Shepherds Guide (January 2012 EDITION 12A)

 Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012 Edition of SHEPHERD’S GUIDE.  

Wow! It’s 2012…Let’s thank the covenant keeping God for keeping us, Lets thank the Merciful God for having mercy on You and I, for making it possible for us to see another year 2012…..remember Zechariah 4:6 its not by our power nor by our might  …we shall by the grace of God see the end of this year 2012. May the LORD keep You, may the LORD preserve You.  May you continue to abound in the Hope that’s in Christ Jesus Amen.

Once Again Welcome to Shepherd’s Guide 2012….a calm, short and comprehensive Bible Study Daily Devotional Guide…Short and not too preachy….Shepherd’s Guide your steady reliable companion revealing and possessing the overwhelming Power and Love of Christ.  The purpose again is to strengthen, comfort and support one another through beautifully short and motivational verses and inspirational fragments of the Holy Bible– – Ivan Ukiwah (Founder/Coordinator Christian Drive Network)

 

 JANUARY 1^ST – 5TH 2011      FAITH – A REAL CHALLENGE

Our Faith is a challenge, we knew it would be and that’s how we should see it. Why? You might ask. Well because the Christian walk is a faith based walk – on a practical level liberation from our old sinful nature and lifestyle as long as we continue in the word of God. Hence this very refreshing verse of scripture in Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” And again another suitable and very reassuring scripture in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 4:8 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” So how long before we snap? No we aren’t no matter the depth or height of troubles or how hard pressed we are because God is never going to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear or endure. NLT translation puts it this way “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” This is particularly reassuring because of its simplified nature.

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful”

How much we are willing to travel in our faith-walk depends on how much we are willing and prepared to stomach while we are waiting on the LORD – Hence Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” An outstanding or unusual (extraordinary) faith produces an outstanding or unusual result.

To have as successful faith-walk we must maintain a committed relationship with God in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses – 2 Corinthian 6:4. And again, according to His desire not our desire. Faith walk is living in the promise, expectation and fulfillment of the God’s word. A strong belief in grounds (divine power) for feeling hopeful about the future because the Bible said faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now faith is not mental delusion, presumption or self-deception as many may think, faith is a simple constructive walk with God who gives grounds for expectations on the basis of His steadfast warm affection, unfailing allegiance and loving kindness to those who are birthed into the body of Christ (the new creation)

True faith requires that we believe, trust and continue to steadfastly believe and look up to God in great endurance; in troubles and disappointments, in hardships and distresses even when our situation is not looking like it’s going to change. True faith is the resurrection of hope by faith when hope dies. Remember how Abraham’s faith stood out amongst the faithful, despite obvious circumstances he was seen as a trailblazer for many in his generation and our generation, his faith stood out even it was obvious his hope of ever having a child birthed by Sarah was very slim because her biological clock was ticking this grilled Abraham’s faith and whatever hope he had left in him. But Abraham refrained from doubting God, alienated his thoughts and trusted God implicitly despite the fact that all scientific, medical evidence showed contrary, but he went on hoping in faith, believing that he would become “the father of many nations”.  We must learn to allow God’s word to override any report we have or have been given, override any certificate of inadequacy or any source of disappointment. Always strive to alienate doubt and  work on learning to trust God, He said in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Remember it’s never hopeless with God there is always a Future. Happy New Year!

JANUARY 6^{TH – 7TH} 2011 MAY THE LORD KEEP AND PRESERVE YOU THIS NEW YEAR

There is not anything more important in the New Year than dwelling in the presence and the secret place of the most High God. No rational spirit filled Christian will think otherwise, Joshua said as for me and my house we will serve the LORD. This is a particularly refreshing decision because the reality is the unprecedented and incredible protection you get from having a relationship and serving the LORD. Joshua preferred the safe perimeters and presence of the Most High God, hence he highlighted the need, the obligation and responsibility to continue the relationship even when serving the LORD seemed undesirable to others. Hey, it’s not in our interest not to serve the LORD, without a shadow of doubt we can’t survive or manage against the odds even if we try on our own. Joshua understood the importance of dwelling in the secret place. Serving the LORD is a deserved bit of glory for us too in a world overshadowed by problems and adverse circumstances. May the LORD keep and preserve you under His shadow this New Year in Jesus’ Name Amen! Remember: A shadow screens, cloaks, shield and shelter me from the sun-the scorching troubles of life; it hides-conceals, masks and veils me from my adversaries, my sad and unrepentant enemies; my defeated and disappointed foes. How joyful? I live in an exquisitely friendly fortress, not some delusional worldly protection and false security guaranteed by men that trembles when cruel enemies sound their trumpets.

