The Few Sheep

The Few Sheep

Acts 13:22

David never lost a public battle. He was a giant killer who produced giant killers. He reclaimed Jerusalem from the Jebusites, brought back the ark and restored the worship of Jehovah in Zion. The mountains that surrounded Jerusalem by which the Jebusites had fortified themselves became a symbol of how God surrounded his people (Psalm 125:2).

God’s promises about David are astounding. The dynamic way God dealt with him was very typical of the way he deals with his Church. The Davidic order/blessing brought grace and victory. It transcended his generation. God established his throne forever in Zion.  Isaiah prophesied that by the zeal of Jehovah a child, the Lord Jesus, would be born to occupy David’s throne and his rule would not end (Isaiah 9:6; 11:1, 2).  John described the exalted Christ he saw in a vision as ‘he that hath the key of David to open and no man shuts and to shut and no man opens (Revelation 3:7).  David tasted the privileges of grace that would fully come later.  The tabernacle he built was much simpler to access than that of Moses. The form of worship in approaching God’s presence in the tabernacle was praise and music.  It was typical of sacrifices of praise that usher the Church into God’s presence. Not only did he offer sacrifices of praise, he experienced grace during the time of the law. He received mercy through confessing sins in faith instead of being stoned according to the law (Psalm 51). 

Acts 13:22 is a summary of the rise of David as king with lessons of how to please God and experience the fullness in Christ.

1) God removed Saul. Acts 13:22a, “And when he had removed him,”

Before David could be raised, Saul had to be removed. As long as Saul was intact, David was in trouble. You also need to reject the Saul spirit of the flesh and self. Allow God to rule by his Spirit in your life. Allow him to rise to the throne so that you can also rise to the place where you rule with him. The characteristics of a Saul spirit include:

•           A promising start but terrible ending. Saul was promising in several ways.  He starts anointed by God to be king and ends rejected by God from being king (1 Sam 10:1). He started acting humble but ends a proud person (1 Samuel 10:21-23, 27). He started surrounded by men whose hearts God had touched but ends with men trembling before Goliath (1 Samuel 10:26).

•           A big impressive physical appearance head and shoulder above everyone else, but a spiritual dwarf inside (1 Samuel 9:2). Spiritual babies can hope to grow bigger but what hope do pigmies have.

•           A self-dependent spirit that does not wait on God. Saul acted according to what seemed right to logic and his interests (1 Samuel 15:9). He did not fully obey God.

•           Overstepping authority boundaries. Saul carried out a priestly role that was for Samuel to perform. When under pressure from the Philistines and from his own men, he made the offering only for Samuel to arrive just as he finished (1 Samuel 13:8-10, 13).  •     Building a monument to oneself instead of giving God the glory in everything (1 Samuel 15:12). He was more concerned about people’s opinion of him than obeying God’s word (1 Samuel 15:30).

•           Not being truly repentant. Saul was defensive when confronted with his sin. He was covering up. It took the bleating of the sheep to expose that he had left out some sheep when God instructed that everything be destroyed (1 Samuel 15:13, 14). He shifted blame to the people (1 Samuel 15:21).  He from questionable motives asked for forgiveness only after being cornered (1 Samuel 15:25). 

•           Rejecting God’s word. Samuel’s verdict over Saul was ‘you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king’ (1 Samuel 15:23, 26).

•           Fighting new things God chooses to do. A religious spirit defends traditional ways and the status quo when they have become irrelevant, ineffective and God has moved on (1 Samuel 18:9, 11, 25, 19:1, 10).

•           Having no relationship with God. Saul referred to God as 'the Lord your God’ (1 Samuel 15:21) suggesting a non-existent or very weak personal relationship with God. Christ died so you can have a personal/ direct relationship with him as your father.

2) David had a different heart. Acts 13:22, “to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”

God found David to be of a different heart. God testified of David that he had a heart after God's heart. He had a spirit different from a Saul spirit. 

•           David finished well. He started by being overlooked by his father at the presentation of possible sons to be anointed (1 Samuel 16:11). But ends with his throne established forever. Unlike Saul, David started surrounded by men who were malcontents rejected by society but ends with an army of giant killers (1 Sam 22:2).

•           David had a smaller stature than his brothers but a spiritual giant inside (1 Samuel 16:12, 7).

•           David always inquired and waited on the Lord before making decisions. He was diligent to know what God wanted and to obey it (1 Samuel 23:2, 4; 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19, 23; 21:1).  This attitude was the secret to his exploits.

