THE GOOD SHEPHERD... GLEANINGS

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

GLEANINGS.....

Matthew 18:12

"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?"

Jesus's parable in this chapter beyond its other lessons, further illustratres the importance of the one sheep. That regardless of the ninety nine safe in his care, he risked "the mountains" with all its drawbacks just in search for one. 

Now let's ask ourselves a crucial question...

Will it be economically safe for the shepherd if he goes home with the present 99 of 100, instead of 1 of 100?

Will it not be physically safer for him to get home safely than been maimed by the unexpected wild life lurking on the mountains?

But the Good shepherd is not after number, he is expected to get all the sheep home. As he would have done for the 99, the same is expected and meted out for the one. No one is bigger or more important than the other. 

Today, I find it hard to understand how a minister can be invited for a meeting and his own major concern is the numerical attendance before he accepts the invite. This situation forces the host to be pressured into lies and fabricated proofs (Pentecostal witchcraft) to appease the guest minister. 

Personally I had this experience with a notable minister in this country, who I connected to a group of students that needed his presence to minister in their meeting. When he arrived and saw a handful in the meeting (not as he expected), he grudgingly ministered and later sent me a message that I dishonoured him. Intact he kept this grudge for some time. 

Oh Man Of God!!!.... Are you  driven by the spirit of the good shepherd or by the spirit of pride and ambition?? 

Can you risk the mountains for the sake of one? 

As a messenger your concern should only be to the quality delivery of your message. Our so called statistics concern today has deep underlying questions our soul has failed to answer. 

May God make us accurate stewards of grace, not men pleasers but to the one who sent us. 

Let us pray🙏🏿🔥

Rev Sorochi Adiuku 

Don't forget your Wilderness

Don't Forget Your Wilderness! 

Behind every success is a story. A starter street to every Star. Every man that climbed into limelight today that we see and love all had those crucial moments of their lives that formed the texture of the expression they have become today. 

Moses was such a man! 

A prince that escaped Egypt as a refugee, self-exiled into a foreign land. A land to say a mile off in comparison to where he came from, is a drastic understatement. He was a prince of Egypt and a potential heir to the then world power. But heaven thought different! 

Destiny drove this once high and esteemed man into Midian and he soon found himself a sheep herder in the desert. Not just an ordinary desert but the back sides of the desert, it felt as though he had hit rock bottom. How did a once king maker find himself in this position. But it was written in aeons now captured in time because a man yielded. A deliverer in the making... A King's man fractured and mended in a fashion that can be relaunched back into Egypt to break pharoah's stronghold and discipline the principalities of that land. 

 

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb" 

(Exodus 3:1)

There is something called "the backside of the desert"..... It is a wilderness protocol where princes are forged. Though he led the flock, he was out of his depth, out of alignment in the shepherd's curriculum affairs but it was a wilderness path that was the only route heaven needed to propel him to Horeb.....the mountain of God!

There are protocols of encounters that can only happen through the pathway of the wilderness. Every man that became a rod in the hand of Abba were accustomed to these paths. For Joseph who eventually ruled in the land of Egypt, scriptures showed his path....

"Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him"...

(Psalm 105:19)

The wilderness will test you. It will keep you grounded by administering discipline and control to the very excesses that limited you. 

Do you remember days when even though finances didn't add up, you were determined to please God in obeying him despite the prevailing circumstances?

When you had to give to help others despite the fact that you were managing to keep up?

When you converted the hardtimes and cashless situations into fasting seasons inorder to improvise and to you it wasn't a burden rather you rejoiced in Christ and counted no offense. 

When it was as though no matter how much you tried, men bypassed you and mates seemed to be on faster trajectory than you. You felt forgotten, rejected and left out. Yet you converted the shame to currency that forged an inner strength for prayers.

Days where even though God didn't show up and your answers seemed a distant mile away but yet you kept your station and never withdrew your knees in prayers. 

