KINGS AND PRIEST

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth." - Revelation 5:10 KJV

The Bible describes two distinct roles in the Old Testament-kings and
priests. Kings were the rulers; priests were the religious leaders. The
New Testament reveals we all are kings and priests because of the
redemptive work of Christ.
Today, kings are most often represented by business and political
leaders, while pastors represent the priestly roles. God calls each of
us to fulfill both roles in our lives today. However, our vocational
roles often create a division that is misunderstood by both workplace
believers and pastors. These misunderstandings have led to a weakened
and less effective Church.
Pastors have been guilty of viewing their workplace believers as dollar
signs. They sometimes see them for what they can contribute to their
ministries instead of equipping them to use their gifts and talents to
impact the workplace believer's mission field-their workplace.
Workplace believers have tried to get pastors to operate their churches
like businesses, and have used their worldly ways for spiritual
purposes. They often view the pastor as the primary ministry worker
instead of taking on the responsibility themselves to do the work of the
ministry.
This is a grievous sin that exists in the Body of Christ, and it
requires repentance from both groups. Unless we recognize this, we will
never see the reality of revival that God wants to bring to the business
community, and pastors will fail to gain an ally to fully complete the
work of the Church in their community.
Are you a pastor who has failed to see the calling that workplace
believers have received to the workplace? If so, ask God to forgive you
for viewing your workplace believers as those to be used for your own
purposes.
Are you a workplace believer who sees your church as another business to
be run based on worldly measurements? Do you see the pastor's role as
one who is primarily responsible for the work of the ministry? If so,
you must repent and ask God to forgive you of this unbiblical view. God
has called both of you to fulfill His purposes together through your
gifts and talents.

INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT

"' that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known '" (v.10)Ephesians 3:1-13.

Today we ask: What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign?
Sovereignty simply means to possess supreme power. What we have to be
careful about when we talk of the sovereignty of God is that we do
not fall for the idea (as some have) that this is God's greatest
attribute; His greatest attribute is love. And because He is love
this means (so I believe) that He delights to have His redeemed
children become involved with Him in bringing His purposes to pass.
Anyone who writes on the subject of revival has to come to a point
where these two great and important truths - the sovereignty of God
and the involvement of man - have to be harmonised. I am at that
point right now. A way of thinking about this issue which has always
satisfied me is to see these two thoughts like two rails that run
from one end of the Scriptures to the other. One rail is the
sovereignty of God and the other, the involvement of man. If you try
to keep to only one rail you finish up being derailed. Those who
focus only on the sovereignty of God inevitably result in minimising
the responsibility of man. And those who focus only on the
responsibility of man end up minimising the sovereignty of God. When
we move along both rails, making sure that we do not place a
disproportionate emphasis on either truth, then we are more likely to
arrive at sound judgements and correct conclusions. God is sovereign
but He is also a loving Sovereign and by virtue of this fact delights
to involve His people in the affairs of government.
PRAYER:
Gracious and loving Father, how can we Your Church sufficiently thank
You for the fact that You love us enough to involve us in Your
government? Help us to see that we are there not because we deserve
it, but because You desire it. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 12:1-19; Luke 1:10; Acts 1:14; 4:24
1. What was the result of corporate prayer?
2. How did the believers respond to Peter's appearance?

DECEMBER 25TH

“ And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life”. - Jeremiah 52:31-34.

To all readers and visitors to this web site I want to share with you the significance of the Christmas day, it is a special day Jesus Christ was born into this world to deliver mankind from his sinful way. I have studied the weather pattern over the years of that particular day the firmaments bear witness to this unique day across all countries and tribes. There is a glory over the surface of the earth while some are having snow, others fog, or harmattan haze.
In the text above King Jehoiachin of Judah was delivered on a Christmas day (in the twelfth month in the five and twentieth day of the month) hundred of years before Jesus was born. Seven significant events will happen in your life on this particular glorious day.
1. Your head will be lifted. You may have been experiencing downward trend in your life, marriage, business and workplace, you will no longer be the tail but the head. God is about changing your situation for the better because Jesus came into the world this same day to deliver you. Everyone that sees you as nobody will begin to see you as somebody very special your head will no longer be bowed but be lifted high.
2. You will be brought out of prison. Some people have been bounded without freedom under bondage of their task masters for quite sometime, you will be set free now just like those that set up Daniel into the lion’s pit, your prisoners will replace you in the prison while you will be set free, Jesus will liberate you and grant you permanent freedom.
3. You will be spoken kindly of. People have used their tongue to describe you negative. God will change their tongue and they will begin to speak well of you, they have said you are useless, good for nothing, cannot make it, never do well, under achiever all this negative qualities they describe you with they will no longer see you that way any more. A change for the better in you they will begin to see and speak of.
4. Your throne above the throne of the kings. You are meant to be a king because the son of a king is also a king, but you reign like a slave, God will dethrone everyone sitting on your throne and enthrone where you belong, to rule and reign in Christ Jesus.
5. Your garment will be changed. The garment you put on which has become a filthy rag casting aspersions at you. The way you dress is the way you will be addressed, you were addressed badly everywhere you turn to, today your garment or robe will change and as a king a sign of royalty is the kings garment. God is removing your present garment and replacing it with a new one.
6. You will continually eat bread. You may be lacking a daily bread but the great provider is already here to provide the bread you will eat all the days of your life. Every lack will be turned to abundance in your life because Jesus was born on this day like no other day.
7. You will be given a continual diet all the days until death. A diet is a food with all essential ingredients needed for growth and development. You might having lacking the essential nutrients needed for you to succeed and become great God is going to provide to you this day those nourishments needed by you for life.

LIVING FORWARD, UNDERSTANDING BACKWARD

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Os Hillman said "When I was in my 20's, I participated in a wilderness-training course in a desert and mountain area. For our "final exam," we were blindfolded,
placed in the back of a pickup truck, and taken to a remote area. We
were dropped off and told to meet back at the camp in three days. We did
not know where we were. We had to determine our location with our
compasses. It was a frightening experience for four young people who had
learned to navigate through the use of a compass only a few days
earlier. With our food and water on our backs, we began our trek. It had
just snowed that morning, so the way was difficult. We walked through
valleys, canyons, snow-covered hills, and forests. In all, we walked
more than 60 miles in three days. There were times when we did not think
we could go another foot. Exhaustion and frostbitten feet were taking
their toll. However, we finally made it to our base camp successfully,
and to our surprise, we were the first ones among the other patrols to
make it back.
At the conclusion of our journey, we were able to stand on top of a
ridge, look behind us and see the beautiful terrain that we had just
scaled. The pain of what we had just endured seemed to subside. We could
not believe we had actually walked through those valleys and snowcapped
hills. There was a sense of accomplishment.
Life is very much like this. It is often lived forward, but understood
backward. It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can
appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual
deposits He has made in our life as a result. When you begin to realize
some of this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know
that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time,
but He was.
Are you in the midst of a difficult journey that seems almost impossible
to continue? Be assured that God is providing grace even now to equip
you for that journey. There will be a time when you can say, "Wow, look
at what God has done because of what I gained through that valley."
Trust Him with the outcome of where you find yourself today.

HARD TIMES OFFER A CHANCE TO GROW

"God does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of
the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you
done?'" - Daniel 4:35

