AVAILABILITY, A CRITERIA?

And Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children? And he said, there remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither. 1 Samuel 16:11

AVAILABILITY, A CRITERIA?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 13-15

After Saul’s disobedience, God rejected him as king over Israel and chose David the son of Jesse. He told Samuel (the king maker), I am done with Saul, there is no point mourning over him. I want you to fill your horn with oil and go to Jesse’s house; I have chosen one of his sons as Saul’s replacement. When the old prophet got to Jesse’s house, he told him, bring out your sons because the Lord has chosen one of your lads to be the next king of Israel. Delighted Jesse lined up his seven sons before Samuel. The moment Samuel saw the first born, Eliab, he arose to anoint him because the young man ticked all the boxes. He was tall, handsome with a charming smile. As he took out the horn to anoint him, the Lord said to Samuel, I have rejected him! Outwardly he is good but inwardly he is terrible.

Many a times when God warns us against certain people, we find it hard to believe because these people appear perfect outwardly. They don’t smoke, drink, swear, fornicate, etc. By the time we get to 1 Samuel 17:28, we see the true Eliab. His father (Jesse) sent his younger brother (David) to bring food for him and his brothers. The moment he saw David, he didn't even ask about his welfare or his father’s welfare, he just began to scream and shout at this poor boy for no good reason. Eliab was charming outside but wicked and angry on the inside. Anyway the second born (Abinadab) passed before Samuel and he said “next”. They brought the third born (Shammah) and he said “next” again. The Lord rejected all of them. 1 Samuel 16:11 says And Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children? And he said, there remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither.

They moment Samuel saw David, the Lord spoke and said, that’s the one, anoint him for Me as Saul’s replacement. David had prepared his heart before God. He had passion for God and the things of God. He had a personal relationship with God. He had endured a lot of pains; he had been attacked by bears, lions and other beasts in the field and conquered them. He had learnt how to cater for the helpless, the poor and the needy (sheep). From this story, we see that, the fact that a fellow is available does not mean God will use him. When we are appointing people into position, let us not choose those who are available but those whose heart are right before God. Eliab and his brothers were available but their hearts were not right before God. It is better to sing without anyone playing the instruments than to sing with people whose heart are not right with God, playing the drums, piano and other musical instruments. An instrumentalist whose heart is not right before God cannot lead people into God’s presence.

NOTE: It is better to use people who are unskilled whose heart are right before God than to use people who are skilled but whose heart are not right before God.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

CRITERIA FOR SEEING GOD

MEMORY VERSE: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 14-15, Ps 146-147, Jer 7, Matt 21

God is absolutely pure. He is as pure as light. 1 John 1:5 says God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. The bible records in Isaiah 6:3 that the angels are always saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. We all know the Lord is powerful. Psalm 62:11 says all power belong to Him. Matthew 19:26 says with God all things are possible. The question is why are the angels not saying Powerful, powerful, powerful is the Lord of hosts? Everyone knows God is love. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. The question is why are the angels not saying Loving, loving, loving is the Lord of hosts? We will all agree that the Lord is merciful. According to Psalm 103:8 God is rich in mercy. The question is why are the angels not saying Merciful, merciful, merciful is the Lord? The reason is that the only thing the Lord wants to be associated with is holiness. That is why the angels are always saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

Around the throne of God are twenty four elders dressed in white garments, praising God day and night, Revelations 4:3. These elders could have been dressed in pink because pink symbolizes love and God is love. These elders could have been dressed in purple because purple symbolizes royalty and our God is the King of kings. They could have been dressed in blue because blue symbolizes peace one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit but they are dressed in white, why? White symbolizes purity and that’s the condition for seeing God.

Matthew 5:8 says blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. In other words if your purity is on the outside and not on the inside, you are wasting your time. From time to time, we hear people say what matters is the inside not the outside. Please stop fooling yourself. Whatever is on the inside will show on the outside. When a fellow is mad on the inside, does it show outside? Yes of course. How do you know a plantain is ripe on the inside? It is by checking the outside. If it is green on the outside, you know it is unripe but if it is yellow you know it is ripe. How do you know an orange is ripe on the inside? It is by checking the outside. What is inside will reflect on the outside. Luke 6:45 says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speak. When you see a lady dressed like a prostitute you know what is on the inside. When you see a man dressed like a thug, you know what is on the inside. Once you hear the words coming out of a fellow, you don’t need to be told the thoughts going through his heart. When we talk of purity, we are talking of all through purity. Purity right from inside unto the outside.

PONDER: What is inside will reflect on the outside.

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION … A CRITERIA?

MEMORY VERSE: for we walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 18, Ps 105, Isa 45, Rev 15

Believers are spiritual beings not sensual beings. Sensual beings depend on their five senses but Spiritual beings depend on the Holy Spirit. To grow spiritually you need to cut down your dependency on your senses especially sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Not only that your dependency on the Holy Spirit needs to increase. Our senses can’t pick spiritual signals. Many a time our senses do fail us. This is why the bible admonishes that that we walk not by our senses i.e. sight but by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7. If you are waiting for physical manifestation before you know the Lord has answered your prayers then you have missed it. Mark 11:24 says therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The bible says believe that you have received them not wait for physical manifestation before you know you have received them.