Days when it was easy to lock up yourself away from friends and neighbours to seek the God that dwelt in secret not just for breakthrough but for him to show you his face and even if it's for half a chance you might see his face. The awesome days and nights that his presence precipitated on you and brought tears to your brows as you sustained the "that I may know you" posture. 

The days when all the comfort of this world, the bank account, the delicacies of food, warmth of the pillow and bed, couldn't suffice a deep hunger you have for him and nothing can satisfy that deep that crieth and pants for a depth on his presence could feel. You could die for just one breathe of his refreshing presence. 

The days when you never knew what fame, limelight and stage was. Honorarium was never in your vocabulary nor dictionary. You preached in season and out of season without compulsion. All that mattered to you was his divine approval, relationship and presence. 

They were days of pain, lack, discomfort and relegation but you kept believing, trusting, praying, obeying, loving and daring, submitting, living and hoping that your redeemer will be your reward. 

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel..."

(Luke1:80)

When the days of your showing comes, do not forget your Wilderness. Those days forged you!!! They must not be trivialised. They must not be seen as affliction that have been overcome. It was a season that midwifed your emergence today. Your coming to Horeb wouldn't have been possible if your paths through such dark forsaken alleys of the backside didn't usher you in.

Horeb... The place of encounters! Where the Shekinah blazes, the glory of the immortal one was revealed to end the leprosy and serpentine nature of man in order to forge a man, a rod and a hand that will break Pharoah for good. 

Quit shouting revival, portals and dimensions, value your Wilderness and die the very death that is required for you to live the life designed and fulfil the destiny written. 

For most of us , these deaths will be an ever present event until the end of our journeys here on this divide. Like Apostle Paul death kept working in him inorde that life will be sustained through his vessel. 

Oh Minister of God, have you forgotten your Wilderness so soon because God has favoured you in many areas??? 

Your present preachings has negated the very protocol by which you emerged. 

How can life be sustained in the absence of deaths??? 

Let's go back today, The Horeb horizon beckons only for men who has walked the backsides of the desert.

May God supply the grace required as we sustain the impact of these routes and navigate paths that bring us to encounters. 

Have you forgotten so soon???

Lord have mercy and help us!!! 

Your brother,

-Sorochi Adiuku. 

Oh Watchman Arise!

Oh Watchman Arise! 

Isaiah 21:11

The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

Every burden has a voice. it is the voice of that burden that cries and communicates to you the pressing challenge of heaven over the land. If you hear nothing nor see anything in the area God has domiciled you it might be a clear indication that you are not a custodian of the territorial burden. 

Here we see a burden of dumah. Please note that Dumah here is another word for edom which is a city that originated from the house of Esau. So it means every territory has a burden over it. And it is from the voice of the burden that heaven communicates to every of his Watchman. The voice was crying from seir. Seir is one of the prominent mountains of dumah. If you are not on the mountain, which symbolises your watchtower, how can you hear the voice??? 

Many watchtowers have been vacated and cold. Men who watched these territories are no more on their duty posts. The voice of the burdens of these towers are screaming out loud day in, day out and it echoes into the empty darkness!!! 

Watchman, WHAT OF THE NIGHT!!!!

There is a crucial time that heaven is more particular about in our territorial engagement, it is the Night!!! It is easy to watch by day. It is easy to be busy when men have nothing to lose, when no sacrifice is required. It is easy to feast your eyes on the goings on and not be at any form of unease. But it is in the night that darkness thrives. The kingdom of darkness will propagate evil when men are in the deep of the night. Jesus said it was while men slept that the enemy planted the tares. 

The Night is the true calling of the Watchman. When comfort comes beckoning, when it's not convenient to keep watch. When no one can actually check your diligence, when you are exposed and left alone. When all you see is darkness and nothingness, when the sound you hear is dead silence and the howls of owls and jackals. That is the time heaven wants watchman to stand guard. 

There is a voice crying out over our land. The burden of this voice has not been engaged for kingdom benefits, rather it has depleted our numbers. And strong men has slept. Where are the men who held consistent watches and by their cry the gates of the city were opened and sustained? Functionaries who operated in these towers before now has cast of restraint and even though the voice of the burden over these lands are crying, no man has responded. Many have slept!

