Shepherds Guide (December 2012 Edition 12C)

Welcome to December 2012 Edition of Shepherd’s Guide. Without your support and the support of all those who pray with us as we pray, share with us as we share and send correspondences of encouragement, we would not be able to open eyes, minds and hearts to the word of God-the epitome of His Grace and Mercy condensed in the Holy Bible. Thank you!!!

And again, without your ongoing encouragement we would not be able to continue to propagate the striking experience and realization of Christ love and compassion for the world. Out of these needs and desires, the Shepherd’s Guide concept was conceived and born nearly four years ago.  It continues to remain a simple but powerful and engaging daily devotional and platform with a positive impact judging by your feedback. And with something for everyone, we hope to have your support to carry on into the future. God bless you all.

— Ivan Ukiwah (Founder Christian Drive Network UK)

CONTACT E-MAIL: Christiandrive Network (CDN) strives for complete accuracy but, mistakes do sometimes slip in. If you spot any error, please email: cdnshepherdsguide@gmail.com with the devotional and date as the subject line. God bless you.

December 1-3 2012  LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE THE GOD-COLOURS

There is so much exposure these days; right now we are in an era of ‘self media marketing’ or ‘social networking and instant communication’. An era where people are show-casing their skills and talents so it’s not out of place to see stuffs like-music videos, short movies, commercials on YouTube, Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, Twitter, Xanga and other social networking sites. People are putting themselves on YouTube, because they feel really confident in what they are doing, they regurgitate their skills and talents, patronising others in a bid to sell whatever they have at all cost no matter the outcome ignoring the possibility of intimidation that may result in eventuality of a compromising and inappropriate images, statements and information. They are fuelled by the number of hits (popularity with people). Thanks to social networking sites, meeting someone in person is now a thing of the past, making friends and renewing old acquaintances is easy. Poking has become the new hand shake.

Matthew 5:14-15 echoes a similar rendition and tactics Jesus said “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Here is another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

We are in the business of leading others in a crooked and depraved generation (Philippians 2:15) by shinning our lights and showing casing the richness of His glory through Jesus Christ, seeking imaginative ways to effuse the richness of Christ and his light in us and providing lifeboats in the form of leading them to Christ. We must be imaginative, we must pray and we should ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and direction and in the ways to bring out or effuse the God-colours to the world. The Bible said in Proverbs 4:18 ‘The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day’

Dearly beloved, You are the light bringing out God-colours in the world. May you shine even brighter this day and in the forthcoming days and may your light be a lifeboat and the spiritual ‘satnav’ to  many that come your way in Jesus Name Amen.

Go unwrap your light, you are on top of the world, be ecstatic about it start show casing the beauty of your light for others to see and pray they experience it, so they may become blameless and pure children of God. Don’t discard your obligation be alive with your light let it shine even when it’s unappreciated, remember it’s unquenchable and it cannot be hidden…..

God Bless You, keep effusing your light till we meet again on this platform

December 4-6 2012  He who knees before God can Stand before Anyone

In my study of the Book of Daniel, the twenty seventh of the sixty-sixth Books of the Bible, I was greatly intrigued, influenced and obliged by the character, faith, the principles and personality of this intellectually confident young man called Daniel. Perhaps, I was more intrigued by his consistency in adherence to his values, moral and ethical principles of his relationship with God, and how he showcased courage, wisdom and understanding in the face of an impending danger.

My study of this noble, stately character Daniel, inspired great admiration for him. The more I studied Daniel, the more I marvelled; Daniel was a man full of wisdom and understanding. It will be utterly magnificent for me to make a few references here in my introduction in order for you to forge a robust understanding of Daniel, as you move forward steadily in your study of Daniel. And I sincerely hope this will be the correct approach, to give an earnest understanding of the subject as you read and perhaps rock your confidence in God.

The Bible in Daniel 6:11 said ‘When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously’

Did the new decree stop Daniel from praying? Was Daniel disturbed? Was his confidence in God damaged? Did Daniel change his prayer routine to accommodate the request of others to please them? No! We sometimes accommodate others just to please them at the expense of our relationship and fellowship with God.

