A GRANDCHILD OF GOD?

John 3

• 5:Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

• 6:That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

I am about to make a very controversial statement and you have to take me on in the context of the statement if you have to.There's one major difficulty in living a fruitful Christian life; and that is been born into a Christian home or having Christian Parents.

Let me explain. If you were born into a Christian home(2nd generation christian), chances are that you are going to grow up knowing everything about Christianity---going to Church, having morning devotions and becoming accoustomed to Christian living. You probably are going to even become highly moral and self-rigtheous. The biggest danger is that you are going to walk around believing you're a Christian because your parents are Christians---God is your grandfather.

I know how it feels been born into a Christian home, However, at a particular point in my life, it became a problem because I was continously faced with the question of “are you saved?“,“where will you spend eternity? “do you have Jesus in your life?“ and truth be told, they were very troubling questions for me because I thought to myself: “but I am a Christian, I don't need to answer these questions?“ But when left on my own, those same questions came back haunting me. I knew I had to answer those questions one day. I thank God I took that bold step and asked Jesus into my life. I became born again.

Friend, don't be deceived. You are not a christian because your parents are christians. God has only children---sons and daughters---not grandsons and granddaughters. If you have been born into a christian home and haven't ever asked Jesus into your life, please take some time off and consider the hard truth: YOU HAVE TO BE BORN AGAIN.

THE HIGHEST PURSUIT

• That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death(Philippians 3:10)

It is a “high tension“ world, running around for things that can just be described as “perishable goods“--- cars,houses,money,fashion,gadgets(as a friend categories the latest mobile technologies). Now don‘t misinterpret me, I am in no way speaking against the above, that will be hypocrisy on my part. I equally desire and pursue these things. Man! I also want to drive a good car and live well.

However, as good as these things are, there's a part of the human being that cannot be satisfied with material things, no matter how much is accumulated. Jesus knew this well that's why he encouraged us to “...seek... first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.“

 Note carefully that Jesus wasn't condemning material things; He rather taught priority of the kingdom of God and rigtheousness over material things. He seem to be saying “first things first“.

Philipians 3:10 introduces us to a very successful minister of the gospel, Paul, who despite all he did for God's kingdom, he still had a desire for a knowledge of Christ. That  was his highest pursuit. This is an indicator that success in any form cannot satisfy the longing heart. Does it surprise you that rich people still meddle with the occult? What about hearing about a rich person committing sucide? I believe this explains well the fact that despite all the material success, there's a longing of the heart that can only be filled by the Creator and He should be our Highest Pursuit

STARTING THE DAY RIGHT

• From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.(Psalms 61:2KJV)

Probably the number one on the “to do list“ of a day should be starting the day in God's presence---quite time. I am careful in making a general statement here because it might not be the case of everybody. 

I have come to a realisation that if I don‘t start my day with time in God's presence my whole day becomes “someway“. I carry all sorts of negative emotions into the day. I become impatient, easily get irritated, defensive and I “struggle“ through out the day feeling defeated and empty by close of day. 

If this is your case, lets together agree that first things first: We won't just jump out of bed into the day without time with God. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;“ (Psalms 63:1).

FACING REALITIES

FACING REALITIES

• And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28KJV)

The situation is bad---yet faith tells you to remain positive and probably make a good confession about the situation. Are we living in denial, escapism or superstition? 

If we do an inventory of our lives, the things that have made great impact on us have not been the really fine smooth events. Those count, but the difficult and most trying moments that did not make sense are those events that eventually shaped, built character, hope, endurance, purpose and a sense of direction. Mostly bringing about a complete turn around to persue what is worthy. In the long run, adversity brings out the best in every human being. To remain positive therefore, in difficult moments for a Christian, is not escapism; it's a firm belief in the words of God and an acknowledgement that God knows what is best for us.

 If Job can boldly say that “..[God] knoweth the way that I take: when [God] hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.“ (Job 23:10), then every Christian should be able to endure and acknowledge that this challenge shall also produce the best in me. The reality is that bad situations always---always produces great end results. This is not living in denial escapism or superstition.The reality is that God is always up to something good when things don't go our way.

YOUNG BUT WISE

JOB 32(NIV)

This is an awsome scripture, no wonder the book of Job is categorised as Poetry/wisdom book, I just stopped reading, stood and clapped for this young man called Elihu...Let me share portions of Job 32 with you. If you are a young person, believe what you have, it will make lots of difference, believe with all your heart and speak when you have to speak---wisely!

