Our Father in heaven, I come humbly to you this morning in the name Jesus Christ. Hallowed be your name. There is none Holy as you are in all your creation. By your Counsel and wisdom you made all things, both in heaven and on earth: visible and invisible world. By the greatness of your power all things are sustained from generation to generation. Your everlasting existence and Sovereign rule as the Ancient of Days is clearly made manifest by the glories of the world around us. The heavens declare your glory!  I thank you that you consider me, a mere sinful mortal, in the midst of all your awesome deeds. I am grateful that you think of me and appreciate me to the extent of dying to save me through the timeless sacrifice of your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. I glory in your forgiveness and unconditional love for me. I am blessed for the holiness you imparted to my life and I will forever worship you through Jesus in every aspect of my sojourn here on earth. I ascribe glory, honor, power and majesty to you in Jesus mighty name.

 

“ But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:

Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:13-14.

Isn’t it amazing how the Lord sometimes brings us to our senses. We are suddenly jolted into being conscious of a stark spiritual reality, which has always been there but hidden from our natural eyes. The prophet Isaiah was privileged to catch a glimpse of heaven. He saw an incredibly spectacular glory of the Lord sitting on His throne and the angels of heaven praising the Holiness of God. The unexpected vision and imagery evoked such an awakening revelation of the prophet’s unacceptable unclean way of life. Hear his response to God’s provocative arousal from spiritual deadness.

“ Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips;

And I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5.

Such was my own startling wake up call on the spiritual condition of my life about 20 years ago. I was much younger and had just started my medical practice career in Nigeria. I was living alone, far from the prying eyes of family members and there was readily available money to spend. I had come out of abject poverty that deprived me a lot of the good life. My earlier days as an acolyte in the Catholic Church did not help my state of mind at this time. The priests and fellow altar boys I looked up to had secret lifestyles that did not encourage or motivate holiness in my formative years. Deep inside I hated immoral ways but within my new- found social circle you will be labeled immature and weird if you acted differently.

It was in one of such worldly adventures that I received the greatest shock of my life. I awoke in the middle of the night terrified by what appeared like a trance. The horrible visions reproduced below by my artist had passed through my mind’s eyes in that state of sleep-wakefulness. Both the young lady sleeping beside me and I were represented as two monstrous and horrendous looking black mambas in fellowship with each other. In this vision I was deeply disturbed in thought as I wondered why I was reasoning from the body of this snake.

As I struggled in disbelief to the realization that I was actually reasoning from within  the body of this creature, I was transformed back into myself and lifted above the earth’s surface. What I saw next was equally perplexing. So many small black snakes seemed to be making an evasive diving motion into many ant- hills.

Finally, I found myself within the clouds and sensed the awe-inspiring presence of the Lord. I was so shaken that I cried out in fear that God should take me back to where I came from. Then I woke up from the trance in a state of panic. This experience, though over 20 years, had haunted me over the years until my eventual conversion into a child of God.

The Captivity of Sinful Life

“ The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

I was born into a poor but loving family. My parents were pagans. I suffered unrelenting night terrors from early childhood. Out of desperation, after every other measures within their reach failed, my parents took me to a shrine and the priests mixed my blood with their sacrifices in an attempt to appease the gods and deliver me from this demonic attack from hell. This only escalated my ordeal. Surprisingly, the lady I was fooling around with had similar experience. She later told me her mother had a difficult pregnancy and her birth was only possible after she was dedicated to some gods.

Our parents had ignorantly and inadvertently delivered us into the stronghold of Lucifer. The covenant had been sealed with blood. Our fate had been secured into the powers of darkness symbolized by the serpent. It was not enough that I, just like any other person, had inherited a spiritual DNA of sin and rebellion from Adam and Eve. My parents were deceived into believing that by the blood sacrifice I would be healed and delivered from years of terrors but that was a costly mistake.

The serpent is viewed in ancient mythology as one of the wisest animals. It was also symbolic of sexual desire, fertility, potency and vindictiveness. Ancient Egypt was known for their polytheistic religious system. They worshipped many gods who were represented by different symbols. A notable one is the serpent; python or cobra. Sacrifices were often offered to the gods in order to manipulate them to fulfilling the needs and desires of the people.

