Divine leverage: Help for amazing results

Divine leverage: Help for amazing results

 Nevertheless  I  tell  you the truth  ; It is expedient  for you  that  I  go away : for  if  I go  not  away , the Comforter will  not  come  unto  you  ; but if  I depart , I will send  him unto  you .But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7).

If you will prioritise something in your walk with Christ, keep close watch on Gods word, prayer, faith, and the Holy Spirit.   

-          Gods word because it is the means by which you obtain your inheritance (Acts 20:32). It is the source of faith and the weapon/tool for prayer and the Holy Spirit. 

-          Prayer because it unlocks everything else you want. John 14:13 says that if you ask anything in my name it will be done for you.

-          Faith because without it you are unable to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the only way to please God.   Humanity accesses God’s grace only by faith.

-          The Holy Spirit because he is the executor of God’s will and the distributor of his grace and gifts.  The comfort Jesus gave to his sad disciples before departing from them was that he would come back, and that until then they would not be alone. He several times used words like ‘but’, ‘however’, ‘nevertheless’, ‘not to worry’ to counter words of departure. The Holy Spirit would come to be with them.  The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, would come to be their paraclete (partner who comes alongside), superb help, leverage, comforter,  strength, equipper, teacher of all truth, guide, prophetic urge, source of peace, advantage, advocate, favour, conviction concerning righteousness, revelator of Christ and all His, and experience of Christ’s glory (John 14:23-27; 15:26; 16:5- 15). His presence is proof of God’s love to those who love Him (John 14:23). What more is needed? When he comes along all you need is to learn to give him enough room to do what he knows best and to cooperate with him.

The good news to a believer therefore is you are not alone. You are not an orphan.  How much help are you allowing from the Holy Spirit. Dont limit his work to church activities only. God as in the days of Isaiah is asking ‘who shall I send’.  When he finds someone he prepares, guides and amplifies their initiatives. He empowers them or enables them to get things done.  He multiplies the joy and results of their acts of obedience.   He is the principal partner through life’s journey.  What he brings makes what you have nothing in comparison yet he deems your part as essential to his plan of action. He makes your frailty, little or nothing become something great in effect. That is what divine leverage is about.  A human seed of faith amplified to divine impact.  Human action translated to divine results. Earthly obedience escalated to heavenly abundance (Ephesians 3:20).

The Holy Spirit is the executor of divine leverage. Leverage is the increase in force gained by using a lever/helper. With leverage you can move a much bigger weight than you ordinarily would with your little strength.  Divine leverage makes things in your hand do wonders for you. In the world of finance, leverage to maximise output and returns comes from borrowing. The borrowed funds in appropriate measure enable greater results.  Sowing not borrowing achieves divine leverage.

-          Sowing factor. Sowing is therefore a key ingredient for divine leverage. God is seed provider. Every seed you receive is a test – will you eat all of it or sow it. If God can trust you with seed, he can trust you with a harvest.  God given abilities and things are not for you to live on but seed for you to access supernatural resources to live on. Divine leverage is what God does with seed given back to him.  He multiplies it back to the sower.  What God places in your hand is not for consumption only but sowing or for God to work with in your favour. If he receives nothing he cannot multiply anything. In mathematics, a figure of millions is reduced to zero if multiplied by a zero. The same thing, failure to sow reduces the infiniteness of God to zero effect in your life.

-          Sowing conditions. Where there is a seed, life in Christ, faith in God and obedience/spiritual disciplines, conditions are ripe and rife to sow for divine leverage. God helps those who help themselves by running to him. Help yourself by meeting the easy conditions for leverage. Strengthen the spiritual lever by disciplines of faith such as prayer. 

-          Sowing methods. You can sow through actions of faith/obedience that include prayer, love and giving. Store up inner strength for times of trouble. Obedience is acting in the name and authority of the Lord. Through obedience, God helps you become what you should be and multiplies what you can achieve. The heroes of faith in Hebrews received acknowledgement for the actions they took not just the desires and thoughts they had. Obeying God leverages spiritual results and disobedience deleverages them. Disobedience is a liability that slows and pulls you down. 

