Walking by Faith

The Journey of Faith | Genesis 12:1-8.

   All of us are on the journey of life. We can make the journey in one of two ways. We can make the journey on the basis of what our eyes can see—that’s walking by sight. Or we can make the journey on the basis of what we cannot see—that’s walking by faith.

The Bible says we walk not by sight but by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). God wants each person’s life’s journey to be a journey of faith. Through the life of Abraham, we learn what walking the journey of life by faith really means.

I. The Call of Faith (12:1-3)

Genesis 12:1 says, “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country.’” Notice that the Bible says that in the life of faith, God always takes the initiative. Somebody said, “I sought the Lord until I finally found Him.” In reality, if you ever sought the Lord, it’s because the Lord had previously searched for you. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). God always takes the first step and makes the first move. God reached out to Abram.

A cost is also involved. God told Abram he had to leave his country, Ur of the Chaldeans, and his father’s house.

Sometimes when God sends us, He doesn’t tell us the whole story. But notice that God made seven promises to Abram in Genesis 12:2-3:

1. “I will make you a great nation”
2. “I will bless you”—God did indeed bless Abraham
3. I will “make your name great”—Abram’s name (Abraham as he is referred to later) is revered in the three major religions of the world: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity
4. “You shall be a blessing”—indeed, Abram has been a blessing
5. “I will bless those who bless you”—historically, those who have blessed the Jewish people, God has blessed
6. “I will curse him who curses you”
7. “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”—through the line of Abram, this great man who was willing to obey the call of God to faith, ultimately came the Savior. You and I have a Savior whose name is Jesus because of God’s promise to Abraham.

Isn’t this amazing? One act of obedience! God basically says, “Abraham, you follow Me; and if you will, I will bless you seven ways.”

II. The Compliance of Faith (12:4–6)

Here was Abram, settled down, prosperous business, everything going well. God spoke to Abram, telling him to follow His instructions and become a blessing to the world. The Bible says that Abraham obeyed and departed.

Faith is based on God’s Word, and faith is demonstrated by obedience. Total obedience means giving all your time, talent, and treasure. It means giving your totality to Christ. Believers should never be satisfied to be “halfway” Christians. We should go the whole route with the Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him everything we have.

III. The Confession of Faith (12:7-8)

In two symbolic ways, Abram would confess his faith in the Lord. Look at Genesis 12:7: “The LORD appeared to Abram.” When Abram arrived where God had sent him, the Lord was there to greet him. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” This means that the same Jesus who called you to follow Him by faith will meet you where He sends you.

Notice in Genesis 12:8 that Abram did two things: he pitched a tent, and he built an altar. I circled tent and altarin my Bible. Those two symbolic actions demonstrate Abram’s confession of faith in the Lord.

Abram pitched a tent. Back in Haran, he had probably been dwelling in a very nice, luxurious home. From this point on, he began to live in a tent. Why? God had made it clear to Abram that he was to live in a tent as a confession that he understood this world was his temporary dwelling, and that he was going to a city whose builder and maker is God (see Heb. 11:10).

Please don’t get too attached to this old world. Don’t drive your stakes down too deep. If you have responded to God by faith, if you are on the journey of faith, God has promised you a better world. Remember—you are a stranger and a pilgrim.

Abram also built an altar. The Bible says that he called on the name of the Lord. The altar reminded him of his devotion to the Lord—that his all was to be on the altar. We face the same lesson in Romans 12:1 where we’re told to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice.” Have you laid your all on that altar for Jesus Christ? Is Jesus absolutely number one in your life?

Genesis 12:8 also says that Ai was on the east and Bethel on the west. Ai means heap of ruins; Bethel means house of God. Abram’s altar was between his daily choices of direction for his life. Would he move his life toward the heap of ruins, or would he move his life toward the house of God?

Every day in this journey of faith, that’s the decision we must make. We have to decide if we will live toward that heap of ruins, the things of this world, or if we will we live toward Bethel, the house of God.

When you make that decision by faith, when you say goodbye to this old world and hello to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are on the journey of faith.

God bless you.

Nigerians: Why not Read!