The economy is in recovery, but most people don't seem to find it very
comforting. They're more preoccupied with the world's political scene
than they are on the rising expectations for corporate earnings. And no
wonder. It's not easy to focus on your investment portfolio when the
news of the day continually reminds us of terrorist threats and the
inadequacies of our homeland security. These are scary and potentially
deadly times.
Most Christians, at one time or another, will ask God why He allows
pain and disappointment to touch His children. When we meet the Lord face to
face, we'll have an opportunity to ask Him in person. I wouldn't be
surprised if part of His answer turns out to be: "Those things happened
because I was answering your prayers, to give you what you asked for!"
Can you imagine God saying to you as His child:
"You prayed that you could become mature, didn't you? I'm teaching you
how to depend on me more."
"You prayed for more faith, didn't you? I'm giving you a chance to
trust
me more."
"You prayed that you might know Me better, didn't you? I'm helping you
to seek Me more."
"You prayed that you might glorify me with your life, didn't you? I'm
refining you more."
When we pray prayers that contain such "spiritual" requests, we can
have confidence we're praying according to God's will. We expect Him to
grant us, in His own timing, these qualities of the Christian life we're
seeking. But I think that subconsciously we might also believe that God
answers them with a kind of supernatural lightning bolt. Something
like,
"Well, bless your heart, dear child, here's all the faith, love and
Christ-likeness you'll ever need." Zap!
Guess what? It doesn't usually work that way.
. Do you want to mature in your Christian walk? Then expect some
suffering. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because
we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has
given us." (Romans 5:3-5)
. Do you want to have your faith strengthened? Then expect your faith
to be tested. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
. Do you want to know God better? Then expect to give up the things of
this world that are holding you back. "I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, so that
I may gain Christ and be found in him... I want to know Christ and the
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings." (Philippians 3:7-10)
. Do you want to receive praise from Him for the life you've lived?
Then expect to go through trials. "In this you greatly rejoice, though now
for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of
trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than
gold,which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
(1 Peter 1:6-7)
I encourage you to immerse your mind in words that will help you to
know God more intimately, and that will remind you that your God is always
present, invariably loving, inevitably faithful, and absolutely worthy
of all your confidence. Consider this look into God's fatherly heart
found in Jeremiah 32: "I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I
will never stop doing good to them....I will rejoice in doing them
good...with all my heart and with all my soul." (Jeremiah 32:40-41)
The only condition we must meet to be a part of this wonderful covenant
is "to put our hope in Him as the all-satisfying Refuge and Treasure.
God takes pleasure in this response with all His heart, because it
magnifies the glory of His grace and satisfies the longing of our
soul."

INDEPENDENCE THAT LEADS TO SIN

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way
off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran
to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." - Luke 15:20

The two young men had worked for many years in their family business.
One day one of the sons decided he wanted to venture out on his own. He
had been under the employment of his dad's business long enough. He
felt he had learned all he needed to know. He wanted his independence. He
wanted to take his stock options early, which would allow enough
capital to begin on his own. The other son remained behind, working day in and
day out, faithfully doing his job.
The first son went out on his own only to find it was more difficult
than he had ever imagined. The immediate cash gained from the advance
from his dad's business was a temptation that was too great for him. He
spent all of the money, fell into sin, and failed to invest it in
another business. He failed miserably. Finally, he came crawling back
to his dad, seeking to be taken back as a mere laborer. The father took
him back with open arms, fully restoring him to his original place. He
experienced grace and love in a way he had never known before.
When we desire independence so much that we launch out without God's
full blessing, we can expect to fall on our face. When pride enters our
lives, it discourages us from dependence on anyone but ourselves; yet
God says that we are to depend on Him alone. If we think we can go it
alone, we will fail. On the other hand, in spite of the prodigal son's
failure, he learned a great lesson of grace that he had not known
before. This resulted in humility of the heart, which had a lasting
impression for the rest of his life. Therefore, God even turns our
failures into successes spiritually when we are willing to admit our
failure.
Pride always goes before a fall. Check your heart today and ask God if
there is any pride that is encouraging independence from total trust in
God.

IS YOUR CLOCK ON GOD'S TIME?

A 70-year-old man walks down the aisle to receive his college degree. A
55-year-old woman marries for the first time. A 40-year-old former
housewife settles into a career. Even though it seems as though our
lives follow similar patterns, everyone operates on a different
schedule.
Have you ever known someone who reached a milestone in life at a
non-traditional age? Did you wonder what took so long or assume
something must have been wrong with him or her?
Too often, we get caught up in traditions that tell us when certain
things should be accomplished. Society says we should graduate, start a
career, get married, buy a house, have a child, and retire-in that
order, and each at a certain age. In following guidelines that our
culture sets before us, we tend to rush into life-changing decisions
without considering what God wants for us.
Have you ever wondered why so many people are unhappy with their
careers, why divorce is so rampant, or why people are often completely
unprepared to raise a family?
When we shortcut God's timing and attempt to accomplish our goals within
our own strength and on our own schedule, we will fail every single
time. We will not live a life of contentment or experience the peace
that comes from a sincere understanding of God's purpose.
To truly be in God's will, we must synchronize our clock with God's
clock. We must be willing to do what He asks of us when He asks us to do
it.
The life of Moses is an unmistakable example of the consequences of
shortcutting God's will. Instead of waiting on God's timing, Moses acted
on his own strength: he killed an Egyptian, was forced to flee from
Pharaoh, and remained in relative isolation for forty years. (Exodus
2:11-15)
Moses acted on reason rather than revelation. He asked himself, "What
can I do?" rather than, "What does God want me to do?" His irrational
mind convinced him that he could free two million Hebrews by killing one
Egyptian. He failed to see God's big picture.
Later, when he followed God's schedule, he was able to confront
Pharaoh's army and liberate an entire nation of people. Through Moses,
God performed the supernatural: He parted the Red Sea, defeated an
entire army, and freed the Hebrews.
So how can we apply the knowledge of Moses' life to our own modern
existence? First, we must realize what causes us to get ahead of God:
• Impatience - We aren't willing to wait on God's direction.
• Doubt - We question whether we heard God correctly.
• Pride - We think we can do it on our own or better than God can.
• Selfishness - We expect God to conform to our will.
• Rationalization - If our actions fit "what everyone else is doing," we
believe they are justified.
• Distorted view of God - We fail to realize that He knows all the
answers to our questions, even before we ask them.
Next, we must understand the consequences of following our own desires
and shortcutting God's will:
• Disappointment - Moses experienced the frustration that came from
acting on His own strength rather than waiting on God.
• Disharmony - Conflict and discord will inevitably come from acting on
our strength. For true peace, we must be in communication with Him.
• Denial of God's best - Was God's will accomplished through Moses? Yes.
Did Moses experience God's best? No. Moses spent forty years as a
fugitive because of his actions. Yet God used Moses regardless, and,
ultimately, molded the situation in accordance to His will.
• Spiritual defeat - When we live outside of God's will, we will
constantly experience defeat. Without God, we are relying on our own
flesh; and, as Christ says, "the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). We
cannot win without the Lord.
Finally, we must realize that God will always fulfill His promise to
"cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, emphasis
added). When God gives us a promise, we must have:
• Faith - Faith believes the promise. We sincerely believe God will do
what He says.
• Hope - Hope anticipates the promise. We anticipate and look forward to
God acting on His vow.
• Patience - Patience quietly waits on the promise. Even as time
passes-in Moses' case, it was forty years-we must patiently wait on God
and realize He never forgets a promise. He will not overlook you, and He
has an appointed time to act on your needs.
You may think God has passed you by, or that your life is a waste. But,
if you are a believer and are open to God's call, that could not be
further from the truth.
Moses was 80-years-old when God called him into service. Even though he
lived for 120 years, he did not experience the true power of living in
God's will until the final one-third of his life.
Think about that. One of the most recognizable figures in the Bible-an
average man whom God utilized in a manner never seen before or since-did
not discover God's will until two-thirds of his life had passed! And
look at what God was able to accomplish in that final period of Moses'
life!
Does this mean that we should remain idle and apathetic to God until the
twilight of our lives? Of course not. But Moses' life is a clear example
of how God can use us anytime and anywhere, despite what we may have
done in the past and regardless of our circumstances. God can take the
most difficult, painful, or sinful situation and mold it, prune it, and
completely reverse it for His ultimate purpose.
Perhaps you're mired in an adverse situation or struggling with
conforming to society's standardized, inflexible timeline. If so, the
only way you will ever experience true peace is through surrendering
your will to God's timing.
When we're on God's clock, we'll never be late.

HOW DO REVIVALS BEGIN?

"l you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" - Psalm 85:6

Now that we are at the half-way point in our meditations on revival
we pause for a moment to remind ourselves of some of the points we
have been considering. Revival, we have said, is God bending down to
the dying embers of a fire just about to go out and breathing into it
until it bursts again into flame. The pattern for all revivals is
Pentecost, which was an extraordinary visitation of God accompanied
by extraordinary happenings. God is after the recovery of a
fully-orbed New Testament Christianity and He has invariably used
revivals to this end. The reason why we need revival is because the
Church turns from its first love and falls into decline. And when
revival comes it achieves, sometimes in a few weeks, what could never
have been achieved in years of normal Christian activity. The next
question we must consider is this: How does a revival begin? Is it
something that forms in the minds of devoted Christian people and is
then brought into being through powerful intercessory prayer? Or is
it something that originates in the mind of God and comes down to
earth irrespective of the desires or the prayer life of His people? I
have no hesitation in saying that in my opinion revival begins in the
mind of God. It is something that God plans; men and women have
little to do with it. There are many things that Christians, by
dedicated and committed spiritual effort, can bring to pass in the
Church, but revival is not one of them. For instance, evangelism,
preaching, teaching, and counselling is work that we do for God;
revival is work that God does for us.