JANUARY 8TH – 9TH 2012     NEW YEAR RESOLUTION …..NOT BY MY POWER NOR BY MY MIGHT

Wow first week is gone already! Millions would have by now broken or abandoned their New Year Resolutions in this short passage of time, despite trying desperately hard to stick to what was plainly not a valid argument or resolution. The Bible in Zechariah 4:6 says “It’s not by our power nor by our might” but surely and assuredly by the Grace of the Merciful God from whom our strength distils…transporting us in the way we should go, approving us, commissioning and energizing us in the things of the Spirit. Now because we have been set apart, as holy and consecrated infused with the gifts and graces of Him who has called us into his marvellous light we are able to start as we mean to go…because we have the person of the Holy Spirit within us, in-dwelling and bringing to our remembrance all things (John 14:15-17, 25-26). Remember, without God it is impossible to continue as you mean to go…because Him alone bestows the Grace and the strength to navigate our ways through the dark and insecure valleys of life, the weird and dark moments of reality…not by our Power nor by our Might says the Lord of hosts.

 JANUARY 2012  10^TH -11^th MODELING YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE NEW YEAR

The LORD said “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts”

This should be a framework for us to build on, modeling our thoughts constructive in the hope of building up a better lifestyle and successful Christian faith walk. Last year may not have gone quite successfully according to plan, why not try something different? Reinforce your words and thoughts with something that has power to change situations and circumstances.  

 For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

January 12^TH -13^TH 2012 O Give Thanks Unto The LORD – Psalm 118:1

Even if something happened perhaps a personal tragedy and robbed your joy, see through the jaded negativity – the cynical atmosphere and the disparaging motives of the Devil and believe God for His integrity and professed motives….He said”I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 These words are very penetrating and probably very inspirational scripture if you are in a situation described in my opening sentence above. Get ready to look up and give Him thanks!  

And again in Jeremiah 29:11 we have another amazing scriptural verse that will give you the grace to look up and give thanks. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

There is always a seed of promise in every word of God-this is very real and we know this by reading Isaiah 55:8-11. I’ll like you to pause for a minute because it requires some mulling over (a deep reflection), meditate on this short but powerful promise in Hebrews 13:5 this should rekindle your hope, raise your expectations and perhaps it could cut through the atmosphere of cynicism and despair impeding and enveloping the active site of your faith.

Psalm 118:1 O’ Give unto the LORD. Give thanks because the LORD our God will provide a way back to complete restoration of your joy. Don’t give up the required rituals of thanking Him, make it a commitment, reclaim your faith corner and position in the Hall of Praise And Thanks Giving. As a matter of fact, it’s the devils wish to create a cynical feeling of distrust to stop the flood of Praise and Thanksgiving, but your consistent pro-activity (read Psalm 118:12 and Psalm 118:17) and voluntary sense of purpose should keep the flood gate open. God bless you.

JAN 14^TH -15^TH 2012       WAITING ON GOD – DOING IT DIFFERENTLY IN 2012

What does it mean to wait on God? How often do we hear Christians, Pastors and great men of God use the phrase ‘Waiting on God’? How important is it to wait on God? What are the steps to waiting on God? What would you do differently this year 2012 while waiting on God?

Hezekiah’s life is a good reference point and a good example if we are to fully understand the phrase waiting on God. They that wait on the LORD shall not be put to shame. Whenever we are fixated on the LORD the unstoppable forces of heaven are put to work for our sake, our going out and coming in becomes His responsibility, He re-orientates His favour to meet our expectations. He strengthens and emboldens us to face all shades of challenges as they come because He is God and they that wait on Him shall renew their strength.  It is often hard to wait because most times our ability to wait is wasted on analyzing our situations, sometimes because of our untrustworthy commitment and distractions we miss specific instructions while we are busy analyzing, building and creating pictures of how redundant we are instead of listening to hear from God, seeking His face and waiting on the Lord because of the conflicting feelings flooding through us. However, we must remember that WAITING fine tunes our spiritual antenna for better reception of things of the spirit and minimizes our chances of focusing on challenges and maximizing or creating more opportunity and the grace to look up to God. Please read Isaiah 55:8-9The NIV Bible says ‘But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength…’

While waiting we must learn to avoid the ghost of our worries and all invasive distractions tending to redirect our attention by a torrent of thoughts which are counterproductive to the objective of the exercise.    
As you wait on the LORD our God, He will strengthen you. The Bible said “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

JANUARY 16TH -18TH 2012   YOU WILL NEED THESE SIX THINGS IN 2012

As you enter the month of January 2012 here are six of the things you will need to stand out gracefully in your faith walk and continue with a blend of confidence as you mean to go….

1. There will be need for prayer – for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers (1 Peter 3:12)

2. There will be need for study – continue to study to show yourself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)

3. There will be need to avoid distractions – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober 1 Thessalonians 5:6, (Colossians 4:2)

4. There will be need to comfort one another – Finally brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified even as it is with you  (2 Thessalonians 3:1 and James 5:16)

5.  There will be the need to forgive – Jesus did practice forgives and instructed us to forgive those who have hurt us (Matthew 6:14-15)

6. There will be need to for us to uphold our faith irrespective or regardless of the ongoing global drama – even so faith if it hath no work is dead, be a hearer and doer of the word (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:23, 1 Peter 1:7)

 

January 19^th – 20^th 2012     THE WAITING HEROES (Part 1)

When you are passionate about renewing your strength in the LORD then you should have no problem understanding the standard formula or the rule of thumb – in Isaiah 40:31 these are the standard guidepost or principle that provides guidance when trusting and hoping on the LORD. The phrase “wait upon” is slightly uncomfortable especially considering our culture and the precarious experience and pleasure of the golden age of technology were everything happens at the push of a button. We get really uncomfortable – with a strand of anxiety and stress even when waiting for 10-15 minutes in a queue in a bank or post office or even in a fast food joint. Waiting is an experience that sometimes leaves us with a bitter taste because things aren’t happening as quickly as we want- because we occasionally see this experience as a setback hence we fail to understand the valuable experience God wanted us to have.

 

JANUARY 21^ST – 23^RD   THE WAITING HEROES (Part 2)

Waiting is the gap between expectation and fulfilment, a period of transformation that’s met to refine who we are before we bounce back. Hence the Bible said “They that wait on the LORD shall not be put to shame” In my opinion if my strength is going to be renewed in the cause of waiting, then the chances are God is not in a rush, He maybe fuelling me in preparation for something valuable, perhaps valuable lessons God wants me to learn. The business of waiting is God’s – because the truth is He keeps us waiting in order to get us refined so we can appreciate the giver and have real fulfilment in His gift!  when you are back beneath the promises of His wings, think of nothing but your triumph, nothing but your fulfilment.  People sometimes miss the mark and jump on the bandwagon and deliberately get distracted because they soak up the problem rather focusing on God, the problem solver and the giver of fulfilment.

 

JANUARY 24^TH -27^TH  THE WAITING HEREOS (Part 3)

Waiting could be slow and painstaking hence Galatians 6:9 insists we should not be worried and weary about well doing; we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. The trouble is it is often hard to wait because most times our ability and spiritual enablement are wasted on analyzing our situations, in principle regurgitating the problems and pixilating our thoughts – thereby micro managing it for God thus creating pictures of how redundant God is in our situation.

The period between expectation and fulfillment is the time to fine tune our spiritual antennas for better reception of the things of the spirit, a time to discipline ourselves spiritually speaking to minimize the chances of focusing on challenges and redirect our focus on God. Remember He is a merciful God. He re-orientates His favour to meet our expectation and He strengthens and emboldens us to face challenges as they come because He is God and they that wait on Him shall renew their strength.

Queen Esther is a good example to set she waited on God, here are other examples remember Paul and Silas, remember Daniel in the lions, remember the many afflictions of Joseph and how Joseph kept trusting God, all of these did not happen overnight, it may sound uncomfortable, but He is God, we just need to be consistent. Luke 18:1 Jesus urged us to continue to pray and not give up.  We are not some hopeless folks; we have a merciful God who hears and listen. Hence 2 Corinthians 4:8 says “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;”

Remember to do it God’s way when you are waiting upon Him. God is not moved by the speed of our golden age of technology nor limited by the physical realities of our time constrained world – because His ways are not our ways. He operates outside the sequential perimeters of events and dictates of time hence He is timeless. The Eternal Rock of Ages!  

