What You Need

Imagine this. Imagine that you are dreaming about God. Think about his, glory and majesty, how great and mighty his presence would feel. You can barely recover from the love that absorbs your whole body when you realize that the Ancient of Days has decided to grace your life with a manifestation of his presence.

Imagine that while still in wonder, God says these words to you "My dear _____, ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you." Imagine your mind racing, Oh! Lord what can I ask for. You cannot ask yet because you are experiencing something to wonderful, the presence of God is too amazing for you to contain, so you open your mouth to talk and words of praise, worship and surrender are flowing from the bottom of your heart. While this is happening you realize that the magnificent all powerful father, master, maker that you are worshipping just gave you a blank check. You are well aware that nothing is too difficult for him and you can tell that he wont hold back anything good from you, he can even give you a country if you ask for it. Now is the time to ask, Lord, Alagbada ina, please give me _______________________

What would you ask for?
What do you have on your list during crossover service or when a pastor says, ask God for 1 thing.
Someone has been in these shoes before (Solomon), he had a similar experience. Recently, I read the passage again and it made me wonder. How did Solomon decide on what to ask for? Lord! how do I know what to ask for, how do I know what I need?

You may know the story of Solomon already but remember that God's word is food for your spirit so I will paste this passage here. Read every line with the Holy Spirit as your guide.

1 Kings 3

3 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. ² The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. ³ Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” ¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

Wow! What a dream! The answer to how Solomon knew what to ask for is actually in his reply. Verse 6-9. Solomon's words show that HE KNEW that he did not bring himself to where he was. He knew he didnt become King because his father was king before him. He was well aware that God made him THE KING.  A life that is created by your dependence on God, can only be effectively sustained by leaning on God and tapping into his ability. Can you remember my post 'BOTTOMLESS YOU'? Solomon lived that principle.

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities? 

Did you start a project and all of a sudden you feel its going out of your control?

Are you sitting at the head of an organization, a unit or a team and you feel grossly unqualified all of a sudden?

It is okay. All you need to do, is go back to the beginning. Who brought you here? 

If you didn't get there by your own strength and wisdom

If God pulled the strings and led you in that direction

If you know it was God's idea in the first place

Then relax. He is the great orchestrator and he will not lead you somewhere to abandon you. Lean on HIM.

Acts 17:28

²⁸ for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. God made David king and Solomon too. Solomon sat on the throne as King and realized that he didn't have on his own what it took to rule the Israelites so he tapped into his real source - God. He said:

- “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. 

- You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

- you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 

^- Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 

- So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

His key was humility. Sometimes we equate ourselves with the things that God has done in our lives. We attribute it to our smartness, our righteousness, our level of intelligence, education, circumstances of our birth and so on. We thank God for it, but somewhere in our minds we believe that God chose us because we are qualified. But the truth is, God doesn't necessarily call us according to our present qualifications, he qualifies us for our calling. When we think that we are qualified, it gives a temporary good feeling but it can often put us under undue pressure to keep up something we didn't start in the first place.

Look over your life, and if you can really come to realise and agree that there is no way you could have gotten where you are without Gods hand and blessing, then you will know exactly what you need to ask for in order to do his will.

Be encouraged to press-on

Be inspired to reach higher

Be ready for greatness

Tap into the bottomless-you that exists in God.

You can truly do ALL things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens you. After all, it is in him you live, move and have your being. What you need, He definitely has.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

My father God and king, you are beautiful beyond description. My God who has no abandoned projects, the all mighty, all powerful God. You are great, you do great things and you have all power in your hands. Thank you for making what you have made me today. A mother, father, husband, wife, leader, teacher, CEO, son, daughter, businessman e.t.c Lord when my heart is overwhelmed, help me to cast all my cares on you. Knowing that you who have brought me this far will not leave me until you bring me to an expected end.   I lean on you in my weakness, and my strength comes from you. Help me to submit to you in all things, knowing that your joy is my strength. I commit my family, friends, my colleagues, my pastor and the Church into your hands. Strengthen each on of us to be our best-selves in you. In Jesus Name.

Amen

Someone To Love

Have you ever been in love with someone?  Can you remember how it made you feel?

You want to see them every minute, no amount of time is too much to gist, and every time your phone rings, their face flashes in your mind and you feel a bit irked when you see that red light blinking on your phone and when you check the message its from someone else.

If its someone you don’t see often then every time you turn round a street corner you hope its their face you will see, maybe you will bump into each other or maybe they will surprise you by being at your door when you get home. Every time something great happens, that’s the first person you want to call, when something sad happens that’s the only person you want to talk to. When regular boring things happen you still feel the urge to give them an update. Sound Familiar?

