Sunday 30 June 2019

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 26 And two shall become one


“Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.” Joshua 23:11-13 NKJV

Many divorces happened because people ‘fell out of love’ with their spouse. In and out of love is a concept that the world understands. Marriage seminars teaches us how to keep love alive in the marriage; things to do and not do. We are taught to keep fanning the flame of love and to keep the passion alive. All these things that you ‘feel’ unfortunately, if the feeling cannot be felt, it’s time to call it a day.

Joshua admonished the Israelites towards the end of his life to. “...take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.”

Taking heed to one-self indicates that loving God is a personal responsibility, nobody can motivate or excite you, neither can anyone inspire you to love God. We have to be mindful about our state of heart towards Elohim God. If not, you will find yourself going back to your previous ways of life.

One of the most significant ways to turn back from God is being ensnared by the world and marrying into the world. God gave the Israelite clear instruction not to marry from the gentile nations, that they will turn their hearts from Him to their gods. Marriage is a heart thing, it is easier to get pulled away from Elohim through marriage - Samson, Solomon, are classic example.
Marrying from the idol worshiping nations meant God would not drive them from the land – they have now become one with the Jews. Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. ... So they are no longer two, but one flesh (Genesis 2:24).

Marriage binds together, you are no longer two but one. God would not drive them out of the land, however their idolatry customs would become a snare and a trap, something that constantly tempted and tested them. Many of the Israelite unfortunately fell into these traps and did turn their back on their God. The nation of Israel became divided and were eventually driven out of their promise land.

I don’t believe marrying an unbeliever would cost you eternity but surely when there is already a spiritual divide, how can the household serve only One True God? Whoever you marry, you are bound to.
  
#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and the grace of salvation. Help me to take heed to myself and love You the LORD my God. May I not go back and cling to my previous ways of life but remain a new creature in Christ Jesus. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity


Saturday 29 June 2019

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 25 Just #dwell in the secret place


He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.  Psalms 91:1, 9

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It makes me feel protected and secured, like nothing can touch me because my refuge is the Almighty God. However, there is a condition, only those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High.

What does it mean to dwell? This is to live in or at a specified place - the secret place. A place can be a physical location or a specific state of mind or condition. The fact that it is secret indicates that it is not open to all and sundry. It is only known to those whom it has been revealed to.


And who is this secret place revealed to? The secret is in the passage: “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name (Psalms 91:14)
The revelation is to those who love the Lord and who acknowledges His name.

And what or where is the secret place? I believe it is not a physical location but a state of mind. The love of and the name of Elohim God, that is the secret place. It is not within the four walls of a building but your heart of love - You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind (Matthew 22:37).

And the name of the Lord - for the name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

For you to dwell continuously in the secret place and abide under the shadow of the Almighty, you must love Him continuously and call on His name always. Then you will call on Him, and He will answer you; He will be with you in trouble. He will deliver you and honour you. With long life He will satisfy you and show you His salvation. Isn’t that awesome?


#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and the grace of salvation. May I dwell in Your secret place and abide under Your shadow all the days of my life in Christ Jesus. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity


Monday 24 June 2019

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 24 My #Past is past



So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.Joshua 2:1 NKJV

I was just reflecting on insights from the Book of Joshua. The story of Rahab, the harlot, a woman not married and in the prostitute profession, her home was a lodge or hotel for visitors/strangers to Jericho. A woman I bet that she was looked down upon by many because of what she does.

Yet…

Despite her profession there was something in her that knew who the LORD was. How did she know that the God of Israel had given them the land of Canaan? The story of the wonders God did from the land of Egypt, through the wilderness years might have spread throughout the region. But who told her that the LORD God of Israel is God in heaven above and on earth below (Josh 2:11)?

What a remarkable woman despite her daily living as a harlot.

She was saved from the destruction of Jericho. She went to live in Israel, became part of a new nation and a new creation no longer a prostitute for she married Salmon the father of Boaz, the husband of Ruth and great grandfather of King David. To crown it all for Rahab, she was inducted into the Hall of Faith as one of the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:31).

