Integrity: another facet of unity

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken... And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (Eccl 4.12; Mk 3.25)

We are quite familiar with these verses, especially when it comes to dealing with marital or church issues. I particularly use, unity or agreement, call it what you may, as a tool for knowing GOD’s will concerning certain matters. I will pray and ask GOD to answer me through my husband, and then I will submit the matter to him a first time. If he is not hot about it, I usually wait a few more days or weeks, depending, and I will bring the topic back on the table, without really insisting.  If his reaction still hasn’t changed, I drop it or have a third and final attempt a few weeks later. After this all, if GOD has still not changed the heart of my ‘boss’, then it’s obviously not His will and I move on without regret – I just want His will to be done, don’t I? Someone will say, “Yes, but what if it’s really GOD’s will and your husband is just hard-heartened and doesn’t want to submit to it?” I will say this:  

1. GOD wants me to submit to my husband in ALL things (Eph 5:24). Even if I’m about to go to church and my husband refuses that I go, I must stay home and prepare his dinner without grumbling. I have to win him by my meekness and conduct (Phil 4:5, 1Pe 3:1 & Nu 30:11-13). If I go to church nonetheless, that’s rebellion. If I stay home and call him all sorts of names under the sun, I’m just a foolish woman. Do not be fooled, that is the Bible! 
2. No one can stop GOD from doing HIS will. If it is really GOD who has laid the matter in my heart and if He wants it done, as I think, no devil –and certainly no husband– can prevent Him from doing that.

Now, let us leave that aspect of the division of a house. The LORD has opened my eyes on another one, which is very subtle but very destructive. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, a habitation of GOD by the Spirit (1Cor 3:16, Eph 2:22). In other words, I am a house and this house cannot be divided against itself, lest I perish; lest I destroy myself; lest I do not stand, i.e. lest the wonderful plans that GOD had for me (Jer 29:11), never come to pass. How can I be divided against myself?

When my lips do not say what I think and my mind doesn’t want to acknowledge what is really in my heart. When I make a broad smile and say: “I’m happy to see you”, whilst my heart speaks of things which are pointless mentioning here. When I sincerely hope for a promotion, but I join in the office gossip and backbiting during tea or lunch breaks  – to look cool. I can multiply the examples, but I know you got the picture. In so doing, I may think myself smart, but the only person that I am wronging is me. Indeed, every time I behave in such a manner, it is as if my spirit, soul and body are going in opposite directions or singing from a different music sheet. How can I move forward (progress, succeed)? How long will it take before everything crumbles down? Hence the importance of integrity when we reflect on the power of unity. The Collins dictionary defines integrity as the quality of being unimpaired; soundness; wholeness. It is being true and one with oneself. Listen, even if nobody loves you and everybody fools you around; you ought it to yourself to love yourself enough to desire to prosper in every area and withstand. Let us be true and in perfect harmony with ourselves.

Have a great week in HIM and a lot of success. 

And what if it was you (II)?

1Sam 17.39, David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. 'I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them.' So he took them off.

Last week, I said that whenever a people or a person cries out to GOD, He answers by sending them a messiah, i.e. someone who is especially anointed for the task – anointed to bring good tidings to the poor, bind up the broken-hearted, set the captives free and proclaim a year or period of grace, favour and rest, from the LORD. 

David was such a man.

For days or weeks, the army stood in front of the Philistines, petrified; and the whole nation was facing extermination or slavery, when David, who had previously been anointed by Samuel, walked into the battlefield.

He first tried to use Saul’s weaponry –the best at the time– but it didn’t work. So, he took his sling and a few stones/cobbles, with the outcome that we know. Goliath, the terror of the peoples, was defeated and slain.

The anointing is the special mantle or tools that the LORD gives us when He sends us to bring salvation and deliverance to a people or to someone. 

Sometimes, those people will try to convince us to use the very best and latest technologies available; but we should stick to the unconventional means that GOD has given to us. In any case, if those are truly the ‘ultimate weapons’ and they are experts in using them, why then are they in that situation still? Physician, heal thyself!