Africa has a burden, Nigeria has a burden, Imo state has a burden, Owerri has a burden, your village and family enclave has a burden. How much of the voice of this burden have you heard??? How long will the angel of your territory cry and wait or should heaven look for another? 

As a Watchman, your voice is the authority over the territory. Do you notice how easy it is you glide in prayer and touch heaven when the heavens over your area are opened, but when your duty post is left vacant, the same heaven now seems like sealed brass. The day you stop crying that day the lampstand over that land dims and fades. Angelic presence are weakened, darkness runs riot and demonic marauders are free to unleash hell and treachery in that enclave. Have noticed a rise in unrighteousness in the land? Has the minions of darkness gained the boldness and advantage over our grounds, has authority in decision making been removed? Who are the enforcers Manning the gates now???....Check oh Watchman!!! Your post is vacant!!! Check to see how your strength has been marginalised by comfort, food, carnality and carelessness....The Angel still cries...Watchman what of the Night??? 

"And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

(2 Samuel 11:11)

But thank God that this watchman was alert on his post....he answered! 

"The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come." (Isaiah 21:12)

Despite the think darkness and stretch of empty hopelessness that existed, the watchman's frequency was top-notch. He said....THE MORNING COMES!!!

A true watchman will see into the night to extract the strands of the prophecy hanging over the territory. It is the heralding of the morning. Where darkness gives way for the glorious dawning of a new day. 

YOU ARE GOD'S WATCHMAN!!!

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me." (Ezekiel 3:17)

Dust yourself, recover thy strength and Stand your guard. The morning comes over this nation, over Nigeria, over our families and over our children.

I charge you with these words below....

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8)

And the words of the song writer...

Christian! seek not yet repose,

Hear thy guardian angel say;

Thou art in the midst of foes;

Watch and pray.

Hear the victors who o’ercame;

Still they mark each warrior’s way;

All with one clear voice exclaim,

Watch and pray.

To ARMS OH WATCHMAN!!!

Grace & peace be multiplied to you in the place of prayers. Amen 

THE URGENT NEED FOR DISCERNMENT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" (1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV)

One of the end time occurrences will be a falling away of believers. And the reason of this will be as a result of "seducing spirits and doctrines of devils". So it becomes imperative that the end time believer must as a matter of necessity and urgency be equipped with sound and accurate discernment so as to forestall the onslaught of the devil in these last days.   

The fundamental definition for Christian discernment is a decision making process in which an individual makes a discovery that can lead to future action.

The claim that only God reserves the right to judge a matter or a person because of his sovereignty and omni-science attributes is conclusive and absolute in itself and biblically correct.

It is due to this attribute of his nature that he grants every believer the capacity to exercise this attribute by investing his Spirit in us. We will be deficient in ourselves to make wise judgements outside the Holyspirit. Hence the bible says....

John 14:26 KJV

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 16:13 KJV

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

1 John 2:20 KJV

But ye have an unction vfrom the Holy One, and ye know all things.

The instrumentality of the Holyspirit in us is not just a companion and a friend, part of his major functions is to afford the believer the ability of access Supernatural information. Note that the verses above does not refer to the Gift of discernment which is an exclusive gift giving to some believers by the Holyghost for discernment. So every believer regardless of whether he or she has the gift of discernment or not has the Holy spirit in them which affords us the ability to know things that we cannot know naturally. 

Now let's drill the matter.....

If the Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and we see sin practised in a place or by someone, do we say only God can judge him and not bring the gospel to the person? By preaching to the fellow, we have already predetermined by his works that he is in sin and needs a saviour. Hence by the works of a person relative to the position of the word of God we can make conclusions. If someone asks why we are preaching to him, simple answer...he is a sinner and needs Jesus. What if this fellow continues in his sin what happens to him? Do you answer...i don't know because God judges all things and i don't have the authority to determine his end? 

This school of thought that casts off all reasoning by adopting the slogan that God is the one to judge negates the ministry of the Holyghost in tbe life of the believer. It makes the believer prone to deception and to lack the boldness to accept and use the authority of the inner witness of God through his Spirit within us. The slogan is a dangerous precedence and we refuse this in all its ramifications. 

What we refer to as discernment in itself is a judging instrument. If you can discern it, then you have judged it. Judging in this sense does not mean that one has the power to reward right or wrong on the account of the person or matter in question, which is the prerogative and position of the sovereignty of God alone, but this judging is in a sense that you can make an accurate decision to accept (or refer) a thing or not, whether a manifestation is right or wrong or whether a man is right or wrong. The position of judgement we are not authorised to make is the reward position. Only God holds this right 

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be". (Revelation 22:12 KJV)

If we as believers accept every doctrine, every minister, every ministry or every manifestation on the basis that we cannot judge another, we have negated the supernatural ministry of the Holyghost that aids accurate judgement. Even Apostle Paul was able to discern false prophets and teachers of his day....

2 Corinthians 11:13-14 KJV

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

The question is by what Authority did Paul use to determine that some are false?? It was by spiritual discernment and also evident from the works of this men. Why didn't he say "no comment" or i reserve my right to conclude on these people of their status in Christ. But rather he quickly discerned what they stood for and openly called them out. 

When Elymas the sorcerer operated to hinder the gospel in Acts 13:6-11, Apostle paul discerned his works and rebuked him. In verse 10, he said...

"And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, i thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness,"

He even went further to release the judgement of God on him and he was made blind. By what authority did he make this discernment or pronounce this judgement? It is also important we note that ability to discern does not afford one the office of doing corrective ministry. Corrective ministry is a grace and a calling. Every christain should have the ability to discern but not every christain should hold the office of bringing correction. 

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

There's a high level of deception in the body of Christ today not just in this country but in the world at large. Every manifestation in the name of Jesus has been adopted to be true all in the theology of no man is allowed to judge. And the devil runs rampant in our congregations. The average believer doesn't even know what to believe, what is right or wrong, what is accepted or rejected. So where then is the work and ministry of the Holyspirit? If we don't grow up now and mature in the understanding of Spiritual things, we shall soon have occultic grandmasters, wizards and all erroneous entities on our pulpits and because they work miracles we shall believe them and accept their deceptions. 

Accurate and true discernment must return to the body of Christ if we must fulfil the end time mandate of the gospel and raise accurate disciples for the kingdom. 

I had an argument with someone lately about the accuracy of a certain notable minister in this country. I asked him....do you believe in the manifestations and ministry of this prophet? and his answer was....i cannot judge another man or judge God's servant. I went further to ask him....can you refer or approve a young believer or disciple of yours to join such ministry or man in order to learn the ways of Christ and be confident that he or she will grow to maturity? And his answer was....i don't think so. This answer summed up our arguments. Apostle paul made a stern warning to the thessalonian church, ....

Quench not the Spirit. [20] Despise not prophesyings. [21] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. [22] Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 KJV)

The word "prove" in the above in order versions can be reffered to test, verify, ascertain, checking out and discern. Proving all things is a discerning ability and grace. And it is only possible by the ministry of the Holyspirit. He must not be quenched either in our lives nor in our congregations. Also these gifts or abilities must not be despised. When this is adhered to then can we be able to abstain appearances of evils that bedevil our generation. 

The sign of true christain maturity is the ability by the help of the Holyspirit to make accurate decisions in matters that one in his natural position cannot achieve. The more we interface with the Holyspirit the more we are brought into dimensions of understanding and we have the ability to know things, discern things and can be guided rightly. 

OBEDIENCE: THE PROOF OF SONSHIP

OBEDIENCE: ThE PROOF OF SONSHIP

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" (Phillipians 2:5-11)

The season before us brings to bear a unique consciousness of an ageless story of sacrifice that brought immortality to life and life to immortality. A reality that shaped existence and changed the paradigm for eternity to come. With humanity at the centre of this exchange, adequate perspective is brought to bear as we seek to forge a partnership to bring to pass an eternal plan hidden from the begining of times. 

