Isaac Mwaniki

One of the most difficult things I encounter is on how to deal with the people who offend me. Sometimes I feel mistreated that I feel I have a right to complain to everyone. If given a chance, the natural feeling is to reciprocate whatever wrongs others have committed against me.

In other words, forgiveness is one of those disciplines that though I know they are good, it is very difficult to implement. This is aggravated when we are wronged by people close to us who we have reasons to believe could have done better. It becomes very difficult to stop thinking; how could he or she have done it?

It is possible that in this seating, I am the only one who struggles with this issue but I was excited to realize that around 2000 years ago, some individuals struggled with it.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus had some very difficult teachings to deliver. As He sought to breathe the spirit into the very impersonal law, it became apparent that there was more to the law than met the eyes. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well”

This must have left the disciples in a very difficult position. Some might have told Jesus; “you do not understand”. Yet after giving this set of teaching in Matthew 5, Jesus finishes the whole debate by giving an imperative to His listeners, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Do you find it easy to forgive???

Delivered in Royal Tabernacle Church, Kilifi
Date: 8th February, 2009

Introduction
Around two thousand years ago, one of the greatest events of all history took place. Christ, the creator and sustainer of all the universe came to dwell among men. This event was unprecedented in such a way that it became the benchmark for defining time. We know time as before, BC and after Christ, AD.

This was a major thing. It was also very humbling. Imagine a potter deciding to be a pot for a while. How would the potter communicate with the pot? They are at different levels. However, the Lord of all Universe came and dwelt with his creation. The story ends with the creator being murdered by the created beings.

It was a major sacrifice on the part of our Lord. It is one experience in history that I am convinced that we need to explore. We need to ask ourselves two questions,
1. Why did Jesus come?
2. Why did Jesus die?

How we answer these questions, I am convinced how we engage the world in the cause of mission. I am further convinced that we cannot be effective in a walk with Christ if we are not clear on these questions.

One person in Scripture seems to have an answer to these questions. This is the most influential man in the New Testament after Jesus. This is the man Paul. Paul was born and brought up in a well to do family. He thus accessed very good education. One of the striking things about Paul was his commitment to his causes. Paul was never nominal. Paul was at the extremes.

He was a very serious persecutor of Christians until The Lord met with him and changed him. This was not in a crusade or in a service. Paul was on his way to do what he did best; persecuting the Christians. I think he was too bad that The Lord himself had to meet with him. He did not delegate the initial encounter with Paul. The Lord ensured that he confronted Paul.

The nice thing is that when Paul came to the kingdom, he served God with the same zeal. He became very passionate for the cause of Christ. He was even willing to lose his life for his new found faith. He says, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me —the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace”. This is passion.

This is what I call transformation. Paul sets out thus to explain the mystery of Christ utilizing the many gifts God had given him. We need to explore what gave Paul such passion to be willing to lay his life for Christ’s cause.

2 Corinthians 5:11 – 21

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Why did Jesus die?
Paul tells us that Christ died for all. This is a very profound truth. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. He died for us and in effect we all died. He goes on to say that he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for who died for them and was raised again.

What does it mean, “not to live for themselves?” we live in a very selfish and self centred generation. We hardly know anyone who does not live for themselves. We live in a world where we would rather involve God in convenient areas of our lives. Why is it this way? I am convinced that it is because we have never purposed that it is no longer us who live

God should bless us, provide for us, protect us etc. Not living for ourselves means that we release our lives to God’s control. This means that all aspects of our lives are released and opened up to God. It means that our intellect, our resources, our friends, our plans, and even our dreams are released to God. It is very cheap and short sighted to live for ourselves.

Christ died for all. This, my friends means exactly that. It means that every person deserves to know Christ. Christ did not only die for the people who appear to be near the kingdom. There are some people that we look at and we do not think Christ died for them. Thanks to the media, one of the worst people in the world today is Osama. Can you believe that Christ died for him? He died for all. The implication here is that every person deserves to be told about the saving power of God.

Paul tells us in verse 16 that, “So from now we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” What Paul is essentially saying is that we do not let the present condition of people affect how we view them. He mentions about how they had earlier regarded Christ. We view all people despite their character as being important to God.

