Fuel of Faith - Obedience!

The fundamental thing that keeps a house together is the structure - the foundation and the load bearing walls. If we can liken Christianity to a house, faith in Christ is the foundation stone and the walls that hold our house together. However, obedience is the roof over the house of faith that keeps us protected from the outside elements and attacks of the enemy. Our feelings and emotions are merely the outer cover like paint and decorations that finishes the house but alone it does not stand up! The problem with most of us is that we largely like to live our life going purely by feelings and emotions. "If it ain't gonna feel good, I am not doing it", is our favourite slogan. When we live like this, we are subject to every attack of the enemy as we have no protection because we are like a house without a roof. Obedience is central to a faith that is growing and is central to walking in God's will.

Obedience is not having a strong will but rather it is aligning ourselves with God's plan, will, call and purpose for our lives. It is surrendering of our will knowing that God's will is far superior and better as a result of knowing who He truly is and knowing that He can be trsuted implicitly.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It is surrendering our will so that we decrease and He increases just as John the Baptist said (John 3:30).
Throughout the Bible, God's heart is for people to come into a true relationship with Him, to come to a place of obedience resulting from complete trust. That is why in the Old Testament, though there was an elaborate system of sacrifices for sin and covering disobedience, God says that He delights in obedience rather than sacrifices.
Isaiah 1:11
The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?" says the LORD. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, the definition of obey is as follows: 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of; 2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by; 3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm. The opposite of obedience is disobedience, defiance and rebellion. With these attitudes, we are moving away from God's love, ignoring His call and wanting to do our own thing. It is setting us up for a life of chaos and destruction, openly exposed without His protection.
Romans 2:13
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
If we truly love the Lord and our relationship with Him is of primary importance, obedience will naturally result.
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
1 John 2:5-6
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Is your faith fuelled by obedience? Does your house of faith have a roof of obedience or are you only concerned with the paint and cosmetic effects without a roof? Come into a true love relationship with Him and know that He can be trusted implicitly at all times.
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
1 John 2:17
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Break Up the Fallow Ground

Farmers clearly know that nothing grows in fallow ground. Fallow ground is a field that may have yielded much fruit in the past, but has been left unworked for a while or ground that has never been used. As a result, it becomes hard and yields nothing but weeds. The ground needs to be tilled, fertilized, watered and prepared in order that plans can take root to grow. Often times, we allow parts of our lives to lie dormant and is not fed by the Spirit and we do not grow in grace as a result. We keep parts of our lives hidden from God and sometimes from ourselves. Past hurts lie buried like the rocks in a farmers field that discourage strong, healthy growth. Relationships become strained because of weeds that are allowed to grow in the gardens of our lives. The call of God through Hosea is break such fallow ground if we are to be productive.
Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Jesus is calling each and every one of us to sow in righteousness and reap in mercy. He calls us to plant our fields with His good works. He asks us to dig up those rocks and pull out those weeds. He tells us to break up our fallow ground for it is time to grow. Life will become a rut if we neglect the garden of our soul and just rush about attending to the things that we need to. So where do we begin? The first step and responsibility to break up the falow ground lies with each of us.
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
What can we do? Our repsonsibility is to plow the ground with prayer and break the clods by coming to Him with a broken humble spirit.
Colossians 4:2-4:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Once the ground of our heart is open to the Lord in prayer in humility, we are then ready to sow the seed of God's word. As God shows us righteousness from His word, we need to obey and walk away from unrighteousness. When we do this, the weeds do not choke the word of God but the word of God will start producing fruit and the Holy Spirit will Himself water our souls!
2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
John 7:37b-39a
..If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive..

Is there a part of your life or heart that has become fallow ground? Are there weeds and rocks hindering the garden of your soul? Break up your fallow ground with prayer and coming back to His word and allow the Holy Spirit to water your soul and walk in righteousness. Seek the Lord with your whole heart, soul and mind! Then along with David you can truly say, "He restores my soul, my cup runs over."

Are You Ready for the Bridegroom?

