

### THE CHRISTIAN'S WALTZ through life...

Copyright 2019 Esther Zoë Okore

Published by Esther Zoë Okore at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

All rights reserved.

This eBook is for your personal enjoyment.

No parts of this book maybe reproduced in any form without prior permission of the author.

All Scriptural references are from the Old King James Version except otherwise stated

Old King James Version: KJV

Revised Standard Version: RSV

The Amplified Version: AMP

New King James Version: NKJV

Cover Art by

George Shadow

Book by

Esther Zoë Okore

a resident of Imo State, Nigeria.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Introduction

NEW LIFE

Chapter 1: Baby Steps

Chapter 2: Why The Law Was Inadequate

Chapter 3: Living The Part

Chapter 4: Welcome Embrace

Chapter 5: A New Name

SEEKING GOD

Chapter 6: Personal Knowing

Chapter 7: Faithfulness

Chapter 8: Perfected To Be Accepted

Chapter 9: What Are You Famous For?

Chapter 10: Still Small Voice

Chapter 11: Give It All

Chapter 12: Humility In Strength

Chapter 13: Filling The Hole

PURPOSE

Chapter 14: Mantle in the Grave

Chapter 15: What Business Has A Fisherman With A Sword? Part 2

Chapter 16: What Business Has A Fisherman With A Sword? Part 3

Chapter 17: The Man From Judah, Part 2

Chapter 18: Purpose

Chapter 19: Purpose Driven Request

Chapter 20: Maximizing Potential

THE CHRISTIAN'S WALZ THROUGH LIFE

Chapter 21: What Business Has A Fisherman With A Sword? Part 1

Chapter 22: Wants Versus Needs

Chapter 23: Practice of Exemption

Chapter 24: True Love

Chapter 25: The Rock

Chapter 26: Easter Essence

Chapter 27: Mercy Break

Chapter 28: Principles: Bind It

Chapter 29: Unwanted Emotions

Chapter 30: He's Not There

Chapter 31: The Man From Judah, Part 1

Chapter 32: Elisha 1: Wisdom

Chapter 33: Elisha 2: Demands For The Next Level

Chapter 34: Measure Your Faith

Chapter 35: War At Dawn

Chapter 36: Vessels Unto Honour

Chapter 37: No Competition

Chapter 38: Thorny Soils

Chapter 39: Majoring In The Minors

ADVANCING THE KINGDOM

Chapter 40: Authority

Chapter 41: Why Prosperity

Chapter 42: Lot's Error

Chapter 43: A Teaching Priest

Chapter 44: War Against Knowledge

THE LADY

Chapter 45: Washing By The Word

Chapter 46: Achsah 2

Chapter 47: Quintessence of True Power (Lessons From Jael)

Chapter 48: Being Woman

RELATIONSHIPS

Chapter 49: Achsah 1

Chapter 50: Values

About the Author

Connect with Esther **Zoë** Okore

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the Ecclesia, Christ's only Bride.

Acknowledgment

_It is a marvel that this book is finally here! It would be the utter ingratitude to take every part of the glory and applause for it._

I honour the Father God Almighty, the Master-planner, Mastermind, Master Craftsman for the election of grace to be a shareholder in His divine plans.

Special thanks to my parents and siblings. You have been my strength, an anchor and a solace. God bless you.

My family, the wilderness where the Baptist in John was refined, Chapel Of Light Interdenominational Okofia, UNIZIK Nnewi; it is impossible to neglect how God used each one of you to bring out the best in me. My brothers Nwokebu Christian, Okey Emmanuel, Nwakanma Michael, and the bible study teams throughout my undergraduate years, I honour you. May the Lord cause his face to shine on you.

To my beloved brother, Alfred Lucky Okechukwu, the oracle through whom the season for this book opened up, may the Lord grace you with his presence.

To my spiritual leaders: Pastor Chidiebere Amanoh, Pastor Nnanna Ukpai, Pastor Moore Ogbonna, Apostle Oluwatosin Omoniyi, Reverend Philip Chinagorom; God bless you for your timeless investments.

To the Physical therapists in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, I cannot express my gratitude for your support, kind words and gestures. It was almost unbelievable. God bless you. To Physiotherapist George Shadow (Author of the Black Book), thank you for your tireless efforts to see this book materialize as stipulated. May God's grace furnish you always.

Introduction

It was on a fateful holiday afternoon in the month of August, 2015. We had just rounded up the first session of the preclinical class as undergraduate physiotherapists and, together with other students, were given a 2 months holiday that was supposed to span the months of August and September. At the advice of a friend, I decided to spend one of the holiday months in school. I saw myself spending extensive time in the study of the Bible. It was a healthy addiction and I was hungrily soaking up the Word.

One fateful morning, after a lengthy investment in the study of the word, I remembered what a friend and brother had told me about sharing the Word with others in order to hide it in my heart. It was a practice he did frequently, but my shy nature did not permit that sort of boldness. So, I thought, "How do I share these things so I can retain them in my heart and spirit?" Then as if as an inspiration, I figured, "Share it on Facebook!" And that was how Zoë Quiet Corner (the spring board for this book in your hand) began.

From leisurely sharing the lessons Daddy taught me, it gradually became a fairly constant exposition, from which I have received many testimonies, all of which humble me all the more, and encourage me all the better.

You see, the walk as a disciple of Christ in such an unforgiving, nearly suffocating world as ours can be really trying. The world has a structure and rule of law that sharply negates the new culture that we now have in Christ. Its priorities, pleasures and processes are usually never synchronizing with the principles of God with which the world was founded. The world wants you hardened, inhumane and always headed for the jugular all in the guise of survival; it wants you to live with negative thoughts, feelings and actions in the name of 'reality'. Any attempt to differ projects you as non-objective, delirious, unprofessional and out of touch with reality. That alone is a battle to sustain victory at.

Then there is the battle of conquering the flesh and its delight--acceptance, love, power, comfort, ego. That is yet another tedious fight. And as if these were not battles enough, the body of Christ is currently being infringed with fakes and fabrications, propagating false culture and fictitious doctrines. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep your head above the waters of these wars. However, it is nothing we were not preempted on. Jesus and his apostles in different letters showed us that such times will come.

But here is the good news. Provision has been made to enable you glide through it all. It is possible to stay aplomb and coast through the horror. In Christ, there is a provision for anyone who intends to stay as disciples of Christ to do just that; and very 'effortlessly' too. There is effort to be put, but it is no longer the effort of trial. Jesus said in Matthew11:28-30,

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Jesus has made provision for a seamless lither through the corruption now in this world. And that is the womb from whence this book was birthed.

_THE CHRISTIAN'S WALTZ through life is a writ containing time-tested biblical truths and principles that the believer needs to scale both in life and godliness. In your hands are but a fraction of the notes handed down to me over a period of time, and it has been retold in such a comprehensive and relatable way, while still housing the unfailing and unadulterated truths and principles. I realize that so many people cannot implement the words of scripture because they do not become_ _one_ _with it. It sounds like fables at best, rocket science at worse. That is why this book comes in very simple applicable, apprehensible pictures._

Originally, they were 'dished out' as handed down, but have now been retouched for the sake of the audience majority, and so that anyone can relate with the lessons as simply as they have been written. I made sure to retain a great deal of the original informality of the style of writing, while adjusting a couple others so that they are book worthy. This volume is a modified compilation of the first few series of the original series, Zoë Quiet Corner, and therefore will not contain an all encompassing, totaling and concise information on the different subjects, but it contains enough to rapture your soul to a higher level of godly living.

It is my utmost desire and prayer that when you study this book, you will receive both the wisdom and empowerment to glide gracefully through a torrentuous world, to stream swiftly through the jazzed edges of failed humanity, and waltz confidently through life.

NEW LIFE

CHAPTER 1: Baby Steps; _Acts 15:19-20 (RSV)_

There is a sequence to growth in Christianity. The undoing of the church has been to infer, deliberately or otherwise, that the crux of Christianity or coming into the sheepfold of Christ is salvation. Interestingly, salvation is just the beginning. It is the first step. Like an admission letter, it certifies you a student of an institution of learning. Relaxing or settling in the 'salvation' stage is tantamount to going ahead to look for a job with your admission letter. Yeah. It is that insane.

The sequence of growth and maturity in Christ has been ignored, warped, wrongly taught or just banished entirely. What many call discipleship in the church today is simply exposure to denominational constitution. Apostle Paul stated that his thinking and mannerisms were childlike when he was a child. But with growth came maturity (1 Corinthians 13:11). In many sects, there is no real attempt to nurture young Christians by guiding them on basic foundational guidelines and teachings. What we do not realize is that spiritual newborns are as fragile as natural neonates and hence need maximum care. Until we recognize that they need milk (1 Peter 2:2) and not solid food, we will never be able to occasion a balanced growth process. It would be wrong to feed an infant on solid meals with the intent that 'he should be strong and quicker than his mates'. In doing that, you will fail to provide the nutrients that they really need for their health and wellbeing at that stage of life. Worse still, you would introduce macronutrient that they have not developed faculties to digest. Little wonder that the churches and society is full of babies in leadership apparels, taking offices and bearing titles, but very retarded in growth.

The error many ministers make is that they forget, or ignore the fact that a typical church setting is a conglomerate of believers with different spiritual needs. This ignorance or oversight has downplayed efforts that should ensure a healthy diet prescribed per maturity level. Some assemblies force solid food (which I must confess look like milk) down the throats of these neonates. Sadly, these meals do not have the nutrients babies require for growth, and so they malnourished, stagnate and even die in extreme cases.

Enough parables. Let's look at the anchor scripture.

"Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble the gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollution of the idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood."

That was Apostle James' advice when the circumcision party began to insist that circumcision was the key to salvation (read the entire chapter for better understanding). When I read came across this passage, I questioned, _"Why did he have to include the strangled animal and blood part?"_ and the Holy Spirit taught me that it was because the people in question were gentiles and newborns. There was need to cultivate and nurture them into maturity before feeding them with meat and bones (which Paul did in 1 Corinthians 8). It would have caused more harm to them if he had just told them, "Do right. Follow the Holy Spirit's leading." They might not even know if a leading was instituted by the Holy Spirit. 'Right doing' is very relative, and so they could continue doing the wrong things while believing they were doing right. There was need to set guidelines. This is just like stalking a climbing plant so that tendril can find a means of climbing else it will simply crawl and never really grow.

This is not to propagate a move to indoctrinate believers. Rather than that, it is to prompt leaders to leave the state of assumption and create a step wise pattern that would actually help young believers to enjoy the provisions of salvation without walking in error due to ignorance. We wrongly assume that they understand what it means to _"abstain from all appearance of evil"_ (1 Thessalonians. 5:22). We think they understand righteous sounding words like sanctification, prayer and consecration. So, we just move over to 'weightier matters', and in the end, we release many 'unconverted converts' to the society as ambassadors of Christ.

If Jesus had to go through the process of growth; sitting under teachers, staying subject to parents, and gradually building up stature and maturity; the unskilled in the faith should be tended gently into maturity using guidelines well expressed and scripturally balanced. Don't be afraid to constrain the newborns; no mother allows her baby crawl into a busy road. Let them know they need to break up with the unbelieving fiancé. Help them understand that they cannot corrupt their hearts with songs that do not edify. Encourage them on the necessity to disentangle from lies, whether white or gray. Help them recognize that they have to let go of the works of the flesh as mentioned in several places in the scripture. Only when such foundations are set will they be able to learn to obey God's teaching, to willingly submit for pruning and advance in life without reproach before God and man.
CHAPTER 2: Why the Law Was Inadequate; _Romans 7:7-8_

The laws were directives that God gave to his people to live by. The law was supposed to guide the masses on what do to, when to do it, how to get it done and basically a way of defining boundaries and guiding the way one walked within its confines. The law was a necessary good especially with the fall of man. With man having lost access to his control system, and unable to reconnect immediately, it was essential that guidelines be given, and this is exactly why the law came to be.

As good as the law was, the scripture gives insight on why the law as given through Moses was inadequate and could not lead the people to the righteousness that God is, and desires of us. One of the many striking reasons can be found in Romans 7:7-8. Apostle Paul, in that passage, confessed there that the law was not sin. This means that the law in itself is not designed to produce sinfulness. However, he said that inasmuch as the law is not sin, yet aside the law he would not have known sin. According to Paul's exposition, using an example of covetousness, he explained that the law had said, _'Thou shall not covet'_ and because of that, _"...sin, finding an opportunity in the commandment wrought in me ALL KINDS OF COVETEOUSNESS"._ Vs. 8

As I sat on this passage in study, the Spirit of God directed me to Matthew 5:28.

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

The Spirit of God was faithful to remind me that Jesus' teaching was a review of Commandment No 7. In that School of the Spirit, I came to understand one of the major inadequacies of law.

The fall of man awoke the rebellious human nature which is always on the outlook for its pleasure and convenience only. The law did not fix the problem of the fallen nature; it only presented a way of managing the fallen nature. In medicine, it is called palliative care—managing a problem without removing the cause of the problem. So, although the law would instructs on what to do, the flesh would always want to do its own bidding. There were however laws currently preventing the flesh from running amok, and many, if not all of these laws, came with repercussions and punishments for disobedience. This was staged to solve the headiness of flesh and create as much constraint as possible.

Unfortunately, the fallen nature devised its own technique of evasion. Since the laws prevented the flesh from walking contrary to its designation through the fear of punishment, flesh only had to continue finding ways to bend the law, taking care not to break it. The fear of punishment would prevent the flesh from acting out, however the control board of flesh would device techniques of self-gratification in spite of the law. Smart right?

Now back to Jesus' teaching.

So, the law had previously said, _'Do not commit adultery'_. But rather than do the physical act, which would produce punishment, flesh diverted into the mental act, and indeed every other act outside actual intercourse. The pleasure is the same, the process only differed. They succeeded in not polluting their bodies, but their minds were a truckload of filth. It is as rational as it gets. After all there was no law that directly, word for word, condemned them from fornicating in their minds.

And so it is for every other law ever made. Romans chapter 7 explains that the law is not sin but the law causes the human nature to devise and craft out divers forms, levels and concentrations of sinfulness. So, for the Pharisees, it was not okay to kill someone but it was okay to cause the death of that person (John 18:28-31). Pay attention to what they told Pilate, _"...It is not lawful for us to put any man to death...",_ but it was okay to orchestrate his death. What hypocrisy! It was okay to honour your father and mother with your substance except to have decided to dedicate it to God then you can abandon them (Mark 7:9-13).

That exactly is what Christ came to warn about. That also is what Paul spoke about. The people's nature had not been changed. They were yet to reconnect with the Spirit of God, and even if they had, they were yet to renew their minds. Therefore, simply laying rules cannot change anyone or work in the righteousness of God in that person. That is why it is of no essence when people direct their lives by dos and don'ts without an altered nature and a renewed mind. This is because the humanity in them will only find a rational ground to still commit sin, while evading the actual written law, and by extension, punishment.

For this reason the grace of God was made eminent--to replace the distorted human nature with the nature of God which does not sin (1 John 3:8-9). And once the nature is changed and the mind renewed by the Word, there is no need for enslaving laws, because the Spirit of God has the law written in the heart (Hebrews. 8:10). Their actions or inactions are not driven by lay down rules in essence but by the directives of the Holy Spirit, in agreement with the nature of the Godhead. This is the only way people can come to live in true integrity and not hypocrisy. The best thing that can happen to anyone is to come into a working relationship with Jesus Christ, and begin to live a live sponsored by the Holy Spirit, in truth.

CHAPTER 3: Living The Part; _1 Timothy 1:12-16 (RSV)_

Redemption at Calvary did a lot for humanity than meets the eyes. For starters, we know, and it is no longer news, that the journey to the cross brought salvation to mankind and justification to all who will accept the offering of Christ's blood and anchor unto the new life in Christ. Redemption not only made us free from sin, but it also made us **unable** to commit sin! Surprised are ya?

The nature transplant that occurs when a person comes into the fold of Christ dislodges the sin nature which is prone to, conformable to, and agreeable with sin. And when this occurs, a new control chip is implanted because nature abhors vacuum. This new nature is the nature of God. This nature is sinless and unwilling and unable to sin. This is the reason for the unwillingness one feels when they try return to those sinful actions, thoughts or words. In Christ, we lose the willingness to sin. Hallelujah!

One of the privileges we received at Calvary which a number of people are oblivious of is that for all who enter into the covenant of Salvation, a start-up trust capital from Christ is given them. In other words, Christ looks at you bent on your knees in repentance and says, _"Welcome to Our Corporation. I see your great potentials and I would love to do business with you. However I realize that you are wretched and void of prior job experience. Typically, we do not give slots to people without records of good working ethics (Luke 16:12). However, one of the perks of belonging to our corporation is that you get a start-up trust capital. So here is a token of my trust. Inasmuch as you have no previous experiences, this token is a privilege to get started."_

How cool is that? Isn't it amazing that in the God's Kingdom Group of Companies, all you need is just to come in and immediately, you have the trust of the Employer that you will faithfully handle the job...and you are indeed immediately given a job!

Paul the Apostle, in his letter to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:12 stated that Christ Jesus judged him faithful by offering him a job in his vineyard. He was not judged faithful by what he did, or how dedicated he was to the Church; how often he gave alms or how righteous he tried to live. He was judged faithful (loyal, reliable) by the appointment to service. Reading further down that passage, Paul explained how he received mercy through grace and became accepted into the fold of Christ. There was no way his works could have made Christ trust him as being reliable seeing that even our righteousness is likened to a woman's stained sanitary pads! ( _Isaiah 64:6; Greek word for filthy = ềd, meaning the menstrual flux; by implication, soiling_ ). No. It was his entrance into the Family of God that brought about the trust and so it is to anyone who has identified with that household of God.

This goes by saying that, as a believer, you have a job description handed to you by trust. There is something extra that you have been mandated to do in the Corporation. For starters, we know that every believer has the mandate of soul winner. Then of course, there might be other assignments which came as a result of the environment where you are planted or the need of the hour. And even, the ultimate assignment of establishing the government of God in our spheres of influence.

Seeing that we have been judged faithful by Christ, I am forced to ask, how well have you used the trust token? Is Christ still able to raise his head up high whenever your file is opened in heaven or have you let him down? I can imagine at repentance that Christ stood up high and declared to the Father, "This one is reliable. He/she can handle this particular job." And everyone listened...including the devil! Few years down the line, time and again, these files are again opened and I cannot but wonder what His countenance will be like. Is Christ still able to brag about you as he did with Job from the East (Job 1:8) or have you let him down so bad that his only echo is, "Father, have mercy..."

Many do not understand the deal Christ made with us or the gravity of trust he has in us. He doesn't welcome us into the fold being skeptical about how we will behave. He does not sit at edge, ready to jump at our every move just in case we flop and misbehave. No. He welcomes us in, asks us to feel at home, hands us a responsibility and completely trusts us to get the job done. Failure to understand this is why many believers do not think it is necessary to keep the trust bank high enough!

The lives we live, does it glorify him? The jobs he gave us, have we been faithful stewards? How many people have we brought to work in the vineyard via witnessing and soul winning or are we not bothered that many are not experiencing the joys of salvation? How efficiently are we utilizing the daily grace given to us in handling issues or do we allow ourselves to constantly be under the rule and authority of the devil through sin and sickness? Are we representing him in academic excellence and prosperity gotten the God-way? There are a lot expected from us for whom much is given, much is required.

We are custodians of the Kingdom's trust here on earth, and as stewards we need to show our faithfulness (1 Corinthians. 4:1-2). It is time to start living the part we have been entrusted to live and exhibit. To have a retrace--you and I--to our first love and make amends. To start living our lives such that every single day Christ has a reason to beat his chest and loudly proclaim, "I told you. This one is faithful!"

Chapter 4: Welcome Embrace

She knew she had hurt his feelings again. The last time it happened she pleaded and promised and even laid curses on herself should there be a repeat of that wrong...or any wrong at all. She knew she really wanted to please and love him even a tad of how much he loved her but somehow he was just too perfect. HE knew that even without her promises or curses, he was going to forgive anyways. Love just had a way of seeing to these things.

It has been only three days since the last make up and she had flopped again. She would never learn to please him, she was just too daft. And now she thought of it, how hard was it to refuse Jason's advances?? His slopping head and receding hair lines were far from sexy and let's not even talk about that spider-like scar that dented his already acne-compromised face. He was not worth the entire trauma but somehow she always managed to grow fervid whenever she was around him. She hated herself. However was she going to explain once again that she had fallen? Backing out seemed the only solution. 'He must be sick and tired of my constant pleas for forgiveness', she thought aloud once. How couldn't He? Was there anyone even half as pitiable as she was? She was going to make a dastard retreat...shun him for a while, try to act all hardened and metallic, put up a verisimilitude of nonchalance to mask the guilt she was tired of having...

* * *

How often have we had to put on these same shoes? We get sick and tired of our constant sinning and repenting that we start searing our consciences. We have many times felt so bad for our sins that we asked God to kill us if we ever committed them again. We even belabor ourselves with heavy monetary vows we know we cannot keep just to see if the threat of failure will keep us from sinning. And just when we feel we have threatened ourselves with the greatest punishment ever, and even death, we find ourselves back to the quagmire. Then we ask not to be killed again, confused about our inabilities to keep away from sinning and employing his mercy; both for the sin and for the curse or vow we laid on ourselves. Sometimes we buy the lie of the devil which sounds something like this, 'I doubt that God is able to make me clean. I have cried so much and prayed so much in all sincerity, yet I keep falling back. I do not think I actually gave my life to Christ. I do not think I am a Christian, really." Eventually, burdened and emotionally fatigued, we permit shame and anger to overwhelm us and begin the deadly walk away from God--trying to hide from God.

This was Adam and Eve's case in Genesis 3. They felt hiding was the best way out but unfortunately it never was, and will never be the grand plan of God, seeing that he desires that we call come into repentance and not perish (2 Peter 3:9).

Do you realize that God saw Adam and Eve eat the apple in His Omnipresence, and yet he came down to fellowship with them? It reminds us that despite our sins, God wants to fellowship with us. It is in His Presence that we receive cleansing (Hebrews 4:16). However the devil uses guilt to make us avoid God's presence, thereby aggravating the problem. He brings a strong sense of guilt, which he strongly contrasts to the holiness of God. He goes ahead to sell the lie that God is fed up with your incessant quirks. When this does not seem to create the necessary effect, he starts to create questions concerning God's desire to make you clean and sinless. So he puts thoughts like this in your mind, "If God really cared about me, He would not have allowed me to fall back into that sin or mistake. I think God is not really bothered about this thing; else he would have removed the desires to do this!" That bait nearly always catches the majority, and they begin to lose trust in God and his interest, willingness or ability to help them through their struggle. Soon, they embrace the sinfulness entirely, accepting it as their nature, an essential part of their being which they cannot do without or do away with. But this lie is obviously not of God. He came to fellowship with Adam after they messed up. He came to abide with mortal men in a bid to deliver them from the reins of the devil. The scriptures tell us of God, and assert that when his people were in their sins, he was badly hurt and was desperate to get them back to himself (Isaiah 44:22).

He wants to help you and no matter how often you fall, his hands are ever stretched out in a welcome embrace (Luke 15:11-24). Ever since I caught this light, whenever I err and have that strong feeling to run away, I make conscious efforts to run to God in confession because it is in him that I find the healing for my soul despite what my emotions, mind and brain is telling me. Do you feel your sins are the worst things earth ever heard of? That is the devil preventing your forgiveness. Even if it is, Isaiah 1:18 encourages us that he will make our sinful scarlet nature to be whiter than snow. Here's a Cory Asbury's song stanza to help your understanding.

