Rich Towards God? Part 2

“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he

said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luk 12:13-21)

The ground … brought forth plentifully. This man was a farmer, so he did all that a farmer was expected to do to get a good crop. He tilled the ground properly, planted some seed, cleared out the weeds, applied fertilizer and then waited for harvest. And it came in abundance. His thought process when the harvest came gives us an idea of who this man was and the verdict of the Almighty.

No appreciation for the great harvest. You only appreciate people for what you believe they did for you. This man had no need to appreciate God for the harvest because he did not think God had anything to do with it. As far as he was concerned, it was the result of diligent personal efforts and expertise. How about the rains? Ah that was a natural thing!

Some give thanks to God with their mouths for their accomplishments, but hear them talk later and you know what their hearts really believe – ‘I did it’! No man can receive a thing except God gives him. You can plant, you can water, but only God can give the increase. You can treat, only God can heal. A horse can prepare against the day of battle, but safety is of the LORD! Never forget this: ALL THAT YOU ARE AND HAVE COMES FROM THE LORD.

My fruits, my barns, my goods, my soul.  This man has something! It’s all about ‘me’. God does not give us things so we can take ownership; He gives us things to hold in trust. Man is a steward of God’s world. That was the way it was in the garden. Eden was God’s, Adam and Eve were stewards (caretakers). Since Eden’s fall man has slipped into a possessive animal holding on to mundane things. We don’t own anything. Naked we came, naked we go! When prosperity comes appreciate God for it and hold it in trust, using it only as He wills.

Conserve the harvest. This was one positive about this man though his motive was entirely wrong. Don’t waste the blessings that God sends your way. Some children of God are so wasteful. They believe God will provide, so they are so prodigal with what God gives them. Learn to save, invest and to multiply the wealth in your hands.

I will say to my soul, … What a man says to himself is so crucial, it reveals who the man is.

i.                    Life is not about having abundance of goods laid up for many years. Many folks are working hard every day accumulating things. Greed, pride and fear of the unknown is behind much of this. But the ability of a man to meet his needs in life does not depend on his net worth! A millionaire could have a billionaire need. Many want to keep wealth for old age and for great grandchildren, vanity!

ii.                  Life is not about ‘eat, drink and be merry’. A young one goes through school dreaming to come tops in their class. When that is achieved, he thinks of a great pay job. When money begin to flow in he gets cars, houses, wife (or wives), plenty of gadgets, more money stored up in high yielding investments. He can eat and drink what he wants, travel to wherever he wants, party with the high and mighty in society, etc. Is that life?

Thou Fool. Am so glad I did not call you a fool, Jesus did! Jesus did use strong language in dealing with people and we must not shy away from it. But who is a fool?

1.       He is a fool who forgets he will die one day. Many people refuse to think or talk about death. When we die we come face to face with our maker. Prepare for it more than anything else. Mercy time is now not after death. Forgiveness is now not after death.

2.      He is a fool who forgets he can die even tonight! What a difference it will make if we all do things with the thought that we might die tonight! Many know and think of death – but it’s far away, when I am 150 years old! If this fool was aware he was going to die that night, he would have acted differently. Whatever you know you will do if God tells you death is coming tonight do it every day!

3.     He is a fool who forgets that he came naked to this world and will take nothing out! Jesus asked ‘whose will these things be?’ No man takes anything with him when he dies. I see men spending so much on embalmment, caskets, tombs, cemeteries and all the sort when people die. Friends, it’s all a waste of resources that could benefit the living and Kingdom work! You take nothing with you so why all the struggle when you know it’s all going to be left behind very soon. The children you are living it for may kill each other over it or just ‘prodigal son’ it!

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” The Rich Fool is not alone. He has many siblings who are just like him. They lay great treasures just for themselves. They even use God to achieve their vision. Much of what people do on earth (even becoming church goers) is so that they can get treasures on earth. The wise are rich towards God.