•           David respected authority boundaries. When he had opportunity to kill Saul was hunting him down, David refused to kill the Lord’s anointed even though God had rejected Saul and David had been anointed to be the next king by Samuel (1 Samuel 24:6, 10).

•           David built an altar to God not a monument to himself (1 Chronicles 21:22, 26). He also became the ‘father’ of vibrant praise and worship with most of the book of Psalms attributed to him.

•           David was truly repentant (Psalm 51:1-13). He cried to God like one suffocating gasped for life giving oxygen. He was not defensive. He did not shift blame. His motive was to please God and so he could serve God (v. 13). As a result, even though David lost a major private battle he recovered and maintained his clean sheet. A humble and contrite heart God does not despise. He did well not because he never failed but because he mastered the humility to overcome down turns and set backs.

•           David loved God’s word. Unlike Saul who rejected God’s word David wrote 176 verses in Psalm 119 to express his love for God’s word. The word of God prospered him in all his ways (Joshua 1:8).

•           David loved to use relevant methods that flowed with the heart of God. He was a prophetic worshiper and king by seeking to hear from God. His dancing, his fighting methods, and his attitude when God would not let him build the temple are testimony. He let God choose his son for the task and even supported him with resources and connections.

•           David had a personal relationship with God (Psalms). He knew God’s faithfulness and attributes so well that he trusted and praised him. He promoted God and God promoted him.

3) God used a few sheep to raise David. Acts 13:22b “he raised up unto them David to be their king;”

God raises up people for roles in church and society. God is in absolute control (Ephesians 1:11). He calls them and prepares them for their assignment.  The sheepfold where David looked after a few sheep of a poor farmer was his training and testing ground. Caring for the sheep in the dangerous plains and hills shaped his character. He was humble to look after a few sheep (1 Samuel 17:28). The family left him out from the more notable role of being a soldier. Shepherding was not generally a job without honor. In the case of Joseph, the elder brothers went out to look after the flock. It was looking after the family wealth. It was also dangerous and required lots of courage to face invaders and predators. What stands out for David is how faithful he looked after the few family sheep. Maybe the family estimated little loss should the sheep be lost to predators to let their youngest look after them. Before God raises you, he also will ask you to first look after some few sheep. David was so faithful with the sheep that he would literally put his life on the line in their defense (1 Samuel 17:34).

Faithfulness with a few sheep distinguished David for kingship. He was an unlikely candidate. The good news also for you is God knows where you are. He knows how to reach you. He knows how to beat your excuses. God wants every one of His children to become a person after His Own heart. David was such a person. One could not have been farther from the throne than David. He had Rahab the harlot and Ruth a gentile in his ancestry (Judges 2; Ruth 4:20). His father excluded him from opportunity. He was from a tiny place called Bethlehem. He was unknown by the king even after serving him with the harp for a while. He was despised by his brothers (1 Samuel 17:28).The one positive thing going for him was, keeper of a few sheep. David gave his heart to it.   He drew his description of good shepherding in Psalm 23 from his own quality practice. He was with them in the valley of the shadow of death and they lacked nothing.  Even after he was anointed, he went back to his flock (1 Samuel 16:19).   After he was called to Jerusalem to play the harp for King Saul, he returned to keep his father’s sheep, (1 Samuel 17:15). 

When he was alone in the sheepfold, he learnt to play the harp and to praise God. The harp skill brought him before the king. When he fought the lion and the bear, he learnt faith and skill he would need to conquer Goliaths. When he patiently tendered for the little lambs and saw them grow to being big and confident, he learnt the patience necessary to transform malcontents of society to giants for God. In all he learnt to trust God and experience his unfailing favor.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa 

Three Impacts of Promotion

Three Impacts of Promotion

Joseph’s promotion did not bring just personal benefit. He saw it as an opportunity to serve those around him. He resisted pride that would make him forget the shoulders on which he stood and the hands that held him up when it mattered most in life. He instead remembered the mentors who helped him, the parents that cared for him and God who favored him. Joseph’s father, Jacob, did a lot to shape Joseph’s faith and character. Time and trouble tested and proved the quality of his work. Joseph therefore intentionally made sure his promotion benefitted his family, his nation and his faith community.