RECKLESS LOVE

Before I spoke a word, you were singing over me. You've been so so good to me

Before I took a breathe, you breathed life in me You've been so so kind to me

O the overwhelming never ending reckless love of God

O it chases me down, fights till I'm found leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still you gave yourself away

O the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God

* * *

There's no shadow You won't light up, mountain You won't climb up, coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down, lie You won't tear down, coming after me

Chapter 5: A New Name

A name is not just a symbol of identification; it is also a symbol of identity. While many people give or bear names for identification, I personally have a stoic belief that the personal names people bear give them an identity, and to some great extent speak into their lives. This might be because I am Igbo and African, but it's a really strong belief. People bear names which have some sort of meaning to it or symbolic semblance because it is widely believed that what you bear as a name speaks volumes to your life and destiny. In Nigeria for example, some people bear names of shines and idols and deities; an often we see the negative affectation in their lives. Sometimes, when deliverances are being conducted for some families, they are asked to alter their family name. Growing up, and even now, whenever I hear a native name, my first question is "What does it mean?" So unbending is this belief that even when it comes to nicknames, I have a problem calling people nicknames that have no meaning, or have negative meaning. My understating is that _MY_ words are spirit and if you are nicknamed 'Icebrains' for example, my calling you that would bring about a negative trend in your life, and...freeze your brains! If Jesus could say, "Talitha Cumi" and the dead rose, if I called you a bizarre name, it would be aberrant to your life.

Now, outside my affinity to destiny-forming names, I recognized a trend in bible days, especially among the Kings of Egypt and Babylon. Whenever they elevated or enthroned someone, they renamed him. Pharoah named Joseph (son of Jacob) Zaphnath-paaneah (Genesis 14:45), Pharoah-nechoh enthroned Eliakim, son of Josiah and named him Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:34), Nebuchadnezzar enthroned Mattaniah, and renamed Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17). He also renamed Daniel and his friends (Dan 1:7). This trait is also found with God Almighty. He elevated and changed Abram to Abraham; Jacob to Israel; Solomon to Jedidiah. And when Jesus conquered, he gave him A NAME above every existing name, the name that showed and enforced his authority. Glory!

That same God has elevated us in Christ (Ephesians 2:6) and has called us by a new name--one that is not dependent on what you have been or how you have lived. It is not based on backgrounds or relationships. It is based on the new level he has brought you to. He altered the names of Hosea's children after he restored and accepted them (Hosea 1:6-9; 2:23). In evading their sins, he elevates them to a new level. See the story of the prodigal son. After he came back, the elder brother called him, _"This son of yours..."_ , but the father, having accepted him, called him, _"Your brother..."_ In Christ we have a new identity and a new ensign because we have been elevated from the former state of death into a state of life. You have been accepted from the miry clay slugger to the solid rock stander. You have been translated to higher ground. God has given you a new name, from sinner to redeemed, from slaves to kings, from unwanted to God-preferred, from broke to blessed, from hated to accepted. He has turned your status around, from black sheep of the family to the most beloved, from cranky to warm, dorm diseased to healthy and whole. In Christ you have a new and higher life. Hallelujah!

Do you feel worthless, hopeless, wasted, unloved, incapable, unwanted? You feel that your past hurts and mistakes are crying for revenge? You feel the guilt of besetting sins is keeping you worthily stagnant? It is time to apply yourself to searching out His new name for you, for your peculiar problem, for your particular season. Search the scriptures for the latest upgrade God just made to his product--you.

Find your relevance in God, from God. And when you find that upgrade do well to live up to it. If he said you are redeemed, live redeemed and stop mingling with filth. If he calls you blessed, start developing the mindset of a blessed person. If he says you are to deliver a class of people, begin to learn about what it means to be such a deliverer. Once upon a time, He called me his _arsenal_ (Jeremiah 51:20). I knew the upgrade that happened in me and I began to channel my focus into living the fullness of that new name. What about you? Are you up to date with his dealings with you or are you still working with 1995 model??

SEEKING GOD

Chapter 6: Personal Knowing; _Acts 19:11-16_

Quick question. Do you know Jesus on a personal basis? What is your current reality as occasioned by your personal knowledge of him?

It is a personal knowledge of Jesus that brings about desirable results in one's quests. You cannot achieve anything in Jesus' name by basing it on someone else's knowledge of him. It's when Jesus becomes real to you that you can begin to work in and manifest his glory in your life and even in the lives of others. If you do not know him, you cannot access the possibilities in him. The devil is still able to toy with people's spiritual, physical, marital, and emotional and otherwise lives in spite of how frequently they scream that All Powerful name. This is because, he knows about the Lord more than most people who say they are Christians, and more sadly, he knows that you do not know anything about what you are saying. This enables him to smartly spot out when that knowledge of the name and the power thereof is lacking in someone's life, words and proclamations.

The bible shares a rather interesting story. We see the sons of Sceva, a priest during the time of Apostle Paul, trying to manifest God's power in Paul's knowledge of Jesus. They were recorded to have commanded the demons thus:

"I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches" vs. 13

They did not even know who this Jesus was. All they knew was that the name caused miracles to happen. What else could be a more perfect example of ignorance? This is like using a gun when you don't know what side should be focused on you and what side should be focused on the target (except of course you are the target...for which you need to seek counsel).

The scripture explains that the evil spirit in the man _"leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them"._ All seven of them! That is because the evil spirit could not see substance in the vain words they professed unlike cases of Philip (Acts 8:5-7) and Jesus himself (Mark 5:1-7).

It is not in how loudly, frequently or strongly you shout the Name, it is in the token of the relationship you have with the Name. This is regrettably application to every aspect of our existence. Let us take for example a Christian going through the scars of emotional trauma due to some childhood negligence or abuse. For such a person to gain complete healing from such severe scars, they would not necessarily need motivational speeches. What would benefit them would be a revelation of the dimension of Christ that is able to heal them. Telling the person to forgive the past, heal and fulfill purpose is great. But somewhere deep down, there is still internal insecurity. So their trust levels are at zero, they are jumpy at the mention of their abuser's name, even if someone else is bearing the name, they still do not feel worthy of other people's love, acceptance and honour. It is the backlog of yesteryears baggage which has refused to go.

So, the enemy continues to feed them with those negativities and at a point in time, they get tired of fighting, and either simply succumb or grow hardened to mask the decaying interior. For such a person to truly heal, they must have an insight on the possibility of emotional healing in Christ.

Eventually, here comes a fateful day, and by the mercies of the Lord there is a turnaround. They had only intend to re-live the experience of the cross and read Isaiah 53, and suddenly verse 5 jumps into them, _"Surely he has bore our grief and carried our sorrow..."_ And although they have known that passage forever, it only now reveals to them that Jesus took their sorrows and grief, including the emotional trauma. Immediately, they apply the word in the place of prayer, placing a demand on the blood for their emotional health. Soon, they begin to experience unknown boldness emanating. They latch on it and before long; it seems there was never a thing called poor self-esteem in their life. Ever!

No motivational talk could ever have done that. Only a revelation of the finished work of Christ in the area of their setbacks was able to give them boldness in the spirit to place demands. Someone else may apply the same scripture but may not get the same result. This is because assess is granted on the basis of revelation, nor exposure.

So, what do you know about Jesus in the areas of struggles of your life? That is probably why you still have the devils mastering you. Get deep with Him and send those devils scampering!

Chapter 7: Faithfulness; _Hebrews 3:5-6 (RSV)_

Let us look at this wonderful comparison. The anchor passage brings a comparison between Moses and Jesus in terms of their faithfulness. The scriptures said that " _Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant while Christ was faithful over God's house as a Son._ " This implies that there is a ' _son's faithfulness_ ' and a ' _servant's faithfulness_ '. Let's analyze it.

A servant's faithfulness usually ends where the instructions stop. The servant has no idea what the entire desire of the Master is until he is instructed. Over and over again. The son on the other hand is faithful beyond the commands of the Father. He does not just do things because he was of a lower rank to the Father or because he has been ordered to; he does things to show honour and respect to his Father. The servant always enters the presence of the Father with fear in the real sense of it while the Son entered with reverence, admiration and relationship. This produces awesome conversations wherein the Father would tell him of plans that span ages to come. The servant is content to follow the 'subject-verb-object' of the commands while the Son goes ahead to add adjuncts and complements and every other spice to the whole instruction without losing sight of the 'subject-verb-object'.

Let's bring it home. Say you have a house help at home. If your dad asked them to arrange the house in expectance for an August visitor, they would do it just as he said. But as a child to your Father, you would not just tidy the house, you might think of bringing in flowers or introducing a nice fragrance, maybe even cook a delicious dish--not necessarily because of the visitor, but so that you make daddy a proud man in front of outsiders. See the difference?!

Now ask yourself, "Am I displaying a servant's faithfulness or a son's faithfulness to the things of God...including his house, which is ME?" Do you do the things you do because the Bible says to do them, or do you do them because you want to show Your Father what a great love you have for Him? Did you quit doing certain things because the bible records it as sin or because you realize it is a dent in the house of God and he would not be too proud of it? Is your service to God because you want rewards afterwards or because you understand the will of God in heaven and you realize that as a son, it is your responsibility to established His will and government here on earth in your own sphere of influence? What drives the good things you do exposes and portrays your level of faithfulness to God.

One other thing is that as a servant, you are confined to the house but as a son, you are lord over the house. Moses was faithful IN all of God's house but Jesus was faithful OVER God's house. Take that house, amongst other things, to be your body (1 Corinthians 6:19). When you are faithful as a Son over your body, you are no longer doing several things simply because...the bible says so. You do them because "I need to worship God in my body" (Romans 12:1). You hear a lot of 'Christians' debate and question the sinfulness of certain things like smoking and drinking alcohol since, 'It is not in the bible'. That is typical servant faithfulness. When we start being faithful stewards to everything God has given to us as Sons, we no longer live for ourselves but for the glory of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:14).

FOR ME OR FOR HIM

For me or for him

Wax I great strength to meet the conditions of good success.

For the prized laurel and sounding ovation?

For silent quips at non-adherents of His Way?

For a sign to all who my youth did despise?

Or to have Him take pleasure in my quest to represent him?

For him or for me

Do I bear jabs and thorns of persecution.

To be reckoned by peers as steadfast?

Or be pleased to ache for His pleasure?

For him or for me

Do I refuse a second glance at sin.

The terrors of a flaming hell?

Or His satisfaction at my maimed flesh and burning spirit?

Worthy art thou o Lord to receive

Glory, honour and power for thou did create

All things and for thy pleasure alone

Did Thou create

For You, not for me

By Zoë

Chapter 8: Perfected To Be Accepted; _Lev 22:21-24_

The Lord knows how imperfect we are as humans, and creates room enough to forgive those imperfections. However there are certain things He cannot compromise His perfection for and one of them is our offerings and vows. In the anchor scripture, we see the Lord stressing that such gifts must be "PERFECTED TO BE ACCEPTED ". I definitely need to stress here a bit on what offerings and vows are. Offerings are what you have to offer. This is not just the little change you squeeze into the offering basket as it comes your way. They includes your presence, your skill, talent and ability, time and resources, your ideas however little, your money and other material things. Vows on the other hand, are obligations you made to the Lord. Maybe you told Him you would pray for some people or a group of people, or that you'll donate a specific amount to something, or whatever you pledge to the Lord. It doesn't necessarily follow the 'Lord I vow to...' pattern. You made a promise or dedication, it is a vow.

In the program of the Lord, the offerings and vows have to be perfected in other to be accepted. Even Jesus had to be perfected to be accepted, and it was the process of perfection that he underwent while he worked the earth. How do I know this? He came in form of mortal man (the entity who erred), learnt obedience by the things he suffered (Hebrews 5:8). He humbled himself even unto death. And when that sacrifice was perfected, he was accepted, in that God gave him a name above other names (See Philippians 2:6-11). If God had to perfect his own sacrifice to mankind, it is barely asking for much when he demands that we also perfect our offerings and vows so that they will be accepted.

Let's take a little tour and see how often we have given offerings in church without actually giving them to God because of their imperfections; something the Lord will not accept.

For starters, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). It's not necessarily in the bulk; it's in the heart behind the hand. Think how often we have given grudgingly--our time, resource, money, even admonition and encouragement. Is your giving perfected?

Again, your gifts--money or material things-- must be without blemish. Think of how often we give God things we don't want again--that loose change we stumbled upon, that worn out or torn money that nobody will accept, that old threadbare clothe (to the orphans, etc), that sickly fowl that you've been trying to sell for weeks, coming to church just to charge your phone, satisfying your own personal agenda even when in encroaches with fellowship time before dragging your feet into the worship area. Take time to study each item of offering as listed above, and analyze how spotlessly you have offered that offering or vow to the Lord.

Also, the Lord lauds sacrificial giving. Remember how you decided not to go to church because it was raining, how you did not want to come for the weekly service because you had worn all your clothes, how you failed to help that stranded brother with accommodation because you fel you did not have enough food for yourself, much less another mouth. How sacrificial has your offerings been?

It is quite sad because if God did not receive it from Cain, he is not about to receive it from you...not even because of grace. Ask Ananias and his wife. Little wonder people bother why they are acclaimed givers but do not receive in like measures. God is not mocked. The day you can sow a rotten bean seed and it germinates, that day you are free to give God disdainful things and expect bounty harvest.

Talk about those that give with ingratitude, who are proud and ego-stricken, without an iota of worship and reverence in their hearts as though the Lord coaxed them into giving (1Chronicles 16:29).

God's stand is clear on this. Bring sacrifices of pleasant fragrance of him. Be more deliberate in your offerings and vows to the Lord. Attach honour to your services to Him. Be more reverent in your service to him. Offerings to the Lord should be given with the same grace and sacrifice as one would if they were doing it to so human authority, especially one who you want something from. Say no to shabby services, offerings and vows unto the Lord.

Chapter 9: What Are You Famous For; _1 Kings 10:1_

The question is not rhetorical so answer it. I do not mean what you are known around the world for. In your small circle, when your name is called, what are you famous for? Now, there is an entire variety of things people get known for. It may be good behaviour--being friendly, selfless, hardworking, compassionate, radical, loyal, pragmatic, smart, and intelligent. It could be your set skills like singing, dancing, painting, confectioneries, and others. It may be bad...you know the list now don't you. It may be ugly, for example, having being raped, disabled or scarred, lost parents, imprisoned, etc. Whatever your repertoire is, there is a more perfect thing to be famous for.

Remember King Solomon, the wisest and richest man who ever walked the earth since the creation of man until now? He was famous for many things, however; there was something even more stoic he was most famous for.

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the FAME OF SOLOMON CONCERNING THE NAME OF THE LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

Wow, right? Amidst everything Solomon could be famous for, the one that spread wild and fast was that of his affinity to the name of the Lord. It was not the story of his wealth, not the magnificent structures he had erected, not his unparalleled wisdom, not his multitude of business partners, not his peaceful regime. Nothing else but this; _'This man is a God-lover'_. And you know the result of that affinity, of his knitting to the name of the Lord? Not only the Queen, but every other person was drawn to him and thought it a privilege to give him gifts just to hear his wisdom, which also came from God (1 Kings 10:24-25).God gave him gifts but he did not exalt the gifts above God.

It is awesome to be skillful and of a pruned character but the essence of life itself is that there is an intimacy between you and the Heavenly Father--one that is not hidden or compromised. Not even the presence of the Queen of Sheba was worth the compromise (1 Kings 10:5). Jesus justly said in John 12:32, " _And if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me_ ". The fame you think you want is tied to 'lifting Jesus up'. As men come to him, they will also recognize the 'platform' raising him up—your gifts, good behavior, skills, your beautiful disposition in spite of your brutal past; and everything in between. Don't try to exalt yourself. Let Jesus shine through you. When he sees you a consistent platform portraying him to the world, he himself will bring men to himself and when they do come...voila! There you would be!

So I ask again, what would be best to be famous for?
Chapter 10: Still Small Voice; _1 Kings 19_

Notice this.

...The Lord passed by and a great and strong wind rent the mountains...but the Lord was not in the wind... (1 Kings 19:11)

Wait a second! But the Lord just passed by, didn't He?

The Psalms paint very beautiful pictures of the Almightiness of God and has made us understand that at the blast of his nostrils, the earth unveiled her foundations, an earthquake if you will (Psalms 18:15), that at his rebuke, the waters divided (Psalms 104:6-9), that just at his presence, hills melt like wax (Psalms 97:5). It is evident that when God moves, some great occurrences happen. He moved and Egypt lost her first born males (Exodus 12:29-30), He stood and Dagon shattered (1 Samuel 5:1-7). So, how is it that in this passage, there is a record of the Lord moving and as expected, there is a great manifestation occurring but God was not present in it? Weird right? Now hang on.

After the wind destroyed the mountain, there came an earthquake (not a tremor) and a fire. In all three, the scriptures repeat, as if for emphasis, that the Lord was not in them. How is that even possible? Well, it is. To further understand this possibility, stay with me.

What does it mean that God moved and He was not in the great manifestation of his movement? First of all, we must recognize that humanity cannot stand unshaken at the presence of Divinity. It is pretty much the same way bad odour dispels when a strong perfume is poured out. It is a 'natural' phenomenon. In our current times, the Lord does not necessary come in the way as to move physical mountains and shake the terrestrial earth. He comes to move in his people. And like earlier mentioned, when He moves, humanity cannot stand. But the problem is that we often mistake the manifestations as the Lord. That is not the Lord. It is simply the reaction of creation in the presence of its Master. A bad odour is only a sign that there is something odd somewhere around producing that repulsive odour. This is why in spite of all the physical manifestations that took place, God was only in the voice. Why? He did not come for a performance. He did not just come to jostle earth, he came to give you Himself, his Word!

Let us break it down. Many times we go for retreats and revivals and whenever we are before such a strong atmosphere of the Lord's presence, there is bound to be evidence, a manifestation of his all glorious and righteous self present in lowly humanity. That is why, when He moves, people fall under the anointing, speak in other tongues, roll, cry, scream. Some just stay transfixed, recovering themselves hours after the meeting. That's awesome. That is evidence that God is moving. Powerful signal.

However, in spite of the 'noise'—the rummaging earthquake, the blinding winds and the vociferous flames—there is that _still small voice_ ministering to quiet spirits, ministering to spirits that are able to maintain tranquility over the din. The voice carrying the true impact. It is that voice that gives direction and points you in the area to improve on. It is give you an idea of what God has just done in you or through you; and what to do about it. The wise write it down and pursue it after the euphoria, the foolish ignore it, and the noisy never get to hear it at all. And why not? Because they were so enthralled and distracted by the noise that they did not know when that still voice did what it came to do—speak.

A friend shared with me how a lady seemed heavily slain in one meeting. In spite of the chants of "Peace, be still", she still did not calm down and so she was taken of the room. According to him, when she finally came 'back to earth', he asked her what she received or what transpired and was shocked at her response. "Nothing, I don't know." So what exactly was the act for? A blinding wind. A destructive fire. The voice did come as it always will, but she was too 'deaf' to hear it because she was distracted by the externals.

There are a multitude of cases such as hers. Many are distracted by the noise and so remain out of step with the current dealings of God. Some are more interested in the fact that they saw angels forgetting that the angels only came because there is a message that they must get across. Or even that the assess given them to see the angels could be some sort of message to them too on a matter they would have heard if only they paid more attention to the message than the messenger. The 'noise' is very diverse. It could be the healing, the deliverance, the out-of-body experience, the untold joy. These expressions of God's presence are wonderful because they help strengthen your faith, and come sometimes as a reward for faithfulness. Nonetheless, it would be extremely wrong to embrace and bury yourself in the manifestation, leaving off the message.

You know why it is dangerous to be distracted by the noise?

1. God can use anybody to do anything even when their walk with him is very faulty; especially if they are a direct channel to someone He wants to reach out to. Once, a mentor shared how God had warmed him, to "Never take the things God does through you as a measure of your relationship with him". Imagine the deceit both the leader and the followers would be in should they assume that God is in, with and pleased with them simply because there were miracles in a meeting.

2. Receiving is not enough. Utilizing what you've received is where the reward lies. (Matt 25:15-18). Having being heavily slain by the Spirit, how do you work into your culture the things He deposited in you? Someone falls in a meeting when they say that Lord is anointing prophets, but that does not make them a prophet instantly. There is still work to be done because according to Olori-Boye Ajayi, the (person) who got the vision is not the (person) that will execute it. You will need to pay the price to become that person fit to execute it. So, why not rejoice in the election of grace that appointed you to be that prophet while working with the templates the Lord gave you in order to enter into the fullness of that? But how would you when you do not even know that a template was given you because you did not pay attention to the still small voice when He spoke.

The main deal remains in the quiet impact the Spirit ministers to your spirit; and that can only be accessed by a spirit calm enough to hear the voice over the tumult.

CHAPTER 11: Give It All; _Luke 5:5-11_

You have been praying to God to help you with your rent which is long due. But for the loving relationship between you and the landlord, you would be on the streets by now. It is about #50,000 and although you have no money for food, nor any hope getting funds from anywhere, you would rather settle the rent than be embarrassed by being kicked out of the house. Luckily, after mid-week service one day, someone approaches you and says he was prompted to bless you with an envelope and when you look inside, it is exactly #50,000. You are more than overjoyed. You are already rehearsing the way you would testify on Sunday when an elderly woman walks across you with her 3 grandchildren whose parents are late. Then there is this prompting you know so well telling you to give the envelope to the woman un-tampered with. What would you do?

If you are being very objective and practical, you would admit that it may not be very easy to obey that prompting. You would explain the thought away and go and pay your rent. After all the money was God's answer to your prayers. It was a blessing and was it not the bible that said something about your enjoying your blessings in joy (Proverbs 10:22)? However, the way of the Kingdom is not the way of mortal man. Analyze this bible scenario.

They were the first disciples of Jesus led by Simon Peter. Jesus had just given them a bountiful harvest of fish and asked them to follow him; and without looking back at the fish, they followed him immediately. They did not as much as take some for the unknown journey ahead. They did not sell off the fish and take the proceeds for themselves, they did not loan their share with intent to take their profits later. They left the fish and went after the Master. The scripture specifically said, " _...they left everything and followed him..._ " boat, bail and bait!

How quickly can you leave your harvest in order to follow Jesus? It is relatively easier to leave a natural harvest when Jesus demands it than it is to leave a divinely orchestrated harvest. Would you quickly leave your only child and son whom you prayed and fasted to get, to go into the mission field in Russia all in the bid to follow Jesus in obedience? Would you readily give up that scholarship to that dream school in that dream country when the Lord makes the demand? Would you forfeit the job you were given after 5 years of searching just because the Lord said he was not going with you into that office? How quickly can you leave the harvest behind?

Personally, it used to be a major snag. A times, I may be encouraging someone on social media who is having a great deal of burden and then there is this prompting to go and pray. I find myself saying something like, "Geez! I will pray later. XYZ just came online and this burden she is unleashing is too grave. I need to deal with it first, and then I will pray later." The question now is this, who gave you the harvest--the wisdom and opportunity to impact or bear a brother's burden? Why do you now suddenly think it is more important to stay with the harvest than to follow the Lord of the Harvest in obedience?

How quickly can you leave the harvest if God demands for it? After 25 years of waiting, the long promised son is sent to Abraham. Few years gone by and here comes the Lord asking, not for Isaac to become celibate or to be a priest, but to be killed, sacrificed...murdered! Abraham waited only long enough for the first trace of dawn before he embarked on the journey of offering his son as a burnt offering. He had 3 days to think about it and he did not change his mind. Often, we receive offers and gifts that are as harmless as a sheep, and here comes the Lord asking for us to return, destroy or sacrifice that gift. How quickly can we oblige? How completely would we oblige? Would we like Saul keep the best part for ourselves and kill off the rest? Are you going to delete the contact of the suitor He asked you to get rid of but still keep tabs on Facebook?

