the transactional church

You get what you pay for. Those who give more money to the church are quickly identified and reserved a seat close to the man of cloth. They become instant friends and earn a name among the brethren: they are soon made the elders, the head of departments and from time to time in the pastor's sermon, they get their names mentioned as a token of appreciation.

If you are poor, never mind, no one cares. The ushers see you and quietly show you a seat at the back. You are not qualified enough to partake of the sweet fellowship which only some few enlightened folks have worked so hard to attain. Woe unto you if calamity befalls you. I have personally witnessed, a 'poor man' loose his father and a 'rich man' loose her mother in the same church almost the same timing. There was a huge contrast to the response of the church to the two cases. A large delegation went to the 'rich' man's home for burial and only one person (who is not even well known) was sent to the 'poor' man's home for the burial. Lets not talk about the money that was given ( I honestly do not know).

James 2: 1 - 4
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Let me tell a story I encountered. It was after my 2nd year in college and during my long break, I got an internship in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi. I was residing at my Aunt's place and as a means of saving transport costs, I had to wake up early. That is how I found my way into a church located along Kenyatta Avenue ( I am not sure if it still exists now). It was a good thought, since I had a lot of time before the offices opened. Why not pray! Each morning there were a handful of us zealous to know God more and at least have some time (the elusive time from our schedules) of fellowship. It was not long, however, before I was conscious of how we were coerced to give money. I remember the preacher would ask us to remove our wallets and lift them up high to God before giving, so that he (the preacher) can bless our economy. 

We were told to repeat after the man of God and the prayer will be something like this: ".....Thank you Jesus (repeat).... Father we are lifting our economy to you... (repeat).... as I give the best note in my wallet now (repeat) ..... bless me Lord (repeat)...."

Right there in his prayers (ooohh, wait a minute, in my prayer because I said the prayer when repeating after the man of God) I made a pledge to God. I had just told God I was giving the best note in my wallet. So there was no room for giving my little coins that the matatu guy had given me as change. I was in an unpaid attachment. My auntie had given me the money for transport and lunch. I had all the money for the week in my wallet. There was a 1,000 Sh. note and few hundreds. 

It was time to give and it was expected from me that I give the 1,000 Sh. note. Nobody else knew about my thoughts, but I was stumbling right there in the fallacy and on a foolish pledge I had made. Yet I tend to think that when they stand in the pulpit and in their position, they exactly know what they are doing. They know the guilt will eat you up. They do not care, so long as their basket is full. Eventually, I had to stop going there as I had no enough money to keep pledging in my prayer every morning. I chose to sit in a city council bench and say my silent prayer with peace. What happened to ---" My house will be called a house of prayer"

In our churches today, they insist that the way to activate the Word of God in your life is by sowing what they call seed in the altar as the man of the cloth is on fire saying it. "Don't let that moment pass you!" when you hear a part that is interesting to you, get up, sow a seed and that word will be real in your life. You will tap into his anointing, they claim. What happened to faith?

Maybe the bible did not tell us how much the woman with the issue of blood had paid for her miracle! For her suffering was great and shameful for 12 years! What has happened to the free gifts of God. 

Acts 8:18-21
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this authority and power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God.

The man of cloth received freely from God the anointing to preach, teach and share the Gospel. What has made it necessary that we should give our money to hear from him? Even he who leads the praise and the other one who leads the worship, they need to be paid first before they can sing in the house of God!

If you give your money and pray less, it is deemed okay. In the eyes of the transactional church, your money has covered for your other short comings.

Luke 21: 1 - 4
As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." 

Our men of cloth despise your 50 bobs openly. They have rejected them already before even God had a chance to either accept or reject them! What if the 50 bob was all that I had? All my possessions.

I was in church one day. After preaching, the man of God said, " If you have this much money (deliberately omitted the amount) and would like to give, please stand, I would like to pray with you". Since it was so much money, more than half the church was seated. I cannot tell what went through their mind, but I can tell my thoughts.... 

