FAN INTO FLAMES

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (II Timothy 1:6)

Being productive, cannot be separated from taking steps towards achieving it.

We would recall, that the parable of the talent described three people who were given talents and while the first two invested what they were given, the third person did not. At the end of the day, those who were productive got rewarded and promoted while the guy who did nothing with what was handed down to Him, ran into a major loss.

From our text, we realize that Apostle Paul was communicating a vital message to His protégée Timothy. More like saying “Hey, understand that certain virtues came upon you when I laid hands on you, but you have the responsibility to make productive use of what you have gotten”

It is not news anymore, that we all are gifted in different ways, the point of emphasis however is, to what extent are we making productive use of what was handed down to us?

These nuggets sums it up:

1. A gift not explored, cannot produce excellence, nor position one for exploits.

2. If Jesus had to work in order to fulfill that which He came to the earth to do, and as He is, so are we, then we must leave the talk shop and start working.

3. A gift neglected, at best remains crude and like crude oil, when not refined, might not be of purposeful use.

#Wisdomforliving

©️Victor Senu. O

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DISARMED!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (II Corinthians 10:3-4)

And so they brought forth their strong reasons against the woman found in the very act of adultery. An offense which when committed based on the provisions of the law was to be met with being stoned to death.

These guys by all standards had valid reasons why this woman was to be stoned to death. They had hard evidence that could not be faulted and as far as they were concerned, there was no how this woman could escape the death penalty. But on getting to Jesus, the narrative changed!

Our journey through life without a doubt is bound to come face to face with challenges many of which might even have valid reasons for bedeviling us.

However, we must remember, that just a single response from Jesus disarmed the accusers of the woman and marked a new beginning in her life altogether.

Jesus is still more than able to turn things around in our favor today if only we learn to adopt Spiritual tactics to issues of concern and stop trying to handle things by our might or technical know-how.

In closing:
1. Our best form of defense logically is nothing compared with what happens when a Spiritual tactics is deployed.

2. If we minus Jesus and His finished work on the cross, some of the attacks we face might have some valid grounds. To enjoy triumph, we must stay connected to Christ.

3. Since One Word from God has the capacity to still the toughest tempest. shouldn’t we rather rely on Him?

It’s a joy to have you make it to the month of November, rough as it might appear, it’s obvious that only grace brought us thus far. I pray greater grace for a Triumphant ride through the rest of 2018 in Jesus name. (Amen)

#Wisdomforliving
Victor Senu. O

EXCUSES

The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the streets!” (Proverbs 26:13)

I recall a poem with the title *“Lazy bone”*.

This fellow, always had an excuse prepared to avoid doing anything he was meant to do.

The humorous part of this poem, was scribbled in the last line where the same person was told *“Food was ready”* and his response was: *“Wait a minute, I am coming”*

We must understand, that Laziness might not exactly have the same definition at all times, this is because the context in which it is viewed, determines whether or not laziness is being displayed.

However, ready-made excuses for things to be done, is the beginning of laziness.

It is important to also note, that the moment we give excuses for responsibilities, we are indirectly suggesting, that we are not interested in advancing.

Without a doubt, there would always be a million and one reasons to avoid doing the expedient.

And rather than find a way around it, if we simply shy away from it, we are most likely suggesting our preference for a life void of any significance. A posture contrary to God’s design for us.

These summary should come in handy:

1. Excuses paralyzes our chances to attain greatness. To enter into God’s best for us, we must deal with excuses head-on.

2. Excuses has the potential to exempt us from a life of excellence. To standout, we must consciously push beyond our comfort zones.

3. The difference between those who do the extraordinary and those who might not, is the former makes moves despite it’s seeming impossibility.

4. We must watch it if we always put forward an explanation for failure. Our lives are meant to be progressive, something that requires due diligence to occur.

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

TESTED YET TRIUMPHANTT

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

Life, with it’s many challenges, dimensions, trials to mention but a few. And to think one would ever come to a point where one won’t have to go through any of such things would perhaps be a wish that might not be realistic enough particularly in this world.

We should appreciate the fact that Jesus who is our savor and to whom our every authority and many privileges is credited, never lived any moment of his life while he was here without having to deal with one form of challenge or the other.

One thing however, remains a constant for each time he had to go through any challenge, He came out triumphant. In all honesty, you would agree with me, that while we are faced with one difficulty or the other, it is always easy to focus so much on the issue at hand that we forget, that even Jesus was faced with many hurdles at different points of His journey, but NON of them, ever succeeded in putting His back to the ground.

Jesus lived a life where he experienced trials and challenges here and there, but He was ALWAYS ON TOP OF THE SITUATION. We must always put to heart the fact that as He is, so are we in this world.
These summary should help:

1. Whenever we find ourselves in what appears like a crisis situation, we must always remember, that Christ came to deal with such issues holistically in order to pronounce us Champions.

2. We are triumphant because we were at some point tempted or perhaps seemingly trampled, but Jesus gave us a way of escape that helped us defeat such situations once and for all.