1.       They make all the legitimate money they can make by all legitimate means.

2.      They trust in Jesus and not in wealth.

3.      They only spend on their bare necessities, living as pilgrims and strangers on earth.

4.      They don’t see the wealth as theirs, but God’s.

5.      They use the wealth as God directs to fund Kingdom Expansion.

6.      They prepare for the day of Jesus so that they will not be cast away.

Are you rich towards God? Please find a quiet place to meditate on this and talk with God. Shalom!

Rich Towards God?

“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luk 12:13-21)

Our Lord Jesus has a way of addressing issues that is sometimes baffling. In His encounters with men, He always addresses the root cause of issues rather than the surface symptoms. Here was a man seeking the powerful Teacher’s help to get what he felt was his right, instead he got a rebuke and a lecture. God looks at the heart and not just what a man says or does; hence he is able to answer to the heart cries of man. Come along with me as we reflect together on these thoughts.

What a man thinks is his problem is not the problem at all. (Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me)

This man came to Jesus with a simple request: ‘Master, help me recover my inheritance’. When a man has an opportunity to ask for something from a powerful personality, he would naturally ask for the important issue in his life. This man must have felt this inheritance palaver was the most pressing matter in his life. But Jesus thought otherwise!

What do you think is the most crucial issue for God to handle in your life? A husband, a wife, a child, a good job, a house, a car, healing…? You may be surprised if God should talk with you. For this man, Jesus discerned that his problem was covetousness. For you, God may be more interested is dealing with anger and un-forgiveness in your life. It may be some other manifestation of sin in your life. Generally, Jesus is more concerned about your soul than about your body; about your eternal fate than your earthly state. He thinks more about your spiritual state than your physical issues.

Saul ben Kish was looking for lost asses from God; God was looking for a King in Saul. Saul of tarsus was looking for Christians to destroy; God was looking for a preacher called Paul, the Apostle. What do you think is your greatest need?  I am so sure it is God Himself and not anything God gives.

 

What a man thinks Jesus came to do is not what He came to do. (Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?)

The man came to Jesus because somehow he felt his problem was one of the problems God sent Jesus to solve. Many people still don’t know why Jesus came to earth! Even His disciples thought He came to set up an earthly Kingdom. Others thought he came for free food distribution. He did not come to right every wrong, He did not come to stop every injustice. In fact He is not a Human Rights crusader. Jesus did not come so that He can help your favourite team win the World Cup in Brazil. He did not come to eradicate poverty. He did not come to stop all wars.

Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am chief! Yes he cares for all you care about, but he came first to save you from hell and take you to heaven, the rest they say in Nigeria ‘na jara’. It is only after he has done his main work in your life that he can attend to the ‘addendums’ or “AOB’s”. Jesus always puts first things first in His dealings with people. He has to be your savior (from sin) first before He can become provider and protector.

 

Life is not about abundance of possessions.

Human being generally rate men according to externals: beauty, dressing, wealth, power, position etc. The average man wants to have ‘things’ and to cling to them and to flaunt them. We feel ‘thick’ when we have ‘things’ that we know will make others respect or even envy us. This is at the root of all cravings. It is the foundation for materialism (the desire for material things-possessions). What makes Mr. Man covetous is that when he sees another man having things he does not have, he feels the other man is more important and no one must be more important than Mr. Man. If Mr. Man knows that life is not about possessions, that will make him less bothered about possessions.

So why did Jesus say He came to give life abundantly? Life is about knowing God, loving God and serving God! Life is about doing the will of the master Jesus. (John 4:34). This is what He came to give in abundance. Possessions are means for doing God’s will and not the end or reward of serving God. We don’t serve and worship Jesus to get possessions; we use possessions to serve and worship Jesus! Possessions are only good if they don’t possess us. To be possessed by possessions is the same as to be possessed by demons (mammon is a demon!).

Conclusion

When you don’t know your real problem, when you don’t know what problems Jesus came to solve, when you don’t know what life is all about, then you really have problem. Next week we shall examine the parable of the Rich Fool!

Prayers.

1.       Father, please solve my real problem and not just my perceived problems. Give me what I need and not what I want.