I felt locked out from worshiping God just because I did not have a certain amount of money. I felt my God had suddenly become special and so far away. I could not reach Him because there was a certain amount I did not have. I wondered why He had a special anointing for those who have certain amount of money.  Then I quickly remembered He is not so. All He desires is a willing heart not a transactional heart.

Exodus 35:29
All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

Even in the old testament, God had room for everyone. The one who has a bull, a sheep or goat, even a dove or pigeon.

Leviticus 1:14
If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon.

Leviticus 14:21-22
“If, however, they are poor and cannot afford these, they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, and two doves or two young pigeons, such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

1 Chronicles 29: 8 - 9
Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

You may be having a share of your experiences as well. You may not agree with me wholly or partially. I am just sharing my concerns that the church has become a place of money transactions. The money factor is driving many of the churches and there is great danger in this fallacy. 
I am conscious to the fact that some may label me as critical but I am not opposed to giving money to the church or to the man of the cloth. However, we must do it scripturally.

May God help us to escape the spirit of deception.

Made of Clay

The hands are dirty but the masterpiece speaks of the creativity and ability of the designer. It is in his hands that this artwork has been molded and designed for a purpose.

The patterns and decorations are no mean task to accomplish, for it takes patience, effort and competence to accomplish in each and every of the many vessels that lie before them. And although modern manufacturing systems do not allow reworks and defects, it is different for him. Most of the vessels are reworks! The six sigma lean manufacturing endeavors to have only 3.4 defects out of a million opportunities. Hold on, this is not the only difference there is!

It appears he has become fond of working with this kind of material. Perhaps he just likes it. Not that he has no idea of how to work with another type of material, but his specialties are things made of clay. It is not the gold, silver, diamond or other precious materials that he has chosen to work with; no wonder his hands are dirty.

The patterns of decorations should not fool you to think that was all he was doing. Though a display of glory and an iconic trademark of quality, his main goal is to create vessels fit for purpose. He takes great delight in his work. Never mind that most of the vessels he had worked on them again and again. Reworking without feeling discouraged, till it was fit for purpose.

Jeremiah 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. (NKJV)

In the beginning God made man out of the dust of the earth. I believe this is very symbolic. It does not only apply to our human framework of body but everything about us. We are made of clay. God is the potter. In His hands we are continually being shaped and fashioned till we become all that He wants to make of us.

Isn't it then a wonder how we carry ourselves as though we are not made! Even to humble us more, made of clay.

We walk with so much pride in our hearts and the hardness of our hearts has blinded us from this realization that we are made of clay. We (the clay) go to great extent to make ourselves, to decorate ourselves, to choose our purpose, and even a more sad thing to question and attempt to counsel the porter.

Romans 9: 20 -21Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Pathway or Highway

We do not want to be the clay anymore. We deny it and work so hard not to appear as the clay whereas intrinsically we have no ability to transform ourselves. Instead of the highway designed for us, we have chosen the pathway.

“This is how I want to lead my life”, “no one can tell me what to do with my life”, “I am here to do this and that”. Since when did the clay choose? I know this is the hardest part for us to accept, submitting and being completely obedient.

Having no other desire or will of ours apart from his. Before you dismiss me, see how Christ was in Philippians 2:7 -8

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He had no other purpose or ambition apart from that which the Father (God) had for him. Obeying till death, even the shameful death on the cross.

Battle of the wills

Similarly, those who chose to remain the clay and be made of clay, allowing the hands of the porter to work on them, became God's valuable assets and accomplished great exploits for The Kingdom.

Father Abraham left following his will when he was called by God to leave his land and go to a foreign land. Moses left the riches and pleasures of Egypt and chose the wilderness life just to serve and worship God. Apostle Paul ceased making himself into something else and let God make him. Job did not deny being in the hot kiln for a while knowing the porter still had a purpose at the end. All of them knew, they were made of clay.

Why is it that we wrestle with releasing ourselves for His will. For how long shall we contend with being torn in between. The hands of the porter are strong enough to make, skillful enough to design for honor, merciful and gracious enough to rework and remove defect, tender enough not to break and unashamed enough to make out of clay.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

I think it is the hardest thing for a man to do: to release you will and let God form His will in you. To obey Him fully and completely. That utmost surrender, where nothing else matters but Him. Where all that you are is a piece of clay in the hands of a potter. When you are made of clay.