3. Under normal circumstances, you don’t pronounce someone a Victor if he never fought any battle. Engaging in tough times and appropriating God’s word and supremacy over such situations is what emphasizes our Triumph.

I pray grace for us to stay on top of every trial we are experiencing or would encounter in the days to come in Jesus name.

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

FORGET NOT!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5)

It is strange, but many times than not, it appears like out of sight, always translate into out of heart. While this remains a major point of emphasis for friends and even family alike when there happens to be some sort of physical distance between them.

Although some people are just not so good with remembering people once they are not within their immediate reach and part of their schedules at some point through the week, one way or the other they forget completely all that person ever stood of, has done or represented in their lives before.

This same scenario however comes to play sometimes with the way we relate with God, particularly when in the midst of tough and challenging times, which is many times than not accompanied with scores of unanswered prayers or so it seems, when we sincerely reach out to God in prayers expecting a snap of the finger kind of a miracle that happens in the twinkling of an eye and alas it took another dimension.

Just a minute, we cannot afford to get into an angle that suggests that all we are ever after God for, is for the things He can do or not do right here, right now. In a nutshell, we must be believers that are ceaselessly thankful particularly for ALL that God represents, and has ever represented in our lives. These sums it all up:

1. Whether or not God appears present under whatever circumstance we find ourselves, only in calling to remembrance all He had done in times past and all he stands for, do we position ourselves for yet another divine encounter.

2. Please understand, that no miracle can equate to that of salvation. Putting things in the right perspective, helps us to remain grateful for our salvation enough to provoke the timely hand of God to move things in our favor even now.

3. When we live only in the present, we would never appreciate the past workings and dimensions of God. Only those who appreciate His past deeds, qualifies to have a brighter future in Him. FORGET NOT ALL HE HAS DONE!

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

INVISIBLE YET VISIBLE

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:15-16)

The debate of the existence of God and if Jesus is the son of God or even a part of the Godhead altogether has been like forever.

And for many centuries, various actors played one role or the other in this divinely properly scripted order of events that clears all doubts and further emphasizes that Jesus is without a doubt the son of God and of cause that God exists.

Today, the many events as they unfold in the world and sometimes, even in the church, brings people both in the world as well as in the church to a point of wondering if truly there is God.

Well… logically speaking, whatever cannot be captured with our physical eyes which is the organ of sight, or seen with the aid of a microscope is considered invisible and trust me when something or someone cannot be seen, it might be difficult to accept the existence of such.

What is my point, more than at least once in our lives, we have found ourselves in positions where we dared to ask the vital question “WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THESE”?

As valid as this pivotal question could be, it is imperative to note the following, whenever situations around us attempts to suggest that the invisibility of God from a logical perspective is equals to the in-existence of God:

1. In relating with God, the level of our trust in Him, determines the extent of His existence we are privy to enjoy as a reality. Please Trust Him.

2. The fact that we pass through hard times, lose a loved one, lack basic things, however difficult, is not enough to conclude that God does not exist. As a matter of fact, the fact that we are still breathing is enough to prove His existence.

3. “All things where created through Him and for Him” makes better sense when we take a closer look at how things eventually turn out particularly when we think we have gotten to the end of the road, Only for some unusual miracle to occur.

4. Although God cannot be seen with the physical eyes, but the many things His hands perform cannot be subjected to a logical debate. If we would be honest, we would know that luck is not strong enough to guarantee such dimension of results.

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

WORTHY WORSHIP

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Life itself and the many inexhaustible schedules we have to go through on a daily basis on it’s own could be pretty demanding, talk less of when one is based in a very busy town where you have to find a way to synchronize your daily schedules in such a way that meeting up with time lines and deadlines is still achievable.

It is based on this premise, that I would want to talk about worship and to what extent we actually spend quality time to fellowship with God. Truth is, if we spend quality time to meet up with tasks that are time bound, we must make out same time for our time with God and this as a life style.

What nature does our thought pattern take, what approach do we give to the things of God, what approach do we give to our regular jobs and how often do we really spend time interacting with God in prayers as well as in the study of His word.

We must remember, that we are in an era where ONLY church and religious activism and jingoism CANNOT equate to a sincere and genuine heart of fellowship and communion with God.

The earlier we woke up to this reality, the better. These thoughts still on worthy worship particularly in this end time should come in handy:

1. Christianity is not actually a fun-fare but a serious business for people who although are weak, but are able to depend on God’s strength as they deliberately and sincerely pursue after Him.

2. People who can’t live a life of sincere worship, would get caught in the trap of worries, that would eventually paralyze their faith in God.

3. Being sincere, is admitting that we cannot please God by works, while taking conscious baby steps, that ensures that we have a solid relationship with God, an example of which is our quiet time.

4. Many ask: “God where is your face”? particularly when they get stuck. Meanwhile, no conscious step was taken to seek His face in moments where everything was working out just fine.

5. We must learn to take sincere steps and this as a lifestyle to ensure that we daily seek after God no matter how busy our schedules are. The truth is, we are only alive because of His grace if we minus that, we won’t be talking about any schedule to keep. Worship is wise!