PRAYER:
Father, let the wonder of Your sovereignty and power sink deep into
my soul today. Help me see how much bigger and greater You are than
my imagination could ever conceive. In Christ's Name I pray. Amen.

THE WAY OF GOD (GOD'S PREPARATION FOR LEADERS)

"If My people would but listen to Me...." - Psalm 81:13

God has a specific training ground for leaders. There are three
patterns of preparation that have been common among most of God's leaders.
First,there is a time when the leader is separated from his old life.
Consider Moses, Joseph, Abraham, and Paul. In order for God to mold and shape
them into His nature, it appears that He had to remove them from the
life of comfort. A teacher once said, "You cannot go with God and
remain where you are."
Next, there is usually a time of solitude. God often brings leaders
into a time of solitude in order to speak to them without other
distractions.
Hosea 2:14b says, "I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly
to her." Paul was sent to Arabia for two years for a time of solitude.
Joseph spent years in the solitude of prison. Moses spent 40 years in
the desert herding sheep.
The third characteristic of God's preparation for leaders is
discomfort.
The setting in which the preparation takes place usually is not a place
of comfort. Abraham traveled through the difficult deserts. David lived
in caves fleeing Saul. Paul was frequently persecuted.
Are you ready for the classroom of leadership preparation? If God
chooses to bring you into this class, you may have one of three
reactions to the events.
First, you may say, "I don't need it." Perhaps you know intellectually that you do need this, but God wants you to know it in your heart. Pride prevents us from entering this classroom.
The second reaction may be, "I'm tired of it." You decide you've had
enough.If so, this will disqualify you from leadership.
Finally, God's desired response from us in this preparation is, "I accept it." To accept it with joy is the place of maturity in Christ. God often keeps us in
these places until we come to accept and agree that Jesus is enough. Is He
all you need?
Like the people of Israel, I think we have something to do with the
timetable of our education. "If My people would but listen to Me, if
Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn My hand against their foes!" (Ps. 81:13-14)
Are you ready for the process required for being a godly leader? Ask
for His grace to willingly embrace these times of preparation.

HOW GOD MAKES FISHERMEN

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19

Our calling has three distinct stages, which we can see in the lives of
many called before us, to become mature fishers of men who greatly
impact God's Kingdom. First, there is the gestation period. This is the
development stage of our lives. It may involve years of normal work
experiences. You may be a Christian during this time, or you may be
following after worldly success as a non-Christian. Paul spent years in
religious and political training, persecuting believers most of his
early life. Moses spent years in the court of Pharaoh and 40 years
tending flocks in the desert. Jesus spent 33 years living at home and
working in His father's carpentry business. However, all these years
were part of their preparation.
Next is the crisis stage. Sooner or later, God calls you into
relationship with Him. For many, like Paul, it comes through dramatic
encounters like being knocked off a horse, blinded and spoken to
personally by God. Some people are more difficult than others to reach
and so require this level of crisis. This is a time when God requires
major changes so that you follow Him fully. It can be a time in which
God harnesses years of experience for a new life purpose. Paul's earthly
experiences would be used in his calling to the religious and political
leaders of his day. For Moses, the burning bush experience would begin
his journey in which he would discover his ultimate calling after years
of preparation. For Peter, it was his denial of Jesus three times that
allowed him to face his shallow commitment to Christ. For Jesus, it was
the cross. These were the benchmark turning points for men who made an
impact on their world.
Last is the fruit-bearing stage. In it, God's power is manifested in
your life like never before. God takes all your experiences and uses
them to build His Kingdom in and through your life. Your obedience to
this final call results in fruitfulness you could never imagine without
the long preparation process. For Abraham, it resulted in becoming the
father of many nations. For Paul, it resulted in bringing the gospel to
the Gentiles. And for Peter, it meant becoming the rock the Church was
built on. For Jesus, it was salvation for the entire world.
What does God want to achieve through your life? God has a plan that is
so incredible you cannot comprehend it. It requires only that you love
Him and follow Him. Then you will become fishers of men like the world
has never known.

HOW AND WHERE GOD SPEAKS

"The hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, "Get up and
go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." - Ezekiel 3:22

God speaks in many different ways to His children. He spoke through a
bush to Moses. He spoke through a donkey to Balaam. He spoke through
prophets to His kings. He speaks through other believers. He speaks
directly to us through the invisible Holy Spirit. And He speaks even
through circumstances.
When God wants to speak a very important word directly to us without
interruption from the noise of our busy lives, he will take us "into
the plain." The plain is a place of no distractions and no other persons.
It is a place of silence. It can be a place of great need as it often
fails to have the normal provisions we are accustomed to. It can be a place
we go to voluntarily to seek His face, or we can be moved there without
choice by His supernatural ability. More often, it is the latter method
that brings us into the plain. In modern times, it often means a
separation from our normal activities such as jobs or families.
The plain can also be a place where we discover afresh that God's hand
has been on us all the time. When we are so busy with life, we
sometimes forget that God's hand is still there, gently leading our path. When
our lives get so busy that we are not listening or responding to His gentle
touch, He must take more aggressive measures to get our attention.
Thus,the plain is one of those appointed times of one-on-one communication
with our heavenly Father. No distractions, no people, no beautiful
surroundings to capture our thoughts. It is a barren place designed to
allow us to seek and hear clearly. When He speaks, we need to be able
to listen. We hear much better in the plain.
Do you need to hear God's voice today? Is your life such that you
cannot even hear His voice? Each day God calls us to our own mini-plain in
order to speak to us and for us to hear. If we neglect this time of
open communication, we may be invited to His plain in order to hear without
distraction. Pray that you might make time to hear.

HORIZONTAL VERSUS VERTICAL

"Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and
hid him in the sand." - Exodus 2:12

Moses saw the pain of his people. He saw the bondage and the injustice.
His heart was enraged, and he decided he would do something. He would
take matters into his own hands. The result was murder. The motive was
right, but the action was wrong. He went horizontal instead of vertical
with God. Moses fled to the desert, where God prepared the man who would
ultimately be the deliverer of a nation. But it took 40 years of
preparation before God determined Moses was ready. He was a professional
businessman—a sheepherder. It was during the mundane activity of work
that God called on him to be a deliverer.
Moses was like a lot of enthusiastic Christian workplace believers who
seek to solve a spiritual problem with a fleshly answer. The greatest
danger to the Christian workplace believer is his greatest strength—his
business acumen and expertise to get things done. This self-reliance can
become our greatest weakness when it comes to moving in the spiritual
realm. We're taught to be problem solvers. But, like Moses, if our
enthusiasm and passion are not harnessed by the power of the Holy
Spirit, we will fail miserably. Peter had to learn this lesson too. His
enthusiasm got him into a lot of trouble. But God was patient, just as
He is patient with each of us. Sometimes He must put us in the desert
for a time in order to season us so that Christ is allowed to reign
supreme in the process.
Before you act, pray and seek the mind of Christ until you know it is
God behind the action. Check it out with others. You may save yourself a
trip to the desert.

HINDRANCES TO CHRIST'S RULE

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the
contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." - 2 Corinthians 10:4

The Bible says when Christ comes to live in your heart, old things are
passed away, all things become new (see 2 Cor. 5:17). The Lord has put
a new Spirit in us. Previously, I could not understand why so many of us
who proclaimed Christ had such little impact on the kingdom of
darkness.
It seemed to me that our culture should be impacted much more if His
children walked in the light as Jesus did. Jesus impacted His culture
like no other man.
I saw many workplace believers, who proclaimed Christ, living no
differently than a person who had not claimed Him as Lord. These men
and women had a form of religion, but little power that reflected Christ's
rule in their lives. Then one day God took me through a time of testing
that led to a discovery of generational influences that impacted the
way I viewed people and circumstances on a subconscious basis. I discovered
this was a stronghold that had been implanted many generations earlier.
Because the stronghold operated on a subconscious level, it was not
easily recognizable. Strongholds keep us from being free to reflect
Christ in and through our lives because they require allegiance until
they are dealt with. Strongholds can often be so hidden that we would
not even identify them as evil. A stronghold of fear, control,
rebellion, insecurity, idolatry, pride, or bitterness may be hidden
until it is revealed through circumstances.
All strongholds are built in our lives as a result of seeking to meet
one or more of seven basic needs God has created in us. Once we believe
a lie that God cannot meet a need without our effort, we open our
spirit to a stronghold. The more lies we believe, the more we invite these
strongholds to take root in our lives.
Are you ineffective in your Christian experience? Are there besetting
sins that seem to recur in your life? You may find that satan has built
a fortress in your heart that has been there many generations. You must
ask God's forgiveness for entertaining this stronghold, and you must
renounce it. Then as Christ renews your mind and heart, you will see
Christ's power released in your life like never before.

