Bread And Wine

Matthew 19:20 (NKJV)
“The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

What’s the best way to end a month? This is crucial because ending something well may have impact on starting something else well. First, I believe it should be with gratitude. The Psalmist says, “Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.” (Psalm 66:8-9, NKJV). Being alive today has been by the grace of God. Celebrate life! Much more, celebrate the giver of life.

Second, it is good to end the month with what I call the “big question”. This is derived from the story of the young, devout man who came to Jesus. He wanted to know the way of salvation. He had explored the avenue of the rigid, legalistic path of the Pharisees to no avail. That’s when he asked “what do I still lack?”. This is a sincere question. It is a question from someone who wanted his lot to change. This is a question for every one who wants to make progress.

We are already one-third through in the year 2009. All things being equal we should also be one-third through our things-to-do list for the year. If peradventure you have done what you know but still do not come any near your goal, you may need to ask the Maker, “what do I still lack?” this should not be done with a despondent heart, because God can make for the lost time and fast-forward your life in the remaining segment of this year. But go to the Lord with sincere question. And be ready to take grace to act in every area He would point to you.

FURTHER STUDY: ACTS 9:1-6

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for bringing safe far; make me fit for all You have for me the rest of the year.

2 Samuel 5:24 (NKJV)
“And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

Things on earth are often correlated with things in the heavenly. In the fight of the children of Israel with the Amalekites, Moses was on the mountain with the rod of God while Joshua wielded the sword in the valley below. Every time the hand of Moses was lifted up Joshua prevailed. And whenever he drooped because of weariness, Amalek prevailed. That was why Aaron and Hur had to arrange to stabilize his hand until Israel fought to victory. Happenings in the spirit realm can determine the course of events here on earth.

This point can be further explained in our passage today. David fought the Philistines first immediately he was made king over the whole realm. But the philistines did not succumb. They came up again. When David enquired if he was to go up as the first time, God cautioned him. This time he had to wait for the sound of the marching troop in the tops of the trees. That would be the signal that God would go ahead of him to fight his battle. He followed instruction, and roundly defeated the Philistines the second time.

It’s good to wait for “the sound of marching” before we venture out. There has to be movement in the spirit realm before any major result can be recorded here on earth. When there is momentum in the spirit there is energy released for accomplishment.

FURTHER STUDY: PSALM 89:1-15

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, make sensitive to the goings in the spirit.

James 1:19 (NCV)
“My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily”.

Reading through the Book of Proverbs the fool is cast in a pitiable frame. But there are two instances where the foolish have an edge. The foolish have an edge over self-conceited people. “The most stupid fool is better off than someone who thinks he is wise when he is not.” (Proverbs 26:12, GNT). The other edge is shown in Proverbs 29:20; and this is the focus here. “Do you see people who speak too quickly? There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.” (NCV).

It is in the light of this that the admonition of James comes to the fore. We are encouraged to listen eagerly, speak sparingly and slowly, and use anger with utmost discretion. The scripture is clear on this: whenever words are many, transgressions are not lacking.

It is discretion not to speak to quickly when we have heard some things. Reason? It is because more often than not, there is the hidden part to most things you hear. And answering a matter before it is fully heard is adjudged to be foolishness. David failed in this at least twice. Ziba the servant of Saul who tended to Mephibosheth joined the sympathy train after David ran from the plot of Absalom. On sighting him David naturally asked for the disabled prince. The servant lied against his boss. In a fit of anger David converted all the estate of Saul to this lying servant. He did not get to know the hidden part of the story until days later at which point he tried to undo the wrong. On hearing Nathan, David in anger passed judgment on the man who cheated a hapless person before he realized he actually judged himself.

Before you speak or get angry, beware of “the hidden part”.

FURTHER STUDY: PROVERBS 19:1-11

PRAYER
Dear Lord, don’t let me self-destruct through indiscretion.

Proverbs 17:24 (The Message)
“The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.”

I have witnessed this at least on two or three occasions. One was in Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria. We packed our luggage out of the hotel into the vehicle. But the driver could not locate the gate pass. Frantically, he went back into the room to search without success. He searched through his pockets without success either. Strangely he lifted his Bible in the front seat of the car and the blue disc fell out! It was in the Bible.

The second occasion directly involved me. This happened when my family and I lived in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. I drove to the office in the morning. And as I busied myself with one task after another, so grew the piles of materials on my table. With files, books, and Bible open I didn’t know when I buried the car key within the pages of the Bible. When the day’s job was done I couldn’t trace the key. All efforts were directed to everywhere but the Bible. In frustration I zipped up my Bible in its cover and abandoned the car in the church premises. Of course, I trekked some distance before get a public transport home that night. It was not until I opened my Bible mid-way into the second day that I discovered the key.

These stories illustrate the point of Proverbs 17:24. Most times the answer to our questions is right within the pages of the Bible. But we have been deceived to think it is elsewhere. That is why many believers would consult sources other than the Bible. In real truth, the Bible should be the first port of call, not the last that we make it.

FURTHER STUDY: JOHN 5:24-39

PRAYER
Give me grace, Lord of Heaven, to make your word my first focus.

Matthew 27:51 (NKJV)
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split”.

The Lord knows how to cut short the skeptics in their track. Imagine if the water pots at Cana of Galilee had water it before the wedding feast ran into shortage of wine. The world would not believe that water was turned to wine. But the pots were empty; and servants were engaged in filling them up. No one could gainsay that miracle of the wine.

The same thing is what we can make of the passage today. When Jesus yielded up the ghost the curtain of the temple was torn into two, from top to bottom. If it had been from bottom up it could be read as a product of man’s manipulation. Given the fact that the curtain was massive, and that it was torn from top to down, there is only one conclusion: it was the finger of God at work. What God will do in your life will go beyond debate. When the lame man was healed in Acts 3 the face of the establishment wanted to rubbish it; but they could not. They said, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.” (Acts 4:16, ESV). There is going to be a repeat of this kind of testimony concerning you.

On another note, some things can only be handle from top to bottom. Think of reforms in a nation. The best place to begin is the top. If the leaders would not change, then the followers will have no good example to follow. And on a personal level, think of those things that you have tried to tear off from your life but have seemed like hand in glove. Look up above. The supernatural hand of God can work out deliverance for you.

FURTHER STUDY: DANIEL 2:1-11, 46-47

PRAYER
Dear God, do for me what neither me nor other man can do.