2.       Father, open my eyes to what you really want to accomplish in my life.

3.       Daddy, deliver me every form of materialism.

4.       Father, possess me fully so that what you give to me will not be able to possess me.

5.       In the name of Jesus Christ I deliver myself from every form of demonic possession.

6.       Lord God, please give me everything I need to serve and worship you effectively.

Anointed to Become!

There is something you are designed to be. You have all the potential to become that thing, but sadly you are not that thing yet. Such was Adam when God made him; his body was formed from the dust of the ground, he was a fully formed man, potentially the father of the Human race, but he was just a lifeless carcase on God’s workshop table.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen 2:7 KJV)

The angels came in to admire what a handsome creature God has made, but it was useless! Then God did something unique – He did a mouth to mouth resuscitation exercise on Adam’s lifeless body and the Man BECAME a living soul.

There is a wide gulf between what you are designed to be and actually becoming that thing. There is a world of difference between Potential energy and Kinetic energy. I am talking about the difference between been full of potentials and realising them. It’s about the gap between dreams, visions, ambitions, goals and their actual fulfilment.

What God did for Adam is what He must do for you. The breath that Adam received from God was the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When the anointing came upon the lifeless body of Adam, he became what God wanted him to be.

Joseph was a dreamer for much of his life. His dreams brought him many troubles. However, Joseph soon became another thing – an interpreter of dreams. This was clearly a work of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. One day Pharaoh saw that this prisoner-slave was full of the anointing and made him Prime Minister. Joesph finally became what God wanted him to be.

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Gen 41:38 KJV)

As the Lord God lives, this same anointing will come upon you and you will become what God intends for you to be.

David was a shepherd boy, destined to be the head of a dynasty of Kings (even Jesus is called ‘son of David’), but he was in the bush with sheep. One day, this anointing came upon his life and it began to propel him until he became ALL that God wanted him to be. Without the anointing, he would have died in the bush as a shepherd boy.

Elisha was a farmer turned prophet’s servant. Even the sons of the prophets had no respect for him. He was below them, they were prophets in training, he was their cook! However, the mantle (anointing) fell and all that changed – Elisha became! You too will become!!

Time will fail me to tell you of Peter, the fisherman. By reason of the anointing he became fisher-of-men. The scriptures are full the stories of men and women who became what God wanted, and the key was the anointing.

This week, seek to be anointed by Jesus Christ Himself.

Prayers:

1.       Father, I surrender myself to you, take my all.

2.       Father, please breath into my nostrils the breath of life.

3.       Lord Jesus, baptise me with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

4.       Daddy, anoint me until I become what I was born to be.

5.       Father, let all my great divinely inspired dreams and visions come through.

Remember God-NOW!

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” (Ecc 12:1 KJV) 
What it means to ‘remember’ God.

• Turn your mind to God
• Keep your mind on God
• Establish and maintain a vibrant relationship with God.
• Have faith in Him

                “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6 KJV)
Why youth don’t remember God

• Youth –restless (boundless energy), fun seeking, carefree.
• Bad examples from parents (uncommitted and hypocritical)

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”    (Eph 6:4 KJV)

• Bad examples from Church Leaders and adults members
• There is still time for God tomorrow.
• Youthful lusts – the pursuit of pleasure. “This is time to enjoy my life”

Why you should remember God now!
1.       He is your creator            “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psa 100:3 KJV)

• You don’t own your life.

2.       Only those who seek Him early find Him “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Pro 8:17 KJV)
“O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.”            (Psa 71:17 KJV)
3.       It is easier to learn and do the things of God as a youth.

• Timothy: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”(2Ti 3:15 KJV)
• King Josiah “For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.”(2Ch 34:3 KJV)

4.       It’s great to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to enjoy the power of God as a youth.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”(Joel 2:28-29 KJV)
5.       You need to remember God before the crisis times come.