HEARING THE FATHER SPEAK

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." - John 10:27

An Englishman tells a true story of his encounter with a Muslim man
while walking in the country. The Englishman wanted to share the gospel
with this man but knew little of Muslim beliefs. The two men talked as
they walked and agreed they would each share their beliefs with one
another. The Muslim went first and dominated the time of sharing. The
Englishman asked the Holy Spirit how to share his faith with the Muslim
man. "Do you consider your god your father who speaks?" asked the
Englishman.
"Certainly not," replied the Muslim man.
"That is one of the big differences between your god and my God.
I consider my God as my Father who speaks to me personally."
"You cannot prove that," stated the Muslim man.
The Englishman again prayed to himself, "Lord, how do I prove this to
this man?" A few moments later the two men began walking toward two
young ladies on the other side of the road coming toward them. As they
approached, the Englishman spoke to the ladies and made small
conversation. He then said to one woman, "I believe you are a nurse, is
that correct?"
The woman was startled that a man whom she had never met had just
informed her of her occupation. "How would you know that? I have never
met you before," she questioned.
He replied, "I asked my Father and He told me." The Muslim had his
proof.
Many of us do not hear God's voice because we do not believe He speaks
or desires to speak to us. In order to hear, we must listen. In order
to
listen, we must believe that He speaks. Ask the Lord today for a
listening ear so that others might know that you have a heavenly Father
who speaks.

HEALING BEFORE MINISTRY

"And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where
they were in camp until they were healed." - Joshua 5:8

Before the nation of Israel could go into the Promised Land they had to
be circumcised. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal. God
requires each of us to be circumcised in heart before we are allowed to
enter and receive the blessings that await each believer in the
Promised
Land.
This circumcision can often be very painful. Circumcision requires
losing our old way of life. The process of spiritual circumcision may
mean a loss in areas that have been a part of our lives in order to
draw
us to the Savior. God understands this. Consequently, like the people
of
Israel, we must wait until we are healed before we begin to be
effective
in our calling. If we launch out too early, we will be ineffective and
may risk infection and disease and will not be at our full capacity.
God
wants each of us to walk in His healing grace.
The people of Israel fought only two battles when they were coming out
of Egypt. In the Promised Land they fought 39 battles. Each of us must
be prepared to enjoy the benefits of living in the Promised Land.
However, we must also be prepared to wage war against the enemy of our
souls. Make sure the Lord has provided the needed healing to your
circumcision experience before you enter the Promised Land.

GREAT PRAYER WARRIORS

"' I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Gen v.26)

-- For reading & meditation: Genesis 32:22-31

We look now at the second characteristic of "revival praying" -
tenacity and persistence. Read the record of revivals and you will
find that this quality is also present. In the days prior to revival
people not only pray zealously but they pray persistently. For over a
period of thirteen years Evan Roberts prayed for revival to come to
Wales. "There was never a day," he says, "when I didn't fling myself
before God and cry out for Him to send the Holy Spirit to my native
land." Dafydd Owen also prayed every day for over ten years for a
great outpouring to come to the Principality. And concerning David
Morgan it was recorded "that for ten years before 1858 a petition for
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was never absent from his prayers".
We must recognise that often this persistence was not something that
was natural but was given by the Holy Spirit. It was said of Evan
Roberts that when he was a boy, "he hardly ever saw anything through
and would give up a task most easily". Listen to what Jonathan
Edwards, another great revivalist, had to say about the importance of
persistence and perseverance: "It is very apparent from the Word of
God that the Lord is wont often to try the faith and patience of His
people, when crying to Him for some great and important mercy, by
withholding the mercy sought for a season; and not only so but at
first to cause an increase of dark appearances. And yet He, without
fail, at last succeeds those who continue instant in prayer with all
perseverance and will 'not let Him go except He blesses'."
PRAYER:
O Father, search my heart today and see if there is any hidden thing
in me that holds me back from persistent and perservering prayer.
Bring it to the light so that I can deal with it. I ask this in
Jesus' Name. Amen.

GRACE

..."Peace be with you!" - John 20:19

How would you respond to a group of fellow workers if you were their
leader and you poured your life into them, teaching them all you know
for three years, only to have them disband and go their own way when
troubles came? What would you say to them after you were reunited for
the first time? Perhaps you might scold them. Perhaps you might cite
each one's offense. At the least, you might shame them for their lack of
faithfulness and courage.
After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the
disciples. His first words to them were, "Peace be with you!" The word
grace means "unmerited favor." When someone loves you unconditionally,
without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force
in your life. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to
them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead, they received
unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They
were equally overjoyed to see Him.
Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their
training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation
for service. Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the
very first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.
Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to
those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come
through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their
lives—and yours.

GOOD THINGS VERSUS GOD-THINGS

"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:14

The greatest sign that you and I are maturing in our walk with God is
when we can discern the difference between "good things" and
"God-things." When the people of Israel journeyed out of Egypt through
the desert, the cloud led them by day. They could move only as fast as
the cloud. If they went ahead, they went without God's presence. If they
lagged behind, they also lost God's presence.
Each of us must have the discernment to know when God is leading in a
matter, or if it is simply a good idea. There are so many things in
which you and I can be involved, and the more successful you become, the
greater the temptations to enter into things where God has not called
you. Entrepreneurs are especially prone to see all the opportunities.
I recall one time when I entered into a project that I thought was a
great idea. It would help many people. After two years, the project had
to be discontinued. It was a great lesson on understanding what projects
have God's blessing on them. There are some projects you and I might get
involved in that result in little fruit compared to the investment put
into them. That is because they may never have been birthed by the Holy
Spirit.
As sons of God, we are called to be led by the Spirit. This requires a
level of dependence on God in which many of us really do not want to
invest. It requires listening, waiting, and moving only when God's
Spirit tells us to move. Workplace believers are "action" people. We
know how to get things done, but our greatest strength can be our
greatest weakness.
Today, ask God to make you a Romans 8:14 man or woman who is led by the
Spirit of God. Pray against lagging behind or moving ahead. Ask God to
reveal whether the next project you consider is a "good thing" or a
"God-thing."

FAITHFULNESS IN OUR CALLING

"He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all
Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you
seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will
forsake you." - 2 Chronicles 15:2

Asa was the king of Judah from 912-872 B.C. He reigned for 41 years and
was known as a good king who served the Lord with great zeal. He
reformed many things. He broke down idol worship to foreign gods; he
put
away male prostitutes and even removed his own mother from being queen
because she worshiped an idol. The Scriptures say that as long as he
sought the Lord, the Lord prospered his reign.
However, Asa was not totally faithful in his calling. There came a time
in his life when he made a decision to no longer trust in the God of
Israel. He lost his confidence in God as his deliverer. The prophet
Hanani came to Asa to inform him that God's blessing was no longer on
his life because of an ungodly alliance he had made.
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of
chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered
them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the
earth
to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have
done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles
16:8-9).
There are no guarantees that if we began well we will finish well. The
life of Asa tells us this. It is only through God's grace that we can
be
faithful to our calling. Each of us is capable of falling away from
God.
Pray that God will keep you faithful to the purposes He has for your
life. He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

GOING AGAINST THE FLOW

"But the whole assembly talked about stoning them." - (Numbers 14:10)

Have you ever had to stand up against the majority for a cause
that wasn't popular? God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and
promised He would lead them into a land of milk and honey. The
process of moving out of Egypt was difficult. They could no
longer do things the old way, for the old ways didn't work in the
desert. God provided for them during this journey. But there came
a point in which the people forgot what God had said. Their
discomfort changed their belief about God.
Whenever God is slow to answer our prayers, what we believe about
God is revealed. Do we change our plans and move in a different
direction when pressure mounts? Or do we continue on the path God
has directed for us? Four men believed what God said and were
willing to stand; however, the crowd wanted to stone them.
Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole
Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb
son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land,
tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly,
"The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If
the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a
land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do
not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of
the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is
gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." But the
whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the
Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites
(Numbers 14:5-10).
Notice Joshua and Caleb's response to the situation. They had
spied the land. They believed God. They challenged the crowd.
They seemed to know that if the Lord was not pleased with them
they would not enter into the Promised Land. Those who grumbled
did not enter the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb and a new
generation saw the fulfillment of God's promise.
Has God called you to stand for a cause bigger than yourself? You
will have opposition to His call; sometimes it even comes from
those in your own camp. But if God has called you, then you can
be sure He will make a way. He has already opened the way before
you. But you must walk in faith, joined with Him to take the
land.
...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, ffor the Lord your God will be with you wherever you
go (Joshua 1:9).

