Most successful Christian leaders have learned to asses and maximize their use of Divine strength while handing him over their issues and weaknesses.
God himself knows that we are weak and incapable of doing it on our own, and he tells us to rely on his strength and this is what grace is all about.
Utter helplessness without the strength of Almighty God.
Psalm 119 verses 176-“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments”.
God never pursues after our weaknesses and failures, and will never magnify them. Every time we fall, he is grieved, and he seeks to immediately have us back on our feet.
If you have been involved in speaking in Christian meetings, it becomes easy to understand what divine strength can help you to do when you feel weak and incapable. I remember a few occasions when I had to preach in a meeting, and may be before getting there, something may have happened that made me to say what I should not have said, or do what I should not have done. You know as well as I do that on such occasions you ask God for forgiveness, and plead the blood of Jesus. It however does not end just like that. The enemy still comes back with accusations, and tells you why you are not qualified to stand before God’s people.
If you are not careful, feelings of guilt and condemnation come back and you are wondering how you will cope. If you pray well in the spirit, you will be amazed at what happens the moment you climb upstage.
The moment you climb upstage, you are clothed with the divine presence in that arena of faith. You are now filled with boldness and faith, and suddenly, every word you utter is endured with power. Words of wisdom also rush out forcefully, and if you go back sometimes to listen to the recorded message, you will observe that what was taught was obviously beyond your abilities. This is what the grace of God does.
Maybe you have heard of, or even seen that great American preacher who was born without limbs. Going by ICIDH concepts, a man like that great Pastor would have been so handicapped by his disabilities that there is no way that he would have become a preacher, talk less of winning thousands of souls into the kingdom of God. He however discovered something about how the strength of God can cover his physical weaknesses. What more excuses can someone with four limbs give for his failure?
It is important to know that the enemy likes to hit you at that weak point, and always magnify your weakness. If we are conscious of this, we will no longer feel defeated or taken aback, when someone keeps harping on our weakness. It is easy to know who he is working for: the devil is his master.
One of the things that good mentors have learned to do is to keep magnifying and harping on the strength of their mentees. It has been discovered that the mentee will be ultimately pulled in the direction of his mentors words. If his weaknesses are constantly talked about, he will be pulled in that direction, and he will crash and fall.
A wise mentee will therefore ultimately pull away from a mentor that feeds him spiritual poison by constantly emphasizing his weaknesses, especially if he at the same time tells everyone that can hear him that he does not see you succeeding. This is negativism and cursing or negatively prophesying which will impact negatively on the destiny of the mentee if not countered and cancelled.
One thing that you and I must quickly do now is to make sure that we pull away and stay away from those people who cook and feed their followers and friends spiritual poison(constant accusations, harping on your weaknesses and failures all the time, gossiping and slandering people) because with them, failure is inevitable. These people will cause you to develop the mindset of a sin-sick bound sinner who is weak and helpless and cannot be freed. This wrong mindset will leave you blind to the strength, power, grace and resources of God that are available to you. The tell you that you are not qualified to have this or that, and tell the World that you have no right to receive this or that, they make you look like a beggar that has no choice.
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Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
MAXIMIZE DIVINE STRENGHT IN YOUR WEAKNESSES: DOING EXPLOITS INSPITE OF ISSUES.
Nothing can be more crippling than the overwhelming consciousness of the fact that you have a weakness. This is usually more so, if you have a good conscience. In this series of articles, the Holy Spirit will help us to look at how that we can maximize the strength of God which He has already made available to us in our weaknesses, and be able to accomplish His big dreams deposited in our hearts, rather than be shut down by the enemy.
DEFINING WEAKNESSES
When we talk about weaknesses, a number of things or definitions readily come to mind, we begin to think of someone who lacks strength, power, determination, or courage. The second thing that readily comes to mind is a character flaw in the life of someone, or a feature of somebody’s character not considered favorable. On the other hand, a weakness could be a fondness, or a strong liking for something (sometimes, this as you know could be something not good or even sinful in the sight of God, or capable of destroying one’s health or body), thus a weakness could be an object of a strong desire.
