“I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind” 1 Samuel 2: 35

God always has a remnant. He raised up Samuel to replace Eli and his evil sons, who were corrupt, compromising priests with no fear of God. He raised up David to replace Saul when Saul turned form the Lord to seek his own glory and please man. God always has someone in training he is raising up when his servants start to wander from the truth. He will do the same in this generation where we see corruption in his church and priesthood as well. God is always hiding his faithful servants in the wilderness, preparing them as arrows in his quiver, polishing them for the appointed time. No one can deceive God; he is always steps ahead for his Glory and for his sheep’s sake. Like he did with Saul and Eli, he will expose many still and then raise replacements after his own heart who no one expects or sees it coming. He still had 7,000 prophets hidden in Elijaha time when most of the prophets had bowed to Jezebels corruption and bowed to Baal. God is never without a voice.

Let us look at what happened to Eli and his corrupt sons after they mocked God and would not repent, they had defiled the priesthood and mocked God thinking they could get away with it. And the bible says that “the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no open vision.” 1 Samuel 3:1. God did not speak since the priesthood was corrupt and the people’s hearts wicked. Any words they followed from the corrupt priests were not from God, but corrupt false words from the corrupt priests. The Lord only begun to speak again when he raised up Samuel a pure priest who had no selfish motives driven by self-gain and glory but would obey the Lord and do all he said. And though he was a boy God entrusted his secrets and plans to him.

1 Samuel 2:

 ²⁷ Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? ²⁸ I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your father’s house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites. ²⁹ Why do you ^[f] scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

 ³⁰ “Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and your father’s house would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. ³¹ The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line ³² and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. ³³ Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

 ³⁴ ” ‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. ³⁵ I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always. ³⁶ Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”

 1 Samuel 3:

¹⁰ The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

 ¹¹ And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. ¹² At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. ¹³ For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, ^[b] and he failed to restrain them. ¹⁴ Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’

May we avoid the mistakes of Eli, who covered his sons sins and tolerated evil. May we avoid the sins of his sons who grew prideful, wicked, and complacent and misused their priesthood and perverted the work of the Lord. Though Eli’s family had been chosen to be priests, God removed them and disdained them. May we never think we are indispensable because of our gifts. If the Lord can cause stones to worship him when we don’t ( Luke 19:40), if he can raise up children of Abraham out of stones( Mathew 3:9), if he can speak through a donkey when man does not listen,(Num 22:28), then it shows we are very dispensable. May we never take our gifts for granted and may we never glory in anything other than the cross.

If we are not faithful, despite his promises and gifts; if we are wicked and refuse to listen to his voice, he will always “ raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind”. May we be those faithful ones who do according to what is in his heart and mind. The Lord removed Eli and his sons in a most horrific manner since they would not repent but mocked his work. Without a holy fear of God, its very easy to get corrupted and deceived even as we serve God. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and the cross. It’s all about him, the sheep are his, the bride is his, we are only stewards. He will not share his glory with anyone.

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”(Luke 17:20)

In his love,

Mwendwa Mbaabu

Website: www.unmeritedgrace.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=552934828

You know God is so near to all of us, all one has to do is just look around at everything around us and see the awesomeness of our God. He created everything we see with the word of his mouth. The earth was dark, void and formless and he spoke and created everything. You don’t need to go very far to see God; look around you, everything you see was made by him and glorifies him. The rocks, the trees, the plants, flowers, the soil, animals, waters, sea creatures, they are all his creation and each one testifies of the greatness of God almighty and they all praise him and give him glory.

We often think these are none living things, but they praise the Lord and they listen to him and obey him. The stones have ears they hear him, the plants and creatures hear him and obey him, they grow and live and reproduce and dwell in their habitations at his command.  Next time you look at nature, look with new eyes, see Gods creation, see a creation that hears, worships and obeys the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

The word of God says in Romans 1:20 that “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and deity; so that they are without excuse”. The things we see testify about God, think about the millions of species of plants and animals, think of how each one has its own metabolism and intricate design, think of the plants and flowers, the millions of species and how each is uniquely made and different, see how Great God is, how wise and awesome he is, how he made all these things in six days and made man lastly to enjoy them all. He loves us so much.