We appreciate that transforming power comes from the Lord. We need to be reminded that salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne. Some of us see no use in sharing our faith with some people because they appear very bad. My friends, transforming power comes from the Lord. Don’t doubt that God will do his business. It is important for all of us to take God at his word in this. There are many examples of people who did not look like possible candidates for the kingdom of God until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Remember Peter, Paul, the apostles, myself...... this brings urgency to our evangelistic endeavours. Paul tells us that once someone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come.

This perspective of viewing all people as being important to God is a point of view developed as we get closer to God. Paul attributes his passion to two things. These two I believe are what we need to work on.

1. Fear of God – Paul says, “since then we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men”. The context of the verse 11 can be best captured in verse 10 which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad”.

After appreciating that God will judge all men, and at that time nothing will be reversible, we have no option that persuade men. The fear of God motivates us to share the gospel with others even when it appears odd to do so. We need to know the God is a God of justice. All soul that sis will perish. God’s faithfulness extends to him taking people to hell. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “It is appointed for a man to die once and after that face judgement.”

Paul, out of the fear of God was willing to go to any lengths to communicate the gospel. He tells them, “If we are out of our minds, it is for the sake of God”. This is not a statement you would associate with a learned man. Paul was essentially willing to go to any length. This might be the last day that neighbour has to hear about God.

I know some churches teach that after death there is purgatory. My friends, we need to be fully convinced that after death, there is only judgement. As we join with other Kenyans affected by recent calamities, we need to be moved by the many people we lost, some of them in sin. Fearing God should make us share the good news with others.



2. Christ’s love – Paul tells us that he was compelled by Christ’s love. When two people are in love, they begin to have a similar outlook to life. They actually begin to think alike. I have known people who could even contemplate the question their lover would ask. Christ’s passion for the lost was clear. He was willing to leave all comfort of heaven to come and be with us. As we come more intimate with Christ therefore, we become more passionate about a lost world.

Love compels people to do many things. Some people have been known to kills because of love. Paul says that he was compelled by Christ’s love. I am told that love cannot be hidden. It means therefore that as we get closer to the Lord, we should begin to be moved by what moved the Lord. People in love are not ashamed of being associated. It is very surprising how some of us don’t have anything to do with the Lord.

Whenever we come across a good venture, we share it with others. It is surprising how reluctant we are to share the BEST venture which is to know Christ. Christ’s love should compel us to action.

To me my friends, one sure way to determine people who are developing in their walk with Christ, it is in their zeal to share the Gospel. It is a paradox that we have people who are spirit filled, speak in tongues but have not shared their faith with anyone.

Why did Jesus come?
Paul gives an easy answer; reconciliation. Reconciliation is “ending of conflict or renewing of a friendly relationship between disputing people or groups.” It is a reunion. Christ came so that we could be reconciled to God. This has been God’s business since the beginning. God is in the business of reconciling the sinful world to himself through Christ.

Through Christ’s death, the penalty for all the sins we have committed was paid. I actually dare say that a penalty of all the sins we will ever commit has already been paid. We are therefore allowed to re-establish our connection with God.

As Christ left to go to heaven, he committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. The sole aim of all endeavours in ministry should be reconciling the unsaved world to Christ.

We should therefore be Christ’s ambassadors of this message of reconciliation. Who is an ambassador? It is an official representative of an organisation or a movement. This is somebody sent by their country or kingdom. In the earthly systems, an ambassador cannot be arrested in their country of posting even if they break an offence in it. They cannot be tried in their country of posting. Actually their residence is recognised as a part and property of their sending country. If you run there, you cannot be arrested. The ambassador is on duty 24 hours. He does not report on duty, he is always on duty. All the ambassador says anywhere and at any time is believed to be the position of the sending government on the matter.

What does it mean to us to be Christ’s ambassadors? Our lifestyle should at all time communicate Christ. We are always on duty. Even when not conscious, we need to know that people are observing us. The today’s generation is looking for something that works. They need to see it in us. When Jesus came to the world, he came to bring God’s kingdom here. He became Immanuel (God residing with people). People need to see this God in us.

Evangelism should therefore be an outflow of our life. Some of us feel more comfortable sharing far from where we are known. However in the long run, sharing with people who have observed you becomes very powerful.

Some of us wonder what we should say. If you lack nothing else to say, share your story and then tell the people that it can happen to them. Let people know that God wants them in His kingdom. What is the gospel? It is the good news that while man is seriously separated from God, God has provided a way back through His son Jesus Christ.


