Tag: Wisdom

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Shortcut Christianity


In the body of Christ, rarely do we seek to be in alignment with the Word. In error, we seek to engineer novel ways of attaining what the Lord said. We are reinventing the wheel when the blueprint is already laid out categorically in scripture.

Firstly, the practice of confessing scriptures over our lives. This is beneficial, but there exists a tendency to confess scriptures yet live lives that are incompatible with them. Indeed, in instances of struggles with sin confession of the Word is a necessity and that is not what I am alluding to. I am referencing behaviors blatantly contradicting scripture, with no desire to change yet scripture confession is a habitual practice.
Undeniably, there are benefits to scripture confession including mind renewal and a heightened consciousness of truth. This results in transformation.

We are exhorted to memorize scripture, which is vital to comprehending the Word. However, stopping at this juncture truncates the process. There needs to be fruit of the Word in our lives. The Word of God is a seed and in the Bible we are likened to trees. We must bear fruit. When there is evidence of a knowledge of scriptures yet no affirming transformation, there will be stunted growth. Regrettably, this leads to behavior modifications and the world labelling us as ingenuine and hypocrites. The Word was never meant to produce parrot tendencies where we merely echo scriptures..

A look at some illustrations

One may be experiencing challenges with insomnia or night tormenting spirits and one of the remedial scriptures would be to confess Psalm 91. However, that psalm states in the first verse that “he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. The first requirement that the believer is to fulfill is to dwell in the secret place. When we live distracted lives and only seek the Lord’s face prior to going to bed for a few minutes, we have violated scripture.

Consider Psalm 23:1 : The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Likewise, violation of this verse leads to want.
We are told to solely confess our way to financial prosperity however is that biblical? Why are we violating the principles laid out in scripture?
Scripture outlines the following:

  • Giving
  • Sowing
  • Avoid debt and foolish spending
  • Learn financial literacy
  • Working diligently
  • Building wealth over time through righteous means
  • Taking care of the poor
  • Seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you
  • Casting one’s bread upon many waters

It is permissible to confess scriptures to break a poverty mindset and come into agreement with the Word. Following that we are required to do the above.

When we delve into issues of dating and marriage, we observe the same reinvention. Those who court believe that so long as they honor the Lord through purity, He will automatically bless their marital union; however, that is a misconception. They honored the Lord in one season and they are to honor Him in the next. Wisdom, understanding, knowledge and even counselling in some cases are required for a fruitful marriage. We think that if we invest all our might in serving the Lord then our marriages and homes will be in order yet the Scriptures say houses are built on wisdom, not serving Him.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Prov 24:3-4

The Lord through the Apostle Paul unequivocally stated that believers are to marry believers. Surprisingly, believers still marry unbelievers and expect the Lord to bless their union. Individuals have publicly admitted to marrying their spouses against the disapproval of the Lord. These cases oftentimes end in divorce or challenging, unfulfilled marriages.

Lamentably, there are numerous teenagers and adults who grew up in Christian homes only to rebel against the Lord. Consequently, many parents have chosen not to teach their children concerning the Lord so as not to place them under duress to be saved. Didn’t the Lord say “train up a child in the way of the Lord so that when he is old he will not depart from it?” Granted, there is a correct and an incorrect way of carrying out this command but to submit it to fortuity is an error and a violation of Scripture.

Lastly is the practice of spiritualizing everything. Believers will be found praying and fasting, while the world overtakes us and builds. Yes, man always ought to pray but many times, that’s all we do. Unbelievers do not pray yet they apply biblical principles that yield biblical results. We place all responsibility on the Lord instead of applying wisdom. When we venture into business or employment and seek to advance, why do we solely rely on prayer and fasting and not enroll in a course like the world does? We desire to have an impact on the world, yet we refuse to read other books besides the Bible. That is why we cannot assume positions of leadership in the world. We risk remaining solely a religious entity,having no participation in shaping our world.

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The ways of the Lord

Understanding the ways of the Lord is paramount. We sometimes pray to the Lord to alter our circumstance and when He does not move immediately, we are tempted to get weary. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Sometimes the Lord has to move a couple of things around in order to answer our prayer. In Him moving these things, causing them to align, He is answering. We may be looking at one area and pouring our prayers and fasting into it and not witnessing any tangible change. However, the Lord does not think as we do. The best thing to do is to take a step back and notice ways in which He is moving, partner with that and trust Him. When the other parts have coalesced, He will then bring it to pass. We expect the Lord to do it now because we petitioned him. We did not factor in the wisdom of God. 

Sometimes, the Lord has to permit things to fall apart so that the correct ones can fall into place. 

When the Lord gave Joseph the dream concerning his brothers and father bowing before him, he was not privy to what it would take for its fulfilment. We think because God is sovereign, He should easily perform things at the blink of an eye. However, He does not operate that way. The Lord is patient. He is strategic. He is holy in His ways. God knew that his brothers would be tempted by jealousy and sell him as a slave. God in his sovereignty could have shielded him yet, His wisdom caused him to permit it to transpire. 

Recognizing that Joseph would face the profound temptations of bitterness and unforgiveness, the Lord utilized his victory over seduction to fortify his character. By honoring God in that moment of trial, Joseph made room for the Lord to commence a transformative work within his heart, preparing him emotionally and spiritually for the challenges of his future. This resulted in Joseph forgiving his brothers when circumstances beckoned for it. The Lord set him up for future obedience!

Furthermore, Joseph’s refusal to succumb to seduction, though occurring while he enjoyed success and private opportunity, demonstrates that spiritual foresight is forged through active integrity: ” you meant it for evil but God meant it for good” he uttered. Yes, the Holy Ghost is with us and Christ has been made unto us wisdom; however, certain issues require obedience in one season so that when the trap or snare comes in another season, the optics to see it have been developed. This is one way the Lord delivers us.

While the Lord’s goodness and mercy are universal, the manifestation of His power is often contingent upon active submission and obedience. The perception that some are “favorites” is a misconception; rather, these individuals have transitioned from passive expectation to an active partnership with His Word. Consequently, certain breakthroughs remain inaccessible through divine goodness alone, requiring a functional alignment with His requirements to alter long standing circumstances.

This is similar to what transpired to Abraham, the Lord foreknew that he was going to love his son more than Him. This is not an unusual occurrence when one has had to wait for a long duration for a breakthrough. They can easily fall into the sin of idolatry. Therefore the Lord had to prepare him ahead of time and fortify him to be able to obey Him and sacrifice his son when He asked him to.  How could he not have fallen into idolatry when he had to wait for 25 years for Isaac? 

Our circumstances at times set us up to fall into sin. The Lord knows this all too well and if we will be cognizant of this or hide ourselves in His Word, He will prepare us to overcome the temptation when it comes.

Additionally, when the Lord desires that we occupy certain spaces and platforms, He will prepare us for it. Unfortunately, some rush into it and while operating in that space, fall into sin. At times, this is due to the individual’s failure to submit to the preparation process of the Lord. The Lord is able to see the weaknesses in our flesh that will be awakened when we enter certain spaces of influence and He can uproot them ahead of time-if we will let Him.