ERROR OF POSITIVE THINKING

..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord
Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6

God's people should be the most positive, joyful people on earth. This
joy should be a by-product of a healthy, intimate relationship with
Jesus. In today's business climate, we are barraged with every possible
means of becoming more productive workplace believers. Positive thinking
and self-help philosophy are promoted as tools for workplace believers
to fulfill their potential and overcome the mountains in their lives.
God calls each of us to be visionary leaders, but we must be careful
that vision is born out of His Spirit, not the latest self-help program.
These ideas lead us away from dependence on God to a self-based
psychology designed to give us more power, prosperity, and significance.
The result is heresy. Our faith in God becomes faith in faith. It is
born out of hard work and diligence rather than obedience to God's
Spirit. The problem lies in that these philosophies sound good, and can
even be supported by Bible verses. Beware of anything that puts the
burden of performance on you rather than God. There are times in our
lives when God doesn't want us to climb every mountain. Sometimes He
wants us to go around. Knowing the difference is the key to being a man
or woman led by the Spirit.
God has called us to affect the workplace through His Spirit, not by our
might. Have you tapped into the real power source of the soul? Ask the
Lord to reveal and empower you through His Spirit today. Then you will
know what real positive thinking is.

GOD'S TESTS

"..."What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father,
that he is trying to take my life?" - 1 Samuel 20:1

The cost of being one of God's anointed can be great. Those whom God has
anointed for service and influence in His Kingdom go through a special
preparation. David was anointed to be the next king over Israel. Shortly
after this, while still a young boy, he was brought into King Saul's
service to play music in Saul's court. While there, the opportunity to
stand up against Goliath elevated David for his next stage of
development as future king. As his popularity grew so did Saul's
jealousy. However, even Saul's jealousy was God's instrument for molding
and shaping David.
Saul finally decided he could no longer tolerate David's success and
popularity among the people, so he tried to kill David. The confused
young shepherd boy spent many years hiding in wilderness caves before he
was able to see the hand of God in all of this. No doubt David thought
that when Samuel anointed him he would be conveniently raised up to be
king with all the accompanying benefits of kingship. Not so. God's
preparation of David involved much persecution, disloyalty, and
hardship. These were the lessons necessary to be a godly king. God
brought many tests in David's life, just as He did with Saul. David
passed these tests. Saul did not.
When God anoints us, it often is accompanied by some severe tests. These
tests are designed to prepare us for the calling God has on our life.
Should we fail these tests God cannot elevate us to the next level. For
a workplace believer, these tests often involve money, relationships,
and other issues of the heart.
What if God has chosen you for a specific purpose in His Kingdom? Are
you passing the tests He is bringing about in your life? These tests are
designed to bring about greater obedience. In most instances, it will
involve great adversity. The Bible tells us that the King of kings
learned obedience through the things that He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). If
this is true, why would it be any different for His children? Be aware
of the tests God may be bringing before you in order to prepare you for
His service.

GOD-INSPIRED DELAY

"Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more
days." - John 11:6

Delays in our life are not always easy to handle or to reconcile in our
minds. Often, when God does not answer our prayers in the time that we
feel He should, we appoint all sorts of characteristics to God's nature
that imply He does not care. Such was the case with Lazarus' sisters
when Lazarus became ill and died. Jesus was a close friend to Lazarus
and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. (Mary, you may recall, was the
woman who came and poured perfume on Jesus' feet.) When Jesus arrived
two days later, Martha shamed Him by saying, "If You had come he would
not have died." She implied that He didn't care enough to come when sent
for. It was a matter of priorities for Jesus, not lack of love.
God often has to delay His work in us in order to accomplish something
for His purposes that can be achieved only in the delay. Jesus had to
let Lazarus die in order for the miracle that was about to take place to
have its full effect. If Jesus had simply healed a sick man, the impact
of the miracle would not have been as newsworthy as resurrecting a man
who had been dead for four days. This is Jesus' greatest "public
relations act" of His whole ministry. What many do not realize is that
the key to the whole story is in the next chapter.
Many people, because they had heard that He had given this miraculous
sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See,
this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after
Him!" (John 12:18-19)
If Jesus had not raised Lazarus from the dead, there would have been no
crowds to cheer the Lord when He came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
God often sets the stage so that His glory is revealed through the
events that He orchestrates. He did this with Moses and Pharaoh,
allowing delay after delay for release of the Israelites from Egypt. He
did this with Abraham and Sarah for the promised child, Isaac. God
granted Sarah a baby past the age of childbearing in order to
demonstrate His power.
God did this in my own life. He delayed the fulfillment of what I
believed He called me to do for several years. But the delays provided
the necessary preparation and greater glory that God was to receive. My
friend, don't take the delays lightly. Do not faint as God places you in
what seems to be a holding pattern. God is at work. God knows the
purposes for His delays. Don't give up, for they are for His greater
glory; so we need to remain faithful.

GOD'S SELECTION PROCESS

"So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him,
"Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from
those who kneel down to drink." - Judges 7:5

Would you ever take on an army of 100,000 with only 300 men? Sound
preposterous? I agree. However, this is exactly what happened with
Gideon. It was bad enough that he began with 10,000 against 100,000, but
this was too many men according to God. He would not allow Gideon to
fight with this many soldiers, because the temptation would still remain
to believe that it was the strength of his army that won the victory.
God told Gideon to pare down his army to a mere 300. This would ensure
that God would receive total credit for the victory. This is a law in
the Kingdom of God. All glory must go to Him. "Announce now to the
people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount
Gilead.' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained"
(Judg. 7:3).
Now there are 10,000 men left but that was still too many. God gave
Gideon an interesting selection method for the 300 as he took the men
down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the
water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink"
(Judg. 7:5b). What was the significance of this? Those soldiers who
lapped water like a dog were soldiers who were more aware of the enemy
around them compared to those who kneeled to drink. The lappers were men
who were on constant guard to the danger around them, keeping their eyes
up and looking about them. The others could be easily picked off.
If you and I are going to be one of God's elite, we must be battle
ready. We must be sensitive to the spiritual dangers around us. We must
be trained to go about our business while, at the same time, discern
when the enemy of our souls is prowling about seeking to destroy us. "Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). Beware of the
spiritual dangers around you.

OUR PLANS AND GOD'S PLANS

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose
that prevails." - (Proverbs 19:21)

Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for
one vocation only to end up doing something completely different?
Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our
minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course
correction. Often the course correction comes through a major
crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have
considered.
Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up
desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented
and internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a
living as an artist in America during that time. A series of
crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife
died; then his mother and father also died soon after. He went to
Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return trip
aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about
new experiments in electromagnetism. During that important
occasion, Morse made the following comment, "If the presence of
electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see
no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by
electricity." In the face of many difficulties and
disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and,
in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as
the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later,
after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects
received funding.
Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I
cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look
upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to
hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall
I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong confidence, and I will
wait patiently for the direction of Providence." Morse went on to
create several other inventions and can be recognized today as
the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other
electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester,
Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]
God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural
inclination. Perhaps God has you taking a path that may not lead
to His ultimate destination for you. Trust in the Lord, lean not
on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He
shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).

