Excuses Have Expired

Jeremiah 1:6-7

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”  The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you” (NLT).

As human beings, we are good at making excuses, especially when we fail to do what we are supposed to do or have no inclination to fulfill our obligations. Teenagers always have an excuse for nearly everything. It’s either there wasn’t enough time; someone didn’t remind them; someone didn’t do something; it rained or seemed like it would; the sun was too hot or so it seemed; the glass fell down; I’m not tall enough… name it, it has an excuse.

Ask an average teenager to minister in the church and get a load of excuses: I don’t know how to do it; Other people can do it; It’s not my job; My parents won’t permit me; People will laugh at me; I’ve been too busy lately… just to mention a few.

Jeremiah wasn’t different from the excuse-making club members when God called him to be ‘a prophet to the nations’ (Jeremiah 1:5). A prophet is one who has been chosen and authorized to be God’s spokesperson. The role of a prophet was indeed demanding, unpredictable and had no guaranteed income. Perhaps, this may have been a concern for Jeremiah as with many teenagers today which may lead to such questions as, “Why me, of all people”? “Can I really cope”? “How will I survive”? “What if I fail”? There is a difference between angst, a cry for help and the articulation of excuses.

Jeremiah barely allowed God to finish when he released his excuse, “No, I can’t do it o… I’m too young… I can’t speak in public”. Jeremiah’s response revealed his deep sense of immaturity. He felt inferior, inexperienced and intimidated by the size of the task he was being called to undertake. Well, he is in good company. In Exodus 4:10, Moses wailed, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled” (NLT).

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

For every task that God calls us to undertake, He always gives His promise. He knows that we are human and full of feelings of inadequacy, fears, anxiety and worry. But God does not make His choices blindly. He told Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God hand-picked Jeremiah and commissioned him for service. Our understanding of how God works should give us the assurance to let go of our own plans and to embrace His plans for us.

When God calls us into His vision, He always makes provision. So as Jeremiah lamented his lack of public speaking skills, this is what God did: “Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth”! Simple as A-B-C… Jeremiah received the gift of prophecy, just like that!!! All we need to accomplish what God has asked us to do is His touch… there is power in God’s touch. His touch makes something ordinary to become extraordinary.

Age is not a barrier to God’s purpose and assignment. Even as Jeremiah saw himself as not matured enough, God cautioned him in vs. 7 and gave him His promise to provide him with security (vs. 8). God doesn’t give us a task and leave us to the elements. No, He takes the walk with us, giving us the strength to face any attack. Our Lord Jesus Christ had the presence of God around Him as He went about His assignment here on earth and He accomplished all that He did with that assurance.

Jeremiah’s assignment was a dangerous one. He would deliver a tragic message of judgment to recalcitrant Israel. He stood the risk of being misunderstood, threatened and even persecuted by people who had no ear for the truth and would rather continue in their idolatry and rebellion against the will of God. But God gave him the assurance to endure: “For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land—the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:18-19).

On our own, we are completely helpless but with God, there is the strength to prevail, to be victorious, to be successful. What has God called you to do that you’ve riddled with excuses? Maybe it is about time you faced the truth - Get ready to obey… Get ready for action (vs. 17)… Put an end to the excuses! You have nothing to worry about. God will equip you; enable you; accompany you; protect you; and fulfill His purpose in you. Ever heard the phrase, “Go with the flow”? With God, do just that. Excuses just got expired… just like the out-going year!!!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year in advance... see you in 2018 by the special grace of God.

Teenagers Ask – What is the Meaning of Christmas?

Isaiah 9:6

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (NLT).

The Christmas season probably means different things to different people, including members of the same family. For many, it signifies a holiday period – schools on recess, companies shutting down at year-end, etc. For many families, there’s so much shopping for provision and gifts; Christmas trees to decorate; visiting family and friends; churches filled to the brim; so much colour everywhere.

Some teenagers actually enjoy the Christmas season as it affords them time and opportunity to visit with family and friends, participate in fun and games in the family, neighbourhood, church, etc, and time-off from every school work. But some others may feel like they’ve outgrown some of the family’s Christmas traditions and so are averse to all the ‘noise’, ‘crowd’ and fuss. They’d rather have some peace and quiet. You can't blame them.

While there is nothing wrong with shopping, decorations, giving of presents, visiting with family and friends, and enjoying some fun and games, the real meaning of Christmas speaks of a much more urgent matter – Salvation!

So, Christmas can be both fun and meaningful for teenagers. It is important to emphasize that the holiday is all about our Lord Jesus Christ coming to Planet Earth to save us. God sent us the Saviour in the person of Jesus Christ. Salvation, therefore, is the greatest need of mankind because “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23). The salvation given to us by the Almighty God reconciles us with Him and transforms our life for our journey here on earth and for eternity. That is the gift that the birth of Jesus Christ brings to us. And for this, we celebrate Him at Christmas.