What extraordinary insight into our own lives. We too were saved from destruction, now adopted into a new family of the Kingdom of God, old things have passed away, all things have become new. Our future is one for eternity, our descendants are for signs and wonders, our names are written in the book of life.

Do not write off anyone because of their current or past circumstances or what they do. Who know what is in their heart to God. Their past is past.

#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and the grace of salvation. Give me a heart that knows and seek for You despite it all.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity



Monday 10 June 2019

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 23 A rotten #heart


“Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:19 NKJV

The great persecution that arose Jerusalem, as narrated in the books of Acts led to Phillip going to a Samaritan city. One would have expected him to lay low but not the evangelist, he preached Christ to them and they believed. In this city was a man who practiced sorcery. He was a man of influence, having astonished the people of the city with his sorceries for a long time. The bible recorded that when the men and women of the city believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done (Acts 8:12-13 NKJV).

By Martin Lacroix
I recently completed a study and blog on the heart as the determinant of our entrance to eternity even as a born again Christian. Confessing Jesus as Lord and Saviour is not enough when the content of your heart remains evil.

The story of Simon really brings that to the fore. His conversion would have been a great testimony and source of celebration in the church. Wow... the sorcerer gave his life to Christ, he was baptised, hallelujah! Simon became a diligent and faithful disciple. He followed Phillip avidly, learning with wide eyes. It would not be surprising to learn that when Peter and John arrived, he was the lead protocol. What a brother! Full of good works. However, his heart...was something else when Elohim revealed its content.

Simon saw all the miracles, signs and wonders performed by the Apostles and he could not keep the content of his heart a secret any longer. “Give me the power to also perform this miracles...I am willing to pay whatever amount you want”, he asked. Ha...ha born again brother! Thy heart is still full of iniquity.

However, Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:20-23 NKJV

How is the state of your heart brother? How is the state of your heart sister? Are you in this Christian journey to satisfy your belly or to make it to eternity?

#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and the grace of salvation. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. In the name of Yeshua Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen.
I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

Sunday 9 June 2019

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 22 It’s a #Heart thing (4)


…the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

So what is the content of your heart? 

We have been exploring this question in the past few weeks. Yeshua declares that only the pure in heart shall see God. The word of God also says that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Every imagination of the thoughts of man was only evil continually.

In my Christian walk, every step requires a deliberate effort and mindfulness. Life itself is full of challenges, relationships and friendships has its ups and down. You get hurt and try not to lash out. You get angry but try to avoid keeping malice. You try not to let disappointment and frustration weigh you down. The heart is continuously processing all these emotions. How do we keep our heart pure with all these, going on in it?

I have realised that holiness in any form is dependent on some fundamental truths. 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV). A heart that will be receptive to holiness is one that will receive and react to the Spirit of the Living God. We need Almighty God to mold and shape our heart, removing every stony and hardness, that will not accept Him. Only God can circumcise our heart to love Him with all of our hearts.

Another fundamental truth is that Elohim God has given man free will to make choices. We can choose to keep our heart pure, what we allow in and retain in our heart is up to us. King David said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). The study and meditation on the word of God will fill your heart with the right stuff. It is the living word of God that can penetrate into all facet of your heart, discerning the thoughts and the intent, keeping it clean. If you do not make the study and meditation on the Word, a core part of your daily routine, other things will occupy your heart.

The heart is like a sponge, it soaks in whatever is transmitted to it by the eyes, the ears, the touch, the taste and the smell. We need a sieve to help filter what gets soaked in. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. There is so much going around us that it is impossible to shut oneself off the world but how do we ensure we do not take in everything we see, hear, touch, feel or smell? We need the help of the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom and the grace to keep our heart holy without corruption.

The state of your heart is up to you. What practical steps are you taking to keep it holy and undefiled? How is your prayer life? What do you read and meditate on?

#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and the grace of salvation. Circumcise my heart to love You Lord with all my heart and with all my soul. Put a new spirit within me and give me a heart of flesh. Help me to hide your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity