2019
The Blessing Of Work
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” – (Genesis 2:15, NIV)
Work, as defined by the dictionary, is an activity that involves mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. God’s intention is for man to work. He put Adam, the first man, in the Garden of Eden to tend and cultivate it. In creation, God worked daily for six days and after ending His work, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-2). Jesus also declared, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day…” (John 9:4). Below are some benefits and blessings of work:
Work Releases Potential: Potential simply defined is unused ability. It is what one can do that he or she hasn’t done. It is also what one can become that he or she hasn’t become. Work provides the opportunity for us to grow, develop and evolve. It leads to self-discovery and self-awareness. It is by working we discover our talents and sharpen our potential. It is also by working and releasing potential that human beings contribute their quota in solving human problems.
Work Brings Fulfillment: According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization or self-fulfillment is a human need, and it is the greatest need humans desire to fulfill. Though work, in itself, cannot bring maximum fulfillment (only God can), it still brings sufficient fulfillment to man. Even God as He created the earth was proud of His work each day. The Bible says, “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (i.e. suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely” (Genesis 1:31, AMP). After each day of creation, it was written that God saw that what He created was good, fitting, admirable and He approved of His work. In other words, God got some fulfillment from the work of His creation.
Work Releases Creativity: Human beings are co-creators with God. At creation, God gave man the basic raw material to continue the work of creation with Him. We unleash the creativity in us by applying ourselves to work, thinking through processes, and working with our hands to create and produce. From mixing ingredients and making food, drawing architectural plan and building structures, developing software programs and driving technological advancement, the creativity and ingenuity of man is released through the endeavor of work.
Work Is Antidote To Idleness: The Bible warns against idleness. Apostle Paul admonished young widows not to be idle and become busybodies as a result (1 Timothy 5:13). The truth is that we have a higher tendency to sin when we are idle. King David was idling in his palace at a time of war when he ended up committing adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-6). The Bible says in Proverbs 16:27 (TLB version) that, “idle hands are the devil’s workshop, idle lips are his mouthpiece.” The reverse is also true. We think less of indulging the human nature when we are productively engaging the mind and putting the body to work.
Work Brings Profit: The Bible says in Proverbs 14:23 that in all labor there is profit. It also says in Proverbs 12:11 that anyone who works his land will have plenty of food. Profit and productivity which come as a result of work supplant poverty. God has designed creation in such a way that we will always reap the labor of our hands. In His wisdom as we put our hands and minds to work, He blesses our work and teach us to be profitable (Isaiah 48:17).
CONCLUSION: Some spiritual, exercises as good as they are, cannot replace work. Prayer and fasting have their role, while working with our hands also has its place. God works through our prayers to accomplish for us what we cannot do. God will not do for us the tasks we can do for ourselves. And the dominion charge he gave man in Genesis 1:26-28 is still in operation and has not expired. It is all encompassing and will remain so possibly till God creates a new earth (Revelation 21:1).
Have a blessed month.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.org
2019
The Eagle Christian
“There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: THE WAY OF AN EAGLE IN THE AIR, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin” (Proverbs 30:18-19).
The eagle is a mysterious and amazing bird. Just as the lion is the king of the jungle, so the eagle is the king of birds and the air. God created the eagle to be amazing to illustrate to His children the kind of amazing life He wants them to live. Below are some characteristics of the eagle Christian:
Eats only fresh stuffs: The eagle bird, unlike the vulture, does not eat dead things. Christianity is a faith that truly offers living hope and life after death. The eagle Christian has his gaze on the future and doesn’t dwell on the past. He doesn’t dwell on past mistakes, past hurts and offences, past disappointments, fake doctrines, etc. He realizes the past depicts the tomb, while the future depicts the womb. The womb carries potential to deliver life and the future. The tomb is undesirable because it has no potential nor possibility in the land of the living. Scripture reference: Isaiah 43:18-19.
Ascends to high altitudes: Some eagle birds fly as high as 30,000 feet where jumbo airplanes operate. The eagle soars and don’t flap its wings while at high altitudes. This energy efficient way of flying helps it to travel far without getting tired. And because it flies high it’s able to have a panoramic view of things. With a very astute eyesight, it can spot a prey five kilometers below. The vision of the eagle bird is very sharp. And it also deals with its enemies, like the snake, by picking it with its strong beak and traveling high with it till it becomes destabilized. The eagle’s enemies are no match for it in the high altitudes it operates from. The eagle Christian who operates regularly in the Spirit confuses and totally unsettles his enemies. By soaring high with God in the heavenlies, the eagle Christian gains heaven’s perspective on life matters.
Gathers with other eagles. Eagles do not mix and associate with lesser birds. Most birds fly in flocks, but eagles usually fly alone or in pairs and only with other eagles. It doesn’t associate with the turkey that is a lazy, heavy and earthly bird. Though the turkey has wings it rarely flies. The eagle also does not associate with the peacock that is showy, self-absorbed and prideful bird. Neither does the eagle associate with parrots that are usually talkative and mimic others. The eagle is a very disciplined bird that minds its association. The eagle Christian is mindful of his association. He knows bad company corrupts good character and only seeks relationship with other eagle Christians that can sharpen him.