   The great ideas and discoveries of great investors and world changers that have transformed the world to what it is today are kept and stored in the print. Besides, all the recent discoveries of researchers in various universities and research centres are documented in the print too. What a treasure base! It is the connection link that connect the past, present and future generations. It may not be an over statement to say that the print is truly a treasure base richer than oil wells of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. However, the only pathway to discover and tap the rich treasure in the print is via reading. Reading, whether for pleasure or for academic purposes is an essential habit that firm the bedrock of greatness in everyone, regardless of age, gender, sex, race or status.

   

   It is sad to note at this point, however, that the reading culture or habits of Nigerians especially the young people is nothing to write home about. It is so disappointing to note that even students, who are expected to be voracious readers, merely read to pass their examinations. Some never care to read even for their examination, preferring to indulge in examination malpractices and becoming uneducated illiterates from accredited schools.

 

   A reading nation is an informed nation. It is heart-breaking and heartrending to note that some younger generations of Nigerians do not consider reading a desirable venture. The reading culture of the average Nigerian is as low as 0.1%; not even up to 1%. It was said, sometimes ago, that if you want to hide a fact from Africans, Nigerians inclusive, put it inside a book. This statement portrays the belief of the western world about the reading habit in African youths compared to their western counterparts.

   This remains me of a one-time African Missionary who went on a very long tour in the European country in establishing of local churches and also preaching in cities. There was one old widow whose second daughter was sick and was about to die, but when the African Missionary held of it during fellowship in one of the local church at even went straight to the house of the woman, but before he could get there the young girl is dead already still, the Missionary knelt down beside her and began to pray, few minutes later the young girl came back to life that's how this Missionary became friends with this family especially with this old widow. When this woman was about to die, because she was very rich she divide all her money into two: a part she gave to all her children and the second part she put it inside a very large book and sealed it up and gave it to the Missionary as a gift; the Missionary, being ignorant of what given to him, since the Missionary was not the type that reads books he kept that particular book given to him by the old widow for about the space of ten years. Now the Missionary was back from his tour about seven years now. One cool evening a gentle thought just swept through his mind that he should go and read the book that was given to him ten years ago by that old widow. He obeyed and went to search out where he kept it, immediately he saw it: he said to himself, "I think I'll come back for this book later since I've found it", again he went out to sit down. The thought came again, "go and read that book now". Then, he quickly went and took the book, as he was about to open the book he discovered that the book was properly sealed, so, he open it using a knife. Immediately he cut it open money started falling out he was shocked to see such thing. When he later counted the money its was $700,000. That's how God blessed this Missionary.

  Back to where we stop, the poor reading habits and culture among Nigerians is caused by many factors such as: 

1. Lack of adequate awareness of importance of reading to individuals and nations.

2. Economic hardship that is common in many families that prevent most parents to manage to pay their children's school fees and forget about buying books.

3. Changes in Nigeria value system that believes in material wealth rather than investment for the search of knowledge.

4. High cost of books is also one of the discouraging factor.

5. Poor and uneducated libraries.

6. Advent of home videos, film houses and other electronic gadgets.

7. The majority of bad parents who prevent their kids from reading wide; holding the belief that it'll make them mad.

   In my conclusion, we should all know that the importance of reading cannot be overemphasized; it is the basis for development of a total man. Even the the Holy Scripture admonished us to be studios and even King Solomon also gave that same advice in Ecclesiastes 12: 10-14. Therefore, inestimable treasures needed to make this world a better place that are stored and kept for ages can only be accessed through reading. God gives you grace to make positive impact as you begin to read.

God bless you.

Whatever thy HAND findth to do

Hard Work:

 Oh, Man! Work like a dog and live like a King

Hard work can help you accomplish anything

The systematic work only bears the fruit

Try the select only an appropriate route.

You're a gifted human being with intelligence

Show your prodigy and prove your confidence

The world is so wonderful with opportunities

In which you live around many communities.

Don't be lazy and be as busy as a beaver

Your hard work and sweat pay you in return

Your identity is your dignity and designation.

It gives you certainly fame and recognition.

Students constantly work hard for their success

Parents really strive hard for their progress

Players play hard for the glory and conviction

Warriors struggle for the nation's protection.

                                     

                                               ------ Setaluri Padmavathi.

Fear resides in the bosom of the
sluggard; he sees danger everywhere!

