When Death becomes LIFE!

6 ^{1-3 “So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!” (Romans 6:1-3 MSG)}

 

Nobody likes death, but yet it is the gateway or passage to the other side of life (eternity or hell) and whether we like it or not, we will die. The bible says “And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27 AMP). But what counts is how we live here on earth and thus we do not have to fear death. Jesus said “most solemnly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.” (John 12:24 AMP)

 

Similarly, we also need to die to SIN so that we can live in Christ. It is only through our DEATH to SIN that we can have LIFE in Christ Jesus through his death and resurrection. Paul speaks to the Roman church and asks them if they wanted to continue living in sin so that the grace of God could abound… But he goes ahead and gives them reasons why they need to quit living in sin and how their death to sin translates to life. Paul refers to our baptism as death to sin and resurrection in Christ and thus we ought not to go back to sin anymore.

 

Once someone is dead, they are dead and they aren’t active at all. Then the question is why are you actively living in sin if you are already dead to the same? That means that there is a part of you that aren’t dead. There are two things that death brings:

• End of life – once you breath your last and die, it means that your life has come to an end and thus, we do not expect to see you anymore. Thus, same applies to sin. Once you accept Christ and you die to sin, then, we do not expect to see traits if sin or even the fruits of the flesh manifesting in you in any way.

 

• Forgetting: Once you are dead, people tend to forget you after a while. All what people remain with is a memorial of you through photos posts and writings and more importantly your deeds. Thus, if we die to sin, we need to forget the pleasures that we enjoyed and ask the blood of Jesus to cleanse you.

 

Paul shares some insights of our death to sin resurrection in Christ into life and shows several key principles that I believe that are key for us to know and adhere to so as we can be victorious over sin and more so, die completely unto death.

 

1)     Repent your sin, renounce it and leave the camp:

"So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good?" (Romans 6:1-2 MSG)

 

Many of us renounce sin and we profess Christ as Lord and saviour of our lives, yet in the bottom of our hearts, we know that there is something that we haven’t let go from our past. Paul says, sin is sovereign and it rules over our lives, and when we renounce sin, it’s like we are moving houses and we pack all our belongings and leave for good since we aren’t going to live in the same house again… But some of us leave something’s in the "old house of sin" that keeps calling us back. If you choose to leave sin, Repent, renounce it and leave the camp completely.

 

Consider this: "For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10-11 AMP)

 

2)    Do not yield to the desires of the flesh:

         “Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions. Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13 AMP)

 

Apostle James writes and says "But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions)." (James 1:14 AMP) Note that it is your desires that lead you to be DRAWN away from other brethren, ENTICED by sin and then BAITED into the same and then find yourself deep in sin. This comes with you yielding yourself to the desires and the lust of the flesh.

 

Paul exalts the Romans not to yield themselves cravings, lusts and evil passions of the flesh and thus offer themselves and their bodies to sin as instruments of wickedness. But instead, they should offer themselves unto God as implements of righteousness. This is what Paul writes to the Romans: "I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1 AMP)

 

3)    Know and exercise your power over SIN:

“…you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God” (Romans 6:12, 14 MSG)

 

I love the words that Paul uses… “…you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life.” That means that many times, it is us who joke around with sin and give it a foot hold and once Sin gets a loophole to penetrate into our lives, it starts ruling us… but you need to exercise your power and dominion over sin.

 

How do we exercise dominion over sin?

• Hide the word of God in your heart:

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalms 119:11 NIV)

 

• Flee from Sin… Do not entertain it.

“Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22 AMP)

 

• Tame/master your desires and lust of the flesh:

“Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).” (James 1:13-14 AMP)

“God spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.” (Genesis 4:6-7 MSG)

 

·         Confess victory over the same

“And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:11 AMP)

 

·         Be accountable to someone/Get accountability partners.

“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” (James 5:16 MSG)

 

I love the amplified bible version, it says: “Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5:16 AMP)

 

Just like a seed, we all look to live a productive life and more so leave a legacy, but unroll we die to self, we will never be able to replicate ourselves to beget others who will carry on the work that we start to the finish. And I would echo Paul’s clarion call to the Hebrews saying "THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]." (Hebrews 12:1, 2 AMP)

 

Brethren, the journey of faith to heaven isn’t easy but yet, we can make it. All that we need is to make sure that we master the sin that is crouching at the door before it masters us, and thus we can live a victorious Christian life.