Impact on His Family. He facilitated provision of food and shelter to his parents and siblings (Mark 7:10-12). In many cases, children abandon their parents when they become more learned and prosperous. They wait to honor them by expensive coffins and latest burial suits. In some cultures, they even bring expensive blankets on burial day when the parents languished barely covered in cold weather, and went without food when they were alive. Joseph shared his elevation with his family members. Joseph could have just sold his siblings grain or donated some to them but he empowered them. Few significantly remember their family members when promoted. They would rather be distinguished among their own as the privileged only ones who visit family gatherings driving. They enjoy seeing everyone else eat crumbs from their table.

Joseph even forgave his brothers for wanting to kill him and for selling him into the hands of strangers for dead (Genesis 45:1-7).  That way he facilitated family reconciliation. Jacob also had to forgive his sons for the same offence and for keeping the truth from him for so long. Nucleus and extended family relationships are breaking down for lack of a peacemaker. Many members are suspicious of one another and plot to pull each other down not realizing they also pull down themselves in the process. Whenever there is a rift in relationships, you can either build bridges or flare up the hostilities. Many families lack members who are willing to forgive past offences and recognize that God’s grace and plan for a person is not limited by what people do to the person. If anything, what people do against you is material in God’s hands to suffice his grace and perfect his plan for you.

Impact on His Nation. Joseph served his adopted nation so well that his promotion saved the nation from starvation during years of famine. Not only did he ensure food security but also he excelled so much that the nation became economically stronger than other nations. In other words, he used his promotion to promote his country. This was all because of the wisdom Joseph received from God and faithfully put to work in his career. He saw his position as governor as opportunity to influence on a wider scale. It was an elevated platform from which to shine for God (Mathew 5:14-16).  Where it is darkest, light is needed the most. Darkness is unrighteousness but also needs in the society.  Where it is darkest, light shines brightest. Where there is more darkness, light makes greater impact. Righteousness and solutions abound much more. Your work station, community position, sports exploits etc is a lamp stand, platform that puts you in public view. The question is how you use the advantage.

Joseph was rich in economic wisdom that he did not give handouts. Handouts would have resulted in wastage, dependency mindset and inflation. Instead, he sold the grain potentially stimulating economic activities from which people would earn money to buy the grain. Other nations also brought lots of much needed foreign currency by buying grain from Egypt. The issue of distribution criteria was made simple by following the ability to buy rule. It was not always easy for everyone to buy, in fact some point it appeared extremely harsh, but had national economic wisdom. Some even traded some of their assets to get grain. Joseph did also leave room for social benefit in the form of donations given in some cases, as he did to his brothers.

Impact on His Faith Community. Joseph played a significant part in the life of the Jewish faith and nation. He also happened to come from this nation. As in the case of Esther who received promotion and later was reminded by Mordecai that she was in her position as Queen for such a time as to preserve and strengthen God’s people. Joseph also maintained his faith in God and elevated people of like faith (Mathew 6:33). His faith gained so much credibility and respect that when his family came over they for many years had freedom to worship Jehovah in the land of Egypt. His promotion served the purpose of God to preserve a nation unto himself through which the messiah would come. He remembered the welfare of the people and business of God. Anything done that moved patriarch Jacob is major on God’s agenda. God instructed Jacob to go to Egypt facilitated by Joseph and promised to bring him back. The nation grew so strong that 400 years later six million Jews left Egypt.  Your promotion also is for the sake of God’s work, to give to the work of your church, to missions’ workers and those who instruct and preach in the faith (Mathew 28:18-20; Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:14).

Evaluate your promotion based on how it has benefitted the kingdom of God, your family, and nation.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa  

Setting Spiritual Goals I

Setting Spiritual Goals I

Hebrews 12:1-2

Spirituality is about the invisible innermost part of a person where core beliefs, values and conscience seat, the human part that explains and informs all of life. You therefore cannot isolate spiritual life from other areas of life. Spiritual life is not confined to a compartment, privacy, a building, a gathering or a day of the week. Perceiving it as such limits its value and makes it irrelevant to life. It becomes a baggage instead of an integral part such as a head on a human body is easy to carry. Unlike a loaded bag, that is a burden to carry. 

Further, such removal of the spiritual from the whole of life often splits life to the spiritual and the secular. As a result, many live two lives, the spiritual at church and the secular at the market place. Sometimes they include a third life for home life. To illustrate, a mother and children came to church with suitcases full of clothing and boxes of pots and other kitchenware. When asked to explain their unusual behavior, they said they now wanted to live at church because the father they meet at church is so loving and warm. The one they had at home was harsh and a terror. It ought not to be so.

Spiritual goals help in strengthening and clarifying beliefs and values. For Christians, that happens through strengthening personal relationship with God. The relationship begins with the decision to trust what Jesus Christ accomplished to restore a favorable relationship between God and humanity. Spiritual goals are the key to spiritual growth. Spiritual growth does not happen by accident. It is intentional by setting goals and implementing their action plan. Goals direct resources of faith, energy, ideas, time and finances to make the right things happen.

Spiritual goals like any other, demand faith, time, action, money and commitment.  Review progress to the goals frequently to take steps to overcome obstacles and stay on course. Lack of acting on spiritual growth goals and evaluating progress leads to frustration because there will be no spiritual value addition perceived. Three important categories of spiritual goals are below.

1) Development Goals.

These goals produce formation of character and shape values. They are basic goals to better understand and  strengthen your relationship with God and faith in God's word. They include goals to have quality personal devotional time for reading the Bible and praying, and being an active member of a community of believers (Hebrews 10:25) so as: 

-          To know him better

-          To know your identity in him better and become like him

-          To make him known through showing and sharing his love and power

-          To invest in his purpose to disciple communities

-          To identify with him as part of a community of believers

-          To identify your calling and ministry gifts

A strong godly social supportive environment is vital for spiritual growth and encouragement to overcome obstacles to growth. Other continuous learning avenues that require goals include acquiring good media resources, literature and attending conferences that teach the word of God and Christian life skills. 

Development goals help you grow in your relationship with God. The purpose however is to better practice God’s word in every area of life, which is the next point.  

2) Delivery Goals.

These are goals for applying God's word so that you live out your identity in Christ. The overall goal of salvation is observing everything that Jesus taught (Mathew 28:18-20). We live in times when there is an avalanche of bible information but very little transformation. Transformation happens better when you are intentional to apply the word. Application of Gods word or obedience is the ultimate proof of faith. If you have not trusted enough to act on it, you have not found faith. It is not just praying more. Attending a record number of meetings and going through the motions and commotions of religion is not enough. True spirituality is about accurately representing Gods kingdom on earth as light, salt, yeast, voice, and ambassador of Christ.

Therefore, set goals that allow for God's role in your everyday life. Goals to express your faith in Gods word in everything you do, whether it be at church or the market place and in private or public spheres.  The Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God and people (Lukev2:52). In other words, he grew holistically. Jesus also came to address the full set of human needs spiritual, physical and emotional needs (Luke 4:18). Salvation means being brought to wellness in every way. The work of God on earth touches every aspect of society (Genesis 1:58).

3) Definitive goals for excelling. Definitive goals distinguish themselves by their quality. These goals stand out in being a delight to God and a motivation to you to accomplish them. They bless the heart of God because they:

>>Put God in first place. When you seek God first he promised to add everything you need to your life (Mathew 6:33). Seeking first means considering him first as well as seeing him as the foundation to all else. Putting God in first place attracts his favor, peace, wisdom, strength, and wellness in all respects. When you mind his business, he minds your business. Many fail to allocate time to their spiritual goals because spiritual development is not a priority. Being too busy to find time for God is being busier than God ever intended. Not finding time for something is a value statement saying what you have no time for is of less value than the other things that took away the available time.

Realize that your strength lies in acknowledging your weakness and dependence on God. Because people have no strengths to boast about before an all-able God, he responds to acknowledgement of weakness not strengths. That is why the Jehova names such as Jehovah Jireh relate God to human needs.

>>Are from the heart.  As you delight in God, he has promised to grant your heart's desire (Psalm 37:4). The desires of a person who delights in God are God inspired and he grants them. In addition, because they are a heart's desires the person is passionate about achieving the goals. Alignment of goals and heart's desire is the source of passion.   Without desire even if goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound, they will remain unaccomplished.

>>Give in return. Carry the attitude of giving all to God because he has with held nothing from you. He cannot give anything more than what he has given already in Christ. This attitude is the heart of worship. Set goals to give more to God and bless him. Such goals find grace for their fulfillment. You can give more of yours - you can give yourself, time and resources beginning with participation in the work of your local church. Such spiritual investment has returns in all areas of life (Malachi 3:10).

>> Achieve positive change. Changed character and behavior, or transformation, are the indicators of spiritual growth. Set goals to change. Such goals demand a willingness to learn. For example, identify everyday life areas you want to pursue change and see growth. One could target, for example the need to be more forgiveness. Identify the things you need to do to see change and take the remedial choices and actions. For example meditate on forgiveness scriptures, pray for the people who hurt you daily, announce the release of the people daily for a week, etc 

Jesus promised to transform those who come to him (Mathew 4:19). Without transformation, the church's message loses credibility. How can anyone wish the church success in the goal to win the whole world unless by looking at the lives of believers they can see love, discipline, order, relevance, productivity excellence and integrity that reflect a better world?