GOD'S MOTIVE

"He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He
delighted in me." - 2 Samuel 22:20

Questioning someone's motives for their activities can become an
overriding response to those to whom we relate. Wrong motives can
result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, and falling out of
God's will. Sometimes we do not know the motive of another person. It
is wrong for us to assume what their motive is until we have confidence
that we know their intentions. When we respond or react prematurely, we
become judge and jury over them.
God has a motive for every one of His children. His desire is to bring
us into a spacious place. He wants us to go beyond our borders of
safety and security so that we might experience life at a level that goes
beyond ourselves. What do you think of when you think of a "spacious
place"? No limitations? A large, grassy field? Open air? These are
positive images. Sometimes these spacious places encourage us to step
out in faith into areas where we've never ventured. Sometimes we need
to be rescued by the Lord. When Peter walked on the water, God was
inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the borders of his boat and
ventured into a whole new world. He didn't have complete success in his
venturing out, but it was a process that would lead him to the next
victory in his faith walk with Jesus. Sometimes failure is what is
needed in order to move us to the next level of faith with God.
However,we must be willing to fail and let God rescue us.
The Lord delights in this process. His motive for His children is
always love. It is always to bring us to a new level of trust and dependence
on Him.

GOD'S AUTHORITY

"I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is
coming. He has no hold on Me, but the world must learn that I love the
Father and that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me...." - John 14:30-31

There is a constant war going on between our flesh and the Spirit. As
Christians, the Spirit seeks to move us under the authority of His
domain in order for us to fulfill all that we were created for. Every
person was designed to be under some form of authority. Jesus modeled
this in His own life. He lived under the authority of His heavenly
Father. He made no independent decisions. He, unlike us, was sinless
and always remained under His Father's authority. He acknowledged that the
prince of this world has a hold on many, but did not have a hold on
Jesus.
The prince of this world does have his hold on many in our world, even
among our brothers and sisters. The one thing most of us want the
greatest is the freedom to make our own decisions. It goes all the way
back to the Garden of Eden when the decision was made to exercise a
personal right: freedom to decide, freedom of choice, freedom from
hindrances, freedom from pain. However, Jesus said He had no freedom of
choice. He chose only the Father's desire for His life. He was the
ultimate model of a man under authority.
Each day we must determine if we'll willingly choose to be under the
authority of the Father and the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is a
choice each of us must make. It is a choice that actually leads to
freedom, not bondage. Choosing to live under the authority of our
heavenly Father frees us to gain the greatest fulfillment in life-His
mission and the purposes He has for us. It is the little decisions of
daily life that reveal whether we truly live under His authority.

GOD'S RECRUITMENT STRATEGY FOR LEADERS

"Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see
nothing." - Acts 9:8a

When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much
travail. There are many examples where God makes His presence known
through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul.
Consider Paul, who was stricken blind on the Damascus road.
Consider Peter; when he denied Jesus after the crucifixion, he was in
total despair.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery
furnace.
Consider Daniel, who was thrown into the lions' den.
Consider David, who was forced to flee his former employer for many
years and lived as a fugitive.
It may seem strange to us that God uses such incredible adversity to
prepare His servants for greater service, but this is God's way. God
knows that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into
situations that take us beyond our comfort zone. He intentionally brings
us into hard places to prove us and to drive us deeper into the soil of
His grace.
In arid regions of the world, trees cannot survive unless their roots
grow deeper to where the water table can be found. Once they reach the
water, these trees become stronger than any tree that can be found in
tropical climates. Their root systems ensure that they can withstand any
storm. In the same way, God brings us into extremely difficult
situations in order to prove His power and drive our spiritual roots
deeper.
Friend, God may take you through times when you will question His love
for you. In such times, you must cling to His coattail so that you see
His purposes in it. Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly
rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you
will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, "He
who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will
live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him"
(Hebrews 10:36-38).

GOD'S CHOSEN FEW

"But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them
in their affliction." - Job 36:15

He was born with cerebral palsy in South Africa. He barely survived his
birth. He did not walk until he was four years old. One leg was longer
than the other and he could not speak well. For most of his life, his
hands shook and he had little control over them. Feelings of rejection
and bitterness at his plight were common occurrences during his
growing-up years. During his school years, he was chastised by kids and
generally rejected by society.
At age 17, his father felt led to take his son to a healing service.
That night, the young boy's leg divinely grew two inches. He no longer
walked with a limp. Bradley met the Savior and began to grow in his
intimacy with Him. God began to speak to him and show him things. Prayer
became his source of comfort and strength. God gave him insights about
people and situations, bringing blessing to all who encountered him.
Today, this young man travels around the world as an internationally
known intercessor and founder of a school of intercessory prayer.
Literally hundreds of hours of knowledge about the way God speaks to His
children have been birthed in and through this young man.
One evening Bradley walked forward in a meeting of about 40 workplace
believers and handed a note to the leader during a Christian business
conference. The note was for someone in the room, but Bradley did not
know whom it was for. It was the last day of a 40-day fast for this
writer. The message gave a specific description of what I had been
experiencing the two years leading up to that night. Nobody would have
known such details. I knew it was for me. It was a miraculous "telegram
from God" that provided confirmation and encouragement of where God was
taking me. God used one broken man to speak to another broken man.
God's ways are not our ways. His preparation of His warriors seems cruel
and hurtful at times. His ways are much higher than ours. Trust the God
of the universe that He can orchestrate the events of your life when
they seem the darkest.

THE GOD OF ALL ENCOURAGEMENT

"Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all
our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For
as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ." - 2 Corinthians 1:2-5

Do you ever get discouraged? Don't answer that, because I already know
the answer. Of course you do, you're human. Encouragement is something
we all need. Thank God it is something He has promised to everyone of
us. I'd like you to first see that the word, "encouragement", is not
used in the King James Version of the Bible. Instead, you'll see the
word "comfort" which is used 10 times in this passage from 2
Corinthians. It is also translated "consolation" and used to describe
the Holy Spirit who is called the Comforter (John 14 & 15). I want you
to know the sweet encouragement that only our Savior can bring. And once
you receive that gift, to pass it on, thereby allowing the Holy Spirit
to fill you up again and again.

The Source of Encouragement
God has cornered the market on comfort. So if you are discouraged right
now, the devil is hot on your trail. There's a story that illustrates
this point so well.
One day, the devil was auctioning off his tools. That is, all but one
tool. It was such a high price, no one could afford it. When someone
asked why, he said, "That's my favorite tool. It's the tool of
discouragement. I use it to pry open a life and when I get inside, I can
do all kinds of damage with my other tools of hatred, lust, envy,
jealousy, and pride."
When the Bible says, "who comforteth us," I want you to notice that the
word "comforteth" is in the present tense. This encouragement is
ever-present. It flows like a river -never stopping to flow from the
loving bosom of God.

The Subject of Encouragement
That's you and me, and everyone who's gone before us or who will come
after us. You see, one of the consolations of discouragement, is that
we're in good company. We don't have to go around wearing a mask and
pretending to be happy when we're not. There have been three times in my
life when I was really discouraged. And in all three times I went to the
Lord and He met me there. He became the God of all comfort to me.
Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, was often discouraged. In fact,
his wife thought the only way to help him was to shock him out of it.
She put on a black dress and veil as if she was going to a funeral. When
he asked her who had died, she said, "Martin, haven't your heard? God
has died." He declared, "That is blasphemy!" His wife said, "Aye
Husband, and it is blasphemy for you to be living as if God is dead."
Needless to say, Martin snapped out of it!

The Stewardship of Encouragement
God is the One who encourages us so that we may be able to comfort
others. This is the purpose of encouragement! We are blessed that we
might be a blessing. The word "aboundeth" in 2 Corinthians, verse 5
means that we are to overflow with the life of Jesus Christ. Everywhere
we go, we are to be a source of encouragement.
To some people, tribulation is a prison. For others, tribulation is a
hospital from which they get well. But friend, tribulation is to be a
seminary where we learn to become stewards of the comfort we receive, so
that we can pass on our encouragement to others.

FEARS THAT KEEP US FROM HIS PRESENCE

"Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave
them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into the boat and
left." - Luke 8:37

Jesus did many miracles when He lived on earth. One of those miracles
involved the deliverance of a demon-possessed man. The people of the
community witnessed this awesome demonstration of God's power when
Jesus commanded the demon spirit to come out of the man and go into the herd
of nearby pigs. The man was healed and sat at Jesus' feet.
You would expect the people who witnessed this to embrace Jesus as one
performing good deeds and to honor Him. The opposite was true. Instead,
they were overcome with fear. Why? Many of us respond the same way to
Jesus when He does an out-of-the-ordinary act among His people. We are
fearful because we have never personally experienced this before. So,
we draw wrong judgments. The result is that Jesus removes Himself from us.
The Lord is able to do far exceeding above what we think. Jesus does
not remain in the places where there is fear of His goodness. It is often
subconscious fears that prevent us from going to a deeper level with
Him. The people in Gerasenes could not benefit from Jesus' presence
because of their fears.
Have you feared Jesus because of what He might require of you? Have you
feared that He might ask of you something you are not prepared to give?
Do not let your fears drive Him from your presence. His motive is
always love for His children. You can trust Him.