In obedience we come into the fullness of the blessedness of God's grand plan and scripting. Ask Abraham. Learn to trust and follow Him in obedience. Even when the gifts are from the Lord himself, be prompt to let it all go if He so demands.
CHAPTER 12: Humility In Strength; _2 Chronicles 11:5- 12:1_

We all have those times in our lives when we are not at our 'good', more less at our best. Those moments when it feels like every odd is against us and life is not taking sides with us; when the chips are down and the cards have been stacked against us; when, either as a fault of ours or circumstances, we are at great disadvantage when compared to others on the same quest. Such times are inevitable and they come at different intensities and frequencies to different people. Many people resort to different things for succor or escape—human abuse, drug abuse, and crime. Many become hateful, compromising, cranky, untoward, suspicious of people, and difficult to get along with or please. Some fall straight flat into psychological problems and begin to suffer from depression, anxiety or even mania. Suicide spikes and the streets become less accommodating at dusk. There are a million and one ways people handle such down-times in their lives. However, those that have a relationship with God always know that He is their rest and they always run into that Tower for refuge. With great humility and absolute trust, they turn to God for help and that really is the way to go.

Fortunately, those low times are not here to stay. Soon that phase is gone and we come into a phase of our strengths, when most things are working for us. This time around we read and are more than ready for the exam, we have all the qualifications that the job requires and more to go around, we are at our prime and suitors are coming in their troops, there's an uncle who is the CEO of one oil and gas company, our parents have sufficient to see to our primary, secondary and tertiary needs, the persons we went to for fund raising for our crusades are showing willingness and commitment both in cash and kind. The wonderful things of life seem to be at our reach and beckoning. At this point in time, we are strong and our need for the Lord diminishes because we have it all covered, right? Wrong!

Unfortunately that is most often the case. When things are going smoothly for many, they forget to remember the Lord. Such was it for Rehoboam in his time. For the first 3 years of his tenure while he was yet to master the terrain, he was faithful to God. The scriptures said, " _But when Rehoboam had established the kingdom...He forsook the law of the Lord..._ " (2 Chronicles 12:1). For some of us, we do not exactly 'forsake' the Lord; we just decided not to bother him much because we can handle certain things ourselves. This is what I call _The Pride of Strength_.

In our weaknesses, we are humble and rely 'solely' on the Lord for help and direction, but when we are strong and have the wherewithal; we do not see the need to confer with the Lord for direction anymore. It is not because we do not trust his ability and willingness; it is simply because... _We've got this one, Lord. Don't stress yourself. Focus on the war at Iraq_. It almost begins to seem like our reliance on the Lord or our relationship with him is strictly for when we are in trouble. And when we have everything under control, he takes the back seat.

This is the reason a lot of people end up unfulfilled. God gives then a business idea and the right connections and _voom!_ they speed into execution, forgetting that they should also consult the Lord at every step of the journey; in every profit and loss, in every decision making and conflict resolution, in every business partner and business expansion plan. It may not be apparent but this is a sign of sublime pride.

Always, the Lord gives more grace to the humble. The highest expression of humility is in partnering completely with God. Humility screams, "You know better Lord. You helped me come this far, please see me through the end. I seem to know what next to do, but is that what you'd have me do?"

We need to be humble enough to seek him in all we do. Be humble in your weakness. But more importantly, stay more humble in your strengths.

Chapter 13: Filling the Hole; _Luke 19:1-5_

The story of Zacchaeus was one of our childhood fantasies--how he was a short man and climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus. Songs were written in honour (or humour) of the man. However, there are lessons we can grab from him aside climbing a tree.

The story of Zacchaeus shows the path the search for the Only True God has taken over the years. Man was made to have a relationship with God and no matter how far they wander; there remains that inward yearning for a relationship with Him. This yearning cannot be filled up with anything outside Him, try as they may.

In Zacchaeus' tale, we see how men have sought to fill the emptiness in their heart and the paths they have taken in that quest. Zacchaeus tried to see Jesus from the crowd but was limited by his height--he was short. Standing in the crowd where he could barely see above the T4 vertebral region of the people could have been very discouraging. He could have worn his self-pity cloak while he went home lamenting his woes, because this is what many do today! They say, _"I have had such a messed up life, that's why I cannot see Jesus", "Nobody can love me if they knew my past, talk less of the Holy Jesus", "My parents molested me that's why I cannot know Jesus"_ , and a bunch of self-pity groaning. There are a lot of externally limiting factors that negate our desires to acquaint with Him. There are people standing all around us who seem taller than us: more spiritual, more wholesome childhood, more moral, and more expressive about their zeal for Jesus. They have more experience in spiritual things, use more spiritual jargons, see Jesus every other day, have read every book on high spiritual activities and have a trailer load of experience with Him. The comparison is too unfair and the stakes are just too high to surmount. Many people find themselves exploring such excuses as reasons to why they have a poor relationship with Jesus, but not Zacchaeus.

Another option Zacchaeus had was to hate everyone obstructing his view, maybe bite them wherever his teeth gets them in retaliation for the emptiness inside as many do today. _"You! You said you heard God, ba? Does he have baritone?", "Don't mind all these people under auditory and vision hallucination saying that they are in the spirit", "So the pastor tripped you over and you claim you fell under the anointing", "All these church people need is your money. Don't be fooled."_ The derogatory assumptions are endlessly sipping in, not necessarily because the people saying it believe it, but because there is a longing in their hearts and they don't know how to fill it up. They simply cannot see Jesus because of the obstructions of society, disappointments, and their own inability to experience and apprehend the Lord Jesus, and so, they backlash all who seem to be having a swell time with the Lord. The sad thing is that it does not solve the problem. You still go home feeling the emptiness inside. But that was not the way of Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus also had the option to tap someone taller than he, maybe the tallest person and say, "I can't see Jesus, can you describe him for me. I will be fine knowing what He looks like from your description of him." When you do that, it means that you are settling for other people's presumption of who Jesus is and never getting to know him personally. That is the most prevalent place of settling that many in today's church take. Somehow they like the idea of being close enough to Jesus but do not take the extra step of seeing him themselves. The hurdles surrounding them make them unwilling to take the step of knowing him. They feel so overwhelmed with the chasm between them and others, and they feel there is nothing they can do about it, just as Zacchaeus could do nothing about his height. And so they settle. It is dangerous to settle, but they do. So you hear statements and see actions that scream dependence on others, with an unwillingness to step into the game. _"Pastor pray for me", "Prophet see vision for me", "Apostle hear God for me", "Evangelist, convert this atheist friend for me", "I am not sure but that is what my man of God said"_. How distorted this can get! But Zacchaeus did not ask for the description of Jesus from another person's eyes. He understood that a blind man's perception of an elephant is dependent on the part of the elephant he interphases with. So he strove to see Jesus for himself.

Zacchaeus was also at liberty to give up. To throw in the towel in his pursuit and say, "Well, is it not ordinary Jesus, a common man? What's the big deal if I see him or not". That's right, outright denial. And a bunch of folks are following this trend because their hunger is not being satisfied in their places of worship, or they have questions no one seems to have answers to. So you hear talks like, _"If Jesus is real, prove his existence", "You don't need any Jesus. What you need is confidence in your abilities and a zeal to go for what you want", "Jesus was a mere man, why bother serving him", "If Jesus is real, why did he allow my parents to die? To hell with that fable!""God doesn't care. He isn't real. He is just a figment of imagination and a succor for a superstitious lot. There is nothing like grace and divine orchestration. You're lucky if you're lucky."_ Listen to this. Your refusal to believe in God does not make him any less existent as your refusal to believe in gravity make you less susceptible to its force.

With these many options, what did Zacchaeus choose? He chose to press on, go ahead of the crowd, climb a tree and wait till he saw the Lord. Denying the Lord doesn't make him less existent. Rather pursue him to see Him. Go the extra mile, seek counsel on knowing Him better (Zacchaeus climbed a tree!), and seek him until you find him and know him for yourself (Jeremiah 29:12-13)!

PURPOSE

CHAPTER 14: Mantle in the Grave; _1 SAMUEL 28:14_

And he said unto her, "What form is he of?" And she said, "An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

This is an excerpt from the encounter of King Saul and the sorcerer of Endor. Saul was at his wits end; a man ladened with more problems than he could bear, more mistakes than he felt he could atone and more depression than a human factor could relieve. And so, he decided to consult the dead. There was obviously nobody alive that he could turn to, and so he went to call up Samuel from the dead. We have been stereotyped to blame Saul for that move, a move that would not have happened if Samuel had done his own part.

One mistake Samuel made was that he died with his mantle. He did not hand it over to anyone like Moses or Elijah! So significant was this mantle that even when called up from the dead, his mantle was still an iconic part of his regalia. Saul did not need to think twice...this was Samuel!

The mantle represents the anointing, an empowerment, the differentiating factor. Samuel did not pass down what he was given to anyone, thereby depriving the next generation the privilege of partaking in that anointing. Not just that, his inability to pass down the mantle would make whoever wanted to step into that position to start afresh, make the mistakes anew, rather than just continue from where he stopped and maximize production. Had Samuel transferred it to someone else, Saul would never have had to go to the woman of Endor to call him forth.

Another person who made this grave error was Elisha. He took a double portion of the mantle from Elijah and did greater exploits, but failed to pass it down. The person following him would have had 8 times Elijah's anointing! But at death, he was still coated with his mantle and did not pass it down to anyone as it was passed down to him. So thick was the oil on this mantle that when a dead man was to be buried in Elisha's tomb, many years after the man of God had exited the earth, the dead man rose back to life (2 Kings 13:20-21). Imagine what would have happened if either Samuel or Elisha had passed their mantles down. Fortunately, Jesus left us his own mantle when he left the earth (John 14, 16:13-16).

Don't die with your mantle. It is useless to the grave. You may not have the Prophetic like Samuel, but you have something. Whoever you are, there is something God has given you; a talent, a gift, an ability, an innate embodiment. Don't take it to the grave.

The grave, or death, has long ceased to mean an exeunt from the earth for me. I have come to appreciate that my exit from any level of my life, or from any phase to another, is death to that phase. I am never going back to the university. And even if I was, it would not be for an undergraduate program. And even if I did, I would not meet the same set of people, the same circumstances, with the same situations as I did when I was in the university the firs time. That phase is gone. Question is; did I die with my mantle? Maybe you ran a praiseworthy government, did you attempt to train anyone or pass your secrets down to maintain and sustain posterity and prevent the repetitions of the same mistakes that limited you? Say you were a wonderful choir director in church, can you beat your chest and say you passed down your mantle, or would people still need to summon you from the dead? As a parent is your child able to move to another phase of their life and be relatively independent of you, or would they still need you to write their market list for them in the university, and probably send them the cooking instructions?

One of my greatest mentors, Mentor Myles Munroe of blessed memory would always talk about passing the baton. From him I learnt that until your fourth generation has succeeded, you haven't succeeded. True, in some instances, your active supervision may be impossible but then there are other ways...and the best way, according to mentor Myles is to start planning your handover the moment you have received the mantle.

On a broader scale, we have all been graced with gifting, abilities, stand-out qualities, capability, deep yearnings of revolution for some aspect of humanity and the progress of the word at large. What are you doing to ensure that you die empty and not become a part of the statistics of those people who enrich the graves with books unwritten, songs unsung, movies not acted, discoveries undone? Don't deprive nations and generations the solutions to problems encased in your mantle. Don't empower the grave. Die naked. Die drained. Die fulfilled. Die empty.

CHAPTER 15: What Business Has A Fisherman with A Sword II; _John 18:1-11_

(See Part 1 in Chapter 21 and part 3 in Chapter 16)

A vital lesson worth learning from this essential historical listing of the disciple Peter, who was not quite familiar with his new job description, is that ownership does not necessarily mean prowess or ability. Peter was only going to realize, and teach us eventually, that being in possession/charge/control of a thing does not necessarily mean that you have what it takes to produce the desired and effective results with it. A sword is a weapon of warfare. Swords are not used to cut tomatoes and carrots, we have knives for that. They are not used to cut wood, there's an axe for that. They are used to defend and attack with an intention to avoid being killed or to kill. However, we see Peter using the sword to 'circumcise the head' (hope you catch the humour) of a rival. His possession of the sword was neither guarantee nor license that he knew how to wield it effectively. A sword in David's hand excised Goliath's head from his body. A sword in Peter's hand excised an ear from a head. It is not enough to own a weapon. There is a place for mastery.

Every single human being is armed with unique weapons. Some use it wrongly, some use it rightly, some use it sub-maximally, and some do not even use it. The beauty a lady has which she has used to wreck homes, is the same beauty another woman has which she has used to win souls, and that is the same beauty another woman has, which she has used to look for a husband. Beauty is a weapon. Words are weapons. Knowledge is a weapon. Character is a weapon. Skills and talents are weapons. Association is a weapon. A smile is a weapon. Eloquence is a weapon. The tiniest of things you can think about is a weapon. Learn how to use it for good, for God, for his glory.

Learn it. Simply doing a good thing doesn't mean you're doing it well. There is a skill you need to learn that would empower your prowess. Search it out and maximize your sword.

CHAPTER 16: What Business Has A Fisherman with A Sword III: _John 18:1-11_

_(See part one in Chapter 21 and part two in chapter 15)_

Simon Peter was a fisherman-turned-fisher of man. With the wrong instrument, he was not fishing men, but destroying them! You see that when he tried to use the sword, he could not produce effective results even though the sword was at his disposal. He used the sword ineffectively because the sword was never a part of his tool kit. Not only was he inefficient with the weapon, he was unable to produce results consistent with his assignment. Why not? Because he went for the wrong materials or equipment.

Back in secondary school, we were told stories of scenarios where students were asked to cut a tree with a razor! Now, if you are thinking right, you already realize that that is a punishment. Fortunately, God has not called us to punish us and this is why for every assignment He sends, He equips accordingly. The wrong equipments will produce adverse results. Unfortunately, many people do not have the wisdom or patience to collect the appropriate materials for the work. They make use of whatever they lay their hands on and cause more chaos than make harvest. When we try to employ the use of materials that have little or nothing to do with our assignment, we end up doing entirely different things, mostly harmful to our destinies. In the end, we might have labored extremely but will receive neither the satisfaction nor the reward for service.

When a man who has been signed up to fish men decides to take up the sword, he would only cause ruin and death to the men he is supposed to be fishing. The scriptures teach us that we have been called into different ministries and we all have unique reasons for which we were created. We need to come to terms with our reason for existence, because until we do, we will find ourselves picking up any and every instrument we see in the path and course of life as we wade through it.

Often we are tempted into using an instrument simply because it worked for other people. But in doing this we fail to recognize that no two people have the same assignment and hence cannot use the same tool in the same way. Sometimes, the assignments are similar but this does not necessarily translate that they should be done with the same materials or using the same patterns. The local delicacy called _red oil rice_ looks like _jellof rice_ , but anyone who knows the dishes know that they do not necessarily make use of the same ingredients and are not prepared in the same manner. Similar does not translate same. This is why it is unwise to employ the same strategies and weapons to achieve a result simply because others have. If mortal men work with the copy-paste pattern, Christians should be able to express a higher version of their operations, and hence show the higher intelligence they tap from the Spirit. Apostle Joshua Nimmak Selman shared on how the Lord told him to not to sell his audio messages but to release them free on net. As at the time, this was unthinkable. The ministry would benefit from the proceeds of the audio sales. And aside that, who was willing to spend large megabytes on messages, not movies?! It was insane but that was the exact weapon that God graced his ministry with. Had he conferred with some elders in ministry, they might have told him how unwise that would be. And even now that he has excelled in it, someone else deciding to buy the idea without being led by the Lord will only meet bankruptcy without publicity.

It is not enough to know that you are the Lord's weapon of warfare; it is expedient to know what exact weapon you are in his hands and how to be wielded. Jeremiah was a dooms prophet and Isaiah was a prophet of reconciliation. None is greater than the other; they were just different instruments for different uses. Elijah and John the Baptist were of like spirit but different manner of use. Elijah was political and could speak against the king as carelessly he felt and went scot-free, John had no business with politics and even a mild reprimand against authority cost him his head. Use of un-recommended equipment is all round detrimental. Stick with your weapon. Different tools for different people and for different uses in accordance to different assignments.

You cannot afford to do your fishing with another's strategy because you are not so equipped. You cannot be called to mine diamond and you go there with a hoe. Someone is bound to be hurt, dissatisfied and counterproductive. Find out what your assignment is and stick to the tools you've been handed if you must be productive and effective.

CHAPTER 17: The Man Of God From Judah, II; _1 Kings 13:1-2:14_

_(See The Man of God from Judah I in chapter 31)_

This was a rather nameless prophet with the only closure being that he was from Judah. God sent him to King Jeroboam, the backslidden King of Israel to reprove him for deserting the Lord. He was given specific instructions not to eat anything which he faithfully abode to. Unfortunately on his way back, an older prophet coaxed him into eating and he was killed by a lion. This is a very brief summary but the full story is in the anchor passage.

This prophet has a lot to teach and show us. When he came to the King, he was refreshed and equipped with a word from God and could be said to be on a mission. Hence he was able to withstand the temptation to go against God's instruct. However when the deceptive prophet, the older one, came to meet him, guess what? He was sitting under an oak tree, possibly gasping for breath and trying to regain strength, and of course with no agenda except to go back home. And what was the outcome? You bet!

It's easier to fight temptation when there's no reason to succumb.

=> It's easy to evade examination malpractice when you studied and the questions are familiar than when you're blank in the head whether or not you studied and prayed;

=> It's easier to avoid malpractice in the office when you're well paid and commended for every effort than when no one seems to care that you haven't collected 3 months' salary;

=> It's easier to pray and completely hope in God not man for placement in a public office when you don't know anyone than when the MD's cousin's husband was your best friend in school;

=> It's easier to discourage cheating when you have your spouse close-by than when they have to be away for 18 months;

=> It's easier to be dedicated to your job/work when the conditions are favourable than when you have to work under turbid conditions;

=> It's easier to love when you have loyal friends than when you have been back-stabbed over and over again;

=>It's easier to love Jesus when the going is smooth than when every tide seems to crash on you.

One thing is consistent in all, Focus! Focus keeps you on track, keeps your heart and mind steady though the hard times and through the smooth times, through the times of raw strength and the times of sore stress. Focus on the assignment. Not on your weakness and incapability. However, focus can be blurred, like that of the young prophet, when mission is not understood.

The prophet had a focus when going but had none when coming back. What he forgot was that even going home was an assignment and a mission he was to take as gravely. It is the same issue that pesters us. We have been taught that purpose is when you are doing something big and notable, palpable and laudable. The flip side we were not introduced to, and which we do not realize is that purpose also includes those time and moments when nothing seems to be happening. That purpose is the sum total of the moments when you were both traversing schools ministering the gospel and when you are hanging out with friends. What you do not realize is that purpose is both when you are running that catering job and when you are reading for exams. They are all part of the tag called purpose. Purpose is simply doing the per time assignment God gives to you, whether something explosive is happening or not. It is this ignorance that tricked the prophet into thinking that he was done with the assignment and now had time to rest. It was in this place of lost focus and vision that he lost his guard.

You believe the Lord is calling you into politics. Glorious! We need believers there. But what are you doing with the drama team he asked you to be part of? Do you think it is not in the grand scheme of purpose? Do you think that is a 'cool off time' from the activities of purpose, believing that purpose is when you join the government? You are so wrong. You want to believe that it is when you own your cooperation that you have entered into purpose? Know it now that purpose is also demanding allegiance from you when you are in the queue in the bank. Why? Because the man who came and begged you desperately to permit him to withdraw before you because of a dying wife to whom you rebuffed might be the same man who is supposed to veto some processes of your life before you enter your big thing.

This is why we must never lose sight on what the vision is, what the assignment is, what the goals are. Even Jesus had to keep his eyes on the glory ahead to be able to endure the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Keep your eyes on the mark. When you do not know where you're going to, any road will lead there, and anyone will take you there. You would be content to tread any path because you don't have an end in mind. And yes, it's easier to be swayed by temptations that way. So get the end in mind before embarking on any journey and keep yourself refreshed throughout the trip by continuously looking at the mark.

CHAPTER 18: Purpose; _1 Chronicles 22:18-19_

If you have not been asked at least once in your life, 'Have you discovered purpose?', then you're with the wrong company

As individuals, there is a reason for which we were created and put in whatever part of the earth we've found ourselves. However, all of that would not be rightly fulfilled if we do not know God's initial agenda for man. In purpose discovery, the very first step to maximally fulfilling your assignment on earth is to know God's purpose for mankind. Recognizing God's intention for making mankind, and by extension, you, will help you in the path of actualizing His peculiar purpose for you as a person. Myles Munroe employed the producer-product comparison when discussing purpose. When a phone manufacturer for example wants to produce a phone, they have a plan in their mind for what they intend for that product to achieve. With that settled, they then go ahead to provide specifications that will meet the requirements for which the phone is intended to fulfill. Therefore, if a phone manufacturer did not equip the phone with a camera, that phone, however hard it tries, can never take a snapshot, not even a blurred one. And no one will force that phone to do so because it obviously was not fitted to take snapshots. A very valid question to ask at this juncture is, "What exactly did God have in mind when he said in Genesis 1:26, 'Let us create man...' "?

David said to Solomon in the opening passage (paraphrased), _"Everything has been set for you--the nations around have been subdued for you, the Lord has given you rest, the resources and manpower for building has been provided, and princes have been assigned to encourage and help you. All you need to do, all you are supposed to do is set your heart to seek the Lord and to build the house of God."_

God's intent at creation was to find fellowship with man. This was then obstructed by the fall and so, the Lord God brought about Salvation to enable us to be sons of God and to be reconciled with him (John 1:12). The assignment is to those people who have been reconnected to God's image and likeness; a privilege salvation avails us.

Now you're a son. God has sent Jesus to conquer death, hell and the grave and to keep them subdued; pretty much the same way David was mandated to conquer the nations. Jesus has also provided everything pertaining to life and godliness, i.e., every resource needed to build a godly life on earth and a fruitful and fulfilled life has been provided. Everything has been put in place to make life easy and to make you focused. All that is required of you now is to (1) seek the Lord and to (2) build his house.

 **Seek the Lord** means to fellowship with him, to develop intimacy, to be His son while He takes the office of being your father(1 Chronicles 22:10). It means to come into oneness with him, to pant after him and always long for more, to continue to desire to know him more of Him, and stay in union with him. This does not necessarily mean to pray every single time of your life as that is impossible and counterproductive. It means to get Him involved in your day-to-day affairs. Like the psalmist enjoined, to acknowledge the Lord in all your ways (Psalms 3:5-6). It means to avoid doing anything he has not mandated you to and not to make any move without his approval. To depend on him solely for existence and open up to whatever he intends to work in and through you. To seek the Lord is to seek his heart. To seek to please him always. To live in obedience and submission to His leading.

 **Build His house** means to establish His government here on earth, to bring His Kingdom to the nations, input the mindset of the kingdom into the warped mentality of the cosmos (world). To build the Lord's house goes beyond building church buildings. It means to restructure earth and its policies using the templates and the pattern of the heavenly. This demands that you must have blueprint of heaven's operation, and that is only gotten in the place of fellowship (Amos 3:7)

Our entire life and reason for living, just as Solomon's, is to build a healthy and intimate relationship with God and to establish his government by reason of our job, careers, platforms and assignment.

How well are you doing that?

CHAPTER 19: Purpose Driven Requests

Imagine a scenario where someone who has been asked to prepare a meal stroll into the market and start buying clothing accessories or sports equipment. Does it not get you wondering what those things they are purchasing have to do with the meal they were asked to prepare? Regrettably, that's what most people do 95% of the time when they get on their knees to pray. They ask irrelevant, disjointed and unneeded request. Often, the requests are very sincere and much desired, but when analyze briefly, they are out of place. There are a number of reasons we do not have results to the prayers we have. One of such reasons is because our requests are misguided.

I have come to understand that when it pertains to asking or making requests from the Lord, there is no hard and fast rule, but there are guidelines. Jesus, teaching us to pray gave a guideline which shows us that over and above any other thing, God is interested in his glory and expression manifested on earth. When the purpose of prayers does not follow this order, there are chances that they will not be responded to. The Lord is always thinking Kingdom and Purpose. And the best way to pray is to pray purpose driven request. The requests are most guaranteed to find heaven's approval. Let us discern a little wisdom from King Solomon concerning the matter.