The word of God is full of proof that nature obeys the Lord and hears him. When Jonah the prophet was running away from God, the bible says that “the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah “Jonah 1:17and after Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish “the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” Jonah 2:10. Isn’t that amazing, that fish was on assignment from God, heard him and obeyed him and was instrumental in the destiny of this man of God and the salvation of the great city of Nineveh?

When Jesus was asleep on the boat and the storm and waves were threatening to sink the boat, his disciples were frantic and worried for their lives, but the word of God says that Jesus “arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm… And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is this! for he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:24-25 the waves and winds heard the voice of their creator and obeyed his command. All nature is subject to him.

Jesus told the Pharisees that if his disciples did not praise him that “the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40, he also told them at another instance that “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Luke 3:8. God receives his glory from all things; all things praise him and recognize him as their maker. When the disobedient prophet Balaam would not obey the Lord , the Lord opened up the mouth of his donkey, a beast of burden, and it spoke to the prophet and rebuked him( Numbers 22;28)! How great is our God!

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 13:33-36

Meditate on the goodness of the Lord today, on his might and wonders. Enjoy him, think of the things he has done, look outside, look up and everywhere you look, see him! Look at your pet, your dog and cat and see him! Look at your farm animals, look at the water and see him!

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.” Rev 4:11

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Psalms 148:7-13 is beautiful:

“Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea creatures, and all deeps:

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

In his love,

Mwendwa Mbaabu

Website: www.unmeritedgrace.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=552934828

Jesus gave up his own life, he was not forced, he didn’t have to, but LOVE, his very essence, did this for us. It’s too much to contain. That level of humility cannot be comprehended fully. His ministry on earth was in the same Spirit, Jesus came to SERVE and to GIVE and to DIE, he never Lorded it over others though he had every right to, being GOD, instead, he counted his divinity as nothing, he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped or clang to. Jesus walked on this earth with no place to lay his head, he walked on foot hundreds of miles to preach the gospel, he ate what his disciples ate, he stood in the background, did not advertise himself, he placed other interests above his own, he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed his disciples feet, an act that his disciples felt very uneasy about since they knew he was God, Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw crowds of people who did not know God, he was moved with compassion over the plight of an adulterous woman, a widowed bereaved woman whose only son had died, a Samaritan immoral woman, Mary a demon possessed sinful woman, a lying thieving tax collector, a rich fool, a dirty insane, naked demonized man, a crowd who had nothing to eat after listening to him preach for days. Jesus lived for others, not for himself or his comfort. Many times he was interrupted by crowds on his way to prayer and he took time to give them the good news.

Jesus taught his disciples that whoever wanted to be great must be the servant of all, if anyone wanted to be first he must be the slave of all. He told his disciples not to Lord it over others as the gentiles (worldly people) do, he taught them love, humility, dying to self importance and self denial and when we read the book of Acts and the epistles and see the lives of the early apostles we see the same Spirit of humility in them, they did not live to amass things, fame, credit or importance, they lived to serve, give of themselves and die! Apostle Paul gave up his right as an apostle to receive support for his ministry many times, just so that he could lead people to Jesus and teach them the Spirit of servant hood, humility and love. Though the word of God gave him the right to be supported financially and fed through his ministry, he gave up this right and worked and toiled and even helped others with his sweat even though he was busy raising up multitudes of churches and travailing night and day for them in prayer. Paul did not live an easy life, he chose a tough life, I imagine he didn’t sleep much, he didn’t rest, he didn’t have time to sit back and relax like many of us do. He didn’t have medical insurance, a beach house, country house, personal driver, investment portfolio like many of today’s preachers, he poured out his life to preach Jesus at his own emotional, physical, spiritual cost. LOVE compelled him, he never complained.

Today we see such a contrary spirit in many of us Christians, we want recognition, we want to be known, seen, heard, acknowledged, we want everyone to know what our ministry is doing, what we have accomplished, how many souls we have won today, how wonderfully anointed we are, we go out of our way to promote ourselves just to prove and show that we are servants of God. We want to be seen and heard.  We use the ways of this world to “promote” the gospel. The gospel does not need promoting and neither do we, we are mere servants. He has placed this treasure in JARS of CLAY. Though Jesus spoke such things as not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing, praying in secret, fasting incognito, giving secretly, we want everyone to know what we have done, why? It’s human pride, the self nature that always wants to be acknowledged and seen. If we did things in secret and no one knew it pains us, we feel that it’s not enough, we want someone to know, we forget that he who sees in secret is he that matters and is he that rewards, we forget that Jesus said that if we do things to be seen by men we will have no reward from our father in heaven, we shall have received our reward ( being seen by men).

