A NEW NORMAL – OUR LIVES AFTER THE LOCKDOWN

Jesus said, “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden”. It is true and worthy of acceptance that 2020 has been a very difficult year, we will not forget the numerous events that took place in a while.

We grieve for the souls that were lost, the families that are bereaved, job losses, uncertainties and stormy circumstances. Despite all of these, I dare to say that we now have a new normal, a season where the resilience of the human spirit shines forth, we refuse to be tied down and so we move on in the strength of God.

Pslams 5:12 says “You oh lord will bless the righteous and with favour you will encompass him as with a shield”

God also promised in Psalms 126:1 that when he turned again the captivity of Zion, it was like a dream. We may wonder how we shall recover from the economic downturn, job losses and any other kind of losses but the word for this season is favour.

Psalms 102:13 “You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favour to her; the appointed time has come”

When there was lack and hunger among the followers of Jesus and it looked as if they will perish for lack of bread, a little boy appeared with just a few pieces of food and after divine blessings the little food fed an army of people.

Together and with God’s help, we shall overcome and in due season, our victory shall shine forth.

Remain in grace.

Read more from “The Lifesaver, Issue 9 (pdf, 1.52 MB)“.

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What Is Faith
What is Faith?

Introduction

As we start a new series on “Building Your Faith”, it would be beneficial to understand what faith is. Much like a few doctrinal concepts like love, faith is best understood by considering what it does rather than what it is. Classically, faith has often been defined by Hebrews 11:1 as: “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. As we proceed in this lesson, may the Lord grant us an understanding of faith by the revelation of His essence. In our attempt to describe what faith does, we will consider the story in Daniel 3.

Main Text: Mark 11:22-24

Faith in the Fiery Furnace

Here is a summary of the narrative in Daniel 3. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made an image of gold and demanded that all worship it. Daniel’s friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego disobeyed the king by not worshipping the image because they believed in the King of Kings. The result – the three Hebrew men were thrown into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, but God rescued them. However, before this episode, they made this startling statement of faith:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” – Daniel 3:17-18 NKJV

God Can Do It

Faith asks us to depend on God because He has the ability to do all things (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:27, Luke 18:27). Several stories in the Bible confirm this and we have experienced His works in our lives too. He can save (Romans 5:8). He can heal (The woman with the issue of blood, Luke 8:43-48). He can give life (Lazarus, John 11). He can take life (Ananias & Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11). He can set the captives free (Israelites, The Book of Exodus).

God Will Do It

“God will do it” means that we can expect Him to do it. Faith in this sense, therefore, means expectation. To have faith in God for something means to expect that He will do it.

The emphasis is not on that it will happen, but that God will do it. If we are on God’s side, we can count on Him to show up when we need Him. How do we know that God will grant our request? Anytime He promises, He fulfils (Hebrews 10:23; Abraham, Genesis 15:4, Genesis 21:15).

Will God Do It?

“If God does not do it” is not a question of God’s ability and willingness, but a question of how far we are willing to believe in Him and His saving power.

If we are waiting on God for an answer to a request and it seems not to be coming forth, could it be because He has said “No”? Could it be because He has said: “Wait”? Does God ever say “No” or “Wait”?

We may not yet fully understand the whole dynamics of prayers and answers, but the Bible is very clear about how God responds to our requests.

  • Ask, believe, and receive (Mark 11:24). Ask in faith and don’t go back on your request. Don’t receive it today and ask for it tomorrow.
  • Ask in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14). We may ask for anything (a certain thing) in the name of Jesus within the confines of His will.
  • The most important thing is to abide in Him (John 15:7, Daniel 3:17 – “…our God whom we serve…”). Even if for whatever reason, He seems not to grant our request, or we do not receive the answer, we are confident that he is working on our behalf, for our good (Romans 8:28) and that He is our exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1). He is your inheritance (Psalm 16:5, Psalm 73:26, Ephesians 1:18) because you are loved (John 3:16, Galatians 2:20), forgiven (Psalm 103:3), redeemed (Galatians 3:13), holy (Hebrews 10:10), set apart (Jeremiah 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:21).