>>Stretch your faith. Faith only pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Set God sized goals that stretch you beyond your comfort zone according to the measure of faith you have. Faith grows by the word of God and works by goals since it is the hope of what is expected. Goals set expectations (Hebrew 11:1).

>>Focus on causes. Many are preoccupied with chasing after the fruit, benefits and products of their relationship with God and neglect nurturing the relationship. As a result, they overlook the processes that cause the results they are after. Some miss out acquiring principles, skills and disciplines for lasting solutions by chasing a momentary experiences from one event to another. God wants to turn people from being spiritual spectators and recipients to producers and givers. Set goals to master causes of fruitfulness such as being prayerful, Spirit led, word, cooperation and patience.  

>>Outlive you. God wants his people to bear fruit that remain (John 15:16). He wants you to set goals that out span your lifetime. He wants you to leave a lasting legacy.  You can achieve this by setting goals to train others in what you know (2 Timothy 2:2). Goals to write literature and record messages, goals to set up something or invest in something like a mission agency or business that out spans you,  and goals to invest in your children and young people.

I hope this provides a good orientation before you take the practical steps of spiritual goal setting.

Three Accompaniments of Promotion

Three Accompaniments of Promotion

Genesis 41: 41 – 55

Through his unpleasant experiences, Joseph learnt survival attitudes and skills that would be handy in his role as governor of Egypt. For him, promotion did not come alone. It came with privileges, pressures and imperfections that he had practiced to manage on his life journey.  Joseph most likely had to overcome some resistance, obstacles, betrayal and discouragements to his promotion. It is possible some laughed at his predictions and mocked him. Somebody must have questioned who Joseph was and where he had been to just come to the top.  A few were possibly eying the governorship position for some time. In these circumstances, the lessons from the rejection by brothers and being misunderstood in his experience as a leader in prison became useful. Faced with daunting circumstances on that journey, he did not always feel he was in God’s perfect will but had learnt to keep integrity, trust and obey God, shine with good works and to give thanks in everything.  

Inability to handle the accompaniments of promotion results in demotion or  fall. The following with Joseph’s promotion.

1) Privileges

•         Position and recognition – Joseph’s position as governor attracted honor and respect. Pharaoh gave him a new name Zaphnath-paaneah meaning "treasury of the glorious rest". He attracted attention and people bowed when his chariot went by.

•         Power and authority – Joseph received the king’s ring. He had ability to translate intention to reality, or ability to influence decisions and make things happen.

•         Possessions – Joseph gained materially. He now had a mansion, a chariot, and most luxuries he could imagine.

•         Prestige – Joseph gained in social status. He was associated with the highest social group and was well known. Many functionally or opportunistically wanted to associate with him.

Privileges have Pitfalls to avoid.  Privileges come with assets to employ and enjoy for effectiveness, but also come with pitfalls that include:

•         Pride. Humility lifts people up and pride pulls them down. Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth, honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4). Abandoning humility is embracing futility. Pride makes the privileged look down on those less privileged.  With pride an attention seeking celebrity syndrome that chases after the stages, lights, cameras, autograph signing, and microphones at the expense of core role takes over. Instead of serving, the proud desires to be served. They stop listening and learning.  Pride makes a person unteachable and untouchable. The proud even forget the shoulders they climbed on to their promotion - the mentors who helped them, the parents that cared for them and God who favored them.

•         Pleasures on demand. Promotion comes with increased capacity and a strong temptation to pursue all the pleasures one can imagine (1 John 2:15). Often one can now afford them, is under pressure to fit into a peer culture and is presented with many who are willing to trade anything to one who can grant or influence favors for them. As a result often the more one is promoted to being wealthy and influential the greater the temptations of vices such as illicit sex and drink (Proverbs 2:16-19; Ephesians 5:3).

•         Power abuse. The privilege of power is the most abused.  One has to overcome the following tendencies.