Love is a beautiful emotion and it motivates us. It motivates us to share, care, communicate, act, sing, smile, protect, educate, improve and so on.

God’s love motivated him to create. He decided to create something to love (The World). He, being all powerful had the ability to make exactly what he wanted, he took all the things he loved and perfectly created a world that he loves,and made it full of the things he loves.

Look at it this way, God decided to make someone to love and he created you. This is by no means an exaggeration. I am praying that this message sinks into your consciousness.  Remember John 3:16?

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

There are two revelations in this post for us to receive and never forget.

1.      1.  God doesn't love us just because he created us; he created us because he loves us. He pictured someone he could love and you came to his thoughts and so he created you.

2.       2. God doesn't just love what is on the inside, he loves what he sees when he looks at you

I am not psyching or consoling you. Have you heard about the fact that he has spare body parts for everyone? He loves even your body, that's why he gives us access to restore every broken or dead thing in our bodies. Read this scripture and decide for yourself if God loves looking at you:

Revelation 4:1-11

The Throne Room of Heaven

4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

² Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.³ And He who sat there was^[a] like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. ⁴ Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns^[b] of gold on their heads. ⁵ And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.^[c] Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the^[d] seven Spirits of God.

⁶ Before the throne there was^[e] a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,^[f]
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord,^[g]
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist^[h] and were created.”

Did you see that? The creatures by the throne are covered in eyes, they lead the worship of our King. I believe it is safe to say that God loves looking at them; he likes what eyes look like. Wow! I pray you get this, even your blinking is beautiful to him, they are an acceptable instrument of worship, your hands, feet, mouth, face…you are who God loves, you are what he loves(spirit,soul and body). He gives his angels charge over you, he doesn't even want you to cast your foot against a stone. He has full interest in your total well being.  He loves you so much that he decided not to let you perish, he sent Jesus to die to save you. He doesn't want your soul to perish in hell, he doesn't want your body to suffer on earth, he doesn't want your mind tormented, he doesn't want you hurt emotionally. 

Proverbs 8:36

³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;

No wonder he heals all hurts and diseases. He gave us Divine Health, Healing and Hospitals all to ensure that we prosper and be in health. If you've ever looked down on yourself, think again. When God sees you, his heart melts. He loves everything he sees inside and outside. You are someone worth loving; you were created to be loved. You are loved. He is never tired of talking to you (he cant get enough of you), Nothing is too small to tell him (he is interested), He also wants to talk to you (all the time). He loves you and that's just the truth. 

Halleluyah!

Fight every thought that makes you feel inferior or insecure with this word

Jeremiah 1:5

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

God formed you. You are beautiful, and you are handsome. He knew you even before he formed the body you occupy you and he still loved you and formed you. Never forget it, you are a person of worth.

Halleluyah!

Heavenly father, great redeemer, King of Kings and my awesome savior, you are full of wonder, might and power, you are all sufficient and self sustaining YET you still love me. You created me because you want to show me love. Help me Lord to never let the devil or anyone make me look down on myself. Help me to always remember that everything you created, you called good. Thank you Lord because you are also working out everything for my good. I love you Lord, not that I have anything to offer, but because you first loved me. I pray that you help me live a life that continually gives you pleasure. In Jesus Name, I break every hold of depression, insecurity and low self-esteem over my life. I am a person of worth because you have made me so. I forgive everyone who has ever hurt me; they do not determine my worth. I love you Lord and declare this week a blessed week of great miracles in Jesus Name. Amen

Whirlwind of Wills

Romans 8: 14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Most of us will be familiar with this saying, "The heart wants what the heart wants" one of its variants. The key message of this statement is that sometimes you cannot control what your heart (emotions) wants especially when your heart wants it badly. This statement is true in many ways, but it gives one side of a picture in which there are so many sides.





Your heart wants what it wants, your spirit wants what it wants, your mind wants what it wants and your body wants what it wants. Life is good when all these facets of your person want the same thing. e.g Your decide you want to loose weight (mind), you are excitedly looking forward to the slimmer you (heart), your body cooperates by loosing all appetite for yummy food. Wait, opps! does that ever happen? You body will probably protest each step of the way. Each of the wants that your body, spirit, soul, or heart wants creates a certain amount of WILL and in every case where there is a conflict, the WILL you give into determines your actions.

So we know from previous posts that YOU-Spirit (when connected to God) will ALWAYS want to do God's will. We also know that the mind is fed by knowledge and information and YOU(mind) will always want to do what makes sense to you. At the same time, YOU (body) will want things that bring comfort and enjoyment, while YOU (HEART) will want things that make you feel wonderful,great,happiness,peace and strongest of all love. This is by no means an exhaustive list, many other thing will try to exert their WILL on you (society, friends, family e.t.c)

Let us consider this in light of these Verses in Ephesians 4

¹⁷ This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; ¹⁹ who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Here it says that as new creatures we should no longer walk IN THE FUTILITY OF OUR MINDS like those whose spirits are still dead (separated from God). i.e even as a new creature, born of God, your mind is not infallible (it can think wrong thoughts),  your heart is not the guiding line for your life, it can be deceived (guard it with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life). Your spirit (in communion with the Holy spirit)  is the sure source of direction at all times. I am sure we agree with this, but the real question is this, is it possible to follow you your spirit when your heart, body and mind are putting so much pressure on you to do otherwise?

The you, you have is as a result of the you, you feed. The truth is that no matter how your much your body wants that chocolate, it cannot have it until you give your hand permission to pick it up and your mouth permission to open and chew. No matter how much your heart wants a certain forbidden someone, your hand cannot pickup the telephone to call that person unless you give in to your heart's WILL and give your hand permission. Take conscious control to do what your spirit wants and feed your spirit with God's word so that the WILL of your spirit will also be able to push\lead you in the right direction. Gods direction. Renew your mind with God's word so your mind will cooperate with your spirit and make it easier for you to do what is right. When all fails and all your mind, body and heart want to go against what your spirit knows is right, it will feel like a whirlwind pulling you towards something you want and don't want at the same time. PRAY for strength and consciously tell yourself NO.

You are the owner of yourself, yourself is not the owner of you. 

Romans 8: 14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

God Bless

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I thank you for your love for me. I thank you because you know me inside and out and made a provision for all my needs in Christ Jesus. Help me Lord, Please give me the strength and give me grace to stand firm on your precepts even when my emotions and desires are like a whirlwind tossing me to and flow. I say Peace be Still in my life and rest in the knowledge that you will lead me in the path of righteousness and bring me to fulfillment of purpose. Thank you for your grace and mercy. I commit my family unto your hands make each and everyone of us a blessing in Jesus Name

AMEN

Letter From Heaven1

This is a letter pouring out God's heart to his people. Read the letter and digest the words beneath.

                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soldiers,

This is a battle, its part of a war

You need to decide

On whose side you fight

To say you love me,

Is to say you’ll be true.

To say that you don’t means

I need to get to you.

But now as I look there is a third group

I see traitors and henchmen belonging to me.

I’ve saved them, I’ve washed them

Even called them mine.

But when I see their actions it grieves me inside.

Propagating the affairs of my enemy

They go about,

All around doing injustice to me.

Who do you love?!

Who do you serve?!

Stop doing this to me

Go home, Go back just leave the battle field.

Decide right away, on whose side do you fight

Go away, don’t call my name

Because you still betray me.

The End

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Gideon was going to fight the Midianities, God asked those unsure, scared and unprepared or unaware of the gravity to go home. God does not need numbers to win a war. He wants devotion.

See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil

Ephesians 5:15&16

The life we live (if we say we are God’s own) should propagate His Kingdom and Expand and Enforce His dominion. Its expected. 

We are soldiers, the battle is for souls and our lifestyle must ‘use every opportunity’ to further the cause of our God. 

When we compromise or even go along with a plan that propagates sin, we are fighting on the wrong team. When we fall back and or hide our faith, we are like those who went back home. But when the world already knows you as a Christian and you follow friends, trends and fads to erode God’s dominion over lives, places and situations you are fighting on the wrong team. When our words agree and encourage sin what is to be said of us?

God has called you friend, don’t call yourself a traitor.

Once again be wise in the way you walk

Your conversation should be ALWAYS be full of grace

And seasoned with salt, so that,

You may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

God wants ALL MEN to be saved (1 Tim 2:4) and come to the knowledge of truth, as His soldiers all our actions are supposed to make that happen.

1 Tim 4:12

Instead be an example, be salt, show example of a believer in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, purity.

We need to be examples that people can SEE.

Jesus said in John 14:

The devil is coming after me but even though he has no power over me, I will willingly handover myself SO THAT the world will know  that I love my father and I WILL OBEY whatsoever he asks Me to do. Jesus died to be an Example. To SHOW the world that he loves God. 

