BE VIGILANT AND SOBER

The events of present times call for great vigilance in the natural and more importantly, the spiritual. The scriptures tells us that

 "Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious and on our guard) and let us be sober(calm, collected) and circumspect” 1 Thessalonians 5.6NKJV.(emphasis mine)

As I thought on this, it reminded me of a story in the book; Gulliver’s Travels where an English surgeon, Lemuel Gulliver had a business failure and took to the seas to get away and in the process experienced a shipwreck. He survived the incident and awoke from his unconsciousness to find himself in the land of very tiny people called the Lilliputians who had bound him with tiny threads and defended themselves against their prisoner with arrows that were like pin pricks on his body.

How did Gulliver’s, a thousand times their size get himself in that situation? Because of his weakened position. Even though he was bigger, these minute Lilliputians seem to have the upper hand to overrun him in his vulnerable condition.

This is what we suffer when we are not vigilant about the happenings in our lives and even those that are external but which effect will affect our lives or our loved ones. Wrong influences can easily slip into our lives if our heart is not established in the Word and watchful. This will lead to being bound in both spiritual and physical oppression that leads to frustration, pain and a limiting quality of life.

The scriptures speaks “be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom to devour: whom resist steadfast in faith...”1 Peter5.8-9KJV(emphasis mine)

How then do we ensure that we are not caught in the bond of the enemy of our soul because his schemes will always be present with us? It is by being VIGILANT AND SOBER. In other words, ensure that we are in the right frame of mind (the mind of Christ: see a teaching on this at http://expereincejesusonline.blogspot.com) about anything because a little opening will catch us in his net.

We can’t do this without a daily constant communication with the Holy Spirit to keep us alert in the spirit. It is too late to catch sometime that has entered your natural space. You will suffer the consequences. The Holy Spirit helps to shed light on those areas of our life that we need to make adjustments, some of them are sinful habits we need to get rid off as they weaken us spiritually eroding our power to deal with the adversary and te challenges of life.

Some of these traits may be deemed fashionable in the worldview but not in God’s eyes. They keep us from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit – distracting loud sounds in our thoughts. Remember, we overcame by the Blood of Jesus Christ and not by any other way. The only way we can enter into this experience is through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There are no shortcuts or automatic admission. No spiritual guidance – no victory!!!. Don’t have the Gulliver’s experience that was at the mercy of miniature captors because of his exposed condition. BREAK FREE AND LIVE

THE AWESOME POWER OF COMMUNION

“Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me....This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” 1 Corinthians 11.24-25NKJV

Our victory in life is secured by the Blood of Jesus. Whatever accomplishments we have in our faith is because HIS BODY was broken up for our salvation. That we have in Christ a hope that is eternal and yet tangible in glorious experiences is possible because of the Blood of Christ. How often do we participate in this spiritual renewal of our essential fellowship with Christ?

Private communion is one of the ways we strengthen our. I know communion is taken in our various churches at different times. But that is not enough. We should not be Christians who live by public fellowship only. That is a sign of spiritual malnourishment. Change most often comes in times of personal communication with God when we are stripped bare of any external considerations we may have.

I encourage you to begin your personal communion with Christ. When I discovered this wonderful exercise, it was a very good experience to build a closer relationship with Christ. When at communion, you take time to reflect on the implications of the death and resurrection of Christ and you will get a deeper perspective on your life and whatever issues you are dealing with.

Communion can be taken at your own discretion because it is not to be seen as a religious ritual. I take it at various times. These includes in a fast, in certain health challenges or just to reconnect with more strength for my faith journey. Other times, you may sense the instinctive need to take communion over an issue. 

No set rules other than to have an appreciation of the work of Calvary and its benefit. It is also essential for spiritual growth, stability and maturity. Perhaps if more Christians have such times of connecting with God, there will be more maturity and fewer tendencies to be carried away by wrong doctrines and influences. Think on this.

The communion bread is widely available at most Christian bookshops and very reasonably priced for they come in small packs. You may use biscuit or small piece of bread. You can use non alcoholic beverage for the wine. What is crucial is the state of your heart as you come to communion.

It is important to recognise that we are partaking of THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS AND NOT BREAD AND WINE. It may seem simple but they are those who think it is a bread and wine substitute. No! It is Christ’s body and blood that must be in our consciousness. No substitutes. This is a VERY SERIOUS SPIRITUAL ACT AND NOT PLAY ACTING

While at communion, ask God to keep you in His mercy and strength as He provided CHRIST at the Cross. As you regularly take communion, your relationship with Christ will become more personal, passionate and solid. This is a wonderful ceremony of life. Experience Jesus

THE LAW OF GROWTH

The concept of growth is one that is a law of life. In both spiritual and secular worlds, advancement is sought after. But it is the process that distinguishes the spiritual from the worldview. Many scriptures speak of this very crucial and life changing principle in many ways. It also explains how growth works in order to produce the divine objective. In 1 Peter 2.2-3, we are advised to grow from babes to mature Christians

 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” NKJV

We are also taught what type of enlargement we should seek.