We want to be congratulated and praised. “sister you led worship so beautifully”, brother, you’re so anointed, you can really peach”, “no one can preach like you, wow”, “sister, I’ve never heard anyone worship like you”, we like praise and we receive it shamelessly, we take his glory! What do we have that we did not receive? We like titles and big ‘anointed’ names. “o you’re such a mighty woman/man of God”, “ bishop” etc. we glory in these names and acknowledgement and walk puffed up with pride. We want to be the man or woman of the hour. Jesus let go of his rights, they were not important, is he not the one that said call no one father or rabbi, for you have one father, God in heaven? He knew who he was. When the a man called him “good,”, he told him” why do you call me good, there’s no one good but the father”, he gave the glory back to God.

Apostle Paul counted all the credentials and titles and honor he had as a religious leader DUNG (rubbish) after he came to know Christ. Now he gloried in calling himself “the chief of sinners”, the “least of the Apostles’, “a slave of Christ”. Paul knew who he was as well, he knew he was nothing without God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, he knew anything he was, was merely Christ in him, he deserved no glory! Why do we think we are better than Jesus, than Apostle Paul, than all the great men and women of God? They walked in great power and authority, miracles, signs & wonders, they turned the world upside down, the apostles are seated with Jesus in the heavenly council, they will judge the 12 tribes of Israel, the city of God has their names in the foundation stones, yet they counted themselves as nothing. Peter felt so unworthy to die like Christ that he chose to be crucified upside down! They became servants and slaves of all, they lived as nobodies on earth giving glory to God and now they are great in heaven, where it counts!!!!

Lord, help us to be more like you!

“Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. – Jesus (Matthew 11:29)

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”- Jesus (Luke 17:10

In his love,

Mwendwa

Website: www.unmeritedgrace.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=552934828

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…” Romans 8:32

God the greatest lover and giver of all, that great, merciful, awesome and gracious God demonstrated his love for sinners by giving of himself, sending Jesus the beloved in whom “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9) to die and give of himself and all he was (even his glory and deity) that we may have life and be reconciled back to God. God by his unfathomable amazing grace did not withhold anything, but gave his best, his all for us! How he loves us. God is love!

God set the example by his love and expects the same from us in reciprocation of what he has done and continues to do for us. He desires and longs for all of us too! He wants us to give to him all we are! Our very lives! With that he is well pleased. He has bought us from this world with his son’s blood to be his very own possession. We are no longer our own but belong to him!

Jesus said it all when he said “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.”(Mark 12:30). He said this was the first and greatest commandment, no other work; no other command was greater than this. To love God with heart, soul, mind, strength, is to love him with all we are, our very being!

The life he has called us to, bought us into is a life of being given wholly to him. It is no longer we who live but Christ lives in us. The cross changed everything, we no longer belong to ourselves, nor have rights over ourselves. We are his possession, created in Christ Jesus to Love the father and glorify him. We have died to who we ever were and now we live to and for God.

To die costs everything. It’s easy to try to hold on to who we are, what we want, what we desire, what we know and give God only what is convenient or easy, but he is not satisfied with less than our very lives. Jesus said “whosoever would save his life/ seek to save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save/preserve it.”(Luke 9:24; Luke 17:33). The dead have no rights, neither are they concerned with self preservation, they are after all dead. And this is the life we are called to live. A life of dying to who we are and say as Paul “for me to live is Christ”, “But God forbid that I should glory (boast), except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

 If we try to save our lives we will lose them. If we try to keep part of who we are for ourselves, we will lose our lives (be separated from God).

It’s easy to give God what cost nothing, what is comfortable and politically correct and easy, but keep away from God that which we want to keep for ourselves, but God says, ‘Lose your life for my sake and you will keep it. Deny yourself, take up your cross daily (die daily) and follow me’. We must die to our own dreams, ambitions, interests, reputations, desires, importance and surrender all we are to God that he may do as he will with us and live through us. What do we love more than God or second to God or equal to God, what defines us and identifies us that we would not give up for him? He says he alone must be first and Great and God in our lives. “You shall have no other gods before me”. Jesus said is we even love our children, spouses, parents or our own lives more than him we are not worthy of him. Yes he must be first even above family. He is a jealous God; he will share his place, his glory with no other.

