DISCOVER DESTINY - MANAGING THE FORCES OF LIFE

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life” (Pro. 4:23 Amp.)

If I should be your prophet in the next few moment and you ask me what will become of your life in the nearest future, I will simply answer “It’s going to be great and outstanding!” And perhaps you begin to wonder how I know these since we have never met physically before. Well, my next reply is so simple. I know because that is what the Word of God said about you. The word of

God is a word of prophesy that is more sure than whatever from any other source (2 Pet. 1:11). Did you even know that whatsoever any man tells you in the name of prophesy must agree with God’s word if indeed such word is from God? Do you also know that whatsoever good news spoken either from God’s word or from His servant to you will only come to pass only when you think on it or see it coming to pass in your life? Very importantly, know that only what you keep your heart on takes root in your life.

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them, not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them...” (Prov 4:20-22KJV)

We may be familiar with one of the functions of the biological heart as the organ that pumps and pushes the blood round the body. And as the blood circulates, it carries with it oxygenated blood which supplies energy to all the part of the body. This probably means, not withstanding the great importance of blood to man, its circulation is never possible without the help of the heart. Hence when the heart stops working, life also ceases flowing.

While the heart that the Bible refers to in this case is your mind (or your brain that you use in thinking and not the biological heart), it likewise shares the same nature with your biological heart. No matter the potency of the word of God spoken concerning you, you need this heart (your mind) to push it to every part of your life as you think and imagine it happening to you.

“Above every charge keep thy heart, for out of it are the outgoings of life” - Pro. 4:23 (Young Literal Translation)

This means your life will always go in the direction of your dominant thoughts, therefore you need to watch over its contents and guard it than any other thing that is guarded in your live.

Allow me to share with you my personal collections on managing this power that controls life.

i. Line up your thoughts with the word of God and good books. Think big because that is how God thinks. Always take your view from God’s eye view. Big issues become small while far places become nearer as we see from above and not from the ground. (Jere. 1:10-12, Gen. 13:14,15)

ii. Gain control over your emotions. Always avoid watching or hearing things that brings you negative emotions like fear, hatred, worry, discouragement, anger, anxiety, guilt, rejection, etc. Whatever takes away your joy will definitely sap life out of you. Is there anything that brings you love, appreciation, curiosity, excitement, passion, determination, confidence and contribution to life? Give the most of your mind to these. (Phil. 4:8, Neh. 8:10)

iii. The capacity of your mind determines what it has the ability to hold. Even in the midst of challenges, make it big and more flexible through seeing more possibilities than not. You can never gain mastery over any issue of life where you see impossibilities often. (Lk. 5:37, 38)

iv. Our thoughts are more of the product of our senses – what we see, hear and feel. Be careful about where and with whom you are located per time. (Ps. 1:1-3). Be informed that visions are greatly influenced by people and places.

v. New discoveries are products of view from different angles. Don’t always go with the crowd celebrating customs. Seek adventures! If majority is right, then majority would have being rich, happy, holy, saved and be fulfilled. A dream is the only way to alter your future and lay hold on a better destiny. (Luke 5:39)

vi. Stop seeing man as your problem; this perpetually puts you under their control. We loss battles not because the enemy is stronger, but because we are not strong enough. You might not be able to do anything about their abilities, but you can weaken them when you build and develop yourself beyond their capacity. Build up yourself through God’s word, right mentors, books, seminars and godly teachings. Only those who stop growing; keep groaning. (Pro. 24:5,6; 2 Tim 2:15; Eph. 6:10,11)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh…Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:3-5KJV)

Can you imagine if everybody has to watch all the thoughts that go through your mind in a day on very big television screen? You will definitely disallow this. That means our conscience (which is the voice of the spirit) does alert us when our thoughts roams the wrong direction. It very important that anything we wish everybody should not watch on the “big screen” should immediately be cast down, or else may soon become a stronghold. (2 Cor. 10:5)

N.B: Excel D. Agboola (Pst.) is the president of Newwine Missions Internationl Accra. Ghana. If you have being blessed by this article, please share it with as many as possible on your friends list. We also enjoin you to keep praying for this ministry. Our utmost desire for you is that you make eternity with Christ in Jesus name.