A major objective of God’s salvation is to move us from the “life of self” to serving God and other people. That is why the Christmas period provides ample opportunity for caring and sharing. The Bible is filled with the various works of Jesus Christ, serving and helping people and giving to others. Teenagers can be encouraged and mobilized to identify the needs within the community and to volunteer to serve and help to meet those needs.

Instead of packing the Christmas season with constant activities, teenagers can actually enjoy some quiet and fun times visiting with orphaned children, the elderly and the sick. There, they can talk about their favorite Christmas memories as a child; the message of Christmas which is salvation by Christ Jesus; and share functional gifts with them. Donate food items, toys, old clothing (including shoes, etc), books, etc, to the less privileged at this time. It is also a good time to spend with relatives.

The season of Christmas has been so commercialized that the reason is almost lost on us. Teenagers must not be fooled any longer. A bigger tree; a table filled with food; new clothes, shoes and toys; all kinds of colourful decoration and stuff have no bearing, really, on our happiness. After the holidays, many people fall into debt; cannot meet their financial obligations; engage in asset stripping, etc, just to make up for the excessive spending during the festive period. The birth of our Lord Jesus should not lead us to wasteful celebration. Let's keep Jesus in the season!!!

The Children of Issachar! Part 4

How can we raise our "Children of Issachar"? It’s Back to the Basics:

The problem we have as a society is that we raise our children in the ‘present tense’ and not the ‘future tense’. We call them ‘leaders of tomorrow’ and prophesy on their destiny - that they will be ‘greater than their parents’ - and then go on to live our lives before their very eyes, the exact opposite of what we preach and teach. So, they have indeed become greater - in indiscipline, indolence, violence, corruption, immorality, cultism, idolatory, ignorance, irresponsibility, etc. It was not so in the case of the children of Issachar. They were raised from childhood to become people of distinction and of extraordinary value to their community.

As a family, a society, and a church, we need children who understand the climate and temperament of the times. Children who understand public affairs, the global temperature, and the tendencies of current events so as to manifest divine wisdom; children who possess the spiritual knowledge, judgment and keen insight into the spirit realm (Ephesians 5:15-17); children who know the best course of action and will provide us with crucial information to make wise decisions (Isaiah 33:6). So how can our children be like those of the tribe of Issachar?

·         Let's Train them: There is education and there is training. We have to guide them; discipline them; build up their academic, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual databank (knowledge); and their physical and spiritual immune system (discernment) in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6). We are their parents and the authority over them; telling them what to do is part of our job description. There is a difference between ‘discipline’ and ‘punishment’. Discipline has to do with regulation, control, restraint in order to extract compliance, while punishment involves correction, chastisement, and persuasion.

·         Let's Make them a people of prayer: The place of prayer is the place of revelation. It is in the place of prayer that knowledge is given understanding. So let us teach them to pray - communicate and interact with God; to develop such a relationship with God that will change the course of their lives to the fulfillment of divine destiny. Let us teach them to fast and deprive their bodies, temporarily, and regularly, of nourishment in order to seek the face of God and to obtain divine truth. Life is not all about convenience. There is responsibility and accountability. As Christians, we will have need to commune with God in the place of prayer, either for our individual selves or for the sake of others. Our children must be given that divine direction, just like those of Issachar!  

·         Let's Make them a people of the Word: Jesus told the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 12:3, "It is because you do not know the Scriptures." Many of our children do not know the Scriptures and there lies the difference between them and the children of Issachar. Our children do not read, or study, or meditate on the word of God. And this is because we, their parents, do not teach or encourage them or we, ourselves, are not as committed to the word of God as we portray. The truth of the matter is that we cannot give what we do not have.

Is it that, as parents, we have not experienced the efficacy of the word of God? Are we not confessing and testifying enough? Let the word of God abide in us and in them (John 15:7). David said in Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”. When our children know the word of God, their confidence level and self-esteem will increase. They will take decisions based on knowledge and understanding, like those of Issachar, not through peer pressure, and ignorance.

·         Let's Make them a people of the church: Teach them to love the fellowship of the brethren and be active in the Church. When we were teenagers, we cleaned the church every Saturday and it was fun then to work alongside our friends and peers. But now, the church has to pay for this service and before then, the elders did the cleaning. Our children must know that it is the people, not the building, that make the church and that they make up a great component of the Body of Christ. That God wants us to be different from those in the world; not prejudiced or judgmental but loving, tolerant, and kind but discerning; to be the solution to global problems. Let us teach them to respect others and to support church leaders and elders so that their lives can be enriched by superior experience and pastoral blessing just as the children of Issachar supported Prophetess Deborah and Barak in battle.