Conclusion

In today’s lesson, we have looked at the meaning of faith, especially from the point of view of what it does, rather than what it is. Faith asks us to believe that God can and that He will, but it also demands that we go all the way with God even when there are ups and downs, things don’t line up, and our expectations seem not met. In the subsequent lessons in this series, we will be looking at how to build our faith. However, we should let the story of the Hebrew men serve as a challenge to us. Can we stick our necks out for the Lord? Can we sacrifice for Him when compromising situations arise?

Receiving the Gifts and Cultivating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Receiving the Gifts and Cultivating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Introduction

For the past two months, we have been studying the subjects of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we will be trusting God to teach us how to operate in the gifts of the Spirit and to show forth His fruit.

Main Texts: Mathew 25:14-30, Galatians 5:16-18

Spiritual Gifts, Availability, and Commitment

Mathew 25:14-30

The parable of the talents teaches us that if we do not use what God has already given us, we run the risk of losing it. We are always looking for more, but what are we doing with what we already have? God forbids that the little responsibility we have is given to someone else. When God looks into His church and sees needs, He looks around for available vessels and fills them in order to meet the needs. Why should the Holy Spirit endow us with His gifts if we are not available to use them? As the master in the parable was away for quite a while, for enough duration for the servants to do business and make good profits, only God knows how long He has been waiting on us to start doing more with what we have. The following are worthy of note:

  • Use what you have now, be available and be committed.
  • God knows us and we are responsible to Him. The unprofitable servant was unhappy because he was entrusted with little. But he failed to realize that the master knew his ability. In fact, all the servants were given a little (Mat 25:21,23).
  • Be humble. The servant with one talent was arrogant. Why would a servant talk to his master in the manner he did, saying his master wanted to reap where he had not sown. The hope is that we are not doing the same.
  • The reward for hard work is more work (Mat 25:28-29) but God will reward us (Heb 11:6) and will not forget how hard you have worked for Him (Heb 6:10 NLT).

Love is a More Excellent Way

1 Corinthians 12:27-31, 1 Corinthians  13, 1 Corinthians 14:1

Given the choice of receiving all the gifts of the Spirit and receiving the ability to love, would you go for the gifts rather than love? After Paul enumerated the gifts and even encouraged believers to earnestly desire the best, he went ahead to show a more excellent way – pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy (1 Cor 14:1).

Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

The components of the fruit of the Spirit are not a to-do list. We grow into them as we live in the Spirit. They are traits that we develop as we continue in our walk with the Holy Spirit. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25).

The Father is looking for those who will worship Him in truth and in Spirit. The flesh accomplishes nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life. The fruit of the Spirit is not to be cultivated or attained by human effort, any more than we can attain salvation by our strength.

What Does it Mean to Walk in the Spirit?

We walk in the Spirit when we align our lives with the Holy Spirit, letting Him take the lead and we, simply willing to follow. The more we do that, the more the fruit of the Spirit finds expression in us. Who instructs us to love? Who teaches us to refrain? Who guides us to peace? There is no formula or method that would work. The fruit is of the Holy Spirit and only Him can guide us in them.

  • You already live in the spirit (Rom 8:9)
  • Love fulfils the law, walk in love (Gal5:13-15)
  • Depend on the Holy Spirit, not on your understanding. He will teach you all things (John 14:26)
  • Be spiritually-minded (Rom 8:1-8)
  • Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16-18)

Conclusion

Let us take active steps and measures. This is a call to action, it is a call to take up the responsibility for our spiritual growth and not live as one who is unwise, but as one who knows the hope of his calling and his inheritance in Christ. We are people on a journey. Though we live in this world, we do not belong in this world; our commonwealth is in heaven. Let us have the consciousness of who we are. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.

