ARE YOU THE PERMISSIVE PARENT?

PROVERBS 19:18

“Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” (Proverbs 19: 18).

The Cambridge dictionary defines discipline as “The training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, and there will be punishment if these rules are broken.”

Many things have gone wrong in our society today as a result of “civilisation, modernisation or Westernisation” or whichever name is given to the moral decadence in this new age.

Moral values, decency and respect are things of the past; they have long gone into extinction! Our policy makers devised rules and regulations in favour of moral decadence. Laws are in place to make parents to become handicapped in inculcating moral values into their children. Parents are afraid of their children being taken away from them if 911 are called.

Through the policy makers the devil has planted “designated persons” that children can report the “misconducts” of their parents to.

The irony of life is that these policy makers were brought up with standardised moral values and proper decorum. Hence, their opportunity to be among the high calibres in the society.  Surprisingly, these people are now advocating against the values that made them to become voices to reckon with.

As parents, are you going to fold your hands and watch the society to take over your parenting obligation and your divine mandate from you?

When the chips are down, when the unwanted happens, who will fill the heat the most? It consequences falls on the parents and the child. Although in the long run it will bounce back on the society at large.

Parents do not let your children be among the negative statistics of your society. Train them, in still godly fear in them.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6).

Correct them in love then they go wrong, punish them if need be. If the law of the state can punish an offender, I don’t see any reason why such state should pass any law that would make parents to become permissive to allow the children to do whatever they like, even when they know it could lead to their destruction!

Punishment shouldn’t only be beating and flogging, you can deprive them of some things they like playing with, time out or sitting them down to talk to them and encourage them from the scripture. Don’t always be in approval of everything they do, just to be in their “good book.” They need to be corrected when they are wrong, we are in their lives to guide and direct them to greatness.

Our text says “You should discipline your child for there will be hope in them- if you raise them properly and they amount to greatness in future, you can be sure that your old age is safe and secure.

The later part of the verse says “Do not be a party to his death!” this implies that if a child is not trained in the right way, it can lead to an untimely death. The child may engage in drug, drink-driving, and other dangerous things that can shorten his or her life.

The Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is destruction (Proverbs 14: 12).

Permissive parents always allow their children to have their way so that they can avoid trouble or problem. This parenting style may not end well because it is not good for children to have their ways at all times.

Let there be a time that you will say “NO” to the children. Do not allow your children to take the driver’s seat in your home.

Put your feet down firmly and train them in the way they should go.

Be an authoritative parent- strike a balance between what the children want and what you as the parent wants for them.

I pray that our children will not bring shame and reproach to us in Jesus name.

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ASK UNTIL YOUR JOY IS FULL

TEXT: JOHN 16: 24

“Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.”(John 16:24).

The scripture tells us that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus shall be given to us (John 14:14). Matthew 7: 7 also promised that we should ask and it shall be given to us.

As sweet as these promises are, they do not come to pass at our own timing but according to God’s timing.

God is not a God of “promise and fail.” Whatever He says He will do, He will surely do- He is not a man that he should lie- He’s too faithful to fail, Hallelujah!

However, God’s ways are not our ways; he does things as He pleases, without permission from us or without explanation to us.

God can never make mistakes or commit blunder- Never! He is a good God. Whatever he’s doing (even if it doesn’t make sense to us) will always be in our favour in the long run.

All we have to do is to keep trusting him and lean not on our own understanding- don’t try to figure out what He’s doing, just trust and follow him “sheepishly.”

Somebody once told me that to walk with God; you have to leave your brain behind! Yes, you have to leave your brain (Human wisdom) and be dependent on His directions.

The scripture says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that “to everything there is a season, and a TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE.”

If God tells you to ask for anything in His name that He would do it for you- if you ask in His name and the answer is delaying, that does not mean God is not going to bring His promise to pass in your life.

You will receive the answer to your prayer, the only reason why you think it’s “delaying” is that the appointed time has not come (Eccl. 3:1).

When the set time comes, the Lord will fulfil His promise in your life.

Sadly, some people give up on God at their “near success.” At the verge of breakthrough they get fed up of asking and they retrieve to fate- They stop asking for God’s favour while their joy is yet to be full.

The anchor scripture today is encouraging you not to stop asking for divine favour- continue asking, seeking, knocking on heaven’s door till your prayers will be answered and your joy will be full and overflow.