Conclusion

After trying to build the case, God is asking, “Who will go for us?” Some people like responding by telling God, “Here I am send somebody else”. God knows about anyone else. He needs you.

But God has not also left you to your own devices and fears. He sent the Holy Spirit to energize us to proclaim the Gospel. In the entire New Testament, I see the coming of the Holy Spirit associated with three things: transformation that lead people to develop a passion to share the gospel and then signs and wonders as people witnessed.

Are we willing to go and be fruitful?

May our love for Christ and fear of God propel us to be available to be used by God to proclaim reconciliation to all people we come across.

God bless you all.

Preached in Pwani University College
By: Isaac Mwaniki
On: 7th February, 2009

1Thessalonians 5:1 – 11

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Introduction
We live in interesting times. We live in the days of very fast development in technology. Think about the power of the mass media. Talk about globalisation. The world has become a digital village. We are now able to communicate across time zones seamlessly. It is just about 60 years ago when Thomas J. Watson, an American industrialist said these words, “I think there is a world market for about five computers”. I wish he lived long enough to see a common Kenyan like me preaching from the computer! Imagine ten years ago there was no Google!

Imagine 10 years ago one had to be cleared by CID to own a mobile phone in Kenya! Imagine that at that time phones cost over two hundred thousand shillings! Imagine just six years ago, a Safaricom line was retailing at 2500! We live in a very fast changing world. Technology has become so much a part of the system that we are left wondering how we managed without it.

Life has become easy as the services becomes closer to people. We have ended up becoming a “Google” generation. You can literally get everything on the net. The lecturers have to be extra vigillant otherwise they can get some clever and scholarly paper whic is a direct photocopy of the net. You just type the question and you get all the possible answers including the ones you did not need. Those who position themselves strategically are reaping the benefits of our systems.

Think of Obama. He exploited the technology to become one of the most IT savvy presidents. While there have been benefits, there have also been shortcomings. We are becoming more and more slaves of technology. Many youths are becoming addicted to the cyberspace especially games, gambling and pornography. These days all work is done in computers. If there is a blackout and there is no standby generator, it is a wasted day.

I think the words of a British inventor and entrepreneur Clive Sinclair capture it nicely. He said, “It has suddenly become cheaper to have a machine to do a mental task than for a man to do it...Just as men's muscles were replaced in the first industrial revolution, men's minds will be replaced in this second one”.

We live in a world that is generally allergic to religion but specifically to Christianity. People want to remove God fully from their lives. Very recently, 800 buses and trains were commissioned in the UK with the message, “there is probably no God”. It is the confirmation of the scripture that we live in the last days.

For the religious ones, we live in times when there does not seem to be an absolute definition of sin. We seem to have adopted a religion that wants to associate itself with God but deny the power of the Gospel. It is a selfish world that we live in. Homosexuality has become a dividing issue in church leadership. Abortion is being discussed as a rights issue.

People have become lovers of instant things; things that can be switched on and off when we do not need. Talk of instant coffee and tea. There are even instant miracles. The teachings of Jesus are viewed as being old fashioned and outdated. This is more so among intellectuals. People are becoming more and more liberal. Faith and reason have been marketed as being intolerable. We need to know however that some of the best brains we have had in history have been Christians.

Isaac Newton is one of the brightest scientists to ever have lived. However, at no time even at the height of his achievement did Isaac Newton feel that his discoveries were an upfront to the existence of God. He is quoted as saying, “God created everything by number, weight and measure”. He went ahead to tell his friend, “In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence”.

Although the laws of motion and universal gravitation became Newton's best-known discoveries, he warned against using them to view the Universe as a mere machine, as if akin to a great clock. He said, "Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done.” Therefore at no one time did it occur to Isaac Newton view his discoveries as being incompatible with belief in God.

I am also reminded of Blaise Pascal. Pascal was a French scientist who contributed a lot to the world of mathematics. He was a very committed believer. He is the source of the famous quote, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” He goes ahead to say, “The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him.”

These are the times we are living. God is calling on us to understand our situation and respond to him in obedience.

What are the general characteristics of people in our times? (Isaiah 1:1 - 16)

1. They are generaly stubborn and disregard God – God makes very tough statements in Isaiah about the children of Israel. He says, “The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand”.