Bible Examples:

Bible examples are many that demonstrate that divine leverage makes what you have enough for what you need to go forward and be all that God wants.  God completes what is lacking in your life. He fills your resource gaps for his glory. After you have done your best in faith, he finishes what remains outstanding. He advocates for you where you cannot be.  He enables where your strength comes short. He perfects your shortcomings. Do not try to logically figure out how he will do it. Do not try to help him. Do not worry. Just build and stand on faith and patience. Wait on the Lord.  He knows how. The means used in the examples below were ridiculously unsuitable for the tasks to which they were  put. Enemies and observers laughed their lungs out but the people of God had the last laugh because of divine leverage.

In Judges 15:15, 16. Samson was only able to find a jawbone of an ass to fight a well-numbered and armed battalion of hostile Philistines. He took it, and struck down a thousand men with it. He used an ordinary unlikely instrument of war. Something ordinary plus annointing equals divine leverage. Never limit God. 

In 1 Samuel 17:45 David confronted the fully armed giant Goliath with a sling and five stones. He even used only one of the stones to knock Goliath down before cutting off his head.  He had warned Goliath “You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied!’

In John 6:9, 10 all Jesus needed to feed a multitude of possibly over 20000 was a small boy’s meal provision of 5 barley loaves and two small fishes. They looked pitifully useless before so many people. Nevertheless, Jesus was delighted there was seed on the day and ordered the people to sit down. Every one was well fed and some bread and fish was left over.  Divine leverage prevented a human catastrophe.

In Exodus 13 Moses stretched a rod he had used to perform signs and wonders in Egypt to part the red sea.  After the people of God had safe passage, he stretched it again and stopped the enemy from pursuing.

The list is endless, In Judges 5 Gideon's trumpets and pitchers in the hands of an army of 300 facing thousands was enough for victory. In Judges 4:21, 22 a hammer and nail in the hands of a woman, Jael, sealed victory for the people of God against the Canaanites. In 2 Kings 4:2 a widow's pot of oil turned her to a wholesale supolier of oil. 

In the twentieth century, you also can wrought victory with what you have through divine leverage.

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 

Divine Discontent: Beyond and above

Divine Discontent: Beyond and Above

Ps 84:2 My soul longs , yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD : my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God .  42:1 As the hart pants after the water brooks , so pants my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirst for God , for the living God : when shall I come and appear before God ?    63:1-3  O God , thou art my God ; early will I seek thee: my soul thirst for thee, my flesh long for thee in a dry and thirsty land , where no water is;  To see thy power and thy glory , so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary .  143:4-6Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate .  I remember the days of old ; I meditate on all thy works ; I muse on the work of thy hands .  I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirst after thee, as a thirsty land . Selah . 

No doubt David enjoyed the peace of God, which passes understanding. However, clearly from the above scriptures and others,  repeatedly David expressed how he was unsettled in his spiritual experience. He was longing for more. He was convinced that there was more than what he had attained. He was crying  for something deeper. His heart was panting for God. He was thirsty like a dry land. He had an insatiable hunger to see the glory and power of God.  He was like Abraham who longed for a better city (Hebrews 11:16).  Isaiah saw God and cried he was a man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6). There is a feeling of restlessness you get when God comes into your life.  When your spiritual eyes are opened you begin to see possibilities you would not fathom before that make you dissatisfied with the status quo and stagnation. Seeing with God’s eyes you catch a  glimpse of Gods best in view of the current. The conviction that the best in God is yet to come is called divine discontentment.  A burden that relentlessly seeks relief.  The more you know God the stronger the desire to progress beyond and above what you have seen, heard, done, known and possessed before.  It can be so strong that you can be a spiritual celebrity applauded by everyone yet you remain unimpressed because your eyes are fixed on Jesus.

When training in high jump the trainer keeps increasing the bar to stretch and help the trainee discover their potential. Divine discontent is God’s instrument to grow his people and to bring the best out of them.  When teaching children to walk you hold them and let them walk on their own and you keep going further and further from them so that they can also walk further and further on their own.  Each time their fulfilment is derived from  shattering their previous record. Spiritual growth also requires  challenging goals.  The following are key elements of divine discontent.

>> Conviction that the status quo is not enough. Realisation that second best doest have to be and doesn’t need to be.  A cry – I refuse to remain the same. Things cant remain the same. You cannot die as you are.   Such conviction comes from an awareness of gods plumb line. It comes from seeing from God’s perspective. Measuring your life in the light of God’s standard.  comparing your plan with God’s plan. Measuring where you are and where God wants you to be. Discovering the gap between you and  God’s promises and what is possible in faith. The revelation of the ideal produces disappointment with an inferior status quo.    Seeing your reality with God’s eyes raises the awareness of your need for God.   Realising the grace that is available from God raises the awareness of your opportunity in God.