Be patient, learn to tarry in His presence, learn from Jacob that “abandoned” himself with God saying “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26b).

You too can tell God “I will not let you go and I will not keep quiet until you answer me.”

Do not allow the devil to seal your mouth and hinder you from receiving from God, you have no other place to go. Don’t be weary in your request, continue asking and at the appointed time He will bring His promises to pass and your joy will overflow in Jesus name. Shalom!

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ANY EXPECTATION?

TEXT: PROVERBS 23: 18

“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

Expectation is defined as a strong belief that something will happen or be the case. The Cambridge dictionary defines expectation as “the feeling of expecting something to happen.”
Having known the definition of expectation, I want you to earnestly answer this question “what are your expectations in life?”

Ephesians 3:20 talks about how our great and mighty God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above what we can ever think or imagine. Praise God!

Whatever your expectation is, the Lord is capable of multiplying it for you and make it measure up far beyond what you are expecting.

On this note, we should be very careful what are expectations are. Are your expectations full of negativity because of the situation at hand? Have you lost hope and has given in to fate because of your present situation?

Is the devil making you to expect the worst that things cannot get better again?

Don’t blame God when the expectation of your heart becomes evident in hundred folds more than you envisaged.

Some people pray for a change in their situation, but in their inner mind they have lost hope and did not believe that the situation can change for the best. Although they still pray and do other spiritual exercises, but they have the mind-set that the situation cannot improve (The devil made them to be expectant of negativity).

On the other hand, some people may be at the lowest ebb of their lives, yet they will be optimistic that things will get better- they are expectant of positive change even in the midst of calamity and confusion.

As the Lord has spoken in Proverbs 23: 18 that” the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short.” The Lord will honour His word in their lives and bring positive solution to the challenging issues.

Whatever your expectation is, that is what the Lord will work with- He will grant you the desires of your heart.

Although the Lord has the power to do and undo, yet He loves it when we trust Him absolutely. God promised to grant the desire of the righteous (Proverbs 10: 24). If you faithfully believe the promises of God regardless of any situation that is bothering you, all will be well with you (I can testify of this in my life).

When the Israelites complained that they would have preferred to die in Egypt than suffering in the dessert (Numbers 14). The Lord said to them that He would do to them as they have spoken into His ears (Numbers 14: 28).

Guess what? God granted them the desires of their heart and their expectation- they all died in the wilderness!

Conversely, Abraham showed his faith and his expectation in God when he was told to use Isaac as sacrifice. The boy asked the father “Where is the animal for the sacrifice?” The father replied him that the Lord shall provide, and the Lord surely did! His expectation was not cut off as the Lord promised him.

On the final note brother and sisters, what is your expectation from God? I have good news for you today, no matter what the situation is; keep hope alive, be expectant of positive change and the Lord will show Himself in your favour. Be hopeful, let your expectation be positive expectations because God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ever think or imagine. May the peace of the Lord rest and abide with you, may He calm every storm in your life in Jesus name. Amen.

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ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE?

TEXT: PROVERBS 19: 2

“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor be hasty and miss the way.” (Proverbs 19:2).

Knowledge can be explained as having the facts or having the right information. It can also be explained as skills acquired through experience, practice or education.

Knowledge is having an understanding of a subject matter in a given field.

It can be explained as having first-hand experience or idea.

To excel in life you must have a very good measure of knowledge in your chosen field or sector. Knowledge is what illuminates your mind to see things beyond their real form.

Knowledge transforms your mind from being a novice to a genius in your field of expertise. Knowledge takes people from the level of mediocrity to become experts and helps in the improvement of their lives.

Formal education is not the only avenue to have knowledge for everyday life. Some knowledge are gained informally outside the four walls of school.

In fact, there are some hand on experiences that one may need to learn outside formal setting that would be a bed rock to the experience needed to excel in your chosen field. Formal education may teach the theoretical aspect while non formal setting could be where your “hand on experience” would come from. This is why you have to have an open mind and not to be in a hurry to get things done- take your time to gain knowledge from different angles- knowledge can be gotten from the least expected channel and it may be imparted to you unconsciously (for example; during a casual discussion with someone).

Knowledge makes you to be rightfully informed and makes you to be skilful in your endeavours.