Halleluyah! Are you willing to SHOW?

1 Tim 5:22b & 25 - “Neither be partakers of other men’s sin. Keep thyself pure”.

2 Tim 4:2 - “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”.

Prayer:

Lord, help me not to give up territory to the devil, help me to show the world what a Christian looks like, what loving You looks like. Make me an example to show that it is possible to love and truly serve You. Help me not to encourage people into sin, help me never to be ashamed of being your King and Priest on this earth. Guide me by Your Spirit, give me strength.

Functionality Maximized

Ecclesiastes 10:7 - I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.

Animated For Purpose and Functionality Revealed were posts that gave us a revelation into the fact that based on our design, we discover who we are through our relationship with God and we discover how to function in all our roles by experiencing how God (trinity) functions as a counselor, bridegroom, friend, teacher, master, creator e.t.c 

This has brought us to the realization that in order to maximize our capabilities and potential, we need to function in our relationship with God. What is this capability? Revelations 1:5-7 explains: 


Revelation 1:5-7

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

On this earth, we are kings and priests. A king has dominion, A king has power, the words that come out of a King's mouth become law and cannot be overturned. The one who has dominion over the Universe has made us Kings and Priests on earth. 

Look around you, we all need to pause and think about this. Is there anything that is resisting your 'Kingship'? Then you need to Maximize your functionality. Are your relationships, finances, job circumstances, health circumstances obeying your pronouncements and decrees? You need to maximize your functionality. Most of all, is your life, and are your actions enforcing and propagating the dominion of the King of Kings in your domain which he has given you? You need to maximize your functionality. We all do. 

Do you feel like a King?

If you have read Try to Imagine it, then you can picture some of the wonderful things that would be happening if all God's Children would Maximize their functionality as kings in their domains.

Genesis 1:26-27 gives us a clear picture of the level in which we were designed to operate:

Genesis 1:26-27

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; 1 . let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 
2. over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,
3. over all^[a] the earth 
4. and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Inherent in our design was all this ability. Creation was not meant to order itself, man was meant to. God put things in order when he made the earth but inherent in its design, he made it such that creation had to obey man and in obeying man it would be obeying God. No wonder! no wonder Romans 8:19-22 tells of how creation groans, waiting earnestly for the sons of God to come and take charge.

We were put on earth to Maximize the earth's functionality and if we do it with God's leading and guidance then we would know enough about how to maximize it without awful side effects and methods. Many people through out history have discovered, invented and developed things because they maximized their functionality as scientists and researchers by asking God for guidance. Have you ever wondered who many of the great scientists we have ever heard of were children of God (Isaac Newton, Micheal Faraday, Blaise Paschal, Galileo Galilei)?


God have us the power to take charge of earth, to take the raw materials and make things out of it, use the plants and animals for food, clothing and shelter, use the sun and water for light and power e.t.c Inherent in the functionality of 'the earth' when God gave it to man was electricity, medicine, Computers, ipads, cards AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE! In what ways would the earth be maximized if all God's children would maximize their functionality?

In order for Genesis 1:26 and Revelations 1:6 to become a reality in our lives we need to go back to the basics, back to our design to see how this 'God-Us' relationship was meant to work and how it tanslates to Animation and Functionality. Halleluyah! 

What I'm about to share with you transformed my life, and is still transforming it daily.

'MAN WAS  NOT CREATED TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT'

Only God is self-sufficient and the power that sustains the whole universe flows out of him. The original design for this flow of power is:

GOD->MAN->EARTH

When any part of this link is broken, ability is lost, wisdom is missing, guidance is disconnected, everything is left to chance and loss begins to take place. No matter how fast or strong you are, your success is based on chance unless this link is replaced, unless the connection is repaired. No wonder the bible calls separation from God death.

We are Kings and priests and we are living like mere men, creation is supposed to be in our care, its supposed to serve us, but we serve it, we are supposed to tell it what to do but it tells us what to do (rain, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes). This is not the life we were meant to live! No way!

When Jesus came to restore our connection to God, he did it so that we can have access to that part of our design that gives us dominion. He came so that we can re-link ourselves to our source of animation and dominion. The life he lived on earth was to show us exactly who we are meant to be.

Mark 16:18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ they^[a] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

We are KINGS, we cannot keep walking on foot instead of riding on the donkey. I pray that the Holyspirit makes these words explode in your heart so that you know who you are. You are more than conquerors. You are a Child of the Most High God and you have no enablement of your own. Outside God we are truly dead. When ever we do something 'great' we need to imagine how much greater it would have been if we were operating at our MAXIMUM.