The Serpent as revealed in the Bible

In the Scriptures, a reference was made of the serpent of old. He was described as the great dragon but more commonly known as Satan or the Devil. Revelation12:9. He was an angelic being created by God and exalted to a position of honor, power and authority until he led a group of angels in rebellion against the Most High God. In the Genesis account, Satan was represented as the tree of good and evil. Since this creature has played a major role in the history of mankind and continues to wreck havoc in the life of people, it would be unwise not to have a deeper study of his personality and modus operandi.

The nature of the Serpent

Join me to examine God’s revelation of this important creature as we glean from the Books of Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. Some of the critically relevant facts include:

• The Serpent, also known as Lucifer, was an anointed cherub or angelic being.
• He was described as having the ‘ seal of perfection.’
• His covering consisted of every precious stone; lavishly decorated with splendor.
• He was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
• Enjoyed a privileged position of honor, power and authority on the holy mountain of God.
• Eventually his heart was lifted up in pride because of the privileged beauty.
• Corrupted his wisdom by the selfish ambition of self-rule and independent existence apart from God.
• Led a team of fallen angels in revolt against God when he declared, “ I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will be like the Most High.”

The modus operandi of the Serpent

Now, let us retrace our search to the beginning of all things in the Book of Genesis. After creating the world and all its fullness, God proceeded to the ultimate of His handiwork— mankind. “ Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

In fellowship and partnership with the Lord, mankind was exalted to the esteemed position of authority and dominion over all other created beings including the beast of the field—Satan himself!

Well, this glorious plan for mankind did not sink well into the heart of the Devil. Patiently, the Serpent waited for an opportune time. In the midst of the garden of Eden, were the Tree of Life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God shows no partiality and Adam and Eve must be tested for obedience and loyalty to their Maker. We know that ‘a tree is known by its fruit.’ Hence, the Serpent enticed our first parents by his splendor and deceived them. He seduced them into believing in him and by induction infused into the duo the spirit of pride and self-will. By the principle of extrapolation Adam and Eve called their Father and Maker, God, a liar!

Jesus in His encounter with the religious guru at that time throws further light on the method of operation of this beautiful but ingenious and dangerous creature called Devil. Due to pride and vainglory, the Pharisees and Scribes had distorted the truth about God and His Word and were frequently in confrontation with Jesus, the embodiment of perfect Truth. Jesus made a declaration in the Book of John 8 that these self-styled religious leaders were acting like their father, the Devil. They have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The spirit that possesses mankind and that rules his or her thoughts, and hence behavior, determines his ultimate destiny! So our adversary, the Devil, father of lies and antagonist of God operates by:

• Deception; through manipulation and distortion of the truth in order to entrap us to believe the lie. Genesis 3.
• Inspiring envy, hatred, rage, violence and murder. John 8:44.
• Accusation of the brethren through his venom of judgment and condemnation before God. Zechariah 3:1-5.
• Spiritual blindness and hardness of heart so you reject to accept the truth about your wretchedness and desperate need of cleansing by the Blood of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:4.
• Tempting believers into sin through impatience and lack of self-control. 1 Corinthians 7:5.
• Engendering the attitude of pride and arbitrary use of power independent of the will of God. Luke 4:3-4.
• Promoting sexual lust and covetousness thereby championing a form of idolatry. 1 Corinthians 6:16-18.
• Unleashing violence and terror on the world. Man gave up his right to rule. John 12:31.
• Holding people captive in all kinds of afflictions and emotional bondage. Luke 13:16.
• Creating confusion of image perception whereby people are thrown into gender identity crisis that could account for homosexual and transgender aberrations. Revelation 22:15

Identity Crisis

If you are struggling with the bondage of identity crisis, you are not alone. As the End of Age draws closer, the love of many will wax cold to the things of God. Self-love will drown many into all forms of perverted gender identity and self-exaltation. Lots of people are identifying themselves with every kind of imaginations, leading to self-destructive tendencies. They forget the Biblical truth that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his or her possessions. Your beauty, material possessions and position of power do not define who you truly are. Our true identity is defined by what God sees in you. You are either a child of God or a harlot with the Serpent? The spirit that operates in you defines your true identity!

The glorious Son of God contended with the Devil from the onset of His ministry concerning the issue of personal identity. The Serpent cunningly attempted to manipulate the mind of Jesus at the end of a forty days of fasting when He was most vulnerable. The devil dared Him, “ If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”Armed with truth, Jesus responded, “ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:3-4.