If anyone dabbles into a business or a career without having prior knowledge of the field or venture, if he or she does not know the nitty gritty and what it takes to be successful in such field, failure and frustration is inevitable!

Knowledge is power. The simplest task in the world could pose a problem to someone that does not have the right information and the required knowledge on how to perform such task. Hence, the “simple task” becomes a “mighty mountain” of problem to the ignorant person.

Out text told us that it is not good to have zeal without knowledge. Yes! Some people are so passionate and zealous in their endeavours, but as much as they invested all time and energy to this cause; nothing good is being recorded for them as success. Why? This may be because they fail to add knowledge to their zeal and passion.

I have heard people investing in businesses they know nothing about, but because they have the money to finance it and they heard it is lucrative, they ventured into it without equipping themselves with a little measure of knowledge to run the business. They will hire and expert to run the business, invariably, the life of the business is in the hand of the hired expert. Any negative move from the expert may be the end of the multi- million dollar business!

Rather than their expectation of recording success, they are faced with difficulty and disappointment because they lack the “KNOW HOW” – No prior knowledge of how the business works.

Our anchor text also said “it is not good to be hasty and miss the way.”

Some people are going the wrong direction so fast- They are in a haste going the wrong direction. Mind you, it does not matter how fast you are going, if you are heading toward the wrong direction.

I watched a viral video on Facebook where there was marathon race between some children. The girl that took the first leg of the race ran so fast that she was miles ahead of her competitors. She got to the next leg and gave the baton to the next person in line to continue the race. However, as soon as the boy in the second leg of the race collected the baton, he continue running with the speed of the lightening; but guess what? HE HEADED TOWARD THE WRONG DIRECTION! Instead of running to the finish line, he ran back to the starting point while other competitors that were slow at the first leg of the race continued the race to the finish line.

It is so sad to see that despite the massive distance between the girl that started the race on the first leg and the other competitors, success was not recorded at the end because of the boy that ran to the wrong direction.

At the end of the race, the girl and the boy that could run with the flash of lightening lost the race to the slow competitors!

The message the Lord is passing across to you today is that you should not be zealous for nothing- zealousness without knowledge will amount to failure, frustration and disappointment.

Be rightly informed before you engage in any endeavour. Seek knowledge in any field you want to go into- ask for assistance from those that are successful in the field, do your research, study and read books and journals.

Be very sure you have equipped yourself with enough information and skills before venturing into any field.

Do not be hasty and miss the way- slow and steady wins the race. Don’t join the group of those that are going fast in the wrong direction.

LET YOUR ZEALOUSNESS BE BASED ON KNOWLEDGE.

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PRESENT YOUR VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION AND HONOUR

TEXT: 1 THESSALONIAN 4: 1-8.

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; ² for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, ⁵ not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

Sanctification can be defined as making something or someone holy, setting apart as sacred, purify and be free from sin. On this note, I will define sanctification as separation from the world and  dedication unto God- it means doing away with worldliness, sinful living and embracing holiness- being sold out to God totally by doing His will, walking to please Him in all your ways.

The Bible tells us that the eyes of the Lord are too pure to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). For you to be at peace with God your ways must be right before Him, you must not be in tune with the world.

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4).

We were bought with a price and that makes us to be accountable to the one (God through Christ) that paid the price. Your life is no longer your own anymore because Jesus paid the price with his precious blood. Hence, you cannot live as you want any longer- you must live according to the dictates of your owner (God).  

Whatever God tells you to do, you must do, and your ways must conform to His commands.

From the day you gave your life to Christ, it is expected of you to have turned a new leaf- the scripture says you are now a new man old thing have passed away behold all thing have become new(2 Corinthians 5:17). In this wise, all your sinful old ways shouldn’t be reflecting in you as a new person in Christ.

God wants you to be sanctified, to avoid all form or immorality and other works of the flesh.

Our anchor scripture says in verse four “that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour.” This verse is telling us that it is our sole responsibility to decide to live a sanctified life. You must make the determination to stand out from the world and its sinful pleasure so that you can embrace holiness and attain perfection by the grace of God.

Living a sanctified life is a personal obligation- the determination to live according to God’s precept is a matter of choice rather than coercion. God will not force you to do anything; He has given us the free will of choice.