The Lord had told Solomon to ask for ANYTHING and the King asked for wisdom without thinking twice for the 'best response'. Ever sat to wonder why he asked for wisdom out of everything he could possibly ask for as a king? Let's analyze it.

Prior to this, he had been king for over 3 years, (see 1 Kings 2:10-46, emphasis on vs. 39) and had some experience with governance. Why did he not ask for wealth or riches? It is simple. He was a king with thousands and thousands of gold and other precious stones laid up for him. He already had connections to dignitaries courtesy of his father David (1 Kings 5:1). So money was not a present or potential problem whatsoever. Only greed would have made him ask for more wealth; and that is not a great representation of a kingdom minded man. Why did he not ask for the head of his enemies? That was already a settled matter. Neither he nor his father had to pray for a war-free reign. The Lord himself had promised that Solomon would have peace and rest from the enemies so it was useless wasting this scarce opportunity asking for what he already had. So, an understanding of what had already been promised him by a God who does not lie made this request inconceivable.

So why ask for wisdom? Here was a man, young and tender (1 Chronicles 29:1) who had been given the throne of Israel to rule _justly and righteously_. It was quite the challenge. There was no promise of wisdom as it were with peace. He knew he could not trust men; Ahitophel had made that very clear to him. So he needed to seek for it from a place void of corruption. He _needed_ wisdom to function. It was his SENSE OF PURPOSE that prompted the perception of that need.

We would be unable to get our truest needs met when we do not have a sense of what we truly need as decided not by ourselves or our lack but by our assignment, our God-given assignment. When we do not have insight as to where we are going, we would know what and what would be necessary for the journey. And hence, ask rightly for backup.

When we talk of assignments, it does not necessarily translate 'world changing revolutions'. It is simply following the promptings of the Father at every given moment. This is why some stages in the purpose-walk seem laced with arbitrary items. It is doing those arbitrary, unrelated things that you're actually satisfying God's assignment for you. So, until Hannah understood that the assignment peculiar to her was to give God a prophet and a priest, her prayers never met result.

When a person struggling with anger begins to pray and ask that he does not meet people that will annoy him rather than asking the Lord to deal with his anger, you would not have to search long to find someone without a sense of direction. Some time ago, I met someone who was at her wit ends. On further conversation, it was obvious that she only needed to let go of the wheels of her life because the Lord had been trying to get her attention. About a week later, I asked her if she was praying, and she answered in the affirmative. When I asked her what her prayers were comprised of, she said something in the lines of, "I'm telling God to help me o. To take all these problems away." I nearly dropped by jaw. No! That was not the time to pray a blanket, 'God help me.' I remember telling her, _"God could be helping you but you will not know because what you call help is 'get rid of the thorn' but what God calls help may be, 'Stop paying attention to the thorn. Look at the rose just by the side. Pick it up!'"_

That was the time she was supposed to say 'Lord what exactly are you trying to pull my attention towards? Where do you want to work on in me? How do I submit to the training?''

Our greatest undoing has been the singular fact that we ask amiss. A friend of mine calls it 'ask and miss'. We ask and miss because we do not have any sense of direction in life. People who do not know where they are going, or what is required of them, will not know what reinforcements to ask for, or the map and trail to abide by. Take a look at the apostles in Acts 4:21-31. They were threatened by the religious rulers for doing their assignment. What do you think they did? What would you do? Oh, I'll tell you what the typical person will do. They will engage the fires of heaven for the destruction of the enemies. Those with more renewed minds will demand for their dethronement. And usually, they will try to 'lie low' while awaiting either of the two to happen as a confirmation of God's willingness for them to continue the assignment. When we do this, we have neither an understanding of the call upon our lives nor the urgency of it.

Instead of this, the apostles gathered and they asked for boldness to spread the gospel because they understood not only the heartbeat of the Father (kingdom) and the mandate (purpose) they had been given(Matthew 28:19-20), but they were also familiar with the intricacies of the job (Matthew 10:16-39). Having made this prayer what do you think happened? Scripture said that when they had prayed, immediately, Heaven answered. Awesome!

Take a quick glance at your prayer requests. Are they laced with petitions that show that you know why and what you have been called to steward on earth or do they still reek of selfishness, lack of direction and ignorance? Have you allowed the mirage of the problems close your mind to how you can find God even in the storm?

CHAPTER 20: Maximizing Potential; _Luke 19:12-26, AMP_

Every one of us has been given just opportunities, just times and just talents. What this means is that in the place you are, for what you were predestined and assigned for, you have equal chances of achievement as someone else somewhere else purposed for something else. In other words, we all have been given sufficient time to maximize our lives and carry out our unique assignment. These provisions are not uniformly spread across to people but they are given in equal measure. It will be great injustice to allocate the same 5 minutes for boiling eggs to baking a cake, as it will be wickedness to apportion the same time for baking the cake to boiling an egg. In like manner, God the Creator, after deciding what each person would and should do, enriched every one of us with just sufficient materials for the actualization of that assignment.

Now there are three ways anyone could decide to use what they have. One can decide not to use it at all. They can decide to decry what they have and burn with jealousy for what another person has, to live each day as it comes, to flow in circles with the rising and setting of the sun, to relax and be part of the inconsequential sapiens actively consuming the earth's valuable natural resources of Oxygen and depositing pollutes of Co2 and nothingness. They could decide to be that insignificant and unused for what they were created for. This inadvertently leads to counter productivity and negative behaviours. All that burst of energy locked in MUST find a way of escape. And so, when you fail to use it rightly, it will use you wrongly. This is the springboard of delinquencies and anti-social behaviours.

Another bunch can decide to be an average achiever, a mean successor, to 'do it, not overdo it and not think to outdo it', to occupy only to some extent. They intend to put what they have to use, pleased to attain sub-optimal, to be comfortable with being average and relish in the status quo, to be somewhere on the fence, to step out of their comfort zone just enough to do their 'good' and not any better. To just try and do something and just conquer some territories even when they were designed for more.

Then there is the third group of people who have decided to run all the way to the finish line. These are people who have insisted on pushing beyond the self-imposed limits and societal barricades. People who decided not to be comfortable with good when best is achievable, to rise up from being at ease at Top 50's to being on their toes even at Top 3's. To keep beating their last record until their record is the only record. Those who have insisted that they will die fully poured out. Empty.

The choice is yours to make but the reward is God's to give. From the anchor scripture, all 10 servants got a pound each. The servant who had gain of 10 minas was given a warm applause and accolade by his lord, and given charge of 10 cities and an extra mina. The servant who could only get 5 more 5 minas had no fanfare, but got some cities for his labour. The servant who hid his mina was called a 'slave', and punished severely. You can decide what you sow but you can never tell the earth how you want your harvest. The ball just got to your court, how would you play?

THE CHRISTIAN'S WALTZ THROUGH LIFE

CHAPTER 21: What Business Has A Fisherman with A Sword I; _John 18:1-11_

The anchor scripture has a very interesting story of Peter, a disciple of Jesus, trying to fight to protect his Master when the latter was arrested. This Peter it was who revealed Jesus' identity, asked to walk on water, asked to build a booth for the heavenly visitors and even vowed to die with Jesus. He was such an involved disciple. In verse 10 of John 8, the account states;

"Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear..."

As I studied this scripture one day several years ago, when I got to this point, the Spirit of God asked me, "What business has a fisherman with a sword"? When I stopped to ponder on that question, He opened up to me that as Christians (fishers of men), we had no dealings with violence in its true sense. He taught me that our tool was the cross which teaches us 'to be faithful unto death' and to 'pursue peace with all men'. Not many Christian circles readily accept this teaching, but nowhere do we see Jesus acting or teaching contrary. In our folds today, statements like, "Christianity is not stupidity" has rent the airwaves over time, describing the need for the believer not to allow people to 'ride' on them while they look helplessly on. This is always backed up by the instance of Jesus flogging money changers in the temple and supported with "the violent taketh it by force" cliché.

There is no lie in that, only a half truth. And need I say that a half truth is as bad as a lie. Jesus' rage at the money doublers was not in response to what anyone did to him but in his zeal for his Father's house. For Jesus, the prophet Isaiah described him like this.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

Throughout scripture, we do not see Jesus resulting to violence to defend himself, whether it was a wrong done to him or a move to defraud him. When the task collectors came to him, he obliged them (Matthew 17:24-27), when he was disregarded, he simply moved on (Matthew 13:54-58), when he was called a devil, his countenance did not even flinch (Matthew 12:24-28), and the crown of it, when he was crucified, he forgave (Luke 23:33-34).

Does this mean that we should sit back and allow people defame us, tarnish our reputation, and pick on us while we tolerate their every jab? Maybe not. Inasmuch as we need to spell out and draw the thin line between endurance and cowering, we also need to spot the difference between reacting in violence and maintain dignity. Even at that, it is expedient to know times and season because as a Believer, there will be times when you will just have to suffer wrong. Why? Because the wrath of man does not work out the righteousness of God (James 1:20). We are not called into a vengeful life. Jesus himself communicated this;

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth: but I say to you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy cheek, turn unto him the other also. Matthew 5:38-39

As itchy and grossly unpalatable as it is to the ears, it is the heartbeat and desire of the Father. Jesus exemplified this and that means that we too can live it out. Is this easy? Not for the mortal body, not for the raging passions and bulging egos and definitely not for the carnal believer. The believer who is submitted to the Holy Spirit will find themselves letting go of most things that should have caused a fight. It is not any easier because they might let go many a fight with many angry tears. However, the beauty is that by being led by the Holy Spirit, their decision to let it go is not sponsored by flesh; hence the risk of 'bottling up' and unleashing the demons later is averted. Plus, they do not struggle as much; the pain of retreat usually only lasts for the duration it takes their emotions to catch up with their decisions. But even that is quickened by the Holy Spirit, and they end up, just fine.

So, rather than Christians looking for their rights and waging war--wars that do not glorify God-- we need to come to the mind renewal that in Christ, we have no rights, just privileges. Isn't it interesting that when the apostles were manhandled, they counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ (Acts 5:40-41)?

Let this same mind be in you that was in Christ and was replicated by his disciples. God has called us unto peace in a world completely void of peace lovers. It seems ironic but God was very much aware of what he was asking of us. Time and again, the Apostle Paul adjourned the church thus; " _...Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ..._ " (Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10). This is the gospel. Beloved fishers of men and ambassadors of the Gospel of the Kingdom, it is time, like the prophet Micah said, to beat your swords into plowshares and your spears into pruning hooks (Micah 4:3), and go fishing! Violence is not a character of the Kingdom we are called into.

BLITHERING WINDS

From the east through to the south

From the north and then the west

The winds blow pushing against me

That I may fall on them

But I shall not

I must not by my shaking shake them

For if I do, they might fall along with me

Steadily the wind blows

Its companions threatening to penetrate my fruits

Its companions threatening to penetrate my fruits

To cast down, swirls this determining wind

I must be sturdy-

For my fruit

For my companions

But for them and their sakes

This wind shall not get through

By Oche Sarah

CHAPTER 22: Wants Versus Needs; _Acts 3:1-7_

Prayer is a powerful means of communication and interaction with God. In the place of prayer, you speak to Him and He ministers to your spirit. Every day, prayers arise up from our lips and we wait in anticipation for the answers to our prayers but unfortunately, not very many of us receive answers to our prayers. Does that mean God does not answer prayers? Well, not at all. Does it mean he does not want to answer our prayers? Definitely not (else he would not encourage us to ask; Matthew 7:7). Does it mean he did not hear our prayers? Not exactly. Does it mean his reception is quite poor and hence delays in answering? Not in the least. Our problem in unanswered prayer is that, more often than not, we do not know how to ask.

James 4:3 has this to say:

Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lust.

This proves that the problem is not so much in our asking but what we ask. We have not been able to differentiate between our needs and our lusts. According to the Oxford Learners Dictionary, 'lust' in the context of the passage, is a general want or longing that is not necessarily sexual. A 'need' on the other hand, is the lack of means of subsistence. The definitions already show which of these are geared towards fulfilling our passions. Interestingly the bible tells us that God honours His words (Psalms 138:2), and encourages us to speak his worlds back to him. Now if his word has already stated that he will supply our needs, what makes us believe that our lusts will be included in the 'to-do' list?

Another really depressing thing is that many of us do not know what we need. And come to think of it, if you do not know what you need, what exactly then are you asking for? A brief glance through the story of the man at the gate called Beautiful in Acts 3. His trail of requests resonates with many of us today because what we call prayers are really only making requests for a substandard reality. He wanted alms but God knew he needed healing. Peter and John too knew that, and that exactly is what they gave him. Many endure years of pathetic living satisfying their lust and current gratification, rather than seeking for their needs.

Another really striking example, now in contrast to the lame man, was the disciples in Acts 4. Peter and John were arrested for preaching in Jesus' name and when there was no charge against them, they were tortured and asked not to preach in His name anymore. This was a very trying and depressing time in their lives. They could have easily asked God to wipe out every one standing in opposition to the gospel. They could also have asked God to silence the mouth of the accusers. They also had the option of telling God that it was time to lay low for a while so that the air will be cleared a little before they came back again with full force. These are prayers many in similar situations opt for. Rather than any of these, they asked for boldness to carry the Word farther and further (Acts 4:29-30). What a wonder the immediate response they received as they were empowered there and then (vs. 31).

Being able to identify what you need will lead you to accessing speedy results and this is only possible through the Holy Spirit who searches the depths of God (to know his heart desires for you; 1 Corinthians 2:10) and then intercedes on our behalf (in line with what God wants; Romans 8:26-27).

CHAPTER 23: Practice of Exemption; _1 John 5:19 (RSV)_

To a good extent, we understand what the disobedience of Adam cost us and what the cross and the blood secured for us. We also understand that Adam's fall gave the enemy dominion over the world while the blood came to redeem us from that captivity. The new life we enjoy in Christ is undoubtedly the best thing that ever happened to mankind. One other thing we must know is that _'We are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the devil'_ (1 John 5:19).

Be careful to observe that the Scriptures did not say, the whole world is of the devil. Rather that it is, ' _...In the power of the devil..._ ' This means that everything in this world can be manipulated by the devil...and I mean everything. Everything, except that which is born of God since 'whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world' (1John 5:4).

By reason of believing and accepting Jesus, Christians come into the family of God and are empowered to be sons (John 1:12) and become children of God (1 John 5:1). This is an exclusion policy that exempts them from the sect still numbered among the 'world'. Every other person and thing 'is in the power of the devil'. This means that they can be manipulated by the devil. Take money for example. It is not bad on its own, but the devil can use it to his purpose because it is under his power. That neighbour of yours who calls for trouble when you did nothing to deserve it cannot be blamed. He is innocently under the power of the devil and is being used as the devil pleases.

Do not be deceived into thinking that all the devil has to give is trouble and heartaches. He offered Jesus the authorities of the world, he offered Eve wisdom, and he offered Judah money. He offers good things too. The only problem is that the terminal port of the 'good' things he offers is headed either to death, loss or destruction (John 10:10). This is to prove that he can manipulate anything within his confines to produce either good or bad.

This is why as Christians we must dedicate ALL we have to the Lord God and away from the power of the devil. Everything here includes man and beast, animate and inanimate, soul and body.

Romans 12:1-2 is a very powerful scripture that teaches us how to dedicate our bodies to the Lord. The first verse charges the body of Christ, you and I, to present our bodies for dedication unto the Lord as a sacrifice. If the body is not dedicated, the enemy can use it to his bidding. He will use it not necessarily only for fornication and drugs, but in other ways we may even be oblivious of. Next, it admonishes us to renew our minds and rid it off the seeds of the devil. A renewed mind does not see things the way the world sees them. The world sees things going amiss and cries foul, blames the government and the church and everyone else but themselves. A renewed mind sees things going amiss and says, _"Lord, a slot just opened up for establishing your government here on earth. What's the prototype in heaven and how do I go about reproducing it over here?"_

Our hearts and minds and bodies need to be dedicated to the Lord because when the devil cannot find any other way to attack (when he has tried to shake us up using the other things around us and he fails), then he will come through our body and try to influence our mind (Job 1:11-2:10). Thank God for men like Job who had theirs already renewed and so neither the repugnant sores on his body nor the rejection of his wife could dissuade him.

Other things that comes to you also need to be dedicated...the most mundane of them, including your pain, disappointments, and mistakes. Yep. You heard me right. It is a general practice of mine to thank God for my vilest mistakes, most daunting trials, my unfaithfulness, my pains and regrets, my missed opportunities, my delays. Yes! It is necessary that you submit your fears, your worries, your errors unto the Lord because the devil can capitalize on it and make a mess out of you. Peter and Judas, both disciples of Jesus, gave us a fair comparison (Matthew 26:69-75; 27:3-5). Peter submitted his error and denial to God and got restored. Judas decided his betrayal was his to mourn and he ended up committing suicide. Under the hand of the Lord, God is able to help you to come out of the guilt and live an even more amazing life unto him (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; 1 Corinthians 10:13). This is why you must dedicate those bad and hard parts to the Lord too.

So, when it seemed like your day had nothing but a large dose of one temptation or irritation after another to offer you, you probably forgot to dedicate the day to God. Your new system just seems to have a way of draining your pockets through repairs even though you bought it first hand? You possibly did not do a transfer of ownership after purchase. All you have should be dedicated to God and for God's use. That is the only way the enemy loses power over them. It is not enough that you purchase things with 'clean money' or you have 'clean ideas' or follow 'clean processes', ensure you dedicate ALL to God. In doing so, you give the Lord a complete, uncontested and unopposed say in your business and allow Him to use it to His pleasure. I need not remind you that anything kept in the Lord's hands never has cause for fear or fail.

One practice my father taught me when I was leaving the house for the first time for a Prescience Programme in 2012, a practice I have seen him do time and again, was cased in an advice. He said, "After finding a lodge, make sure you pray and take charge of the room. You don't know what and if anything was laid in the foundation of the house. You don't know what the previous occupant of the room might have done in the room, which might have established a foul spirit there that is likely to also affect you. Besides the land has been there for years now, you don't know what generations past did in that land. So, whenever you get a new place, take charge of the place and subdue the powers that be to be subject to you." With my aunt, it was anything at all that I bought—clothes, gadgets, whatever. So I urge you, as you move into your new house, dedicate it. Your new business ideas, piece of furniture, clothes, new job or placement, whatever it is...as long as it is linked to you...dedicate it to God and secure them from the power of the devil.
CHAPTER 24: True Love; _1 John 4:19 (RSV)_

It's a crazy battle out there to find true love in days as these. Loads of compromise all in the bid to attain, sustain or retain love. People go through any length, pull every string, kissing every toad, just to find their Prince Charming and Snow White. We want to love and be loved, every single human entity.

Then, along comes 'the one for you'. A perfect fit in the jigsaw. A suitable match. A light is kindled, and a path is beat for a hopeful tomorrow. But just as you settle your feet, you realize you landed on quicksand and then a new kind of struggle begins...

Why is love so hard to find...so hard to give...so hard to recognize? Typically, there are a trailer load of answers to this question, and many of them are a correct as they can be. However, I have come to realize that people find it difficult to truly love the unconditional type of love because they do not have Love. It is impractical and impossible to attempt giving what you do not have. And how more frustrating it is to demand it from someone who does not have it too!

Typically, we recognize three types of love— _agape, phileos and eros_. None of the latter two can survive or stand the test of time except it is hinged on the crest of agape. Relationships fail because agape, unconditional love is absent. This is the love many seek for really, but cannot find, because they do not have it, and they demand it from people who also do not have it. Interestingly, this love is not emotion driven and cannot be impacted upon anyone. You don't feel it, nor are able to share and practice it, until you come to KNOW LOVE.

Love is a person--Jesus Christ. I like the way the Revised Standard Version puts it, " _We love, because he first loved us_."Our ability to love is simply because Christ loved us. If He never loved us, we would never know what true love looks like, feels like, and acts like. And because he loved us, we are able to love. Unfortunately, that kind of love is still inaccessible to those who do not recognize the LOVE Christ exhibited. It is not a love you understand by studying it. It's a love you are enabled to produce and share abroad by coming under the Lordship of Christ and learning of Him. It is like a chip that is implanted into you. However, this implant happens when one comes under the Lordship of the Christ. In other words, those who have not submitted under the Lordship of Christ CANNOT show love. And this is not because they DO NOT want to but because they do not have the ABILITY to do so.

Today, we believe philanthropy is showing love, but that is only a sign of love. It does not even necessarily indicate love. People give to the poor for many purposes—for fame on social media, to probably heal a hurt or numb a guilt (maybe they abandoned their baby in a motherless home facility, so giving to the motherless becomes a way to numb the pain and guilt), to rival others, to celebrate seasons of their life (birthdays, Christmas, etc). Giving alms is an essential tenet of the Christian faith, but it is not an indication of love. This implies that it is possible to give without loving but it is impossible to love without giving. This is why the Lord, who gave the ultimate price from the place of love, is the only model we can truly learn how to love from.

Seeking for true love from an unbeliever is as cruel as asking a dog to fly. Demanding love from an un-yielded person/typical church-goer is as frustrating as milking a hen. It just isn't there. They may be compassionate, they may be selfless, they may be patient but that does not suggest that they can love. Love is a person, not an attitude or expression. If that person of love is not manifest in a person, it would be all shades of wrong to demand love from them. They don't have it in them. It's a setting only obtainable when one upgrades to the Divine nature; it does not function with the outdated human nature. They can try, but it will be a frustrating try marked with diverse errors.

The next question is probably going to be, 'How come there are Christians who have the most callous heart imaginable?' From experience I can comfortably and confidently assure you that such callousness comes from a standpoint of religion. Strong doctrinal religious mindsets! It is those mindsets that will make someone refuse to even sit on the same chair in class with ladies who put on trousers, even if they are in the body of Christ. It is this religion that will make them invite you to their church when you came to evangelize to them simply because they saw a weave on your head. It is this religion that will make them to stop speaking with their siblings because those siblings sag down their pants and use foul words. It is that religious spirit that will make you disrespect and look down on a lady simply because she made her hair with thread and has no earrings on. Religion has been the greatest undoing of the body of Christ. But Jesus came to call us into a place of love, not religion. So, if you are of this category, it is time to repent and allow love to start manifesting Himself through you.

Conclusively, before you consent to that relationship, dig deep and be sure that man or woman is a lover of God. Chances are that that is where you will find true love. And be a lover yourself, what better way to receive true love than to give it? Have you come to the KNOWLEDGE of the Person called LOVE?

CHAPTER 25: The Rock; Matthew 16:13-20, 2 Corinthians 3:6

He observed their countenances keenly. How smart had they become since he first met them! He saw them break a sweat, sigh a sigh, exhale carbon IV oxide. With pupils turned North West, _zygomaticus major_ and _minor_ contracting alongside _corrugator supercilli_ , each looked to the other for a break of some sort. Silence prevailed for what seemed like forever.

Suddenly, an outburst from someone, somewhere. One of them.

"You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God"

Top Secret Revealed!

"...and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail" was his promise.

Many believe Peter is the rock implied here. But no, it was not even a human being that Jesus referred to as 'this rock'. If at all any man built the church, that credit could easily go to Saul turned Paul without debates. But unfortunately, the rock that Jesus said he would build his church upon was not any man. So what is that ROCK? And what is that CHURCH?

The ROCK is the revelation of God. The church is................................................ (Insert your name). It is the revelation of God's word that builds us. That scripture can be re-written, "... _and on the revelation of myself, I will build Okore Esther Zoë, and the gates of hell shall not prevail..._ '

It is not the head knowing of the word as written in the bible. There is a part for that one because it is the written word that gives us leverage for assess into deeper, purer comprehension of the Lord. However, that, like I said, is the foundation. Bigger and higher than that is the revelation of the word, the 'light' of the word, the Spirit behind the letter. That is what produces life. The letter kills but the Spirit behind the letter, the Spirit that inspired the written letter, when that spirit reveals Jesus to you, it produces life in you. (2 Corinthian 3:6).