Abraham, ready to kill his very own beloved long awaited son for the love of God, he pleased God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. He was a friend of God, he pleased God. God gave his testimony after he tested his heart “for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.” (Genesis 22:12)

David said “neither will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God of that which does cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24)

O sacrifice costs something, it costs everything, but the sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart, the sacrifices of God are not in works and doings, but in giving all we are “I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies (your entire being, your all) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1)

Such a heart, wholly given to him, desires him alone and would do anything for the lover of its soul. The cry of such a heart is described in David’s hearts cry to the Lord in Psalms 63 :“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”

David’s throne, his kingship, his wealth meant nothing to him, they were but a worship unto the Lord, his soul cry was always “ more of you God” and God saw this longing and soul thirst and desperation and granted it. David was a man after his own heart.  A broken heart he will never despise or deny. He has said “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”Matthew 5:6

He shall fill the heart that hunger and thirsts after who he is: his righteousness. He shall satisfy such a heart with no less that more of him and his righteousness and glory. He longs for such worshippers; he is pleased with the sacrificial giving of all we are to him. When we break open the alabaster boxes of our lives to him he memorializes that worship and giving and satisfies such a heart. He longs to be chased and sought and he has promises “YOU shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13

In his love,

Mwendwa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=552934828

Wherever you are right now, however you are, whatever you have, that is enough for God.

God is never limited or terrified by our lack or needfulness. He says, what you have right now is exactly more than enough; it’s what he need to work in and through you.

The world’s standards are NEVER God’s standards. The world thrives in showmanship and achievement and credentials. Those considered to be the ‘who’s who ‘in this life have earned that title because of achievement, they have wealth, knowledge, expertise, talent, fame, eloquence. The world is awed and wowed by achievement and STUFF, but God does not work that way. “For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. “ (1 Samuel 16:7)

God can use you right where you’re at. He does not call the qualified, HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED. In HIM is all we need to be and do what we need to be and do. In HIM. That’s why he says that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God is looking for yielded vessels, not perfect vessels; Vessels willing to admit and confess weakness, and lean on him for HIS STRENGTH.

If we believed we have what it took to be of service to God, then we would boast in ourselves and think we deserved to be used by him. The glory would come back to us, after all we will think we had it in us, why then would we need God?

God asked Moses “What is that in your hand?”(Exodus 4:2), Moses has a stick. He was busy telling God what he didn’t have, but God was asking what do you have? Moses told God he had a stick. What is a stick, it was nothing in Moses eyes, and in human eyes, but God knew that stick when given to him (God) would be the ROD OF GOD, a miracle working tool. It’s not about what we have; it’s what we have given to God that makes the difference. That stick was nothing in itself, but used by God, it was a Power tool.

The little boy had only 5 loaves and 2 fish. It wasn’t much considering the number of people who needed to be fed. In human eyes, this was nothing. What good were 5 loaves and 2 fish when a multitude needed to be fed? But the boy gave it to Jesus and in his hands it was MORE THAN ENOUGH to feed the thousands. It was multiplied in Jesus hands. It was not about what the boy had or how insignificant it was, but what it could be, surrendered to the Lord.

God does not see as man sees. That nothing you have is what he’s asking for. He simply says “give it to me” and see what I can do with it. But you have to GIVE it to him in faith believing something good can come out of NOTHING. Isn’t he the God who spoke into nothing and created everything?” In the beginning … the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:1, 2), there was nothing. But all he did was speak, and all that nothing became something spectacular.  Nothing is too hard for him.

Gideon thought having a multitude of 30,000 with him would equip him for the task God had called him to, but God did not need numbers to use Gideon or win the great battle ahead “lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me”(said the Lord-Judges 7:2). And to prove it he trimmed Gideon’s army to 300. He had to show Gideon that his trust had to be on God not on his resources. What were 300 against the large army they would face? In human eyes, it was a suicide mission, but to God this was an opportunity to show that strength is not in man’s resources or man’s sufficiency but in trusting in Gods power.