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is story of great drama, intrigue, romance and adventure. In it we see a wooing, a calling into deeper devotion to God but is also is a warning to us that we should be prepared to meet with the Bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1-13
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The arrival of the Bridegroom is expected. His Holy Spirit, which represents the oil has been provided ahead of time ensuring eternal light and joy to the bridal party. Even at the midnight hour in an hour of deep darkness, the bridal party are ready to go out to meet with the Bridegroom. The wise virgins are clearly different from the others as they have taken the time to prepare knowing fully well that a period of darkness awaits before joining the Bridegroom. The foolish ones experience "burnout" and eventually miss out on joining the bridegroom. The extra oil thus represents the spiritual preparation ahead of an anticipated time of darkness required for persevering and enduring just before meeting the Bridegroom.
2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

The overall thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming. Saving faith in Jesus Christ will need to manifest itself in every aspect of our lives and the fruit of the Spirit needs to be produced. A desire for greater holiness and less sin should be apparent and a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives. Paul's letter to Titus sums this well in the below verses:
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Are you prepared to meet the Bridegroom? Ten virgins had intended to go out and meet the Bridegroom, however only five of them did. This is the high drama which unfolds in the storyline. May we not be found “going away to make the purchase” when Christ returns. Take the time now to fill your lamp with oil and take extra along. See that you are not asleep and unprepared but instead keep preparing, waiting and watching for His return with joy and anticipation!

United We Stand

The disciples when they were with Jesus before His death and resurrection, constantly quibbled among themselves as to who was the greatest and who would get the most prominent position in Heaven and so on. There is little evidence of unity among the disciples. Jesus when He prayed for the disciples, He prayed for one thing - that they may be one as He was one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He prayed for unity.
John 17:11
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:20-21
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The message of the Gospel is a message of reconciliation, a message of unity, to bring all things together under Christ. The writer of the epistle to the Ephesians sums up the gospel thus:
Ephesians 1:9-10
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
From the foundation of the world, God had a plan and purpose for all of us and this is unity of all things under Christ. This process of unification is already started with the coming of Christ. This unity is radically all inclusive!
So it is imperative that we demonstrate this unity in the way we interact with one another, especially with other believers in the Church.

What does this unity mean? Unity means reflecting the fruit of the Spirit outwardly.
Ephesians 4:2-6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Being humble is that disposition which makes us not easily provoked or offended, an ability to forgive. When we are humble, we are able to be patient and forbearing in love and we will be able to reflect the unity of Christ and maintain the bond of peace. The emphasis may not always be to have common convictions but to demonstrate common care and concern and love for another.

Do you reflect the unity of Christ in your relationships? Do you emphasize more on the differences and minor points of faith or do you really maintain unity by demonstrating care and love? Let us work with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others in Christ. Let us be reminded again that the Lord wants us to be in unity just as He is one. Let us reflect Him!

Prepare for World Impact

Guess most of us would love to make a significant impact in this world. We all long for significance and this is not necessarily fame or wealth but knowledge that we have lived our lives to the maximum potential and impacted others. Jesus had probably the most important mission in the world, a mission that will impact every human and history. The impact of a person's life is often in direct proportion to the quality of preparation. Let us have a look at the life of Jesus and learn how He prepared for significant impact.
Luke 3:21-22
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

We can draw a few lessons from the event of baptism.
Total Surrender: Jesus totally surrendered to the will of the Father. He was the Son of God, Creator of the world. He was totally sinless and there was no need to be baptised as John was preaching a baptism of repentance. However, Jesus chose to surrender absolutely to the will of the Father and this is demonstrated in His life - from baptism, continuing daily, all the way to the Cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Like Jesus, when we surrender to God's will, we will lead significant lives.

Relationship with the Father: Jesus had a strong relationship with His Father. If anyone knew the Father intimately, it was Jesus and yet He spent quality time inspite of his hectic schedule or tiredness and made this a priority. The strong foundation of Jesus' ministry was based on His identity, acceptance and approval out of a deep intimate relationship with the Father. When we have a strong intimate relationship with the Father like Jesus, we will not give in to fear or rejection or performance pressue but be able to carry out His will secure in the knowledge of His love.
Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Empowerment by the Spirit: Jesus lived by the Spirit allowing the Holy Spirit to direct and empower Him each day to execute the will of God as He walked in obedience. His dependence on the Holy Spirit was not occasional but continual. When we live like that we need not strive by ourselves, as the Holy Spirit will help us.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Do you desire to live a significant life that has powerful impact according to God's plan and purposes for you? If so, reflect on which of these three aspects you need to improve and prepare and build on these so that your life can have maximum impact. Our mission is to impact the world around us!
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

You Will Sing Again..

The book of Joel was written around 5 BC when Israel experienced a plague of locusts. This plague of locusts was devastating for Israel as every crop was destroyed and the lives of the Israelites were at stake as they faced famine and hardship. Joel records the plight of the Israelites with these words:
Joel 1: 10-12
The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails. Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away.
Sometimes in our lives, metaphorically we too can feel as though locusts have eaten away years of effort. Sometimes, we can face hardship after hardship and not see a breakthrough and wonder whether we will ever be restored and whether we will ever sing again.