 

Shalom!

The Power of the Cross.

^|33At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)… ³⁷With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. ³⁸The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”|

Read Mark 15:21-41

 

We are fast approaching the Easter season which is the most important season in the Christian calendar. This is what reminds us the cost that God had to pay so as to restore the fellowship between us and Him that was lost in the Garden of Eden. Too bad that many of us just look at the events of the Easter weekend as though they were just normal happenings of the season… but I want to submit to you that we are who we are today because of what happened at the cross. The death of Jesus Christ at the cross meant a lot to our existence to day.

 

Women of Faith sang a song about God’s grace…

“But for Your grace I could not be saved
but for your grace I would go my way
I’m forever grateful,
That You have been faithful to me, Lord
for Your amazing grace.”

 

I equate the word ‘Grace’ to “cross”. Were it not for the Cross, we couldn’t be saves. We could have lost our way and footing in this world and above all, we ought to be grateful for the cross. The cross changed everything that concerns us and has made us to be who we are. The question then arises… What is the cross?

 

Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth and says: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” |1 Corinthians 1:18| The death of Jesus on the Cross had a lot of significance but very few people can see or recognize so. This is the reason why Paul spoke to the Corinthians and brought this fact to their attention. And I sit down and wonder how many such Christians we have today who haven’t still recognized the “Power of the Cross” where our Saviour died.

When you look at the cross, you have to angles at which that you will see the cross;

 

a)You look at the cross and think – that’s pathetic.

Or

b)You look and you think – that’s powerful.

 

It’s either pathetic or powerful. If you think it’s pathetic, Paul says “you are perishing.” But if you think it’s the power of God, you are being saved. That means you have been plucked from the perishing crowd and set on a one-way street to heaven. But it’s one or the other. And the latter is the main reason why Jesus had to come and die… to display the Power of God and reconcile us back in fellowship with our father and God.

The Cross was a place of ridicule. It was a capital punishment for the offenders. That is why we see Jesus crucified with two robbers… but as Christians, we no longer view it as a place of punishment or ridicule but as a source of strength, power, redemption, forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to our maker.

 

When you consider what Jesus went through on the cross, you may wonder, “Why did He have to suffer and die like that? Was it really necessary?” Importance of the cross:

 

1)     A source of growth for Christians in their faith as they contemplate the cross. – If you are a believer already, you and I need the message of the cross daily. Paul continues to say; “I’m determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” |1 Corinthians 2:2|. Just accepting Christ is not enough… you need to continually subject ourselves to the message of the cross for our growth and renewal.

 

2)    The cross is a sign or public display of Christ’s love for us. Giving is one of the best ways to show or express Love. And God didn’t withhold his Love for us… He displayed it openly by giving His beloved and begotten son Jesus Christ. “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son…” |John 3:16|. If ever you’re tempted to doubt God’s love for you, look at the cross.

 

3)    At the Cross, Jesus suffered and died to absorb the wrath of God. If God wasn’t not just; there would be no demand for His Son to suffer and die. And if God was not loving, there would be no willingness for His Son to suffer and die. But God is both just and loving. At the cross, God lovingly met His own demand for justice. We have sinned against and have offended God. So a just and loving God sent Jesus as the substitute for us. God’s wrath that should have been placed on us was placed on Him. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” |Galatians 3:13-14; ESV.|Colossians 2:13–14 says, “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross”.

 

4)    On the cross, Jesus suffered and died to pay the price for our forgiveness and justification. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him” |Romans 5:9 NIV|. Justificationis a powerful and meaningful word used to describe what God has done for those who put their faith in Him. To be justified means to be forgiven of the wrongs we have done. In a legal sense, it means, “Just as if it never happened.” So, God not only forgives you of your debt, He also forgets what you have done. God says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” |Hebrews 10:17|.

 

5)    The cross gave us access to the throne Room of God. After the death of Christ, the temple curtain tore into two giving us access to the Holy of Holies. Paul tells us “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. |Hebrews 4:16|.

 

At the cross we have all that we need… if we are only careful to go there and pour ourselves out to our master and Saviour Jesus Christ

Amen.

PS! This is an article I contributed to the Grace Today Magazine of House of Grace Church (www.houseofgrace.or.ke). 

Visit the church and get your free copy of the April 2012 Edition.