2. They are vulnerable – due to the many things that are not working in the world, people have become vulnerable. We have with us diseases we cannot cure despite all our advances in science. This provides an opening in the hearts of people to respond to God through our ministry.

3. They are hypocritical – people want to appear religious but are not willing to obey the instructions given to us by God in His holy word. They would wish to get all the miracles of God but still enjoy the pleasures of this world. The question “how far is too far?” is becoming more common in all circles generally but in Christian circles specifically.

Why understand the times and seasons?

1. Times and seasons belong to God – Daniel 2:21
Daniel lived in bad times. He lived in a strange land. He says this of the Lord, “Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him”.

We need to understand the trends and patterns of our days because the world and everything therein belongs to God. God is not shocked that men have discovered the internet. God is not shocked that people are getting into stem cell research. God is not shocked by cloning. Paul in his letter to Colossians 1:16 – 17 tells us, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

2. The day of the Lord is at hand – 1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 3
I do not have to emphasise that we are living in the last days. The signs of what is taking place only seem to be leading to the conclusion that the Lord is coming. Looks can deceive – Paul goes on to tell us that while people are saying, “peace and safety”, destruction will come on them suddenly. He then likens this to the labour pains. Some women have been known to deliver in all possible locations. When the time has come, there is not a way to negotiate with the baby to stay longer. We are living in relative safety of our systems and technology currently. However this should raise red bells.

How should we respond to our times?

1. Be alert and self controlled
These two are some of the values that are disappearing very fast in our world today. Self control - The today world feels that we can indulge in all we want to do. We should not deny ourselves anything we feel we need. Instant enjoyment is preferred over delayed gratification. We are to be in charge of our bodies and not to be ruled by it. We need to have pure thoughts as well as cultivate healthy habits. Discipline and routine is becoming more and more outdated and old fashioned. Dietrich Bonheoffer speaking chastity says, “The essence of chastity is not the suppression of lust, but the total orientation of one's life towards a goal.”

We need therefore to develop healthy disciplines to help us overcome the flesh. We also need to develop accountability structures to be able to overcome. We need to be continually refreshed by God’s spirit if we will make it in our times.

Alert – most of us have not acknowledged that we are always in a battle. The worst thing one can do is to begin daydreaming in battle. One can only expect to last very short while if he does it.

We are called upon to be alert to the changes in the world systems so that we can be faithful to the ideals of our God. There are many cults coming up these days to address the instant enjoyment mentality. We need to be on high alert that it is not all who mention the name God know him. We also need to test whatever is said even by the men of God against Scriptures.

2. Put faith and love as a breastplate
Faith - In our days, most of the places that we could put our faith in have frustrated us. Faith is also being peddled us surrendering yourself to another being. It is no wonder then that some of the very intellectual people we have are atheists. At least it does not make somebody feel they believe in anything.

Looking at the evils taking place in the world, some people have lost faith even in God. He appears to be Away on unofficial leave. However the writer of Hebrews tells us in Heb 11:6, “...Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”. God is thus calling us to have faith in him. He is the same God. He needs us to believe him in our days.

Love – As it became apparent that Jesus ministry on earth was coming to an end, he began preparing his disciples for his departure. The gospel of John captures very well those last moments. Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The only sure way to minister in our days is to show love to people. Love is the only thing, which will make people notice that we are different. In the selfish world we live in, love does not exist in the dictionaries.

We need to show Christ’s love to the world. In John 15:12 - 14, Jesus goes ahead to say, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command”.

My friends, the world needs Christ whether they accept it or not. While sometimes words might not be effective, our acts of love should demonstrate who our Lord is.

3. Have hope of salvation as a helmet
Paul challenges the Thessalonians’ church to have hope of salvation as a helmet. Looking at the direction things are going in the world today, there is a chance that some of us might feel that the world does not have a future. When we think about having homosexual priests, and abortion debates in church, some people become disillusioned.

Paul asks the Thessalonians to have hope of salvation as a helmet. Helmet is one of the very critical body armour. It covers our mind. God is asking us that all our reflection of the situations should be founded on the principles of hope expounded in his salvation.

When people ask, does this world have a future? Our response should not only be based on economic melt downs and fears of a third world war. It should be answered on the basis of the principles espoused in the salvation plan of God. As said earlier, God is in charge of everything in the universe.