The religious leaders at the time were terribly frustrated and furious at their inability to pressure Jesus to conform to the prevailing demonic religious system of His days. Filled with the venom of the Serpent, they queried Jesus credibility and thus His identity. “ Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”  John 8:48.The Jews insulted Christ. But Jesus strongly rebutted these erroneous verbal attacks. “ I know where I came from and where I am going.” Verse 14. This was followed by another counter categorical statement from Jesus, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” Verse 23. And in response to the slanderous accusations of verse 48, Jesus affirmed, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.”

My Former Life and Conduct

Through the mercies of God I embraced my father’s instructions to forsake youthful adventures and dedicate my time to seeking knowledge. It paid off tremendously. I excelled in my academics and graduated from medical school. All this time there was a great battle waging in my mind towards the issue of morality. Family oversight restrained me until a time when I gained some independence.

There is no doubt I failed woefully in the internal war over the issues of spirituality and morality. Just like circumstances pushed Moses into the house of Pharaoh, desperation pushed my parents to ignorantly selling my soul without price to the Serpent through blood sacrifice. My power of resistance was no match against the spirit of the Devil who influenced my mind and judgments. The Catholic Church with her doctrine of rules, regulations, and making confessions to priests did not impart any spiritual power I needed to confront fleshly indulgence. Though I was very intelligent, lived in rich neighborhood, belonged to the Rotarian club, mixed with the cream of the society, I endured emptiness, loneliness and an inner void that nothing in this world could satisfy. I was filled with the riches and luxury every young man or woman will covet but there was a hidden powerlessness and hopelessness until…….

“ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Ephesians 2:1-3.

Biblical Salvation

“ Nor is there salvation in any other…..” Acts 4:12

Deliverance of the soul from the captivity of a habitual life of sin with the accompanying powerless and defeated existence, comes only through the completed work of Jesus Christ. There is an Exclusivity and Pre-eminence granted to His name alone. No virgin Mary, No Saints, No Buddha, No Hindu, No Mohammed, No Pope, No religious system. Only Jesus Christ completely satisfied God’s requirement for salvation of mankind.

“ For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

God called out Abraham from an idolatrous family and a system of self-centered lifestyle orchestrated by Nimrod and independent of the divine will. From Abraham God raised a nation to have a relationship of trust and partnership. Austere circumstances pressured the Jewish people to migrate to Egypt. There they enjoyed the prosperity of this idolatrous and polytheistic nation for some years. Then the ruler of this age and Prince of darkness acting through Pharaoh subjected God’s people to a ruthless and most oppressive form of domination. Pharaoh’s heart was so hardened that it was humanly impossible for the Jews to be set free. Against their expectations, the Lord God displayed His power and might as the only True God who is forever praised!

“ So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage; in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.” Exodus 1:13-14.

It was in the depth of my sinful former life that God’s light shone in my darkness, as shown in the first vision depicted above. The world around me could only see the accomplishments of a rising star, but were blinded to the darkness and hopelessness of a self-centered and rebellious existence. I was terribly shaken and disturbed by what God revealed to me that night. I had inadvertently made a covenant with the Serpent; a creature that looks so appealing that many people admire and keep as pet.

However, in the heart of this creature wells hatred, murder and vindictiveness against anything associated with the Lord. So just as the Jewish people cried out to the Lord for help, after many years I was sick of my beggarly existence, and after hearing the Good News message, repented of my sins and reached out to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.  Faith in the potency of His shed Blood for me and the power of God in His resurrection moved the Almighty to defeat the Serpent and liberate me from his stranglehold on my life. Hosanna to the Beautiful and Wonderful Lamb of God!!!

No more identity crisis because by learning of Jesus through His words in the Scriptures, I definitely now know who I am in Christ. My security does not rest in my intelligence, beauty, riches, expensive mansions, luxury cars and hobnobbing with the rich and powerful. I am complete in Christ and perfectly at home in His presence. I am learning more of my Savior everyday, through the Bible, prayers and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I will never desire to live a self-willed life independent of God’s perfect will and plan for my life. The pleasures of sin nearly cost me everything including my life. I have power in the name of Jesus to walk victoriously and share the Good News of His available grace with whoever cares to listen.

