means you carry dignity and respect, whether people acknowledge it or not. Your job, your position in the organizational structure, and circumstances do not define your worth or self-esteem. You are a first-class person, fearfully and wonderfully made. In God’s first-class cabin, there is room for all who believe. Surely, you are above only — never beneath.

Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance

Jonathan was a prince while David was from a poor background. Yet he loved David so much that his soul knit to that of David[1]. Jonathan proved to be the greatest friend that David would know. The relationship was so strong that Jonathan and David established a covenant between themselves. A covenant relationship was the strongest form of agreement and commitment people could make to each other. When God chose a form of relationship with humanity, he chose the strongest - a covenant relationship[2]. Three encouraging characteristics of a covenant are:

1) A Covenant is lasting.   Jonathan’s devotion to David did not waver to the extent that it even caused a rift to develop between him and his father, as he repeatedly took David’s side against the king[3]. Later he remembered Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and promoted him to the king’s table[4]. Mountains will pass away but God’s covenant of peace will not pass away[5]. 

2) A Covenant is an exchange. Parties to a covenant exchanged identities, wealth and weapons. They committed to sharing everything. Whoever attacked one of them had attacked all.   God has also given saints his divine nature and access to all his by His name[6].    He put on them his robe of righteousness in place of their filthy rags of sin[7]. All his has become yours.

3) A Covenant is a choice. Parties willingly enter into a covenant.  Jonathan showed uncommon, unconditional and sacrificial love to David. Love is a choice one commits to live by.  Similarly, Jesus had nothing to gain in comparison to what it took to save the world. He showed uncommon love for lost sinners[8]. He knew they would never show their love for Him to the same degree He demonstrated His love for them but He loved anyway.   He loves us because that is His nature and choice[9]. Thank God for his unmerited love and his unfailing covenant commitment to you. That is the blessed assurance.

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[1] 1 Samuel 18:1-5

[2] Hebrews 6:18

[3] 1 Samuel 19:2, 4-7; 20:24-34

[4] 2 Samuel 4:4; 9:5-13

[5] Isaiah 54:10

[6] 2 Peter 1:4, Revelation 3:12

[7] Isaiah 64:6; 61:10; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 8:7

[8] Romans 5:8; 8:38-39; John 15:13; 1 John 3:16; 4:9-10

[9] 1 John 4:7; Ephesians 2:4; Romans 4:16-25

Faces of a Giant

Faces of a Giant

Life challenges can stretch people beyond their comforts and limits.   You most likely have experienced them. They come as invincible giants compared to your own perceived strength.  Sometimes you invade them and other times they ambush you. Each time they present the faces of terror and the ordinary while hiding the face of opportunity.

>> The face of terror. Goliath caused fear by his huge appearance and verbal threats. Fear removes focus from God's ability, care and faithfulness. Faith and fear cannot coexist. Whichever you allow to rule displaces the other.  Saul was so afraid and desperate that he sent an untrained and unprotected boy to fight a seasoned ruthless giant.

Fear and discouragement are the enemy’s weapons of first choice.  No wonder, there are over 350 “fear nots” in the Bible.

>> The face of the ordinary. Goliath challenged the ordinary standard and methods of warfare. He was intimidating when compared to the ordinary appeal to sight, and logic. Saul’s pitfall was trusting in carnal weapons of warfare (2 Corinthians 10:1-5). David represented innovation and the unconventional ways of faith in God.

>> The face of opportunity. David saw the opportunity behind Goliath’s terror.  Opportunities come disguised in enemy threats and other people's desperations. The enemy will not expose the face of opportunity. You have to discern it. David discerned the opportunity and made a courageous choice. Where others saw the formidable armor of Goliath David saw the uncircumcision beneath the armor. Where others saw his big physical size as daunting David saw it as an object hard to miss. Where others saw growing intensity of   resistance David saw evidence of a high priced target behind the battle lines. Where others saw forty days of torment David saw the end of the torment since forty is the number for judgment. Time for judgment had come.

The giants come to enhance your resume and profile. The giants come to expose the real giant in you. They come to also reveal the giants on your side. Whether giants work for you or against you, depends on how you view and respond to them. You can respond as an ordinary human being or a new creature in Christ.

The Few Sheep

The Few Sheep

David never lost a public battle. He was a giant killer who produced giant killers. He reclaimed Jerusalem from the Jebusites, brought back the ark and restored the worship of Jehovah in Zion. The mountains that surrounded Jerusalem which fortified the Jebusites, became a symbol of how God securely surrounds his people[1].

To raise David, God used a few sheep[2]. The sheepfold where David looked after a few sheep of a poor farmer was his training and testing ground. The one positive thing going for him was - keeper of a few sheep. Faithfully caring for the sheep in the dangerous plains and hills shaped his character. Before God raises you, he also will ask you to first look after some few sheep. David was so faithful with the sheep that he would literally put his life on the line in their defense[3]. David gave his heart to it. He did such a good job that he was able to draw his description of good shepherding in Psalm 23 from his own quality practice. He was with the sheep in the valley of the shadow of death and they lacked nothing. 

When he was alone in the sheepfold, he learnt to play the harp and to praise God. The harp skill brought him before the king. When he fought the lion and the bear, he learnt faith and skill he would need to conquer Goliaths. When he patiently tendered for the little lambs and saw them grow to being big and confident, he learnt the patience necessary to transform malcontents of society to giants for God. In all he learnt to trust God and experience his unfailing favor.