Let the will of the Father be done in my life

Just who was King Hezekiah?

Introduction

I can bet most of us know about King Hezekiah because of his sickness. And when Prophet Isaiah visited him, he told him to put his house in order for he will die and not recover. It has been preached to us or we have read ourselves, that the king turned to the wall and wept bitterly calling on the LORD in prayer to remember his deeds and good works.

God heard the prayer of Hezekiah and while Prophet Isaiah was within the courts, God sent him back to announce 15 more additional years to the life of King Hezekiah.

What they missed to say

King Hezekiah was only 25 years old when he begun to reign in Israel. He reigned 29 years of which we know 15 years were a bonus. Without his prayer, he would have reigned 14 years!

In his bitter prayer (above), he was referring to his good works which included Spiritual transformation and reforms of his people at a time where every man and woman in Israel had turned away from worshiping the true God.

Previous Kings before him had made the hearts of people to turn away to false foreign gods such as baal and sacrificing on defiled alters to evil spirits. The priests too had defiled themselves and vacated their vocation. The temple too  had been rampaged, even the beautiful temple that Solomon had built and overlaid with gold and which God had chosen to let His glory dwell there. It lay in ruin with neither the beauty of the gold or the glory of God. Neither its occupants who were supposed to be the priests were available for service. The Kings before Hezekiah had done very great abominable things including burning their sons with fire as a sacrifice to the foreign gods that could neither speak nor deliver.

This was the state of affairs when Hezekiah assumed the throne as a youthful King.

Leading the Reforms

He opened the doors of the House of the Lord that had been shut by his father Ahaz and repaired them. His callout to the Levites that they should sanctify themselves and cleanse the temple was the starting point for restoration of true Worship in Israel and Judah.

He was determined to renew the covenant between God and His people Israel. He gathered the elders and the priests in the house of the LORD and commanded that burnt offerings for sins be offered. Every part of the service was divinely ordered just like at first when King Solomon dedicated the temple. The King and the people rejoiced greatly.

Hezekiah then invited all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come up to Jerusalem, and hold a Passover to the Lord in the second month. This is despite the fact that the Passover was to be kept in the first month! This is a clear illustration that the King was very willing to obey God and all that was written in the law.

His messengers (couriers) were met with great opposition from the people especially in Israel, who mocked them. But Judah was different. They had one heart and they took away the idolatrous altars.

The priests were ashamed, those of them who had been dilatory or negligent in sanctifying themselves were put to the blush and stimulated to their duty by the greater alacrity and zeal of the people.

A multitude of people ate the Passover while they had not sanctified themselves according to the written order but Hezekiah prayed for them and God heard him and healed the people.

They kept the Passover for 7 days with great gladness. Surprisingly, the revival had begun and the people agreed to keep the Passover for 7 more days. King Hezekiah who led this, gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings!

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:21.

The Rumor of War

After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself.

He had a host of army that could not be numbered.

He encouraged the captain of the army by telling them, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles."

He also sent to the Prophet Isaiah to inquire of the LORD for him. He himself went to the House of The LORD with the letter the King of Assyria had sent to him mocking God and intimidating the people. Hezekiah presented the letter before the LORD and prayed before God.

 God sent His angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. 185,000 lay dead in the morning and Sennacherib king of Assyria returned to his country where he did.

Hezekiah did not have to fight the battle.

His Sickness

King Hezekiah became sick and near death, but he prayed to God and was healed. However his heart was lifted up because of pride and the LORD was displeased. In the end he repented his sin.

Lessons from His life

1.       He was fully dependent on God. He fully relied on the help of God and when faced with difficult situations, his first resort was prayer. Prayer is a sign that we are trusting (counting) on God. He was counting on God to the point he took the letter of Sennacherib before the House of God and “read it to Him”. I suggest we bring those medical reports, academic reports, termination letters, auction letters or eviction notices before the House of the LORD.