David must have looked quite the laughing stock, facing a giant skilled in war with no armor but with just a sling and 5 stones. He surely looked a fool, but David knew that skill, training and armory are not what would give him victory but rather having the Lord of hosts, the Lord of heavens armies with him. His little in God’s hands was more than enough to slay any giant. All he needed was one stone to slay him who terrified the army of Israel. The difference is the army trusted in their skill but David trusted in Gods power.

 “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. “ (Zechariah 4:6)

What is in your hand? Stammering lips, inadequate education, poverty, dysfunctional background, shady past, diseased body, unpopular personality, weak demeanor, no connections, just an impossible dream, no skill, no talent, no money, fear, timidity? IT IS ENOUGH.

 Give that to God and he WILL multiply it. He’s simply asking for what you have, not what you don’t have. He will do the rest, it’s HE that has what we need; it’s HE that equips. He simply asks us to GIVE it all to him, even the nothing we have.

Why does he use nothing? Why does he use the “nothings”? That no man may boast; that he may get ALL the GLORY!

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But:

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;

God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

SO THAT no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

 In his love,

Mwendwa

 “And the Spirit of the LORD will come on you, and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man” (1 Samuel 19:6)

When the spirit of the almighty God takes over a man, the man ceases any longer to be controlled by the things of this world and the things that once controlled him. The power the Holy Spirit gives consumes a man so that all that was no longer is. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and turned him into another man. Those are powerful words, but this is what the Spirit of the living God does when he comes upon a man, you can never remain the same, you cannot be contained.

1. 1.      The Spirit of God gives a new BOLDNESS

When the Holy Spirit comes upon the believer he comes to give power and Boldness. Empower.

This is the boldness that came over Peter on the day of Pentecost and he who had a few days earlier denied Christ three times , he who was once rash and capricious, was able to stand up and boldly proclaim the message of repentance to the people he once feared. The Holy Spirit had turned him into a new man.

“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words” Acts 2:14

1. 2.      The Spirit of God casts out ALL FEAR

This is the power that had possession of Stephen when the mob gathered to kill and intimidate him. Stephens responses were not human, they were not carnal, he was a man fully possessed by the Spirit of God, the mobs screams and threats and cries did not move him, his eyes were fixed, empowered by the Holy Spirit:

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. (Acts 7:54-58)

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6

“When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me? (Psalms 56:3-4)

1. 3.      The Spirit of God gives UNWORLDLY PEACE

This is the Power that gives peace when the world is against you, when men misunderstand you, when you are all alone in the midst of darkness. David said it best in this testimony under the power of the Holy Spirit:

“Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.” Psalms 27:3

“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”Mark 4:41

Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” John 14:27

1. 4.      The Spirit of God gives SUPERNATURAL COURAGE

This is the power that gave Peter and John the courage to stand before the leader of Israel: the rulers and elders and scribes the High priest and the high-priestly family and boldly declare the mystery of Christ, and “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”Acts 4:13

“For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall “Psalms 18:29

“but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].”Daniel 11:32

Remember: “God hath not given us the SPIRIT OF FEAR; but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a SOUND MIND.” 2 Timothy 1:7

In his love,

Mwendwa

It’s not just words; it’s that inner surrender to his will; a knowing deep inside that true life, true contentment can only come from having his will done in our lives. A realization that only his will can bring true satisfaction .This can only come when we have realized that no good thing can come of the flesh or out of the product of our own striving. This realization brings inner Trust and Confidence in our good heavenly Father.

It’s in human nature to want to make things happen, see things happen and have control over our lives and even Gods great servants Abraham and Sarah were guilty of this when they felt God had taken ‘too long’ in fulfilling his promise of a son to them. After waiting decades for what they so desired, they decide to make it happen and Ishmael happened.

Because waiting was so hard, they decided to make it happen in the FLESH by getting Abraham to sleep with his servant maid Hagar and conceive a child. Hagar bore Ishmael who was simply a product of the flesh, conceived by the efforts of Abraham and Sarah, outside God’s will.

But God will only bless what he has conceived and ordained and he could not bestow upon Ishmael the blessings he had ordained for Isaac because Ishmael was a product of Abraham and Sarah’s own efforts and manipulation and flesh and not Gods promise, Gods Spirit.

And because Ishmael was not Gods will for them, the results of his birth were only chaos, strife and confusion in their lives and marriage. They bore the consequences of their impatience and the work of their flesh.