Jesus is the Word of God (Revelations 19:13) and for him to be able to effect his assignment on earth he had to put on flesh. In the same way, until the word is made flesh, it cannot dwell among men (John 1:14). What this means is that, until the scripture takes your form, it cannot be affect you. Jesus had to come in the manner accepted by earthlings (in flesh) for him to make impact on them. So, if the word isn't made into your flesh, it cannot dwell in you, or give you direction for handling that situation. If the word of God does not synchronize with something about you (be it a season of life, a decision you need to make, a request, a hurt, a longing, etc), you will not be able to find answers from the scriptures; it will not minister life to you.

It is the ability for the written word of scripture to meet your current need that is interpreted here as _life._ Let me give an example. Some time past, a mentee beeped me complaining that he was having difficulty sleeping. I probed to see if he was bothered about something and there was none. So, I gave him two scriptures;

Proverbs 3:24. When thou lieth down, thou shall not be afraid: yea. Thou shall lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Psalm 4:8. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety.

The next day he told me that immediately after our chat ended, he did not know when he slept off. That word had left being a scribbling on a paper, it had put on flesh in that it ministered to his current need, and it produced life for him, which was his experience of the sound sleep that night.

Until you get a revelation of the word of God, until it ministers to your spirit, until it brings a light to your soul, until it makes spectacle of the natural man's wisdom, until it strikes a chord in your spirit, a chord that is deeper than the black and white marks on the paper, it can never be of benefit to you. It is that rock; that revealed knowledge of God's word that is capable of building a person and by extension, a congregation...not laws, rules, legalism and traditions.

You want to know the icing on the cake? When you have gotten the light behind the letters, the gates of hell can no longer prevail because the light of the Word eliminates the darkness of the devil's lies. The major way the enemy functions is by selling lies and deceit to people (Ephesians 6:11). He tells you no one loves you, that you are foolish and full of bad luck; that you cannot amount to good without cutting corners; that you can get away with wrong doings, petty lies and wickedness. He tells you money is the ultimate goal of life and he tells you that your uncle is responsible for your predicament. Lies! All lies. But when you come girded with truth, clothed with the revelation of Jesus, he flees. When light comes, lies flee. When insight comes, insults flee. When revelation comes, relegation flees. When the word comes, the wiles flee!

What now?! You want to be victorious in aspects of your life? Tune in to the spirit behind the letter...and watch the devil and his delusions scamper.

CHAPTER 26: Easter Essence

The terminal chapters of the book of Judges has a very interesting love story, one that iterates the essence of the Easter season. A brief history if you may.

The times after the exeunt of Joshua were marked with seasons of Israel having judges and seasons when there was no judge. The times when there were no judges in Israel were desperate times because everyone did just what they felt was right. It was such dire times that a certain Levite took a concubine who cheated on him and absconded to her father's house for four months, probably out of fear. The Levite eventually came to get her back and was heartily welcomed by her father who was quite reluctant to let him go. He lured him to spend another day against his desire. On the fifth day, her father tried to play his usual trick but the Levite was smarter now and refused even though the day was far spent.

They took off and when they got to Jerusalem his servant urged them to lodge for the night; a request to which the Levite insisted must be done at the house of an Israelite, if at all. On arriving Gibeah of the Benjamites, they could not find someone to accommodate them until an old man took them in. All settled in, they were having the time of their lives when rude knocks interrupted their dinner. What waited behind the door turned out to be their worst nightmare!

Certain men of whom the bible referred to as 'sons of Belial' came around and insisted that the Levite be brought out so they could have carnal knowledge of them. The host, uneasy at this request, begged them, reminding them of the evil of their intentions but they would have none of it. Eventually, the Levite brought out his concubine to them and they raped her all night long and left her at dawn. Exhausted by the brutal and serial rape, she died. The Levite, on realizing the outcome of yester night's escapade, took his concubine, cut her into twelve pieces and scattered her parts throughout Israel.

That was obviously not a pretty sight and that led to the gathering of the elders of the land, and indeed all Israel. The Levite recounted his tragic tale and Israel sought an amicable way to handle the issue but the Benjamites refused to submit. This led to a very bloody war between Israel and Benjamin with Benjamin defeated after the war. Then Israel swore saying, " _There shall not any one of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife._ " See full story in Judges 19-21.

The Benjamites were left with only 700 male survivors with a burnt village, no wives and no heirs. They were at fault for practicing homosexuality and wantonness. They were at fault for not submitting to the dialogue of peace. They asked for it. Indeed they did. But so did we deserve death and extinction. Much more than the juicy details of this historic account is a story that reminds us what true love looks like.

The anger and frustration evolving from the experience made Israel swear not to give out their daughters in marriage to the Benjamites. However, when their anger abated, they realized that the tribe of Benjamin would go into extinction with no women for procreation. Inasmuch as they were at fault, they were still brothers. Besides, God had commanded that they (Israel, as the entire seed of Jacob) should not take wives from the foreign nations. So there was indeed no way out for the Benjamites here

That was a problem too delicate and Israel had to act fast. And so, they went ahead of themselves, without even telling the Benjamites, and got wives for them. Then they called them, made peace and handed the wives over to them. There were not enough women to go round so they cooked up another scheme to get wives for their brothers, the Benjamites.

This exemplifies what true love is all about. It's not the feelings and the desires. No. True love is selflessness and this is especially tested when the emotions are not there, or worse, when they have been stirred up negatively. True love is when you and your roommate had a quarrel and yet you defend her in public later that same day when situations called for it. True love is having issues with your husband and without waiting for his apology, go ahead to do something beneficial to him. True love is looking out for your brother in spite of the issues between you both, not allowing evil befall him even before he asks for forgiveness. True love is dying for people who won't appreciate you just because you want to see them ransomed, free and dominating, just like Jesus did on the cross.

Love moved him to die in spite of the undeniable fact that we were deserving of everything that was supposed to come to us as enemies of God. Love is sacrificial. True love gives, not based on feeling or emotions, not selfishly but beneficially, and without looking back. Love beats all odd. Love is summarized in the journey to the cross and further interpreted by the resurrection of our Saviour. He did not just forgive. He made things right between us and Him and made this work out to our good. How would you measure your love life? Selfish, selfless, or non-existent? Do you take the initiative to make things right? Do you still seek the good of the wrongdoer without waiting for an apology of any form?

Love deeply. Love truly. Love consciously. Love selflessly.

CHAPTER 27: Mercy Break

"Tolu how could you be so disrespectful to my business associates in my presence? Do you know how humiliating it is? You're in hot soup today. When we get home, I am going to beat you to stupor. No child of mine will exhibit such unrefined behavior and go scot-free." Bisola threatened when they got into the car.

She started the car and zoomed off doing her absolute best to suppress the anger all the while throwing occasional glances at the front mirror to watch her son as he sulked and went on to play his little video game. On getting to the house, she made him kneel for 30 minutes then reached for that cane, to trash him with.

Tolu's eyes went shut when the first stroke descended his butts.

"Mummy I'm sorry! Mummy I'm sorry! I will not do it again!" He cried and danced about as Bisola held him and trashed him hard.

* * *

Many of us are Tolus in our walk with God. It is common news that God's word never fails, cannot be annulled nor flawed (Isaiah 14:27). However, history has proven to us time and again that although we cannot stop God's word from coming to being, we can plead our cases before God, causing him to change that which has been said or even destined.

A well known example is the case of Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-6). God foresaw into the future and decided it was best for the King Hezekiah to die. Sadly, the king was not yet ready to leave the earth. And so, he turned his face to the Lord in prayer and got 15 more years added to him. Another is the case of Abraham in the courtroom for Sodom and Gomorrah, and especially, his nephew Lot (Genesis 18:20-25). He kept beating prices until he was able to buy the two cities with ten righteous souls. Unfortunately, it seemed ten righteous souls were still a very expensive commodity. A great contrast however is that of Eli.

The Lord had told Eli twice of the impending doom coming upon his two sons and the nation of Israel, but Eli said nothing. Did nothing. And when the time came for the word to be actualized, Israel went to battle with the Ark of Covenant but came to a shocking edge when they discovered that the time of mercy was far spent. Little wonder the scripture encouraged to _"seek the Lord while he is near"_ (Isaiah 55:5). The drive time homeward was Tolu's mercy break, but he did not use it. Moses did not act fast when God placed a punishment for disregard (Numbers 20:12, 23-27) and when he did speak up, it was late (Deuteronomy 3:23-27).

It is essential to add here, that pleading your cause is not always in the negative, that is, asking for an evil not to occur. It is also important when insisting that a good comes to you. The Messiah had long been promised but men had to pray Him down (Luke 2:25-26). It is necessary that whether in good or in bad, you stand in the place of intercession and plead your cause.

Hidden beneath our refusal to actually plead our cause is first, **a sublime pride** ; a pride that tells you that you have it all covered. The second is laziness; **a saddening laziness** that teaches you to heap the entire responsibility on God and others, giving none of the work to yourself. One that sings, " _Que sera sera. What will be will be. It is all fixed already, there is nothing I can do about it._ " Lastly is, **unbalanced doctrine** ; a doctrine that says, God doesn't need me to make this happen or God loves me too much to see this happen to me. What the people who take the last bait do not understand is that it does not take mere speaking or strong will to make such assumptions. Such people do not realize that the foundation of God's throne is RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUDGEMENT. They fail to realize that creation runs by principles, and if any principle is broken, the repercussion must follow.

Seek the Lord while he may yet be found. A prophecy is not reality until actualization. However, between the time of prophesy and substantiation of the prophesied is a whole opportunity to create the change you want. The demons pleaded their cases to Jesus not to leave them homeless (Mark 5:12) how much more you. The Syrophoenician woman pleaded her case to Jesus for her daughter's sake (Mark 7:26-30) how much more you, a son/daughter of the soil. We have an advocate in Jesus, a competent one. Plead you case before him and avert the unneeded.

MATTHEW 5:25-26

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;

Lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge,

And the judge delivers thee to the officer,

And thou be cast into prison.

Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence

Till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing

CHAPTER 28: Principles: Bind It; _1 Samuel 13_

Jonathan, Son of Saul, fought the first war that incited the Philistines against Israel, and he did not fight with his bare hands, nor did he fight alone. Both he and his army were well equipped. However, something happened in the camp of the Philistines. Wisdom came. More like, a principle was harnessed. The Philistines incapacitated the Israelites by ensuring that their weapons were taken and the smiths (who were Philistines) where removed from the region. This way, they rendered the Israelites 'weaponless'.

Jesus Christ was recorded to have said, that in order to plunder a strong man, to break into his house and take all he has, to fight him from the offensive, to render him inefficient to defend himself, it was of immerse importance to start the victory regime by doing the most important thing—to bind him (Matthew 12:29)

The answer to the addictions you have been fighting, the little sins that have been defeating you, the habits that have been subduing you is to BIND IT. To render it helplessly looking on. In order to defeat a warrior, strip him off his ammunition. To conquer a habit, strip off if its motivators. To kill an addiction, strip it off its propellers. Prayer doesn't cut it. What prayers do is to table the matter before God and then you receive the empowerment to handle it. Part of the empowerment you receive are cased in 'doables' called Principles. Except you begin to employ the wisdom that the Lord so faithfully provides, you will continually be ravaged by the enemy. Incapacitate the addictions. By prayer the empowerment is provided, by action, the ability is validated.

CHAPTER 29: Unwanted Emotions—Envy; _1 Samuel 18:12-30._

She sized her with spite. 'Who does she think she is?' Amanda thought. If eyes were guns through which the bullets of envy could be shot, Hannah would be 6 feet beneath the earth by now. Amanda hated her very guts. 'Hypocrite. Givers forum. Nonsense. This girl is so annoying. Instead of simply telling the guy that her matches remained 2 sticks, she gave him so that they will say she's a good girl. Who does she think she is deceiving? Always showcasing for people to like her. Nonsense.' Amanda fumed inwardly, venom converging in her heart.

"Mandy, please can I borrow your butter...?" Someone asked.

She turned to see who it was. Clara. She sighed.

"It remains small. It has finished. I can't give you. I want it to last till the end of next week. There is recession."

Clara left bewildered because she knew quite well that the butter in question was not exhausted yet...hadn't even gone halfway. Amanda did not seem to bother. Her anger boiled against Hannah who seemed to be everyone's favorite...

* * *

When we do not do the needful, we awaken the wrong emotions.

=>Like Amanda, rather than learn selfless acts, we develop envy for those who are.

=>Rather than sit down and study, we develop disdain for those who make awesome grades.

=>Rather than learn how to be a good wife, we backlash those whose families are seemingly living in joy and unity than ours.

=>Rather than get a life and make a living, we criticize those who seem to be having it smooth.

=>Rather than get wisdom, we get jealous of those who do.

=> Rather than seek fellowship with God, we hate those whom God seems to be watching out for and showing favour; those who seem to have a special place in Gods heart and who show uncanny love and dedication to him.

=> Rather than seek repentance and restoration, we get afraid of those whom we know God have chosen over us. Just like Saul.

His Kingdom was taken away because of disobedience...and he never genuinely repented. Then he began to live in fear of a small David who 'behaved himself wisely in all his ways' (1 Sam 18:5, 14, 30).

That fear led to hate, lots of attempted murder, mass murder and deceit. Rather than do the needful, he incited unnecessary negative emotions.

When you learn to do the necessary and the needful, there would be fewer reasons to bother about the greenness of another person's garden. Every seed would yield its own tree. Every tree would yield its own fruit...not another. So watch out for the emotions that overwhelm you, especially envy. Watch out for those things that make you envious of others, which makes want to brand them hypocrites-- their purity against your looseness, their healthy lifestyle against your nonchalance to your own health, their genuine interest in others against your pomposity. Those are pointers to what you really would love to do with yourself and your life. Rather than envy them, learn the right way of life, and begin to live it.

CHAPTER 30: He is Not There; _1 Samuel 26:9-11_

Behold the apprentice-king David running for his dear life, caught up in the midst of his pursuers whom are quietly and peacefully sleeping the night away. Behold the ring leader, the very one who had sworn to take David's head as a trophy home, King Saul, with his own spear by his side, enjoying slumber in the comfort of the shadows of the night. Here lay David's pursuer and enemy with his own weapon close to his hands. This was a rather familiar scene, one that David was privy to.

It was not less than 10 years now but it seemed just like yesterday when a formidable foe lay in like manner. The only difference was that that foe was dead and this was alive. David could remember the gush that went through his body as he held the weighty sword of the enemy and sent the slithering edge through the skin, muscles, vessels and bones on the nape of his neck and watched it come through the other side of the neck, stopping only as it came in contact with the floor. It was just one clean slice, just one firm blow. He remembered the few seconds that followed afterwards. It seemed like eternity; the Philistines coming to terms with their defeat and the bewildered Israel amazed at their stroke of luck...their stroke of God. David would never fully grasp what happened afterwards. A sea of multitude swept past him to the fleeing enemy while he took his trophy—Goliath's head.

Deep in this reverie, his adviser shook him, and shook his own head. David had not been listening. Forgiving his previous inattentiveness, Abishai started from the top, revealing to David the opportunity God had just given him. An opportunity to deal the death blow to the enemy! And thrill of it all was the very fact that God himself had put them in this deep, soothing slumber. So David could actually slaughter them all one after the other, and no one would notice, stir or wake. This must be the Lord _'making lines to fall in pleasant places'_ , Abishai convinced. He had to be right. Sadly, he was not.

Many times when we're in trouble, we interpret opportunities and happenings as God's intervention when it actually is not:

=>We are in a fix in the exam hall and someone starts blurting quite audibly the answers to the question to another person. This must be God.

=>We are broke, and someone's wallet drops off his pocket on the bus and it's quite thick with cash. This must be God!

=>We are at loggerheads with someone and they come across some misfortune. Ain't God such a righteous judge?

=>A lecturer asks for a #50,000 bribe, and another asks for a #10,000 bribe for the same thing. God moves in mysterious ways.

=>You are eyeing this married man, and then he dumps his wife and comes for you. Miracle working God!

The list is endless. But here's the thing. God was not in the earthquake, nor the fire, nor the wind when he asked Elijah to come meet him (1 Kings 19:11-12). The words and laws of the Lord are perfect, and cannot be flawed. The Lord will never be in, lead, direct or support anything contrary to his word and his nature. Moses had said, " _The Lord shall fight your battle and you shall hold your peace._ " Once, my sister and I were talking about a friend of ours who was going through tough times, and in her bid to drive home the urgency of the situation she said, " _The devil is quick to provide a shoulder when you cry..._ "This statement stands true.

Some may question that statement, insisting that God comes through and at the nick of time. That is true. Nevertheless, examine your own life as truthfully as you can, investigate the lives of others, and check through scriptures. Whenever there is a problem, the first few options of breakthrough are usually not the best nor are they sponsored by God. Even with Jesus, his first option at the dawn of the reality of the cross was, _'Let this cup pass over me'_. If God's response was as prompt as people would want to believe (in a bid to negate the aforementioned statement), fewer people would make wrong decisions or enter the wrong hands. This doesn't mean that God comes late. He does on time, on His time, which may not be your own time. It may seem delayed for us, but never for him, and definitely not for the situation.

David remembered that he must not vindicate himself, therefore, despite the seeming 'divine arrangement' to kill King Saul, he did not. He was able to identify that '...God was not in the arrangement...' because Saul was still the Lord's anointed and God would not in one breath say _"Touch not my anointed..."_ and come in another breath to orchestrate a slaughter party for his anointed...by his anointed!

These tests come to ascertain how qualified we are for the next phase of life. The longest route to your destiny is through shortcuts. Avoid them. We must come to the knowledge of God's perfect will. His own will, not the ones that our lusts have perverted to suit itself.

CHAPTER 31: The Man Of God From Judah, 1: _1 Kings 13_

He was a man. He was a prophet. He was unnamed. God sent him to speak doom to King Jeroboam concerning the desecration he singlehandedly sponsored. Part of the instruction this prophet was given was not to eat or drink anything, and not to return from the path he came from. When he was done giving the message, the King invited him to lunch and he declined. However when he was on his way back home, another prophet invited him to lunch and he went, and was dammed. Sad story.

There is something worthy of note here. Do you realize that it was easy for him to refuse the temptation when he was with the King and his company, but failed woefully when there was nobody there but him and the older prophet? A great wonder had just happened between him and the King, something that validated the oil upon his head and the calling upon his life. So it was easy to abide and be in faith and total submission to God's word. However, in the secret, or better put, at the backstage, where no one was there to observe him, where he knew that nobody heard him when he told the king the restriction placed on him, in that place where no one could cry foul at his instability, it was there that he tripped on quicksand.

Before you go shaking heads at his misfortune, did you realize that we are not very far from the same pitfalls ourselves? Reckon how relatively easier it is for us to forgive people immediately they err, try to settle a quarrel between two people, shun immoral advances from opposite sex, show humility and gratefulness when favoured when we are with people who know our righteous stands. But somewhere in our hearts where no one knows what's going on, in that hidden place where nobody can hold us accountable to our thoughts, in that far land or strange place where people do not know that you are called 'Apostle', 'MoG', 'Pastor','Mama', it's easy to let down your guard and begin to fight unending battles with vile thoughts and actions--pride, jealously, greed, hate, lust, and it's host. You begin to miss church services and express laxness towards service in God's house. You start being a bit abusive and a little careless with your actions towards others.

Many Christians are oblivious of this and hence they keep trying to perfect the visible exterior while innocently unmindful that the interior is not taking enough saturation that the external seems to portray. And guess what, when you've conveniently covered the external battle ground, the devil goes in to fight the internal battle. Often, people do not deliberately decide to be two-faced nor are they really intending to impress anyone by being spiritually mature. The problem is that, because they are in a certain environment, it is easier to do certain thing. But consequent to the fact that they do not take the extra effort of making a personal culture of the cooperate practice, whenever they are outside that environment, they get weak and slip.

The younger prophet was still in the euphoria of what he had just told the king so it was easy to be strong. However, having walked some distance and the charge has lessened, so did his resilience. For many, their time in school is the time when their prayer and word life is optimal. The moment they come home for holidays, they fumble. To some when they go for conferences, they are the ones stimulating others for morning devotions and prayers, but when they get home, there is no strength. It counts too.

I shared bond with the previous category, hence I tried my best not to come home for holidays. I could not afford spending two weeks at home and observing my quiet time on only three days out of the two weeks. However, one day, as I lay on my bed at home and bemoaned by inability to study and pray, I began to reminiscence and advice myself. I realized that my inability to study and pray at home, where the brethren were absent was simply an indication that the life of bible study and prayer, although the pinnacle of my life and something I was celebrated for in school, was only skin deep. It had not settled in my marrow. I remember asking myself how long I hoped to run away from 'home' and embrace solitude, knowing that I would settle down one day and there'd be no escape this time around. So, there on that bed, in my third year in the university, I decided to commit to the exercise and engrave it in my bones.

Few years after, after I had started my internship, a close friend of mine, while still waiting for a hospital to give her a placement came to spend some time with me. According to her, she had a backlog of unstudied scripture due to busy schedules, and she came to stay with me so that I will spur her to cover them up. Not by coaching her, but by association. She told me this about 3 days after she arrived. I remember doing an anxious and quick recount of the days she had spent with me and heaving a sign of relief. And I also asked myself, "What if for some reasons I did not do my quiet time when she was around?" I leant many valuable lessons, one of which was that, I had to a great extent, successfully imbued the exercise into my very being, and I did not need brethren around to live my life. My private and public lives as long as that aspect of life was concerned...were the same.

This is what we must all do in every area of our lives that we seem to be living unknowingly hypocritical. You did not plan to live that way, but you are. You did not plan to think on obscene pictures, but you are. You just always catch yourself being critical of others, without your conscious effort. It's time for an address and a redress, to take careful consideration on those dark spots and begin the conscious awareness of building these characters to the point where they are no longer external but have sunken into the bone marrow.

Guard your heart with all diligence. Jesus said, _"It is not what goes into a man that defies him but what comes out"_ and _"out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh"_ (Matthew 15:18-20; 12:34).Until these battles are won, you have not really won the war. Be more careful about what you do when no one's watchful eyes can scrutinize than that external show you put out.

CHAPTER 32: Elisha, 1—Wisdom: _2 Kings 2_

We know him. Great prophet. Disciple of Elijah. Raised the dead in his grave. Firebrand. We could pick a lesson it two from this great man don't you think. Now let's.

Elijah knew he was leaving earth soon. The sons of the prophets knew. Elisha knew. That was knowledge. Knowledge is great and is key. Knowledge empowers. Knowledge makes you stand out. Knowledge keeps you informed, and takes away the darkness of ignorance. With knowledge come better perception of things and better appreciation of operations.

However, un-translated knowledge benefits none--neither the one with the knowledge nor those around him. Wisdom is applying that knowledge rightly. Wisdom is the ability to employ the understanding behind knowledge. It is identifying a peg as square and putting it in square hole to stop a leakage.

Elisha knew his master would be departing sooner than later and made the most of the opportunity. He followed him until he received from his master. The other prophets were content with just watching from a distance. They were aware of the current happenings and the recent trends. In fact, they put it upon themselves to remind Elisha as often as opportunity availed itself. But they did not know how to maximize that knowledge. To them, knowing that top secret was magnificent enough. That was not a knowledge that one came by easily. So, being among the 'selected few' knowing this was elating. On the flip side was Elisha, not content with just knowing that his master was leaving, but pressing and seeking to make the most out of that knowledge.