As a student of Medicine-especially Preventive and Social Medicine, which includes Rehabilitation Medicine, I know that there are gradations of social, physical, psychological and mental weaknesses in the form of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. As a matter of fact there is a code name that handles this, known as the International Classification, for Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps- the ICIDH. The ICIDH definitions of weaknesses does not cover all weaknesses because it does not talk about the most important which is the spiritual, but all the same, I will give the ICIDH definitions here just to give an insight to someone reading this article.
An Impairment is any temporary or permanent loss of body structure and or function, whether physiological or psychological.
Disability-restriction or inability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being, mostly resulting from impairment.
A handicap is termed as a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from impairment or a disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role in the community that is normal for his age sex and cultural leanings.
Thus a handicap is any physical or mental defect, congenital or acquired, preventing or restricting a person from participating in normal life or restricting their capacity to work.
Coming to common examples and practical terms based on the ICIDH definitions above, we know people who are blind, deaf, lame, dumb, with a mental retardation maybe due to Down’s syndrome, or Cretinisim or some other factors.
Also children with autism, ADH and ADDH, adults with various addictions-drugs, sex, smoking etc.
Talking about addictions, a man said that as a fourth child, and a first son in a family of five, his sister’s wild friends kept molesting and corrupting him, and left him with a weakness for women.
Another brother said that he used to take drugs, and they messed up his mind, now he can hardly remember things, he feels that he has a calling as a teacher, but his weak mind cannot allow him go into his ministry.
One important definition of weakness is a weak point in the structure or arrangement of something. Think about two wrestlers fighting in the ring, an somewhere along the line one develops a shoulder dislocation- the opponent now target that shoulder, and every time it looks like he is getting up, his opponent goes after the hurting shoulder and hits it. This now a weak point and the enemy could win with it if nothing is done about it.
This is the same exact principle that perpetuates addictions in the lives of people.
Every addiction has a trigger, something that drives it, and keeps opening the addicted one up to it. It could be pain whether physical, emotional or psychological. Harsh and abusive words, stigmatization, loneliness, loss of a loved one, unjust denial of one’s rights. It is a known fact that nobody wants to retain his bad habits or addictions, but sometimes they stay free for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or even 2 or more years. I am very much aware that demon spirits may contribute to maintaining addictions, but they are not primarily responsible for it.
Addictions are major limiting weaknesses that can hinder anyone when not handled properly, from fulfilling their purpose, and the enemy likes to introduce them early into the lives of God’s people, when his activities are not checked.
DEFINING STRENGHT-A LOOK AT DIVINE STRENGHT
There are a number of dictionary definitions of strength, some of these are: physical power, emotional toughness, source of support, resistance-the ability to withstand force, pressure or stress, defensive ability-ability to resist attack, asset or quality.
I will use some examples to illustrate strength, but before I do that, let us look at the very scripture that is the foundation of this article.
In the Book of 2corinthians chapter 12, beginning from verse 9, we read as follows:
9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."Paul, the great Apostle is trying to let us know that the secret of doing exploits with God is focusing on God’s strength, while acknowledging our weaknesses and in capabilities. That is a little diversion, but very important to note before we continue our discussion.
Talking about strength, let us look at an important phrase used above in the definitions of strength-source of support.
I will like you to think about two football teams that are in a field, about to play the game of football. Side A is a weaker team with less skilled footballers, while side B is stronger, and is supposed to win the match. However the referee and his linesmen in this game have decided to be partial and to favor side A. As soon as the match begins, they watch side B players closely, issuing yellow and red cards every now and then to side B team members for minor offences. The officiating crew ensures that side A is awarded penalties, and side B strong team members are sent off, until side A wins the game. This very much like us and God and the challenges that we face, when we are willing to co-operate with Him. Remember that if side A had decided at the beginning of the game to pull out because they are weak, the strengthening (or source of support) by the officials of the match would not have been utilized. As a matter of fact they would have been disqualified because the match would have been a walkover for side B.