“ For God so loved the world ( Godwin ) that He gave His only begotten Son ( Jesus Christ ), that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish ( eternal condemnation ) but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16.

“ The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow, let Him be your FEAR; And let Him be your dread. He will be as a Sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Isaiah 8:13-14.

“ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For WHOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:12-13.

The promise of God in Christ is available to everyone who humbles himself or herself in Repentance and runs to Christ for the gracious free gift of Forgiveness and Salvation of the soul from the wrath of God. Hallelujah!!!

Sanctification Process

“ You shall serve God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:12

It is common practice that those who have served for a long time in prison go through Halfway home after their release. They earnestly need a rehabilitation process in preparation for re-instatement to the society. So also the Jewish people had been in captivity in Egypt for a long time. Their thought process, mind-set, desires had been seriously distorted and tainted by this idolatrous and adulterous nation. God had miraculously delivered them physically but their mind and emotions were still influenced indirectly by their former captors. They still had the footprints of their former sojourn in their lives.

“ So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deut. 8:3

The Almighty God had displayed His true existence and surpassing might in the deliverance of His people when they cried out for help against the gods of Egypt. The Lord who also sees our inmost being knows the spiritual and emotional condition of this saved new nation. The physical separation from Egypt must be accompanied by an intellectual, emotional and spiritual enrichment to have a growing and effective relationship with this Holy God. Human pride must be dealt with. Strongholds of lies, biases, misconceptions about God, issues of self-ego, wrong perceptions about our fellow human beings and pre-occupation with materialisms and worldly prosperity must be pulled down.

“ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinth. 3:16-18.

Yes, I had been transformed from a spiritual dead person who shared not only the mark of the beast but his spiritual oppressive influence. But there are clear evidences of his deep impact in my thought processing and behavior. The 2^ndimage reveals so many small snakes leaving the young man and making a retreating  and diving motions into anthills. The snakes represents demons that mastermind and influence erroneous thinking and behaviors. It is through this tough process of sanctification that the veil is removed so we are awakened to our weaknesses and allow God to grant us strength through a re-learning process ( His Word ) and empowerment ( prayers ) by His Spirit to be overcomers of various human bondages. This explains God’s Wisdom for the wilderness experience in the 2^nd image above.

Study God’s Word Always

The Lord Jesus came to the world to destroy the works of the devil in our lives. Christ is the embodiment of perfect truth. He is the express image of God the Father who has been terribly represented over the years. Christ invites us to learn of Him through the Scriptures and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that is now available to the ‘ New Creation’ of God as we pray and receive the Holy Spirit. It is the truth of the Words of God that sets you free from the lies and deceptions of the Serpent.

“ Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:1-3.

There is an absolute rejection of desires or characters that do not bring glory to the Lord who saved us at such an incredible cost. Our lives are surrendered to Him as a living sacrifice to lead us through various experiences in a loving and character transforming glorious process.

“ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:8-10.

You do not need to live a life ruled by lies, deceptions, fear and insecurity. In Christ you are armed with truth and power of His Spirit to break free of a life of defeat and ‘ just hanging in there.’ Your eyes are open to the eventual corrosive and destructive power of wealth, amassed independently of God. Moses despised and turned his back to the fleeting pleasure of sin in Egypt and so you can!

Meditate on God’s Word daily

True meditation is not found in Eastern cultures but rest on meditation on the Word of God. It is in these special moments, that we engage in deep self-reflections. How does my life reflect the glory of God as revealed in Christ. Jesus invites us daily to learn of Him in order to gain rest over our souls.

“ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he Meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2.

Avoid the terrible and costly mistake many men and women of God make in being quick to judge others but have a plank that puts a veil over their own errors and mistakes. That is living in denial and a gross deception of the Serpent. In the final judgment there will be lots of embarrassment and gnashing of teeth. Quickly judge yourself and repent of any conviction of sin to prevent hardness of heart.

“ For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:23-25.

Be in the spirit of Prayer Always

The necessary battles to overcome negative thoughts, poor choices and temptations are fought and won in fervent prayers as we present these undermining areas of weaknesses to God in prayer. God has given us a Sanctuary in Christ. Jesus Christ remains an Everlasting Priest and Mediator between man and God due to the enduring potency in His Blood. His Spirit convicts us of sin through the Word. We humbly confess sin to Him in prayer, Repent and Turn towards God’s righteous path.

“ Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. Psalm 130:1-3.

It is this lack of knowledge and understanding of God’s ways that often throws many of us into a state of perplexity. We are fooled into believing that just because I am saved the material blessings of God should ensue or my characters should automatically become impeccable. These great expectations are on the altar of God’s time as we strive towards the mark.

“ That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” Ephesians 4:14.

It is through the humbling journey of Repentance from dead works ( godly sorrows ) and accompanying divine discipline and chastisement that the imperative godly qualities and contentment with God’s will and purposes are ingrained into our lives. Certain inherited traits and offensive characteristics must be shed off and burnt for our true nature re-created after the image of Christ in the inner man to be manifested. God wants to declare to the world seriously under the Serpent’s influence; ‘ Have you seen my new and revamp Servant?’

“ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons. ‘ My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:3-6.

In order to walk the High Hill of the Lord onto the mountain of His Holiness, the large stone of hardness of heart must inevitably be rolled away. A new heart sensitive and alive to God’s righteous nature must be receives and nurtured. The stench of the old man together with his grave clothes must be released to God so that the expected fragrance and sweet-smelling aroma of Jesus Christ overflows into our lives to the glory of God.

“ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…….” 2 Corinth. 4:16-18.

The Glorious Man

“ I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” Gen. 17:1.

The Bible is replete with profound statements. It is in this unique book that I learnt the amazing fact that the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man. Wow! Human reasoning and philosophy is shut up and silenced against the incomparable thoughts and plans of the Almighty God. I am learning through the various circumstances that the good Lord brings my way to be, rather, adjudged foolish in man’s assessment in my walk of faith as I mature into an avid follower of Jesus Christ.

Without doubt, there must have been a striking awakening in the perception of the patriarch Abraham when the call of God came into his life. He was simply an ordinary human like us. He was raised in an idolatrous system of worship and had so much wealth including many servants. He was a self-made man albeit childless. Must have been famous among his peers and greatly esteemed. What could make a man or woman in such an enviable position in life to suddenly abandon it all in pursuit of an unknown voice to an unknown place.

“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Corinth. 2: 9-10.

God has lavishly poured out His Spirit to lead us to all truth. But our father Abraham did not enjoy this amount of privilege to God’s grace, yet he promptly believed what he heard. We now enjoy the encouraging testimonies of a ‘ cloud of witnesses ‘ but he didn’t. All Abraham had to his disposal was God’s claim,” I am “ to evoke the appropriate response of Faith manifested in certain actions that defined his belief in God. But the Lord knows our weaknesses of need and the strongholds of fear and doubts that Satan has craftily sowed into our minds. In His infinite wisdom, God introduces Himself and then makes an incredible and mind-blowing offer! But what could inspire anyone to abandon the familiar with all its glorious hard-earned riches, for a promise which may not materialize; except you have grasped the unshakable integrity and might of the Benefactor.

It is still a thing of great wonder and utter perplexity that the God of all creation should truly bother with us to the extent of initiating a covenant relationship. The Psalmist filled with the Holy Spirit burst out in effusive praise not only at the glories of creation but even at God’s affection for mankind. “ What is man that You are mindful of Him, and the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4. We are all like rejects since the Fall yet God is ever thoughtful of man. Every visitation of divine light provokes either an avoidance response or a confession of wretchedness and urgent need of spiritual healing. Prophet Isaiah’s confession came thus, “ But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness ( charity works without Christ ) are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Could it be a realization of his wretchedness and spiritual bankruptcy that stimulated Abraham to abandon the world of materialism in earnest pursuit of heavenly riches.

But this new venture is completely mysterious. There must not have been any model to inquire from or to follow in his or her steps. Abraham must have been very intelligent and hardworking. Worldly success does not often come easily even in the ranks of crooks. This heavenly adventure requires that every human thoughts, wisdom and ability be brought into subjection to the Lord of all creation. What an incredible struggle against the will of a prideful man. Hence, God’s constant reassurance, ‘ Do not fear;’ but ‘ Let Me be your Fear.’ The seed of fear, doubt and mistrust craftily implanted into the mind of man definitely perverts and destroys relationship. It is the grace of the divine Fear of God that trumps ungodly fear, and positions man on the broad place of fellowship with the King of glory.

