Extraordinary Treasure
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We’re just earthen vessels but we have an extraordinary treasure on the inside of us. The earthen vessels that the Bible is talking about are our physical bodies. This is a metaphor to compare the relative worthlessness of our bodies to the matchless value of Christ in us. Our bodies are like clay pots that contain the precious and extraordinary treasure of Christ. We have the presence of God, His Holy Spirit, living inside of us. This is what God has designed for every believer. But if we don’t know what we have been given, then obviously we cannot participate and cooperate with him in this new life that he has given us. This is what God wants for every believer. If we understand the privilege that we have and cooperate with the Spirit of God in our generation today, we will begin to see the supernatural power of God flow into the ordinariness of everyday life. God will take that ordinariness and turn it into extraordinary. Something natural becomes supernatural because of the presence of God. The presence of God is a game changer. We are not in the old covenant anymore. We are the temple of God. We are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We carry God’s presence. This truly is a treasure, far beyond the price of money. It was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The Bible is talking about our present union with Christ and all the benefits that we have. We have an extraordinary treasure – the light of God, shining in our hearts through Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible in 2 Corinthians 4:6. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ”. We have extraordinary benefits in Christ. Christ is the light of the world and He has given us his light, and that’s an extraordinary treasure. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He also said to every believer “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mathew 5:14-16). “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own”? (1 Corinthians 6:19). Many still don’t know today, because they are calling the presence of God to show up, or to come from heaven. They go to church and they think if the music is just right, then the Holy Spirit will come. If the sound is just right, then the Holy Spirit will come. If the singing is just right, then God will show up. Christ was with us, Emmanuel God with us, but now He’s in us. He’s an extraordinary treasure that we have. We now house God, and that’s a great privilege. We are God’s dwelling place. This is a vivid illustration of the mystery of God (Colossians 1:26-27) and our responsibility is to present our bodies as members of righteousness unto and in union with Him (Romans 6:13). The Apostle Paul asked, do you not know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and you are not your own? Do you not know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Notice he didn’t just say who is with you, but the key here is that He is in you. When the Apostle Paul asked “Do you not know?”, it’s important to acknowledge that many people didn’t know then, and many Christians still don’t know now. This can be attested to due to what we hear many leaders saying. They often call for the presence of God to “fall down,” but it’s not clear what they mean by that or how it translates into practical actions. They’re calling for the presence of God to come from out there somewhere and I think that’s a wrong belief that has crept into the body of Christ. This is how it was in the Old Covenant. Nobody had the spirit of God living in them in the Old Covenant. It was God with them but that’s not so in the New Covenant. All that we celebrate today because of God’s grace is the fact that the presence of God is now in us. Therefore, the Apostle Paul wanted to ensure that people understood. This is because lack of knowledge leads to perishing in areas where we lack knowledge. The word of God clearly defines for us what the New Covenant looks like and how we can operate in this New Covenant. I’m sure you’ve heard it like I have, that in the right atmosphere, the presence of God will descend upon the congregation during service. That when the music is just right, you can imagine the Holy Ghost just saying I’ve got to go down there and be a part of this. But that’s not true. Aren’t you grateful that we carry God’s presence as the temple of the Holy Spirit, independent of any atmosphere as stated in scripture? Unfortunately, many people today are teaching things that
What Do You Have That You Treasure Most?