>> Confidence in God for positive change. Experiencing a need for God without faith results in frustration, distress, depression, despondency, discouragement and the other Ds.  But faith believes that things can  certainly change. Faith  comes from knowing your position,  privileges and rights in Christ.  Faith is unswerving confidence in God’s grace.  Faith changes your valley of trouble to a door of hope/opportunity/possibility (Hosea 2:15-16). the gap between you r situation and God’s is the door of hope. You realise its just a starting point or work in progress otherwise the future is great (Psalm  42:5, 11, 43:5) You can begin to encourage your souls like David - Why art thou cast down , O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God : for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance , and my God.  When did you last speak to your soul. Tell your soul to behave with hope. 

>>Compelling desire to do something.  Its not easy to ignore divine discontent. It makes you realise you can do it and urges you to take action. Action comes from choices. Capacity comes from  spiritual  growth and training.  Motivation activates capacity and comes from divine revelation.  Where there is divine revelation, capacity and motivation release competent action. The combination makes the desire for action  irresistible. It cannot be  ignored. It becomes as fire shut up in one’s bones (Jeremiah 20:9).  You want to pursue and align with your heart’s burning.  You long for God as the dear pants for the water brooks.  My observation when I herded cattle was that when released  from the kraal cattle go straight to the water hole. they know where it is, they find their way and are not distracted.  If freed to do as you wish  where do you gravitate.

-          •     Divine discontent makes you resort to desperate measures.

-          In 1 Samuel 1 Hanna prayed moving her mouth without speaking audible words. She desired to see God’s glory regarding her need for a son. She had no interest with impressive vocabulary. She offered what went beyond a request to a cry of the heart.  In the process she dedicated Samuel to God before even born.  Divine discontent aligns you with divine  purpose. It makes you commit your best effort, investment etc to serving God.

-          In  Genesis 32 Jacob was so hungry for blessing that he wrestled with the angel of the Lord. He refused to let him go until he was blessed.

-          In Mark 5:25 a certain woman  with an issue of blood was desperate for healing that she touched the helm of Jesus’ garment. She overcame the stigma from her illness, she pressed through the crowd. She decided what she would do for her healing without attending school of healing. She knew that even if Jesus does did not touch her she could touch him. She got healed as a result. In

-          Mark 10:46 blind Bathemeus refused to be silenced. The more they tried the more louder he cried out. He called until Jesus had to stop and pay attention to him. He received his sight as a result.  He refused to be crowded out because he believed the power of the compassion of Christ. 

-          In Luke 19:5 Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus so much he would not let his stature and attitudes of people fail him. To see Jesus he climbed up a tree and drew the attention of Jesus. He ended up hosting him in his home and being saved. God honoured the desperate measures taken by these and many others recorded in the Bible. A humble and contrite heart he does not despise. Desperate situations demand desperate measures.

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-          •     Divine discontent makes everything else meaningless. In Esther 4 Esther desired the preservation of the people of God so much that she said  if I perish I perish. In Genesis 30:1 Rachel wanted a child so much she said  to Jacob ‘give me children or I die’.   They had such a divine discontent that life became meaningless without God’s answer. They gave away pride, reputation, and forgot about what people thought. Is the  spiritual burden you carry so strong that sleep becomes meaningless, a meal becomes meaningless and nothing but God in the situation matters.  when carrying a heavy load nothing else matters even your step. When can still sleep in your desperation you are not yet desperate.

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-          •           Divine discontent makes you hold on to God.  Divine discontent comes from God and finds its remedy in God. If you are drifting from God you are not experiencing divine discontent.  Divine discontent pulls you closer to God. .  It is not about running to action but running to God.  Hanna appealed to.  Jacob wrestled with God and the certain woman touched God. They were determined to get their answer. They were determined to do to God to access their solutions.  They wanted his instruction. They closed all other options.  Many people do not get the best because they have inferior options to fall back on.  

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  

Divine Opportunity II: Ram in a thicket

Divine Opportunity II: Ram in a thicket

Genesis 22:13-19.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes , and looked , and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns : and Abraham went and took the ram , and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son .  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day , …. By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thin , and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore ; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.  So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. 