We can take encouragement today that Joel did not stop just describing the plague and its devastation and leave us without hope. He goes on to record, the promise of God that He will restore the years that the locusts have eaten! We need to understand that the devastation of the locusts does not last just a few days or even months, the devastation can last years. Notice that God's promise is not just to restore weeks or months but whole years, all the wasted years!
Joel 2:25a-27
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.....You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

Between the locusts eating up and complete utter devastation, and the promise of restoration, there is an act that causes God to relent and have compassion on His people. This act is repentance, a complete 180 degree turn to walk in the way of righteousness and away from unrighteousness. God wants our hearts to be restored to Him and sometimes the difficulties are a way to awaken us to come back to Him.
Joel 2:12-13
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Our God is a God of compassion and He is faithful. He is in the business of restoration - of making whole of broken things. We just need to draw near to Him...
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you feel like that which has been lost will not be found, that which is broken will never be repaired? Do you wonder when you will sing again? Take hold of this message from Joel that God wants to restore you for all the years that was lost and build you up, as you draw near to Him in repentance! You will sing again because He is faithful and He is a restorer! Return to Him!
Joel 2:21a
Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice.

God's Masterpiece

God's creation is beautiful.. every little flower to the starry hosts in the sky, from the birds in their splendid colors to the beauty of sunsets, from the waves of the ocean on the shore to the mighty thunderstorms...our heart does not tire as we gaze at the wondrous things that the Lord has made. Just yesterday, I was gazing of the window admiring the beauty of the trees swaying in the wind and the rain and the changing beauty of the scenery as the light danced and dimmed throughout the day. There is no greater artist that the Lord and what's even more amazing is that He does not consider any of this, His masterpiece. The God of the Universe, the Creator, the ultimate Artist considers you and I as His masterpiece! He delights over us!
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The Lords says that we are the Apple of His Eye!
Zechariah 2:8
For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.
We are the object of His unending love and He continues to pursue us by loving us even when we were far away from Him! Yes, no one can love us the way the Lord loves us!
Romans 5:6b-8
Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We cannot grasp the immense value that God places on each and every one of us! He seeks after each and everyone of us individually and His heart longs for communion and fellowship with each of us. It blows my mind that God, the Creator - the Omniscient and Omnipresent Great God loves us so much!
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

How do you feel about yourself and how do you value yourself? You need to understand that God places immense value on you - you are His apple of His eye, the object of His eternal everlasting love that He died for you. Never ever forget your true worth - you are purchased by Jesus' blood paid by Him through His suffering on the cross. You are His masterpiece, His workmanship.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Living with Constancy among Shifting Shadows

We live in a world that is so transient, things are always changing - fads, trends, technologies, the way we live life, moral values, stock market.. basically everything. In a year or less, we will see so much change that perhaps in the centuries past people saw in their lifetime. How do we maintain our stability in our lives when everything is changing like shifting shadows around us?
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The Bible says that our God is One who does not change like shifting shadows. Just like how children feel secure with parents of consistent behaviour, we too can feel secure knowing that the God we worship is constant and unchanging! Let us look at some unchanging immutable charcateristics of God!

God is unchanging in His character: God is always present; His knowledge is always complete; His power is always unlimited. His justice is unchanging, for He is righteous in everything He does. He requires holiness of his people because He Himself is always holy. The Bible affirms that God is good, that His faithfulness endures to all generations and that He loves His children with an everlasting (immutable) love and He continually pours out his mercy upon humankind.
Malachi 3:6
I the LORD do not change.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last because He is unchanging!

God is unchanging in His purpose: Just as God's nature is immutable, so are His plans and purposes. The Lord has promised to bring people into relationship with himself. In the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we see the fulfillment of this plan so that people have a way to come back into relationship with Christ. The Lord’s unchanging purposes are also personal.
Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of Your hands.
While we are free to make choices, God still accomplishes His own intentions and can work out all circumstances for our good according to His purposes!
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. 
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

God is unchanging in His promises:God’s nature is consistent, it follows that His promises are also consistent as He does not break his word. Rather, his immutability necessitates fulfillment of His promises.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

How do you feel when situations around you change? Do not be afraid, instead trust in Him and rest in His constancy as He is unchanging. Rely on His Unchanging Character, Purpose and Promises! Let Him be the Everlasting Rock upon whom you can stand! The better we know Him as the immutable God, the more we shall be able to trust Him and hold on to Him for stability and strength when everything around us is changing.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Fitting God in or Fitting into God?