This is exactly what happens between Christians, God and their dreams or even assignments sometimes. God is there waiting to do a partial officiating so that you can win, because He is on your side, but the enemy is busy magnifying the task ahead and telling you to withdraw.
DEFINING WEAKNESSES
When we talk about weaknesses, a number of things or definitions readily come to mind, we begin to think of someone who lacks strength, power, determination, or courage. The second thing that readily comes to mind is a character flaw in the life of someone, or a feature of somebody’s character not considered favorable. On the other hand, a weakness could be a fondness, or a strong liking for something (sometimes, this as you know could be something not good or even sinful in the sight of God, or capable of destroying one’s health or body), thus a weakness could be an object of a strong desire.
As a student of Medicine-especially Preventive and Social Medicine, which includes Rehabilitation Medicine, I know that there are gradations of social, physical, psychological and mental weaknesses in the form of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. As a matter of fact there is a code name that handles this, known as the International Classification, for Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps- the ICIDH. The ICIDH definitions of weaknesses does not cover all weaknesses because it does not talk about the most important which is the spiritual, but all the same, I will give the ICIDH definitions here just to give an insight to someone reading this article.
An Impairment is any temporary or permanent loss of body structure and or function, whether physiological or psychological.
Disability-restriction or inability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being, mostly resulting from impairment.
A handicap is termed as a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from impairment or a disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role in the community that is normal for his age sex and cultural leanings.
Thus a handicap is any physical or mental defect, congenital or acquired, preventing or restricting a person from participating in normal life or restricting their capacity to work.
Coming to common examples and practical terms based on the ICIDH definitions above, we know people who are blind, deaf, lame, dumb, with a mental retardation maybe due to Down’s syndrome, or Cretinisim or some other factors.
Also children with autism, ADH and ADDH, adults with various addictions-drugs, sex, smoking etc.
Talking about addictions, a man said that as a fourth child, and a first son in a family of five, his sister’s wild friends kept molesting and corrupting him, and left him with a weakness for women.
Another brother said that he used to take drugs, and they messed up his mind, now he can hardly remember things, he feels that he has a calling as a teacher, but his weak mind cannot allow him go into his ministry.
One important definition of weakness is a weak point in the structure or arrangement of something. Think about two wrestlers fighting in the ring, an somewhere along the line one develops a shoulder dislocation- the opponent now target that shoulder, and every time it looks like he is getting up, his opponent goes after the hurting shoulder and hits it. This now a weak point and the enemy could win with it if nothing is done about it.
This is the same exact principle that perpetuates addictions in the lives of people.
Every addiction has a trigger, something that drives it, and keeps opening the addicted one up to it. It could be pain whether physical, emotional or psychological. Harsh and abusive words, stigmatization, loneliness, loss of a loved one, unjust denial of one’s rights. It is a known fact that nobody wants to retain his bad habits or addictions, but sometimes they stay free for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or even 2 or more years. I am very much aware that demon spirits may contribute to maintaining addictions, but they are not primarily responsible for it.
Addictions are major limiting weaknesses that can hinder anyone when not handled properly, from fulfilling their purpose, and the enemy likes to introduce them early into the lives of God’s people, when his activities are not checked.
DEFINING STRENGHT-A LOOK AT DIVINE STRENGHT
There are a number of dictionary definitions of strength, some of these are: physical power, emotional toughness, source of support, resistance-the ability to withstand force, pressure or stress, defensive ability-ability to resist attack, asset or quality.
I will use some examples to illustrate strength, but before I do that, let us look at the very scripture that is the foundation of this article.
In the Book of 2corinthians chapter 12, beginning from verse 9, we read as follows:
9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."Paul, the great Apostle is trying to let us know that the secret of doing exploits with God is focusing on God’s strength, while acknowledging our weaknesses and in capabilities. That is a little diversion, but very important to note before we continue our discussion.
Talking about strength, let us look at an important phrase used above in the definitions of strength-source of support.