Opportunity is chance, time, promise, opening, Idea, access, ability, eligibility, open door, potential, entitlement, provision, or God’s instruction whose time has come. The right or favourable time and circumstances for something is its opportunity.  Opportunities have a life span within which to seize the opportunity. An opportunity can be real or an illusion, current or in the future. God opens doors but when all kinds of doors swing open you better check the fingerprints on the door handles. Not all open doors are opened by God. Once a car followed behind me at night on a country road flashing lights as if to stop me.  After ignoring for a while, I pulled off the road and the car overtook to pull off in front of me. Hardly had it stopped when all four doors swung open. I sensed danger and took off in a manner my car had never experienced before. The car followed for a while until to my relief its lights faded behind me.  Open doors can be a sign of danger.  We learn from the account of Abraham how to respond to divine opportunity.

>> See the Opportunity (Genesis 22:13). Abraham lifted his eyes when God stopped him from sacrificing his only son. If you do not listen and obey God, you will kill your son.  The child lived but Abraham died to the child and was alive to God.  He then lifted up his eyes. You cannot pursue an opportunity unless you become aware of it.  Abraham became aware of the ram that was there to sacrifice instead of his son. The opportunities you become aware of relate to the kind of sacrifice you will give at the altar.  Thank God, the ram was caught in a thicket. Abraham did not have to chase it all over the mountain. No one can shut out divine opportunity for you. It is a secured gift. No one – not even the devil, can do anything about it. What God provides will not escape. It is caught up in a thicket, up for you to grab. Jesus mentioned an opportunity for all.  ‘Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white [Souls ready to be harvest] already to harvest (John 4:35).’  

>> Seize the opportunity (Genesis 22:15 -17). Divine opportunities have to be captured and harnessed within their life span. Abraham went and took the ram. You also set goals and plans that you implement to take your opportunity. Be courageous to take steps to go towards your goals. In one of Mr Bean movies, he confidently goes on to the swimming pool diving board. He however takes long to make the jump. Taking steps to dive only to hesitantly look around and retreat. In the end, he hangs on the board but still not letting go of it. Eventually someone steps on his fingers then off he went into the water. Those who set out boldly in faith to get them capture opportunities.  Divine opportunities are gifts from God. Divine opportunities are God sized and require faith to capture them. What you do about them is your gift to God. He opens doors but it is your prerogative to walk through the door. 

Abraham went and took the ram. We do not know how intricately it was caught up. He worked to untangle it. He did something that showed his faith. Hebrews 11 heroes of faith are remembered not for their good ideas and thoughts but for what they did, their practical faith. Take action. Leave your comfort zone. Brace yourself to overcome fear, pain, hardworking, late nights, fasting, and suffering and apply yourself fully towards attaining your Divine opportunity goals. Ignore sceptics and fire extinguishers. Forget the past (Phil 3:13, 14). Take your lessons and do it better this time. Be more realistic. Trust again, sing again, love again, reach out again, pray again, give again, shout again, hope again, rise up again, start again, and look again. Only do what you do differently and better as necessary. You have opportunity to do something about your situation.  Remember insanity is doing the same things and expect different results.

Action of faith will face resistance. Paul saw an opportunity for the gospel in Ephesus when the situation there was pointing to the contrary (1Cor 16:7-9).   However, while acknowledging that he saw a great open door, he also acknowledges that where he saw opportunity there were also many adversaries.  Where there is opportunity there will be opponents and opposition.  You however dare not look at problems but the opportunity that come with the problems. Overcome fear, instead of seeing a problem in every opportunity decide to see an opportunity in every problem.  In Numbers, ten spies saw indomitable giants where two saw an open door (Numbers 13).  The later remembered that God prepares a table in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23).

A story is told - Old men Rufus and Clarence lived on opposite sides of the river and they hated each other. Every morning Rufus and Clarence would go down to their respective sides of the river and yell insults at each other.    Each would end up by saying that if only they could swim they would swim across and teach the other physical lessons. It so happened that someone built a bridge across the river.  The men continued their verbal trading until Rufus wife thought enough was enough. She confronted her husband and challenged him to use the bridge and go across to settle matters finally. Rufus gathered courage and took off for the other side. Two-thirds across the bridge he saw a sign – clearance ahead ten meters wide and three meters high. He stopped before turning the opposite direction running back home. When asked about his expedition he said he did not know Clarence was ten meters wide and three meters high. He looked small across the river. Often what we fear is a creation of our imagination apart from God.

