THE BATTLEGROUND (The change process 3)

Hebrews 5:7-8 NKJV

“who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered”. 

 “Then He also said to the multitudes, "Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather', and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time”? Luke 12:54-56.

“Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command” 1 Chron. 12:32. Taking a look at the boldened scriptures, we are presented with three questions;

Hebrews 5 says Jesus learnt OBEDIENCE by the things He suffered. Is it possible that we are learning to be complacent about God or passionate towards God? Nothing and no one can be imposed on you, whatever you learn is what you’ve decided to learn. Every day offers us two options- to learn or not to learn. The first question is, what are we learning? What are we learning from the things we are going through in this season? Are we learning to be more humble before God or rebel against God; are we learning to love more or hate? 

The second question is, hope we are not hypocrites able to discern the face of the sky and not discern the times? We are hypocrites when we want to continue to live as usual and do things in the way we are used to doing them. The wise ones go back and think about this type of question. It is no longer business as usual, so do not continue to behave and live as if it’s business as usual.

The third question is: Do we have an understanding of the times? Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing? Do we understand the times? What are we doing? What time is it? If you are wise, you will take heed to these questions, and make the needed adjustments. You will not make an effort to change if you do not see the need to change. We must have answers to these questions if we are going to be true participants in God’s program. 

“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. 2 Chron. 7:14. If there’s going to be change in the land, God’s people will have to change. Heaven is waiting to take orders from its representatives on the earth. It is what we permit on earth that will be permitted in heaven. We have to turn from our ways to God’s ways.

In order for this change to come through, there has to be a change on our inside that will spill over to the outside. This change affects everything about us; our body language, posture, and mindset. Our mind is where the real battlefield is. The disposition or state of the mind is a controlling factor when it comes to making changes. The benefit of salvation you will enjoy is tied to the extent to which your mind is renewed.

The key cry now is A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE. The attitude to life, authority, rebuke, correction and teachings are areas where we need to make changes. A change of attitude is the way to break off from the old order, to break off generational curses and limitations and enforce generational blessings. Also, you must see all of these changes in the light of the big picture-we need to make choices in the light of who we are in Christ. What it means to be a Christian is to be sure that our lives are completely subject to Christ, that the choices we make are in the light of the big picture- that is, about the purpose of God, visions of God, the heavenly vision, the coming of Jesus, the kingdom of God.

Attitude to Life

From the life of Adam, we learnt that;

1) We should never run from God but run to God. We should make God our stronghold. Run to God and stay with Him. There are many reasons people run from God, such as guilt, when one is living in sin and compromise etc but run to Him no matter what. To run to God is to stick to the principles of scriptures and the demands of the covenant

2) Take responsibility for your life, nation, day etc, stop looking for whom to blame.

3) You must die to self; say no to selfishness, say yes to Christ centred living. The gospel cannot advance through a people who are not dead to self. Those who will take the gospel to the ends of the earth are those who are Christ centred, not self-centred- Men and women who have died to self. Matthew 24:12-14 said because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Iniquity means lawlessness, illegality, violation of laws, violating scriptural laws- it is only those whose love will not wax cold that will preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. 

2 Tim.3:1-4 says “…men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”. The gospel will not advance when men love pleasure more than God. If self is not curtailed, it will ruin you. Adam fell because of self. The hindrance to the advancement of the gospel is not satan but self.

Attitude to Authority

Judges 17:6, records a time in Israel when there was no King and everyone did what they liked, this brought chaos in the land.  Right now, this seems to be the present state in our nation. Everyone wants to do what they like. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death”. Prov.14:12. You must be in the right way, otherwise, you will fail. We need to have the right attitude to authority. Authority is responsibility. It is not about giving commands and then doing what you like. God does not take the glory for any result that goes contrary to scriptures.

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets…” Matthew 7:12-14. Whatever you are demanding from others, (especially those in authority,) the President, your Pastor, spouse, children, etc be sure that you are doing the same at your own level. If you expect others to be accountable, you have to be living a life of accountability. 

The way to life is narrow and difficult only a few find it.

To be a benefactor of the authority that is there per time, you must find out what’s in the mind of God concerning that authority figure. Romans 13:1. See Daniel 2:20, 4:17, “There is no king that will be enthroned if God does not approve”. Every time God raises a king or a leader, we ought to ask Him, “God, what are you saying”? We are not getting answers because we are not asking Him the right questions. Whatever we are seeing and experiencing in our land, the church is responsible for it, we are the culprits. Jesus subjected Himself to His parents’ authority. Luke 2:51. You cannot command authority if you are not under authority. Life cannot exist without authority.

You can never have a problem with men if you have no problem with God. You can’t be led effectively by a man if you are not under the authority of God’s word. The gospel didn’t just call us to BELIEVE, it calls us to OBEY also. A man that cannot tremble at the voice of the Spirit cannot tremble at the voice of a human. If you cannot listen to the right voice, the wrong voices will control you. Authority structure is set up to help and guide us. We have to come to terms with whatever God has ordained. 

If our boast will be on knowing anything, let it be in the scriptures. 

We must put the scriptures above everything else. Without all the dimensions of the scriptures in our lives, we cannot be thoroughly equipped. To be thoroughly furnished, we have to embrace all the dimensions mentioned; instruction, reproof, correction, doctrine etc. 2 Tim. 3:14-17.

Prayer

LORD let these words be mixed with faith in my heart. I am a believer, I am not a doubter.

What you believe and experience is a choice. 1 Cor. 4:1-11.

We are His disciples indeed if we continue in the word. (John 8:30-32) As disciples, we are students and students are instructed, corrected and reproved. We are called disciples indeed if we live by the principles of the word and not just by attending church only. It is only the truth that can set men free and the process of knowing the truth is by following the Lord totally. He is the way, the truth and the life.