Faith

The Church is the training ground for Christians who hope to meet with the Bridegroom.

Our learning institutions are the training grounds for men and women who will one day oversee the affairs of their respective countries and the world. So, likewise, the Church is the only training ground for Christians, who hope to sit at the banquet table with the Bridegroom. But, for that to happen, each one must follow God’s curriculum. And even though nobody has a clue of what it must be like to occupy the same physical space as their maker, the Holy Scripture provides us with plenty of examples of what we should not expect. 

For example, delinquency and poor planning are not acceptable. And human beings are prone to showing up late for important meetings. After a period of familiarity, most of us often get complacent. 

Tom Paige got laid off from his well-paying job. And for two years, Tom had to do odd jobs to help make ends meet. Then the tide suddenly changed. Tom got another well-paying job that he was excited to do. Tom Paige was always punctual and never missed a day from work three years. But things would soon change.

After learning the ins and outs of his job, Tom noticed that most of his coworkers never showed up for work early. So, instead of being an example for others, Tom decided to fall in line with everybody else. As a result, he would eventually lose his job for tardiness. Tom Paige’s predicament reminds me of the parable of the Ten Virgins Jesus tells in Matthew 25:1-13. The five foolish virgins lose their chance to meet with the Bridegroom because they failed to plan according to God’s blueprint.    

Is your Church Failing?

Scripture: Joshua Chapter one

Businesses fail all the time. But, often, it’s not because the product is no good; instead, it’s because of poor management. Sometimes the old ways of running a business become outdated, but the ancient guardians refuse to clear the way for fresh ideas and new leadership. We live in a changing world, and unless we adapt to the changes, we will be left behind.
Like a business, many Churches fail today because of the above reasons.

God establishes leaders to fulfill his plan, and he will bring success if we follow his appointed leaders. But leaders don’t lead forever. There comes a time when even God’s selected must step aside and ask God to establish a new leader.

God chose Moses to lead his children out of Egypt into the promised land. But a journey that should have taken months took them forty years. Finally, the people rose against Moses, and Moses dug in his heels. Moses was on his last leg when the people cleared the desert, and all the old guardians had died off.

After the death of Moses, only Joshua and Caleb were left out of the old leaders. The Bible says God appointed Joshua to take the new generation across Jordan and into the promised land.

Pride aside, a good leader knows when to pass the baton.

Do You See Your Challenges As Too Enormous To Handle?

Every one of us will face challenges we think are too enormous to handle from time to time. But that mindset is a recipe for disaster. As children of God and followers of Jesus Christ, in particular, we must remain forever bold and confident that with God on our side, all thing is possible.

For example, let’s focus on a young scranny Sheperd boy named David. Although he was too young to join King Saul’s army, he was bolder and more confident than the entire military. The army saw the Philistine Goliath as an enormous giant that no one could defeat. But David thought otherwise.

The Bible says, “And all the men of Israel when they saw Goliath, they fled from him and were dreadfully afraid, (1 Samuel 17:24). But David did not see Goliath as an enormous giant. Instead, he saw him as a lion or a bear because David had encountered lions and bears while watching over his father’s sheep. And David was confident he could destroy Goliath. But King Saul didn’t think so.

“Now, when the people heard David’s words, they reported them to Saul, and he sent for David. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of Goliath; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:31-32).

“And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth.”

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them. Who does he think he is defing the armies of the living God.” Moreover, David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”(1 Samuel 17:33-37).

In the end, David slew Goliath and proved to the people that everything is possible with God on their side.

Where does Faith come from?

How can Faith be increased?

The Word say, “Faith comes by hearing , and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Since this is true, Faith increased as believers filled their lives with the Word. Hence, believers have so little Faith to exercise because of the lack of the Word of God filling their lives. So, the more Christians exercise themselves in Scripture; the more their Faith will grow.

There is one disclaimer to this rule, some believers make it a ritual to read the Bible, some even memorize it, but their Faith doesn’t seem to grow. Does this nullify the truth that the Word of God brings Faith? No. The Bible says, “it is not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). 

It also adds, “It is the spirit that quickened; the flesh profited nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63)

Exercising oneself in the Scripture without the illumination of the Spirit is less effective or, like the Bible say, ineffective to increase Faith. 

God always confound the wise to protect the faithful

Scripture has taught us that if we are faithful and true to God, He will deliver us from harm and danger. Hence, the reason why David, the Old Testament Patriarch, wrote in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through a valley of death, I will fear no evil.

The story of the three Hebrew boys depicted in the book of Daniel is yet another example of God building a fence of protection around those who loved Him.

When King Nebuchadnezzar flexed his muscles and ordered three Hebrew boys thrown in a furnace-because, they refused to bow to him or worship his golden image. He thought they would serve as an example for others who disobeyed his orders.

But when the King walked by the furnace, he saw four men in the furnace walking around in the fire. Nebuchadnezzar was naturally confounded. But you needn’t be because you and I will never know what God will do to protect us; all you need to do is trust Him.