“ I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”  From human standpoint, the waiting period for the fulfillment of God’s promise for a son was too long. Abraham’s patience had worn-out and his faith was in jeopardy and finally succumbed to the temptation to help God accomplish His will with far-reaching disastrous consequences. In His forbearance and kindness, the Lord had shown incredible faithfulness in keeping His covenant promises with this unsteady human. However, for this relationship to bear the necessary fruit in the life of this patriarch, the all-wise God had to do something wonderful in the heart of our father. His voice must have echoed the majesty of His Lordship into the inner recesses of Abraham. The grand introduction of His personality was both instructive and commanding. This was immediately followed by yet another authoritative command, ‘ Walk before Me.’

It is impossible for a frail and impure man to have a meaningful and fruitful relationship with a mighty and Holy God. It makes sense that God inspired the Fear of God into the heart of Abraham. The sustenance of this holy Fear comes through a life of deep adoration and thereby True Worship of the only true God. As Abraham remained in constant beholding of this awesome God, his character, thought processes and attitude became transformed after the image of whom he worshiped. True worship implies walking humbly before God in total surrender and obedience to His revealed will and purpose for your life. This is the hidden secret behind his blamelessness. His continual state of innocence, integrity and uprightness hinge on the totality of him being consumed by the glory of the Lord. Abraham must ‘ Delight in the Lord’ always.

“ I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:8-11.

Finally, as we study the life of this glorious father of faith, Abraham, and his Seed even Jesus Christ, including other descendants of faith, a consistent observation becomes very obvious. These heroes of faith grew from weakness to strength, ordinary to extraordinary, born in corruption to growth in holiness, nonentity to standing out as the brightness of the glory of God. The hidden secret to their spiritual growth from being children of God to matured sons and daughters of the Most High God rest in their “ Setting the Lord always before them.” It means a life that has become a living epistle for others to observe the following godly qualities:

• Growing intimacy. The Lord rescued me from the power of sin, self-centeredness, idolatry and spiritual death. He poured His love from the Cross into my heart. His unconditional love for me was proven by His substitutionary death on the Cross, through Christ. I have determined to demonstrate my appreciation by surrendering to His love and learning of Him daily through His Word and fellowship with His Spirit in prayer. 11:28-30.
• Attitude of Gratitude and Thankfulness. It is the awesome attitude of appreciation that demonstrates itself in praise of your deliverer and thanksgiving always that lifts you up to a higher altitude of worship at all times. It is the constant recall of past mercies and the attitude of thanks and praise that releases encouragement in trouble times, and also strengthens your faith on His faithfulness. You reason that if God cared so much as to sacrifice His only son to save you from the wicked scheme and deceitful plotting of the Serpent, nothing in this world could have greater value than such divine affection. I have been pardoned unconditionally and strive to grow in grace of patience towards God and fellow humans. I received forgiveness and must readily offer forgiveness. Psalm 34:1-5.
• Transparency and Vulnerability. I did not attain this freedom from captivity of sin and liberty to walk with God by my goodness or ability. God freely granted me His free gift of grace through Christ. As I behold His glory in Christ, I am free to confess my sins and weaknesses to other believers and put my trust in His power to forgive and heal me of my sicknesses in mind and body. I know that when sins are hidden and not confessed, it signifies pride and leads to hardness of heart. 1John 1:7-10.
• Humility always. I must not forget how low I had fallen into idolatry until His grace found me. Must become intentional in declaring this free grace always and not look down on others who are struggling with sin just like I was before my salvation. I must never glory in the temptations of pride that emanate from outward beauty or distinguished positions of wisdom, wealth and power. Proverb 16:18-19.
• Grow in the Grace of Intercession. Recognizing and acknowledging that Christ sacrificed everything to become sin for me in order for His Righteousness to be credited on my behalf, I must model the same attitude. Through His grace I must endeavor to intercede and intervene in the life of others who are in the blindness of sin and facing the consequences of a depraved lifestyles. I must stir up myself in prayer for God’s mercies and grace to be extended to them also just as I have received. Even if this may require my losing some hours of sleep and other valuables, it is worth the sacrifice. This powerful grace of intercession is also a great safeguard against jealousy that spurs unhealthy rivalry and contentions among brethren. Ezekiel 22:30-31.
• Growth in Generosity. It has become abundantly clear to me that God bought me back with a great sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. I am no longer my own possession. Therefore, everything I have worked for becomes His possession. I have become a servant of the Most High God and gradually been uplifted and promoted into a son of God. In the past the Serpent ruled in my life and made me God’s enemy. Now I am forgiven and the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, rules in my heart. I am being transformed into a friend and a holy instrument in the mighty hand of God for His divine will and purposes. I CANNOT and MUST NOT be encumbered by the prosperity ( material riches or wisdom or popularity ) that this covenant relationship brings into my lap, but be a conduit and a vessel for this treasure to pour into the life of others. My highest treasure is seeking the Face of God in Christ. 2 Corinth. 9:6-14.