What is it in your life that you treasure? Is it someone? Is it something? Is it some experience in your life? What is it that you treasure? When we consider what we treasure the most, what does it really mean? To treasure something means to hold it dear, close and protected. That thing holds a high value to you and you love it dearly. So, what is it that you truly treasure in life? When you think about treasure, what do you imagine? Most people would answer, “Money, prosperity, and riches.” However, if that is the only thing that comes to mind, then you must be very poor. The best things in life are not material possessions, for they transcend the material realm. The best things in life are of a higher quality, beyond the grasp of material possessions. So, let me ask you again: what do you possess that you treasure most? Is it your spouse, children, job, or your friends? Do you know that you possess Christ? If you’re not a Christian, that won’t make one bit of sense to you, and I understand that. But most of you are, and a lot of you who are reading this are. You’re believers. And of all the people who had many things to treasure, Paul, the Apostle and bondservant of Jesus Christ, was certainly one of them. It’s interesting in the Scripture that he mentions that we have this extraordinary treasure in us. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). This treasure is Christ Himself living inside of us, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We have the presence of God, His Holy Spirit, living inside of us. This is what God has designed for every believer. We have the hope of glory. As believers, we need to treasure what we’ve received, heard, seen, and experienced. We are to treasure it in our hearts, quietly holding it there, pondering, examining, and enjoying it. The apostle Paul said: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). God wants us to put him first. He wants us to treasure him most. The reason he wants us to put him first is so that we will not have our hearts drawn away from the things of God. The Bible says when we hear the word; because of the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things can come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful (see Mark 4:19). A key to success in the kingdom of God is singleness of purpose. The apostle Paul said: Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13). We need to have singleness of purpose because we don’t have the capacity to do our best in two areas at the same time. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Yes, there’re some material things that are good, and God is a good God. He gives us what we need and much more than we deserve – much more oftentimes than we expect or anticipate (Ephesians 3:20). Therefore if we will simply put God and His kingdom first in every area of our lives, He will add unto us all the wealth that we need (Matthew 6:33). Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More
There’s Nothing More Powerful Than Your Faith
Your belief activates God’s power. Faith, at its core, is deep-rooted in the expectation of good things to come. It goes beyond hope. True faith keeps an expectant heart – that means trusting God no matter what the circumstances may look like. The Christian life is a life of faith in God’s grace. The more of His grace we receive, the more faith springs forth. Without faith, we simply cannot please God. Faith in God’s character and promises motivates us to trust, love and obey Him. Faith causes us to act on what we haven’t experienced yet, to believe promises in the Bible that haven’t been fulfilled yet, and to trust God when our situations haven’t changed yet. I want to encourage you to build your faith in God and trust Him in everything. Be blessed as you read. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Many of us are familiar with this popular scripture and we often quote it. “Without faith it’s impossible to please God”. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, he constantly commented on faith. He looked at people and evaluated them in many cases by their faith or their lack of faith because faith is very important to God. We, as humans don’t often think about these things. Two kinds of faith amazed Jesus: great faith and little faith. He’d say you have little faith, or you have such great faith, or your faith made you whole. He used those terms constantly because God can’t do any more for you than you believe. For example:“When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:10). Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour (Mathew 15:28). And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:34). There were times when Jesus marvelled at the little faith of His disciples.But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm (Mathew 8:26). If there’s any day in our lives or any time in our lives where faith was important, it’s today. If you want to be happy with all the madness going on in the world, then you just need to learn to walk by faith because it’s available. It doesn’t matter what’s happening around the world. It won’t affect you when you have faith. God put you on this earth with your destiny intact. So, don’t be distracted by the negativity out there. Anything you need can be found in God, so have faith in the one who knows tomorrow. We can laugh, love, and live the life that God has for us no matter what happens. It’s a lie to think that just because our country, economy, and the world situation have taken a certain direction, you can’t become the person that God intended you to be or accomplish what you could have at a different time. That’s just not true. We possess our destiny by faith. Yes, there is war in Ukraine, we have a high cost of living, and getting on the property ladder is so difficult – but these factors can never affect the destiny of a child of God. Our focus must be on God, and not on living independent lives. “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23 NIV). Your faith will enable you to accomplish whatever God created you to be and to do on this earth. Therefore, you can protect your destiny by how much faith you have in God. Your destiny depends