DISCOVER DESTINY - WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTED END?

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jer 29:11KJV)

It was God’s thought to duplicate a perfect replica of Himself called man, who will function in His capacity on earth as He does in heaven (Ps. 115:16). When God began creation, He begins with a thought and His thoughts are not only good but powerful and tangible. And when man was made in the image of God, he likewise carries the same ability to conceive and create incredible feats to an extent that God said “…nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined….” (Gen 11:6KJV). In other words, God meant man’s thoughts are as real as things.

In God’s mind is a complete success plan for all His creation. He knows the end of every individual far before existence, for He wouldn’t just start a work without knowing its perfect conclusion.

“…I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done…” (Isa 46:9-10KJV)

But along the line, this perfect plan became subjected to the position of man’s will when Adam and Eve agree to take side with Satan against God. The enemy came and sow tares with the good seed (Matt. 13:24, 25). All those words altered by the “Serpent” to Eve were all in a bid to change man’s thoughts and beliefs against His Maker. It was at this point that man rejected God’s plan for him and lost out in destiny. Ever since then, man’s redemption now depends on his readiness to realign his thoughts to believing God above all and submitting only to His will. (Rom. 10:10, Mark 11:23). In other words, destiny is lost without man going back to God (through His Son) and believes His words above any other.

Likewise in this way has God made provision for every contrary situation that man might find himself presently (Eph. 1:3). Just the way the first man took the decision to follow Satan’s thoughts through his words so also God has left us with the decision today to follow His thoughts through His words and recreate our destiny. God wants us to know His thoughts towards us right from the beginning and align ours to it. God will never force his good plans on any man; He only gives according to our expected end (Deut. 30:19). If a man’s thought believes his present contrary situation necessary, then such individual may have to suffer because that was his expected end. Likewise someone who believes there is no way of getting to the top except through human connection has also chosen an expected end which leaves God out of his case. My question is, what is the object of your hopes in that situation you are in presently? What is your expected end?

God has not change His thoughts towards man no matter who we are or what our condition may be, nevertheless before we can realize our desires, we need to possess an expected end that goes in line with God’s thoughts. No man can ever be better than his thoughts (Pro. 23:7). I often hear some people assumed destiny as something that God wants happened to man no matter what he do. I consider this to be untrue! Will a man has a piece of land to cultivate crops and after clearing it says; whatever God wants, let it grow on it? Surely something will definitely grow, but such is most likely to be what he will never be able to eat. If this perception had been true, then there will be no sure hope for the lost. I strongly believe that God did not create lives to be left to chances, wisdom demands our full responsibility toward our lives.

“As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man” (Prov 27:19NIV)

When our thoughts becomes far from God’s, we encounter blockages towards fulfillment of our desires (Isa. 55:6-8). There is a great impact thoughts have on destiny. In most cases, the barriers and limitations we are trying to break on the outside are right there inside of us. When people run their lives on assumption instead of complete knowledge, they journey with misfortunes. Assumption is the least form of knowledge. The level of knowledge that brought us to where we are can’t carry us beyond where we are. We need to change our thinking in order to change our lives.

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me….” (Matt 15:8-9KJV)

Most poor believers today believe prayer and fasting is all they needed to bring about all their breakthroughs. Truly prayer and fasting could bring God’s power, but if your thinking doesn’t go along with what you are praying, you may be playing without knowing. We can not travel within and standstill without; our inside will always compel our outside to adjust!

…to be continued.