>> Stay in the Spirit (Genesis 22:13). Be diligent and faithful.  a) Abraham took the ram and was faithful to bring it to the altar. He did not decide to take the 'spoil' to his family for dinner. He did not rationalise that it was so good and best for breading so it multiplies. He trusted God and used it for its purpose. Do not be greedy. Do not receive by the Spirit to use by the spirit of the world.  Jehovah Jireh means one who gives something to offer to God, something to use and enjoy for his glory and something to employ in ministry. Do not receive by faith to use by the flesh. If you cannot sacrifice yourself to God, you cannot sacrifice your things to God. For Abraham (Genesis 22:16-19), the result of his faithfulness was blessing upon blessing and multiplication upon multiplication. For not holding back from God one son, God did not hold back from him sons as many as stars in the sky and sand on the seashore.  Not only was be blessed but he became God’s agent to bless nations.

b) Abraham stayed with others (Genesis 22:19). He returned to the young according to what he promised them and they went back to Beersheba. The statement sounds very ordinary. He was still human and approachable.

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 

Divine Opportunity I: Full bar signal

Divine Opportunity I: Full bar signal

Genesis 22:1-13

Crossover to a New Year triggers exhilarating jubilation.  Shouts of joy, and fire works colourfully light the skies and buildings to greet a New Year. Have you wondered what it will it be like at the cross over to eternity? Will you be there to celebrate when the saints gather in God’s presence? The year 2014 is a divine opportunity to ensure your place is firmly booked for eternal celebrations.  God has prepared plenty of opportunities but those who are attentive to hear his voice of instruction and trust enough to obey know them. Divine opportunities come from a healthy relationship and communication with God. Cell phones sometimes lose signal from the service provider transmitters and boosters and can be out of reach. A cell phone out of reach cannot serve its intended purpose. For as long as it is out of reach, it is useless. In your relationship with God, you cannot afford erratic connectivity with him. The account in Genesis 22:13-19 teaches the importance of maintaining a strong signal with God.

>> Abraham received signal (Genesis 22:1 – 2). He heard from God and chose to align to his will. He must have been a man of prayer and God’s word. The two position a person to hear from God.  Faith comes by hearing God (Romans 10:17). Acting on anything other than what God spoke is not faith but dangerous presumption. Abraham lived where there was coverage. Because he was within reach, he heard from God what culminates in him being father of nations not just father of Isaac.  He did not hear what he would have liked to hear but what he needed to hear.  ‘And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.’

>> Abraham responded without delay (Genesis 22: 3 – 9). The greatest threat to God’s best for you is not something you do not have but something you hold back from God. Like Abraham hold nothing you already have back.  Abraham offered what God told him at the place God specified without delay. Obey immediately because an opportunity will not exist forever.  Delayed obedience is often tantamount to disobedience. Abraham was faithful with one son. He gave up one son and reaped as many sons as stars. He loved the Lord with all in him and in his hands. He gave his best, He gave his first and last with Sarah, if you are faithful in a little God will trust you with much.  As a result, he became a blessing to nations. Will you place your Isaac on God’s altar?   It is not always easy. Abraham would have been misunderstood. Sharing in a church meeting what God had told him would have fast tracked him to the counselling room. He set himself apart even from the young man who assisted him. He was full of faith that God would not take Isaac away but would provide an offering (Gen 22:8). He told his assistants that he and Isaac were going to worship and would come back (Gen 22:5). He understood the heart of worship – giving the deepest, hardest, best, dearest and all to God to serve his purpose and pleasure.

>> Abraham retained connectivity (Genesis 22:10 -13). After getting instructions from God, Abraham remained tuned in during execution.  He maintained an excellent divine signal.   If you do not listen and obey, you will kill the sacrifice of your one and only. God only needed your willingness to point you to the sacrifice he provides.   God spoke again acknowledging his heart of worship and when he lifted up his eyes he saw a sacrifice (Genesis 22:13).  God provides seed and something to sacrifice.  God provided in a context of extraordinary sacrifice. When you also give your best to God you can lift your eyes and look around, listen, read - you will see divine opportunities.   Opportunities take the quality of the offering. They are as deep as your sacrifice and obedience.  God has lined up opportunities that include:

-          To know God better.  A better character and eternal perspective is to be desired, more than getting a job, material things, and earthly gain.  Look around for opportunities to know Christ, to find and fan your fire for God. Opportunity to saturate your heart with Gods word, to walk in fullness of the Spirit, to love him more, to know him better,  and to worship more effectively. May bowing at his feet be the  highest achievement in 2014

-          For personal growth. Look around for opportunities not only to grow spiritually but generally to include body, soul and socially as well. Learn new skills,  develop competencies,  a skill, a trade, connect with someone, travel/exposure,  etc

-          To serve and make a difference. Look around and see soul winning, disciple making and wealth creation opportunities.  You will find opportunities to solve problems and meet needs. You will see grace for productivity not just consumption. Look out for opportunities to give and not just to receive.