Should physical attraction play a role in my choice of a life partner? Is it a must that I must be physically attracted to the brother or sister before proposing or before saying I do? I am yet to find that verse of the bible that says there must be physical attraction before you propose or say I do. First of all physical attraction is a function of our senses – sight. If we do not walk by sight then the subject of physical attraction should not come up when making life changing decisions such as the choice of a life partner. Adam did not choice eve based on physical attraction, he choose who his creator (God) brought. Isaac did not have a say in who he married, he simply accepted who the Holy Spirit brought through the servant of Abraham. It was only Jacob who decided that the lady God brought was not good enough. To him Leah- God’s choice was not good enough because she had delicate eyes i.e. blear eyed but Rachel was beautiful and well favored in her shape and stature and in her complexion. He succeeded in marrying Rachel but Rachel brought her father’s household gods into his family, Genesis 31:19.

The reason why many are yet to hear from God concerning the choice of a life partner is because they have given God the specification of sisters or brothers they want. If that’s what you are doing, you are only wasting your time. Whether you believe It or not, whatever it is that you’re physically attracted to will not be there forever. People get old and beauty will fade away. This is why the bible says your adornment should not be merely outward but hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God, 1 Peter 3:3-4.

ACTION: Character should be the criteria not the beauty.

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION – GET RID OF ANTI PROMOTION THOUGHTS/ BELIEF

MEMORY VERSE: and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, Romans 12:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 16, Ps 52-54, Isa 6, Heb 13

There are many true child of God who should be CEOs or chief executives in big organization who are ordinary supervisors, team leader or section leader. There are many believers who should be employers of thousands who are currently looking for jobs. There are many spirit filled Christians who should be lending to nations who are still struggling to pay their house rents. There are many sisters and brothers who should be married with at least two kids who are still looking for the right partners. There are many faithful tithers who by now should be living in abundance who cannot afford three square meals. There are many faithful workers in the vineyard of God who are long due for one kind of promotion or the other who are at the same level they were five years ago. Why is this so, is it that God has seized to be faithful? God has not seized to be faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

God has opened big doors for many but they have not been able to take advantage of these doors because of their thoughts and beliefs. These thoughts are known as self limiting beliefs or thoughts. The enemy has been using these thoughts in one way or other to keep believers at the same level year in year out. Proverbs 23:7 says for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. You are what you continually think about. If you continue to think of falling sick, before you know it you will fall sick and vice versa. If you entertain success thoughts, don’t be surprised when you become successful and vice versa. Romans 12:2 says and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Promotion comes once your thoughts changes. Transformation comes when the thoughts of the hearts are renewed. 

One of the self limiting beliefs that have kept many stagnant in life is the ‘I am not good enough’ belief. The enemy has used this belief to rob many of their open doors. An opportunity comes along; instead of taking the opportunity they begin to doubt their ability. You are good enough because the bible says every creature of God is good, 1 Timothy 4:4. Not only that, you are full of wonders, Psalm 139:14.Since the bible cannot tell lie, whatever the bible has to say about is true then. A thought that has prevented many from taking important decision is the thought of failure – what if I fail, what if something goes wrong, what if I don’t measure up to standard e.t.c. A child of God cannot fail because it is impossible for God to fail. There is no single case of a believer ever failing in the bible. If no believer has ever failed, it will not start with you. You have God on your side so you cannot fail. All you need is just belief. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to them that believeth.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, rid me of every self limiting beliefs and thoughts.

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION PART 2

MEMORY VERSE: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine, Exodus 19:5 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 15, Ps 51, Isa 5, Heb 12 

What is promotion? Promotion is simply a movement from a level to a higher level. What are the sources of promotion? They are humans, the devil and God. Humans most of the time promote for their own agenda or selfish gains. As far as there is something in it for them, they will promote you. The day they find out that you are no longer useful they bring you down and promote someone else. Thank God for real children of God - they never engage in this type of practices. A man can only lift you as high as his human hands can reach in other words when humans promote you, your promotion is limited. Humans can only offer you temporary promotion, the day your promoter goes down you go down. The devil can also offer what seems like a promotion but it is a regression in disguise. He gives promotion and steals your peace or gives an apple but inside that apple are deadly worms. The only true source of promotion is God. While the devil’s promotion comes with sorrow, God’s promotion comes with no sorrow added. Proverbs 10:22 says the blessings of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it. 

Men don’t need any criteria to promote you because at the end of the day, they are the one to benefit from your promotion. For a fellow to be considered for promotion by God, that fellow needs to meet certain criteria. Firstly, he needs to be willing. Isaiah 1:19 says if ye be willing and obedience, ye shall eat the good of the land.  Secondly, he needs to be diligent and hardworking. God considers a lazy fellow as a waster of resources. Proverbs 18:9 says he also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Proverbs 12:27 says slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting. There is a slang that lazy people use, they say let us waste time. How can you waste time? You can’t waste time because time waits for nobody! 

The third criterion for promotion is Holiness which is also obedience to God. Obedience reveals love. John 14:15 says if ye love me, keep my commandments. Every form of promotion from God requires holiness. All the promises the Lord made to the children of Israel (and we are spiritual Israelite), came with a condition which is ‘if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments’ which also means obedience to God. In Deuteronomy 28:1 He says obey Me and I will set you high above all nations of the earth; Exodus 19:5 – obey Me and you will be my special treasure; Exodus 15:26- obey Me and I will heal you; Exodus 23:22 – obey Me and I will be an enemy to your enemies; Isaiah 1:19 – obey Me and you will eat the good of the Land e.t.c. All His blessings come with this condition. A fellow, who is not obeying God, is just undoing himself. You can bring all the sacrifice in the world , even an offering of a billion dollars, without obedience the Lord will tell you to take away your money.1 Samuel 15:22 says to obedience is better than sacrifice. Half obedience is no obedience. He demands full obedience. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, the grace to obey you fully please give to me.