 

When you don’t know who you are!

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”

Luke 15:28-30 (NIV) (read vs. 10-32)

 

The story of the prodigal son is one that most of us so very familiar with. We may think that this is a good parable to use for evangelizing, but we must realize that as believers we always need the lessons of this account reapplied on ourselves before we use it as a witnessing passage to the unsaved. We major mostly on the son who squandered all his inheritance and we forget there was one who was left with the father but he never knew who he was.

 

We are all sons of God Most High; we are co-heirs with Jesus Christ and partakers in His eternal Kingdom. But what is all this if we do not know and act like it? How many of us are prodigal sons within the Kingdom? If you do not know you are God’s, then you are a prodigal son too. Take a look at vs. 25-32. The son comes from the fields and meets the servants who are preparing a feast. When he learns that his younger brother is back and his father had called for the celebration, he gets upset (vs. 28).

 

Here are a few lessons that we can learn/re-apply in our lives:

 

Envy

Let us consider that the father’s love for his sons was impartial, when the elder saw as though the younger one was well received he was offended. This is one of the characteristics of people who do not know who they are; they get jealous when others get what seems like preferential treatment.

 

Immaturity

Secondly, when you don’t know who you are in your father’s house, you behave immaturely even if you are the eldest child. A childish son will not understand anything no matter how sensibly you explain to him. The elder son asks his father why he has not been rewarded for his loyalty to him. We complains that has never even given a young goat to make merry with his friends, while his brother, who should be punished for his disloyalty, is ,in fact, rewarded.

 

Lack of knowledge

When you do not know your privileges as a son you will not realize that you have an inheritance. This loyal son did not comprehend that he had everything his father owned at his disposal. In Greek, a son or a child who has not attained the age of accountability is called Teknion; a son who has matured is known as huios. And when a teknion attains to a huios, everything that is his by right will then become legally his. But you may ask, why then did the father release the inheritance to the younger son? This is what I believe is the answer: There are some things that we cannot learn unless we are allowed to make our own mistakes. Then when we have come to the end of ourselves, we come back to our senses and see our own shortcomings. Then, and only then, do we humbly ask for help from those higher than us. The younger son was not really part of the family before his disobedience, but after his humiliation he became a true son.

 

Take your place

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (see Ephesians 1:3) and given us richly all things to enjoy (see 1 Timothy 6:17) but we live strangers in our own land. It is true we are working in the vineyard of God, yet how unfortunate that many of us are just like this ignorant elder son. We do not take our rightful place in our Father’s house. But as we earnestly seek to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10), the Holy Spirit will testify to our spirits that we are the children of God (see Romans 8:16 ).

 

Amen

 

PS! This is an article I contributed to the Grace Today Magazine of House of Grace Church (www.houseofgrace.or.ke). 

Visit the church and get your free copy of the March Magazine.

Don’t just know Him; Recognize Him.

Grace Today Magazine – House of Grace Church (December 2011)

 

"My sheep know me and recognize my voice;" John 10:3

 

We are living in a generation that is really progressed and on the move. The times in which many of us were born and brought up are totally different from the world that we live. The things that you knew or you came to know when you were much older are what a 7 year old kid knows today. It’s not that you and I were ignorant but it is simply because we are in a changing world and environment that is changing each and every day. You will realize that the kids of this day and time are familiar with almost everything around them. I was surprised the other day when my kid sister took my phone and he navigated through and she sent my boss an email. It dawned on me that the world and the generation that we are in have really advanced. I have realized that the more our children are exposed to many things, the more they get familiar with them and get acquainted to them and well versed in and with them.

 

Peter and his brethren the disciples had been with Jesus for three years and it reached a point when Jesus had to fulfill His purpose for coming on earth ~ dying on the cross for our sins. It is expected that the disciples having been the closest people with Jesus knew Him well and could recognize Him well. The bible records three instances where the disciples couldn’t recognize Jesus.