Very often we try fitting God into our life and busy schedules by doing our customary bit by attending church, perhaps even attend a fellowship, serve and even maybe read the Bible and pray where possible. The real centre and focus on our lives still continues to revolve around our priorities, our schedules and our conveniences, postpoing the call of God in our lives. When we live like this continually, we can easily become frustrated and disillusioned and we wonder why we don't experience God in a fuller measure in ou rlives. We need to understand that God is too big for Him to just fit into our lives. We can only live a life of full measure and be satisfied, if we learn instead to fit into Him and give Him the first place and allow Him to dictate our priorities!

This was a similar predicament that Haggai faced. The Jews has just returned from exile from Babylon to Jerusalem and they wanted to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. They faced some opposition and instead of pressing forward, they became discouraged and gave in to disillusionment and abandonment of the call of God. They instead foucssed their lives and energy on themselves, their own interests and building comfortable houses and settling down forgetting the bigger call of God. In such a contect, God had a message for His people through the prophet Haggai:
Haggai 1:2-8
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.' " Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD.

If we really want the pleasure of God in our lives, we need to put Him first and fit into Him and His plans for us. We are so often like the people in Haggai's time - we are not overtly saying 'No' to God's work and His plans for us, instead we just postpone it as we do not have the time or the convenience to focus on Him now. We instead focus on ourselves and our priorities. We need to understand that we are missing out on God's best for us and settling on less when we don't honor God and please Him. When we put God's kingdom and His work first, He promises to look after every aspect of our lives!
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Matthew 6:30b-33
...O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I believe God's message to Haggai is the same to us today - He wants us to consider our ways. Are you fitting God into your life where possible and living below what God has for us or are we fitting into Him giving Him the first priority? It is time to evaluate your life and rearrange your priorities. When the Jewish people rebuilt the temple of God, they could see the glory of God and they felt His pleasure. Consider Him and live your life so that you feel His pleasure!

Taming the Tongue

We live in a culture that considers it 'cool' to swear and use strong colorful language. Perhaps for most Christians, this is not a real problem. However, there is a more subtle way of how we use our tongue and this could be tiny white lie, a little insinuation, a clever belittling retort, a small bit of information that we inadvertently let on and so on. The tongue has the power of life and death (Provers 18:21a), and we can use this God given ability for good or harm.
James 3:5-8
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The Bible says that it is important to use the power of the tongue for good if it were to go well with us.
Psalm 34:12-13
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
We need to be purposeful in our conversation and speak carefully chosen words that will not only produce victory and blessing in our own life but in the lives of others as well. Our words have power as demonstrated by how Jesus used his mouth to curse a fig tree that failed to produce its fruit in season and how Jesus used his words on many occasions to heal and forgive. As a rudder controls the direction of a ship, our tongue controls the direction of our life. We are our own prophets - what we say today impacts our tomorrow! So it is important to confess the blessings and promises from the Word of God over our life than give in to negative self-talk. The Word of God is Spirit and Life and these words will guide us!
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Jesus made the clear connection between the heart and the mouth. Basically Jesus said, GIGO - Garbage in, Garbage out. If we are to speak more wholesomely, there is no substitute than to put in more of God's words into our hearts.
Matthew 12:34b-37
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
When we do this, our conversation will be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, and we will know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6).
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

How do you use your tongue - as intruments for good or evil? Remember that the Lord has given you the ability to talk so that you can declare His promises and blesings over your life and those of others. Confess any talk that is negative, coarse, harmful or bends the truth and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to speak wholesome words as you feed on His word.
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Overcoming a Critical Spirit

It is very easy to see the faults in others and even criticize them for it than to see our own faults and accept it. It is very important to understand that a critical spirit hinders our faith and can even block the power of God being demonstrated in our own lives as we end up condemning ourselves when we condemn others.
Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Romans 1:2
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

A critical spirit is negative, willing to condemn, criticize and tear down a person and is likely due to pride or self-righteousness or unforgiveness. A critical spirit imitates Satan, the accuser. This is exactly what the the Pharisees and onlookers were like when a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus. Jesus asked those who did not have any sin to cast the first stone against her and no one did!
John 8:7-11
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

We need to realise that just like us, others are also a Work in Progress and God has not finished with all of us yet. We need to strive to be a positive witness for Christ who came not to condemn but to save the world. Jesus, the rightful Judge Himself is always positive and restorative and we need to reflect Him! What then is the cure for a critical spirit? It is Grace. We need to reflect on the grace God has bestowed on us, setting us free when we deserved judgement and death. We need to give this grace to others and extend the mercy we ourselves have received.
Matthew 10:8b
Freely you have received, freely give.
James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Are you a fault finder? If you are reflect on why you are one. Confess your sin before God and accept His grace in your life and pass it on to others! Overcome by doing good to them practically and praying for them! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you get rid of the critical spirit so that you can live freely without condemning yourself.