Leans on God: The eagle believer, like the eagle bird, trusts entirely on the Wind (Holy Spirit) to soar. The eagle bird will sit on a rock and wait patiently for wind currents to come when it wants to soar and travel to another location. We are only able to soar and do great exploits in life as we partner with the Holy Spirit. And partnering with the Holy Spirit requires patience, obedience and faith in God. By the flesh or human effort shall no man prevail. The eagle Christian realizes that he is God’s representative on earth, so he/she learns to wait on God for directives, renewal of strength and working of miracles.
Embraces storms: The eagle bird isn’t one to shy away from storms or challenging weather. While other birds are scampering for safety in trees and hideouts, the eagle stands tall against the storm. Its mentality is that of conquering the storm not being subdued by it. The eagle is confident in the storm because it knows it is equipped and built to overcome it. King David, an exemplar of an eagle believer, said should war break out against him, he will be confident (Psalms 27:3); Apostle Paul says in all things we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37); Apostle Peter said we should not see it as strange when trials come (1 Peter 4:14). Storms and challenges of life come to certify the Christian and his faith. We don’t pray for storms to come but when they do come, we are assured by the grace of God because we are overcomers in Christ.
CONCLUSION: When the eagle bird is caged, it begins to live the low life and do things it wasn’t designed to do. It becomes lazy, eats dead stuffs, and its beak becomes weak, and it operates far below its potential. The Bible says we should stand firm in the liberty Christ has given us, and we should not be entangled again by any yoke (Galatians 5:1). May we live up to our potential in Christ in Jesus’ name.
Ade(Gboyega) ESANwww.rccgpittsburgh.nethttp://gboyegae.blogspot.com
2019
Walking In The Supernatural
“And these signs shall follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they 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” (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV).
The supernatural is the realm of the unseen. It is superior to the visible, natural realm and controls the events in it. There are two major dimensions of the supernatural: the negative and positive supernatural. These two dimensions are at loggerheads. As born-again believers, it is God’s intention that we represent Him in the seen realm by solving problems through our faith and influence in the unseen realm. Below are some of the ways by which we can rein and walk in the supernatural:
Walking in love: The main motivating factor in the positive supernatural realm is love, while hatred and enmity are what characterize the negative supernatural. Hatred for God and His creation is what motivates the negative supernatural. Divine (Agape) love is a force that is as strong as death. When it is in operation it is irresistible. Jesus walked in the supernatural while here on earth because He walked consistently in love. He walked into the funeral procession of a dead man who was the only son of his widowed mother in Nain, and on seeing the widowed mother the Bible says He had compassion on her and raised the dead child (Luke 7:11-16). Genuine, raw and unadulterated love of God will always manifest God on the scene (when necessary) and cause us to command victories in the seen realm. Walking in love is displaying the attributes found in 1Corinthians 13, particularly verses 4 to 8, on a consistent basis. May the supernatural love of God fill our hearts to overflowing in Jesus’ name.
Walking in the Spirit: Simply put is being under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. When people are under the control of alcohol, they exhibit certain traits. They are loquacious, bubbly, intemperate, and irrational. When one is under the control of the Holy Spirit certain traits are also evident. Praise and worship, courage, joy, utterance, gifts of the Spirit, etc. become evident. The anointing within the believer is activated and rises to higher proportions for performance. The Holy Spirit is loosened, and the anointing is released. We are enjoined as believers not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Regular infilling of the Holy Spirit is necessary to check the unfruitful works of the flesh and cause us to walk in the supernatural.
Walking by faith: Faith in God deals with the unseen realm. Once something manifests in the seen realm, the work of faith is done over the matter. Faith is said to be the handle on things we cannot see. It lays hold on the promises of God (without letting go) till it manifests in the physical world. As believers we walk by faith and not by sight. The unseen realm is real to us and we seek to be influencers in the unseen realm. Once our influence increases in the unseen realm it will also increase in our personal world and in the natural realm. Abraham pleased God, became a friend of God, and had righteousness credited to him apart from works because he walked by faith with God. Apostle Paul, on seeing a crippled man from birth so enthralled and engrossed in his preaching perceived the cripple had faith to be healed. Paul seized the moment, joined faith with the cripple, and pulled him up and he began to walk (Acts 14: 8-10)
CONCLUSION: Walking in the supernatural also entails displaying the wisdom of God in every situation. The kinsmen of Jesus at Nazareth, while scoffing at Jesus, wondered and asked, “where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” (Mark 6:2). Walking in the supernatural is about using divine resources to solve human problems. May the supernatural become common place in our lives and ministries commencing from this month in Jesus’ name.