I will like you to think about two football teams that are in a field, about to play the game of football. Side A is a weaker team with less skilled footballers, while side B is stronger, and is supposed to win the match. However the referee and his linesmen in this game have decided to be partial and to favor side A. As soon as the match begins, they watch side B players closely, issuing yellow and red cards every now and then to side B team members for minor offences. The officiating crew ensures that side A is awarded penalties, and side B strong team members are sent off, until side A wins the game. This very much like us and God and the challenges that we face, when we are willing to co-operate with Him. Remember that if side A had decided at the beginning of the game to pull out because they are weak, the strengthening (or source of support) by the officials of the match would not have been utilized. As a matter of fact they would have been disqualified because the match would have been a walkover for side B.
This is exactly what happens between Christians, God and their dreams or even assignments sometimes. God is there waiting to do a partial officiating so that you can win, because He is on your side, but the enemy is busy magnifying the task ahead and telling you to withdraw.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
OVERCOMING FAILURE-4
THE CONSEQUENCIES OF FAILURE
Failure has many consequences, and it is how we handle the consequences of a fall or our failure that determine whether or not we will overcome it and recover.
The consequences of failure include shame, disappointment, confusion, withdrawal, disenchantment, disgust, disorientation, disillusionment, delusion, regrets, depression, anxiety, and sometimes physical manifestations such as collapse or fainting, ulcers, psychosomatic illnesses, may follow a severe fall.
Depending on what happened, friends and family, except the few committed and caring ones, may abandon the one who has missed it.
Enemies may have been armed with one more weapon with which to cajole and fight you. The question is how you are going to respond.
DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCIES OF FAILURE
How does one feel about the shame that follows a fall. The feelings of dishonor, embarrassment, unworthiness, and lowliness that follow one’s failure to achieve his goals whatever they may be.
Many people commit suicide because they feel that they cannot face the embarrassment that will follow their failure. They ask themselves-how are they going to see me now? What are they going to be thinking about me? Everybody will now think that I am a failure or a looser. Everybody will now say that I am no good. People will now say that I am not wise, they will now say that I lack discretion, they will now say that I am foolish and gullible.
One of the things that I discovered is that there will always be people that the devil will anoint to rub your failure in. Some of these fellows will come before your face and say to you-shaaame on you!
The worst amongst them are the whisperers who move about with the story trying to let everybody know that you have been sacked in your office, you failed that exam so many times and now you have been rusticated out of the college. They want everybody to know that your marriage has collapsed and now you are divorced, they want people to know that you have finally fallen into so and so sin and you were caught red handed so now everybody knows about it, they want everybody to know that you have so and so addiction which is shameful.
Now you have a bigger problem because of the work of these tale bearers. Instead of having few people to deal with, you now have to deal with this everywhere you go.
However, whenever you want to think about shame and you have all the negative thoughts coming to your mind: think about Jesus.
Nobody suffered shame, nor ever will suffer shame like Jesus. Think about the God who made the entire universe, one day being stripped naked by the people he created, dragged around beaten, flogged, and finally nailed to the cross and died, I can’t think of any greater shame than that. Remember that he did all that for you too so that you will never know that degree of shame in your life.
Also remember that he did not end in that grave where his enemies buried him, but rose up on the third day.
Many rejoice and boast about their great talent in pushing others down and burring their gifts and talents. It is supposed to be a horrible and shameful thing, but these twisted people brag about the evil that they have sold themselves out to keep doing. However I love that beautiful Good Friday message that says-“Thank God it is Friday, because Sunday is coming.” What you bury today, will surely resurrect tomorrow as long as the seed of God is in it- it will resurrect to your chagrin to embarrass you and hunt you.
Disillusionment tells you that what you have always believed is wrong or false. ‘You thought that God said so and so, but it was not God, it was your mind that deceived you, that is why you failed.’ The devil will ask you where your God is now. Those that have made themselves available for the enemy to use, will come to you and try to convince you that what God has in his word, is no longer true, or that what human beings have verified scientifically is what should be trusted, not what the so called Lord has said. They will call you a fool for holding on that vision that God gave you or showed you in spite of previous or even current proofs, just because of a temporary delay or a fall.