Your pastor, Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, House fellowship leader or the church counsellor cannot compel you to separate yourself from the world; they can only preach the word and encourage you to be a doer of the word. The onus is on you to obey the word of God and be determined that you will walk blamelessly with Him. Sexual immorality, lust of the eyes and pride of life, greed and covetousness should be avoided.

We are vessels of God- a vessel is an object that can retain contents either liquid or solid substance.

As spiritual vessels your heart can retain things; that is why the writer of our anchor scripture says we should possess our vessels in sanctification and in honour. You are the temple of God the spirit of God lives in you, but as soon as you harbour filthy things inside of you, any immoral act would make the Holy Spirit to take a break from you because light and darkness cannot mingle.

Let no corrupt though be in you like the people of the world. Examine yourself and be honest with yourself, make amends if need be. God did not call us to be impure; but to live a holy life. If you reject this instruction you are rejecting God and the outcome may be grievous.

As you cannot use a dirty plate to eat, so also God cannot use a dirty vessel. You must be purified and sanctified for God to use you.

DON’T SELL YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.

TEXT: GENESIS 25: 27-34

“²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birth right.”

³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birth right to me?”

³³ But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.

Birthright can be defined as a particular right of possession or privilege a person has from birth, especially as an eldest son.

Birthright is a moral right possessed by everyone- birthright can be explained as your inarguable, unncontending right and power bestowed on you at birth. You don’t have to do anything to get it. Birthright is your natural endowment- your natural blessing (no canvassing, competition or lobbying needed).

Our text talked about the twin boys of Isaac and Rebekah named Esau and Jacob they were twins but they were not delivered at the same time. Esau was born before Jacob; this made Esau the first born of the family.

They both grew up and took up different professions of their own.

Esau was a skilful hunter while Jacob was content to staying at home among the tent.

In those days, firstborns were honoured with the right to have right over the father’s assets – they can exercise authority and responsibilities after the death of their father. In addition to assuming the leadership role of the family, the first born is bestowed the privilege to inherit twice than what other children will receive- there is no argument about this because it is the natural law of being the firstborn of a family (birthright).

As believers, we have an inheritance of birthright through Jesus who is the firstborn of the almighty God.

Success, blessing, breakthrough,  accelerated promotion and so on are your birthright as a genuine believer, so you don’t need to be running around looking  to get what is already yours- you don’t beg or solicit for what belongs to you!

Back to our anchor scripture; Esau came back home hungry from hunting his hunting trip. He saw his brother Jacob cooking porridge and he begged his brother to give him some to eat.

Jacob asked his brother to part with his birthright with his birthright for him to eat from his food.

Can you imagine what Jacob wanted in exchange of some morsel of porridge? (Think of the definition and the explanation I talked about in the beginning).

Esau did not think much of his glorious future and all the benefits attached to being the firstborn before he accepted to sell his birthright for momentary pleasure or satisfaction!

How many pots of porridge do you think he would have been able to have in his possession if he had endured the hunger that made him to sell his birthright?

However, he was unable to hold on to make his own food- he was unable to delay his gratification. Hence, he sold his glorious future for a brief enjoyment and satisfaction.

Likewise, as children of God you have glorious future ahead of you. It does not matter what you are going through now, regardless of what the devil is making you to see about yourself, if you can wait and endure the challenge, God will set you free and you will enter into your inheritance.

Do not fall for the “deceiving and enticing offer” of the devil. The devil has nothing good to offer you. All he wants to do is to entice you with “small morsel” of gift or blessing to steal your birthright forever!

 The devil’s gift does not last long- like the morsel of porridge Esau sold his birthright for did not last him the whole week, because I believe he ate something else after his porridge ordeal.

Do not let the devil deceive you with some fake or make believe “breakthrough” that will deprive you from enjoying the inheritance of your birthright. Persevere; be able to delay your gratification- instant gratification may bring calamity and regret.

Be careful of the nature of offer you will accept so that you don’t tie down your destiny.

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ARE YOU A MENTOR OR A TORMENTOR?

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 17: 38- 50

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LordAlmighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines a mentor as a trusted counsellor or a guide. A mentor is the one that helps you to get to the highest level of your career or your life in general.

A mentor works on you to bring out the best in you, he or she helps to bring out your authentic power, call your inner power out from within and brush, polish, shape, dress, refine or sharpen it to become a “rare gem.”