In this context we see a different perspective of the route Jesus had to take to fulfil his sonship ministry on this part of the divide and arrive at Lordship. That in fulfilling the will of his father for mankind, he had to go through a process.

That process was called the "HUMILITY PROCESS". Humility not in the context of man's definition, but that of the father. He had to be subjected to 4 different levels of submission (see verses 6-7).

4 LEVELS OF SUBMISSION OF JESUS (In order to fulfil Divine mandate) 

1. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"

(Another version states...He forfeited his form as God. He didn't equate it as robbery). Never felt cheated or short changed by his father. 

**and was made in the likeness of men:.....

There were other possibilities and  realms of glory that will befit a king but God chose that of man 

 

**which was the form of a servant ("Slave" MSG version).and the implication of that nature was that it's a "servant nature". Here we find one of the essential components of the make up of man, he was designed to be a dependent spirit and service driven creature. (Gen 2:6)

In Genesis chapters 1 & 2, we saw the dual dimension of man's priesthood as ordained by God for Adam by which an extension of the heavens can be revealed on this part of existence. 

Gen 1:26 revealed a priesthood whose sphere was over all the creation and the earth he was to rule. No spirit being was mentioned in this scope. Meaning the devil excluded. 

While Gen 2:15 revealed another Priesthood but this one of guardianship (to keep) and service (to dress), hence to God he was a dresser & keeper. 

2. "he humbled himself",......

The standard humility is not the one we expect to be remote controlled to do, God is not a tyrant. He didn't bully his son into submission. We chose who we obey freely and just as Adam chose rebellion, Jesus chose obedience. Hence, Humility in the context of kingdom, is the one we impose on ourselves by an act of our choice in exercising our will to participate in Divine agenda.  He had every opportunity & capacity so to do but he chose not. Don't let God humble you!!!

3. "and became obedient unto death",.....

Our obedience is to some certain degree but how many has death in our obedience agenda. To Jesus obedience to God was total. If he avoided this process, he will never have been able to deliver those who were bound by the fear of death, hence salvation will be incomplete. Death is the cessation of life, no reasonable God will request that from his subjects but that is the ultimate price required. Because in the eyes of the immortals it's in death that one actually begins to live. It is he that keeps his life that loses it. You have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. 

4. "even the death of the cross"....

A demeaning kind of death. An insult to mere mortal talkless of royalty. Death reserved for criminals. A shameful & mentally irreversible way of exiting the earth. The devil thought the manner of death was intended to erase to ensure that his exit will erase any memory of any previous glory he exhibited. But the king chose this route because it was needful he died in a certain way, howbeit, the way of the cross so as to bring to bear all that heaven intended. A son of God dying shamefully so that sons of men can rise above shame and have stature before the father. 

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11)

If there was any doubt before now, it became clear that The "CROSS" is a technology that promotes. This is how men rise in the kingdom. This is where stature is formed. By this act of selflessness, Jesus secured a name that has the capacity of a widened jurisdiction. 

What is our responsibility to this depth of sacrifice. It is expected of us to cooperate to ensure this sacrifice was not in vain. So beyond just confessing Christ as Lord, we must go beyond salvation to ensure that his lordship is entrenched in the economy of our spirit. It will be the height of irresponsibility for us to respond in any wise lower than this. This would be our reasonable response as sons as we seek to bring divine pleaser to a merciful God that sacrificed all for mankind. 

Let's make him both LORD & KING!

Do You Have A STRONGHOLD?

DO YOU HAVE A STRONGHOLD?

"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David". (2 Samuel 5:7)

As soon as David was made King over all Israel, the first thing he did was to secure a strong-hold. This is a  wisdom we need if we must maintain the stability and outcomes that David enjoyed during his reign as King. 

"David made the fortress city his home and named it “City of David.” (The MSG version).

Every king needs a stronghold. Every great Anointings have a chamber. That chamber is your stronghold. Throughout the life of David, he was anointed 3 times and every one of those anointings, he had chambers that acted as support for his calling and for the grace he carried.  

In the first anointing, David had the cave of Adullam (1Sam23:14), 

in the 2nd anointing, he had Hebron (1chron12:22-23), 

and in the 3rd anointing, he had Jerusalem which is defined as the stronghold of zion. 

Every great anointing had a chamber. This was witnessed in the life of many servants of God historically. Moses (Ex33:11-23), Elijah (1kgs17:1), Samuel (1Sam3:19-21). Jesus had a chamber (Mark1:35), and of course the Apostles too (Acts2:42). 

"Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race". (Psalm 19:5)

It is your stronghold that reinforces and supplies the strenght to run the race of life and to compete. It genders a momentum. It is a support structure that affords the anointed man the boldness to stand and engage a venture. Do you sense an anointing or calling in your life?? Then build a chamber for it. Don't be defenceless. Don't abandon life to chance. You are a wanted man and that rare gift of God in your life must be secured. 

Strongholds are not handed out, they are taken. It must be secured.

In verse 6, we saw the resistance he faced to secure that space. The jebusites who resided there then refused him, but he still took it.

"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David." (2 Samuel 5:7)

The "Nevertheless" means he faced resistance but finally prevailed. 

Setting up a stronghold will always face resistance. The devil will fight it because he knows the power & security that one will gain from it. If it will involve seeking him when it's pleasant and unpleasant, do it. If it will involve fastings for inner strenght and focus, do it. If it will demand a word for the now, seek that voice like never before. If it will demand periodic shut downs for Spiritual check ups, start it now. The support system you set up now will elongate your life and influence as you journey to fulfil that great call on your life. 

Things To Note!

*You BUILD your stronghold!

"So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward." (2 Samuel 5:9)

He not only secured a stronghold, he built it. Your stronghold should be developed. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes consistency. No chamber is a gift. It must be cultivated and worked on. Sometimes one might need to learn from other matured and experienced ministers and apply wisdom. This is where mentoring comes in. 

BENEFITS OF STRONGHOLD

*Stronghold genders GREATNESS

"And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him." (2 Samuel 5:10)

Greatness is pedestaled on the Spiritual energy generated in the hold. The stronghold or the chamber if sustained and maximised will generate greatness. Show me a man who failed in his assignment, and I will show you a man who had no support structure. A rolling stone that failed to draw from a sustainable resource. Men who become great and sustain same in life and ministry were not ordinary men, they were men who had stronghold. 

"And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house." (2 Samuel 5:11)

Notice that the greatness attracted KINGS. Hence when you see men succeed and garner favour in ministry, it is because they latched onto a resource base that they took time to build. 

*Strongholds will reinforce the CONVICTION of your assignment in strange times

"And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel," (2 Samuel 5:12)

To fulfil one's call, a perception is needed. This perception is an inner knowing of conviction that reinforces your mind in times of  distress. Either in high/low times. Pressure comes to every person, whether high or low. A time will come when it will seem as though you are alone and in that time your convictions will be tested. It is from the resources of a strong hold that perception and a strong innver convictions are built. Don't give up or give in to the machinations of the devil. Draw inspiration from his presence and hold on to that word. Don't doubt what he told you in the secret. 

*Strongholds are RETREAT & STRATEGY points

"But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold" (2 Samuel 5:17)

Just like strong-holds generates influence & greatness with King Tyre etc, it also attracts the Philistines ("all the Philistines"). Let me pause here and say... Not all days are for receiving gifts, be prepared to also receive attacks. They can be reffered to as the evil days. They come to test the authority and authenticity of a man's position. The difference in these times will be a man's stronghold. In the case of David, he had a hold to retreat to.

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5)

*Strongholds afford us the ACCESS & FEEDBACK protocol. 