DISCOVER DESTINY - THE CONSISTENCY OF GOD’S THOUGHTS

“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…” (Jer 1:4-5 KJV)

Creation did not begin with conception, it began with a thought. It is very important for everyone to know that existence began in the mind of God before its became physical manifestation. In the beginning, God said “Let us create man in our image, according to our likeness…” This statement is a product of His thought, His idea, which first exists in His mind. To confirm this, Adam and Eve were made the physical prototype of the perfect plan He had in His mind. And when God looked at them “…behold, it was very good.” (Gen 1:31KJV). But something occurred along the way;

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” (Matt 13:24-25KJV)

There is something I will like you to note in this scripture; you may have thought that the man who planted is the same that the scripture refers to as “men” that slept. I don’t consider this to be so as many may have taught. The Greek word used for “a man” according to this scripture is “antroópoo” which means certain individual and which in this case I consider to be God – the Beginner of all things. Nevertheless, the Greek word used for “men” (that slept) is “antroópous” which is the plural or a collective word for man. The sleeping state is the falling state of man, God never sleeps and neither does He slumber (Ps. 121: 4). Note also that the scripture records that it was the servants who are meant to be watching that later came to report to the “householder” the incident that occurred while they were sleeping. This means after God has finished creating you perfectly in His mind, someone called the enemy distorted its physical manifestation because the “watchers” gave him chance to do so.

This understanding will help us answer some significant question that kept bothering most people’s mind. You may be wondering why you were created the way you are or why God allowed some things to happen which He should have disallowed. You may even be wondering why you lack certain things that make life comfortable and pleasurable for others. When the seed was planted, it was good seed. The planting state is the invisible (or thought) state while its shooting-out is what manifests it physically. Whatsoever is questionable in your life simply took place between these periods. But the truth remains that in God’s mind is a constant desire to give and make you the best because that is His original plan for you. His word says no matter how much the enemy tries to distort His plan concerning you; He is still bent on bringing it to pass only if you can understand the truth.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jer 29:11KJV)

God is never against you! Mind you, nothing can change that original thought of His concerning you. Whatsoever He has purposed in the beginning can never be changed. That means your end is as sure as God saw it in the beginning.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isa 46:9-10KJV)

Whatsoever you lack or lost today can never stop the sure glorious end that He has in mind for you. Nevertheless, there is one question you must answer; “What is my expected end?”, because no matter the mistake of the watchers in the past, the “Householder” is set to put you back again.

…To be continued

DISCOVER DESTINY - THE CONTROL TO YOUR LIFE

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jer 29:11 Amp.)

One of the greatest and everlasting debates of humanity has been about the role of destiny in the lives of human beings. There was a time when it was almost an accepted fact of life that each and every event was governed by “destiny” of man. Religion takes it as an unchangeable written verdict while astrologers considered it a science. Today, countless confusion exists on this concept leaving majority with nothing less than to demand more explanation and evidences for the irrevocable nature of this subject called “destiny”.

There are two other words I will like to consider in respect to this subject for better understanding on how to be in control of what happens in our lives. Perhaps you will agree with me that it is not uncommon to see people also attributing incidents in their lives to their belief in “luck” and “fate”. We believe when things goes our way or according to what we want, then luck has smiled on us but when the otherwise happen, it is considered as being forced on us to happen from the supernatural.

To believe in “luck” is to accept that your life is out of your control and left to chances. Luck is birth out of chance with no power to guarantee the achievement of a definite target or purpose. It would have being easy to accept this as true only if life had originated from man. Only what man created has it success determined by external conditions and variations. In the beginning, God created everything with specific purposes and for His pleasure. (Gen. 1:28, Rev. 4:11). Hence destiny according to the scripture guarantees a sure and glorious destination (Rom. 8:28-30).

Today, there are several questions that bother man about occurrences beyond explanations which keeps happening around him. For example, question of differences between different people at the point of their birth. Why one is born to rich parents and another to poor ones? Why are some children born healthy and some sick or crippled in some way? Many even wondered why God allowed some things in their lives if indeed He knows everything. And when such questions like these could not be proffered with acceptable answers, we retire and consider it as our fate.