“But grow in grace (undeserved favour, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (The Messiah)...” 2 Peter 3.18. Amplified Bible

Furthermore, we are shown the pattern of expansion is of a progressive kind. We go from one level to another being faithful and diligent on each position. The parable of the sower was used by Jesus to illustrate this truth of the Kingdom which is also applicable in all facets of life.

“And he said, with what can we compare the kingdom of God or what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which when sown upon the ground is the smallest of all seeds upon the earth. Yet after it is sown, it grows up and becomes the greatest of all garden herbs and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air are able to make nests and dwell in its shade” Mark 4.30-32. Amplified Bible.

This parable teaches that the Kingdom experience is a practice that begins from a small step to the bigger advancements that creates more impact. We must understand that the seed though small has the capacity to become a huge tree providing a benefit to other species of life – man, plants, birds and insects. The law of the Kingdom is about the transformation of a person from within to the outward in an unfolding manner – a steady development.

The heart is the centre of this improvement in a person. Its importance is emphasised.

“Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life” Proverbs 4.23 NKJV

The heart is the “true source of sin or righteousness. When the heart is corrupt, the life and conduct will be corrupt. When the heart is clean, the life will be clean and the fruit good” Dakes Annotated Reference Bible, Page 42(New Testament)

Therefore God’s enlargement is a spiritual makeover. This comes from a daily intake of the WORD in knowledge and experience.

“And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12.2 NKJV( emphasis mine)

By allowing a fresh experience of the Word from the Holy Spirit in all areas of your life, the inner man gets enriched producing on the outside outstanding results. The spiritual is working in a man to affect the natural.

On the flip side is the outlook of the world that seeks growth from the outside – external trappings of success, fame, notoriety and every ego lifestyle. Its motto is the Machiavellian code of the end justifies the means and therefore seeks to nourish and placate the ‘self’ rather than the spirit. It leads to a belief system that has no place for any true spiritual reformation.

It is a materialistic mindset that does not include any character development. It feeds all manner of selfish lifestyles even as it affects the undiscerning mind with its deceptive form that produces unpleasant consequences. The present economic woes that are threatening world peace and humanity as a whole came out of this system of ‘outwardly yet downwardly mobile’

“Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God, for all these worldly things, these evil desires – the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you and the pride that comes from wealth and importance – these are not from God..” 1 John 2.15-16. Living Bible. (emphasis mine)

When anyone seeks to develop from the outward, he is laying the ground work for a slow destruction of his heart (soul, mind) where the decisions of life play out. This is what the scripture warns against. The world view is not always as obvious as many think or they will not fall for it. Often times, its subtlety lies in being attractive in a deceptive manner.

One of such beliefs is to associate the spiritual life in Christ as unfashionable, dull, unattractive and unappealing and equate the secular living with fun, success, trendy, sexy and of course fashionable.  So what do carnal Christians do? They seek after that life as that which is exciting and then wonder why they are not taken seriously about their faith by their unbelieving friends. Of course, there is no difference in lifestyle.

Consider the way the world markets success – devoid of spiritual foundations but seeking carnal desires of every dimension. But the scriptures disprove this false impression of the righteous lifestyle.

In Psalm 112, it states the experiences of a man that honours and walks with God.

“Blessed is the man who fears the LORD. Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth. The generations of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house and his righteousness endures forever”1-3NKJV

The deception of  lack with spiritual righteousness has been perpetuated by the devil to deceive Christians to live by the world’s code and to keep unbelievers in bondage. The state of shalom in Hebrew which is peace; a blessed state includes all manner of prosperity from the spiritual, physical to the material giving both inner and outward state of rest. That is the true growth – The Christian experience. We are challenged not to waver from God’s way by these words

“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way. Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass” Psalm 37.7NKJV

God does not want us to be carried away by seeking external success that we endanger our souls. When we put Him first, we will walk in the peace that He gives and which has taken care of our wellbeing. If you had the world’s mindset about life (even in a small measure) perhaps you should learn from what the scriptures say in order to be ‘the man or woman after God’s heart’

“Truly God is good to Israel to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful. When I saw the prosperity of the wicked... Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end” Psalm 73.1-3,17NKJV