• 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. 3 He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.6 SO ELIHU SON OF BARAKEL THE BUZITE SAID:“I AM YOUNG IN YEARS, AND YOU ARE OLD; THAT IS WHY I WAS FEARFUL, NOT DARING TO TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.7 I THOUGHT, ‘AGE SHOULD SPEAK; ADVANCED YEARS SHOULD TEACH WISDOM.’8 BUT IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON, THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY, THAT GIVES THEM UNDERSTANDING.9 IT IS NOT ONLY THE OLD WHO ARE WISE, NOT ONLY THE AGED WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS RIGHT 10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. 11 I waited while you spoke,I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words,12 I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments…17 I TOO WILL HAVE MY SAY; I TOO WILL TELL WHAT I KNOW. 18 FOR I AM FULL OF WORDS, AND THE SPIRIT WITHIN ME COMPELS ME; 19 INSIDE I AM LIKE BOTTLED-UP WINE, LIKE NEW WINESKINS READY TO BURST. 20 I MUST SPEAK AND FIND RELIEF; I MUST OPEN MY LIPS AND REPLY. 21 I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone; 22 for if I were skilled in flattery,  my Maker would soon take me away.

If we fast track to Chapter 42, You see God coming on the scene to rebuke Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Where is Elihu in God's rebuke? I believe he spoke the truth to a large extent, so he was spared.

• 7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.

Elihu! Not bad for a son's name at all.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: AN ANALOGY FROM THE WATER DISPENSER III

If you have been following this water dispenser series(read I and II if this is your first read), I have being drawing an analogy from the water dispenser and comparing it with the life of a Christian. Today I‘ll provide three points to take care of a Drained, Stained and broken down dispenser.

1.Get Back into Fellowship.

“Abide in me, and I in you...“ (John 15:4).
There is a danger we all face as Christians: going for weeks and sometimes months without a personal devotional life which leaves us drained without any vitality. If we have to replenish and renew our flow to others and became effective in dispensing life to others, we ourselves need a renewal and a replenishing through daily fellowshipping. You can't detach from your source and expect to continue giving.

2. Allow the Word to cleanse you.

I stopped playing “holier than thou“ long ago; its a boring life to live, it helps no one---fact is that life is full of challenges that can knock you off; but God is very graceful and loves us so much He has given us His word to cleanse us and expose ourselves to us. The Word cleanses and restores more than any self-help strategy can: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.“ (John 17:17).

3. God has to take Somethings away or Replace Them

When a dispenser breaks down, it has to be dismantled and repaired---some parts taken away and others replaced. This is to make it function effectively again. God in an attempt to make us effective, also take out or add new things to our lives. “...every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth[pruneth] it, that it may bring forth more fruit“ (John 15:2). If you have some Agric knowledge, you know what pruning does. It takes away “excess branches“ to allow more room for growth. Some things must go out of your life to make room for more fruit. Pruning is not fun, if the plant can talk, it will surely express pain: Arghh! Ouch! This means God does allow pain for growth. The pruning process in our lives is custom made and might differ from person to person but with one aim. More Fruit! More efficiency!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: AN ANALOGY FROM THE WATER DISPINSER II

Whilst putting my thoughts together for this post, a song came into my mind. I don't know the exact words, but a line goes like this: “If I were a writer I will use my pen...“. I smiled and said: “If I were a water dispenser, I will dispense water to your glory“. If you have read my earlier post; WATER DISPENSER, then we can take off from here, If not, please read it or this won't make sense. Now, as a water dispenser, you will interact with people everyday and there are a possibility of a number of things that can happen to you.

1.YOU CAN GET DRAINED/EMPTY

If you are going to be of any use or help to people, get ready for the virtues that will leave your life to bless others. Anyone who is involved in reaching out to people can testify of the pouring out of strength from deep within. No! You can't do a shallow work; you have to give out from the wells of water that is within. People are rarely blessed by mere words; they are blessed by words spoken or written with passion and genuiness of heart. When people approach you, they approach you because they are thirsty: replenish them with the deep waters.

2. YOU CAN GET STAINED.

Next time you see a dispenser, get close and watch. If it has not been cleaned, you will see stains: Milo, Coffee, Tea, Oil(from oily hands) and unseen germs/bacteria. Have you noticed some angry people hit at a dispenser? Bam! Because the water is finished. Now, in our interactions with people, we might get stained. Get ready; its human beings we‘re reaching out to and some will hurt us, make us angry, betray us, take advantage of us, cheat us and the list is endless.

3. YOU CAN BREAKDOWN

In the process of meeting the needs of people and ministring to them; you can break down: Discouragement can set in, loneliness, depression, dissatisfaction etc can all attack us and make us ineffective.