LOVE AND OBEY

“Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven”. A very well known part of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”. This statement is one of submission to a higher authority, one of obedience to a will that supersedes one’s own. This is one of the most powerful keys in the Kingdom of God – obedience.

Think about it, in any kingdom there are many bonds that hold the people together. Laws are a particularly strong bond, and without them a kingdom is no more than a collection of lawless people. For instance, all persons born or naturalized into the United Kingdom effectively sign up to uphold the laws that govern the kingdom. If you want to live peacefully in the UK – it makes sense to obey the laws. Lawfulness is a simple requirement for anyone wishing to remain in favour with the authorities.

In many ways the kingdom of God is similar – there are laws that define what citizens do and should not do. However, there is a key difference to how obedience works in God’s kingdom. The difference is in the motivation for obedience. In the UK or any other earthly kingdom, you “do” obedience because you “do” obedience.

Check this out though about God’s kingdom...

Matthew 22: 36-38 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment within the law? Jesus replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment”.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey my commands”

In God’s kingdom, obedience is a product of love. I do not have to “love” Queen Elizabeth or David Cameron to obey the laws of the UK. Even if I did love them, my obedience will not be seen as any different to that of a man who detests them.

In God’s kingdom, love rules – because love is the ultimate connection. Everything that God has given us – including the life of Christ – was given out of love (John 3:16). Obedience borne out of love is the key to unlocking the goodness of the Kingdom of God. It is the key to great joy and the full measure of God’s favour.

If God’s greatest will – as stated clearly by Jesus – is that we LOVE, and this love is the catalyst for obedience, we need, friends, to go beyond simply declaring ourselves as Christians, while still conforming to the rules of as world that has clearly gone out of kilter with God’s will.

No more trying to bend God to the will of man. Lets live the kingdom way!

I’ll stop here today – but will be back with more on obedience...

God bless you.

Psalm 23: Verse 1

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”

There is pure beauty in the opening verse of this wonderful psalm; there is also a humble confidence in the relationship between sheep and shepherd. David, the writer had in his youth kept sheep for his father Jesse and as such was well placed to write about the shepherd-sheep relationship he had with God. His understanding of the requirements as well as the position of both sheep and shepherd in this relationship is important.

Ownership Relationship:
The popular hymn “I am Thine O Lord, I have heard Thy voice...” clearly expresses that God owns us (psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness thereof...”). However, this verse of psalm 23 talks about David’s “ownership” of God, his Shepherd - looking at the relationship from the eyes of the sheep. (Psalm 67: 6 –NKJV “God, our own God, shall bless us” is another example of this special dual ownership relationship)

I am a son to my father and now a father to my sons and I have witnessed the beauty of a father-son relationship from both sides. The dual and mutual ownership between God and Man is a wisdom key to the operation of this most powerful relationship. Therefore, when your inner man cries out to God, identifying Him as “Jehovah Rohi” – “my Shepherd”, you activate the power of love from the shepherd to the sheep – the same all-encompassing, unconditional love that saw Him offer His life as ransom (John 10:11)

The Sheep:
Isaiah 53:6 says “We all, like sheep, have gone astray”. It is important to remember that sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for direction, support and protection. Being under the covering of Jesus, pulls us back from whatever trouble the world may throw at us, saves us from the plans of the evil one and sometimes even saves us from ourselves!

The Shepherd:
The attributes of a shepherd are central to the character of Jesus. The shepherd knows all his sheep, serves as their eyes when they cannot see, seeks out sustenance for them, protects them from the wolf and other perils, loves them, tends them, disciplines them, and dedicates himself to them.

Jesus, being one with the Father and the Holy Spirit – is in all things omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent – meaning all we require to fulfil the purpose for which we were created can be found in Him. He knows our needs before we are aware of them and meets them at the right moment.

Affirmation:
It is crucial to note that David was not being hopeful of the strength or nature of his relationship with God. “The Lord IS...” shows forth as a powerful affirmation of something he is in no doubt of. It is with the same affirmative intent and outlook, that he declares confidently that – because of this great relationship – he lacked nothing!

In like manner, I fully depend on Jehovah Rohi for everything. I know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). In doing so, I find that I have everything I need. Most especially, I have the full understanding that my life does not consist in the “things” that I possess, but that I will live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Friends, this is a wonderful position to be in. It is a liberating position, one where I know that I am secured by the will of God who created the heavens and the earth.

The contentment I have in the provision of God is not one that dampens my drive to continue working in purpose; it is not the crutch of a man not willing to work; it is the realization that I am covered – in all situations. It is the realization that in health, soundness of mind, purpose, ideas, skills, finance, family, career and ministry – I simply do not, cannot and will not lack anything.

Many of you reading this will know exactly what I write of, if you do not – I promise you that your life can be this way too. Paraphrasing Jesus...”The birds of the air neither sow nor reap – yet He feeds them; the lilies of the fields neither labour nor spin – yet they are arraigned in beauty...”

Remember, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him...” (1 Cor. 2:9)

• Assess your relationship with God today...
• Take up the sheep position...
• Make the kingdom and its righteousness your priority...

... and you shall not want for anything...

Yomi Odukoya

Seeking TRUE HELP

There are times in life when problematic situations arise. Some of the problems we face can only be resolved with abilities, authority or access that we do not have. At times like this, it is not uncommon to be served with a plethora of "help" options.

·         See your bank manager

·         See your legal adviser

·         I know a man who knows a dog

·         Call this number and ask for [name]

and the list goes on and on....

Some of these "help" options are in the "help industry" - to make a “quick buck”. This purpose distorts their ability to offer help effectively, sometimes making the situation worse than it was. On the other hand, there are some that are set up with nobler thoughts - good charities that are sometimes able to help and at other times unable to do so. Either way you look at it, "help" has become more of a lottery than a comforting certainty; more of a variable vision than a reassuring reality.

There are 5 types of “help that you do not need...

·         Help that fails

·         Help that quits

·         Help that is set up to help the help rather than the troubled

·         Help that will paper over the cracks caused by deeper issues

·         Help that ruthlessly exploits the desperate and needy

Friend, if there is anything making you uneasy, worried, sad, depressed, ill or trapped - you need help that is TRUE. TRUE HELP has ALL these characteristics -

Given Out of True Love -

·         Psalm 109:26 "Help me O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love".

·         Psalm 51:1 "Have mercy upon me O Lord, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion".

Allays Fear and Builds Confidence -

·         Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

·         Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?"

·         Psalm 138:6 "When I called you, You answered me; You made me bold and stouthearted"

Resolves the core issue - not just the symptoms -

·         Psalm 30:2 "O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me" Although David cried for help, the Lord knew exactly what he required and completed a healing process for him.

·         Psalm 31:22 "In my alarm I said 'I am cut off from your sight' - yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help". God knows and is able to fix the underlying cause of your troubles. 

Available today and on all tomorrows

·         Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and our strength - a very present help in times of trouble". The reassurance here is that there are no "Helpline closing hours" - True help is an omnipresent, omnipotent and powerful person.

·         Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever". It gives great comfort to know that the character of your helper is unchanging, dependable, reliable - in the same way as He was in the beginning, is now and forever shall be!

Has a Definite Source -

·         Psalm 121: 1 - 2 "I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and earth"

·         Isaiah 44:2 “This is what the Lord says- Hw who made you, who formed you in the womb and who will help you, Do not be afraid..."

Get True Help - Christ Jesus, who never fails, never disappoints... He is waiting, loaded with love, arms outstretched, power unlimited...for you!

God Bless you. Amen.

Yomi Odukoya