And still they had to wait another 14 years for Gods promise to them-Isaac- but it was worth the wait. God’s blessings were only linked to the son who would be a product of Gods own doing and plan. Through Isaac Abraham would be a father of many nations as God had promised

It pays to wait on God. He never fails, his way and thoughts are truly higher than ours, for he sees the END from the BEGINNING, he’s always working for the good of those who love and trust him.

It’s all about TRUST. Trusting that truly him who has said “I KNOW the thoughts that I think toward you … thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an EXPECTED END.”(Jeremiah 29:11) means what he has said and shall bring it to pass.

May we learn to wait upon the Lord and refuse to birth any Ishmaels in our lives because we have grown weary in the waiting. Those who wait and endure shall receive what has been promised and they shall rejoice.

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.” Psalms 27:14

“Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame” Psalms 25:3

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”Isaiah 25:9

I pray that the Lord shall give you Joy, Peace and Contentment as you wait upon that which he has promised you and as you seek him for his will in that which you desire. As you wait for him and for his will to come to pass, Do not Fret, Do not Worry, Do not Grow weary, Do not Out ran him. He is working. God never sleeps on the job. “Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”(Psalms 121:4)

In his love,

Mwendwa

Beloved it is very easy to be prideful and self deceived. The worst deception is that of self deception since it can truly blind us from seeing who we really are, it can deceive us into thinking we are right with God when we are not. Self deception will result from a prideful unbroken spirit filled with self righteousness. Which is why Paul said if you think you are standing, be careful lest you fall. Pride is a subtle thing and can truly blind one from seeing truth and from being humble and broken before the Lord

The Lord says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I THE LORD SEARCH THE HEART, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Only the Lord can truly examine us, we cannot even properly examine our selves without his Spirit. Only the Spirit of the Lord searches out the deep things, all things. HE is the Spirit of truth, he alone knows the mind of God, he knows the Spirit of a man, he alone guides into all truth.

This is the reason Paul says this: “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or of man’s judgment. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4). It is only the Lord who is the proper judge.

Let us allow the Lord to examine our hearts and reveal to us any hidden thing that may draw us away from him for indeed he has said he shall judge the secrets of men’s hearts. Many shall say to him “Lord Lord” but he shall say “depart, I never knew you”(Matthew 7:21-22), let us allow him to judge us now while there is still time to repent and be made right with him for night is coming when no man shall be able to repent. Midnight is fast approaching.

As we allow the Lord to search us, he will reveal things to us which are not pleasing to him and we must humble ourselves and be willing to be corrected by our father. It’s not easy, he may reveal things we’d rather ignore and pretend aren’t that serious or important, things we may not EVEN want to deal with but rather ignore, but we must humble ourselves for he DISCIPLINES THOSE HE LOVES, that we may not perish. And for those who humble themselves to repent and make their ways right with him and man, he says “but I give more Grace”. “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”(James 4:6)

When we let pride keep us from the chastening and discipline of the Lord he opposes us, but if we humble ourselves no matter how painful it is (for discipline is painful, humbling ourselves is often painful), he promise to give Grace (underserved mercy; pardon; love), he shall pour out Grace to help us do what we need to do, but we must humble ourselves. And when we do; when we submit ourselves under his authority and guidance then he promises to lift us out of the pit of sin and condemnation.

“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THEM WHICH ARE EXERCISED THEREBY.”(Hebrews 12:11)

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”(James 4:7-10)

God says if we submit ourselves to him we will live! He is our FATHER, he will always guide us into what is true and right, we must yield to his power and leading for his paths only lead to life and peace and righteousness. He disciplines us for OUR OWN GOOD, NOT HIS. “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: SHALL WE NOT MUCH RATHER BE IN SUBJECTION TO THE FATHER OF SPIRITS, AND LIVE? For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; BUT HE FOR OUR PROFIT, THAT WE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF HIS HOLINESS” (Hebrews 4:9-10)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?  But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews12:7-11)

In His Love,

Mwendwa

At times, the Lord may ask us to give up the things that mean most to us because he sees they have become mini gods for us. They may not be bad things, but our attachment to them may not be healthy, they may be drawing us away from him in one way or the other and causing a distraction in our lives. They may have become weights to us keeping us from advancing and breaking through to the next level.