It is very difficult to approach the challenges of this day without the Lord as our saviour. There is a chance tonight for each one of us to have this hope.

Conclusion
What are we saying? We are living in days which are evidently the last ones. However, God remains the same. He wants to come and be with us as we resolve the issues of our days.

The choice to accept him however remains ours. He stands at the door and knocks. Will you open the door for him?

21st December 2008

Delievered in Royal Tabernacle Church (Youth service)- Kilifi

Introduction

What happens when people come to positions of power? What gets into their heads? Some people begin very well but as they become powerful, something begins happening. They cease manifesting the same faith they very violently fought for before.

Sometimes we justify ourselves by thinking that if we are the ones we would be different. However the current crop of leaders does not inspire a lot of confidence. Most of us will not be any different if we were in their position. Most of us are very influenced by the gospel of wealth and prosperity, name it and claim it and blessings and material prosperity. There are those of us who are very faithful to God in currently waiting for the moment they will be blessed. When this time comes, there are those of us who will not be found in the kingdom.

I wonder what will make us be different from the current crop of leaders. I suggest we pick lessons from one young person who was taken into captivity but was able to move up to positions of leadership. He was exposed to many great things but remained unchanged. There are three areas that most people are tested on, money / fame, power and sex. Of course by being eunuchs they were saved from the last one but they squarely faced the first two. His faith sets a very good example for all of us to learn from.
This man is Daniel. Our reading is from Daniel 1: 1 – 21

Some background
Being in a new culture is very confusing. Many things are very new. Right from the language to the thinking patterns everything is very different. There is a temptation to misbehave in a new culture because chances are high that no one recognises. This is even more complicated if one is in a strange culture by force.

Daniel and his friend were captives. They were new in the land of Babylon. They were people who tasted God’s wrath. Some were mad with God for not saving them when attacked by the Babylon. It would therefore be understandable if the people who went to captivity revolted against God because it would seem that God had rejected them.

Daniel however stands out as a person who was able to stand true to his convictions. He was put through the tests that most men fall to but remained strong and true to his convictions. I am convinced that the only way for us to be people of a difference in our society is to pick some lessons from his life.
Why was Daniel able to stand up even in the strange culture?

1. Daniel was a man of convictions
The story begins with young men in a strange culture. They were captives. They were a part of a complex class. It appears that magicians and sorcerers were their classmates. The king had made provisions for them. This would be the ultimate thing that the young people would be looking for.

There was a problem however. The foods were first sacrificed to idols before they were served to the people. This was detestable in the eyes of God. Daniel resolved not to eat the royal food. This was a very bold move. Daring to defy the king was an automatic execution.
In life it is important to stand up for something. This is what one might call the basic non-negotiables in life. Most successful people in life have some very clear passions that drive them in life.

What are convictions? They are firmly held beliefs: a belief or opinion that is held firmly. This is what influences how we act when exposed to new challenges. Most influencial people in history had something they stood for. Martin Luther King Jn, Nelson Mandera, Wangari
Maathati, and the list goes on. My friends, if we have nothing you stand for, we are not worth living.

Daniel’s areas of conviction
Prayers – Daniel was a man who had clear convictions when it came to prayers. He developed some very clear routines when it came to his prayer time. He had regular times of prayers. This became one of his defining habits. While I am convinced that Daniel did not have a habit of showing off, this is something that he could not hide. We are told later in the book that he prayed three times facing Jerusalem.

Work – Daniel’s convictions extended to his work place. Daniel service extended to 4 kings. He so distinguished himself in the service that the kings he worked under had nothing but to promote him. Daniel never believed in mediocrity. When his enemies looked for a reason to accuse him, they found none. The Bible tells us that, “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:5 – 6

Now it is difficult to survive the scrutiny of friends. Most of us have loose ends that even friends point out. It is no mean feat to stand the scrutiny of friends. Daniel was inspected by his enemies. They could find nothing on him. They realised that not unless they cooked up something, they could not catch him. This, am convinced was the secret behind Daniel’s success.

Some quick lessons
Our spirituality should affect all our other relations – Daniel was an all round person. As earlier mentioned, his work ethics was such that there was nothing that could be found against him. I need to declare that mediocrity at work by a Christian is a contradiction in terms.