Prophetic Word

It is a year of greater fruitfulness (Gen. 26:13, 22). All you need is God. It is a year to bless his heart. ‘I bless you Lord’ is the highest form of prayer. As you major in praise, you will testify of his wonders every moment and every day. Fix your eyes on him. Kneel before him and you will stand before anything else.  Let go of past baggage, failures, and hurts. Say yes to the invitation to come boldly to the throne of grace (Heb 4:16; Heb 10:19-20, Rom 8:15, Eph. 3:12). God has prepared enough grace and mercy for your needs. Say yes to the commission to be ambassador of the great I AM. Your answer will come speedily without struggle. There will be no more delays. You are planted on the mountain of his inheritance and in his sanctuary (Exodus 15:17). God is opening double doors, straightening crooked paths and breaking the gates of bronze and bars of iron (Isa 45:1-3). It is your season. God is never late and he never fails.

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 

God's Right Hand

God's Right Hand

Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46 "And He shall set the sheep on the RIGHT HAND, but the goats on the LEFT. Then shall the King say unto them on His RIGHT HAND, Come, ye blessed of My Father...then shall He say also unto them on the LEFT HAND, Depart from Me, ye cursed!"

Hand of favour and verity. Psalm 111:7 - "The works of HIS HANDS are verity and judgment." It appears his right hand is for verity and the left for judgement.  In dealing with his people God is right handed.

Hand of trust and privilege. Ephesians 1:19-21, Col 3:1-3 - A  person of high rank who put someone on his right hand gave him equal honour with himself and recognized him as possessing equal dignity and authority. Here we see God exalting Jesus above all others by seating Him at the right hand of the Father where we sit with/in him. You can face one side and trust him with your back and the rest - what you cannot see and where you are not present.

Hand of joy. Psalm 16:11  - Thou wilt show  me the path  of life : in thy presence  is fullness  of joy  ; at thy right hand  there are pleasures  for evermore . In his presence, there is joy, boundary in pleasant places, refuge, preservation, victory. The Lord shows path of life – Direction,  guidance, correction, purpose, portion and how to live.

Hand of victory. Exodus 15:16 -Thy right hand , O LORD , is become glorious  in power : thy right hand , O LORD , hath dashed in pieces  the enemy .

Hand of salvation. Psalm 17:7 Show thy marvellous loving kindness , O thou that savest  by thy right hand  them which put their trust  in thee from those that rise up  against them.

Hand of sustenance and strength. Psalm 18:35 - Thou hast also given  me the shield  of thy salvation : and thy right hand  hath holden me up , and thy gentleness  hath made me great .

Hand of favour and deliverance. Psalm 44:3 - For they got  not the land in possession  by their own sword , neither did their own arm  save  them: but thy right hand , and your arm , and the light  of thy countenance , because you have favour  unto them.

Hand of upliftment and sustenance. Psalm 63:8 - My soul  follows hard after  thee: thy right hand upholds  me.

Hand of Divine action in your favour. Psalm 74:10,11 - O God , how long shall the adversary  reproach ? shall the enemy  blaspheme  thy name for ever ? Why withdraws  thou thy hand , even thy right hand ? pluck  it out of  thy bosom.  Why are you not taking action

Hand of answer. Psalm 108:16 - That thy beloved  may be delivered : save  with thy right hand , and answer  me.

Hand of revival. Psalm 138:7 - Though I walk  in the midst of trouble , thou wilt revive  me: thou shalt stretch forth  thine hand  against the wrath  of mine enemies , and thy right hand shall save  me.

Hand of leadership and guidance. Psalm 139:10 - Even there shall thy hand lead  me, and thy right hand shall hold  me.