The Rich young man in Luke 18:18-24 was in such a situation. He kept all the commandments. He was living what any of us would call a pretty righteous life, but Jesus loving him, knew that his wealth and possessions had become a hindrance to him because he could not live without them, he had an unhealthy attachment to his possessions. And Jesus proved this when he asked him to give up all his possessions and give them to the poor and follow him,  and the young man walked away sad, choosing to rather be without Jesus than lose his possessions.

Every sacrifice we make to follow God or move higher with God is never really a sacrifice but a chance for life. It may be very painful but Death brings Resurrection into new and abundant life. He’s not trying to take anything from us, but actually GIVE to us more than we can imagine, but the weights must go!

What is keeping you from truly following Jesus and surrendering your all to him? What is it that when you think of giving up, like the rich young ruler you get sad and hesitate to give up for the Lord? Is it a particular friend you know is a hindrance to your walk with God; is it the love of money, is it a comfort zone you’re in?  Is it a sin or bad habit? Whatever it is, the Lord is asking for it today for he does not desire you to be enslaved by anything but him. We cannot serve two masters at the same time. Make the sacrifice today and gain him!

“Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely ( so easily entangles us), and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1

“Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”Luke 17:33

There is no resurrection without death!

In His Love,

Mwendwa

God demands all from us, there isn’t one area of our lives we are to exclude from his Lordship and as such throughout our journey of faith he will always test us, always lead us to moments when he says to us ‘GIVE’ and often that which he requires is that which means the most of us.

God promised a son to Abraham and after waiting painfully till he was 100 for that son, God then said to Abraham “ Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”(Genesis 22:2). So what was this? Does God find some twisted pleasure in giving then taking, in dangling good things before our eyes then taking them quickly away?

The human mind cannot truly comprehend the mind of God especially when it comes to surrender, sacrifice and death. We have to understand that God is never really taking anything from us, but rather wanting to give more than we ever thought we were giving. God must always be first place in our lives, nothing can take his place and often he will test us to see if we love him more than anything, even more than his blessings and promises.

This is the kingdom of God: Death for Life; Giving for Receiving; Losing for Gaining. Those are his principles. He takes first and then he gives, there is always and exchange. And God is never requiring something of us he did not FIRST do, for “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all..”(Romans 8:34) demonstrated in the first what it means to truly sacrifice and give.

For God did not just merely give any sacrifice, he did not surrender any cheap thing, but gave his best; his only begotten son as a sacrifice for us, the highest act of love. He set the example for us to follow for he requires less than our utmost for him. He asks for ALL.

Surrender of our lives to God is not just giving up sinful habits or our former sinful lives, God does not just require surrender of what is bad, he wants a deeper surrender, giving of all the good we have, giving our desires, dreams, ambitions, all the things and people we treasure, our very lives at his feet as a living sacrifice. It’s called death. We are on a death walk; we must give all to him:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”( Luke 14:26)

But he asks in order that he might give. Abraham got his son back, but he got more in return, he left with a deeper walk with God. God tested his heart and found it true. Abraham loved God more than anything God may have promised him and this moved the heart of God. There is never loss when we give to God, only gain. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”(Matthew 16: 25)

There can be no resurrection without death. A seed must die for new life to spring forth; there are no shortcuts with God. He asks for our lives as a living sacrifice and out of the ashes of that sacrifice he brings forth resurrected life birthed of him. With every act of surrender God is silently asking us what he asked Simon Peter “Simon, son of Jonas, love you me more than these?”(John 21:15).

The rich young man( Matthew 19) wanted to follow Jesus , he was willing to surrender his sins , this was easy, but asked to surrender his possessions which meant much to him, to Jesus, he found this too high a price to pay and walked away sad. He did not know what surrender really meant and he was not willing to pay the price.

The small boy though in John 6 who had 5 small loves and 2 small fish was willing to give it all away to Jesus and his sacrifice was multiplied until it fed 5,000 and 12 baskets full were left over. Jesus multiplied what he gave.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it stays alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.” (John 12:24)

Surrender is only possible when we truly TRUST in the Lord and KNOW that he has everything under control and his plans and purposes are always best. True surrender has no room for DOUBT and DOUBLE MINDEDNESS, only TRUST and FAITH that all does work together for good!

He gives all, he asks all!

In Jesus,

Mwendwa