Weekly Insights

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Glorious Takeover

Glorious Takeover

The story of some people who occupied houses they found already built illustrates human life. These people had no clue where the houses came from. Eventually the builder appeared. By this time, the houses were dilapidated and had attracted home to poisonous snakes, scorpions and bats. The builder offered to rebuild the houses at no charge. While some were humble enough to call for help, others scoffed at the offer.

The master builder carefully reconstructed the houses. When his job was complete, he explained to the occupants, “You will not be able to look after the new houses on your own. To avoid seeing them in the state I found them, can I maintain and supply your needs in these houses? This will include garnishing, furnishing and flourishing...’ Some rejected the offer outright. A few handed over keys to the gate and said you are welcome to keep us safe as well as make us look good. Then there were those who handed over the kitchen keys allowing him to feed them. Yet others gave the keys to the lounge agreeing only to let him entertain them. Some surrendered keys to the bathrooms asking him to clean their mess. None handed over keys to the bedrooms and inner closets. Instead, they told him to stay away from these parts of the houses. As time went by, they were dissatisfied with the work of the master builder. One day, to their revelation and according to the building’s design, they discovered that the treasures the builder needed to do all his work were in the inner closets of the house.

We are the house God has restored. Often all we want is to be fed, groomed and entertained. God is waiting for you to handover the full set of keys. Dedication to God is complete handover to God. It is committing yourself or something to His purpose. God’s glory comes on what is dedicated to him. When Solomon worshipfully and joyfully dedicated the temple, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple. The priests could not carry out their duties because of this cloud; the Lord’s splendor filled God’s temple (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). Without dedication, only tradition and powerless religion remains. Pronounce dedication with words of your mouth and joy. Then receive the glory from above by faith. A complete house handover brings a glorious divine takeover.

Monday, 17 June 2013

Come and Dine

Meal times are a favorite in a healthy home. I was born in a family where if everyone was present we would be not less than fourteen children. Meal times were the main events for each day. We would go out to play plastic ball with other kids. When it was meal time my mom called out “You can now come!” or “It is time for you to come! [Chiuyai!]”. That was enough; we would all know it was mealtime. We would leave whatever we were doing and in a flash be in the house ready to eat.

The Lord Jesus promised that if anyone heard his voice and opened the door he would come in and share a meal with Him (Revelation 3:20). There is no need to suffer from spiritual malnutrition in God’s house. With Christ, it is mealtime and you are invited. Sharing a meal with Christ is participating at the highest table reserved for the most favored very important people. What a privilege we have. Avoid missing meal times. All you need is a good spiritual appetite. The table is ready and there is no spiritual drip for those who do not want to eat.

>> A meal to bring you back to the cross. This is a meal you need when you are becoming more conscious of other things than Christ (Luke 22:19).

>> A meal to celebrate people returning home. The greatest delight in God’s house is when people return home through opening their lives to Christ (Luke 15:24)

>> A meal of regular word intake . You need in take of God’s word (Mathew 4:4)

>> A meal unusual. When the disciples brought food to Jesus, He would not eat it and said, ‘my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.’ (John 4: 34)

>> A meal in the presence of enemies (Psalm 23:5).

>>A meal of miracles served when your needs are much greater than your means. To God meeting your needs supernaturally is children’s bread (Mathew 15:26).

>> A meal when you are down and all seems lost.. Do not lose heart Jesus is saying to you, ‘Come and dine’ (John 21:12).

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

And There Was Light

In a situation that is lifeless, dark, chaotic, and without form what would be your priorities if you were able to bring about transformation. When God addressed a similar situation, He demonstrated what must come first. He said, “Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3). Light makes way for God to provide solutions. When there was light, God then brought order and life.

Light is so vital to God that it took the light of the world to restore order and life to humanity (John 8:12). Light provides illumination and sustains life. A world without light is hard to imagine. Much as we need light in the physical, we also need the light of God. God’s nature is light. He is the source of spiritual illumination. More than driving away darkness God as light transforms us into his likeness (Mathew 5:14). He illuminates spiritual riches for us to be encouraged and enjoy. What difference it would make if you could be aware and understand things about God and you! Such awareness requires eyes of faith through God’s word. He wants us to see who He is, what we have, what we can accomplish, and what He has in store for our future.

The Psalmist put it beautifully, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; who is then a cause of fear to me? (Psalm 27:1). Eyes that cannot see are synonymous with absence of light. The Lord is your light to remove 'absence of light'. In addition, He is your salvation to open your eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). We have the light and the salvation. And therefore like the Psalmist are strong. We are not afraid. We know our God reigns and anything that works against us will stumble and fail. Nothing moves us. Our one desire is to be in His presence. He hides us in time of trouble and put us high on a rock. Pray today, ‘let there be light.’

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Going Up the Mountain

Often when things do not work out as expected we are quick to point to the good things we have done as if to suggest God is being unfair with us. The prophet Haggai lived among people caught up in doing just that. The prophet had to clarify that God looks in disfavor not only when bad things are committed but also when good things are omitted. Demands of positive response from God based on selective obedience are often the pitfall in which many fall. In Haggai’s case, neglect of the need to build the house of God deprived God’s people of God’s blessings.

“Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified," says Yahweh (Haggai 1:8). Giving is not always easy. It can be like going up a mountain to cut and bring wood. Often the mountain is not the work we do in our professions by which God provides for us. The hard part can be the mountain in our hearts we have to climb to bring the wood to the house of God, especially when there are many other pressing needs. We give to God by giving to His work from what He has given to us.

If you bring the wood from the mountain God promises to be with you (Haggai 1:12-13). Being with Him is life in His house where there is no lack. ‘The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' says Yahweh of Hosts (Haggai 2:8).

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Pillars from Pillows

Pillars from Pillows

Recently our local church held a very refreshing conference. Some members of our church offered to pay for some budget items. Three women said, ‘Don’t worry about the meals we will take care of them’. One man said, ‘Do not worry about accommodation for the guest speaker. I will take care of that.’ Many volunteered time and effort. God holds His work up through people like these who give themselves willingly to their local churches. They are pillars in the house of God.

‘And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it (Gen 28:18)’. In response to the dream he had, Jacob did something very interesting. He turned his pillow of stone to an anointed pillar signifying the house of God. A pillar is a column used for support or decoration. This was not the only case where God’s house is associated with pillars. The temple Solomon built had pillars – one called Boaz meaning ‘God is strength’ and another Jachin meaning ‘established’ (1 Kings 7:21). In the Old Testament, pillars were named after people but in the New Testament, people are the pillars (Galatians 2:9).

Being a pillar is serving faithfully in the house. When you do nothing about the business of the house of God whether by negligence, fear, or ignorance, you are unfairly sleeping or sitting on some potential needed in the house. You serve in the house of God by taking care of your heart (Proverbs 4:23) and by contributing to the life and ministry of your local church. It is time you offer and apply more of your resources, gifts, skills and talents in your local church. Now is the time to arise and exchange your pyjamas for work suits.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Gate of Heaven

Gate of Heaven

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed entire neighborhoods. The owner of a house that remained standing explained that he had built according to the prescribed building codes for withstanding hurricanes. The incident sparked debate about the quality of the houses destroyed by the hurricane. The fact of the matter is all houses will be destroyed except the house of God.

In Genesis 28:17, “This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Jacob identified the house of God by its effect, more than its structures and traditions. To him it was a God ordained moment or experience not just a place. Jacob was in some place alone lying on a least comfortable pillow of stone. There was no building, no bank account, no choir, no church uniform, no program or structure yet he experienced the house of God.

Being in the house of God is about receiving a revelation of God concerning what you are going through in life. Being in the house of God is awakening to the blessing of God’s presence and abounding provisions (Genesis 28:16). Being in the house of God is hearing the voice of God instilling peace in your mind and soul. God’s first words to Jacob were ‘I am Jehovah the God of Abraham your Father’. Jehovah is the redemptive name of God and Abraham represents God’s covenant promise. Often God began speaking to people by saying ‘peace to you’ or ‘do not be afraid’. In other words - settle down. I am here. You will be well. Peace and stillness of heart precede hearing the plan of God. Will you be still and know that He is God? God calmed Jacob’s mental and emotional storms. He was refreshed and strengthened. He had been on the run from danger now he would be on the run for God.

Being the house of God is being the gate of heaven. The gate of heaven is a center of God’s power and fortitude. As the house, believers are the fortified interface between heaven and earth. It means that you as believers will determine how much of heaven earth enjoys and how much of earth heaven touches. You can free God’s work by letting Him be the king over your life. Wherever the people of God are the house is there and they offer the gate of heaven. Open up the gate by prayer, courage and faith to let God come through into situations.

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

A Zuph Experience

The grace of God is most amazing at transforming people. In 1 Samuel 9 and 10, grace changed Saul to another man. When God was raising a king at the request of His people a series of events, take place. The process began when Kish’s donkeys got lost. Kish therefore sent his son, Saul in the company of his servant to look for the lost donkeys. After passing through four territories looking for the donkeys, he did not find them[1]. At a place called Zuph, Saul thought it was time to give up the search. The servant persuaded him to give the man of God in the area a chance to show them the way. Saul’s choice to accept the servant’s idea of seeking a divine solution marked a point of acceleration to the throne. Not long after, Samuel anoints him king over Israel.

God’s grace cannot be effective in our lives unless we have a Zuph experience. Zuph is the place of humility to accept that it will not work out without God. A place where you realize the things you are seeking by human effort are elusive. A place of acknowledging that you need God in what you are doing in life. Zuph is the place where the search for donkeys directs you to God. A decisive place where you either go back empty or go up God’s hill and be crowned king. Zuph is the place where God’s grace frees you from things eclipsing or obscuring your view of God.

Like Saul, you can catch the plot of your life. God brought Saul to Zuph for a reason. Saul thought he was looking for donkeys, but was actually there because God was looking for him. Direct the search for the donkeys to God and you will discover the issue is not the donkeys for they have been found. When you let go of something for God to takeover you will receive something to empower you to take over.