·         Let's Make them a people of Influence: The children of Issachar were influential. Their brethren looked up to them and heeded their counsel. The little children in our society today observe the youths, the parents, the elders, teachers, public officials and politicians. We are the Bible they are reading. What kind of influence are we exerting? To be a people of influence, there must be integrity; reliability; and trust. It’s all about character! Let them know that it is character, not wealth that makes a person. Teach them that a tree is known by its fruit (a more enduring identity), not its leaves (outward appearance); that kindness, respect, perseverance, and hard work, still pays. Then they carry the mandate to do ‘exploits’. The world is indeed waiting, in expectation, for the manifestation of the children of God!

The time has come for us to evaluate our role as parents. We cannot behave like the ostrich - putting our heads in the sand while there is trouble all around. We will be held accountable for the turn-out of our children on the Day of Judgment. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) said this and I quote;

“The things that can destroy a nation and its people are no other than,

-politics without principle;

-pleasure without conscience;

-wealth without work;

-knowledge without character;

-education without learning;

-business without morality;

-science without humanity;

-worship without sacrifice”.

May the Lord show us mercy in Jesus name. Amen. Concluded!!!

The Children of Issachar! Part 3

They are a people of influence:

Influence here also implies power, authority, and inspiration. 1 Chron. 12:32 says, “… and all their brethren were at their commandment”. Obviously, the children of Issachar were found to be reliable, persuasive, and as such, highly regarded in their community. They were evidently, men of integrity and had a positive impact on their people. Over time and in several situations, the people connected and benefited from their good judgement, charisma, and maturity. So the people trusted them and did their bidding.

As few as they were, just 200 men, they were able to rally the people round to support the choice of God.

According to Vocabulary.com, “Influence is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. If someone influences someone else, they are changing a person or thing in an indirect but important way”.

Below I reproduce an article from Dr. Alex Lickerman on “WHY IS INFLUENCE IMPORTANT?”

Control over our lives is something we all want. But in a universe in which everything is mutually interdependent, none of us has absolute control over anything except ourselves (and even over ourselves our control is indirect and partial only). Instead, what we all have in abundance is influence, the power of which seems to function linearly: the closer personally and physically others are to us, the greater our influence over them, and vice versa. Even more interestingly, unlike our attempts to control, our attempts to influence don't require our conscious intent. Which is why our ability to influence others is so much more important that our ability to control them: we're always exerting influence simply by being who we are, saying what we say, and doing what we do. The only real choice we have in the matter is whether or not the influence we exert is good or bad.

BECOMING A GOOD INFLUENCE

You never know who's watching you. And someone always is, whether your child, your sibling, your spouse, your friend, or a stranger in another car on the road. Emotions and inner life states are transmitted like viruses along the vectors of our words and actions, even from the quietest and smallest. Nothing can encourage us like someone else's good example. They're frankly few and far between—but they're there if you look for them. Want to create value with your life? Become a good influence.

Stop and think. What better service can you provide someone else besides being a good example to them? Not with conscious intention, which always seems contrived and has little power to encourage, but by simply (oh, ironic word) becoming the examples you yourself want to see. When you've actually become something, others see it in almost everything you do.

Samuel Rodriguez, President of the Hispanic Evangelical Association, summarizes it thus;

Issachar’s tribe lived surrounded by paganism, idolatry, unrighteousness, consternation, angst, and flux. Yet the men of this tribe understood the times and subsequently proceeded to provide direction for Israel through influential leadership.

Accordingly, as Christ-centered, Bible-based, 21st century “Sons of Issachar,” we carry the power to exert catalytic influence in our respective communities. We can initiate change by reconciling the vertical and horizontal planes of the Christian message, renewing a Spirit-empowered ethos, repudiating complacency, and redeeming the narrative of prophetic activism.

Today, Christian men (and women) are poised to influence family, community, church, and culture when we understand the holistic message of the Cross where Christ’s sacrifice communicates this amazing message: love, grace, and eternal life. As Sons of Issachar, we can and will exert maximum influence when we lift holy hands in conviction and stretch out helping hands with compassion. Dear Sons of Issachar, it’s our time to arise. This hour represents the greatest opportunity to redeem the narrative of prophetic activism.

When next someone asks you, “What do Christians do besides go to church on Sunday”? Tell them that;

We love.
We forgive.
We turn the other cheek.
We bless our enemies.
We walk in integrity.
We live abundantly.
We give food, water, and clothing to those in need.
We welcome strangers.
We preach in and out of season.
We worship in the Spirit and in truth.
We shine the light of Christ.
We do justice.
We love mercy.
We walk humbly before God.
We change the world!