As for you, dear reader, what do you have in your hand (Ex 4:2)? What are the gifts, skills, and unique qualities that you have received from GOD? Are you making good use of them or are you busy trying to manage with someone else’s tools? Look cautiously around you; someone greatly needs them today. You are GOD’s solution for the salvation or the deliverance of one or many people. 

May GOD bless and empower you. Have a fantastic week in HIS Presence.

And what if it was you?

Jg 3.9, But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. 

A few centuries earlier, the children of Israel had also cried out to the LORD and He had raised and sent Moses to them. There are many other biblical and non-biblical examples like that, such as Mandela. Without falling into the traps of secular humanism, which has misled many, we must recognise and understand that Man is GOD’s response to human misery. Whenever a people or a person cries out to the Creator, He answers by sending a man or a woman to them; a deliverer, a saviour, a messiah (someone that He has anointed for the job).

We know this – most of us – and we like hearing it. We like the idea that GOD is going to send someone to take us out of our misery. Someone who will give us a job; or give us money; or who will invest in the business venture which has been dear to our heart for years. Someone who will help them go to Europe etc. 

Anyway, I wont be long today. The Bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Ac 20:35). Why must you and I always be at the receiving end? Why can the eyes of the LORD not stop on us after going to and fro throughout the earth (2Chr 16:9, Zech 4:10)? Why can the Spirit of the LORD not be on me as well, as one anointed “to bring good news to the poor; to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour, to comfort all who mourn and give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit?” Why can I not be the one who builds up the ancient ruins; raises up the former devastations and repairs the ruined cities which have been devastated for many generations? See Isaiah 61:1-4

Today, Dr Myles Munroe was supposed to host a Global Leadership Forum; but he died yesterday in a plane crash, along with his wife, his daughter, and six other passengers whose names are not yet known or mentioned. May their souls rest in peace. However, this tragedy reminds us of two things:

1. We do not know the day, hour and circumstances of our grand exit: Let us be always ready to meet our Maker.
2. We are not really that equal in death. Everybody is talking about Dr Myles Munroe, and accessorily his wife and daughter; and yet, there were six other Christians in that jet. Hmm… Dear friends and readers, it is high time we begin to produce long-lasting fruits and live significant lives by becoming GOD’s solution to someone or to many. Enough of consumption! We have been fattened enough. 

Have a great week in Christ Jesus and GOD bless you.

Come to think of it, is He even there?

And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him… Luc 2.43-45

This is incredible, isn’t it? How can parents, worthy of the name, can forget a twelve-year-old child in a city? And the first son for that matter! If the child was a bad boy, one would think that their forgetfulness alluded to a desperate psychological need of a break; but he wasn’t. What could have been more important than children, especially at the time? Normally, Joseph and Mary should have first checked that all the children were present before taking the road back to Nazareth. And yet, as unbelievable as this seems, this is precisely what some of us do on a daily basis. They hit the road and embark on all sorts of adventures, without making sure that the most important person in their lives is indeed part of the journey. 

Has Jesus entered your boat this morning? Or yesterday? Or last week, when you decided to do this or that or go to that place? Will He be part of the fun later on or tomorrow, as you carry out with your plans?

Many Christian live their faith by proxy. They have lost sight of Jesus and simply hope that those tagging along with them can still see Him. Jesus’ parents could not see him, and yet, they continued with the journey, hoping that he was somewhere in the group. Likewise, it’s now been a while that things are not working on that road of yours. You can no longer see GOD; but instead of turning back to find out where you have lost/left Him, you'd rather move on with your plans, head first!

Joseph and Mary looked for him amongst their relatives and acquaintances. Nothing is working, and yet, you don’t want to go back to the source. You’d rather use shortcuts. “Please, tell me, what shall I do? What do you think GOD wants from me?” My dear, you will not find Him here, because the fact that we are together right now means that I’ve equally left without Him! I am as lost as you are. Like Joseph and Mary, we both need to return to ‘Jerusalem’. It is written: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent” (Rev 2.5). 

I pray that this week will be one of new consecrations and new starts. A week when we reset EVERYTHING –projects, relationships, businesses, decisions etc.– and say, like Moses, “LORD, henceforth, if Your presence will not go with me, do not bring me up from here” (See Ex 33:15).

God bless you.