A mentor encourages, trains, and impacts you to become a better version of yourself- he or she helps you to develop new idea, skills and knowledge.

A mentor makes all effort within his or her reach to add value to you and make sure that you become successful in your chosen filed.

A mentor is a personal advocate in the secret that the evidence of his or her mentorship will become evident through the life of the mentee without having the feeling of insecurity or jealousy. A mentor leaves you a lot better than he or she met you.

A tormentor on the other hand is the one who causes repeated emotional pain, distress or annoyance to another. A tormentor does not want anybody around him to be successful.

When anybody tries to do something better than him (the tormentor), he gets jealous and angry and will look for every means to jeopardise the effort of the tormented.

Some Christian leaders, departmental heads in the church are tormentors. They get jealous and feel insecure as soon as anybody under them starts excelling. Instead of them to support and help build such person as a mentor will do, they will use all available channels to pull him or her down- this is ungodly!

Some leaders will bet on their lives never to see any of their subordinates successful. Instead of being a mentor to their subordinate they will become his or her tormentor by making life miserable and unbearable for the helpless subordinate. A tormentor would device all mechanism to frustrate his subordinates. He can demote him or her; he can remove the subordinate from any position that will accelerate his progress. Some wicked leaders (Tormentor) can go to the extent of plotting to kill the excelling subordinate.

In first Samuel 16 when God told Samuel to anoint David as the king, David was appointed by Saul to be playing the instrument for him. Saul was the king and David was his “music boy.”

“David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour bearers. Then saul sent word to Jesse saying “Allow David to remain in my service for I am PLEASED WITH HIM.” (1 Samuel 16: 21-22).

David continued in Saul’s service. There was no rivalry or discord between them until David killed Goliath and people started to praise David. Saul became jealous and wanted David dead by all means.

“⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

(1 Samuel 18: 8-11).

Saul’s once “undying love” for David became hatred as soon as David’s fame started to spread. The plan of God came to pass on David and he triumph over Saul despite all odds. Learn from this account, as a leader do not be a tormenting leader to your followers, because either you like it or not the plan of God will come to pass in their lives.

 A tormentor will be disgraced and a mentor will be promoted and be blessed. Be a mentor and not a tormentor for God will reward you accordingly.

THE MIGHTY HANDS OF GOD

TEXT: EZRA 8:32 ^b, 8:31

 “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”

^31 “On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canalto go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.”

Our God is a mighty God that created the universe by the outstretched of His hands. The hands of God are so strong and mighty that nothing can hinder Him from whatever He wants to accomplish.

Talking about the mighty hands of God is talking about His awesome power. The mighty hands of God make the impossible to become possible- His hands are “situation changer.” This is why people say “Lord, I can see your hands in my life- that means the power of God has changed their situation for good. “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” (Ezra 8:22 ^b ). This verse is telling us that the hands of God have “dual functionality”- To us His righteous children; His hands will work in our favour to deliver, heal,  give blessing and breakthrough set free, fight and win our battles, make way for us, makes us to advance over adversaries and so on. On the other hand, God’s mighty hands work to bring calamity, defeat, hardship, failure, wrath and judgement on His enemies and the enemies of His children.

I said earlier that God’s hands mean God’s power- we will be considering the wonders that God did in the Bible with His mighty hands.

Our first reference is going to be the mighty hands that delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Genesis 14).

Pharaoh was very stubborn in the beginning; he did not want to release the children of God to be free from the age long bondage of slavery.

The wrath of God came upon Egypt when God stretched His mighty hands on the land and affected them with plagues.  The lord proved his power and might at the Red sea to the detriment of Pharaoh and his chariots.

God’s out stretched hands parted the Red sea and the children of Israel walked freely on dry land to safety- the Lord granted deliverance to His children with His out stretched mighty hands!

However, the same mighty hand that delivered God’s children was what drowned His enemies the Egyptian army.

The hands of God can be seen positively or negatively it depends on where you stand (if you are for Him or against Him).

I pray for you that you will not encounter the hands of God in a negative way in Jesus name.