The Bible said Daniel played a key role in the kingdom; Darius decided it would be good to appoint 120 satraps (or commissioners) to rule throughout the kingdom and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.

Daniel distinguished himself amongst the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom

In actual sense Daniel understood why the royal statute was signed into law. He was clever, likeable and superior in every sense than his peers, his abilities and wisdom was beyond comprehension. They had concluded that Daniels abilities and wisdom was coming from God- the irrevocable fountain of all exceptional supernatural wisdom.

Daniel was unperturbed, however, he was keen to resolve whatever it was on his kneels before God with an irrevocable fixation on God and God alone. Hence, his continued preoccupation with prayer without a sprinkle of fear, in Daniel 6:11, this was an attitude that blotted and helped build his personality, his abilities and wisdom. That’s precisely what God expect us to do while we are waiting for His help to come. We have a key part to play in the transformation of our situation or whatever challenge or circumstances we may be facing.

There is no challenge that prayer annot defy, especially when reinforced with robust faith and fellowship with God. This was Daniels’ strength. He resisted, opposed and defied the new decree with an exceptional boldness, because of his relationship with God. 

Sometimes we obey others unquestioningly even when it is obvious what they are asking us to do is against our faith walk. But thank God for Daniel, he was able to distinguish himself as a prayer warrior and a ‘boat-rocker’ regardless of the consequences.  

Daniel mounted a robust defence against the royal statute and the decree forbidden any one to pray or make petition to God. Daniel 6:11 ‘Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God’

Daniel maintained his cool composure and combative prayer lifestyle despite the reality and level of the threat he faced. The essence of prayer is to take our minds off the nightmare of our challenges and surrender all to God. The essence of prayer is to acknowledge the superiority God over our situation. Prayer is essentially a call for God’s supernatural intervention.

Daniel was a man of prayer, this was an attitude he maintained – an intense prayer lifestyle, the more we pray the more we see the hands of God in our challenges. The intensity of Daniels prayer is evident in Daniel 6:10, perhaps another one of his most appealing attributes.

Daniel was a man publicly celebrated because of his relationship with God. Obviously his unbroken prayer routine, his steely determination in spite the new decree and his moral glow and wisdom are all traceable to his faithfulness to God. He who kneels before God can Stand before Anyone. The heart of the King is like a stream of waters in the hands of God, and he turns it wherever he chooses. Proverbs 21:1

December 7-8 2012  ALL THESE HE DID FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION

His love for sinners was tried and tested, his affection (love, care, tenderness) and compassion was demonstrably overwhelming. He maintained that love and compassion before Calvary, on the way to Calvary and after.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, (Isaiah 53:3)

If you loved the Lord Jesus Christ, surely you would reflect on how he was despised and rejected, how we turned away from him in horror and contempt just like Peter denied Christ three times. We would remember the account of how Jesus took up our infirmities and carried the burdensome weight of our sorrows, for our justification. How he was delivered to be afflicted for our dreadful sins, how he was grievously and consistently scourged with the most dreadful instrument of torture and how he was subjected to scores of unimaginable things on his way to Calvary. Better still is the character of the compassionate Jesus the Bible in Matthew 8:17 said “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

As believers in Christ, if we (Christians) who are called by his name verily surely love Christ we should reflect on and appreciate how he got us the credentials of justification, hence 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” remember the image of the bleeding Christ how he was beaten and what his stripes gave us. How he had taken our sins and suffered mercilessly for them as if he was the worst of mortals.

It is difficult to argue against or even tell how we should celebrate Christ this Easter, nevertheless we must remember to show our highest gratitude this season as we celebrate him in the most estimable way possible, please don’t ferry off to celebration without this fragment of the scripture in mind Isaiah 53:5 “…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. So Easter time is a time for some deep soul searching, a time to celebrate, appreciate and show gratitude, a time to return to the Father through Christ (the way and the truth and the life) like the prodigal son returned to his father. The most striking and promising element of this period of Easter is the LOVE of Christ: his death for our justification and his resurrection for our hope and life eternal with him and the Father.