• Total Surrender to God’s Will and Purpose. A by-product of the sanctification process is to clear any doubt of God’s love for me. My faith and confidence in His faithfulness is built up and established on the rock. My fears, anxiety and doubts have been dealt with. There is a deeper and unwavering confidence that whatever God allows into my life is ultimately for my good and eternal destiny. God glorifies Himself to the unbelieving and mocking world through His matured children. I have to become a fool for Christ in order to gain the riches of His surpassing wisdom and discernment. Romans 8:14-17.
• Enriched by His Word and the Power of His Spirit. Now I can confess that all the riches of this life will never satisfy the inner craving for connection with the author of life. The Serpent continues to deceive and bamboozle the world into believing that materialism and more acquisitions grant lasting happiness. True joy is not based on anything natural. It is a supernatural outpouring from the heart of God through Jesus Christ. It is in His manifest presence that there is “ Fullness of Joy,” a priceless possession. Hallelujah !!!

While the god of this world ( Lucifer ) is on a reckless, personal vendetta by acts of seduction and subsequent destruction, the Almighty God, whom we rejected, has proven the authenticity of His unconditional love and undying grace for mankind in Christ Jesus. Recognition and acknowledgment of this fact inspires us to lift our hearts and minds’ eyes heavenward. It is the heart of gratitude and attitude of holy Fear that humbles us in repentance and motivates us to surrender our whole being to the light of His Counsel. I have discovered the hidden treasure of Christ being at the center of my existence. His peace rules in my heart regardless of the circumstances.

I have finally learnt to seek His Face always ( not just His Hands ), and in so doing, the Sun of Righteousness keeps rising with healing on His wings to usher in healing and purity in thoughts and actions. God’s manifold wisdom is not just deliverance from sin but total restoration and wholeness of mankind. It is then that the fullness of joy and power of His Spirit is made manifest in the earthen vessel. I am gradually learning the deep revelation of the instruction not to be wise in my own eyes but acknowledge the Almighty God in all my ways.

When I release control into His surpassing Counsel and mighty Hand, then the essence of true worship is realized. He directs every step for His own glory. True worship of God is initiated and sustained by the Spirit of the Son. It is the hallmark of a life sanctified and consecrated to the Counsel and purposes of the Most High God ( His Words and Ways ). Being in God’s awesome and manifest presence is the hidden treasure behind the true identity and purpose of the glorious man. It is the Pinnacle of the spiritual man, a wonderful heart filled with the love of Christ and an exciting walk of faith. Hallelujah !!!!!!!!

“ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this; That he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Prayer

Precious Lord, I come to you again with deep gratitude in my heart. I seriously believe that this art of writing is Your divine inspiration to share with whomever you draw to this site. It is in your Will that others would gain insights from the hard lessons you have graciously taught me from the day to day life experiences. According to your Word, it is not by power nor might but through your Spirit that barriers are broken down and relationships are established.

I pray that through the abundant grace we enjoy by virtue of Your great mercies, that You visit us again, to reveal Your great Light and minister personally into the mind and heart of every searching soul. May Your words penetrate and convict every soul towards repentance. I pray that You pour out of Your Spirit into the hearts of all flesh, and empower Your children to cross over from the kingdom of darkness unto Your marvelous Light in Jesus awesome and mighty name. Amen.

I give Jesus my praise.

I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back; No turning back.

The Cross before me, the world behind me. The Cross before me, the world behind me. The Cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back; No turning back.

You can have the whole world, but give me Jesus. You have the whole world, but give me Jesus. You have the whole world, but give me Jesus. No turning back; No turning Back!