Having principles can be risky – This reminds me of a friend of mine who had an issue with his colleagues for putting the right time he arrived at work. People would come at 9:00 and record that they came at 8:00. When he started recording the correct time people got offended.

Principles are a matter of choice – sometimes when we hear such stories, we think that the people who take such actions are made of different materials. We feel that we cannot measure up. Some of us say that their setting is too bad.

Some of us need to be very sure of our safety and security before undertaking any venture. The Christian faith is a walk of faith. Moses, when he was being sent to go to Egypt wanted to confirm all things would work out. In Exodus 3: 12, after God shared his intention of sending him to Egypt, Moses asks God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? He might have been expecting a direct answer. However, “God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you [a] will worship God on this mountain." God is in essence saying that the only way of Moses being sure that his mission would be successful was though doing it.

This asks for courage to forge ahead in such a walk. However friends, I need to say that courage is not the absence of fear, it is a matter of choice, an act of faith. Faith is choosing to believe in a mighty God even in the face of fear. It is not because we are not afraid that we are courageous.


2. Daniel was given to accountability
Daniel never walked it alone. He never wanted to go as a lone ranger. He surrounded himself with good friends, right from the onset. In verse 8, it appears as if it was only Daniel who made the resolution not to take the food offered to idols. However what immediately follows shows that the decision was a joint one with his three friends.

Daniel was surrounded by like minded friends who walked the entire life with him. These were people who when Daniel got promoted later, he also asked for them to be promoted. This should not be viewed as nepotism, but rather in the context that Daniel and his friends had so distinguished themselves above their contemporaries.

These were people who when their time of their faith being tested came, they also proved that they were as courageous and as committed to their faith just as Daniel was. They were willing to be burnt alive.
Qualities of friends that Daniel surrounded himself with friends who were:
• Devoted to God – Daniel surrounded himself with friends who feared the Lord
• Of the same convictions – they were people who were tested just like he was but able to stand the test. This was also in respect to good work ethics as well the devotion to God.
• Progressive minded – these were people who had career progression in mind.

Conclusion

Daniel and His friends showed that it is possible to set standards of excellence even in a unfriendly context.
What drives you? Where is the source of strength when things go wrong? What kind of friends have you surrounded yourself with? God wants people who are willing to stand for him regardless the risk involved. Are you willing to be counted?
Can welive a Holy life in this generation? YES WE CAN

Genesis 16:1 - 15

1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me."
6 "Your servant is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"
"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.
9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."
11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:
"You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael, (Ishmael means God hears)
for the LORD has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward [b] all his brothers."
13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen (seen the back of) the One who sees me." 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi (Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me); it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.


Introduction
Whenever we are in problems, there is a tendency to feel alone. Remember the Panadol advert? It states that when in pain, one feels all alone. When someone is engaging in something bad, especially in a new place, the last person they want to see is a familiar figure. This is complicated even more if the familiar person knows you well enough.

Abraham had a covenant with God that he would have a son through who his descendants would be like the stars of the sky and the sand of the seashore. Abraham had wanted his servant Eleazar to inherit his estate but the Lord told him that He would give him a son. Anyway after the promise, it ten years lasted before the story we just read happened.

Sarai continues being barren because “The LORD has kept me from having children.” She therefore encourages Abram “Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." This looked a smart idea and Abram, as Adam had done earlier chose not to confirm with the Lord. He repeated the mistake that Adam had done.

Hagar began behaving differently when she realized that she was pregnant. She began despising her mistress. Sarai complained and Abram gave the servant over to Sarai. She mistreated her until she decided to run away. She must have been going back to Egypt.

The angel meets her along the way and asks her, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" She is reminded that being a servant to Sarai gave her identity. She answers only the first part of the question maybe because she did not yet know where she was going.

One would have expected God who was with Abram to be so mad with her and banish her. However the instructions are simple. She is to go back and submit to her mistress. The angel also spoke of blessedness to her descendants.

Hagar is so overwhelmed by having engaged in a conversation with the Lord and gave him the name Jehovah Roi. Seeing the face of God was a recipe for death those days and yet Hagar had survived.

God had promised to bless Abram’s seed and it appears that the blessing stood regardless the garden it was planted.