A maxim attests that he who does not read is not better than he who cannot read. Here's a modification of that saying—he who knows and does not do is not better than he who is ignorant. It is not so much in what you know than it is in how much you do with what you know. Some years back, I was reading a popular book on the principles and operations of wealth. That was one book I first came across in junior secondary school days but refused to read. For some reasons, I just did not feel like reading it. It was much later, sometime in my penultimate year in the university that I finally read it, having bought the book nearly a year before. As I read the book, I got so bothered by the information that the book contained. They seemed so simple. So straight-to-the-point. So doable. But that was not my bother. Anytime I came across any principle or knowledge, I unconsciously picture all the people I know who say they have read the book or whom I actually saw reading it. And then I wonder, "If the principles are this simple, why are the people financially not better off?" I am not sure why, but I was greatly disturbed and did not seem to have answers. Finally, I shared my concerns with somebody and it marveled me that he did not even spare a thought before giving his profound response. He said, "Because they don't practice it." Then he likened it to people reading books on prayer and still don't know how to pray. Then it made sense. Knowledge is of no advantage to a man who would not employ it for good.

What you do with the knowledge you have differentiates you from others. Many know that the wages of sin is death. Many know that Christ died for them and is desirous of a relationship with them. Many know that the greatest commandment is love. Many know that infidelity is wrong in marriage. Many know that trust lost can never is gained again (at least not in that same proportion). Many know that diligence pays. Many can rattle the principles of wealth creation. Many know that evil pays back with greater evil. Many know that taking too much sugar is not good for their health. Many know that success doesn't come by just reading success stories and nodding heads. But as long as that piece of remains unprocessed data, it benefits nobody.

It does not matter if 10 prophets have declared that you have the DNA of making money. It is not in how many pages of wisdom you've written during sermons and meetings. It is not about being able to give a sound message on the attributes of a virtuous woman. You may know a lot of things but it is what you do with the knowledge that makes the difference.

Have you successfully translated knowledge to wisdom?
CHAPTER 33: Elisha, 2: Demands For The New Level; _2 Kings 2_

The saying is true, "Life is in phases and men are in sizes". God deals with people in stages/phases/levels. He certifies that a particular person or group of persons have successfully passed through a certain level before committing bigger things to them, or the blessedness of a higher level. Just like passing an exam puts you in a higher level, your successful entry into another phase of life is rooted in how well you manage the previous phase. Paul was distraught with the Hebrew Christians and adjoined them that it was time to progress into deeper truths and greater depths with God rather than rigmarole with foundational doctrines (Hebrews 5:11-6:1). In another scenario, God found David faithful with his father's sheep and gave him His Sheep.

Finally, some actually get into this new phase, but the question is, "And then what?" The majority of people are undiscerning of these new phases they come into and so they do not make the most of it. This blankness leaves them at a spot for too long and makes them encounter different degrees of loss. And need I say, it prevents them from entering the next phase as equipped as they should be in order to be effective in managing that phase.

As Elisha journeyed with his Master, focused on being with him for his remaining time on earth, they came across a strategic point, and thank God Elisha not only knew what to do, but also knew how to maximize it. Having gone through several towns, they miraculously crossed the Jordan. Prior to now, through every town they went through, the sons of the prophet would break the disheartening news of Elijah's exeunt to Elisha, and every time, he would tell them to hold their peace. Eventually, the duo crossed the Jordan and that singular act brought Elisha into a new phase of his life and ministry. Elijah asked him what he wanted and, the rest of the story is pretty much as it goes. Let's take a closer look at this.

There are different difficulties that speckle every level of one's living. For Elisha, his obstacles were the sons of the prophet and their unsolicited advice. This obstacle differs from person to person and from circumstance to circumstance. However when one successfully overcomes those obstacles, they are ushered into a new level just like Elisha. The Jordan separated him from the sons of the prophets into a solitary time with his master, Elijah. We are all required to cross our respective Jordan only when we have proven that we are as desperate to enter the next level as the obstacles are as desperate to distract us from doing so. It may require faithfulness to academic. It may mean dedication to a course. It may mean doggedness to a vision. It may mean resilience through the hard times of a relationship/friendship. But eventually, by the mercies of God and our intentionality, we get to cross the Jordan just like Elisha. But that is just the beginning.

After they crossed the Jordan, Elijah asked him, _'Ask what I shall do for you'_. In other words, 'place a demand on this new level'. What would you want this new level to offer you? In some churches, the closing prayer includes a request from the pastor for the members to speak into their week and place a demand on the week, speaking into the atmosphere and creating the week they would love to experience. We do this often but do not realize that life is constantly asking us to place a demand on every new level and phase of life you get into. Elijah told him to place a demand of the new level and Elisha asked for a double spirit of Elijah. Now that's a smart man!

A month or thereabouts into my internship, I remember hearing something somewhere that pointed out that I had not placed a demand on my new level. I was in the pediatrics unit for the first three months, and the few weeks I had spent, I was simply going to work and coming back. I was not being intentional about that phase. I had no measurable plan for the time duration. It was just life as casual as it can get. This was just the opposite of how I had stipulated to live my life. Resolute to alter the status quo, I went on to set personal goals.

Let us get back to Elisha. Notice that he did not think much before stating his demand. He probably has thought of it long before then. This, for sure fueled his insistence to be by his master...just in case he decided to bless him. This goes on to teach that a vision for the next level has a way of providing strength to fuel the dedication to overcome the current level. If, for example, an affluent uncle had promised a student _anything_ if he graduated with a good grade, that student will surely be more committed to his studies than he would have been if there was nothing to look forward to. With or without the promise, the boy is bound to enter a new level sooner than later. However, the promise gave him vision, direction, and doggedness. And if the student had a mind of entering an art school, you would not have to ask twice before he responds when you finally get to ask him, "Ask what I shall do for you".

Place a demand on the new level. At this point I must state that you will be better off when you place a demand based on your vision in life and not based on people's expectation. You might be in the same phase as some other people but that does not mean that you should have the same demands. Three people _serving their fatherland_ (National Youth Service Corps) can roughly be said to be in the same phase of life. Nevertheless, while one person places the demand of getting a business running within the time, another person places the demand of establishing and setting up their NGO and yet another places the demand of finding a godly spouse. Obviously, their paths to achieving their respective desires would differ. So, it would be wrong to judge your goals or vision based on general expectation. But by all means place a demand on your current level. And work towards it.

You're probably in a new phase of life right now--a new year, a new semester, a new position, a new walk with God, a new assignment, just got married or promoted, or you just caught insight on your purpose and assignment on earth. Decide to make the most of it. Do not just simply _exist_ , opening yourself to fate instead of design. This is the idea behind the New Year Resolutions, and New Session Resolutions and all of that--placing a demand on a new level. When you come into a new stage in life, decide what you want that stage to bring to you or what you want to achieve. Set goals. Let every second count. Don't just 'exist' throughout the year, or month, or session or phase of life, give it a goal. Make it work for you, deliberately.

CHAPTER 34: Measure Your Faith; _2 Kings 13:18-19_

The weight of your actions shows the severity of your faith.

The Word of God teaches that _'...Faith without works is dead'_ (James2:26) and that fact stays undisputed. Nevertheless, there is more to that simple statement and truth. The type of work you put into what you want, the tenacity of your actions is relative and directly proportional to your level of faith. It is not the works however that brings about faith, it is the faith that engineers and is showcased by the works put up.

It is just like Newton's third law--action and reaction are equal and opposite. The faith _action_ force will determine the work _reaction_ output. So when you evaluate your works, it will be easy to measure your faith. How strongly you believe in a thing is how strongly you will work towards it. I have met some visionaries whose doggedness have singlehandedly preached the gospel to me. They believe so much in the future of what they do, even when it looks completely absurd, despised, unappreciated, and barely applauded. That is faith made manifest through works. If you believe in everything God said, you will work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

More faith (not desperation now--there's a fine line there) will propel one to go the extra mile, do the extra things. When Elisha told King Joash to strike the arrow on the ground in the anchor passage, he struck only three times and Elisha was upset at him, informing him that he would have struck it more. It was his faith level that was made eminent in his actions.

So you think you trust God enough? Apostle James said, _"...show me thy faith without works, and I will SHOW you my faith BY MY WORKS"_ (James2:18). There can be works without faith but there definitely cannot be any faith without work. The absence of work goes to show that such a person has not yet gotten the revelation of what he is to do. A student who believes that he/she will be the best graduating student will go ahead to find out what it takes to become that. A worker aiming at promotion to a certain level will not just stop at praying. They would go ahead to get all the requirements that qualifies them. That is what I call the _show of faith._ That is faith in display.

One of the most basic displays of faith is confessions. Confessions are a very great show of faith seeing that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). So what are you saying? If you have permeated your heart with possibilities, it cannot but come out of your lips. You begin to speak it with no consideration for the current roadblocks and instabilities. A menor calls this _setting yourself up_. Now, when you have trapped yourself with your lips, heaven goes on to orchestrate what you are saying and put lines to fall in place. As they do this, they then wait for you to get your hands in the dirt.

What are you saying? But more importantly, what are you doing? The genuine works you put to it are a reflection of the gravity of your proposed faith and belief in it.

CHAPTER 35: War At Dawn; _1 Chronicle 20:1-3_

The dawn of a new phase—a new month, year, session, anniversary of birth, semester, anniversary of marriage, etc-- is a very strategic period because it is the period when kings go to battle. At this time, every king is on his toe and alert because it is a time to either conquer or be conquered. This is time to amass spoil or to be spoilt.

Now, everyone in Christ is a king (Revelations 5:10). As kings, the beginning of dawn is the time to either conquer the disadvantages you don't want you or your loved ones to be part of such as deaths, sicknesses, lack, failure, sadness, disappointments, etc; or allow those negatives to conquer you. The battle is often bloody, brutal and merciless, hence the need to be very deliberate about it. Believers are usually very casual about these strategic times.

Dawns, although a chronologic sequence, are gates in the spirit. They are entry points to a new revolution. They, like gates, need to be manned strongly. We recharge our phones to make calls on cross over night and sit awake close to our phones waiting for 0000hrs to strike on our birthdays, anxious for the people who will call or text. These are beautiful things, but much more than that, we need to man those gates because other kings, king of the underworld are out in the battle field. And they are not approaching friendly.

It is not just about necessarily fighting, casting and biding demons. It is about creating what you would have that new season bring to you. To speak into the new phase as well seek the blessings of God upon that new season. The Lord asked Job, " _Has thou commanded the morning?_ " (Job 38:12). These are not times to eat and drink. Those times will come. Dawns are for manning territories. The scripture declares woe to royalties who eat and drink in their dawn (Ecclesiastes 10:16). It is just like tithing--you give the tenth to secure the ninety.

We must fight to conquer but we must fight aright by using the right weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not spears and javelins; they are not 'positive thinking' and medicines. It is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Speak God's word into the new level and conquer the enemies and their projections.

To conquer, we must also lead the "...power of the army..." just as Joab did (vs. 2). In other words, we must engage the Lord of angel armies, the Lord of Host. He it is who has the power of the army. This is very important. Bring him into the picture. Go to battle with Him leading, not your emotions, not the failures of your past seasons, not definitely not your lusts.

The one way to get the Lord involved is to hand the battle over to him in faith. A tarmac is to an airplane what faith is to the Lord. He cannot and does not function in an atmosphere of fear (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:6-7). Fear incapacitates him. Fear is absence of faith and not necessity jittery and fidgeting. Confess His words with your mouth, believe in its proficiency in your heart (Romans 10:9), and begin to affirm your faith by your actions (James 2:17, 26).

When next you approach the dawn of a new season, be it seasonally ordained (new years) or spiritually ordained, don't just send felicitations or give testimonies to the brethren. Don't just sit waiting for your phone to ring. Don't just gather past notes and school work scheme from senior colleagues. Manage your territories on your knees.
CHAPTER 36: Vessels Unto Honour; _2 Timothy 2:20-21(AMP)_

2 TIM 2:20-21[AMP]

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

Do you realize that there are also 'vessels of gold unto dishonour'? Okay, back up a little bit.

Notice that the emphasis of purging was on what is "...ignoble and unclean..." and not whether the vessel was wood to gold? The scriptures emphasized that in spite of the material for the vessel, some of them where noble and some dishonourable. In other words, there could be are vessels of clay unto honour and vessels of gold unto dishonour. Shocking right?

The categorization into gold or clay is due to levels of processing (training) such persons have undergone. Purification methods into fine clay and into fine gold differ. The training processes differ. The worth of the both differs. Gold goes through fire, earth (clay) through water. The level of training one undergoes determines their worth afterwards. And the more value a person adds to themselves by reading widely and skill garnering, and improving in character and disposition, including in the active walk in ones assignment and relationship with God and man, the more precious they become.

However, a person could be of great value: could be very wise, smart, talented, skillful, an academic guru, an icon of excellence, a don in their field of endeavour, the highest authority there is to reckon with; and still be used for dishonourable purposes. Ask Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord God emphatically stated it in Exodus 7:3-4:

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Unknowingly to him, Pharaoh was being used as a golden vessel but unto dishonour.

In the same vein, a person might not have many skills and may even be below average, but will still be used honourably. A typical example is Joseph, Father of Jesus. He was not well read and did not have much material wealth, but he was used honorably. With God, quality of vessel is neither comparable nor relative to mode of use. Ahitophel was a precious vessel of honour but that turned around when he went against the Lord's anointed. He was still a priced vessel, but was used unto dishonor (2 Samuel 15:30-31).

This does not in any way attempt to laud mediocrity and or discourage growth. Vessels of clay can still be used ignobly, even more. Statistics have it that there is greater crime rate among the uneducated and impoverished. The anchor scripture said that anyone who purges himself from ignobility will be used unto honour, the vessel type irrespective. The type of vessel you become will be an added advantage to you in determining to a great extent the circumference of your sphere of influence.

When the Jews wanted to oppose Paul and the early church, they used honourable women (Acts 13:50). In spite of their call and anointing, their love and sorrow, none of the apostles could get Jesus down from the cross. It was a man of repute, Joseph of Arimathaea that did the magic (John 19:38). In like manner, if you have burnished your vessel, you'd have more influence and a weightier say in effecting and propagating the government of God in your jurisdiction.

So, by all means develop the quality of your vessel, but remember nevertheless to array yourselves for noble and honourable use unto the Lord.

CHAPTER 37: No Competitions

The academic curriculum that could qualify for a tertiary degree in any course spans exactly the duration of the course. A 5 year course has its curriculum spread across 5 years flat. It is expected of anyone who ventures into the study of such courses that they jump every hurdle and emerge with a certificate in exactly 5 years. It would be insane for that person to decide that they want to study for only 4 years because "5 years is a long time", or to spend 6 years in a bid to attract a heavier ovation. Ironically, spending more than the stipulated time in that course would only be met with disappointment from friends and well-wishers, and frustration, anger and displeasure from oneself. This is because they have been signed up for a 5 year course and are expected to accomplish the set goal at the dusk of the duration.

During this period, one faces just enough hurdles as the system requires. Interestingly, as much as you do not like them, or would choose something less stressful, these hurdles ever so faithfully, rear their heads throughout the duration. For a 5 year course, there are at least 10 examinations, outside professional exams and continuous assessments. One is expected to spend the greater part of those years in the classroom and in practical classes or on the field. Then there are textbooks to read and term papers to hand in. The hurdles given are usually just sufficient for the duration, and designed in such a way that in jumping each hurdle, one becomes more equipped and qualified for the ultimate crown. A failure at any level is a threat to accessing the final reward.

Similarly, the Lord allows just sufficient tests to come to us in preparation for the ultimate design he has for us individually. Not too much, not too little, just enough. That was the same way King David "...gave out gold by weight..." for every instrument of gold (1 Chronicle 28:18). He did not give out 3 pounds of gold to erect a 20 pound structure. He gave just enough. In like manner, the Lord allows just sufficient hurdles to be doled out to his people, such that when they have mastered that hurdle, they arrive at the peak which He had mapped out for them long before they were 'enrolled into the class'.

This also relates to our abilities and talents. It is unwise to mourn your self-perceived lack of talent or skill in compared to another person. In the parable of Jesus, the master gave out talents to his servants only in accordance to their ability (Matthew 25:15). The funny side of all this is that simply because many people may not have show talents, like singing, acting, dancing, etc, they think that they are void of talents. The truth is that you have talents suited for the course you were enrolled into in life. What you need do is embrace your path in life and you would see the inherent abilities sprout.

It is unnecessary to bewail your apparent unavailability of opportunity or lack of funds or whatsoever disadvantage you think you're faced with in comparison to another person's seemingly teeming advantage. It was arranged that way because what you face in life is peculiar to your design/assignment as ordained from the foundations of the world. Do not attempt to copy other people. The Master always gives resources in accordance to individual design and ability; an ability that was ingrained in them from before they were born. If the Lord God felt you needed that talent, he would have encrypted a gene for it in you. If he felt you needed to be acquainted with that person, there would have been a cause for your paths to cross remarkably. If he felt you needed a certain environment to maximize you full potential, he would put you there.

As usual, this is no excuse to sit with folded legs and sing _que sera sera._ The message here is not to compare your life trainings, misfortunes, platforms, speed, luxury, or lack of it, etc with anyone. As you strive for a better expression of yourself, do not do it because you feel more incapacitated than other, or to prove a point. And do not sit relaxed in mediocrity because you feel it is God's will. Your lecturer was quite sure you do not know the answer to the assignment he gave you. That is why he gave it to you; to go and find out the answer! Everything you are faced with is clue to solving an assignment you have been given. In the school of life, no two people have the same question, so no copying. Envying or trying to imitate others is the sure path to failure.

Rather than get consumed with self pity and negative emotions, work instead towards breaking your past records and solving the new assignment. It is not a fist cuff competition with others to feel better or to receive applause, but a dogged striving to perfection, to solving your piece of puzzle, to finishing your course with flying colours. Remember you're a running a different race from others and their paths are quite different from yours. Let go of the sulking and excuses and get to working towards being the best you were created to be.

CHAPTER 38: Thorny Soils; _Luke 8:14 AMP_

From our little exposure to Agricultural science, we understand the necessity of planting seeds and crops in soils that would support its optimal growth. In every essence of life, it will be impossible to maximally achieve our inherent potentials except we are rightly placed. Just as seeds require sturdy soil to bloom, individuals need suitable environment to thrive in. Retardation manifests as a play off of many factors amongst which is a poor soil, that is a shaky support system that fails to engineer and prompt steady growth. More often than not however, it is discovered that in spite of the well mulched soil, there is still retardation in growth of people. You enter some assemblies and groups and you collide with sound wisdom and doctrine. However, when you take inventory of the resident crowd who has been listening to such profound truths, drawing from the well fertilized soil, it is a marvel because you still notice a stunting in their growth. The seed is good, the soil is good, the nutrients are measured and adequate, so what is the problem?

Usually, the sound wisdom is valid and has the capacity to transform, but it doesn't because it is not about what we hear or receive but how far we go with it. Many only hear it but never put it to practice.

In Jesus' parable of the Sower, he pointed out 4 different soil types--the wayside soil whose seeds were eaten by birds, the rocky soils whose seeds never had the opportunity of growing, the thorny soil and the good soil. For the seeds that fell among thorns, a disabling trend is found. In explaining that parable, Jesus explained that...

And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen (come to maturity and perfection).

I came to the understanding that this category of soil had the potential to bud unlike those that fell on the wayside and were eaten. The misfortune of these types of people is that after receiving the seed, the word from God, they _went their own way_ and got chocked up.

The scriptures made us understand that the word of God is a light and a lamp to guide us on the way to go (Psalms 119:105). Remember that the seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). Now as this word comes, it brings us direction and points us in the way to go and how we should lead our lives (Psalms 119:9). Unfortunately, many soils even after receiving this seed, the life-giving spirit behind the letter (2 Corinthians 3:6), only end up scribbling it into their jotters, shouting in excitement or bursting into ecstatic tears and that is the end of that word. They do not take time to redirect their life to fall in line with the word of God. They go back _'...on their way'._

This makes it impossible to live out what they have just encountered, because they go right back to the social system of the world they are used to and it chokes up the word they've heard. Someone hears that it is wrong to pilfer and steal and after weeping from guilt makes no resolution to live honestly. Now, rather than redirect his thoughts in that light, he continues to steal to meet his 'most essential needs' and no longer just for fun. Then he assures himself that as long as there is lack, stealing has to be done. Very soon, he slips right back to the pilfering as before. Why could he not change? It was simply because he failed to walk in the light he received. He continued to walk with his unconverted mindset and ideologies. The repeated slips, which is as a result of failure to walk in the way of light becomes the tool they employ for annulling the faithfulness and potency of God's ability to save and change them, and others by extension.

Quit going for life transforming meetings only to end up dumping them in jour journals while holding tightly to your previous ideologies and way of life. You are the one choking your own growth! It is time to imbibe the word, to brood over it and implement it, to "...hold it fast" (Luke 8:15), to restructure the patterns of your life according to the direction the word of God has pointed, to keep it hidden in your hearts and change the course of your journey to the direction of the light.

The Lord is able to help us direct our lives to conform to the path He so faithfully points through his word. Let us take personal decisions to begin to walk in the light of the word, for only then will we truly be able to experience the fullness of God's ability.

CHAPTER 39: Majoring In The Minors; _2 Chronicle 8:1-6_

Time is one of the most treasured gift earth's inhabitants have been gifted with. Before conception and after transition, time is non-essential. The only place we appreciate and utilize time is within our journey through the earth. Unfortunately, time is one of the most disregarded elements, and one way we exhibit this by not doing what we should per time.

Correct utility of time is not in just doing in something, but in doing the right things. At every point in time, the average human being is doing something—buying gum, talking with a friend, having a conference meeting, chatting, watching television, praying, sun bathing, meditating, etc. In essence, it is impossible to actually be idle at any particular time. However, the challenge is in doing what should be done when it should be done. The most difficult aspect of time management is in what we do per time. In majoring in what is major, we spend the bulk of our time in what really matters and engaging in the less urgent matters afterwards.

Typical of King Solomon in his wisdom, he finished what his major assignment was (building God's house) and then his major need (building his own house), before he ventured into other non-essential projects (building cities of chariots and cities of horsemen amidst others). He used his time and resources to do what was most important, then the spare to do other things. Had he used the treasure and resources he had to do the minor things first, there would be nothing left for the basic ones.

If there's a wisdom that is of much relevance and yet so often neglected is this one: "There is a time for everything." Wasted time is not limited to the time spent moping around unproductively. It is also the time spent in irrelevant productivity. Don't put the cart before the horse. Major in the majors. Draw up a scale of importance and apportion your time and resources in order of significance and you will be heading towards great success.

ADVANCING THE KINGDOM

CHAPTER 40: Authority; _Matthew 16:19 AMP_

"Welcome sons. It is a beautiful longing in the heart of every father to see his son come into the realization of responsibility. There's so much work to be done and so much grounds to cover, and this is why you will all be allocated to different colonies to extend the order of this kingdom. You are my sons and that interprets that I need even more levels of responsibility from you."

"So here's how we will achieve this. Here! This is the blueprint and law of this kingdom. I have ruled this kingdom with that code of conduct forever! Now, I want you to run your colonies exactly the way it's stated in the law--the same way I do it. We would not want discrepancies and discordance now, would we?"

"And, least I forget, the Special Adviser of the Kingdom. He's been in this business for a pretty long time now. He'll sort you out if ever you are in a fix. Remember, it must be exactly as it is in the manual. Here's my signet... so everybody would know that I sent you. Be responsible."

* * *

I like to believe that this was exactly what was on the Lord's mind when he stated this very popular scripture in Matthew 16:19.

"...whatever you bind on earth...whatever you loose on earth..."

This passage has been most employed in warfare prayers, but much more than warfare, that scripture is actually conditioning the believers' authority on earth. It's like a call to order for the believer so that we don't go misappropriating grace and son-ship.

The Amplified Version puts it this way,

"...and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven."