EQUIPPED FOR THE WORKPLACE

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the
sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He
work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20

"We've spent too much time equipping our workplace believers to do our
ministries rather than equipping them to do the ministry God has called
them to in the workplace," said a third-world pastor to a large group of
workplace believers.
Over 70 percent of our time is spent in the workplace, yet our training
and teaching focuses on areas where we spend much less time. The
workplace is the greatest mission field of our day, yet we do not train
workplace believers how to effectively integrate their faith into their
workplace. The wall between Sunday and Monday still exists. Most
workplace believers do not understand that all of life is spiritual, not
just life on Sunday.
A recent study found that 50 percent of Christians have never heard a
sermon on work; 70 percent have never been taught a theology of work;
and 70 percent have never heard a sermon on vocation. Why do we focus on
the fringes rather than the center where most people spend most of their
time - the workplace?
God is removing the wall of separation by speaking to pastors and
workplace believers all over the world. A pastor recently shared how his
church ordains their workplace believers for their calling to the
workplace. Another pastor described their church's commitment to
integrating training for their workplace believers on the theology of
work. Another told how they began a workplace ministry within their
church for their workplace believers, and even integrated Sunday school
programs specifically geared to help workplace believers understand
their calling in the workplace.
We are entering a new era in the Church when workplace believers are
seen as a remnant of the Body of Christ who need to be mobilized and
trained for the work of the ministry to their own mission field-the
workplace. Are you one of the men and women God is raising up for this
task? Pray that God will help pastors understand and affirm this
calling, and that they will respond by training the people of their
churches for their own ministry to the workplace. When we reclaim the 70
percent, the remainder will be reclaimed automatically.

GOD'S PREPARATION FOR MOVING OUT

"In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large
flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys."- Genesis 30:43

Jacob left his homeland after suffering a broken relationship with Esau
for stealing the family blessing. He went to work for his uncle Laban
where he stayed for 20 years. It came time for him to leave, but he had
no physical assets to show for those years under Laban. Laban had taken
advantage of his nephew in every way. (In some ways, Jacob was reaping
the seed he had sown his entire life as a manipulator and controller.)
Nevertheless, God's hand was on Jacob, and He had plans to prosper him.
However, Jacob had one problem - he had no resources of his own. For
Jacob to launch out on his own, he would need resources. In those days,
resources often meant large flocks of animals. God gave Jacob a dream
that resulted in a strategy for creating wealth by multiplying his
sheep. Even though Laban sought to thwart Jacob's efforts, God overcame
the evil in Laban to allow Jacob to prosper.
There are many important lessons for us in this story. First, when God
decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He
has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call.
God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy never used before to
build wealth. It was totally from God's hand. It was creative and new.
God called Jacob to move out after he had demonstrated his faithfulness
in 20 years of serving Laban. He learned to live under authority and
served Laban faithfully, even though he knew he was being taken
advantage of.
God will do the same for you and me. However, a word of caution: Be
sure the strategy is born from above, and not from self-effort. The
difficulty for most of us workplace believers is to learn the
difference between the strategies born of God versus the strategy of self-effort.

GENTLY LEADING

"So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at
the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come
to my lord in Seir." - Genesis 33:14

Work often determines that we move at a pace that can put incredible
stresses upon people and relationships. Jacob was a man who learned to
manipulate and control outcomes. He even stole the birthright of his
brother, Esau, through trickery. The Bible speaks of Jacob as a man who
strived with God. He knew how to force situations to his advantage. It
took years for God to break down all the rough edges of Jacob so that he
could be worthy of becoming the patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel.
God saw something in Jacob that He could use.
Robert Hicks, in his book Masculine Journey, describes five biblical
stages of manhood that must be passed through before a man becomes a
mature man of God. One of those early stages is known as the "warrior
stage." In this stage of manhood, the man is known by what he does, what
he accomplishes, and he is totally defined by his performance. It can be
a tumultuous time for the man and those close to him. It is often
signified by broken relationships because the goal is often more
important than the way the goal is accomplished. When I meet with a man,
I can easily determine what stage of life he is in by hearing him talk.
Jacob had successfully passed through these five stages based on the
verse above. It takes someone mature to be able to "move along slowly at
the pace of the droves before me and that of the children." Leaders who
never come to understand this may be successful materially but fail at
the most important aspect of leadership-leading at a pace that his
followers can maintain. The roads are full of wives, children, and
workers who cannot keep up with the pace of leaders and are left behind
with broken dreams, broken hearts, and unfulfilled promises.
Are you a person who is more concerned with outcome than how you achieve
the outcome? Can the people around you describe you as someone who leads
at a pace that ensures respect and admiration? Ask the Lord for the
ability to be a godly leader who understands the condition of his flock
and the pace in which you can lead without alienating.

FREEDOM AND BOUNDARIES

"Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God
had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat
from any tree in the garden'?" - Genesis 3:1

God is big on giving man freedom and boundaries-freedom to manage what
He has entrusted to us, boundaries to protect us from evil. The
boundaries in the Garden of Eden were not set for the purpose of
limiting Adam. Man got into trouble when he questioned those boundaries.
God had provided everything he would need for life. He also entrusted
man with responsibility to manage and work the Garden. God gave him
freedom in that responsibility. God knows we were made to express
ourselves creatively through our work.
Each of us must have freedom and boundaries in our work life. Whenever
you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain
decisions. You must have the authority to manage things within your area
of expertise. You must also have limits within your area of
responsibility. You need to know where those limits are and stay within
them. Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God's
authority and our authorities at work.
Jesus understood these boundaries. When He was tempted for 40 days by
the devil after being baptized, He was challenged by satan to go outside
His freedom and boundaries. (See Matthew 4:1-11.) Satan said that He had
the power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus was hungry and easily could
have justified using His power to feed Himself. However, Jesus
understood He could do nothing outside the boundaries of God's will for
His life. It was God's will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the
temptation. God was showing His Son that "man does not live on bread
alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4b).
You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained
boundaries. Whether it is solving financial problems that have arisen
through debt, making wrong decisions due to pressure, or manipulating
someone in order to achieve our ends, it all represents rebellion toward
God.
Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life. These are
meant to enhance your life, not hinder it.

FORGIVING OURSELVES

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

The apostle Peter was one of three disciples who walked with Jesus
closer than the other nine. He was the most enthusiastic and the one
man who was willing to step into territories where others would not dare.
He was the first to step out of the boat and walk on water. He wanted to
protect Jesus at times when Jesus rebuked him for having a demon
influence him. He cut off the ear of the guard who wanted to arrest
Jesus in the garden. As Peter matured, the Holy Spirit harnessed his
many extreme emotions.
The greatest trial for Peter was when he denied the Lord just before
Jesus was crucified. Three times he denied knowing Jesus. Jesus
predicted that the cock would crow after the third time just to
reinforce the prophecy to Peter. Peter was crushed when he realized he
had failed His Lord so badly.
The Lord forgave Peter for his denial. However, gaining forgiveness
from Jesus was not the most difficult part for Peter. The hard part was
forgiving himself. As we mature in the faith, we begin moving in
victory after victory with our Lord. Then out of nowhere, an event happens that
reveals our true sin nature, and we are confronted face to face with
this reality. We cannot believe that we are capable of such sin. There
is no good thing in us save the grace of Jesus Christ and His blood
that cleanses us. When God looks at us, He looks at the blood of Christ that
has covered our sin. He does not look at our sin once we confess it.
When we have difficulty forgiving ourselves, this is pride at its
deepest level. We are making an assumption that we should never have
sinned and that we are too mature to sin. This is a trap from the enemy
of our souls. People who cannot forgive do not recognize from what they
have been forgiven. That includes us.