Hand of righteousness and help. Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will STRENGTHEN thee; yea, I will HELP thee; yea, I will UPHOLD thee with the RIGHT HAND of My righteousness

Hand of valiant works. Psalms 118:15-16 - The voice of REJOICING and SALVATION in the tabernacles of the righteous: the RIGHT HAND of the Lord doeth valiantly. The RIGHT HAND of the Lord is exalted"

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 

Blessed Appearance

Blessed Appearance

2 Chronicles 20:14-22 

When the nation of Israel were faced with a  life threatening situation when a coalition of hostile nations advanced to attack. What made the difference was the Spirit of God who came upon Jehaziel. When you receive God’s blessed assurance and you adhere to it by faith, God’s presence comes.  God is always with his people but shows up or manifests by evidently doing something to encourage them or to meet their needs. Jehaziel brought a prophetic word of hope and military intelligence that strengthened the people of God.

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD to you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God‘s.  To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 

The word turned them from despair to loud praise and boldness. When you bow to God you will stand before anything else. Bowing at his feet is the highest place humanity can attain. Led by the Kohathites they stood up from despair to clarion praise and display of boldness. They rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and marched against their enemies encouraging one another - Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.  King Jehoshaphat who was clearly inspired to provide leadership appointed singers to the LORD. They sang praises of God’s unending mercy and the beauty of his holiness.  As they broke into song God who earlier appeared in word now appeared in action – He miraculously ambushed the hostile nations and defeated them.  

God has welcomed you into his sanctuary where you experience his manifest and active presence. In Christ, you cannot enjoy his presence if he is not appearing tangibly. Jacob exclaimed ‘surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not!’ (Genesis 28:16).  You live with God and build a sanctuary for him through praise (2 Chronicles 5:13). He provides shelter, solace, daily supplies and shares meals. You sit with him in his lounge for refreshing conversations. When he appears, you can hear him, see him, touch him, smell him and feel him. You can taste and see that he is good (Psalm 34:8).

God’s appearance is the result of the covenant with him. His desire is to be with you and for you to be with him. God’s appearance is our means for achievement. Cry for the revelation of his glory. ‘O Lord  GOD , thou hast begun  to shew  thy servant  thy greatness , and thy mighty  hand : for what God  is there in heaven or in earth , that can do  according to thy works , and according to thy might (Deut 3:24)?’  The show of his glory in daily life, which culminates with his second coming, is the believers’ present and ultimate victory. How sweet when as is often the case, Christ  suddenly appears when needed, just like he will in the end when he returns. His appearance is our sure hope. That is what breaking of bread celebrates. He has appeared, is appearing everyday,  and shall appear again. God not only appears to his people but through his people to communities. The community of believers is Christ incarnate. 

Three secrets for his appearance:

>> Silence.  Silence tunes into God’s voice.  Seek the awareness of God’s presence by consecrating yourself to God and silencing competing voices.  Shut out strange voices that cause fear to hear the inspiring still small voice.  Speak and act what God is saying. Even when you see walls and threats, you do not have to say and do all the things you ever imagine. If you did that always, where would you be?  Jehaziel heard and pronounced the voice of God in the midst of the enemy advance (2 Chronicles 20:14).

 >>Song of praise ... hear and proclaim  the still voice of God. Praise brings the awareness of God. That is how Jehoshaphat won (2 Chronicles 20:14-22). The battle is the Lord’s but the victory is yours.  And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who were come against Judah; and they were smitten.  That is also how Joshua overcame the walls of Jericho (Hebrews 11:30). 

>> Shout of praise … Led by the Kohathites they stood up from despair in shouts of praise. Shouts are a display of boldness. Shouts are a weapon of warfare. Shouts are an expression of faith. Shouts inspire those present and terrify the enemy. Shouts of faith touch God’s heart and hand.

>> Surrender… Trust and obey.  They believed God’s word and followed the instructions of his prophets (2 Chronicles 20:14-22). Obedience activates the power in God’s presence. The Holy Spirit has come therefore be a Spirit led believer (Acts 2). Pray in the Spirit until burden lifts. Church growth is less about numbers than it is about life and worship.

>>Shelter… They belonged to a community of believers and assembled in the name of Jehovah with one accord (2 Chronicles 20:14-22; Acts 2).  Agree in seeking God’s glory. Unity and agreement attracts his awareness and strength. It puts his right hand of favour to action. Ps 16:1 - in you I trust. I have taken shelter in you. Come close, lets close the gap and  share his presence.

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