on your obedience to the will and plan of God for your life. We look not at things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. The things which are seen, which is what I call bad news is all around us. It’s pumped into our lives 24/7 from every device we have. Any time you spend listening to or watching negative things on these devices is akin to listening to the devil. But there is good news out there. The program on some Christian television channels is called Good News because the gospel is being preached. There is good news in the world. It just doesn’t get as much coverage. Just know that there’re lots of good news going around. And the good news is so good that the bad news doesn’t matter. The good news can overcome and overrun all these negative things. Darkness cannot comprehend the light. The good news is so powerful it’s going to outlast the bad news. It’s going to outlive the fake news. In fact, when the good news is fully manifested on earth, there won’t be any bad news left. We know God’s promises and accept them by faith. It’s so important to understand that faith pleases God, it honours God, and it’s important to God. He wants us to have faith in Him and therefore we need to be steadfast in our faith, which is possible. It’s very important to know that since we’re saved by faith, faith is something every person can exercise. Most of the things God has provided can only be accessed through faith. God will not act against your will if you won’t receive him. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12). “For God so loved the world that He gave His
Miracles Happen When Faith Dominates Sight
Faith receives that which grace supplies and faith in Christ always honours God. When God speaks and you dare to believe him, he rejoices to bring his word to pass. It honours God that we believe in him even when every sense contradicts him. As new creations in Christ, our faith journey leads us to a profound experience of God’s love, a deeper understanding of His character, and more revelation of His blessings and miracles. The longer we walk with Him, the more evident these become. God is calling you to a deeper level of faith in him. He wants you to believe in His love and goodness towards you. So, start making decisions that honour God. In this article, you will learn about desiring to live for God’s honour through the expression of your faith. God wants us to walk by faith. God likes this method of relating to Him. He invented this method for us. He operates this way himself and he loves to interact with us by faith. The Bible says ‘for we walk by faith, not by sight.’ This concept of a walk, in scripture, is symbolic of a lifestyle. A walk is progressing through life. We read in the book of Genesis that Enoch walked with God, and we are encouraged in the New Testament to walk in the light as he is in the light. So, the walk has to do with life here in this world, and walking by faith is what honours God. Walking by faith is a simple principle that is very difficult to do. Most of us are more dominated by our sense of sight than we are by our faith, and therein lies our basic problem. When we renew ourselves to the point that faith dominates sight, then miracles happen. The Christian life is to be regulated and conducted by faith, as opposed to the external and outward appearances of physical sight. There is a sense in which sight is involved, but it is the spiritual seeing of faith rather than seeing with the physical eye. We may not like faith, but God wants us to operate in faith because faith honours Him. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. The object of all true faith is God Himself, and not having faith in one’s faith. Faith must always go back to the promise of God and the God behind that promise. Faith carries the idea of being certain and assured of the reality of what is believed (Hebrews 11:1). We walk by faith, not by sight, and these two principles of life of course are contrary one to another: Faith and sight. Faith is believing God as being God as he’s revealed himself to us. Faith is responding positively to God’s promises. A particular promise of His Word must be seen, heard, understood, and believed in the heart (Matthew 13:15, 23; Romans 10:8, 10) so that it may be acted upon and bear fruit. Faith is believing God’s word. Sight on the other hand is when we go by what we see even though God says something very different. So, these two principles of life are in opposition to one another. The big question is of course, which principle are we following? Do we walk by faith, or do we walk by sight? Even though sight says something completely contrary to what we’re given to believe, many of us don’t like to walk in faith. Humans prefer written records in a natural world context. We’d rather have substance. It’s all about seeing is believing. You don’t want your manager to pay you by faith. Employers don’t want their employees to show up by faith. They want them there in person. When you go to the bank, they don’t loan you money by faith. They want security, insurance, and guarantee. So, we don’t operate that way on the human level. But when you begin to relate to God, everything you do with God is by faith. He’s invisible, you can’t see him, you can’t touch him. And so, when you pray, you pray in faith. When you get saved, you get saved by faith. When you believe God for his blessings and his promises, you do it by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it’s impossible to please God. I love that because I want to please God and I hope so do you. I’m glad he rewards those who please him by seeking him in faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). He answers the prayers of those who please him. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22). So, in this life who do you want to please the most? As for me, I want to please God and I hope you want to please God too. Faith is something everyone can do, so God has his kingdom set up this way so that we interact with him by faith. In God’s kingdom, you get what you believe for, and we receive by faith. In fact, you don’t even get what he’s paid for, you get what you believe for. So, grace makes everything provided by God available to us with no limit, but each Christian or each person on earth receives as much of God’s grace as he or she believes for. You don’t get what you deserve in God’s kingdom, you get what you believe for. For example, salvation is available to everybody through Christ, but only those who believe in him are saved. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His