December 9-11 2012  JESUS “IF YOU ABIDE IN ME…” POWER TO CHANGE THE AGENDA 

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

It is not what you go through in life that matters, what matters is how and where you seek solutions to change the agenda of our circumstances when you go through them. Again, our personal perspective is not what matters, what matters is the scale of our faith, using the tools of the living word of God to rebuild and reinforce the chemistry of our relationship with God.

You may feel God is unsympathetic towards you in that decimating valley of multilayered afflictions. It’s quite the opposite because we sometimes blame God; when all we have done is deliberately minimising or neglecting God or even removing God from the equation of our situation. God is always there with us, through the good, happy, sad and bad times no matter what we think. He said I will never leave or forsake you. We may sometimes be alive to the fact that we are lonely in certain situations because we are conscious of the extent of the problems which tends to conceal the truth and the knowledge we know about God. Remember Paul and Silas how they were thrown into jail beaten, battered and chained, remember Joseph in that pit before been sold to the Egyptian; Remember Esther an orphan in captivity. Remember Apostle Paul. Remember how they never for once lurched, recoiled or flinched from their faith and how their later report lent credence to this view. They changed the agenda of their days by seeking God, seeking, rebuilding and reinforcing every substance of their relationship with God thereby minimizing the impact of whatever they were going through.  

Notice this, it’s our approach that is spiritually flawed; it’s our approach that has failed to get God’s resounding endorsement and yield results. Jesus said “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you”

You must have the COURAGE to abide and shake off the defeated mindset, to ask whatever you wish. You may be broken and scattered in many places…Jesus said abide, set your affections on him…help is on its way. COURAGE is the brave choice you need to reach your break through to avoid and overcome the unnecessary diversions thrown into your storyline. Joseph had loads of obstacles before he became the Prime minister in a foreign land (Egypt). Read Genesis 45:3-5 Joseph said “God did send me before you to preserve life” Courage dilutes hatred Genesis 50:20 He said “But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring it to pass as it is this day to save …”

GOD CAN BECAUSE HE IS GOD AND GOD IS ABLE BECAUSE HE IS STILL GOD….But first, we must reach out to Him, we must build the bridge of Trust, Faith and Confidence in Him and crush or decimate our unfruitful casual attitude of doubt – the multilayered firewall between us and God. We must please God with our faith to get his endorsement and obtain from Him… Hence Jesus said John 15:7 “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

We must abide and have the nourishing experience from the doctrine of Christ to flourish in him. GOD CAN AND GOD IS ABLE IF WE ABIDE AND DOUBT NOT…. To abide in Christ is to be united to Christ, to be preserved by our union with him; to have our lives regulated by the doctrine of Christ suffer and control our conduct and affections

December 12-14 2012    LET YOUR RESPONSE BE EMPOWERED BY FAITH

God is not only interested in the facts of your circumstances, but how you respond to those facts using his word. When tempestuous wind blows, when mischievous enemy invade the privacy of your habitation-your fair abode of delight, peace, joy and happiness with the ocean of grief, how do you respond? The Bible acknowledges the day of adversity (difficulties, hardship, and distress) do come… mark this in Proverbs 24:10 ‘If you falter in times of trouble…’(NIV Bible). What matters is our response in such periods marked by hardship.