 

In Matthew 14:22-27, the bible records that after doing the days ministry, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him and He retreated to the mountain to pray. Later on, we see him linking up with then in the sea when He came walking on water. The bible records that when they saw Jesus, they thought it was a ghost and they were scared. Later on, when they realize who He was, Peter asked Him to bid him to go to Him. In John 21:4-7, we see Peter and others decide to go back fishing and the whole night they do not manage to get any fish till the morning. The bible records that Jesus called out and asked them if they had caught anything for breakfast and they said no. Jesus instructs them to launch out their nets into the deep and they had a tremendous catch and that’s when Peter realized who Jesus was. Mark you; he was naked all this time. Luke 24:13-16; 30-32, we see the disciples on their way to Emmaus. They are discussing the death and resurrection of Jesus when He joins them and walks with them for a while and distance but until Jesus disappears from their midst.

 

What do I see from these three instances? It is very clear that the disciples having spent three and half years with Him, they still hadn’t known him well to recognize Him. Three years is a long time to spend with someone and fail to recognize them or distinguish them amidst people. This will mean that you haven’t been serious to learn them as you spent time with them. We need to be pro-active and know well who we are and the people as well as things that matter to us most.

 

Jesus sat with his disciples and asked them a simple question in Matthew 16:13:17: "who do people say I am?… They gave their answers of who people say HE is but then He got deeper and asked them whom "they" said He was. Peter answered Him and said that He was Christ the son of God. Peter had a revelation of who Jesus was but still he was the first one to give up and go back fishing and went back with a few others.

 

There is one problem that I see amongst the disciples. They became too familiar with Jesus until they thought he was just the man next door. We are getting into a Christmas season and everyone will be on a frenzy mode celebrating the new born baby per say but I want to submit to you that He is not a baby; He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. It is not just enough to profess Him as the Saviour of your life, the question is; how well do you know him? Can you recognize him? Jesus said in John 10:3 that "My sheep know me and recognize my voice;" that’s the prayer and desire of every shepherd. It is not just enough to be part of the flock but it is more important to have a revelation of who He is.

 

My prayer for you even as you read this article is that this Christmas, you will not just have the revelation of who Jesus is – not just a baby born in a manger. Go beyond just knowing him but recognize him… Know him as your shepherd and recognize His voice.

 

Amen.

 

PS! This is an article I contributed to the Grace Today Magazine of House of Grace Church (www.houseofgrace.or.ke).

Visit the church and get your free copy of the December 2011 Magazine.

My story must Change.

Grace Today Magazine – House of Grace Church (November 2011)

I was Seated; listening to Bishop Muriithi speak about Divine Connections just thrilled me on how many of us forfeit our destiny. The book of Jonah 2:8 reminds us that "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” and this is where many of us miss the point; we cling to things/people/Job positions that hinder us from going to the next level God has prepared for us.

Naomi moves from Bethlehem and goes to Moab when the famine was severe (Ruth 1:1-5) and while there, she lost both her husband and two sons and she was left with two daughters-in-law. Whilst there, she heard that God had visited the people and there was food in Bethlehem and she decided to go back. At times, we leave our divine place of placement and go to settle elsewhere thinking that things will be better only for us to go and lose everything that we had rather than gaining more. If only Naomi had been patient enough to hold on and stay in Bethlehem, she wouldn’t have lost her husband and her husband.

Naomi decides to leave Moab and so she urges her daughters-in-law to go back to their parents and hopefully get married again; but Ruth was adamant and refused to be left. Bishop Muriithi emphasized that “One major key to attaining success is the ability to spot and sustain divine connections” and Ruth had spotted her divine connection and wasn’t ready to let go off it. She discovered that her destiny was tied to her sticking with her mother-in-law despite the fact that she wouldn’t be able to give birth to another son to become her husband. Orphah left Naomi and Ruth and she went back. We see that the destiny and the story of Ruth changed from a Moabite window to be part of the Royal family in the lineage of Jesus.

If you looked at the background of Ruth, she was from Moab which was an adulterous nation and was cursed by God. The nation was born from an incest relationship between Lot and his elder daughter (Genesis 19:30-36). Moab used its women who were beautiful to seduce the armies of other nations and have them killed in battles (Numbers 25-26) and if you look at this background, you can’t believe that God would bless and change the story of such a person from a cursed background to royalty.