The foregoing poem paints a world of wonderful opportunities, and appreciates the great potentials in all humans. Hard work and laziness are polar opposites; no wonder the poet encourages hard work and enjoins us to shun laziness. It's important to note that laziness produces nothing but penury. And because today's world doesn't allow anyone with folded arms, everyone is expected to work with clear foresight, doing whatever their hands find to do with all their hearts

The Value of Work

  Contrary to some people's opinion, work is not a  consequence of man's fall. Work is a gift from God; it's God's plan for man's existence. God ordained work for man as a normal routine. No one should see work as a burden because God designed it to bless and give us the opportunity to be productive.

  As it was in the beginning, when God made Adam----the the first man, He assigned him the duty to name all the animals and keep the Garden (Genesis 2:7-15). This is the first evidence that God ordained work for man. Apart from that, the Bible tells us that a large portion of our lives on earth will be spent working (Exodus 20:9). Work is Biblical; and God places a high premium on it. Therefore, no one should see work as a burden because God designed it to bless and give us the opportunity to be productive.

As a Christian, God expects you to work; and make it a part and parcel of your life. His divine plan for you includes working to provide for your family (1 Timothy 5:8); to provide for the needs of others (Ephesians 4:28); to meet the necessities in your local church and fellowship (Act 20:35); and to avoid being lazy and a busybody (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:11). Work also develops and makes us mature. And by working, you're imitating the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:17). The point is that by working we glorify God because "a working Christian is a reflection of a working God who created the universe and is still at work in our lives.

Work should be done diligently, no matter how small or big it is. The Bible instructs us in Ecclesiastics 9:10, thus, "Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (KJV). It's not all about just working; it is being persistent and making efforts in your work or duties in order to accomplish your set goals. Therefore, to be diligent at work, you must be an excellent planner. Plan your work or duties with deadlines and follow it through. This will help you accomplish your given goal. In addition, don't just work, but try whatever as much as possible to bring out the best in what you do. In other words, be an excellent worker, this will open the door for more opportunities and outstanding privileges for you. Remember: "To know a man that is diligent in his business, he shall stand before Kings; he shall not, never, can't stand before mean, ordinary, normal men" (Proverbs 22:29). You're not ordinary! You're not normal! Because the ordinary and normal men do ordinary and normal things, but: those who go extra mile, those who fight day and night, those who burn the midnight candle, those who think hard and work on their plans; they're those whose heart is set and fixed on a given goal, keeping track of their time soon you'll see them smiling, because they have hit their goals. You can make it for sure, with God being by your side you can learn what you need to learn now, get that degree you need to get now, practice that difficult task you're to practice. Sooner or later you'll emerged as a success.

The main point is, "excellent work attracts the attention of excellent people." And no matter how tasking or daunting the work may be, ensure that you are faithful in it. Finally, take your WORK seriously; don't be lazy with it anymore.

God bless you.

Urgent calls

Pick your calls

During the burial of a young man, another young man was crying out his heart. He wept uncontrollably that many people kept wondering what is wrong with him.

The mc dropped the microphone and went and took this weeping young man to a corner, calmed him down and he started to explain.

He was with the guy that died the day he met his death. He drove off first and on getting to a particular spot, he noticed that some armed robbers were getting ready to block the road and resume operation. He managed to escape. He started calling his friend to tell him what he saw, that he should remain where he was. This friend would not pick his call. To him: “why is he calling?

He should know that I am driving right behind him”. He refused to pick the call as this guy kept calling and calling. Finally, he drove into the now ready armed robbers and they pumped countless bullets on him.

He died on the spot and armed robbers stole his car. This man was crying because he knew his friend killed himself. Many of us are just like this.

Are you the one buying the credit for him or her? Pick your call when your phone rings and know why you are being called. If the phone rings twenty times in one minute, pick in all occasions. He was saving credit for his friend because I am driving straight to where he is, he met his death.

Many people will not pick the calls of their family because they are close to the house, probably they are calling to tell u not to go into that house because there is a danger waiting right in there.

You are in an occasion and you are calling someone you are looking at because you want to pass a crucial information, he ignores the call and is walking up to you instead, even when you are making sign that he should pick the call.

It is possible that this caller didn’t want you to come near him because he wanted to code something. Pick your call and say hello. PICK YOUR PHONE WHEN IT RINGS AS LONG AS YOU ARE AVAILABLE.```

God bless you.