When disillusionment comes knocking on your door, remember that God said that He is the Lord who never changes, and that heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one jot of His word shall fail. Equally remember that His word is perfect and all His ways are just, remember-‘I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.’
In the book of Isaiah chapter 32 verse 17 we read as follows:
17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness-quietness and assurance forever”.This simply means that if you will continue to live your life as a righteous man who is saved and serving the Lord-the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall enfold you, and guard your heart and rule your mind. Ultimately, your faith in a God that never fails will produce results as we have already seen.
Therefore when disillusionment comes knocking on your door after a fall, say like Job-‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust him’, and like the three Hebrew children: “Even if our God does not deliver us, we shall not bow down to you graven image”.Disgust-This means feelings of strong disapproval. The affected one says I don’t like this, this cannot be true, and this cannot be happening to me after all the efforts that I have put in. The devil is a liar, and I will rather die than accept this. Then the devil will say to the one-‘yes, you better die now because you cannot stand this humiliation and shame’. You need to look that devil in the eye and say that the Bible says in the Book of Romans chapter 8 and verse 28:
28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”.Delusion-this is a false belief held on to tightly by some, from which they cannot be easily shaken. In Africa, it is common for people to believe that their problems are caused by witchcraft, spells, curses and ancestral demons. In as much as this is true sometimes, a lot of people who have refused to develop their faith in God, are suffering because they have refused to fast, give, and live holy lives so as to destroy the power of witchcraft which is nothing compared to the power of a believer who lives a life of the word.
It becomes imperative that when the enemy tries to remind you about those who swore that you will never achieve your goals, or reach your destiny because they have power (including witchcraft power), money or influence, and that they will surely stop you. It may look now like they are winning, already. Instead of believing that God has failed and you need to seek for help from man or witches and warlocks, you look that devil in the eye and say to him like David, ‘This day will I take your head off from your shoulders, and will give the bodies of the armies of the philistines, to the birds of the air, and the whole world shall know that there is a God in Israel’.
Disorientation- It means that someone is losing his direction, he is now confused, he is being forced to change focus or direction. This often happens when people fail. They change course, some change direction, or lose focus as a result of the things talked about earlier. In as much as a change of strategy may be necessary in order to achieve certain goals, it is not the same as throwing away your God given vision. Unless God never really spoke in the first place. The solution is deciding to stay on course and not straying away or throwing away what God has already said which is tantamount to making Him a liar. The dissenting voices will never stop speaking and even shouting and will get louder and heavier, and even sound more correct as you get closer to God’s target.
In psychiatry, there is what is called CBT-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aims at opening the eyes of a patient believed to lack insight into the fact that his way of thinking is contributory to his problem-maybe a learning disorder, a form of dementia, an eating disorder, a depressive illness, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder and others. The therapy includes teaching through the use of words. It equally includes confrontation when the wrong behaviors and attitudes are displayed.
I am very convinced though a medical doctor that sitting under the influence of anointed messages from God’s anointed servants will do much more in transforming the lives of those in these cases and any one that has failed in any area of life than just Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (combination therapy is my recommendation).
Finally, remember Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance”.
Failure has many consequences, and it is how we handle the consequences of a fall or our failure that determine whether or not we will overcome it and recover.
The consequences of failure include shame, disappointment, confusion, withdrawal, disenchantment, disgust, disorientation, disillusionment, delusion, regrets, depression, anxiety, and sometimes physical manifestations such as collapse or fainting, ulcers, psychosomatic illnesses, may follow a severe fall.
Depending on what happened, friends and family, except the few committed and caring ones, may abandon the one who has missed it.
Enemies may have been armed with one more weapon with which to cajole and fight you. The question is how you are going to respond.
DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCIES OF FAILURE
How does one feel about the shame that follows a fall. The feelings of dishonor, embarrassment, unworthiness, and lowliness that follow one’s failure to achieve his goals whatever they may be.
Many people commit suicide because they feel that they cannot face the embarrassment that will follow their failure. They ask themselves-how are they going to see me now? What are they going to be thinking about me? Everybody will now think that I am a failure or a looser. Everybody will now say that I am no good. People will now say that I am not wise, they will now say that I lack discretion, they will now say that I am foolish and gullible.
One of the things that I discovered is that there will always be people that the devil will anoint to rub your failure in. Some of these fellows will come before your face and say to you-shaaame on you!
The worst amongst them are the whisperers who move about with the story trying to let everybody know that you have been sacked in your office, you failed that exam so many times and now you have been rusticated out of the college. They want everybody to know that your marriage has collapsed and now you are divorced, they want people to know that you have finally fallen into so and so sin and you were caught red handed so now everybody knows about it, they want everybody to know that you have so and so addiction which is shameful.
Now you have a bigger problem because of the work of these tale bearers. Instead of having few people to deal with, you now have to deal with this everywhere you go.
However, whenever you want to think about shame and you have all the negative thoughts coming to your mind: think about Jesus.
Nobody suffered shame, nor ever will suffer shame like Jesus. Think about the God who made the entire universe, one day being stripped naked by the people he created, dragged around beaten, flogged, and finally nailed to the cross and died, I can’t think of any greater shame than that. Remember that he did all that for you too so that you will never know that degree of shame in your life.
Also remember that he did not end in that grave where his enemies buried him, but rose up on the third day.
Many rejoice and boast about their great talent in pushing others down and burring their gifts and talents. It is supposed to be a horrible and shameful thing, but these twisted people brag about the evil that they have sold themselves out to keep doing. However I love that beautiful Good Friday message that says-“Thank God it is Friday, because Sunday is coming.” What you bury today, will surely resurrect tomorrow as long as the seed of God is in it- it will resurrect to your chagrin to embarrass you and hunt you.
Disillusionment tells you that what you have always believed is wrong or false. ‘You thought that God said so and so, but it was not God, it was your mind that deceived you, that is why you failed.’ The devil will ask you where your God is now. Those that have made themselves available for the enemy to use, will come to you and try to convince you that what God has in his word, is no longer true, or that what human beings have verified scientifically is what should be trusted, not what the so called Lord has said. They will call you a fool for holding on that vision that God gave you or showed you in spite of previous or even current proofs, just because of a temporary delay or a fall.
When disillusionment comes knocking on your door, remember that God said that He is the Lord who never changes, and that heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one jot of His word shall fail. Equally remember that His word is perfect and all His ways are just, remember-‘I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.’
In the book of Isaiah chapter 32 verse 17 we read as follows:
17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness-quietness and assurance forever”.This simply means that if you will continue to live your life as a righteous man who is saved and serving the Lord-the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall enfold you, and guard your heart and rule your mind. Ultimately, your faith in a God that never fails will produce results as we have already seen.
Therefore when disillusionment comes knocking on your door after a fall, say like Job-‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust him’, and like the three Hebrew children: “Even if our God does not deliver us, we shall not bow down to you graven image”.Disgust-This means feelings of strong disapproval. The affected one says I don’t like this, this cannot be true, and this cannot be happening to me after all the efforts that I have put in. The devil is a liar, and I will rather die than accept this. Then the devil will say to the one-‘yes, you better die now because you cannot stand this humiliation and shame’. You need to look that devil in the eye and say that the Bible says in the Book of Romans chapter 8 and verse 28:
28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”.Delusion-this is a false belief held on to tightly by some, from which they cannot be easily shaken. In Africa, it is common for people to believe that their problems are caused by witchcraft, spells, curses and ancestral demons. In as much as this is true sometimes, a lot of people who have refused to develop their faith in God, are suffering because they have refused to fast, give, and live holy lives so as to destroy the power of witchcraft which is nothing compared to the power of a believer who lives a life of the word.
It becomes imperative that when the enemy tries to remind you about those who swore that you will never achieve your goals, or reach your destiny because they have power (including witchcraft power), money or influence, and that they will surely stop you. It may look now like they are winning, already. Instead of believing that God has failed and you need to seek for help from man or witches and warlocks, you look that devil in the eye and say to him like David, ‘This day will I take your head off from your shoulders, and will give the bodies of the armies of the philistines, to the birds of the air, and the whole world shall know that there is a God in Israel’.
