identifying the wise part 1

Proverbs 24:5 says a wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;

Job 28:28 defines wisdom as the fear of the Lord.

There are four ways to identify the wise.

Firstly, by who they walk with .Proverbs 13:20 says He that walks with wise men shall be wise.Proverbs 27:17 says Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.We are who walk with . Any one who keeps friends that do not fear God, do not fear God themselves.The elders have a saying ,they say show me your friend and i will tell you who are. One way to measure how much a man fears God is by looking at his circles of friends .1 Corinthians 15:33 says Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Our friends influences us and even if they can not lead us to sin the day they will reap the reward of their foolishness, we may partake in it because Proverbs 13:20 says the companion of the fools shall be destroyed.

Secondly by their words.Luke 6:45 says A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil.Matthew 12:34 says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.Our words reveal the content of our heart. James 3:12 says Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.Also it is impossible for wise to say foolish things. The wise utter wise words and the foolish say foolish things. The wise do not make dirty sexual jokes,abuse or curse only fools do this.

ACTION POINT: Take necessary steps to be in the camp of the wise.

Promotion and Demotion

Daniel 2:21 says And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

When the Most High is involved in an individual’s life, He takes them from rock bottom and sets them at the very top.1 Samuel 2:8 says He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the rubbish, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he has set the world upon them.In 1 Samuel 10:1, He took Saul- an unknown farm boy and made him the king of Israel.Within 24hrs , He turned Joseph- a prisoner to a prime minister.

When He is involved ,age does not matter. Uzziah was only sixteen years when He made him king over Jerusalem.Moses was around eighty years when the Lord met him. Gender means nothing when He is involved.The Most High lifted Deborah so high to the extent warriors begged her to go to war with them- Judges 4:8.Also status ,creed means nothing. Daniel was a slave in a foreign land ,yet the Lord made him one of the three generals in the empire. He took David from the back of the forest and made him king.Because He was involved in the life of Mordecai, death sentence turned into promotion. Haman went to the king to request for the head of Mordecai, he came back pulling the horse Mordecai was riding screaming “thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”

One thing we need to remember is when He is involved, sky is the limit but when He withdraws His support such a man will fall to the mud. It does not matter how high an individual has risen when He withdraws His support that’s the end.He lifted Uzziah very high at a very tender age.No king could look into the eyes of Uzziah but pride set in and he became a leper - 2 Chronicles 26:1-end. Immediately Saul became a king , no one could talk to him again , he could now decide what part of God’s instruction to obey . God left him and demons began to torment him on the throne. Miriam the prophetess suddenly began to disrespect the man of God because she had the gift of prophecy , well the one who gave her that gift took back the gift and she never prophesied again until she died.

PRAYER POINT: Father , help me not offend you .

How valuable is our word

Matthew 24:35 says Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
According to Psalms 33:8-9 ,one reason why we should fear God is because of His words- once He speaks ,it is done.Jeremiah 23:29 compares His word to a hammer that breaks rocks and a fire that consumes.Hebrew 4:12 says His word is sharper than two edged sword.Psalm 107:20 says His words has the ability to heal.
One of the reason why God’s word is so powerful and efficient is because of how God takes His words. Psalm 138:2 says He has exalted His word above Himself, no wonder Isaiah 55:11 says his words will not return to Him void but it shall accomplish  what pleases Him and prosper in the thing He has send it.God will go to any length to keep His words -why?  because He values them.
The value we put on our words is the value the world,challenges,situations will put on our words.Those who value their words will go to any length to keep their word.God went out of His way to use the dry bones of Elisha to perform the 14th miracle for Him in 2 Kings 13:20-21 since he carried double portion of anointing of his predecessor.
To what extent are prepared to go to keep our words?if we want mountains to move at our commands ,we must treasure our words! If we do not value our words no one will even mountains.Another reason why we need to value our word is because only those who value their words can walk with God.Psalm 15:4 says only those who swears to their hurt and does not change can abide in the tabernacle of God.
Have you said “I DO” to anyone on the altar and you are considering changing that? or have you giving your word to God that you will serve Him all your life with all your strength or have promised to do a thing or the other if He helps you ? God expects all His children to value their words.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:if we do not value our words ,no one will even mountains.
PRAYER POINT: Father, from now onward help to keep my word at all cost.

God of reciprocity

1 Samuel 2:30b says Far be it from  Me;for those who honor Me I will honor,and those despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

The word Reciprocity looks big but it simply means  do a good deed for another and the favor will be returned.This is what happens between countries ,if you allow us to build our embassy in your country ,we will allow you to build your embassy in ours.

The Most High God is a God of reciprocity. According to 1 Samuel 2:30 , if we honor Him , He will honor us too.Proverbs 8:17 says if we love Him , He will love us. If we give to Him , He will give to us .Solomon gave a thousand burnt offerings , God have him a blank cheque in return , He said ask, what shall i give thee ,1 Chronicles 1:7. The scriptures says in Luke 6:38 ,Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your lap. For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again.

If we spend time with Him in prayers , He will spend time with us.If we are zealous for the things of God, He will be zealous for things concerning us.According to Isaiah 9:7 , the zeal of God performs everything He purposes in His heart.

Someone one’s said He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!This means if we bow before God , God will ensure that everything under the sun bows before us .

ACTION POINT: Do something good for God today and i can assure you He will return the  favor before the end of the day.

But the midwives feared God

Exodus 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

One thing every man and woman needs is wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 says it is the principal thing.Wisdom is so important even the Most High needed it to create the world according to Proverbs 3:19.Wisdom brings happiness -proverbs 3:13, Wisdom gives life-Ecclesiastes 7:12, wisdom brings recognition,1 Kings 10:1-10. Wisdom is needed to build a house- Proverbs 24:3. Wisdom brings protection - Proverbs 2:12. Wisdom is an essential requirement to get to heaven - Matthew 25:1-13.

What is wisdom ? Job 28:28 defines wisdom as the fear of the Lord. An individual who fears God is considered wise. Anyone who fears God is entitled to the proceeds of wisdom as mentioned above. Why do we have to fear God? Psalm 33: 8-9 says the reason why we should fear God is because once He speaks , it is done.Another reason to fear Him according to Matthew 10:28 is because He decides who goes to heaven or hell.

God loves wise people and abhors foolish people. No wonder the bible describes atheist as fools. What are the advantages of been wise ?Psalm 33:18 says the eyes of the Lord is on those who fear Him i.e those who are wise .Psalm 34: 9 Says there is no want to those who fear Him I.e wise . The midwives chose to be wise and the bible records that He provided households for them -Exodus 1: 22.

A yardstick to measure wisdom is by the amount of fear one has for God. The good news is that He is able to make anyone wise.James 1:5 says anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God.

Action Point:Be wise .

WAITING ON THE LORD.

Isaiah 40:31 -But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Patience is one quality God loves to see in His children. He rewards patience. According to Isaiah 40:31, He renews the strength of those that wait on Him. He also acts on their behalf –Isai

ah 64:4. It is unfortunate that patience is prohibited today. Asides bad roads, the major cause of road accidents are impatient drivers. They want to get to their destination as soon as possible.

Someone we cannot be impatient with is God. Isaiah 55:9 says for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. God is never late. The reason why He can never be late is because He is the Controller of Season – Daniel 2:21.Another reason is He can reverse the irreversible.

There is danger in been impatient with God, Sarah was impatient with God so she arranged Hagar to go in with Abraham to make babies. She regretted that decision because immediately Hagar conceived she began to despise her. Saul’s impatience cost him the throne. A man of God was attending a function with his wife. While praying before leaving for the function , the Lord told him to wait for five minutes. He decided to leave before five minutes and he ended up in accident and emergency. Today they are both alive but the wife is confined to wheel chair for life.

The cost of impatience is too high. Why not wait on the Lord in that marriage, wait on Him for the bone of your bone, and wait on Him to provide the fruit of the womb, wait on Him to provide the job. Remember, God is never late!

PRAYER POINT: Lord, as I have decided to wait on you, renew my strength and act on my behalf.

God's Favorite

Matthew 19:14 - But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

God loves little children.They are His favorite . He loves having them around Him no wonder the book of Matthew 18:3 says only little children will be permitted in heaven .Mark 10:15 establishes that to even stand a chance , one must take the kingdom of heaven as a child. Anyone who hates children can never be friends with God i can assure you of that.

Why does He love them so much ? Because they are pure in heart. Little children never holds grudges or keep malice.They are amazing to watch when they play. This minute they are fighting the next minute they are sharing sweets or candies.1 Corinthians 14:20 says Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children.

Another reason is they are mild and humble.One thing you will not find is a child refusing to play with another child because of class or looking down on fellow kids. Little children are free of prejudice .Only Adults have people that are below their class and as such they can not relate to them . Also little children are full of faith.They dream a lot ,they want to be astronauts, Presidents , banker , doctors e.t.c .They do not see impossibilities and as such God is able to carry them to any heights.

Another reason is they are teachable and are not obstinate.

Are you a child or an adult? are you teachable ? can the Lord still carry you or you are too big to be carried.

PRAYER POINT: Father help me to be teachable, mild, humble, and free from prejudice and obstinacy.