To understand the concept of true destiny, it will be wise to first sincerely answer the question; “From where do you see the control to your life?” Is it from you or from God? Is it from other people or you believed it’s in other external forces beyond your power? Your answer to this question is highly important as your life can never go beyond what you see (Jere. 1:10-12).

First of all, we need to know that the primary reason why God invented the whole universe was for good (Gen. 1:31). I consider no honour greater than being fashioned as man in the image and likeness of God. Until the freewill of man was handed over to Satan, man was a perfect creation born to achieve God’s perfect plan and purpose without a doubt. But Satan through the effect of sin in man gained opportunity to corrupt God’s original intention for him (just as he did for Adam and Eve). Nothing thwarted God’s plan and purpose for man kind like sin; hence it takes repentance from sin to return us back to the original plan and purpose of God for our lives. Whatever the variation that happened from birth (even when the unborn is yet to know sin) is simply a evidence that sin is a spiritual issue. Sin reflects in the entire composition of man with its consequence running in his blood from one generation to another (Rom. 5:12). It takes only the blood of Jesus to cleanse and evict it completely.

Now, here is God’s good news for us. In the beginning, nothing existed before God (John 1:1-3). When the scripture says nothing, it surely means nothing. Not you, not your problem and not even Satan or any other person or thing. This means no matter how awkward the beginning of your life looks like, there is only one “Person” who was there before the beginning of your own beginning. He was the beginning of all things. He is your Creator in the beginning and can equally recreate you again (Ps. 126:1, Heb. 13:8). He is the Alpha – the Author of ALL things! He has the ability to go back to the beginning of your life (if only you will give Him the chance to do so) and reposition every distortion and alteration caused by the enemy. That exactly was what He did for the man born blind (John 9:1-3) and people like Jabez (1 Chron 4:9,10), Ruth (Ruth 1:3), Rahab (Josh. 2:1) and many others. Even when it never involves physical miracle, He knows how to make it up for you. This confirms that no matter your present condition, God’s plan and purpose is still standing only if you will appropriate a return to Him and be washed by the power of His blood.

(…To be continued!)

WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE NOW, YOU DON'T NEED NOW!

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Eccl 3:11)

There is this phenomenon that is not only common with young people but even with grown up ones - the desire to experience everything now. We pursue fulfillment with so much a burning desire and curiosity forgetting that growth is gradual. But there is need to exercise caution to avoid mistake which sometimes might not only be terrible but also irrecoverable.

If you take two bottles of Coca-Cola drink and allow one to be vigorously shaken before opening, it’s most probable you experience spillage due to the effervescent nature of the gas content. But you we will equally agree with me that the other bottle which wasn’t shaken can still be easily controlled from spilling. The truth remains that both bottles has such great potentials seeking for exposure, nevertheless, one is bound to be wasted due to restlessness and impatience. Hence we need to know that life is in phases, while men are in their difference sizes. Those who try to jump up surely do find themselves down again, but only those who walk up stays up.

“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” (Mark 4:26-29KJV)

I once heard a wise man said “even with patience, the snail still reaches the ark”. One terrible consequence of impatience is it horror of making the present uncomfortable and the future unreachable. Those who eat their tomorrow today; will not only find it unripe and sour, but will also find nothing left when they get to the future. Caution must be exercised in those choices we make today has it has a lot to tell on our tomorrow.

Please stop lamenting that you don’t have what some else have. Stop seeking for undue influences and supports to help you run faster than your legs. These are what lead to covetousness. You don’t need them! You are not meant to live like beggars! You if don’t have up to a thousand dollars to start a business now, it is because you don’t need it. Nevertheless, whatsoever is in your hands now is all you need now. Everything you will ever need is inside what you presently have in your hands, for when it’s time, it will surely manifest.

When God called Moses, He told him He will use the rod in his hand to do signs and wonders (Exo. 4:17). But when it was time for Moses to divide the Red sea, I guess Moses forgot that he had the rod, so when he went to God to ask what to do, God reminded him, “Moses, why are you crying out at me? All you need is in your hand! Use it!” So Moses stretched the rod over the Red sea and parted it for the Israelites to pass on dry ground (Exodus 14:16-30). This point to the fact that before the commencement of your life, all that you will need to make it is already settled. They are only meant to be revealed with time. When we live a day per time, it’s a demonstration of confidence and assurance that we are complete success no matter what the present may look like.