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

WAITING TIME IS NEVER WASTED TIME (Part 4)

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3)

Have you ever imagined why Jesus the Christ, did not suddenly appear on the scene as a full grown man, fully kitted and ready to deal with the religious fanatics of his time, shut down the devil and all his activities and then ascend back into the heavens?

I mean, he is God and cannot be limited by time, space nor distance yet he chose what could be best described as a long cut (am speaking from a logical perspective here particularly with respect to who Jesus is and what He would have done in His capacity as God).

The nuggets that follows, sheds better light on this:

1. 30 years Jesus grew. He went through process like a man before he was ready for his assignment. The time he spent waiting for the appointed time, was a time he needed to invest, primarily for the nature of His assignment.

2. 3 years Jesus worked His Ministry, performing signs and wonders and setting a whole lot of things straight. Many times than not, every effort we invest into our lives, is positioning us for even greater testimonies if we look closely.

3. 3 days Jesus laid dead in the grave or so it looked on the outside. Meanwhile in the realm of the Spirit, He was settling our dominion as believers. Things are never always the way they look on the outside. We must be sensitive to the Spiritual working of things.

4. When Jesus was going through all the shame and suffering on the cross And he said not a word, who would have known he was staying quiet momentarily only to later have a voice that can never be silenced for eternity to come.

Waiting could be tiring, sometimes frustrating, and even depressing however, if we always want to capture the essence of our existence ONLY based on what we can see and explain particularly from a logical standpoint, then we are likely to miss out on the divine programming of things designed to make us cross certain hurdles, opposition and challenges basically so we don’t end up half baked and unprepared for the glorious destiny God has ordained for us.

It might not appear as though we are where we desire to be, however, we must be sincere enough to admit that we are not exactly where we used to be. This only is a pointer to the fact that we are simply men on a journey and while we wait for the fullness of His promises, we are moving closer to it with the passing of each phase of our lives. Please we must stay strong and stable through the process.

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

WAITING TIME, NEVER WASTED TIME (Part 3)

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3)

The one time most loved and preferred son, who had his father sew him a coat of many colors, specially customized for him, suddenly found himself in slavery and in a strange land. Before he could say Jack Robinson, he somehow rose to become the second In command to his master Potiphar.

For a split second there, I can only imagine Joseph asking himself if being the one in charge of all that Potiphar has, was a fulfillment of the dream he had when he was 17years old where the sun, the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him.

All this faded away when Joseph landed in Prison. But again, He became in charge in Prison and one day, in what did not seem like it, he interpreted the dreams of the butler and Baker, who were Pharaoh’s servants.

Well… his interpretation were accurate but the Butler forget about all that Joseph did for two full years. And by the time He would remember Joseph, it was nothing short of a divine programming that was only waiting to happen and guess what, Joseph was at that time 30years old. It took him roughly 13years to enter into the fullness of God’s agenda.

These sums it up:

1. As potent as networking could be, it can never erase the needed phase of waiting in our lives. For this time, is a time meant for making us set for the glory God has designed for us.

2. We would discover, that although people and events around us might not be working in our favor, however, they are all part of God’s design to ensure we reach the finish line in a grand style.

3. Enduring hardness, is a core in the scheme of things, when it comes to waiting on God, and it is strategical in positioning us for enjoying the many promises God has made for us.

4. If the Butler had remembered Joseph the same week he got out, that would have perhaps short circuited God’s ordained timing attached to Pharaoh’s dream which was supposed to be two years after.

5. We must be careful of the “Jehovah Sharp Sharp” syndrome. While the miraculous is real and should be desired by faith, we must learn to be matured, patient and discerning enough to know the times when God is whispering “Wait” till am done putting you in shape for your shinning.

To be continued…

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O

WAITING TIME, IS NEVER WASTED TIME (Part 2)

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3)

It took David 13years from the day he was anointed by Prophet Samuel before he could become the King of Judah and another 7 extra years before he could be in charge of the entire nation of Israel as their King.

Considering the dramatic circumstance under Which David was anointed King right before his Father and seven other brothers who were all older than him, in the Euphoria of that moment, one would have thought, that since the anointing as King came easy, getting to the throne would also be that easy.

Interestingly, the workings and dynamics of God is a different ball game. In the days to come, every event of David’s life as he waited for his enthronement was never an effort in futility, but a step closer to the throne.

These nuggets should come in handy:

1. Once God has made a promise to us, every moment from that time onwards, is meant to draw us a step closer to our enthronement. Trust me, not even a single minute of waiting is wasted time.

2. People who refuse to pick the lessons on the way to their promise land, might either take longer to get there or never get there eventually. While we wait, we must keep a positive attitude.

3. Waiting on God is never an effort in futility. Faith that always wants fulfillment of major promises on a fast lane might be fake.

4. Patience is a major ingredient, if we would last long in the land God has promised us and by this, I don’t mean refusing to take bold steps. I mean taking strategic baby steps that draws us closer to our promise land.

To be continued…

#Wisdomforliving
©️Victor Senu. O