-          Settling Scores. Joseph could have sought to deal with his brothers and the Ishmaelites in return for what they did against him. He could have seen his promotion as a chance to hit back at Mrs. Potiphar whose husband was perhaps still working for Pharaoh at the palace where he was now second in command. Joseph however  channeled his power to the food security  responsibility on his hands. He was forgiving enough to shelter and feed his brothers (Genesis 45:1-7)   

-          Settling down. Joseph settled in, not down. Settling down has connotations of arriving, complacence and loosing touch with changes around you. It is allowing the corrosive effect of power to do its work on you. As the saying, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Settling down effect leads to carelessness and poor judgment in decision-making. One is no longer as careful in thinking about consequences of actions. Procrastination becomes a habit. Hard work and delayed gratification cease to be values. The tendency to abuse power and financial resources, and manipulate people for personal gain grows (1 Timothy 6:10). One is no longer envisioning for the next level and hence loses motivation. Joseph did not stop dreaming. He even cared what legacy he left behind and where they would bury his bones (Genesis 50:25).

-          Settling Deep. This tendency is to entrench oneself in the new level or position and building bunkers around your turf to defend it at all costs. Indicators of this tendency include failure to train potential successors, feeling indispensable and so insecure to condone incompetence in exchange for allegiance.  

2) Pressure to Perform.

Promotion is assuming responsibility. It is one thing, telling people a plane can land without wheels. It is another, being asked to be the pilot. Joseph proved his trust in God by accepting the offer to be governor. A lot was at stake. What if his dream interpretation had proved wrong and seven years of plenty never came. What if the plan he proposed had failed and what if people refused to cooperate. The pressure to perform was enormous. There was no room for excuses not to deliver results when he even had the very king’s ring of authority. Promotion comes with pressure to perform. Even in the Promised Land, there was work to be done. It is recognition of potential. No sooner than the glamour of appointment ceremony settles does work begin, and you have to prove your merit. You feel the unspoken demand to confirm your interview promise. Promotion is not merely gaining a title but a function. That is why it does not help you to accept promotion beyond your level of competency. Unmerited favor of God does not mean lack of merit on your part because true God’s favor endues with merit to prepare and do the work.  Work is a blessing and need not be a pressure.

It must have been challenging for Joseph rising from prison. He had to learn fast. As Joseph realize that you arrive at a new level as a baby and need to learn and grow. Learn as much as possible by asking the right questions, observing and listening more than talking. At times, he would have felt lonely seeing a future that others did not see and relied on his description of it. If promoted to a leading role you need the wisdom to set up a good team. Joseph also had learnt to depend on wisdom from above. He knew God was able to make him ten times wiser than his Egyptian colleagues. He was productive and a success (Genesis 41:55).

Pressure to perform has Dangers to overcome. Pressure can be so much that that no time is left for other important things of life. Working hard but not smart has personal tolls of fatigue, ill health, stunted personal development, strained vital relationships and spiritual decline. Many are looking for money but those with it are looking for time.[1] Willy Adei taught five sacrifices to avoid: sacrificing your marriage, sacrificing your family, sacrificing your friendships/fellowships, sacrificing integrity, and sacrificing eternity

3) Potipheras

Joseph’s promotion brought Asenath the wife Pharoah gave him. Asenath’s name meant ‘belonging to the goddess Neith’. Her father was Poti-pherah some Egyptian priest of On. We can therefore refer to Asenath as Miss Potipherah. Earlier in his Joseph had run away from Mrs Potiphar.  As governor he ruled over Mrs Potiphar but had to live with a Ms Potipherah dedicated by her name to goddess Neith. Promotion brought this relationship and it seems he could not get rid of her. That is the nature of promotion in an imperfect world. It comes tainted with blemishes or Miss Potipherahs that qualify your joy. You find yourself saying ‘Wow its such a great opportunity but …’ The qualifiers can be certain lazy or difficult individuals you have to work with, things you can not wisely mention and  a work structure, a work schedule, some kind of work,  travel demands or certain aspects of your responsibility you would eliminate given room.

An example is excitement students have for getting a place to study at a prestigious University but they struggle with the values of one of the lecturers but the course is a requirement. Promotions come with Potipherah’s daughters. However the closer to your ideal situations you can find the better. For example, a culture that gives you freedom to express your values is a precondition to accepting any promotion. However, perfect situations do not exist under the sun, even in your church group. Daniel, Modecai, and many others in the bible and to date had to content with their imperfect situations. A parallel one can think about is that as a believer you can run away from external sin ensnares but have to manage and subdue the sinful nature in you by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Every human situation has an internal sinful nature.