Disorientation- It means that someone is losing his direction, he is now confused, he is being forced to change focus or direction. This often happens when people fail. They change course, some change direction, or lose focus as a result of the things talked about earlier. In as much as a change of strategy may be necessary in order to achieve certain goals, it is not the same as throwing away your God given vision. Unless God never really spoke in the first place. The solution is deciding to stay on course and not straying away or throwing away what God has already said which is tantamount to making Him a liar. The dissenting voices will never stop speaking and even shouting and will get louder and heavier, and even sound more correct as you get closer to God’s target.
In psychiatry, there is what is called CBT-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aims at opening the eyes of a patient believed to lack insight into the fact that his way of thinking is contributory to his problem-maybe a learning disorder, a form of dementia, an eating disorder, a depressive illness, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder and others. The therapy includes teaching through the use of words. It equally includes confrontation when the wrong behaviors and attitudes are displayed.
I am very convinced though a medical doctor that sitting under the influence of anointed messages from God’s anointed servants will do much more in transforming the lives of those in these cases and any one that has failed in any area of life than just Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (combination therapy is my recommendation).
Finally, remember Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance”.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
OVERCOMING FAILURE-3
There is another hilarious story in the Book of Judges that happened in ancient Israel, which we can use to illustrate how godly people who mean well and are only trying to do the will of God can find themselves apparently on the ground. You will also notice that it was only a temporary event in the end.
I am going to tell the story that led to the war briefly, and you can check it up later. The whole story is to be found in the book of Judges, chapters 19, 20 and 21.
This whole event took place in ancient Israel at a time it was said that Israel had no king. Obviously there was confusion and chaos, and everybody did what pleased them. There was so much anarchy that a group people will just gather together, lay hold on a man, and make him their priest forcefully.
A man was said to have been abandoned by his concubine, who went and became a harlot. The concubine thing is what is confusing here, was she his fiancée, or was she his girlfriend (maybe), or was she his wife? Anyway, whatever the case might be, she left him and practiced prostitution for about four months from her father’s house. The man decided to go and reconcile with his wife and bring her back home.
When he finished discussing with his father in-law, it was already late, and his in-law begged him to sleep with them since it was night and very late, but he refused and continued his journey. They got to Jerusalem which belonged to the Jebusites and his servant begged him to stop so they can sleep over since it was late. He insisted that since the inhabitants of Jerusalem at that time were not Israelites, they could not enter in to sleep with strangers. They therefore continued their journey until they got to Gibeah which belonged to Benjamin. They stayed under a tree until they were found by an old man returning from work (probably) his farm. The man took him and his wife home to spend the night.
Shortly after they arrived the house of the man who wanted to accommodate them for the night, and were eating and making merry, some fools who were wicked men- the Bible calls them sons of belial surrounded the house where they were.
These wicked fools demanded for a most shocking thing-they demanded to be allowed to perform homosexual acts with the man who was a stranger amongst them. The old man pleaded with them along side with the man himself to take his daughter and the man’s fiancé and do whatever they wanted with them.
They finally accepted to take his fiancé and the Bible says that they took her and abused her sexually throughout the night until morning they left her.
Her fiancée came out to take her but only met dying, and she finally died.
The man decided to cut his fiancée into pieces and share out her meat to the twelve tribes of Israel, as a way of informing them about what has been done to him and his own.
The Israelites were shocked and angered by the wickedness of these men who decided to commit such an atrocity amongst God’s chosen people. They demanded for the Benjamites to bring out the men that were responsible so that they will be punished, but they said no.
This got the rest of Israel very angry with the Benjamites, who they told to prepare for war and which they did. Benjamin made up its mind to fight with the rest of Israel rather than release to them wicked criminals who had committed rape and murder. What folly was that, that made them to harden their hearts?
You and I would have expected that since God was involved, the demands of justice will be met and Israel would overrun Gibeah of Benjamin. In Judges Chapter 20 and verse 18, Israel consulted God, and God told them to allow the armies of Judah to go first.