Self-Control..

Self-control is not something we hear outside of the Christian circle. We live in a #selfie culture that prods us to be indulgent and to fulfill our every whim and fancy while we celebrate ourselves. The only time self-control is popular is with regard to dieting and exercise to have a great physical image. Is this the kind of self-control that God wants us to exercise? Yes, maybe as God does not want to be gluttons who do not look after our physical being. However, the message of self-control in the Bible is more than that - it is to say 'Yes' to God and 'No' to anything that hinders us from walking closely with God.

When viewed by the world, self-control, especially when linked with self-denial and self-sacrifice seems to be essentially negative. However, when confronted with a true understanding of what human nature produces, we can see that the fruits of self-control are entirely positive. Lack of self-control is destructive as a person without self-control has no rule over themselves and is defenceless and is controlled by externals.
Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
The greek word for self-control includes the notions of having good sense, sober wisdom, moderation, and soundness of mind in addition to controlling our passions and apetites. Paul urges us to lay aside every 'weight' that hinders us from running the race that God has set for us. Self-control includes even throwing off 'weights' from our lives that are time and mind consuming, not necessarily sin by themselves but that which prevents us from running light and with vigour the full length and course that God has called us to.
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Self control is absolutely essential if we are achieve our potential.

Self-control is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. Self-control is not produced by our will and determination alone but it is achieved by obeying and living in co-operation with the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25
..the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us so that we can live as over-comers and God pleasers, sober and sensible, not as people who are defeated and controlled by externals and living with blind passion and governed by the flesh. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can fan into flame this gift!
2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

What are the areas in your life where you think you could do with more self-control and discipline? Bring them to the Lord in prayer and rely and co-operate with the Holy Spirit to help you overcome these and live a life of discipline. Remember that a life of self control is saying 'Yes' to God and will help you live to the highest calling and purpose that God has for you. Why settle for less when God wants the best for you?

Appreciation of Life

A new driver for an interstate trucking company was having a difficult time. He found the long cross-country trips extremely tiring. The older driver who traveled with him, however, seemed to thrive on those long trips. He always seemed to look as fresh at the end of the ride as he did at the beginning. One day, the young man asked the older what his secret was. “Well, it’s really all in the way you look at it,” he replied. “While you went to work this morning, I went for a ride through the country.” Isn't that amazing? Just the focus and appreciation that we have on the same situation, can change our perspective and our experience! That is why the Bible says:
Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Cheerfulness is hard especially in this world when life is full of disappointments, frustrations and difficulties. However, the Bible says that though a righteous man will have troubles, the Lord will deliver him!
Psalm 34:19
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
How we look at the troubles we face makes all the difference in the world! If we focus only the problems and create a mountain out of a molehill and have an attitude of despair, we are only compounding our problems. If we instead put on an attitude of cheerfulness with the knowledge and expectation that God will intervene on our behalf and deliver us, we are choosing to appreciate life and enjoy it, no matter what!

If we reflect on the reasons why difficulties occur to a righteous person, it is mostly for one of these reasons - that God may be glorified, to perfect our faith and character, to correct our sinful ways or as a consequence of our foolishness for bad choices. If we consider these wisely, they are all for our benefit even if it is not comfortable! God's glory should be our constant goal; growth in faith and character is a great blessing; correction is proof of God's love for us and is for our profit; and consequences from foolish choices drive us to wisdom. So we can lift up our heart and rejoice! That is what Paul was able to do when he was afflicted - able to be cheerful and rejoice!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What are you worried about that is robbing you of your appreciation of life? Get your perspective right! Remember that God is your future and there is no future greater than that! What's even better - there are benefits from all the troubles that we face and God will deliver us from it all for His glory! Choose an attitude of cheerfulness over despair and change your perspective and live a full abundant life rather a defeated life! The kind of life you have is your choice...
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.