• You need Him to help you make the right choices. Dan.1:8-9
• You need Him to fight your battles.1Sam.17:36-37;
• You need Him to achieve excellence in life. Dan 1:17; 2:46-49
• You need Him to build the character that will keep you at the top. 1Sam.3:19-21; Gen. 39:2, 8-9,23
• There are things you can’t do for God in old age. Lam.3:27;

6.        One day it will be too late to remember God.

• You could make irreversible mistakes.
• God could give you over to a reprobate mind!- Rom1:28
• The wounds of irresponsible living could be healed, but the scars will remain. If you complicate your life too much, repentance later in life will be full of regret and pains.
• Judgement day is coming, faster than you think.

“Be cheerful and enjoy life while you are young! Do what you want and find pleasure in what you see. But don't forget that God will judge you for everything you do. (Ecc 11:9 CEV)

On Becoming a Champion

1Samuel 17:23-51

Pastor E A Adeboye, defines a Champion as “the one who remains standing after a battle.” In this life we all face and fight battles. The winners are called Champions or Victors; the losers are called Failures or Victims. We have to choose what we want to be when the battle is over. If you choose to be a Champion then you need to know what you need to overcome. There are lessons to be learned from David, the champion over Goliath.

The response of the Crowd to the challenges of life (verse 23-26). Life is full of challenges: economic, spiritual, social, satanic etc. A Champion must face each challenge and emerge victorious. You will notice that the crowd of soldiers at the battle front had one response to Goliath, the challenger – fear. They all fled fearfully at his presence. David responded differently and so must you if you want to be a Champion.

The reason we don’t have so many champions is because only few choose to act differently when confronted with Life’s challenges. You don’t have to think, say and act the same way as everyone else. You don’t have to dress, talk and walk like every one else. Be YOU and I’m gonna be ME!

The jeers of those who don’t believe in you (especially from your family) – verse 28. One battle every one has to fight is the sneering laughter of sincere but doubting friends and family. David’s brothers were the first to tell him off on his quest to become a champion. “Get out of here, you can’t do this, this is no child’s play” I wonder where Eliab was when the women were singing the praises of David after the death of Goliath.

Until you refuse to listen to those folks who don’t believe in you, your life’s plane will not even take off. Notice that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him (John 7:3-5, 10), so were Joseph’s brothers (Gen.37:4-5, 8, 11). Don’t hate them, but ignore them. Don’t fight them; learn all you can from them. Don’t copy them, be different and soon you will be celebrated.

The opinions of experts and authority figures. (verse 32-37). One amusing fact of life is that many so called experts are actually ignorant people. Does Saul actually know who is qualified to fight Goliath? Why has he not recruited the man up till now? I remember a Lecturer telling us we could not pass Stat101 back then in University. I passed along with 8 others out of a class of about 160. Most of my mates failed on that first day of lecture because they believed the expert!

If we had listened to experts, there would be no Aeroplanes, no faster computers, and no cars speeding above 60km/h! Someone refused to listen to experts that’s why you have ‘facebook’, ‘google’ etc. So you want to be a Champion – listen to my expert advice – YOU CAN!

Old methods that have no value today. (verse 38-40) Why would Saul give David the weapons that could not fight Goliath for 40days? What worked yesterday may not necessarily work today. David rejected their old tricks and found a better way. Most times, the experts would have us do it the way they did it. “This is the way we do it here” anytime you hear that you need to be very careful, else you will fail the way they have always failed! THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER WAY.

The content may be the same, but the packaging can always change. David found that this was not a battle of javelins, bows and arrows but one of stones and slings! Think, pray, study and meditate, God will give you ideas to defeat your Goliath.

The intimidation of your challenges (verse 41-48). Life’s challenges can be intimidating. I recall my first examination in Primary 1. It was a verbal exam and I went to ease my self many times before I was called in to face my teacher. Now I know that reciting a,b,c… is so easy, then it was intimidating. I suggest to you that every challenge you face is as simple as a,b,c! That is after you have won.