2.       Past obedience is not a guarantee of future obedience. Just because we obeyed in the past does not mean we are not prone to disobeying God now or in the future. Therefore, we ought to be careful and not allow our past relationship with God cause a sense of familiarity to the point we disobey God.

3.       God is yet to do more with our lives, if we let Him. The 15 additional years were more significant for King Hezekiah. The next king was born during this time. (Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 33:1)

Also remember, he reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years, 15 of which were additional. If not for his prayer, his reign would have been 14 years!

 Shalom!

Just discovered another blog with great lessons from King Hezekiah: Lessons of Life from Hezekiah: A Man of Action

Say to the Righteous

Just last week, my mother had a situation. Her small project she was doing that involved construction had some visitors from the National Construction Authority. The officers who visited the site decided to put the red X on the site. This thing troubled my mother so much and when she called, I told her the Scripture I have been meditating on for some time now.

“Unto the upright (righteous) there arises light in the darkness; He (the LORD) is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice (the righteous man). For (Surely) the righteous will never be moved (shaken); he will be remembered for ever. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established (steady);” Psalms 112:4-8

The focus of my post today is not on how to be righteous or what righteousness is, but a simple message to the righteous. God has said in His Word, that the righteous shall never be moved. It does not matter the intensity of the darkness, still light will arise in the midst of that darkness.

We all know that light and darkness cannot exist together. When the light comes, darkness has no option but to disappear. It is not darkness that has authority over light, instead light prevails over darkness. There is no negotiation that goes on between darkness and light. Is there a situation that you have observed where there was light and darkness refused to go away?!

Light dawns (is sown) for the righteous, and joy (gladness) for the upright in heart. Psalm 97:11

For the sake of the righteous, God is willing to do anything and I mean anything to deliver them. He is both willing and able to make healing dawn for you in the midst of sickness, cause financial increase though you are in scarcity, and open a door that is impossible to open by ordinary means, if you are the righteous. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 1 Peter 3:12.

The bible has many examples of righteous men and women who were never moved. God intervened quickly (just like light travels at very high speed) on their behalf to save them. Our enemy the devil may think he has succeeded in marking you for demolition, but our God is in heaven and alive. He did many things to Brother Job, but Job was never moved. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19. He was not afraid of the sad news of the messengers that came to tell the tale of loss of his possessions and children.  Light arose in the darkness and the latter days were much better. He was a righteous man. God will not permit him to be defeated.

Brother Daniel too was in the den of lion, but his heart was steady, trusting in the LORD. In the morning, the King came to confirm that the righteous shall never be moved. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were put in the fire that had been multiplied seven times. The mighty men of valor who threw the righteous into the fire died because of the heat of the furnace, yet the righteous even in the fire were never moved. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. Psalm 37:39.

God intervened for Esther and Mordecai in the matter against Haman and overturned the calamity that was to befall the Jews.  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

God has anointed me to tell the righteous that rumors of war may arise at your work place, rumors of layoffs, terror groups may rise but you will never be moved or removed (The righteous shall never be removed Proverbs 10:30). Your heart shall be established trusting in the Lord.

I began by the story about my mother. The third day after that incident, she went to their office and as they were talking the officer admitted that the marking was put by mistake since the construction was complete already. She was advised to remove the mark and given a letter to that effect. This confirmed the Word of God: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. Proverbs 12:3

The righteous shall not be forsaken. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: Proverbs 10:28. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish (be hungry) Proverbs 10:3. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield Psalm 5:12.

Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isaiah 3:10

Shalom.

In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:28

If Only We Listened to God

Acts 27: 9 -11

Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them,  "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. Since the harbour was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.       
   

While Paul was facing trial and had appealed to Caesar, they set sail to Rome. The journey became difficult and on reaching a certain town called Fair Haven, Paul advised them not to go ahead with the journey. But they did not listen to Paul, instead they chose to listen to the pilot, the owner of the ship and the majority.

Probably, they must have thought, "who is Paul anyway and what experience or technical knowledge does he have on ship, sailing and navigation!?"