Another example of God’s mighty hands at work is in the book of second Chronicles 20. It is the account of Jehoshaphat. The Ammonites, the Moabites and the rest were coming to wage war against Jehoshaphat. He went to God and asked for God to help them fight their battle. Jehoshaphat followed God’s instruction of inviting worshippers and playing, singing and dancing to the Lord at the war front.

Without them having any weapon of war, the Lord gave victory to Jehoshaphat. The Lord took it upon himself to fight the battle with His mighty hands. There are other numerous instances where God used His mighty hands to bring deliverance and judgement accordingly.

If you are against Him, He will show you His hands negatively and if you are for Him; He will show you His hands positively. May destruction not be our portion in Jesus name.

May the mighty hands of God that does wonders work in our favour in Jesus name. Amen.

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THE PUZZLE OF LIFE

TEXT: JOHN 15:4- 7

“4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.⁷ if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Life is a puzzle and putting it together could be challenging. That is why we need the help and assistance of God.

A jigsaw puzzle can be defined as puzzle consisting of small irregularly cut pieces that are to be fitted together to form a picture. (Merriam Webster Dictionary).

I work as a childcare practitioner- a Classroom leader to be precise. My duty is to assist the children in my group to make their day in the playschool meaningful and enjoyable by stimulating learning environment and planning child centred activities- guiding them through the learning period.

One beautiful morning, as I welcomed the children as they were coming in; we planned the day and the children chose what they wanted to do at their work time (this is when each child decides where they want to play in the room). There was a beautiful girl that always starts her day by setting all the jigsaw puzzles in the room before she would move to any other activity in the room.  I sat beside her as she was setting the puzzles- I was motivating her as she succeeds in putting the right piece in the right place. I used words of encouragement like “good girl, well-done, brilliant and so on to motivate her.

At a point she got stuck and she called me for help (that was my reason for sitting beside her). “Teacher, I need help” she stated. I moved close to the board and found out that she was holding a wrong piece of puzzle in her hand and she was forcing it to the wrong place with all rigors! “I said to her “you have the wrong piece in your hand, drop it and let’s look for the right one.” She replied “NO, I want to put this one first.”

I tried my best to explain to her that she has to drop the wrong piece for us to look and place the right piece in the puzzle so that she can continue with the setting- as the wrong piece WILL NOT fit in that place that she’s forcing it to.

However, all my explanation and implorations was to no avail as she refused to let go of the wrong piece she was holding. I have to respect her will and choice; I cannot impose my will on her so I let her be. She continued to struggle with the wrong piece she refused to let go. She continues forcing the wrong piece in the wrong place while I look.

After a while, she became frustrated and got fed up with the struggle; she left the table without being able to set the puzzle to completion. Her strong self-will made her to refuse to let go of the wrong piece even though it debar her from achieving her goal of completing the jigsaw puzzle.

As I watched her struggling with the wrong piece, the Holy Spirit said to me

“This is how you human beings struggle with your maker in the issues of your life. You hold on to the wrong thing in life and you will start calling on God for help and assistance. When God tells you to drop your will for His will, you will start arguing and look for a way to manipulate God to work with your will and choice. Being who God is – Polite and gentile, He will respect your will without forcing His will on you, and He will let you make your choice. When your choice or what you decided is not working as you expected; you will become angry and frustrated thinking God has failed you.”

For days, I reflected on the illustration of the Holy Spirit and the scenario that happened at work. Permit me to ask you readers “do you see yourself in this illustration? Are you in anyway struggling with the will of God for your life? Are you holding on to the wrong piece of life’s endeavour or task to complete the puzzle of your life? Trust me, it will not work. You have to drop any wrong thing that you are holding on to, the Lord is set to give you the right piece that will compliment and complete your life. Without the right piece of puzzle that the Lord wants to add to your life, your life cannot be complete. It may be in the area of business, career, and life partner and so on. Take an inventory of your life and see where you are struggling with the will of God. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 1:5 that God knew you before He made you, He is the only one that has the right piece of puzzle that will make  the picture of your life to be complete- Not your pastor, parents, or your career guidance counsellor!

He will not force His will on you, therefore, you have to be willingly let go of your will for His will.

Like I couldn’t help the girl in the story as much as I made myself available to help her, in the same way; God will not be able to render any help if you are not willing to let go of your wrong choice.

For you not to be frustrated, drop that wrong piece and allow God to give you the right piece. that will bring about the perfect picture for your life.

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