“And ye are complete in him…” (Col 2:10KJV)

Perhaps you are like Moses who sees himself as not being qualified for the great assignment because he was a stammerer, or like Esther who thought the position is not meant for people in her status and background. Please bear it in mind that God knows what you have and what you don’t before He brought those opportunities along your way. No matter what you lack is presently, be assured you also have something great as compensation for leverage. You only need to locate it and begin to use it! Come to think of it, if you have everything as when needed, how then did you want God to make you a wonder to your world? God knows you much more than you ever know yourself. Whatever you don’t have, you don’t need because all you need right now is all in you.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1:5NIV)

When a baby is being born, nothing differentiates the sex from a boy or a girl. At birth, all the physical features of the baby give no clue to what sex would be until the latter part of the body is sighted. Even as they grow up, you wonder where all the gender characteristics are hidden. Both the boys and the girls carry a similar look! The breasts and curves of a female together are far from fetch while the beards and the deep voice of the male are all trapped in the world of the unseen. Yet all these are very much present within; for in a period of time, changes start becoming visible. The inside begins to reveal the outside, and the unseen becomes uncovered.

We came here with all we needed inside us and it doesn’t matter what it looks like presently, our true identity remains intact, bringing us to the glorious destination God had in mind for us.

WALKING THROUGH YOUR FEARS 1

“And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?

And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.” Josh 17:14- 16KJV

There are no free dishes in life. Whatsoever you desire to eat, you must be ready to cook.

Joshua told them, the solution to your smallness is “getting up” and “cutting down” for yourself. Many are too lazy to get up and too fearful to cut down. If you must destroy limitation and cross boundaries that has never being cross in your family before, then you must be ready to destroy fear. The children of Joseph said “… and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron…”

Miracles only happen for those who carry courageous heart in the face of adversity. It takes fearless and courageous people to go far in life. This why God told Joshua in Josh 1: 6,7 “…be strong and be courageous” and then you will be able to do what Moses can’t do. Courage doesn’t connote absence of fear; it simply implies confronting your fears with the understanding of scriptures. Courage means knowing what to use in the word of God to trouble your troubles.

Arise & Step Out!

Isa. 60: 1 says “Arise, Shine!” Only those who arise, shines!

Destroying your fears begins with rising up against it and stepping out. What is that storm in your life? Finance, Fruitfulness, Marriage, Academic, Deliverance or any other breakthrough, you need to rise up against it. Peter never knew he could stand walking on water until he arose and step out.

Whatsoever you fail to confront, you can never conquer. Stop saying; “whenever God is ready, He will do it”. God is always ready! He is the same yesterday, today and forever more (Heb. 13:8). His power does not decrease or increase with time. The reason why you are down is only because you choose to be down. Arise!

Permit me to tell you what is called Destiny. Destiny is not what will happen will happen, it is what you choose to happen to your life.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

Destiny is holding your life in the face of the scripture and commanding it to produce fruitfulness even in the face of every adversity. If you clear a land for farming, do you now leave it alone and say “whatsoever we grow, God will cause it to grow?” Well, something will surely grow there, but not what you will be able to eat. That is what destiny looks like.

Abraham was 75 years old still living in his father’s house. And God looked at him, “this one will die a-nobody”. No wonder he is still childless! And God said “Abraham, get out of your father’s house…” Someone said “To where?” Anad I supposed God reply "Well ,that is no really necessary now, just get out first."

Anytime you rise up against any opposition, you confuse and intimidate your enemies. You are not born to die in fear; it’s time to rise up. That you live together with different people doesn’t mean you have the same destiny with them. The bible says “fear not their fear, nor the afraid” (Isa. 8:12)