18 “And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to battle the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first”. If you hear the voice of the Lord like this, you will be encouraged, and am sure that Israel was. However what followed after this was totally shocking.
21 “And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day, twenty and two thousand men”.
Israel fell to Benjamin in spite of what they had done. I am sure that in their hearts, the Benjamites felt good. They must have felt that they have shown these weaklings that might is right. However the story did not end there.
Israel went back and sought the face of the Lord and eventually defeated the Benjamites and brought them to their knees. The righteous demands of justice were met. You can read up the rest of the story.
Those who have might, and power and worldly connections may push us down and brag that we have fallen because of their pressure, but the vindication of the righteous shall surely come if he refuses to give up.
I am going to tell the story that led to the war briefly, and you can check it up later. The whole story is to be found in the book of Judges, chapters 19, 20 and 21.
This whole event took place in ancient Israel at a time it was said that Israel had no king. Obviously there was confusion and chaos, and everybody did what pleased them. There was so much anarchy that a group people will just gather together, lay hold on a man, and make him their priest forcefully.
A man was said to have been abandoned by his concubine, who went and became a harlot. The concubine thing is what is confusing here, was she his fiancée, or was she his girlfriend (maybe), or was she his wife? Anyway, whatever the case might be, she left him and practiced prostitution for about four months from her father’s house. The man decided to go and reconcile with his wife and bring her back home.
When he finished discussing with his father in-law, it was already late, and his in-law begged him to sleep with them since it was night and very late, but he refused and continued his journey. They got to Jerusalem which belonged to the Jebusites and his servant begged him to stop so they can sleep over since it was late. He insisted that since the inhabitants of Jerusalem at that time were not Israelites, they could not enter in to sleep with strangers. They therefore continued their journey until they got to Gibeah which belonged to Benjamin. They stayed under a tree until they were found by an old man returning from work (probably) his farm. The man took him and his wife home to spend the night.
Shortly after they arrived the house of the man who wanted to accommodate them for the night, and were eating and making merry, some fools who were wicked men- the Bible calls them sons of belial surrounded the house where they were.
These wicked fools demanded for a most shocking thing-they demanded to be allowed to perform homosexual acts with the man who was a stranger amongst them. The old man pleaded with them along side with the man himself to take his daughter and the man’s fiancé and do whatever they wanted with them.
They finally accepted to take his fiancé and the Bible says that they took her and abused her sexually throughout the night until morning they left her.
Her fiancée came out to take her but only met dying, and she finally died.
The man decided to cut his fiancée into pieces and share out her meat to the twelve tribes of Israel, as a way of informing them about what has been done to him and his own.
The Israelites were shocked and angered by the wickedness of these men who decided to commit such an atrocity amongst God’s chosen people. They demanded for the Benjamites to bring out the men that were responsible so that they will be punished, but they said no.
This got the rest of Israel very angry with the Benjamites, who they told to prepare for war and which they did. Benjamin made up its mind to fight with the rest of Israel rather than release to them wicked criminals who had committed rape and murder. What folly was that, that made them to harden their hearts?
You and I would have expected that since God was involved, the demands of justice will be met and Israel would overrun Gibeah of Benjamin. In Judges Chapter 20 and verse 18, Israel consulted God, and God told them to allow the armies of Judah to go first.
18 “And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to battle the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first”. If you hear the voice of the Lord like this, you will be encouraged, and am sure that Israel was. However what followed after this was totally shocking.
21 “And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day, twenty and two thousand men”.
Israel fell to Benjamin in spite of what they had done. I am sure that in their hearts, the Benjamites felt good. They must have felt that they have shown these weaklings that might is right. However the story did not end there.
Israel went back and sought the face of the Lord and eventually defeated the Benjamites and brought them to their knees. The righteous demands of justice were met. You can read up the rest of the story.
Those who have might, and power and worldly connections may push us down and brag that we have fallen because of their pressure, but the vindication of the righteous shall surely come if he refuses to give up.
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