Five Pitfalls To Avoid In Life (Two)

Today, I present you with the second point in the series Five Pitfalls To Avoid In Life. Yesterday, I treated the first point, Don’t Live The Expectations of Others

2: Living In The Past.

They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat (John 6: 30-31).

“What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee?” Incredible! After witnessing the miracle of multiplied bread and fishes, these folks still needed signs and evidence to believe? I think they could not believe because they were still living in the past and holding on to the stories of the Patriarch Moses and the miracles God performed with him in the wilderness. They knew scriptures, they could quote scriptures— “Our Fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven.” They were not ignorant. They knew Scriptures. The problem however was that, they were living in the past and comparing the present with the past. 

What they were saying to Jesus could read as: “yes you multiplied bread…the same thing happened with Moses and our fathers in the wilderness, so this miracle you have just done is nothing special, give us another evidence and we will believe you.”— “Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat”

Truly, Moses was a great prophet; no argument about that. But his days were over and God was doing a new thing but the people could not embrace it. They lacked understanding. They still had the veil of the law of Moses on: “…when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart…” (2 Corinthians 3:15). Living in the past is dangerous. Dwelling on past success can breed complacency. Dwelling on past failures can also breed guilt and immobilise you from moving forward. The past can teach us valuable lessons — but we can’t live in the past. Move on! Don’t dwell in yesterday. “Yesterday is gone, another day has come” Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Five Pitfalls To Avoid In Life (One)

 

This month, I bring you another series from the word of God I have entitled Five Pitfalls To Avoid In Life. I will be writing from portions of John Chapter Six until I have exhausted the five points. John Six, is built on Jesus’ feeding of five thousand men (could be more if women and children were counted) with five loaves of bread and two fishes. 

I believe you know the story well. After this miraculous multiplying of bread, the events that followed will form the basis of the points I will write on. I must admit; I will not be presenting you with any new revelation. These I believe are things you are not oblivious of. Let’s just look at them as reminders.

1: Don’t Live The Expectations of Others.

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone (John 6:14-15)

After the miracle of the multiplication of bread and fishes, the people were amazed; and behind their amazement was a desire to make Jesus King—an earthly King. But no, Jesus had a bigger assignment and was not going to settle for any earthly rule, so “he departed again into a mountain”: He rejected their offer before they could even throw it at Him. His assignment was bigger. Just as the people thought to make Jesus King(an earthly king), people―parents, friends, siblings, spouses, teachers etc— might in your life time, attempt to define your life for you. Advice and counsel is good; but be careful you don’t settle for other people’s expectations and ruin your assignment. People will try to impose their expectations on you, but focus and do what you believe God has created you to do.  There will forever be pressure on us to fit into people's mold. Note that this is not the first time an attempt was made at making Jesus a King (other people’s expectations). In the wilderness, the devil offered Him the same opportunity.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee[ I will make you a King], if thou wilt fall down and worship me (Matthew 4:8-9).

Apart from Jesus, we see in John the Baptist another man of God who didn’t allow other people to define his assignment. He knew why he was on earth and will not settle for the expectations of others for his life.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias (John 1:19-23).

John the Baptist knew his assignment; he was a forbearer of the Messiah. His assignment was to pave the way for Christ. See another interesting part of John’s answer: “As said the prophet Esaias [Isaiah]”. This simply means, before John was born, his assignment had already been prepared by God. This is exactly the same scenario that played in God and Jeremiah’s discourse in Jeremiah 1:5. Note that, people who live on assignment cannot be tagged with other people’s assignment, they are unique, they got their own assignment to fulfill.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.)

As you enter this new month, may you keep focused on your assignment and don’t let people’s expectations define what God is doing through you.

-----To Be Continued

Five Tips For Sharing The Gospel Online

1: Have A Message
Approach sharing messages on the net exactly the way you prepare to interact face--- to---face with people. You should have something ready to share. Pray, prepare and ask the Lord to lead you to what to share.

2: Edit Thoroughly
Don't present poorly written content on behalf of the Lord. Edit thoroughly! It's a non-negotiable! You are representing Christ and your message must be excellent(construction, clarity,grammatical accuracy). After you hit send, go back to read over to catch errors and correct them.

3: Mind Your Language
Social Media doesn't diminish your responsibility as a Christian.“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers“ (Ephesians 4:29). Avoid foul language. Avoid cursing. Don't attack anyone for their beliefs: Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Your own words won't change anybody. It's the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that saves.

4: Guard Against Plagiarism
The rules of writing has not changed on social media. Plagiarism is stealing Christians should not steal. Don't use other person‘s work and take credit for it. It's stealing. Give credit where it's due; it's Biblical: give honour to whom honour is due ( Romans 13:7).

5: Use Hashtags: #
Hashtags gives you a wider coverage beyond your friends list.
#Five #Tips For #Sharing The #Gospel #Online

Call For Articles

Truth Publications & BLOOM Magazine Presents:

The GOSPEL WRITERS SERIES

This is a group writing project which will bring together different writers to present their views on pertinent Christian Topics. 

We are taking off with the first in the series "WHAT DOES EASTER MEAN TO YOU?" This will be compiled into an ebook and distributed online for free download. This collaboration is aimed at spreading the gospel of Christ through writing. If you want to be part of this project, please send your article on the topic WHAT DOES EASTER MEAN TO YOU?, between 250-500 words to enochanti@gmail.com before 7th April 2014.

"Easter is the celebration of the authenticity of the Christian faith where our Lord Jesus Christ did die and rose again just as He foretold" Josephine Amoako

The Place of Wise Counsel In Our Lives

Image: Courtesy belief.net

And Solomon said unto God...Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? (2Chronicles 1:8-10).

Solomon: The name has become synonymous to wisdom. Obviously, a man who penned down Proverbs and Ecclesiastes must be nothing short of wisdom. We know however, that the source of his wisdom was God. One day Solomon had what I will describe as a worship service. He sacrificed a thousand burnt offering(vs 6) and I believe that got God's attention. That same night after the sacrifice, God appeared to Solomon and asked him: “Ask what I shall give thee.”(vs 7).

Solomon‘s answer; “Give me now wisdom and knowledge” impressed God: 

...Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life... Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.(vs 11-12).

“Wisdom and Knowledge“, I doubt if that would have been the response of many of us in this generation. We would have asked exactly what Solomon did not ask: 1:Prosperity (riches, wealth). 2: Influence and dominion (honour). 3: Death of our enemies(life of thine enemies) and 4: Long Life(neither yet hast asked long life). Have you ever asked how Solomon got it right with his answer to God's question? I think I found the answer in my Bible study sometime back. See this: 

Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. (1 Chronicles 22:12).

Solomon didn't get it right because he was a genius, no, before God appeared to him, David his father had already instructed him on what is important in his leadership: “wisdom and understanding(Knowledge)”. Those were the exact things Solomon asked when God appeared to him. Who is your counsellor? Who is your adviser? Who is instructing you? Ensure that any counsel or advice you receive ultimately leads you to walking and obeying God

Impacting Our World

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14).

If you use a Bible with a red letter edition, you will then be aware the Scripture quoted are Jesus’ direct words. However, he wasn't speaking about Himself. He was speaking to His disciples (the twelve plus a crowd that had followed Him.) In extension, He is speaking to us too His followers. Jesus is saying anyone who follows me is the light of the world.

Naturally, light dispels darkness. As followers of Jesus we should also dispel darkness: evil, sin and wickedness should not prevail in our lives and the lives we encounter. In a hurting and sinful world, we are to be a source of flavour on earth. Where there is hurt, we bring relief. Where there is despondency, we bring a message of hope. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are a source of nourishment for people burdened and “thirsty“ in life.

Remember, we are representing Christ and the “mission statement” of Christ is equally our mission statement: 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18). 

--- Adapted from TheEmergence of A New Generation,© 2013 Enoch A. Anti, Published by Truth Publlication, P.O. Box CT842 Cantoments-Accra, Ghana. info@truthpublicationsgh.com

 

Available in Ghana at Shell Shops (Osu Regal and La T Junction), Ernest Chemist Retail Shops (Circle, Tudu, Spintex, Odorkor, Legon and Kumasi Santasi) and Banner of Love Bookshop (Nungua). Also available on Amazon.com 

Please Turn To The Table Of Content

I have been yearning to do this write-up for some time now due to observations I have made in Church amongst Christians, but the inspiration has not been strong. On the 11th of Marc, 2014, during a family devotion at dawn, we had to read a text from lamentation. While opening the Bible, one family member asked me: “where is Lamentation”. After Jeremiah I answered.

So I paused the devotion and asked a general question: “why don't people turn to the table of content when a Scripture is mentioned and they can't locate it?”. I got the most obvious answer; “people will think you are not spiritual and don't know the Bible”. I was excited, my thoughts have been confirmed. O! So it's about what people will think?

Erroneously, for many who grew up in church, we have been brought up and conditioned to believe that your ability to know the chronological arrangement of the books of the Bible indicates your spirituality and knowledge of the Bible. Remember the Bible drills? We are forced to memorize the books of the Bible and the exact order they appear. This, it looks has produced a false sense of spirituality amongst adults. Have you noticed how in church you see people frantically trying to locate a Scripture a speaker has mentioned without success? 

Maybe, you have not just noticed; it actually might have happened to you. It does happen to me sometimes; but me I don't waste time at all. I go straight for the Table of Content. Easy! No endless, frantic flipping through the pages of the Bible to locate a text. There's a reason for the table of content in every book, including the Bible. It's meant to help the reader easily navigate the pages of the book. If The Table Of Content is of no use to you, then maybe you should tear it from your Bible. Drastic measure right? You see, you are no less spiritual for referring to the table of content, neither are you more spiritual for not referring to the Table of Content. Please if in doubt, turn to The Table of Content.