Fruitful Life
Do you want your life to be fruitful and fulfilling? Jesus commands us all to be fruitful, and He empowers us to be productive, maximizing every bit of our skills, talents and resources so that we may fulfil His purpose for our lives. We were created to be examples, testimonies that prove God’s faithfulness by being a blessing to the people around us. God calls us to make a difference as we abide in Him. We’re called to bear fruit in this world so the world will know God. Whether it’s being a blessing in the office place, the campus or even in your own home, God has called us all to be a light. The proof that you are a disciple of Jesus is that you bear spiritual fruit. Spiritually fruitful people express the image of God to those around them. This article shows you that living a fruitful Christian life is the calling of every believer. God wants you to be fruitful, so He talks about how important it is to abide in Him. It’s impossible not to bear fruit if you are connected to Him. In John 15 Jesus starts talking about how important it is for the disciples to abide in Him and He makes a comparison that I am the vine, you are the branches, and you have to remain in me. A branch can’t produce unless it’s attached to the vine. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). So, how can you bear fruit? He’s the vine and all we are is a branch. All you’ve got to do is stay connected to Him and it’s impossible for you not to bear fruit, it’s impossible for God not to flow through you. The “fruit” is not produced by the believer, but by the Holy Spirit as we live in union with Him. Our part is to yield and trust; God’s part is to produce the fruit. He specifically chose you so He can flow through you to bear fruit. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16). He says you didn’t choose me; I chose you. You’ll often hear people say things like “I found the Lord”. Well, the Lord wasn’t the one who was lost. God found us and we don’t always perceive it this way, but God has pursued you. You didn’t choose God. God has chosen you. He’s persuaded you; He’s drawn you towards Himself and what did He choose you for? The Bible says “I’ve chosen you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain.” God didn’t call you and choose you so that you could live a miserable life. As a matter of fact, in Galatians chapter 1 verse 4, the Bible says that Jesus gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world. Not just the world to come, but now, this present evil world. We indeed have heaven waiting for us and that is a guarantee to all people who have a true relationship with God, and heaven is going to be full of joy, but the Lord came to deliver us from this present evil world. He saved you not just to live, but to bear fruit and let Him flow through you to benefit others. We are here to live profitable lives. Don’t be like the unprofitable servant. Make your life count. He said He came to give you life and to give it to you more abundantly (see John 10:10). The Lord’s will for you is to be above only and not beneath, the head and not the tail (see Deuteronomy 28). He ordained you to bear fruit that remains so that whatever you ask the Father in Jesus’ name, you will receive. God’s will is for you to be blessed and be a blessing. Perhaps you look at your life and feel like it’s not yielding results. Even if you create something, it seems to be temporary and not long-lasting. This is because you haven’t experienced the best yet. I’m not saying that to condemn you but so I can encourage you that God has more for you. If you don’t wake up in the morning and say; thank you Jesus for everything you’re doing in my life, if you aren’t excited about your future, it’s because you aren’t bearing fruit that remains, but know that this is God’s will for you. He wants you to bear fruit so that whatsoever you ask the Father in His name, He may give it to you. God wants you to be fruitful. God wants you to have an abundant life. If you’re not experiencing it, don’t assume you’re not good enough. I’m trying to get you to recognise that many people have not been bearing fruit because they aren’t expecting much. Many Christians are not looking for an abundant life. They’re just looking to get by, and that attitude will stop you from bearing fruit. One of the things that is such a godly thing is to really be hungry for God. It’s not your choice whether to share the gospel or not. We don’t live for ourselves. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15). “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and
How To Honour God
Ever wondered why there is a need for us to give to God? In the tapestry of Christian faith, the practice of giving to God emerges as a vibrant thread woven with theological depth and spiritual significance. Rooted in gratitude, obedience to Biblical principles, and a recognition of God’s sovereignty, the act of giving encompasses various forms – be it financial contributions, the offering of talents, or the dedicated investment of time. This sacred practice not only reflects a commitment to worship and stewardship, but also resonates with the core Christian values of compassion, generosity, and a profound trust in God’s providence. In this message, I share how your gift placed in God’s hand can only be multiplied back to you. Be enlightened as you see how you can never outgive the One who keeps giving to you. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Mathew 2:1-2) 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Mathew 2:11) They gave extremely valuable gifts to the child Christ Jesus. My question is, why did the wise men give gifts to Jesus? Giving gifts to the Lord Jesus was a sign of great respect and honour. Giving is a way to honour God. The wise men understood how to honour God. They understood Him to be the Christ of Israel and worthy of worship. They had a sense of paying homage to a royal superior. The wise men fell down before the child in a gesture of deep respect and submission. They honoured the child Jesus. Then when Jesus grew up and started his ministry, the Bible says some women sponsored him. Jesus and his disciples depended on the goodness of others to provide daily provisions and a place to sleep. Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities – Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. (Luke 8:1-3) Among them were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Salome. In Galilee, these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Apparently, these good women assisted in the Lord’s sustenance because they “ministered unto him of their substance” (v. 3), meaning they gave to him from their own resources. They honoured the Lord Jesus. Let me just make a connection here that this is not a new thought. This goes all the way back to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament, which says, “Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of your increase.” “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). Scripture gives many reasons for giving, but this verse says it is a way to honour God. The word ‘honour’ means respecting, trusting, or valuing. If you aren’t honouring the Lord with your substance then the implication is that you don’t value his words and you don’t value his promises. You need to honour the Lord with your substance. The implication is that if you aren’t giving and trusting God in this area of finances, you are not honouring God. Therefore, those who don’t give don’t honour Him. You may say I honour God. And I want to ask you, do you give consistently all the time or just occasionally or when it’s convenient? The Bible says that you’re supposed to give a tithe (10% of your income). Are you saying I don’t give all the time or I don’t give 10% of my income but I honour God? This scripture says you honour the Lord with your substance. You can say what you want to say, but this is what the word says and notice, we are to give God the first fruits, not the last fruits. It says “and with the first fruits of your increase,” not the last fruits of your increase. We are supposed to tithe and give off the top, not the bottom. You don’t just pay your own bills and do everything you want to, and if you have something left over you give to God. That’s not honouring God with your first fruits. You aren’t honouring God. I’m not saying these things to condemn you. I’m saying it to enlighten you because you aren’t going to hear this very often. We are to seek first the kingdom of God in our giving (Mathew 6:33), and then God will add the other things we need. Giving to the Lord doesn’t subtract from us, but instead increases us supernaturally. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Mathew 6:33) Give God your best, because he first loved us. When we were yet sinners Christ died for us. So why do people find it so hard to honour God with their possessions or wealth? It’s because they are leaning on their own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Then Proverbs 3:9 is an example of trusting in the Lord: “Honour the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase. In other words, some people don’t acknowledge God in all their ways. 6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
Honour The Lord With Your Possessions
Far beyond a mere financial prescription, scripture beckons believers to intertwine their material prosperity with a deeper sense of purpose and reverence for the divine. Your finances often serve as a reflection of your values. Understanding the connection between values and finances will allow you to make intentional choices that align with your beliefs and contribute to a more meaningful and purposeful journey in life. By learning to handle your finances God’s way, you will have the key to unlocking His blessing in your finances. All wealth and prosperity ultimately come from God, and discerning how to wield it in ways that echo a commitment to honouring Him is of utmost importance. Be encouraged to acknowledge and prioritize God in your financial matters. In this message, I delve into the intersections of faith, finance, and the ethical considerations of stewarding one’s resources. Be blessed as you read. “Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). The Wise Men from the Bible impart a timeless lesson on honouring God with our wealth or possessions through their actions in the story of Jesus’ birth. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mathew 2:1-2, 11). When the wise men from the East visited Jesus, they gave him gifts. They had not come simply to pay respects out of dutiful reverence. The lesson on honouring God with your possessions is vividly portrayed in the gifts they brought to honour the infant Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were not just ordinary offerings. They were precious gifts. These were heartfelt gifts of care and love. They had come to worship. In fact, by bringing gifts for the King, they partly fulfilled a prophecy because the Old Testament declared that Gentiles from around the world would come to the Messiah, bearing gifts that actually included gold and frankincense (Psalm 72:10-15; Isaiah 60:1-6). These men were indeed paying their respects to the great Jewish king, even bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to honour Him. These gifts represented their desire to use their wealth to worship the Messiah, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The wise men had come to meet the greatest King of all, the great King who would rule over the whole earth. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and language should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) “The Son of Man” – a title Jesus often used for Himself, identifying Himself as both human and divine. The wise men expected to meet an extraordinary person. In fact, He could not be considered a mere mortal at all. It is no wonder these men would have been eager to meet the King of kings and honour Him with gold. According to (Daniel 7:13-14), this “Son of Man” would come with the clouds of Heaven. He would be served by all the people of the earth – from every nation and language. This “Son of Man”, the Lord Jesus Christ would receive an eternal Kingdom with unlimited dominion and glory. That great monarch would be immortal and indestructible. Truly this was to be the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. That is why they came with gifts of great value. Amongst them was gold which in Jesus’ day would have been a wonderful financial blessing. They had no more precious resource to worship the highest-ranking King of all time and eternity. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Somehow, the wise men understood that Jesus was more than a man – even more than a king. They had not come merely to esteem a great king, but to worship the divine King. In Scripture, neither mortals nor angels are permitted to receive worship. But Jesus was greater than a man, He was greater than the angels. He was and is the unique and eternal Son of God. Yes, they had come to worship but they didn’t come empty-handed. They came with precious gifts to honour the King of kings and the Lords of lords. The Bible says a generous person will be made rich. The Wise Men’s generosity extended beyond the material gifts, however. They exemplified a generous heart willing to give the best they had in honouring the Messiah. Their offerings were not only expressions of homage but also acts of honouring the Lord that reflected the depth of their reverence for the divine. This story teaches a profound lesson on a way to honour God, emphasizing that to truly honour God involves giving from the heart, offering one’s best, and acknowledging the worthiness of the recipient. The Wise Men’s gifts were not mere tokens; they were sacrificial offerings, demonstrating a generosity that goes beyond the ordinary. In the Christian tradition, the story of the Wise Men inspires believers to approach generosity with a similar spirit. It encourages giving not only material resources but also the best of one’s time, talents, and love in worship and service to God and others. The lesson from the Wise
Understand And Respond When God Speaks
If it’s God who is speaking, we trust that by His very nature, God is worthy of our undivided attention. So, when we listen, we’re to respond accordingly because God may be saying something to you through His word or through someone else that will change your life. It’s so important to obey God’s voice when He speaks. Don’t allow anything to distract you from seeking God first and hearing His voice in everything you do. He wants you to respond when he speaks. Therefore, making Him the priority of your life, bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. The word of God is so incredibly powerful and transformative. The word of God doesn’t exist so we can argue with it. It’s not up for negotiation or broad interpretation. It’s exactly what it says. It’s a touchstone of truth. It’s our strength and it is crucial for our well-being. If it’s optional for you, it can never be transformational. It’s time to replace opinions about the word with obedience to the word. The word of God resides in a place of authority, not subjectivity. It’s unchanging. Likewise, God is our stable, strong foundation that does not waver and isn’t malleable to the opinions and whims of popular culture. If we are to eliminate uncertainty and fear in our families, relationships, careers, finances, health, etc. – we must trust the Lord and hold on to His word and respond to His word accordingly. Your life will never be the same if you make the word of God a priority. God is going to touch your life today, not because of who you are, but because of who He is and His promises. There’re so many things happening around us in the world today. It’s so easy to get caught up in the world and see all the different things that are going on. There’s a constant barrage of how unsteady and unsafe, and constantly moving our world is, and yet God promises that we will not fall if we build our lives on His word (Mat. 7:24-27). He is our rock, the thing that never moves; the structure that we can count on and find ourselves attached to. He is your protection, and that’s why you don’t have to worry. Don’t fear no matter what comes against you. We have every reason to trust Him no matter what our daily circumstances may look like to our human eyes, and no matter what we may face in our personal lives. I pray that we would be awakened to the knowledge and truth of the goodness of God in all situations, and respond in accordance to His word. How will you respond to the Lord today? You can trust Him with your uncertain circumstances. You can trust Him with your present problems and future plans. Trust and obey, He is enough for you. I would like to encourage you to keep your eyes fixed and focused on your relationship with God. That’s the main reason why Jesus came and died for us so that we can be brought back into fellowship and relationship with the Lord. He’s given us His word, so we have a firm foundation to stand on, and as we truly base our lives upon the word of God, we’re going to be successful. No matter what we do, no matter what the world or our circumstances dictate, it doesn’t make a difference, the truth of God’s word surpasses everything. So, it’s important for us to stay focused on His word. Make God’s kingdom and His word your top priority. God thinks differently from us. He sees things we don’t see. He knows things we can’t even begin to imagine. That doesn’t mean we can’t change the way we think to match how He thinks, because the Bible says that we can do so. We have the mind of Christ. For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) Having the mind of Christ means that we agree with God and His ways. We can know His thoughts. In Psalms 103 verse 7, the Bible actually says that the children of Israel knew the acts of God, but Moses knew His ways. What we see is that God revealed His ways and character to Moses. You and I are called to know the ways of God and to understand the way He thinks. So, it’s not just a matter of outlooking and saying how does God think. It’s participating in that action. And so, the question that I’m going to pose to you is what is your response? How are you going to respond to what God is about to tell you? God has declared so many wonderful things in our lives, but have we responded well? In Genesis chapter fifteen the word of the Lord came to Abram before he became Abraham. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” What an amazing statement to hear from the Lord. But let’s look at Abram’s response. This is what Abram said, 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” What’s incredible to me about that is that God just appeared to Abram in a vision. He said I am your exceeding great reward; you’re going to inherit me. And he responded, but I have no child. Oftentimes, that’s what happens to us as we start looking at our circumstances. We look at who we are, what we have, and what we don’t have rather than what God has declared to us. I want to challenge each and every single one of us that our lives are bigger than our current situation. 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house
Think what God says you should think
“8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Phil 4:8 NIV). Thoughts of God The thoughts you think help determine the direction of your life. You can’t dwell on defeat and expect to see victory. When thoughts of worry, fear or anxiety try to take root, choose instead, the promises of God. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. What we think is extremely important and especially what we think consistently. That doesn’t mean every little thought that goes through your mind becomes reality in your life, but certainly things that we think consistently. What should we be thinking consistently? According to this text of scripture, they are things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. God has given us power to control our thoughts, bringing every thought into line with what the word of God says. There are a lot of negative things going on around the world at the moment. You may be feeling grief and sorrowful. You may be confused and be asking; God why are these things happening? You can take control of your own thought life completely by speaking to and immediately casting down wrong thoughts and replacing them with the right thoughts listed in “Philippians 4:8”. “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Know that God is a good God. If we think about the goodness of God, we will be able to cast off the fret and the depression and the grief and the sorrows that will come. Instead of seeing yourself poor, you can say my God shall supply all my needs. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). Our supply is coming from a different source, not according to the government’s riches, not according to your employer’s or your origination’s riches, not according to your parent’s or children’s riches, but according to God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus. “And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. 9 As the scripture says, “He gives generously to the needy; his kindness lasts forever.” (2 Cor. 9:8 -9). Why don’t you let these words paint a picture in your mind? People read these scriptures and yet they see themselves poor. That’s the image that they have, that’s the expectation that they have. They never expect to get out of the situation that they are in. And that’s not thinking the way God wants us to think, and that’s not meditating on the word, and that’s not focusing on God. But that’s allowing your mind to follow what other people are following. Or what other people are saying. They keep saying: There’s economic downturn, life will never return to normal, everybody is going to go through a recession. Things will come to pass exactly the way you see them. Make sure you resist negative thoughts with the word of God. Meditate on the word day and night (Ps. 1: 1-3 and Joshua 1:8). Meditation is so important. What’s meditation? You have to take the word of God and let it paint pictures on the inside of you and this takes time, but if you do this on a regular basis, it’s going to revolutionize your life. Don’t see yourself sick and don’t see yourself dying even if you’ve been diagnosed with an incurable disease. There’s power in your thinking and what you say. “As he thinks in his heart so does he become” (Pro 27:3). “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit” (Pro 18:21). You can see yourself well in your thinking instead of expecting the worse. Some of you know that God has bigger plans for you than what you are experiencing. You may even know some of the details. You may know the business that He wants you to start or how He wants you to go out and minister. You have direction from the Lord, but you are not seeing it come to pass because you haven’t sat down and meditated. You haven’t pictured it to see it coming to pass. Meditate on what God has told you. Ask Him that God, here is where you want me to go, how do I get there? God will direct you exactly where He wants you to go. Focus on God and you can see things in your Spiritual womb. Keep your imagination on God and you will arrive at the right destination even in the midst of crisis. If we want to be changed then our minds should be changed before anything in our lives is going to change. And God will help us with that. He will teach us how to think. The Holy Spirit is so wonderful, and He is inside of us and He will even remind us when we are not thinking right. And He will even remind us what we should be thinking if we have enough of the word in us to rise up and confront the wrong thing. We give control of our minds to the enemy if we don’t resist wrong thoughts that come up against us. And the very best way to resist wrong thoughts is to open your mouth and speak out loud a portion of scripture that you have learned that you know confronts that wrong thoughts. And the thoughts stop immediately because if you are speaking, then it goes through your mind so the thing that the enemy is trying to put in your mind has to go away. Speak to it and immediately cast down wrong thoughts