Before the battle you have to refuse to be intimidated. Goliath wanted to intimidate David and win without a fight, but David roared greater intimidation back at Goliath. You have to learn to intimidate the Devil and every challenge you face. The student who enters an exam hall chanting ‘I’m going to make an A’ is most likely to do better than the one who goes in trembling at the thought of an ‘F’. No matter what comes your way, say it loud ‘I KNOW THAT I CAN MAKE IT’

Kill your Goliath! (Verse 45-51) Whenever you meet a Goliath, cut his ugly head off. That’s the only way to be a Champion. Goliath is anything that you have to defeat in order to be a Champion. If you face an exam, finish it up at the top (the head!), if you face a temptation to sin – cut it off. Don’t go for half measures. Why didn’t David just knock Goliath unconscious to teach him a lesson about pride, as in, not despising someone because of his size? Goliath will learn that lesson in Hell.

You have a friend luring you to sin- cut him off! You have a habit preventing you from becoming a Champ – cut it off. Laziness, procrastination, loquacity, anger… CUT IT OFF!

What on earth is God doing?

WARNING: IF YOU DON'T HAVE STRONG TEETH TO CRACK BONES PLS DON'T READ!

I am becoming increasingly disturbed by the negativism that fills comments about the issues that matter to my heart: the Church and the nation (Nigeria). Let me just share my thoughts and leave the rest for you to ponder and may be comment.

1. God is at work in every generation and really we can't hinder God. We talk as if our generation is the worst since Adam. Remember Sodom and Noah's days before that. Remember Nimrod and Babel.The earth has and will continue to know evil till Jesus returns. In the midst of that evil, God's light continues and will continue to shine. To focus on the evil so much that we are blinded to what God is doing is a mark of ingratitude.
2. Perfection will never be attained on earth. If it were possible, God will not promise a new heaven and a new earth. One day God is going to be done with this world and will then wipe it out. When I see imperfections in People, Governments, Church organisations etc it only reminds me that we are called to prepare men for heaven and not to perfect the earth. So I REFUSE TO COMPLAIN UNNECESSARILY!
3. The Church is too precious to be constantly battered. If you constatntly tell me and others how bad my wife is, even if you are right I would soon hate you. The Church is the Bride of Christ, let's love her and pray for her rather than condemn her regularly. By the way I am part of that Bride, so polish me rather than constant rebuke. I've learned with my children that folks learn by encouragement more than by constant rebuke.
4. The way some of our Brethren talk about Leaders in the Church, you would think they were telling God, 'I'm the only one still doing right on this big ball'. Remember Elijah and the hidden Prophets! Boy, be sincere, you're not perfect, so stop insisting that others must be perfect. Again, by constantly criticising Church Leaders (many are actually spiritually sick!) instead of praying for them, we forget what God is doing on earth. He has not abandoned His Church. You know what? I'm still shinning my imperfect light at Osogbo and it's driving some darkness away! Celebrate that.
5. Now about the nation. Who's the leader we can trust? We criticise each one. Let's make YOU the next President! I would not Vote for Me! I Pastor a Congregation of about 1500 (including Children) and it's ... HECTIC..what else? I Pray, Fast, Teach, rebuke, encourage, cry,... and wait! Those who lead at home know leadership is not easy. The Bible commands to pray for those in authority, let's do that. The critic role is not for me. Which Nation would you like Nigeria to become like? America, UK, Canada, Dubai,Japan,... your answer makes me laugh! NAIJA FOR LIFE!
6. So when am upset about what is going on in the Church and Nation, what do I do? Pray and if possible offer constructive analysis and proffer solutions. And do that with humility, fear and trembling. Sometimes I see a tinge of arrogance in our comments. e.g It's very easy for someone who is not a Pastor to criticise we Pastors. One common criticism is that I don't make my church to be Missions minded. Like I said earlier, I wish they were, just as I wish they all knew Jesus and had a closer walk with Him. I'm doing my best (whatever that is) and leaving the rest to God. So you pray for me and send your loving advice.
7. I've been studying about revivals and praying for one since I was a teenage young believer. I'm still expecting one. But would a revival cure all the ills of the Church? My studies don't prove that. In fact it could increase our problems. More converts to disciple, more pretenders to deal with (suprised?), more poor at the doors of the church looking for food and clothes. More sick folks needing Pastor's prayer. Those will be good problems, but problems are problems. So I continue to pray for revival. Much more I pray - Lord Jesus come. MARANATHA!