Two important lessons I learn from Ruth. For her story to change:

1. She changed her location: If she went back to her parent like her sister, she could have been in the same locale and thus, no blessings for her. There are places that you are stuck to and they have become a comfort zone for you and you are not willing to change. It’s the high time you relocated and moved on to your next level. The children of Israel were used to Egypt and when they were faced by the challenge of the Red sea and the Egyptian army behind them, they wanted to go back to Egypt. The minute you familiarize yourself with something and get used to it, it deters you from advancing to new levels that you are not used to… you are afraid of taking the risk but Ruth dared to follow Naomi to a land she didn’t know.
2. She changed her faith: Moab was a land that had many idol gods and Ruth knew that very well. It was her choice to leave Moab and follow her mother-in-law. She told Naomi “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back. Where you go I will go; your people will be my people and your GOD will be my GOD” (Ruth 1:16). Changing location alone is not enough; you need to change the way you do some things; some things that you value; some habits you were used to have to die. What are the altars that have been raised up in your life, family and even your workplace? Remember, altars speak so much into one’s life and unless you destroy them like Gideon did, they will hold you ransom.

Ruth started to gather grain behind the harvesters in Boaz’s field and God gave her favour before Boaz and she was later married to him. You will notice that she was trailing behind the harvesters picking up the left overs but here now, she is the recipient of what the harvesters were gathering and her story changed. She bore Obed who was the father of Jesse who was in turn the father of King David; from a window into the royalty family line.

Your story too can change… if and only if you connect with the right people.

PS! This is an article I contributed to the Grace Today Magazine of House of Grace Church (www.houseofgrace.or.ke). Visit the church and get your free copy of the November Magazine.

Afflicted by God!

Grace Today Magazine – House of Grace Church (October 2011)

“1I AM [Jeremiah] the man who has seen affliction… 21But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: 22It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning; great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness. 24The Lord is my portion or share says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” (Lamentations 3:1a; 21-24 Amplified)

Sometimes in life we go through situations and circumstances that we do not understand neither can we really explain what is happening in our lives. At these times in life, all we can do is murmur, complain about the pain that we are going through even when we have done what we ought to have done to make sure that everything is going the way we would love to see things. But we ought to understand that there are some things that we will never understand. All we can do is align ourselves with God and allow him to do what He wills with our lives.

Paul Reminds us and tells us that “… we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV) At times it beats my knowledge and understanding of how God deals with us and the situations that He allows us to go through; yet, whenever we ask questions of why things are happening the way they are; His answer is always “my Grace is sufficient for you..” (2 Corinthians 12:9) and for someone in pain; this is something hard to take in.

We have examples of people who have been through hard times and they came out strong! from them, I learn a few lessons that I want to share with you! Take a look at Job and Joseph. Both were beloved people but they find themselves in circumstances and situations that they can’t explain. but from them, I take home these important lessons. During times of trials and afflictions:

• Your FAITH is tried, Tested and BUILT: When we are down in the valley, you will agree with me that you have very few friends. Nobody wants to be associated with you at that time. Joseph couldn’t understand why his own brethren would sell him off to slavery. I believe Job couldn’t take it anymore when his dear wife told him to curse God and die… (Job 2:9). But look at both of them.. through these trying moments, they hold onto God and at the end they come out victorious.
• You are being PREPARED for your next level: If I was Joseph; I wouldn’t have imagined that the dreams I had would have come to pass. But we see after getting from Potiphar’s house to the prison, his next place was the palace. There are things that God needs to see in you before He can release you to your next level… and the best way to is for you to go through what you are going through now. Be patient and learn the lesson NOW!! else you will repeat till you learn.
• In the end you get a DOUBLE PORTION: When God was through with Joseph, he was elevated to be the second in Command in Egypt and above all he had control of all the store house of Egypt. Job was restored and he was blessed with double of what he had in the beginning. (Job 42:11)
• You Know the FAITHFULNESS of the Lord: There is no one else who can give a TESTIMONY of anything if he/she hasn’t been at the place of TESTING. You can only know God well if you have been to that place where you have nowhere or no one else to turn to. Do not rely on people or things that can fail you… Trust in God and in Him alone.

You may not understand everything that’s going on in your life right now, but I encourage you to keep your head held high. Know that God is working in your life. Keep being faithful. Keep doing the right thing, knowing that in the end God is going to turn things around in your favor. If God is for you, who can be against you? No one. Greater is the One who is in you than anyone who can be against you. No matter what’s going on around you today, you can put your shoulders back and put a smile on your face because God is working things together for your good because He loves you!

Amen!

PS! This is an article I contributed to the Grace Today Magazine of House of Grace Church (www.houseofgrace.or.ke). Visit the church and get your free copy of the October Magazine.