JESUS had just promised his disciples the keys to the Kingdom so it was expedient that he put a harness least they run the Kingdom as they pleased. Same rule applies to us. You don't go about making your own rules and laws. Nope. That will breed inconsistencies and inconsonance. The way God programmed it was that His ambassadors would look up to His government (Heaven), taking the principles and rules at work there, and then bring that rule down to earth. (Matthew 6:10). We have the authority to declare a thing and watch it come into being (Job 22:28) however we are not permitted to install our own directives. Our authority is to be guided and to remain within the confines of only what is obtainable in heaven, and what God's perfect will is.

For example, I have seen (and once upon a time was a part of) people praying for the death of certain thorns in the flesh of the populace. It seemed legal; there were a lot of bible quotations to go round. But with time (and growth I must add), I have come to understand that God's will is for all to come to repentance, not to die in sin (2 Peter 3:9). That means that it is not consistent with the pattern of Heaven to pray for the death of any man. Armed with this realization, my prayer points changed too.

If it is not heavens code of conduct, you are not permitted to implement it here on earth, irrespective of what your emotions, better judgment, impulse, comfort, etc, might be screaming out to you. If it is not in operation in heaven, don't bother placing facilities to build it here on earth. As offshoots of God's governance, it is expedient that we enforce into our spheres of influence and bring into existence, only those things that agree with who God is and what he represents.

"THY (God's supreme will, not mine) will be done on earth, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, was the prayer Jesus taught his disciples. It is not meant for recitation only. It is meant for implementation. Jesus continually told the people that he was doing only that which His Father was doing. As disciples of Jesus we must not let our emotions, desires, motivations, and unease push us into creating whole doctrines that are not founded or established on the authenticity and persona of the Godhead.

May the Lord give us wisdom to be faithful stewards and ambassadors!

CHAPTER 41: Why Prosperity; _1 Chronicle 17:1_

Prosperity is a dicey subject in the body of Christ these days with people have difficulty staying in the balance. Most people are at the either extremes of this subject and many more lack insight on what it means to be prosperous. Some like to believe that wealth is the hallmark of God's hand in the life of a person and a Christian who is not wealthy is far from balance and God's will. Some others believe that money is the snare the devil traps one with and rather than sin against God or be tempted by money, they stay as far from the word 'prosperity' by all means, content to be called the 'poor' in spirit (the flesh actually). That obviously stems from a misunderstanding of the concepts. Some others love more than anything else, the famous words of Agur.

Remove from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Proverbs 30:8-9

In other words, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Just let me have the one to eat today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. That is not wrong because that scripture actually teaches contentment. However, there is a place for having more than enough in the Kingdom, and that is what this chapter tries to capture.

As if it was not tragic enough living in penury, the prosperous have no idea the reason God has brought them into prosperity. Let us establish first that prosperity is not only in monetary terms. The Oxford Learner's Dictionary has three definitions for the word prosperity, including **success, affluence and favour.** The monetary aspect of prosperity is only one side of it; that is affluence. This why an overemphasis on money as a symbol of prosperity is also a very imbalanced doctrine.

Now, it is said that one of the most important questions to ask when trying to comprehend a thing is _why_. A knowledge of _why_ helps one appreciate the purpose for that thing so that it can be effectively and maximally utilized since abuse is inevitable when purpose is not known, as Dr Myles Munroe would always say. So, what is the WHY of prosperity?

King David, the third king of Israel was in his own house built with cedar when he suddenly realized that the Lord's ark was in a tent. If David did not have a house of his own and of such quality, he might never have realized that the ark was in a tent. He might not see the ark being in a tent as abnormal or degrading.

As we prosper in life, we are brought into a clearer light the dire needs of the Kingdom of God and the gospel. Take a look at Jesus. He so prospered in human relationship that when he saw the crowd he proclaimed that _"The harvest is truly plenteous but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest_ (Matthew 9:36-38). If Jesus did not come to a level of relationship with multitudes, he might only have been theoretical about the gospel. He would not be able to feel what they felt, suffer with them in their infirmity, share their sorrows, shower enough compassion on them that would spur his reaching out to them in healing, provision and doctrine. Daniel prospered in knowledge and that led him to realize that Israel had overstayed their welcome in captivity and so he prayed (Daniel 9:2-4). Solomon prospered in wisdom and realized that wisdom is lacking and began to admonish on the chaos of simple-mindedness (Proverbs 1:1-7).

As people who understood Kingdom business prospered, they saw how and where they could begin to influence the setbacks of the gospel and of God's people. There is a level of prosperity one needs to be able to effect any change and engender any transformation in the spread of the gospel. To teach the scripture, you need to be prosperous in revelation, to produce a screenplay that teaches good moral values, you need to be prosperous in the skills to write and produce a good story line. You need to be prosperous in boldness to go street evangelizing.

However, because we do not understand the purpose of the prosperity the Lord gives us, we very readily use it for our selfish gains and self-preoccupying lusts. Paul speaking to the church in Corinthians said,

God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

This is where the second and third group of people I mentioned earlier get it all wrong. We need to be prosperous to be able to do good works. Philanthropists in major world-wide projects such as USAID, UNICEF, etc are not struggling or average earning people. People always decry the church especially in Africa because they do not 'give back' to the community. How can they when the majorities have rejected prosperity and the few who have it prefer to spend it on personal and private matters? That is a show of ignorance and misplaced priority.

Mediocrity is counterproductive in kingdom advancement. There is need for excellence, for success, for prosperity. Prophet Zechariah speaking the counsel of the Lord said, _"Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, my cities through prosperity shall be spread abroad..."_ (Zechariah 1:17). It is said of Myles Munroe that he was invited to speak, not just to government officials, but also mosques. How was he able to enter that circle? Not by avoiding social interaction in a bid to prepare for rapture. He did it by prospering in his field of endeavour. Strive to become so prosperous that even if people do not like what you represent, they cannot help but acknowledge what you have—affluence, success, favour—prosperity.

So, by all means desire to be prosperous, and never forget the reason for such favour and grace.
CHAPTER 42: Lot's Error

She sat down on her usual seat right in front of the class

Making efforts not to laugh at the vulgar jokes tossed about by her course mates

Why, just why would the hearts of men be this reprobate

And how, just how could they vomit this venom with the same lips from Sunday morning?

Occluding her ears with her headset she scrolled down her playlist

The songs of Moen she sought to purge her spirit off the filth

Leaning backwards on her seat she plugged into the mood of worship

Sanctifying her soul off the unwholesome exposure it had just suffered

The lecturer yet delayed and the class was too noisy to study in

She glanced at her wristwatch and sighed in dismal

Removing the headset she checked to see the current moral state of the class

The jokes were yet uncouth and with a silent prayer for their souls she plugged her ears once more.

She'd tried to show an example to her coursemates

She had in her secret place dropped blood for tears for their sake

She would not cheat nor revel in their debased talks

She'd decline any form of dishonesty and study her hardcopy Bible in class

She'd walk quietly and speak softly, as Apostle Paul enjoined a quiet disposition

She'd apologize sincerely whether or not the fault was hers

When scathing words were poured on her she'd leave the scene

She'd never let her clothes cling so closely to her body

Why were they not conforming to Christ and why was her godly disposition not saving the lost

She had wearied for thoughts and had given it all up to prayers and hope

She remembered how only 8 were saved in the flood and 3 in the fire of Sodom

She however never remembered she was duplicating the errors of Lot

For more than 14 years Lot did reside in the land of Sodom neighboured by Gomorrah

14 years he dwelt with his wife and children, enduring the unrighteousness of the land

For 14 years his righteous soul vexed from their awful deeds

But for 14 years he influenced none and turned none from the path of destruction

About 14 years later he was saved from Sodom as empty as he came

Neighbours and colleagues and comrades he never impacted nor tagged along

He believed his righteous soul would transcend through his behaviour

And the heathen would see and be saved

But the injunction was 'Go Ye'

How can they be saved when they have not believed?

How can they believe when they have not heard?

How can they hear when none had spoken to them?

How can any speak when they have not been sent?

You have been sent

Go Ye!!

By Zoë

CHAPTER 43: A Teaching Priest; _2 Chronicles 15:3_

Today's church is occupied with believers who warm the chairs of the church, scream 'Hallelujah', 'I receive it!' and 'Holy Ghost Fire!' at the top of their voices in church, claiming anything and everything that comes from the pulpit yet living below standards both in deeds, words and results. Many assemblies are guilty of raising people who remain children that never grow into maturity, then making these children elders and leaders. They keep spoon feeding people old enough to have their own children and nobody seems to notice that something is improperly done. These same people who now bear titles are seen tomorrow in the society and it is alarming that there is barely a trace of their Christianity in their daily activities, or reaction to situations. Why is that? This can be attributed to the absence of _A Teaching Priest_.

Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 2 Chronicles 15:3

The absence of the teaching priest was the reason for the lawlessness. Notice, it did not say, _'without the Law'_ , but _'without law'_. Without the law suggests that there were no instructions to live by and so they lived however they pleased in ignorance; pretty much the way it was after Joshua and the judges, and before King Saul. This was not the case however because they had the law in the ark of covenant permanently placed, some copies in the King's possession and copies of it with the priests. The Lord God had also instructed that they had copies of the law written on their door posts and gates (Deuteronomy 11:18-23). They had the law everywhere!

Without law on the other hand signifies lawlessness. They had the laws but did not abide by them. They were instructed on what to do but did just the exact opposite. The laws of God and the jurisdiction of the land were play things to these people. They freely and without remorse, defied every law and damned the consequences. They were without law. And all this was because they did not have a teaching priest.

A priest is one who stands in the gap for the people; he takes on the cause of interceding for the people, bearing their sacrifices upon the altar. He interprets the mind of God to the people and bears the requests of the people to God. He is like a middleman between God and His flock. These are qualifications for a priest. Israel had people making obeisance and slaughtering the offerings. Unfortunately, that was not quite enough to eliminate lawlessness. Israel needed a teaching priest, just as we so desperately need one in our congregations today.

It is not enough to keep praying for people all night long. Priests must begin to teach them how to pray for themselves and others. Stop taking on the job of, "Pastor help me decide who to marry", and begin to enlighten them on how to hear from the Lord themselves. Quit the spoon feeding. Quit giving them milk only. In fact, Kenneth Hagin once mentioned that the congregation "...did not grow; so they were not even getting milk. They were just getting bluejohn. Bluejohn is milk with all the cream taken out!"(Growing Spiritually- Kenneth E Hagin)

Bluejohn is what you have been fed with when after years under the sound of your preacher's voice, you are still afraid of the dark. Bluejohn is what you've been fed when you have to run to the pastor for every minor headache. You've been bloated with chaff when you still have to debate the feasibility of righteous living.

It is time for the church to stop rearing babies and start raising leaders. It is simply because the congregation is not taught the 'why' and 'how' of Christian living that there has been an increase in lawlessness and sinfulness. They stay stunted, unable to grow, frolicking and indeed ill-equipped (with knowledge) on how to subdue flesh, but instead living with the hope that grace would abound (Romans 6:1). Myles Munroe once said, "You are great as a leader when the followers don't need you." Alarming, but true. Until you have, as a spiritual leader, been able to make those who look up to you to fend for themselves in basic (and even major) things, to live righteously with or without your presence and encouragement, then you have not properly utilized the office of a teaching priest.

The word 'priest' should not be confused with ordained ministers. Anyone in a position of leadership in the assembly of God's people, is a provisional priest over the people. So, priest, teach your flock to be spiritually responsible. When you enjoy their constant perusing and over dependence on you, it is only an indication of your asserting to both you and them having standstill and stagnancy in life.

And as a follower, do not be deceived by the corporate anointing and the covering of the man of God. Life will spur situations that will place a demand on your growth. This is pretty much the same way our body system reduces the rennin (an enzyme that coagulates milk and prepares it for digestion) secretion in our postnatal body, thereby encouraging more solid protein macronutrient intake (beans, fish) as we get older. In fact, some literatures say that this reduction starts few days after birth! That is to show you that nature puts a natural demand for maturity on you to which you must be quick to respond to. In the same way, life will place demands on your existence and growth. In such situations, what will keep you is not what your pastor knows, but what you know, and have mastered.

Dear priest (here to represent anyone who has a following/followership), do not tie yourself down to being a fisherman; teach your flock how to catch the fishes while you go on to explore deeper waters. Do not settle at being a Priest. Do not just rake in converts to remain babies. Be a Teaching Priest and grow these ones into maturity.

The following words from LeCrae's song summarizes the mindset every teaching priest should have and the goal every believer should hope to attain.

Begin With The End

We ain't looking for decisions and converts

You can put your hands after the concert

Christ wants disciples, that's the aim

So after the heart change, they gon rep his name

Christ!

And we ain't saying we don't want to see them saved

We're saying we want to raise not spiritual babies

So we keep the end in mind when we hittin' the stage

Every new believer means another solider to train

You shared the gospel?

That's cool, what d'you do that for?

Now he got a new life, tell me who that for?

The goal ain't getting him to heaven, thought you knew that bro

It's to train him so he can go and reach his crew back home!

LeCrae Moore

CHAPTER 44: War Against Knowledge

Once upon a time, the Lord began taking me through a very delicate path--an anti-knowledge campaign. We have been taught that knowledge is power, and that is such a valid and essential key. A sage once said, "If you think knowledge is expensive, try ignorance." Ignorance has never been a defense, nor has it ever been an excuse for faulting the law. Even the scriptures time and again, admonishes that we go for knowledge. The book of proverbs speaks lowly of a certain category of individuals termed 'the simple' (Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130; Proverbs 1:4, 8:5, 14:18; Romans 16:18). The simple, according to the scriptures are not wicked people, they are just foolish, unknowledgeable and simpleminded. So knowledge is good. But there are times when knowledge must be avoided, and even warred against.

Knowledge is having a general understanding or familiarity with a subject or a thing. There are a lot of things we consider as knowledge, we see as enlightenment, but the Lord sees as ensnarement. Now this is not restricted to secular knowledge but also to knowledge of the spiritual and supernatural. There is a way one would encounter knowledge and it would rid them of their humanity. Knowledge puffs up but love builds up, the ancient writings teach (1 Corinthians 8:1). An untamed and unwise pursuit of knowledge has a way of making people wise in their own sights, and among believers, untamed knowledge makes them unbalanced in their walk with God. They begin to lose balance and the true nature of Christ because they encountered a knowledge which produced pride in their lives, and corrupted their wisdom (Ezekiel. 28:17).

To create a balance here, let it be known that as Christians, we have to be knowledgeable. Jesus sat with teachers of the law to understand their teachings. Paul, while encouraging Titus, advised him to show integrity, gravity and SOUND speech that CANNOT BE CENSURED (Titus 2:7-8 _RSV_ ). That meant that whatever he wanted to say or teach must be true and correct so that no one will fault it. You cannot talk on a subject you do not know of without maximal error. So Paul was advising Titus to be knowledgeable. Apostle Paul was recorded to use his knowledge of the Epimenides; Aratus of Tarsus, a Stoic philosopher's quote, to preach the gospel to the people of Athens in Acts 17:28.

When rightly learned and applied, knowledge creates better results, but the question is...how does untamed knowledge produce ensnarement? 3 forms of this are explored here.

1). **For the Unbeliever** : Talking of the first form, a minister of the Gospel said that it is good to have light, but we must remember that too much light can make you blind. It is good we are enlightened, but we can get so 'enlightened' that we start doing things blindly and from a warped mentality. Take for example the current trends of sodomy, fetishism, legal adultery and all other vices that have sprung up on the altar of 'enlightenment'. The world has taught that people should be free to do what they want--freedom of expression--and gradually they are getting so enlightened that many have become blind. The world teaches them to see themselves as born-abnormals and 'learn to live that way'--a scandalous lie the enemy has succeed in sowing in their minds and the media is not watering it down at all. So much light and yet so much blindness! Talk of untamed exposure to a form of dangerous light. The cure to this is embracing the fear of God which brings graded and healthy knowledge (Proverbs 3:7, 1:7).

2). **Between the Unbeliever and the Believer** : Many people, especially philosophers and scientists, claim to know a lot about the natural and that this makes them raise and debating the bible and spiritual practices based on their supposed enlightenment. Interestingly, Apostle Paul in 1 Tim 1:7, stated that such people understand neither what they are saying nor do they comprehend the things about which they claim to have knowledge of. Time and again, the scriptures warned us against involving in discussions that employs the use the limited earth-based knowledge to explain the heavenly truths (Colossians 2:8; Timothy 1:3-7, 4:7, 6:20; Titus 3:9). Now this is a second phase of knowledge corruption. Humans live and breathe oxygen yet we cannot really see it with the natural eye. A woman is pregnant but neither the sperm nor ovum can be seen with the natural eye. Yet people want to understand spiritual and supernatural things using the physical. This is wrong, and any step in this direction is a wrong search for knowledge.

3). **For the Believer:** In 1 Corinthian. 8:1, Paul mentioned that knowledge puffs up (causes people to be proud) but love builds up. I remember using the analogy of the _puff-puff_ and the _buns_ to understand it. The puff-puff looks so big but when compressed may not even be half has large as it looked while the buns is just as it presents itself. Knowledge is the yeast that puffs people up, makes them feel proud and supreme and that can cause major strain in the lives of fellow believers. In the household of God there are elders and babies, people of different maturity levels. Elders are those that have grown in basic fundamentals of the Christian faith, in knowledge of the operations of God and some level of intimacy with God. Babies comprise people who are still coming to terms and personal appreciation of the fundamental truths of Christianity. By virtue of longevity and fellowship with God, there are truths and dimensions of God that elders are exposed to, and suffice to say are that these dimensions of God are revealed by virtue of faithful stewardship and continual communion with Him. In other words, God opens more of himself to those whom he acknowledges have grown the capacity to appropriate the knowledge. Unfortunately, many of these truths are divulged prematurely and in raw forms to babies. This is the same as feeding a 2 months old baby with solid food. This knowledge, if not handled with love and wisdom, can cause many to get the wrong idea of Christian living.

Going back to 1 Corinthians 8, especially verses 9 through 13, Paul urged the elders, the knowledgeable, the wise ones amongst them, to be careful how they make use of their knowledge so that it doesn't pose a threat and hence destroy the conscience of a sapling around. I see many spiritual authorities make statements and leave those statements hanging very loosely and unbalanced. They do it in a bid to either sound loaded with insight or to inspire the folks. But the end result is that, many babies choke on that very seasoned meat that they just tossed out carelessly.

Apostle Paul insisted that love could actually tame the effects of knowledge.

So, what do you do with knowledge.

  1. **Step down the knowledge to the level of the audience:** In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul typifies how this works. He stated that there indeed is nothing like idols or other gods for the believer. Therefore, one should feel the liberty to eat whatever, even if it was dedicated to 'idols' (since they in reality, do not exist!) However he went the extra mile to say that if a brother (a fellow believer) has not come to this understanding, it would be wrong to eat that meal because in doing that you will weaken their faith and get them either questioning or defiling themselves in other ways. The moral was, it is better to protect the one Christ died for that to insist on knowledge.

  2. **Prepare their capacity to receive what you are about to say** : In the book of Hebrews 5, we see a frustrated Paul, ladened with great mysteries to share to the church but he could not. He said " _...of whom we have many things to say and hard to utter, seeing ye are dull of hearing..._ " Why? Because, _"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again...and are become such as have need of milk, not strong meat."_ Apostle Peter recognized too that the unlearned were unable to apprehend all Paul taught (2 Peter 3:15-16) so we can celebrate the wisdom of Paul in keeping these things to himself while his congregation were yet babies. If not, there would be more chaos in the body of Christ than we have it now

  3. **You must not share it. Keep it to yourself:** Romans 14:22 stamps a strong affirmative on keeping that knowledge to yourself, at least until you have been able to prepare the hearts of the people to receive it.

By now I believe that you have carried up your own placard reading...SAY NO TO UNTAMED KNOWLEDGE!!!

Knowledge is a weapon, handle with care!

THE LADY

CHAPTER 45: Washing By The Word; _Ephesians 5:25-28 NIV._

"You could use a little more makeup and maybe lose a few pounds. You look exotically epicene in that outfit." It was impossible to miss the sneer in his voice. How did she ever end up with such a peeve? It seemed his hobby--to always demean her--but today was not going to be his lucky day.

"I wonder what pigs know about beauty," Mockingly deep in thoughts, Mercury retorted in a rather calm voice that drove Dave aback. Suddenly, as if she just got a light bulb moment, "Oh, I'll tell you honey. Nothing!" she chuckled, "I mean, how can they, being all glorified in mire and crap." Her voice was still surprisingly relaxed as she continued, "Yea that reminds me. Have you seen the monster in your mirror? He looks a lot like you, in face and in heart. I think he dropped your piece of shit somewhere there." She finished with firmness.

It stung. She did not just say that. He fumed. He was going to teach lessons her mother failed to enforce. His hand quivered as he struggled to prevent it from having a mind of its own as that would imprint hue of red on her fair cheeks.

"What did you just say to me? You piece of horseshit"

"O you heard me, senile camel. Are you equally daft?"

That was the last straw. He dissolved restraint and let his hand off its moral tethers.

"You did not just do that!! She screamed. Then she faced him. "Give means your best shot you tatty little slug?"

Her words enervated him. Looking at her he signed and walked to the sitting room.

He could not understand why his fun loving, obsequious wife turned into this wounded tigress, ready to amplify every peccadillo into a death sentence so long as she was sure he took the brunt of the pain it brought. He looked like a lost ball in high weed, his mind wandering hazily into the first few years of marriage...

* * *

This is the unfortunate day-to-day routine that some couples engage in within the confines of their homes where that plastic public smile has been melted by the coals of the belligerent atmosphere within. I know everyone has a part they play but this chapter will be focusing on the part of the husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives..."

Paul uses the analogy of Christ and the Church for couples. Okay. So, before you pull out the 'women have caustic tongues' card but let me point something out. Did you observe that the church was washed by the 'word'? In the same way, wives are made clean--(permit me to use these adjectives)more loving, more understanding, less resentful, more confident, less prone to vitriolic attitudes--by what their husbands do, but especially by what they say or fail to say. Still on the Christ-husband analogy, realize that the bride of Christ, the church, had no purity in her but by the word of her groom.

It may be unrealistic waiting for a wife to be all _smoochy_ and _schmoozey_ first before cutting her more than enough slacks. She can mostly only come into the level of cleanliness your words as a man is able to bring her into. A man who constantly puts his lady down is rearing a lioness who would sooner than later devour him. More pathetic is one who exchanges words with her. Even when she is self-motivated, there still is a reason why two are better than one. If she is building and you are pulling down, it would only take grace to persevere. And how much can a lady take?

So husbies, and the numerous to-be's out there, watch the words you speak over your lady. Pay more attention to the words you are not saying to her. Whether in secret or in public, in merry times and rough times, in casual talks and in prayers, those words form her. She becomes mostly only as clean enough as your words can make her.

CHAPTER 46: ACHSAH 2; _Joshua15:16-19_

_(See Achsah 1 in Chapter 51)_

"Good evening my lord. How was your mission today? "

"My dear. It was not fruitful. But I'll go to the neighbouring towns tomorrow. I am sure the Lord God will grant me favour."

"He indeed will. Please come and have your rest. I'll get you your meal. You are really worn out."

Midnight met Achsah still awake. Her husband had been on this hunt for a week and it's been quite futile. She had to be fast.

"Wake up my lord. I need to tell you something."

He snorted, grunted and went back to snoring.

What a man! She thought.

"My lord, it's important we speak. Please wake up."

How could she not see that he was having a nap? It had better be worth it. Women and their troubles, he thought.

"I am awake. What troubles you?"

"I want you to ask my father for a land. You have been searching for too long. My father has more than enough."

"It's only been a week. It's not too long. I will find one soon. Don't bother your pretty head with such concerns. Okay?"

"My lord, please don't be stubborn. Ask my father for a field. You have responsibilities and you can't keep delaying."

"Okay. I will. Tomorrow. Can I go to bed now?"