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[1] Psalm 125:2

[2] 1 Samuel 17:28

[3] 1 Samuel 17:34

Three Impacts of Promotion

Three Impacts of Promotion

Joseph’s promotion did not bring just personal benefit. He saw it as an opportunity to serve those around him. He remembered the mentors who helped him, the parents that cared for him and God who favored him. Joseph’s father, Jacob, did a lot to shape Joseph’s faith and character. Time and trouble tested and proved the quality of his work. Joseph therefore made sure his promotion benefited his family, his nation and his faith community.

Impact on His Family. He facilitated provision of food and shelter to his parents and siblings. In many cases, children abandon their parents when they become more learned and prosperous than they do. They wait to honor them by expensive coffins and latest burial suits. Joseph shared his elevation with his family members.

Joseph even forgave his brothers for wanting to kill him (Genesis 45:1-7).  That way he facilitated family reconciliation. Nucleus and extended family relationships are breaking down for lack of a peacemaker. Many members are suspicious of one another and plot to pull each other down not realizing they also pull down themselves in the process.

Impact on His Nation. Joseph served his adopted nation so well that his promotion saved the nation from starvation during years of famine. The nation became economically stronger than other nations. In other words, he used his promotion to promote his country. It was an elevated platform from which to shine for God (Mathew 5:14-16).  Where it is darkest, light is needed the most. Darkness is unrighteousness and needs in the society.  Your workstation, community position, sports exploits etc are lamp stands, platforms that put you in public view. The question is how you use the advantage.

Impact on His Faith Community. Joseph played a significant part in the life of the Jewish faith and nation. He also happened to come from this nation (Mathew 6:33). He remembered the welfare of the people and business of God. Anything done that moved patriarch Jacob is major on God’s agenda. Your promotion also is for the sake of God’s work, to give to the work of your church, to missions’ workers and those who instruct and preach in the faith.

Evaluate your promotion based on how it has benefitted the kingdom of God, your family, and nation.

Three Accompaniments of Promotion

Three Accompaniments of Promotion

For Joseph[1], promotion did not come alone. It came with privileges, pressures and imperfections that he had practiced to manage on his life journey.  Inability to handle the accompaniments of promotion results in demotion or a fall. The following are three things that came with Joseph’s promotion.

1) Privileges. Joseph’s position attracted honor and respect. He had power to influence decisions and make things happen. He gained a home, a chariot, and luxuries he could imagine.  Privileges however also come with pitfalls that include pride, pleasures on demand and abuse of power.

2) Pressures. Promotion comes with pressure to perform that has its perils. The pressure can leave no time for other important things of life. As a result, performance comes at a personal toll of fatigue, ill health, stunted personal development, strained vital relationships and spiritual decline. Willy Adei taught avoidance of five sacrifices: sacrificing your marriage, sacrificing your family, sacrificing your friendships, sacrificing integrity, and sacrificing eternity

3) Potipheras. On Joseph’s promotion, Pharaoh gave him for a wife, Potipherah’s daughter whose name Asenath meant ‘belonging to the goddess Neith’.  Her father was some Egyptian priest of On. Interestingly earlier in his life Joseph had run away from Mrs. Potiphar but as governor he had to live with a Ms. Potipherah. Perfect situations do not exist under the sun, even in your church group. Even best of promotion comes tainted with blemishes. You find yourself saying ‘Wow it is such a great opportunity but …’ The qualifiers after the ‘but’ can be certain lazy or difficult individuals you have to live with, learn from, study or work with,  or a work structure, a work schedule, a type of work or certain aspects of your responsibility you would eliminate given a choice. Thanks to God, who gives grace to monitor and govern such imperfections. Joseph did not allow the Potipherahs to shape his values[2]. That way he protected his reputation and promotion.

How well are you coping with the pitfalls of privilege, the perils of performance pressure and the imperfections of Potipheras that come with promotion?

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[1] Genesis 41: 41 – 55

[2] Genesis 41:51-52; Genesis 42:18

Three Guarantees to Promotion

Three Guarantees to Promotion

God’s design is for you to grow and progress in what you do. He is revealing his dream for you as he did to Joseph. God showed him the wonderful vision of a high authority and leadership role but did not forewarn him about the rough road ahead. There were no detailed maps and plans with signs to show distance covered and remaining to destination. God however guaranteed three things.

>> His Presence. When you read his awful experiences and the set backs he suffered you cannot help feeling for him. When you read about his victories, you likewise are prone to want to applaud him as your hero. You however have a constant reminder that the Lord was with him[1]. It is encouraging to know he did not triumphantly go through the pit, slavery and prison alone. God's presence had everything he needed.

>> His Peace. Peace comes from confidence that you can contain the situation. You can handle the relationships, you can pay the bills, you can handle the future and you will not be overwhelmed. God gave Joseph the power to prevail. The grace of God with Joseph was his source of confident expectation that gave him peace[2].

>> His Promotion. The road may be long and rough but God’s love and promises guarantee that your story will end well. In a replay match video, the losing team can be leading at half time. Joy will come in the end[3].

Joseph experienced sudden unanticipated developments on his promotion journey.  People and factors other than you often influence time and course for your promotion. Your part is to trust God from whom promotion comes. He controls people, circumstances and consequences in your obedience. With the three guarantees, as Joseph did you are able to set God inspired goals and keep focus and faith for comebacks when the unexpected happen.

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[1] Genesis 39:21; Hebrews 13:5

[2] Genesis 39:20; 2 Corinthians 12:9

[3] Genesis 41:14; Numbers 23:19