Job 4:5 ‘But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed’

Note this; it is blatantly obvious the day of adversity is not a time of peace or reflection; at such times let us not give way to despair. The enemy is consciously on the move (to-and-fro like a roaring lion actively seeking), desperately looking for whom to engage, who to steal from and who to pepper with fear. Sometimes, the sole aim of the enemy is to take us through that frustrating landscape and valley of affliction just for us to deny the existence of God. But what matters in such fleshly impoverished, deep depression of the spirit moments of anguish, heaviness and trepidation is our response. Bible says in Romans 8:15 ‘For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear…’ Knowing this therefore, it is significantly important for us to walk in the understanding of God’s grace and in the understanding of what received through Christ. In the bounty (abundance and generosity) of His grace we are strengthened, empowered to stand foes and dangers; by the justification of His grace we are powered up under trials and persecution. What better way to respond than a quick delve into His word and basket of grace with faith? Delving into His word re-energizes us against foes and dangers. We are remarkably and sufficiently strengthened and refreshed by His Grace. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Halleluiah! Our mission is to stand still with bravery and bravado when the tempestuous wind blows and respond accurately with word of God.

Stand still, study the truth (the word of God) and apply it to sandstorm in your situation. 2 Timothy 1:7 says ‘For the Spirit which God has given us is not a spirit of cowardice (fear), but one of power and of love and of sound judgement’ Especially Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions. Let the word of God show forth and reinforce your courage and embolden your defiant determination to overcome. 

I could imagine the defiant determination in the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years; she said “If I may touch his garment…I will be made whole…” She must have been an extremely brave woman after spending all she had. Again, in an unconventional and slightly strange behaviour, she spent her time following Jesus’ entourage, despite her growing fame albeit the stigma she remained defiant. Her mission was to put an end to the challenging medical tragedy that had become her trademark for 12 years. What was her response? Impressive….she said ‘I may touch his garment.’ And in the soundness of her mind she pressed through the multitude of persecution and multitude of on-lookers dauntlessly but with tremendous courage and reached out to Jesus’ garment. 

The Bible said David approached Goliath and said to him, “You come against me with sword, shield, and spear but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts… This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands…”-Wow! David’s eccentric response and formidable courage must have been overpowering for Goliath. We must learn to break restrictions and censorship limiting the word of God by our courage and our responses. Even in the roughest and toughest situations or circumstances, it is important we show forth the God colours in our responses.

December 15-16 2012  A FAITH THAT FILTERS DOUBT

Faith is a logical affirmation of our trust or confidence in God in accordance with principles of God and His words. Faith is all about us re-scripting and reprogramming our lives in harmony with the spiritual principles that governs the new creation. Contrary to this remarkable theme, is see it, feel it and experience before you actually believe it. This is not Faith. Faith is our commitment to trust and believe before manifestation. Faith makes us certain of the realities we do not see through the expanded perspective of the principles and values God’s word. The more clearly we understand the power of this simple tool and visualize them in rich details, the more convinced we are of the reality of things which we do not see.

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Faith is a simple walk with God, pleasing Him and adopting the genetics of His character, style and vocabulary while consistently immersed in the pleasure and empowerment of the word of God.     

 When faith is strong and unshakable, it  filters doubts, diminishes the sense of reality in our situation and transforms our experience through the living word of God. Remember how Abraham, when hope was dead within him because Sarah’s biological clock was ticking and all scientific, medical evidence showed contrary, but he went on hoping in faith, believing that he would become “the father of many nations”. Hebrews 11:11 ‘It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.’

Faith requires an unusual response.

The whole key here is instead of my normal response, faith requires that I re-script and confront my situation using the word of God to handle the situation. You and I have the capacity to change things, our capability is always there, what we have got to do is put ourselves into states where it is accessible. Jesus helped encourage his disciples, to use this affirmation throughout his earthly ministry. It is like a mustard seed He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

It is the advancement or progression of our faith that grabs God’s attention to change the timetabling of our breakthrough. True faith requires that we believe, trust and continue to steadfastly believe with increased measure when the heat is turned on us by circumstances or situation.

True faith is what we need to resurrect hope. Basically, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Hearing the word and mixing it with a sufficient blend of faith is needed to keep hope alive. The margin of our hearing (listening) must be sufficiently complimented with a collateral measure of faith. 