But Isaiah 55:8 (NIV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. If He is choosing to operate in a different way, different from what we anticipated and expected under which each person’s request is considered individual

 

 

JANUARY 28^TH -31^ST 2012     ARE YOU ANGRY AND THINKING OF GIVING UP? DON’T GIVE UP YET

O LORD how great Thou Art! My God My LORD righteous in all His ways, my mouth shall speak of Your praises O LORD my flesh shall bless Your Holy Name in all the Earth. How Great Thou Art!  Surely Your thoughts are NOT our thoughts neither are Your ways our ways saith the LORD – Isaiah 55:8-11. The healing of Naaman the captain of the host of the King of ancient Syria, The glamorous Mighty man of Valor but a Leper is not just the story of the healing of Naaman from his disease but it is a rare story of salvation and the way God operates. In 2 Kings 5:1-19 we saw how Naaman attempted to go by the “back door” in an unsuccessful attempt to receive healing. He was a man of great reputation and fame with historical links to the palace, Naaman wasn’t only conscious of his disease which had undermined his health and his status but was also conscious of what he wanted and how he wanted it done. But thank God for God, He is not a respecter of persons – Isaiah 55:8 says our ways are not His ways and our thoughts are not His thoughts. He is a sovereign God independent on man.

2 Kings 5:10 “And Elisha sent a messenger unto Naaman, saying, go and wash in Jordan seven times and thy flesh shall come again to thee and thou shall be clean” But Naaman was angry and went away saying, Behold, I thought he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and heal the leper. Naaman had prioritized his healing and the healing strategy, unfortunately many of us are in this situation, his overriding concern was seeing the Prophet performed the rituals (waving of his hand or touching of his forehead, perhaps the sprinkling of the olive oil or Holy Water). How God is planning to perform His miracles is up to God not us. Its right we deepen our involvement in knowing God, develop a robust relationship however the job is up to God. Our ways are not His ways! And the Bible said “And Naaman servant said to him my father, if the prophet had bid you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, Wash and be clean?”

Great is His counsel and mighty are His deeds. There is nothing He can’t do, He alone is God, faithful and loyal in his steadfast love. Remember Naaman?  His flesh was restored like that of a little child, and he was clean. Notice two things: Don’t give up yet, don’t prioritize your situation and override God’s instructions.  Secondly anger can pave the way for unnecessary delays in God’s plan.

 

FEB 1^ST -4^TH 2012    DON’T CAVE IN AND DON’T GIVE UP….HELP IS ON THE WAY

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. And in Isaiah 45:5 His limitless strength and infinite permutations of His many promises, rescue, relief and deliverance are unparalleled. 

God is undoubtedly who He says He is. His infinite strength lies in His compassionate, loving-kindness character and great Mercy. Remember because of His great love we are not consumed, His ubiquitous compassion never fails-They are new every morning. He is not out of touch with our problems, neither is He out of reach whenever we need Him. Our God is omnipresent

The Psalmist said “As for me I will call upon GOD and the LORD shall save me.”  When afflictions, trials and temptations, troubles and persecutions comes knocking at the door – we have a deliverer and a refuge in God. Hence the Psalmist said Deliver me O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. He is there to do what is best for us…He rightly told us so in Jeremiah 29:11 “He has plans to give us a hope and a future”  

So it is the mark of God’s compassion and mercy, if He has promised, then He will do it. He is our defence and our rock of refuge Psalm 94:22 (KJV). He can bring you through bizarre and ludicrous situations like He did in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Hopeless and incredulous challenges and situations faced by Paul and Silas in jail house. Remember Peter’s escape from Prison. God is there with you all the way no matter the situation or challenge you are stuck in or that which you think you won’t survive. He can make you comfortable in the most uncomfortable places, and give you peace in the midst of trauma. In the beginning it may not look like God is aware of what we are going through, the meltdown, the persecutions and all the afflictions,  it may not look like our prayers are being answered at all but note this God’s colossal presence is everywhere….Jesus himself said so, he said I will not leave you comfortless. You may have heard incredulous stories of salvation, healing and deliverance. How they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. Note this because the LORD is mindful of us He will not leave us hopeless. The Psalmist said in Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear; what man can do unto me.

Situation may roar in your face, don’t cave in and don’t give up. Hey, you may think you are in some imponderable situation, the worst possible situation you can imagine definitely not as bad as Job who lost everything! I mean everything! He had nothing left to live for. Valuable assets and properties, his wealth, his Children, Job had nothing left except the advice of his friends who wanted to exploit the loopholes in his afflictions even Job’s wife questioned Job’s integrity. His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9 (KJV) Job suffered multiple unimaginable string of afflictions, he was a broken man, I mean broken yet he believed God for a better day he manifestly believed…. weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Hey don’t pack your bags yet, help is on the way, perhaps you are involved in something too controversial or in a long-running battle with your boss, your business partner or your marriage partner or some sort of disappointments. The Psalmist said I cried unto the LORD and He heard me.  

May the LORD our God plead your cause, deliver you and quicken you according to His promise concerning you. God Bless you.