There are many times we have found ourselves at such cross roads. Even in face of danger (even of our own lives) and heavy losses (whether of time, money, effort, emotional etc), we chose to listen to the majority, or the "intelligent" people around us instead of paying attention to what God is saying. The doctor's word was more important, the financial advisor was more convincing, the relationship counselor was more appealing, a friend's word was more trusted.

But in the end, we were regretting and suffering the consequences of our ignorance. Our own choice to follow contrary voices became bitter just like the ship was wrecked by the storm. The men were full of despair as slowly the warning of Paul became manifest. The ship was running aground! They began to throw the cargo overboard.

Acts 27: 20 -21

 

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss

In that state of despondency (neither seeing sun or stars for many days), every ounce of hope had diminished. This is such a real painting of the state of our lives when we have forsaken to hear God and instead gone ahead with our own plans. Paul finally tells them, "You should have listened to me." Listening to God will spare you loss.

This kind of listening I am writing about, is not just mere hearing and no will to do. Listening is paying careful attention, heeding and obeying.

I had not imagined the proper magnitude of not following your will, till I read this portion of scripture in the book of Numbers. The Israelites were led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night! Hallelujah!

Numbers 9: 17 - 23

17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.                                                            

References for Numbers 9:17

• Cross References

• 30 9:17 - ver 21
• 31 9:17 - Ex 40:36-38 ; Nu 10:11,12 ; 1Co 10:1

18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

References for Numbers 9:18

• Cross References

• 32 9:18 - Ex 40:37

19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out.                                                            

References for Numbers 9:19

• Cross References

• 33 9:19 - S Lev 8:35
• 34 9:19 - Ex 40:37

20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out.

21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.

22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out.

23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses. 

 

Imagine such a life where it was neither upon yourself to determine where and when to go nor where and when to lay for rest. Yours is just to follow and obey. Your life is not your own anymore. You cannot rest when it is time to go, because the cloud will leave you. You cannot go when it is time to rest, because the cloud has not departed. You cannot complain that the rest was not enough. You have no choice but the will of God. His Word and Command, my will to do.       

 

Brothers and sisters, we are all on pilgrimage from earth to glory. The way in which we go, we have never been before. We know not the way. God knows the way. He has seen the end from the beginning. It is good for your own sake to listen to God and obey. There is no need to go, when He has said no. It doesn't matter who says you go.

 

Everything happening in our lives, we must learn to hear what He has to say. So that we may keep safe, redeem time and abide with Him. That shamba you want to buy, that car you want to buy, that school you want to enroll, that girl you want to marry, that church you want to go, that plan you have..... what has God said about it?

 

Look at your own life: how much pain have you had to endure, how much loss have you had to incur, all because you will not heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit! Had you listened to God, will the situation be different?

 

What unnecessary burdens, pain, loss and sorrow we bear that we did not have to, if we only listened to God!

 

Shalom

                  

The Right Hand of God

I was reading the scriptures one day while in campus at around the year 2009 and could not help but notice the extensive use of the phrase “the right hand of God”. I began to wonder and search to understand the meaning of it. What the Holy Spirit revealed to me, becomes the subject of this blog post.

Just to drift a bit, most of you may have watched the famous series: game of thrones. You must be aware of “the hand of the king”. The Hand of the King (or King's Hand) is the most powerful appointed position in the Seven Kingdoms, second only to the King in authority and responsibility.

The Hand is the King's closest advisor, appointed and authorized to make decisions in the King's name. The Hand of the King is the highest-ranking member of the Small Council, and leads meetings of the council as proxy for the king when the monarch is absent.

During the reign of strong and able kings, the Hand is the chief agent for coordinating and carrying out the king's plans. During the reign of weakA or ineffectual kings, the Hand is often the real power behind the throne, and the man chiefly responsible for holding the realm together.

Game of thrones attempts to replicate how medieval kingdoms were governed and functioned.

But before even human kingdoms begun, the government of God existed. It is numerously cited in the Bible “the right hand of God”. I was curious why there is no mention of the left hand. Why specify it is the right hand of God.