December 17-18 2012   LET YOUR RESPONSE BE EMPOWERED BY FAITH

God is not only interested in the facts of your circumstances, but how you respond to those facts using his word. When tempestuous wind blows, when mischievous enemy invade the privacy of your habitation-your fair abode of delight, peace, joy and happiness with the ocean of grief, how do you respond? The Bible acknowledges the day of adversity (difficulties, hardship, and distress) do come… mark this in Proverbs 24:10 ‘If you falter in times of trouble…’(NIV Bible). What matters is our response in such periods marked by hardship.

Job 4:5 ‘But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed’

Note this; it is blatantly obvious the day of adversity is not a time of peace or reflection; at such times let us not give way to despair. The enemy is consciously on the move (to-and-fro like a roaring lion actively seeking), desperately looking for whom to engage, who to steal from and who to pepper with fear. Sometimes, the sole aim of the enemy is to take us through that frustrating landscape and valley of affliction just for us to deny the existence of God. But what matters in such fleshly impoverished, deep depression of the spirit moments of anguish, heaviness and trepidation is our response. Bible says in Romans 8:15 ‘For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear…’ Knowing this therefore, it is significantly important for us to walk in the understanding of God’s grace and in the understanding of what received through Christ. In the bounty (abundance and generosity) of His grace we are strengthened, empowered to stand foes and dangers; by the justification of His grace we are powered up under trials and persecution. What better way to respond than a quick delve into His word and basket of grace with faith? Delving into His word re-energizes us against foes and dangers. We are remarkably and sufficiently strengthened and refreshed by His Grace. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Halleluiah! Our mission is to stand still with bravery and bravado when the tempestuous wind blows and respond accurately with word of God.

Stand still, study the truth (the word of God) and apply it to sandstorm in your situation. 2 Timothy 1:7 says ‘For the Spirit which God has given us is not a spirit of cowardice (fear), but one of power and of love and of sound judgement’ Especially Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions. Let the word of God show forth and reinforce your courage and embolden your defiant determination to overcome. 

I could imagine the defiant determination in the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years; she said “If I may touch his garment…I will be made whole…” She must have been an extremely brave woman after spending all she had. Again, in an unconventional and slightly strange behaviour, she spent her time following Jesus’ entourage, despite her growing fame albeit the stigma she remained defiant. Her mission was to put an end to the challenging medical tragedy that had become her trademark for 12 years. What was her response? Impressive….she said ‘I may touch his garment.’ And in the soundness of her mind she pressed through the multitude of persecution and multitude of on-lookers dauntlessly but with tremendous courage and reached out to Jesus’ garment. 

The Bible said David approached Goliath and said to him, “You come against me with sword, shield, and spear but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts… This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands…”-Wow! David’s eccentric response and formidable courage must have been overpowering for Goliath. We must learn to break restrictions and censorship limiting the word of God by our courage and our responses. Even in the roughest and toughest situations or circumstances, it is important we show forth the God colours in our responses.

December 19 2012   WOW! THIS IS MY CONFESSION

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV Bible)

God’s grace is all I need when I hear the voice of my body’s limitations; hence I will continue to pray and fill up in my flesh with what is still lacking by appreciating the gift of God-the strength of Christ moving in my weakness. Peradventure the weaker I get, the stronger I become through him that has lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, to the presence and glory of the Father.  

I will continue to refrain from noticing or focusing on my impediments and the physical limitations of my ‘Adamic nature’ because Christ in me is the hope of glory.  I can do everything through the resurrected Christ who nevertheless strengthens me with power because he is risen, I am risen in him.

Hence, I lack nothing that the highly esteemed grace of God cannot give. I am unique and one of a kind because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I live not according to the ambitions of man but according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. I have a sound mind because I have received the Spirit of Adoption and I am led by the Spirit of the living God. I will stir up the gift of God which is in ME!

It is very important you acknowledge God’s grace daily and accentuate positivity, no matter the situation be bold when you step out, get going don’t look back until you reach your destination. Nevertheless go for it!

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…Ephesians 3:16