WHO ARE YOU?

JOHN 1

 19:And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

 20: And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
  21: And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

 22: Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

 23: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

A very simple question, WHO ARE YOU? The answer to this question can make all the difference in a person’s life. Who are you will straight away generate a lot of answers.I am from…my name is… my father is… I am 20 years young (old)…I schooled at…I have a Masters in…. Is that who you really are? Your tribe, country, age, parents, qualifications e.t.c: Is that all you really are?

Tribe, country, family, association etc is not what this question seeks at all. Who are you is a simple question that defines your assignment on earth. Who are you? In order words, what is your assignment? Why are you on earth.When all titles, positions, qualifications and degrees are stripped off you, what is your real worth? When John the Baptiste was asked the “who are you” question, he didn’t mince with words at all, he gave the straight answer. “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias”

John the Baptiste knew his assignment, he was a forbearer of the Messiah. His only assignment was to pave the way for Christ and nothing more. See another interesting part of John’s answer: “As said the prophet Esaias[Isaiah]”. This simply means that, before even 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.

• Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:5).

We are all here on specific assignment and until we crack that code of our assignment, life has not begun for us. There’s no myth or mysteries around our assignment, we only need to check with the one who created us. Before we dropped here on earth, there was a prepared assignment waiting to be accomplished. The world is waiting for your manifestation (Romans 8:19)

It’s time we start living on assignment and not on ad hoc duties. If you don’t live your assignment, all you are doing on earth is ad hoc duties. Imagine how that will feel. Having an employment without any job specification, you always go to the office and do ad hoc duties. Can you bear that?

Note these three points down. 

1. People who live on assignment, leave a legacy/record) when they are gone. (vs 19: And this is the record of John… 
2.  People who live on assignment don’t pretend to be who they are not ( vs 20: I am not the Christ    
3. People who live on assignment cannot be tagged with other peoples assignment, they are unique, they got their own assignment to fulfill (vs 21 : And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. )

GOD HAS A PLAN

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Genesis 1:1-2

• In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

This is a very common scripture I believe we all know. But something happened  with this scripture that joggled me.  My three year old daughter has a beginners Bible. This is how Genesis 1:1-2  appears in the beginners Bible.

• In the beginning the world was empty. Darkness was everywhere But God had a plan.

 One of the nights whilst reading to her; "But God had a plan" suddenly hit me hard.   Wow! God had a plan. In the midst of the  emptiness ( chaos, disorder and darkness) of the earth,  God had a plan.  In the same way, our lives are not accidents.  Whatever happens to a believer, "God has a plan"

• For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11NIV).

Great feeling...God has a plan. His hand is in every single detail of  our lives. He works everything out for  our good (Romans 8:28).

God has a plan  

A NEW GENERATION

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Genesis 15

• 13. And he[God] said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 
•  14.  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

When God was speaking to Abram(Abraham) about the future of his descendants in the scriptures above, I believe He specifically spoke about two generations. 

1. The Joseph Generation (vs 13)
2. The Moses Generation(vs14)

Remember it was Joseph who sent the Israelites to Egypt to eventually become slaves and Moses took them out of slavery. God throughout the existence of the world works with generations.

In every generation, God has an agenda. Now, the current influx of youngmen and women participating in business, politics, and other spheres of life is not a mere coincidence. It is a big statement from God that He is raising a new breed of youngmen and women to take over the affairs of their generatiion. There is an older generation out there that will definetly "hand over" to a young generation who will become the future leaders of tomorrow.  

• "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh...." (Ecclesiastes 1:4). 

I personally believe this is the right time for every young person to pursue their God given abilities because the opportunities of today will produce the leaders of tomorrow.  What "burns" in your heart? What makes you feel fulfilled? What dreams do you have in your heart?

Put your hands to the wheels and start working towards those dreams. If you don't,  you will be a follower tomorrow and the leaders will be those who started working towards their dreams today.

GOD! I GOT QUESTIONS

                                                                     John 4:11, 27

• 11. “Sir, the woman said “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep, Where can you get this living water?

• 27 “Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

We have had the privilege of the blessings of two children in our young marriage. It is fun watching these children grow and it is more exhilarating when these kids begin to teach you serious lessons about life. Children have a very probing mind. We don’t do anything in our home without a tiny voice asking “daddy what is that”, “daddy where is mummy”, “mummy where did did did you go” That repeated “did” is not a typo, our 1 and a half year boy can’t just ask “mummy where did you go” —he does not stammer— it is just his way of asking that particular question “…where did did did you go” We have really learnt many lessons and most importantly many spiritual lessons from our kids. 

Let me share with you some of the lessons I have learnt about asking God questions. Really, can we ask God questions? Can we ask Him why? What’s up? Why me? What are you doing? How will you see me through this? Do you know how this will also end? Do you still have the plans for my life in front of you? Are you still on my case? I hope you have not forgotten about me? Did you cause this? 

Look at the contrast in the two scriptures above. Whilst the woman was asking Jesus questions, the disciples, who walk with Him every day could not ask Him why? We read about Thomas and we call him names: Doubting Thomas! But can you blame him? The guy needed answers, so He asked questions. Jesus rebuked Thomas for “faithlessness” though, but eventually He got to feel the wounds of Jesus. He got the proof he needed?

“Come let us reason together…” is an open invitation from God to us to engage Him with questions. Everyone who walked with God was a questioner. Abraham (How can this be, seeing I am old), Moses(what should I tell the people), Jacob (Tell me thy name), David(This man’s Psalms are full of questions, read the Psalms for yourself), Mary(How can this be), Peter(We have left all and followed you…), Paul(Who are you Lord), JESUS(WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?). 

Questions are a part of our journey with Christ. We don’t know it all. There are times God seems silent on issues of life and to get clear directions, we need to probe and budge Him with questions for His answers. No wonder it’s called questions and answers. You ask God questions, and He gives you answers. 

Eye opener! Questions unveil to us the hidden things of God.

• Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3)

Recently, a friend was refused a student’s visa and her questions began. Apparently, this friend believes God has already dealt her a raw deal already with a situation she has been through. So when this refusal also followed, her questions started pouring out and guess what, the questions to God were directed at me. Why me? Why is that unbelievers seem to be having all they want and not me? We were having this conversation on what’s up. So any time she poses a question, I followed it up with my comment “It’s ok…let it out” After she had let it all out, I deliberately poured out some questions I also have on my mind to encourage her to know it’s ok to ask questions especially those directed towards God. 

I have many questions on my mind, I ask God many questions. I don’t understand a lot of things happening in my life. But through it all, I understand one thing: all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.  

Do you have questions that are beating your mind? Go to God in prayer and ask Him. 

• Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7).