In most of these scriptures, the right hand of God is depicted as a hand of power, a hand that saves and delivers, a hand full of righteousness and victory and further as a hand that is exalted. Moses says in Exodus 15:6 after crossing the red sea and seeing the great power of God, "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces."

King David, in the psalms, has extensively referred to the right hand of God and through it, he sought salvation and vengeance against the enemies. He writes;

Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. (Psalm 20:6, NKJV)

According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. (Psalm 48:10, NKJV)

You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. (Psalm 89:13, NKJV)

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." (Psalms 110:1, NKJV)

The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. (Psalms 118:15 -16, NKJV)

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11, KJV)

In Isaiah, God swears by His right hand. Why? Of what significance is His right hand?

The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength: "Surely I will no longer give your grain As food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, For which you have labored. (Isaiah 62:8, NKJV)

Psalm 80:17, says it all, “Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself." Who is this man of God’s right hand in whom God’s hand should be upon? Who is this son of man whom God made strong for Himself?

The bible is clear that not even an angel was told to sit at the right hand of God. Only one man, Jesus Christ was told to sit at the right hand of God.

Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mathew 26:64, NKJV)

Stephen, the man of God full of the Holy Spirit saw the heavens open and the Son of God standing at the right hand of God. So many scriptures in the new testament testify to the fact that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God. I quote but a few;

Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV)

Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (1 peter 3:22, NKJV)

My eyes, mind and understanding were opened to see that “the right hand of God” is indeed Jesus Christ. Yes He sits at the right hand of God but more than that He is the right hand of God. Jesus Christ is the right hand of God that brings salvation and deliverance; the right hand of God that fights the enemies of God and brings victory; the right hand of God that is filled with righteousness and strength; the right hand of God that is exalted and in Him are pleasures forever more.

May the right hand of God intervene in your situation. May Jesus Christ intervene in your situation.

Shalom.

The Mystery of God’s Wisdom

Exactly what does it mean when Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing”.Further, it emphasizes that in all you aim to get, get understanding!

The beginning of Wisdom is:get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).

The answers are well outlined in the scriptures and without much ado, I highlight the following reasons.

1. Wisdom will promote and honor you

Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you. (Proverbs 4: 8 – 9, Amp)

2. Wisdom will give you riches and wealth

Richesand honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God). (Proverbs 8:18, Amp)

3. Wisdom will give you life

For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death. (Proverbs 8:35-36, Amp)

It is evident that it is better to have wisdom than riches. Yet we spend most of our time, effort and energy on the wrong priorities!

My brothers and sisters, there is a heavenly type of wisdom and an earthly one. When you boast you are wise but still has jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), this [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). Where this wisdom exists there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted andstraightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:13 -17, NIV)

One of my favorite bible extracts about wisdom is derived from Proverbs chapter 8. For many years I was confused by the words in this chapter, but not anymore. Wisdom is a persona representing Christ who is speaking out here. I have chosen these scriptures but you can go through the whole chapter. Let’s go through them with Christ in mind.

For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

I have counsel and soundknowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.

By me kings reign and rulers decree justice.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges andgovernors of the earth.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early anddiligently shall find me.

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.

The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.

I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed.

When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it,

When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth—

Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,

That not being enough, in the New Testament, we read;

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)

That is the mystery of God’s wisdom! That indeed Christ became to us wisdom. He was there before the foundation of the world and was present during creation as a master and director of God’s work. In all your getting, you must get Christ. Those who reject him court death, but those who love him, he will love, honor and exalt.

God’s Wisdom is so pure, so accurate and so right. Everything that comes your way dear friend has gone through the sieve of God’s wisdom: It’s not too much that you cannot bear. Trust His wisdom. This Wisdom knows about your future.

Only God’s Wisdom knows how to deliver men from the burning fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar. This Wisdom knows how to shut the mouth of lions so that the godly are preserved. It knows how to make provision during famine so that the floor and oil do not cease. God’s Wisdom is at work in my life. I have God’s Wisdom. I have Christ.

Happy New Year! May the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you. Shalom.