"And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." (2 Samuel 5:19)

It was in the strong-holds he was able to enquire of the Lord about the battle strategies twice and got feedbacks. We enjoy fire-brigade approach in the times of distress. Despite how far we are from God, we always expect him to move heaven and come down because of a sudden challenge. And why not? As a merciful God, we get his response. But the way of the patriarchs such as King David was to build a resource base where he interfaces with God regularly and can get a word for the present for any confrontations of life. 

We can start again today and trust that as we intend to sustain the anointing and calling of God upon us, we, as a matter of necessity must find the elbow room known as a chamber where we can apply as the spring board to higher heights in life and destiny. 

Shalom!

THE TWO ALTITUDES (PART.2)

THE TWO ALTITUDES (PART.2)

1 Kings18:41-42

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

In the first part of this series (the part 1), we saw in vs42, that two men went up, Ahab to eat and drink and Elijah to the top of Carmel. Which revealed the altitudes of life. One is an altitude to tables, and the other, an altitude of prayers. The fact remains that in the end, the latter altitude ruled the day. 

We also stressed that the implication of God releasing a sound to us will employ us into taking an intentional high intensity engagement with heaven to bring it into manifestation the expected rains. 

Let us look closely into the prophetic angle to an altitude that mattered and in turn ruled the ordeal. As a christain, we must understand that accessing the invincible realm demands that a high level of faith as this is a spiritual realm which is basically governed by Spiritual laws. Hence, if as a Christian, you lack the ability to understand Spiritual things and walk in them, it becomes a hurdle to receive from the same dimension.  

"And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, [43] And said to his servant, Go up now, look..."

(1 Kings 18:42-43a)

From the above verses, we can see that it was from the posture of the prophet that he gave his servant the instruction that brought the results. Elijah practically spoke with his face between his knees. This implies the following;

1. There was no eye contact with the servant

2. There were no physical visual contact with his environment that could trigger a distraction to his gaze and form a bias. 

3. A face between the knees will also limit one's hearing abilities. 

4. His physical posture also wasn't pleasant so his mind wandering had some form of limitations from the painful disposition. 

Note that the scriptures here is not promoting a new doctrine about prayer posture. Since we are aware the the old testament is a shadow of the new testament, it means that if we must achieve results through the ministry of prayer, we must ensure that whatever Elijah did to orchestrate this intervention must form a part of our approach to securing same through our personal Altars. 

We must not allow the helpless view of our present situations to dampen our inner receptacles. If we look at our predicament as a Nation and where we are now,  one might wonder if there can be any solution. Our possibilities looks so bleak. It's as if we seem to have lost any hope that this can happen. All natural senses and technicalities of our know-hows will be futile to us. The physical surrounding sounds too and what men are saying about our condition. Our wandering minds can be well under check by the pain of our positions too. When the gaze is on our spiritual radar which is aligned to the sound of an abundance which we have recieved in our spirit then we stand a chance to recieve feedbacks that can change the present Spiritual reality of our position as a nation and even individual challenges which is just but a sound in verse 41, to the manifestation we see in verse 45, 

"Things happened fast. The sky grew black with wind-driven clouds, and then a huge cloudburst of rain,..."

(1 Kings 18:45 MSG version)

In the translation above, the process was somehow accelerated. Things will have no choice but to happen fast. A lot of us have prayed so much about their present situation and the country's predicament until it feels as though we are cursed to remain perpetually in this quagmire. As though God's ears are now shut to our prayers because of our excessive sins. No Sir! The issue is that we can accelerate our answers and secure heavens attention only if we have locked into heavens frequency without distractions. That inner sound must echo louder than all externals.  

Soon enough, the sky will grow black with wind-driven clouds, and then a huge cloudburst of rain. And we shall be satisfied. 

This is our utmost desire. It is not found on the altitude of tables. Rather, they are accessible on the altitude of Carmel. Those who refuse to make this peak will not weild the expected results. This posture is a must, if we must ascend to draw resources from a realm so close to us but yet seems far. 

It is time to PRAY!!!

Shalom