So unlike from Mrs Potiphar, you may not run away from Ms Potiphera. You monitor Potipheras closely and govern them. Joseph did not allow the Potipherahs to determine his values and defile his heart. That is not an easy feat as Samson and Solomon could testify (I Kings 11:4-6).  In any case unlike Samson and Solomon who chose the wives for themselves Joseph’s wife was given Joseph named his children after His God (Genesis 41:51-52).  He maintained his fear of God (Genesis 42:18; Psalm 139:23-24). He consistently tried to do the right thing by staying on the straight and narrow. That protected his reputation and promotion. He did not lose his intimate relationship with God. He did not stop praying or going to church, as some do the moment promotion comes.

At whatever level of promotion, watch out for the pitfalls of privilege, the dangers of performance pressure and the imperfections of Potipheras. How well are you coping by avoiding them, overcoming and subduing them in order to excel like Joseph?

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa 

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[1] Allan Weiss, Million Dollar Consulting, McGraw Hill, New York, 2009.

Three Guarantees to Promotion

Three Guarantees to Promotion

God’s design is for you to grow and progress in what you do. He is revealing his dream for you as he did to Joseph. God showed him the wonderful vision of a high authority and leadership role but did not forewarn him about the rough road ahead. There were no detailed maps and plans with signs to show distance covered and remaining to destination. God however guaranteed three things.

>> His Presence. When you read his awful experiences and the set backs he suffered you cannot help feeling for him. When you read about his victories, you likewise are prone to want to applaud him as your hero. You however have a constant reminder that the Lord was with him[1]. It is encouraging to know he did not triumphantly go through the pit, slavery and prison alone. His presence had everything he needed.

>> His Peace. Peace comes from confidence that you can contain the situation. You can handle the relationships, you can pay the bills, you can handle the future and you will not be overwhelmed. God gave Joseph the power to prevail. The grace of God with Joseph was his source of confident expectation that gave him peace[2].

>> His Promotion. The road may be long and rough but God’s love and promises guarantee that your story will end well. In a replay match video, the losing team can be leading at half time. Joy will come in the end[3].

Joseph experienced sudden unanticipated developments on his promotion journey.  People and factors other than you often influence time and course for your promotion. Unanswered questions did not stop Joseph from reaching his promotion. He must have wondered why his brothers hated him, why he should end up as a slave, why he was being punished for doing the right thing and why it was so long in prison.  You may not understand all that is happening, but we can be sure that our Lord is in control of the situation. Your part is to trust God from whom promotion comes. He controls people, circumstances and consequences in your obedience. With the three guarantees, as Joseph did you are able to set God inspired goals and keep focus and faith for comebacks when the unexpected happen.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa 

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[1] Genesis 39:21; Hebrews 13:5

[2] Genesis 39:20; 2 Corinthians 12:9

[3] Genesis 41:14; Numbers 23:19

Three Transits to Promotion

Three Transits to Promotion

Once a trip from London to Johannesburg required an eighteen hours wait in transit for a connecting flight. On arrival at the connecting airport, despite advice to the contrary, I could not find transit accommodation. Suddenly, I faced the stuck reality of eighteen long waiting hours in the transit area. What a relief when I discovered I could pay a small additional amount and wait for only two hours. Joseph also went through transit places on his journey to promotion (Genesis 37, 39-41). The lesson from him is that the journey of promotion can be much longer than eighteen hours. You also are not always able to find alternatives. In fact, you often lack full understanding of how long the wait and how far from the destination. The comfort in transit is expectation that eventually the wait ends.

Joseph rose from his family home to the palace where he became governor of Egypt. His rise was hardly obvious yet so real. He went through three transit places, the pit, Potiphar’s house and the prison.  The transit places Joseph went through as well as the starting place and the destination offer lessons. Joseph moved from each place through automatic propulsions or sudden unanticipated developments.  People and factors other than you often determine time for your promotion. Your part is to trust God from whom promotion comes.  The summary below highlights some lessons from Joseph’s experience. 

Beginnings - The Family place (Genesis 37:1-22). Joseph’s early life family experience despite the resentment he suffered from siblings, teaches about God’s wonderful plan (Jeremiah 29:11). It is a reminder that God has a wonderful plan for every person and is making it clearer each day. God revealed his plan for Joseph when he was in a safe family environment. Joseph nurtured the dream in his heart. He also had such positive self-perception to share his dreams so convincingly that the brothers took them so seriously as to want to kill him. Family is a foundational preparatory place for laying foundations for life. It is a laboratory for love, responsibility, serving and discipline. You also need a safe and supporting environment where your character is developed and you have room to explore your interests and discover your promotion’s direction. God promotes in the direction of his wonderful plan.