Built To Last

BUILT TO LAST

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luk 6:46-49)

The life of a house is determined by its foundation. The questions of how strong the house is, how long it will last, how high it can go etc, are answered at the foundation. The foundation is the load bearer; it is the sustainer and the shock absorber of the house. The glory of a house is not in how fast it came up, its external beauty or the landscaping but in the quality of the foundation.

The nature of the foundation is determined by the nature of the soil, the load the building is expected to carry and the external forces it is likely to confront (e.g earthquakes, storms, flooding etc.) A swamp for example, requires a stronger foundation than a rocky ground. Also a skyscraper does not use the foundation of a bungalow! Foundations can be expensive in terms of money, time, materials and men.

Every endeavour of man is comparable to a house e.g an academic house, financial house, marital house, career house, spiritual house an on and on you go. In fact, your very life is a house that is being built. Each house has a foundation which determines its final outcome.

We need to build strong Foundations.

1. The soil is soft, dig deep till you find the Rock! Friends, Family, Governments, Money, America (checking out), etc are all too soft to build lasting houses. They fail too often. Recently, banks, companies and even whole nations are being bailed out financially. I guess it is easier now to understand why we should never, build our life houses on anything but the Rock- JESUS!

2. The external forces are fierce. (Floods, earthquakes, storms etc)

If all conditions are perfect, we mat not know the difference between a weak and a solid foundation. It may take many years, but eventually a storm, flood, or an earthquake will come. What is left standing is the only proof that it had a solid foundation! Physically speaking our generation is beginning to experience adverse climatic conditions resulting in earthquakes and floods, storms, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions etc. Figuratively speaking the same thing is happening to lives of men and women all over the world: retrenchment, meltdown, demonic attacks, marriage breakdowns, career somersaults, trials and temptations. We can only survive if we have a solid foundation.

3. The load determines the foundation. If you want to build a bungalow, you don’t dig 20ft down to lay a foundation. If you don’t plan to rise high to the top of life, you may afford a weak foundation. If you wanna be a sky-is-the-limit personality, then you’ve got work to do. You must dig deep into the Rock, fix your roots right deep into Jesus so as not to be brought down at the height of success and achievement.

Weak foundations will crumble under pressure. That’s why you see some so called good men fall when they rise higher. The character cracks will widen as you rise and eventually bring you down, close them up now. The weak traits will get weaker as you climb up until the fail completely, bringing down a Champion. Make your foundation solid now.

The Foundation is to hear and obey the Word of God.

Even young people have experiences they like to share with their younger ones and it pains them when those younger ones won’t listen. Many times we experience failure and pain and want to spare others from going through the same by advising them. However most people won’t listen, preferring to experiment on their own, sometimes with disastrous results. The reason you stop a child from touching fire is because you’ve been burnt before.

This man is the oldest on the block; he knows just everything, everyone, and every place. He is the strongest, wisest, tallest, richest…, Jesus is he! To listen and obey him is the coolest you can ever be. Come on, it’s better to listen to the most experienced and carry out his instructions than to go it on your own and risk destruction.

Imagine a boy who got a toy with clear, written instructions on how to assemble and use the toy. You got the rest correctly, he did it his own way – to hell with instructions- of course he damaged the toy. Your life is not a toy however, and it’s going to be too costly to toy with it. Follow the instructions!

Great was the fall!

Buildings frequently collapse in Nigeria and the blame game involves substandard materials, poor design, incompetent supervisors, cutting corners and either the absence of building codes or not following the existing ones. As a Pastor I’ve seen huge sums of money wasted on a Church building that collapsed as we tried to roof because the Civil engineer was inexperienced and failed to follow the standards.

Some houses fail and fall several years after being in use. The foundation is always the culprit and it all goes down to not following the rules. I pray for you that your house will not fall in the mighty name of Jesus. This prayer can only be answered if you stick to the rules of building the house – obeying Jesus at all times.

There is the written Word in the Bible and the spoken one through preachers, godly books and even by hearing from God directly. Seek to find the word, much more seek to obey it. That is a solid foundation.