Halleluyah!

In Genesis 2:19 God was right there but ADAM was the one who named the animals, God wants to enable you to do so so so so so MUCH. Are you ready to rekindle that relationship with him? Maximum cannot be achieved outside God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord God Almighty. Ancient of Days you are perfect in all your ways. What can I say but thank you. Who is man that you are mindful of him? We are nothing without you? Help me take my place, enable me to bring Glory to you by fulfilling my calling. Down at your feet is the most high place because my potential is maximized by your power. I am nothing without you.

Glory to your name Jesus. Halleluyah!

Genesis 2:19
¹⁹ Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

Functionality Revealed

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

^{3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4} who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

What is Love? What does it mean to be a 'good' Father, Husband, Mother, Brother, Friend, Boss, Student, Teacher, Son e.t.c? If God is our father what does that mean?

For far too long, we have tried to understand the relationships we are meant to have with God through our human relationships, through other people's experiences in their human relationships, through our own experiences and so on. 

The bible shows in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that it should be the other way round. When we experience God's way of relationship, it gives us the knowledge,  experience and understanding of how we should function in our earthly relationships. God comforts us in all tribulation so that we can be ABLE to comfort those in trouble. Hallelujah! The bible is full of example of how this works?


We liken the relationship that we (the bride of Christ) have with Jesus to the one we have with our spouse but in the bible Jesus Christ likens marriage to his relationship with the church.

Ephesians 5:25

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her

What does this mean? What is the difference? 
Jesus is saying, Love the way I love you. You are not expected to discover what love is on your own then apply it to your relationship with God. No...

WE NEED TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND COPY THE WAY HE LOVES IN THE WAY WE LOVE OTHERS

Our relationship with God is INFINITELY more intricate and valuable than any earthly relationship, even marriage (Col 3:15 - 4:1), that means this is not just for husbands and wives. When we understand and experience God in the fullness of a relationship with him, then we can learn from experience, what it means to be a:

- Husband: Jesus is the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15)
- Friend: God called us friend (Luke 12:4, James 4:4)
- Brother: We are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8: 17)
- Father: We cry out Abba father (Romans 8:15)
- Teacher&Comforter: The Holy spirit is our teacher and comforter (Luke 12:12) 
- Pastor and Priest: Jesus is our high priest  (Hebrews 4:15)
- Master:  God is our Lord (The whole bible)
- Advocate: Jesus advocates on our behalf (1John2:1)
- Intercessor: The Holy spirit intercedes on our behalf  (Romans 8:26-27)
- Son of God: Jesus showed us what it means during his time on earth 

God is the first husband, father, brother, pastor, intercessor, teacher etc, all the manuals and commandments in the world cannot replace the enablement that comes from experiencing him in all these roles. We would know what is expected of us when we read a passage like this one below if we can relate because we have experienced God playing all these roles in his relationship with us. No other relationship can define our 'GOD-US' relationship. It is in fact in relating with God that we know how other relationships SHOULD work.

Colossians 3:15-4:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Jesus in speaking to people who had not yet experienced a personal relationship with God as a father, referred to the earthly relationship between a father and his son in order to show 'a shadow' of the 'God (father)-US(child)' relationship and he said.... "if you who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE...will your heavenly father give..."
Its okay to try and explain the relationship with God using earthly relationships but HOW MUCH MORE wonderful it would be to experience God in every way and let him enable us to be a better EVERYTHING (father,mother,brother,teacher,friend,husband...)

There is so much to say about this topic because it forms part of the basis of our lives. What does it mean to be in a relationship with God? What are the elements of a 'working relationship' with him? If we are not to use the indices provided by our earthly relationship to build our 'GOD-US' relationship then what is the key? There is more to our relationship with God than our minds can imagine and my next post will  highlight some of the keys the Holy spirit led me to in his word.


Halleluyah, I leave you with these beautiful words

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰ and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord God, You are awesome, wonderful and great. Your ways are pure and sincere. You are truly all I need and hope for. Heavenly father help me to live, move and breathe in you, to experience your love and relationship in every way so that I can function in my relationships the way you would have me do. Glory, honor and adoration be to you. Take all of me Lord. Make this word not just a part of my mind, but a part of my heart. Motivate me towards your ways. I realize there is more to my relationship with you than my mind can imagine. Make me hungry for more, FILL ME Lord In Jesus Name I pray. Amen