Some quick lessons
 Some smart looking ideas are not necessarily godly
Sarai having lived with Abram for long knew very well what the latter lacked. She knew that he was desperate for a child of his own. This put her in a very difficult situation because she could not give birth. This made her decide to assist the husband to attain his goals. I want us to know that contrary to the New Testament teachings, in Abram’s days, getting a child with a maid servant seems to have been the norm.

 God sees our struggles

God is not detached from the world He created. He is in touch with it. He sees what we are going through and it is in His plan to come through for us. Someone would have expected that Hagar would not feature prominently in God's plans. However she did. God was not oblivious to what was taking place in Abrahams house. God is not also blind to our needs. He sees us and he knows our desires.

 God supports submission

However we also need to say that God supports submission. God is the creator of authority and therefore expects us to obey structured authority. While it was clear that Sarah was mistreating Hagar, one would have expected God to instruct Hagar to ask for her rights. However the angel of God instructs her to go back and submit. I am persuaded that there are some levels we will never reach unless we are willing to submit to established authority.

Submission is in the modern world percieved as being weak. However I beg to differ. Submission is a strong belief in oneself or in God in this case to a level that what people think about us becomes immaterial. We are willing to do what is right regardless what is done to us. Our culture today is full of people clamouring for their rights. I have no issue with standing up against oppressors. However some of them are more touched by our submission even at the height of their torture. It makes them to ask, what is different with this one?

 There is a future for us when we respond in obedience.
The Scripture is all about responding in obedience. What is obedience? Obedience to me is a choice to act as per instructions despite the consequences. Many people know what ought to be done but few respond in obedience. God is calling us to respond in obedience. This might difficult at times. For Hagar, obedience meant going back to a mistress who could throw her out of the house again. To some of us responding in obedience might mean facing aspects of our past that we wish we would not have to face. Others have to face people who they have never spoken to in years.

However, God is committed to give us a future as we respond to his Word. What is the use of asking God for His plan for our lives if we already know what we want to do? God sees us even when we respond in disobedience.

Conclusion
Jehovah Roi for me is manifestation of God’s mercy. God allows himself to come down and meddle with our failures and weaknesses. God chooses to reveal himself to us and not reward us as our deeds deserve. God comes to us in the midst of our rebellion but far from condemning us, gives us the way to a new life but also gives a promise to us.

It is very humbling to know that we cannot escape from the face of God. Even when in deepest pain, the Lord still remains focused on us. My Prayer is that it will be evident that He sees us.

As the year begins, many are the times when we are misunderstood. We feel very alone. Sometimes it is out of the bad choices that we made but some other times not. Lets be comforted to know that the Lord sees us in such moments and we just need to listen to his kind words to us because he not only “know my name” but also “sees each tear that falls and hears me when I pray”. And this is meant to be taken personally by all of us.

This being a new year, there are many people having many desires for it. Traditionally, there has been a lot of resolutions which unfortunately are forgotten as quickly as there are made. I think it is from this background that i resolved not to make resolutions.

Today in service, our Pastor expounded on the theme of my churc this year which is Arise and Possess from the book of Deutronomy 1:8. I have issues with some of such themes just as i have with resolutions. Listening to Pastors as New years begin, one senses a wave of encouraging people as the year begins. The pastors were like competing for the most graphical phrase to describe the state of blessedness promised this year, "if you sow a seed unto the work of God". A lot of emphasis is put on waiting upon God and the hope is well broadcast that this s the year of the Lord.

Today was a great day for me when the pastor spoke on the above theme. The most challenging aspect was that God does not ant us to always behold his beauty in His sanctuary but also go forth and accomplish what we feel Him enable us. This involves a lot of risks, vulnerability and a real possibility of failure. Prayer seems a smart excuse for not doing what we must. When can we say for sure that we can move on with a venture without any risk involved. Life itself is a risk and so whatever is in it. Prayer is thus no substitute for action.

What is the difference between achievers and the rest of the crowd? I think James Oswald Sanders gave a good response: "The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight; But they, while their companions slept; were toiling upwards in the night."

I think that this year we should all move out of the comfort zone and move forth to possess the great things God has in store for us. This will be achieved by hardwork and sheer determination and not by only waiting for God to bless us while not doing much.

What goals do you have this year? Move on because the Lord has promised to go with you. Many times God's plan for us becomes clear as we move along the risky path of obedience.