How to Receive Answers to Your Prayers
How to Receive Answers to Your Prayers

There has been so much emphasis on why, when and how to pray, but having prayed, how do you receive the answers to your prayers? As important as prayer is, receiving is equally, if not more important. The Bible does not only teach us how to pray, it also explains how to receive the answers to our prayers. If we do not have what we need, it is because we are not asking God for it (James 4:2), but if we are asking, we are not receiving because we probably are not asking in faith (Mark 11:24).

Receiving the Answers to Your Prayers

Several Bible passages allude to the fact that God has given or will give us all we need (2 Peter 1:3, Romans 8:32, Ephesians 1:3). So why does it appear we do not have answers to our prayers? It is because we are missing a crucial step in the process. There are three steps to having the answers to our prayers as seen in Mark 11:24:

  1. Ask God in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:13)
  2. Receive the answer by faith
  3. Then, the answer is yours to have

The following points are also worthy of note in relation to receiving answers to our prayers:

  • Hebrews 11:1 – Believe you have received the answers. Having faith means we are expecting God to answer. Faith gives us that assurance, the certainty, that we have received what we have asked for. This certainty grows as we gain more knowledge of God, especially through His Word (Romans 10:17)
  • Live in agreement with your belief in God. Do not act contrary to your confession. It naturally appears that the act of receiving is a passive one; but it is not because faith is supposed to act, or do that which is believed (James 2:14-26).
  • 1 John 5:14-15, James 4:3 – Ask God for the right thing. How do I know the right thing to ask for? It is right when it is in line with God’s will, or intention, or mind for your life. We know His general and specific intentions as we study the Bible and continue to live in Him – Jer 29:11, Ps 121, Deut 28:13
  • Matthew 6:33 – Go after God, and God will sort out your daily needs. See what God has planned for us:

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! – Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)

Conclusion

It is the desire of God that His children have everything pertaining to life and godliness. He is always willing to answer us when we call on Him in faith, with the right requests. Moreover, You have no idea what God could do for you if your life pleases Him. That is probably the best way of receiving from God.

Christians, Be Wise
Christians, Be Wise

Why are we here, what is the purpose of life, and where are we going? If we knew the answers to these questions we would be wise in the way we live. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge and it is also written that: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Pro 4:7 NKJV). Our Lord and Saviour is coming back and we need to be wise by staying alert.

The King is Coming

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again but this time, not as a baby, but as a conquering king, with fire in His eyes and ruling with a rod of iron (Rev 19:11-16). He says: “And behold, I am coming quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev 22:12 NKJV).

Two major features of His coming are very clear:

  • He will come at an unexpected time (Mat 25:6; II Pet 3:10).
  • We will give account; as He will come with both rewards and terror (II Cor 5:10-11, Rev 20:11; 22:12).

A Call to Wise Living

Since we know the King will be back and will demand that we give account at His return, we should be wise and lead a very careful lifestyle. A question is in order here: “Can we be too careful?” There may be many options or alternatives but we should simply choose the way of the Lord. So as not to be caught unaware by His coming, we need to focus on Him (Heb 12:1-4) and take note of the following among others:

  • We have an assignment and the time is short – we will not be here forever. Therefore, identify your God-given life’s goals and pursue them. Meanwhile, our attitude should be that of fellowship before service; and service instead of activities (Hos 6:6).
  • The Christian walk is, first of all, a private one (Mat 25:8-10).
  • Focus on that which has significance in God’s kingdom (Col 3:1-3).
  • Live one day at a time (Mat 6:34; Phil 1:6; 4:6-7).
  • Do not compromise, for you do not know the day or hour of His return (Mat 25:13).
  • Keep your peace, be still and see God at work (Psa 46:10).

Conclusion

It is a reality that our Lord is coming back. This calls for wisdom in how we live. God sent us here for a purpose; the ultimate part of which is to serve Him and we must do this day by day. Sometimes the storms of life can sweep us off balance, but we should remember that only in keeping step with Him day by day can we really become the best that He wants us to be. He cares, He really does, and He wants us to be vigilant and prepared, always trusting Him, thinking straight and looking steadily at the joy that is set before us. Finally, in the midst of our greatest challenges, God is still God and He will come through on our behalf; we just need to be still.