He never thought Achsah's father would agree, but before the end of that day, he was a land owner. What a blessing he had for a wife. Not long after that this, Achsah requested to go see her father. He obliged her, and went with her.

It had only been one month but the emotions shared between father and daughter would make an outsider believe she had been lost for 16 years. The excitement dwindled a while later and scarcely had they entered the sitting room than she blurted,

"Father, you gave me no wedding gifts."

"O but he did. And he blessed us with a field. Thank you so much fa..." Her husband interjected, wondering what more Achsah would want the poor man to do.

"Wedding gifts huh? What would you want my precious one" He cut in. He seemed not to hear what hubby was saying...or he just pretended not to.

"A Spring father. To irrigate the field with. And I would grow some vegetables there too as the land would be quite fertile."

Hubby's jaw dropped. A bird could make a nest there and he would not notice. Asking for and spring was tantamount to asking for a man's livelihood. Achsah was plain crazy. Father's silence said it all. What made her even think to...

"A spring it is then. No. I'll give you two. Anything to please my angel."

"Thank you so much father." She embraced her father. Looking at her bewildered husband, she smiled. He looked funny with this mouth still open. "Thank you so much Father," She repeated.

* * *

A wife is called 'Odoziaku' in Igboland. As a lady, your entrance into a man's life should be to make him better, greater, richer and bigger, not the opposite. A woman is a multiplier. She should be a blessing to her husband and family. A woman of virtue is not one who gets married a virgin or a good cook. That's not enough...it barely scratches the surface. A woman of virtue is one who's adorning is of a quiet and gentle spirit. One who ensures her family thrives and is the envy of many. One who makes her husband forever thankful for her presence in his life. A woman of virtue is a typical Proverbs 31 woman. Don't enter into a relationship with the mindset to tear up a man's resources but to strengthen and bolster them.

CHAPTER 47: Quintessence Of True Power (Lessons From Jael); _Judges 4:6-22_

There are a few people we remember because of the gravity of their deeds. Some we remember a few times when the occasion calls for it. Some we do not even know they exist until we learn better. Allow me to reintroduce you to a lady who falls into the middle category. If you are not a bible student, you probably would not know much about her. A woman who's greatness we have only partly understudied over time. We will take a glimpse at what makes her a figure worth reckoning with. Join me and welcome, Mrs Jael Heber.

A brief introduction, if you may.

Jael, as she is popularly was the wife of an Israeli man who ostracized himself and decided to perch around the foe. More about them in Judges 4:6-22. She was the one who pinned the Chief Captain Sisera to the floor with a tent peg when he came into her tent to hide from Barak and the Israeli army, and thereby giving Israel victory. She was celebrated and remains celebrated a woman of power and great strength. But what makes her an icon of womanhood and how was she able to give Israel the victory in spite of her 'frail' femininity? Certain qualities we shall explore which I believe will make every lady folk out there to understand where their true strength lies-- not in fighting for recognition and dominance with the men but in just being a WOMAN.

  1. Hospitality

Jael was hospitable. Let's analyze it. It was war time-- a period when women and children stayed under cover at the comforts of their tents with doors shuts, opening only at the sound of their husbands and sons. However, Jael was not out for only her husband and family, her hospitality was widespread and widely known. Ever wondered why Captain Sisera did not run to his house or that of any other Cannanite woman? The fear of arrows and javelins notwithstanding she went out to meet him and welcomed him in as he ran for his life. The initializing power of a lady--sister, wife, subordinate--is in her hospitality. That endears many to you and that was Jael's first notable character. Many are by default nice only to some special persons and that's why it remains an attribute that must be pursued and imbibed. Remember Abraham entertained angels by being hospitable and that caused his wife Sarah to take in (Gen 18:1-10). Jael began her victory by being hospitable. Your breakthrough in an act of hospitality away. Seize it.

2. Kitchen Expertise

Before you bring up your argument of 'wife not cook', listen. We are exploring Jael's modus operandi for victory and one of it was her kitchen wisdom. Remember the story in Judges 4:6-22? Captain Sisera asked for water. He needed water. She needed him to sleep. So how did she reconcile both? Smart woman she was. She gave him warm milk knowing that although water quench the thirst, warm milk would shut down his hypothalamus and evoke sleep to a weary soul. Milk contains an ingredient called tryptophan which produces hormones that induce deep sleep. Smarty pants. Notice that she did not give him food. It would have done the same job of making him sleep but she resorted to milk. You know why? His greatest need was to quench thirst, not to douse hunger. But trust Jael: in spite of his order, she still sought a way to fulfill his bidding but still achieve her aim--lure him to sleep.

By this rather tricky act, Jael's showcased her knowledge of not only food and food items but the role, properties and effect of every food condiment. This knowledge helped her to 'mix food'. The average Nigerian home dwells on carbohydrates and when you ask them why, they would tell you that proteins are expensive. That is not a lie but it is not a valid excuse. The key is in learning how to incorporate foods with different nutrients in a tactful way. Once in church, the pastor asked the ladies if they could make a good soup with one thousand naira. It sounded like an uphill task to some but to some, it was very doable. The truth is that, one can never tell when these knowledge can and will help. For example, many agree that oranges are helpful in constipation but do not know that it is the orange roughage that actually does the job, and so they just squeeze the juice and keep wondering why the oranges are not working. In a webinar I was part of, we were taught that Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) was a helpful tool in infections that have resisted antimicrobial treatments. A lady confessed that she made ACV herself but never knew it had these effects.

Health will be less expensive for the family if women learnt to familiarize with their kitchen, not just in knowing how to cook, but in learning more about the properties of these food items. The Bible teaches that the leaves of the tree were for the health of the nations (Revelations 22:2).

Outside the literal kitchen expertise, this also means being proficient in what you do, in other words, learn your onions. Whatever your hands find to do, know it well and do it well. Jael's own was a lowly tent kitchen. Yours may something else but however lowly it is, know it ineptly and do it well.

Another thing is this: a woman must learn influence. She must learn how to fulfill the desires of the authority she's under and still do what she wants or make them do what she wants. This has undoubtedly been generally agreed upon as the greatest power of a woman—the power of influence. Jael employed it here. She did not insist on her choice but she still got the man to do exactly what she wanted him to do. For example, men like being praised. Everyone does, but it's more or less a gender-linked chromosomal propensity. Now, rather than scream the roof down while getting your elder brother to do a chore, try praising his 'strength and indispensability' and watch how like magic, he'll run at the whisper of your demand. It's all from the kitchen ladies.

3. Smart

Thinking of this reminds me of an old movie most of us are familiar with titled _COMING TO AMERICA_. The storyline starts off showing a 'marriageable' prince betrothed to a young lady. A time out with the lady to get to know her more met the prince frustratingly dazed with her answers of "Whatever you will, My Prince." Every question of her likes and dislikes ended with that statement. Ruffled, that sent the poor prince running to America to find a bride with a mind of her own. Nothing is as attractive as a woman with an explorative mind. Ask Jael.

Call her deceptive, I call her smart. Captain Sisera asked for 'a little water' and she gave him 'a bottle of milk' and the brother probably drained the bottle. Let's look at it in a different light. A man may think he knows what he wants, but it's your place as a woman to look beyond the peripheral speeches and find out what the man really needs...and furnish it. The Captain felt a little water would quench his thirst, but Jael knew that he was just putting up facades and that behind the macho man was a really hungry and thirsty body and a 'little water' was not going to get the job done.

A woman should be able to look at a man's words and know the articles yet un-worded. She should be able to look at that tromping manliness and see the little boy seeking for love. She should look and at the demanding boss and see the man tired of losing. Have a mind and use it. He gives you a seed, don't give him back his seed. Make a forest out of it.

4. Homemaker

Still gleaning at the feet of this young woman whose story spans only 6 verses of the bible (Judges 4:17-22), we are met with yet another quality--she was a home maker. I don't mean house wife, I mean, home maker. She created the environment she wanted, one suited for comfort. She wanted Captain Sisera to sleep and so, she fed him with milk, and covered him to sleep.

As usual, it's goes farther than just the house. As a sister, wife, employee, subordinate of any and every sort, you have the ability to create the environment you want if only you dig a little deeper. You can decide how the house or whatever you're doing runs without raising your voice. It's called wisdom. If you play your cards well, you can be in authority without the man in charge even realizing it. Captain Sisera actually, told her to stand watch for him. In this pitiable mind, he was dishing out orders and enforcing his will, but, nah nah! JAEL was the one in control without even looking the part. Subtly but surely, she created the environment she wanted to effect her wishes.

Women call the shots, if you're not doing that, you're under-utilizing your prowess. She does that without disobeying her authority, be it husband or boss. One of the best ways Christian ladies do this is by having intimacy with God and ensuring to marry a man who does the same. This is one of the best ways to create an environment of indirect control. So, if sometime in the future, the man is about putting the family in a disturbing position by the choice he wants to make, she doesn't rage and rave. She simply goes to the control room and presents her husband to his Father and creator. She stays humble and submissive and the man doesn't know why, but he suddenly doesn't want to go ahead with his decision.

We create the environment we want. We use our charm and influence and wisdom and inherent abilities to make things happen without raising dust. If your home is chaotic, you're a bad homemaker. If you have to throw tantrums to get what you want, you're far from being serious. You have what it takes. Discover it. Utilize it.

5. Strong

I shuddered to think of the magnitude of the power in Jael's biceps that sent the deadly blow as she drove the nail into the Captain's cranium. It must have been so great that it killed him at the very first strike else he would have woken up. Isn't it marvelous, such great potential hidden behind the estrogen induced suppleness of her cornified epithelium? She was neither too slow nor too weak, it was just perfect.

The strength of a woman can knock anything down--strength of character, personality, mind, prowess, emotions. Men look and are bewildered on how women can be that strong. Unfortunately, the women have no clue on the greatness of their strength, and so they try competing with men and with each other for supremacy. A woman should be strong, not hardened...big difference. She should be resilient, unflappable, unbending to pressure. If you slacken your principles for anyone, you're weak. If you crush over every Tom, Dick and Harry, your strength is frail. If you can't be held by your words, you need a character gym. If every wind tosses you, you have no roots, no foundation, not consolidation. If every temptation knocks you down, your biceps are atrophied. If every issue that comes your way sends you looking for what prophet to pray for you and what prayer house to go to, you have no idea what strength is. JAEL was strong. Women are strong. Find your strength in the SOLID ROCK and found your strength on the SOLID ROCK.

6. Silent

Apostle Paul in 1 Tim 2:12 told Timothy that women should be silent in the church. Many have misinterpreted this to mean that women should not be allowed to hold offices nor head anything major in the church. Many have also extended this misinterpretation into the secular and corporate world, insisting that women should remain at home and keep quiet in public. However, when we see women of God that the Lord is using for his work, and many more holding the forte of various secular offices, we cannot but shudder and reevaluate that thought. I recommend the book, _The Woman Question_ by Kenneth E. Hagin for a better understanding of this matter. However, with Jael, we easily appreciate that rare quality of SILENCE.

Usually, during wars, especially in time past, whenever the Captain or king is killed, the battle was as good as won. So Jael had killed the Captain Sisera and so it was not out of place to say that Jael gave Israel the victory they sought for. She did the heavy lifting of the job and as long as anyone is concerned, she deserved the praise and recognition that came with it. Jael could have run into the battle field to share the great news of how the Lord has used her to wrought victory for Israel, but she did not. She kept mum, and said nothing. Balak was only able to know because he ran past her house in pursuit of the Captain. She'd done the background work and never thought to blow her horn. Such virtue!

Now that is silence. Many ladies may not accept this, and this does not in any way teach that women should not accept applause for their efforts and contribution to society. However, there are many battles you don't need to blow your trumpets about. If you have to announce to the world that it was your idea that brought the breakthrough in your office, that's being loud mouthed. Even the scriptures admonish against self-praise (Proverbs. 27:2).You don't need to tell us that you are the breadwinner in your family. We are not interested in the information that you have been the one feeding your brother's family. Truth is, no one cares. They are only interested in the latest and hottest gossip. And if care is not taken, they always turn back to deride you for being so loud-mouthed. We know that women build the home, however you do not need to announce all the sacrifices you are making. Let the result speak itself. And you know the interesting thing? You still get recognized for that your input (Judges 5:24-27) if not now, then in time to come. Remember that she who exalts herself will be brought low but she that humbles herself will be exalted (2 Pet 5:5-6). Stay quiet. Be silent.

Thrilling experience isn't it? Jael's short story has given us a working guideline to make us better women. Question is this; would your life give others a lifestyle pattern? Will your stay in wherever you may be now give others a reason to want to be or have some quality that you possess? (2 Cor. 3:2-3). May the hand of the Lord perfect his will in us. Amen.

CHAPTER 48: Being Woman; _1 Chronicles 7: 20-24_

The opening scripture tells us a beautiful story. Joseph, son of Jacob had two children, Manasseh and Ephraim. Ephraim had a couple of sons but two of his sons were killed when they went to raid the men of Gath. It was such a burden for a father to bear. However he soon had another child named Beriah. Beriah had a daughter and it was recorded that she built at least two empires. This is such a twist from a society where the lady-folk have been thought to be second class citizens. This young woman named Sherah did not limit herself as a woman. She did not sit at home waiting to be married off. She did not sit and badmouth society for not treating her equally as a man. She did not even fight to be a man. She embraced her womanhood and maximized it, building empires.

Generally, the society is of the notion that there is just so much the woman can be and do. There are people who constantly warn women from being visionary and reaching to maximize their capabilities. They tell them that being too visionary and focus or ambitious will make them lose potential suitors. They are taught that men like their women subdued and 'humble' and have gone ahead to define humility as raising your head above the water only sufficiently to breath.

The male chauvinist society has pronounced the woman fragile, incompetent and inadequate. In spite of civilization and cultural exposure, among several groups of people, culture, religion and locality, the woman is still regard as a second class citizen. What is worse is that unfortunately, many women have bought this distortion as the truth about their place and relevance. They do not even know who or what they are or can do, nor the potentials encased under their fragile bone mass and adiposity. So they are content to live submerged, ineffectively, sub-maximally and in the shadows of their truest ability and capacity. But this is not the way of creation. This was not the plan or structure of from the beginning.

There is much more that the woman is and can do. The dominion mandate of Genesis 1:28 was given to the spirit, of which both male and female partake of. God has embedded so much in the woman, much more than herself or society can deem possible. Women must learn, not to fight with men, but to live their truest potential. Women must recognize that there will be a great imbalance in advancement if they do not rise up to their potentials.

If BC (before Christ) women build empires and 21st century women are building empires, what reasons have you whatsoever to live in mediocrity? You are a builder; you should be erecting empires and raising kingdoms. That's the level of ability you have as a woman. This goes beyond raising physical buildings. You should be constructing territories and establishing nations. You have potentials to be whatever and to do whatever you set my heart towards. Make yourself of worth and substance.

RELATIONSHIPS

CHAPTER 49: Achsah 1; _Joshua15:16-19_

He slew the last of the king's aide and then advance towards the King himself. The goal was simple. To take over the land as commissioned. And that he was determined to do.

The sword came down and the King's head dropped few meters from its body. Victory at last... and singlehandedly too. The head was heavy but he bore it as he tried to reach the camp before day break. He was not as anxious about the terrors of the wild beasts that roamed the night as he was about his prize for victory--the beautiful damsel Achsah.

Dawn crawled in rather too slowly, but he waited patiently. Amazing isn't it, how women work patience in men, make them do dare-devil endeavours and strengthen weak fibers of muscles and courage. His reward was his for the taking as the first crow was heard. Achsah's father handed her over to him as promised but little did he know that there was more to the package than meets the eyes.

She was pretty and everyone attested to that. Was he not the luckiest being on earth--having a governor and great warrior for a father-in-law? And to crown it all, the ravaging beauty he had as wife. It was worth the enemy King's head. He'll get some more heads if that was all it took. The package however came with other incentives and he was soon to discover them.

* * *

One of the best ways to build and train for discipline is to employ a reward system. The bible mentions that even Jesus was able to endure the pains of the cross and the shame that came with it because there was a reward waiting—the glory ahead. He did not come to die so that he can be glorified. He was already living in a realm of glory before he came down to earth. Throughout his stay on earth, he knew the benefits of enduring the cross but it never really motivated much. What drove his zeal and passion before the cross was simply his assignment and purpose of redeeming men to their original estate of fellowship with the Father. However, when the time for the cross drew near, and as he bore it, when the pain exceeded human tolerance, when the shame of God publicly displayed naked to and by mere mortals assailed, something else kept him—a foresight of the Glory ahead. Both for man and for himself (Philippians 2:8-11). And that reward system helped him pull through the process. (Hebrews 12:2).

Many people are more prone to employ the punishment system when trying to stimulate discipline and results from people. This is not completely out of place but the reward system is more productive and makes one do what they do with more deliberateness and dedication, rather than fear and tension. The view of a reward encourages one to put in every fibre of the muscle and resolve of the heart towards meeting a target.

However, you do not have to wait for anyone to reward you first. Build discipline by setting rewards for yourself. For example, you can tell yourself, "No movies till I am done studying these 3 chapters." Try it out. When the chip seems to be coming down on your resistance levels, remember that a crown has been set for you (2 Timothy 4:8). Reward yourself but make the reward come after a major breakthrough and you'll see that there'll be fewer projects swept under the carpet.

CHAPTER 50: Values; _2 Samuel 6:14-16_

There are a lot of things every wise person looks out for when they are on the search for a marriage partner. Now I don't mean tall, dark, handsome and financially bulky; nor do I mean fair, curvy, and a good cook. Those things are awesome but may not hold much water. The foundation of a lasting marriage relationship that brings both joy and fulfillment is not made of things as ephemeral as the physical bodily attributes. For starters, character has been proven to brave more storms than physical attractiveness. One of the strong foundations of marriage is that both parties share the **SAME** values, and possibly to the same _INTENSITY_. Why do I believe so?

The above scripture spot a very grave issue. David had just retrieved the ark after a failed first attempt. The success of it all was intoxicating. That aside, David was a lover of the Presence, and so the return of the ark was like the return of God back into Israel. The joy of it all was so overwhelming, and there was no better way to express his love, affection, and appreciation that to dance to his heart's content. Michal, his wife, on the sideline stood snaring at him. Why would Michal, his trophy wife, who even had to lie to her father for his safety, now stand and sneer at David and his public display of reverence to God? Mind you, Michal was a Jewess as was David; so it is not like she did not approve of the God to whom David was dancing. Could it be because, according to her, David was degrading himself before the maids and would not be regarded as highly as before? That she was concerned about his reputation and could not bear the possibility that her husband and king being spoken of with degradation and disdain in the nearest future, maybe the very next day? Maybe it was, but only on the surface.

As we delve deeper into an understanding of the root of their squabble, we realize that the problem was not really David's dancing. The problem was the simple fact that Michal did not share the same values of Reverence to God as he did. This was why she could not understand why he would make himself so degrading before people. For Michal, David was not conscious of his status and had failed to realize that he must portray dignity at all times, as king over Israel. For David, he was not conscious of his status because status was nothing comparable to reverence for God. Different values. He was deeply in love, and just like any crazy lover, he did not see anything untoward about his display of affection to his Lover. He was simply in hopeless and helpless abandon to the Lord.

When some men ask questions like, "Am I not good enough for you? Do you want me to be a pastor before you agree to my proposal?" I shudder and make them realize that they are good and awesome. The problem has never been their professing Christianity; it has always been on their values, and the intensity of those values. As a David, one cannot afford to end up with a Michal who would see your little expression of love for God as craziness. Not only would it raise occasional squabble, it can also water down or frustrate your values. A mismatch of values will bring squabbles. So, a man who believes in sowing dangerous seeds will have to face the wrath of his Christian wife who sees tithing as the highest form of giving, or at least, sowing within their comfort. A woman who decided to go on a week fast will have a battle with convincing her Christian husband that sex is part of the fasting, not just meals.

Having the same purpose is not enough. We could say that David and Michal shared same purpose in relation to ruling Israel, but their values were different.

Question now is, is it such a big deal when your values are different?

Um...yes! It is.

Your values are your defining factors. They are the building blocks of your decisions and the roadmaps of your life. They give definition to your essence and help you decide what is worth dying for, what can be overlooked, how you want to pattern your life and existence. This is why, values should more so, much more than ever, decide the type of person you settle down with. As neglected as it has become in recent times, it is of importance that you share same values with your better pair--views about God, honesty, intimacy, integrity, mode of parenting, education, money, savings, giving, spiritual authority, in-laws, discipline for the children, etc. if these things are ignored, it would backfires dangerously later in life. David blessed the congregation, but when he got home he entered a fist cuff with his wife, making him unable to bless his family and rendering Michal barren for life.

Your values should not only tally, their intensities should.

Love is a great pillar but then, it is only one pillar; and marriage is not founded on only one pillar. Supporting or being able to support ones purpose is awesome but not enough. No stone should be left unturned. Someone I know had a friend whose male friend who did not share equal ideas about parenting as she did. If every other thing checked out aside values, what do you think would happen? I'll tell you. He would counter every effort she makes in building her children aright not necessarily because he wants to fight her but because he cannot understand why she wants to be so 'old fashioned and churchy' about it. What happens next? Her convictions about parenting geared towards raising a godly seed (Malachi 2:15) would be defeated. This is outside the other scuffles the marriage will face as she continually sees her husband allow the children do things that break her heart, or downplay things she feels are fundamental to life.

Being a Christian is hardly enough, the values need to agree. Two cannot walk together if they do not agree (Amos 3:3). Different values that cannot be compromised on is the recipe for frustration. One believes an occasional travel vacation is an ideal revamp idea, while the other sees it as a waste of money. One believes that education is overrated and so has does not actively encourage their children in that regard, while the other wants their children to attain the highest achievable levels. One believes in a certain dress code for married women and the other cannot stomach that idea. Confusion is the end product.

This applies basically to one's core values. Marriage demands compromise, and there are some compromises that can be made for the general good. But if you cannot make a compromise on it, rethink that decision. A woman may want quality education for her children, and probably at that stage of marriage, there might be no money for private schooling. Opting for maybe a federal school is not a bad compromise. Insisting on the private university when you cannot afford on the other hand is not wisdom.

So do not be blinded by the folly of the butterflies in your bowels, go for value.
About the Author

Okore, Esther Igwe (aka Zoë) was born into the family of Dr and Mrs Iheanyi Okore Igwe, and hails from Ohomja Ututu, Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State. She had her secondary education at Ebonyi State University Staff Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state and graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University College of Health Science, Nnewi in 2018.

From her junior secondary school days, Zoë had taken a liking from the pen and has dabbled into every genre of writing bordering prose, poetry and play. In 2015, she stared an inspiring devotional on her social media pages titled Zoë Quiet Corner. Through that platform, she has been able to positively affect the lives of many. She graduated from PEN IMPACT WRITING ACADEMY, an email-based writers' training institute in 2018.

Zoë is an unapologetic lover and ardent and disciple of Jesus Christ. With a background laced with Christian values, she picked up the baton and has never looked back. When she is not writing, she is helping to make lives better and help abate pain and function limitation in the lives of her patients through her profession as a physiotherapist. Zoë loves to read books that enlighten and entertain her, especially on how to become a better version of herself and how to serve humanity better. An ardent proponent of Purpose Discover and Kingdom Advancement, she services her purpose and calling in every capacity achievable and spur others to do the same.

THE CHRISTIAN'S WALTZ through life is her first published book. This a writ containing time-tested biblical truths and principles that the believer needs to scale both in life and godliness. In your hands are but a fraction of the notes handed down to me over a period of time, and it has been retold in such a comprehensive and relatable way, while still housing the unfailing and unadulterated truths and principles. That is why this book comes in very simple applicable, apprehensible pictures, bridging the gap between comprehension and application of bible truths. This book is commissioned by the Holy Spirit and empowered to grant the wisdom and strategy to glide gracefully through the torrentuous world, to stream swiftly through the jazzed edges of failed humanity, and waltz confidently through life.

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