FORGIVING OURSELVES

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

The apostle Peter was one of three disciples who walked with Jesus
closer than the other nine. He was the most enthusiastic and the one
man who was willing to step into territories where others would not dare.
He was the first to step out of the boat and walk on water. He wanted to
protect Jesus at times when Jesus rebuked him for having a demon
influence him. He cut off the ear of the guard who wanted to arrest
Jesus in the garden. As Peter matured, the Holy Spirit harnessed his
many extreme emotions.
The greatest trial for Peter was when he denied the Lord just before
Jesus was crucified. Three times he denied knowing Jesus. Jesus
predicted that the cock would crow after the third time just to
reinforce the prophecy to Peter. Peter was crushed when he realized he
had failed His Lord so badly.
The Lord forgave Peter for his denial. However, gaining forgiveness
from Jesus was not the most difficult part for Peter. The hard part was
forgiving himself. As we mature in the faith, we begin moving in
victory after victory with our Lord. Then out of nowhere, an event happens that
reveals our true sin nature, and we are confronted face to face with
this reality. We cannot believe that we are capable of such sin. There
is no good thing in us save the grace of Jesus Christ and His blood
that cleanses us. When God looks at us, He looks at the blood of Christ that
has covered our sin. He does not look at our sin once we confess it.
When we have difficulty forgiving ourselves, this is pride at its
deepest level. We are making an assumption that we should never have
sinned and that we are too mature to sin. This is a trap from the enemy
of our souls. People who cannot forgive do not recognize from what they
have been forgiven. That includes us.

FINDING MEANING IN OUR LABOUR

"But I said, "I have laboured to no purpose; I have spent my
strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the
Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God." - (Isaiah 49:4)

Have you ever felt like you're spending your life using your
talent for nothing? Life is often spent doing mundane activities
that seem to have little eternal purpose.
The great prophet Isaiah was struggling with his own purpose. He
knew he was chosen to be a voice for God, yet life became
purposeless for Isaiah. We all go through periods when our
purpose seems to be clouded with the mundane. We see little
meaning in life. On the other hand, Isaiah didn't stay in this
place. We read in this passage that he knew the truth of his
existence. He could look past his present circumstance and know
that his real reward and purpose would be revealed in eternity.
He knew that God was just and fair, so he placed his faith on
this truth.
When life appears to lack meaning and purpose, remember that if
you devote your life to the purposes He has for you, the fruits
of your labour will be manifested in due time. "The one who calls
you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thess. 5:24).

FIVE TRAPS LEADERS FALL INTO

"I set you apart for a special work." - Jeremiah 1:5 NCV

If you're a leader, consider these five traps:
(1) The need to be well-rounded! Great achievers are usually not
well-rounded. They're focused! Striving to be well-rounded only sounds
good. It actually forces you to invest time and energy into areas where
you'll never excel.
(2) Authority without competence! Every leader has authority over areas
in which s/he has little or no competence. When s/he tries to exercise
authority there, s/he often hinders everything and everyone under
his/her watch. To put it bluntly, there are things you're responsible
for, that you should keep your nose out of.
(3) The success intoxicant! Success is an intoxicant, and intoxicated
people seldom have a firm grip on reality. Leaders often assume that
their core competencies are broader than they actually are. This trait
is easy to see in others, but next to impossible to see in ourselves.
Admitting weakness doesn't make you less effective, it just expresses
what everybody around you has known for a long time.
(4) Guilt! We feel guilty about delegating our weaknesses. We assume
that everybody hates to do what we hate to do. Wrong! Delegation allows
somebody else to shine. Your weakness is their opportunity.
(5) Unwillingness to develop others! Sure it's easier to do things
yourself. But leadership isn't just about getting things done right,
it's about getting things done through others. If you can't find
somebody to hand things off to, look in the mirror. Your people are
exactly where you've led them. If you've nobody to delegate things to,
guess who needs to change?

FINDING THE WILL OF GOD

"I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." -Psalm 40:8

How would you describe the process by which you find and do God's will
in your life? For some, finding God's will is like playing bumper cars.
We keep going in one direction until we bump into an obstacle, turn, and
go in another direction. It is a constant process of elimination,
failure, or success. Is this the way God would have us find His will?
No. There is much more relationship between hearing God's voice and
living within the mystery of His omnipotence in our lives. Perhaps this
process is more like water in a streambed. The water is constantly
flowing to a final destination. As it presses against the streambed, it
gently points the water toward its final destination. There are no
abrupt head-on collisions, simply slight modifications of direction.
Occasionally, we come to a sharp turn in the contours of our life. For
those times, God allows us to stretch our normal response to change. A
popular Bible study says that we cannot go with God and stay where we
are. Finding and doing God's will always require change. What changes
are necessary in your life to join God in what He is already doing?
There is a direct connection between finding and doing God's will and
having God's law in our heart. A friend once complained that he did not
know what God wanted of him in his life. My immediate response was, "How
much time do you spend with God in Bible study, prayer, and meditation
on Scripture?" "Only a few minutes a day," he replied. How can we expect
to hear and discern God's voice if we don't spend focused time with Him?
If you have a spouse, how did you get to know him or her before you were
married? You spent time together. You got to know everything about each
other. Our walk with God is no different. It isn't enough to have a
desire to follow God; we must put our energy into getting to know Him.
His will for us flows out of our relationship, it is not an end in
itself. Commit yourself to seeking Him more in your life by spending
more time with Him. "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great
and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jer. 33:3).

FEAR NOT

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of
love and of self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7

God calls each of us to engage in spiritual warfare at times. Whenever
satan wants to come against one of God's children, he does so by trying
to intimidate through fear.
Goliath's formidable size and arrogant boasting intimidated Saul and
Israel's army. And because God's anointing had fallen from Saul, he was
unable to respond with courage to Goliath's charge. Fear paralyzes and
torments. That is why Saul could not respond.
The anointing had fallen on David, who was just a young boy, but mighty
in spirit. David did not cower at the size or shouts of the giant
Goliath. He saw Goliath through the eyes of God, who saw him as a mere
speck. David had righteous indignation for an affront to the armies of
the living God.
David did not weigh the risk of failure because his faith was resting
totally in God. That is another important factor in overcoming
fear-complete trust in God.
When the Lord began training me to confront fear, the training grounds
were a groundless lawsuit, intimidations, and calamity that confronted
my very existence. Learning that these were merely tactics of the enemy,
designed to instill fear, allowed me to stand firm in God's power to
overcome.
Do not fear sudden calamity if you are walking uprightly before God. It
may be setting the stage for a great victory that will bring praise and
honor to your heavenly Father. These battles are training grounds for
greater victories to come.

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has
made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed
down." - Psalm 145:13b-14

Have you ever had a relationship with someone who was faithful? You knew
you could depend on that person to do what he said. You learned that his
word was completely trustworthy. If he said he would call you, he would.
If he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he'd be there. In fact,
if he was late, you began to wonder if he had an accident because it was
so contrary to his nature. It's great to have friends who are faithful.
God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word.
Sometimes we think God isn't faithful because it appears He has not
fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful
because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn't faithful. We must
remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate
purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our
heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.
The Bible is full of accounts of God's faithfulness that was often
accompanied by hardship. He brought Joseph out of slavery to be greatly
used in a nation. He delivered the people from Egypt and brought them
into the Promised Land. He gave Abraham the son of promise late in his
life. He delivered David from his enemies and made him a king. In story
upon story, we learn of God's faithfulness.
Are you a faithful man or woman? The workplace needs faithful men and
women. Take an inventory of your life today and ask God if you have been
faithful with what He has entrusted to you.

EMBRACING THE MESS

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of
an ox comes an abundant harvest." - Proverbs 14:4

My wife and I run together through a new home subdivision. Often we see
the street filled with red clay from the land as bulldozers clear it to
lay a foundation. The job site is littered with lumber, all sorts of
trash from workers, and is generally a mess. The house looks ugly; it
has all its insides exposed as it is being pieced together, yet this
process is necessary to get to the finished product. When completed, the
home is beautiful. The landscaping looks like it came out of a
home-design magazine. Everything is clean and perfect in order for the
new homeowner to move in.
Our walk with God is much the same process. Often we must go through a
messy period of our lives in which all aspects of it are in disarray. It
is in these times that God builds a new structure. He might remove some
structural timbers in our lives and replace them with new ones. He might
even add on another room. And unless this process takes place, we will
never see the end product. The goal is more Christlikeness. In order to
achieve this in us, He requires a period of removing all that is not of
Him. It can be a painful process.
It would be impossible to keep oxen in a barn without having to clean up
the mess from time to time. It just comes with the territory, but the
result of the oxen is an abundant harvest. God may be allowing a mess in
order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that
you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these
times.