Transit 1) The Pit (Genesis 37:23-28).  Joseph’s pit experience was extended to the hands of Ishmaelites. It teaches God’s sovereign rule on matters concerning you. Such favor is most apparent when you are not in a position to influence decisions being made about your life and other people control what happens. No one would listen to Joseph as he pleaded for his life (Genesis 42:21). For example, you are in a pit when a hostile executive team meets to decide your future. You are out of the pit when a favorable decision is made otherwise you are finished. The pit is the school of hard knocks where you learn through the hardships of life experience. All you can do in the pit is to trust God and call on him. Only faith and praise can pull you out of a pit, where a dark shadow of death hovers over you (Psalm 23:4). Joseph’s dreams together with his life were under threat. He could not help himself. Thank God for coming to his rescue.

Transit 2) Potiphar’s place (Genesis 39:1-20). Joseph’s experience in Potiphar’s house teaches the grace of God. God was gracious by showing undeserved favor to Joseph.  Anything could have happened to him at the hands of the Ishmaelites who bought him for twenty pieces of silver. Possibilities range from being relegated to some fieldwork back in their homeland or made to work in some brothel.  When he was sold to an official of the king of Egypt it was like coming from the dead (Genesis 37:36). In any case, at home he had been declared dead (Genesis 37:34).   God was with Joseph and gave him favor with Potiphar. Interestingly, he was close to the palace yet still far. God’s wonderful plan was for him not to be in the palace but over the palace.

Potiphar’s house was a school of obedience. He learnt to take orders, work hard and achieve excellence. Later he would give orders to others. One who has not followed does not qualify to lead others.  Like at a University he learnt how to work under pressure and achieve excellent results. He learnt to forgive and not let the past hold him back from moving on with his life. Potiphar’s house was a school on how to serve under authority in a non-family environment. He learnt about palace life culture and people. It is amazing how much house cleaners in the plush areas of society know about their bosses and their friends.

He also had God’s grace, which teaches to deny ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12). God’s grace gave him the ability to flee when his dream was threatened. In the pit he could not flee but now he could make the choice. He refused to sin against God who held a wonderful plan for him.

Transit 3) The Prison (Genesis 40). Joseph’s prison experience teaches God’s ability to set people free. Jesus taught that who ever he set free would be free indeed (John 8:36).  God wants to remove all that limits your growth and potential. Sometimes its constraints that are evil and in other cases it is good things that keep you complacent stopping you from moving to greatness. In prison Joseph was a leader to other prisoners. However as a large tree panted in a small pot, he could only be as big as the prison confinement allowed. His original dream was virtually dead. He must have been  stretched to the limit, with all hope lost. By now, his list of questions had grown. He must have been bewildered in the wilderness between his pit and his dream promotion. He could easily have settled in the substitute of being the chief of prisoners that he was (Genesis 39:21-23).

The prison was a school on how to serve in a constraining environment to create leads to freedom. He learnt to maintain desire for freedom. He asked the butler to get him out of that place (Genesis 40:14).  He learnt how to serve under strict prison guidelines. It was like he was in an advanced school of obedience and discipline. It takes humility to make do with what is available when you have desire for more space, when you cannot have your way right away. Joseph also learnt about social ills in Egypt by the nature of crimes and prisoners from many backgrounds, from the street pavements to the palace.  He learnt about the justice system. Do not lose hope in your prison. Hold on to what is remaining.  It shall be as it was told you (Acts 27:25).

Promotion - The Palace (Genesis 41). The palace experience of Joseph completed his promotion. It teaches the faithfulness of God. The dream come true was itself like dreaming. It was a sudden resurrection of something dead for a person pronounced dead. When he was told Pharaoh wanted to speak to him, he could never have guessed the finest moment of his life had arrived. The fulfillment was no doubt way beyond what Joseph could have anticipated. God fulfills his promise and exceeds expectations. God watches over his wonderful plan. He works wonders. He breaks the chains that hold you back and releases you to become all that he intended for you.  He does exceeding beyond what you may think or imagine.

Do not limit yourself even by the sky. You have already been elevated in Christ. Everything else will align to conform what you already have, as you love and trust the author of your hope. Even if the system is unfair and corrupt because the leaders are mean, do not appreciate, and don’t notice. They could be manipulative, abusive and apportion your credit elsewhere or use some irregular criteria such as race or nepotism for promotion. In due time without fail God will by pass them and sadly, they will lose you. He looks at your heart and ability to response. Examples in the Bible include story of Laban and Jacob, Modecai and Haman, Daniel and the big Officials of king Darius. Remember God is your employer.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa