MAKING THE BEST USE OF CRITICISM

One difficult but quite useful tool for evaluating one’s life and indeed making progress in life is the use of criticism. Though, the concept has taken up a negative garb due to its abuse, our disposition to it, our reaction to it, and what we bring out of it tells a lot about how strong our personality will become. Interestingly enough, we also criticize others just as we are being criticized.

Meaning
A look at the meaning of criticism from the dictionary reveals its two sides. First, it is defined as an act of making an unfavourable or severe judgement or comment. When you don’t see anything good about somebody or something and all he/it attracts from you at all times are negative comments (even when there are other things good about him/it), you are said to be criticizing. Criticism could however be an act of evaluation or analyzing something (or somebody). In this case a sense of judgement is used to take a detailed look at somebody or some situation and proper statements are made, either negative or positive or (most often) both. For example, a work of art could be criticized. We also have literary criticism in literature where a piece of literature is subjected to detailed analysis, not sparing even the author. Paper or seminar presentation in class or other forum could also be subject to criticism.
Whatever is the case one broad classification that has been made about criticism is constructive criticism and destructive criticism. While the former seeks to enhance the life of it object, the latter does not see anything good in its object. In fact, its aim is to destroy and not to build. Whichever is the case, criticism is an integral part of human behaviour which we cannot but live with everyday. We must however find ways of using it positively not negatively.

Biblical Example
Criticism seems to be a product of community expectation on one’s personality and behaviour. There is a socially acceptable norm. This could be biblical, moral or ethical. It could also be cultural. One cannot afford to be a deviant whatever may be one’s convictions. Even a critic will be judged by others based on how socially acceptable his view about his target of criticism are. We will consider some examples of what looks like criticism in the Bible, see whether they are constructive or destructive and see what lessons we can learn form them.

Jethro and Moses: Exodus 18:13 – 26
Perhaps nobody saw anything wrong with what Moses was doing by sitting down from morning till evening judging the whole of Israel. Or somebody did see it but thought Moses must be too big to correct. It was obvious Moses himself did not see anything wrong with it. But there was something wrong and somebody needed to point it out. Jethro, Moses father–in-law came right on time and he struck the nail on the head. “What you are doing is not good” (Vrs 17).
Jethro presented us with what we could call a good model constructive of criticism.
• A critical study of the situation: Jethro watched the situation properly before interfering. Vrs 13. (He saw what Moses was doing. He was not delegating)
• An interaction with the person involved: Jethro asked questions to see perhaps if Moses had a good excuse for the “bad thing” he is doing. Vrs 14- 16. (What are you doing?)
• A fair verdict about the situation: Jethro did not mince word or play around the truth. Vrs 17-18. (You are killing yourself)
• A workable suggestion for improvement: Jethro did not stop at condemning Moses. He gave alternative suggestions that could help Moses improve. Vrs 19-23. (Delegation)
• A change of attitude from the criticized. Moses listened. Vrs. 24-26. (He started delegating).
Everyone may need to pray that God will send Jethros across their way instead of surrounding oneself with praise-singers and sycophants. One would however need the meekness, and sincerity of Moses to benefit from such Jethros.

Miriam, Aaron and Moses: Numbers 12:1–15
Moses was subjected to another episode of criticism. This time however, it was a destructive one unlike that of Jethro. The bone of contention according to verse 1 was that Moses married a Cushite wife. There are two understanding we could have of this, according to NIV Study Bible commentary. First this could be a direct reference to Zipporah, Moses wife (Ex. 2:15 – 22). In that case the term “Cushite” is used in contempt for her Midianite ancestry. Secondly and more likely, however, the reference could be to a new wife taken by Moses, perhaps after the death of his first wife.

But a close look at the text and especially the lack of correlation between verses 1 and 2 suggest the very nature of destructive criticism. In verse 1, Moses and Aaron were talking of a Cushite wife. In verse 2 they were asking “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” It follows then that their criticism of Moses and his wife was a mere pretext. Their problem was an envy or jealousy of Moses’ prophetic gift and his special relationship with the Lord. This tellis us some things about destructive criticism.
• It is always out of envy or jealousy
• It is often oblivious or totally ignorant of facts
• Real issues are played around with flimsy ones. Such critics major on minor.
• It aims to bring down and not to build up
• God fights for victims of such criticism

Paul and Peter: Gal. 2:11 – 21
Here in the New Testament we saw how Paul took Peter up in a case of hypocrisy. Just like we learned from Jethro and Moses, here is another Model of constructive criticism.
• Boldness to confront issues (“I opposed him face to face” Vrs. II). Paul did not backbite or gossip. He faced the person (Peter) and faced the issue (hypocrisy on the issue of eating with gentiles).
• Correct observation and fair analysis of the situation (“He saw that they were acting not in line with the fruit of the gospel.” Vrs. 14).
• Scriptural teaching aimed at correction and improvement (Vrs 15- 21).

On an on, we could cite so many example in the scripture but the principle and practice of constructive and destructive criticism remains the same. What each results into is the issue of concern at this point. Constructive criticism as we see produces a positive change in the person being criticised. But this is not in all cases. On many occasions we have seen people who cannot afford to be criticized, not to talk of been corrected. Such was the case of Saul, King Ahab and others who had very hostile relationship with the prophets and their subjects simply because they hate to be told the truth. Such was the case of the Pharisees too in the New Testament. Destructive criticism on the other hand would either turn its object into a robot (tossed about by just any criticism) or into somebody in a consistently defensive state or if he is focused person (but meek), God would have no choice than to continue to vindicate him as we saw with Moses.

This will then lead us to examine what our actions and reactions should be on the issue of criticism whether we are criticising or we are being criticised. It would also summarise many of the facts we have analysed so far from our studies in the scripture.

Law of the Critic
Get your Facts before criticizing
Many occasions we have seen people who criticised only to come back and apologise that they did not have their fact or did not understand their target initially. Study the situation critically and study the person objectively. Have your facts before going into criticism so you won’t have to swallow your words or end up disgracing yourself or losing your integrity.

Have a fair sense of Judgment
It is wrong to conclude that nothing good could come out of a person because we already have a bias against him. This is the stance of a popular lawyer and human right activist on the current president of Nigeria if you read the dailies. You should be objective and fair enough to give a knock when due and give a praise when due.

Criticize to bring our the best and not to condemn
The objective of any criticism should be letting the person knows you are not to destroy him/her but to let him know there are still great potentials in him/her that could come to focus.

Be humble and constructive
Criticism should not come out of a proud, “holier than thou” attitude. The choice of word should not be abusive, discouraging and dehumanizing. Criticism should be done from a large heart and a loving heart. Indeed narrow–minded and myopic people are not in the best position to criticize. They should rather be criticized.

Follow up your criticism with suggestion for improvement:
The best of criticisms is that which identifies the error, suggests correction and proffer solution. That is why it is wrong to criticise in subjects which you are not conversant with. There are issues of professionalism. A pastor is trained in a seminary class where most church members (at times including his wife or if a woman, her husband) have not entered before. A politician, an engineer, an architect, medical Doctor, Nurse etc would stand up to tell you “You can’t teach me my job”. Yes, because you don’t know about their job. Though there are issues of general knowledge, ethics and common sense, professional criticism would best be done by fellow professionals who would also be able to offer workable suggestions for improvement.

The fact that we disagree does not make us enemies
This is the highest level of maturity. Criticism should be done in such a way it doesn’t become personal. The most difficult thing you may wish to do on earth is to turn that person next to you (even your wife, husband or children) to become like yourself or force them to begin to see everything from your perspective. The best you can do to live a happy life is to appreciate everyone for their differences. God may help you to influence some lives through your constructive criticism but for you to think everybody must reason the way you do is suicidal. When others don’t buy your idea, that does not make you enemies. A large heart will always thrive on the basis of unity among diversity. Kim Hubbard said, “The fellow that agrees with everything you say is either a fool or he is getting ready to skin you”

Measure the person up with yourself
The question is, could you have done better? That was the question Jesus threw to those who brought the woman caught in adultery? If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone. The accusers (whom we may call critics in this context) all disappeared one after the other. Experience has proven that the loudest critics (most often) never perform better when they are given the same opportunity with the person they were always criticising. An anonymous writer once said,
“There is much good in worst of us
and so much bad in the best of us
that it hardly becomes any one of us
to talk about the rest of us”.

But we have seen good critics whom when given the opportunity, become a real, better option. It is very likely however that they were constructive critics and not destructive ones.

Law of the criticized
Be Open to criticism
It is wrong to close one’s mind to criticism. Criticism indeed has its positive roles. What you need to know is what reaction to give to different kinds of criticism and critics. A man of God recently gave us a lecture where I picked these three kinds of critics and what you should do with them.

Envious Critics: Somebody who is always seeking for attention. He wants to be the child on the day of naming, bride on the day of marriage and corpse on the day of burial. He cannot see anything good in you. IGNORE HIM!

Ignorant Critic: He doesn’t have his facts. What he needs is for you to EDUCATE him! Explain to him, he might become your best of friends.

Constructive Critic: He desires for you to do better. He won’t bring you outside when he has never corrected you inside. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO HIM! Pray and take necessary actions.

The man of God ended up his words with that of Antistenis who gave these two people who can tell you the truth.
- A friend who loves you so dearly and
- An enemy who has lost his temper

Know that the Power of character can quench the sting of criticism
Men with strong character and men who aspire after such don’t fear criticism. One childhood maxim that is still registered clear in my memory is “a clear conscience fears no gossip”. That is the truth. Keep your character intact if it spiritually, morally and ethically good. No criticism can bend you. Andre Gide said “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”

Be sincere and humble
Criticism should not land on a hard, proud and defiant heart. A sincere person will critically asses what his critic says and see which ones are the wheat and which ones are the chaff. When your critic is partly or wholly right, you will do a good service to yourself and your future by accepting the truth humbly and working and praying for a change.

Be firm on your good convictions
The bombarding force of criticism is so strong that the timid can be confused and probably begin to misbehave. You need to be strong and decisive. You need to learn to deliberate with caution, but act with decision, and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness (Charles Hole).

Be a good communicator and Mobiliser
The problem of many leaders is that they have good intentions, good agenda, plans and packages but they don’t know how to carry people along. You should know how to communicate. Communication simply means you send a message or signal to your followers and they decode it. It is not enough to have told them. The question is, have they heard? It is not enough for them to have heard. Do they understand it the way it was in your heart? Mobilisation is also important. Are the people well-mobilised about the project so much they are ready to invest their life and death into it? If this is not there, you are going to be criticised.

Don’t make enemies out of your critics
You can never please everybody. This is impossible. Even with your best intention, good communication and mobilisation including humility, some may just never see what you are doing. Yours is to face your business and love everyone, living in peace as much as it lies within you. (Romans 12:17-18). Your critics are helping you to be on your toes and not sleep. Better appreciate them and never hate them.

Be very positive, proactive and not reactive.
You can change if your critics are right. Take up a positive disposition that you can change if you are genuinely convinced that there is something faulty about your character or style of leadership. Also you must be proactive and not reactive. Be very thoughtful and reasonable. Don’t just act based on a pre-conceived notion that “this critic has come again.” The vengeful idea is also wrong. The Yoruba talk of the hen which spilled my drug and whose eggs I must destroy (in retaliation). There is a governor of a state in Nigeria I don’t enjoy reading about. The reason is that for every little criticism he receives he must go to secure a full page or half page in the dailies (with tax–payers money) either to defend himself of abuse his critics. For me this is immaturity. It is not every criticism we respond to and even when we have to do it, it should be with deep thought and high sense of maturity and sincerity.

Conclusion
As long as we are in this world, criticism will be part of our normal life. What we do with it is what really matters. Make use of criticism to better your life and if you must criticise anyone, do it constructively and remember you are also been watched to be criticised.
“Mistrust the man who finds everything good
The man who finds everything evil;
And still more, the man who is indifferent to everything.
- Johann Kasper Lavatar

DEALING WITH ANGER

By Rev Ezekiel A. Ajibade

Anger is one the strongest and most destructive emotion. The dictionary defines it as a strong feeling of grievance and displeasure. Anger happens when someone violates our rights, our principles or our personally acceptable sense of judgment. It happens when you are bitter against someone who has done something wrong against you. You are mad because someone steps on your toes or hurt you and your feelings. Then you react and possible want to avenge. Anger indeed is a product of selfishness. The “I” in you is offended and you want to let that person know you can not be passive or silent about it.

Many times we excuse our anger because we feel that is the best reaction we could give in a certain circumstance and we also feel “who wouldn’t react like that anyway?” Yet the Bible is unequivocal when it comes to condemning anger.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. (KJV). Ecc 7:9

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go. (KJV). Prov 22:24

Anger and folly are biblical synonyms. You are a fool when you are angry and you are a man or woman to be avoided because you are dangerous. Anger therefore has no excuse. Benjamin Franklin once said,
“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.”
Marcus Aurelius also said,
“How much more grievous are the consequence of anger than the cause of it?

The Physical Dimension of Anger
When we go angry we destroy many things including those that have taken us years to build. We say words that when we come back to our senses we deny we ever said or we wish we never said. And interestingly, words are like egg. Break it and let it spill, you can never re-pack it. Anger and rage has once made a man to break the head of his wife with a pestle. Anger had made a woman to destroy all the household electronics of her husband. Anger has made people to stab each other with knives and broken bottle. Anger is the reason many men beat their wives blue and black, many parents beat their children to the point of comma, leading to being hospitalized or leaving an indelible scar. Anger at the way another road user drove has caused a lot of accidents and several deaths following. Out of anger people have abandoned projects, stormed out of meetings that would have profited their lives or their communities. Out of anger many have destroyed their destinies and that of others. On and on we can continue. We all have examples around us and indeed we have either been a major actor in anger before or have been victims. Anger is indeed destructive. No wonder the scripture says, the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

The Medical Dimension to Anger
It has been estimated that 60-80 per cent of illness today are emotionally induced and anger and fear are the chief among these emotions. The simple fact is that our entire physical body is intricately tied to our nervous system and anytime this system is tensed up through anger, it affects one part of our body or the other adversely. Whenever you are emotionally tensed up, the tension first strikes the emotional centre and message is sent to other organs of the body. Changes in the emotional centre takes place through these mechanisms:
- There is a change in the amount of blood flowing into an organ
- The secretion of certain glands are affected
- There is an effect on the tension of the muscles.

Now when you are angry many things are likely to happen:
- Your blood vessel can automatically dilate and since the cranium (that part of the skull that covers the brain) is a rigid structure without room for expansion, your anger can lead to severe headache.
- The flow of blood to your stomach and other vital organs could be restricted and this can lead to ulcer and many other stomach diseases.
- There is a muscle over the human stomach that is emotionally controlled. When you are angry, it will tighten down and restrict the flow of blood to other vital organs of the heart, stomach, liver, intestines, lung, gall bladder etc.
- The more the anger or emotional rage is prolonged, the more we cause severe damages to these vital organs. This also makes our resistance to infectious diseases reduced.

Other diseases as high blood pressure, colitis and goiter have been at times linked with emotional problems. In fact a psychologist once said that he estimated that as many as 97 percent of his patient with ulcer had them because of anger while an ulcer specialist would like to concur that the figure is actually 100 per cent when he heard this statement. The question is, is it worth it? The millions of Naira spent on medical bills and drugs could be channeled into other things that will make our life better and more enjoyable. We had better choose life!

The Spiritual Dimension to Anger
Ephesians 4:29 says
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Anger does not stand alone. It has a big family of bitterness, malice, clamour, envy, resentment, intolerance, criticism, revenge, wrath, hatred, seditions, jealousy, attack, gossip, sarcasm and unforgiveness. Now in which ever form it manifests, anger grieves the Holy Spirit. It makes the Spirit sad and he cannot function in our lives. God’s working is hindered because we are bitter and our lives have become hostile to God and man. Nobody wants to come near a mad man. At this time we find it difficult to pray and if we do, we feel dry and can’t enjoy that sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. The worse is for us to pretend as if nothing is happening. If we pretend, God cannot be mocked or deceived. We are the ones to keep deceiving ourselves.

Help in times of Anger
- Value your relationship with God and his Spirit more than any prevailing circumstance that might upset you.
- Work on your temperament. Some temperaments are more prone to anger than others. Sanguine and Choleric are more prone to anger.
- Deal with the fundamental issue of selfishness. Love is the conqueror of selfishness. I Cor 13
- Never sleep over your anger. Eph 4:26
- Separate zeal for righteousness (otherwise called holy anger) from emotional and destructive anger. Neh 5:6; Mark 3:1-5; Matt 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-48.
- Remember that anger is an emotion and an emotion is always warm, even hot. Say out loud to yourself, “don’t be a fool. This won’t get me anywhere, so skip it.”
- Count ten or say the first ten words of our Lord’s Prayer. Before you do that ten times, the anger would have lost the power over you.
- Anger is a great term expressing the accumulated vehemence of a multitude of minor irritations. Take each irritation and make it an object of prayer.

HELP IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT

Rev Ezekiel A. Ajibade

Introduction
Discouragement is simply defined as the state of being deprived of courage or confidence. It is a situation where life circumstances beats a man arms down and drives every impetus to carry on out of him. Discouragement is a common experience in our days due to the frustrating nature of our society and our seeming unpreparedness as Christians despite all the resources available to us. This is the reason we have to look deeply into this issue as we study today.

CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT
When we seem to be left alone to a struggle
Occasions come when we try to champion a cause and instead of getting the necessary support, we are left alone to the struggle. A time will come when we may feel totally discouraged and ready to give up. Such was the condition of Elijah in I Kings 19:13-18. Having sole-handedly declared war on Israel’s idolatry, Baal and Asherah worshippers, and indeed wicked king Ahab, he eventually fell into the intimidating web of Jezebel and had to escape for dear life. In the cave where he went to, God asked him, what are you doing here and here was his reply in 19:10;

“I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

John the Baptist also got to this point in his life. He felt all alone in the struggle especially when he was imprisoned and no one was there to rescue him. He had to send to Jesus:
“Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else? (Matt 11:2-6)

When Hope is Delayed
Every human being has a breaking point or a point of elasticity. As we hope, believe and expect, a point of breakdown may come and we get discouraged. Proverbs 13:12 says,
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Abraham and Sarah got to this point as they expected God’s promise to be fulfilled. When it seems nothing was forth coming, Sarah encouraged Abraham to have a child through her maid. (Gen 16:1-3) Even after God’s indication of displeasure and renewal of covenant with Abraham in Gen 17, Abraham still said,
“Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”

When Waiting becomes difficult
Waiting on the Lord is a critical aspect of a Christian’s relationship with God. God is never in a rush and he walks and works with a purpose in mind. But as humans, we want it now or never. Even when we try to wait, emergencies may arise and we get discouraged. In fact we think of taking alternative steps or helping ourselves out. Such was the case of Saul in I Sam 13:6-10. The army was already scattered and people were overwhelmed with fear. Yet Samuel did not arrive for the sacrifice as scheduled. Saul helped himself out but interestingly, “just as he finished making the offering,” Samuel arrived to his dismay and eventual dethronement.

When Defeat seems to Pile upon each other
Occasions also come in life when we go from one experience of calamity to another despite our initial courage and effort to carry on. The billows and torrents of trouble may eventually overwhelm us and we get discouraged. Such was the case of David in I Samuel 30:1-6. He has gone through a lot. He was driven away from his home land and turned into a desert wanderer, guerilla fighter and mercenary. Saul still sought to kill him. He was recently dismissed from the Philistines army and now, his camp at Ziklag has been raided and his family and that of his followers captured. Instead of being supported and encouraged by his own followers who he had done all his best to take care of, they talked of stoning him. Verse 6 said, “David was greatly distressed.”

HELP IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT
Cry at the Right time
There is a time to cry to God before the troubles of our life overwhelm us and we get discouraged. Israel cried to God in Ex 2:23-25. But was that really the right time? If Daniel did not discover that God intended for them to spend seventy years in exile, guess how many more years they would have languished in exile of suffering and discouragement (Dan 9:1-3). Cry at the right time. There is time to cry. Experience have shown that if some people had properly handled the problems of their lives much earlier, they would not be going through what they are going through right now.

Have a Stubborn faith: Don’t give up
Jesus taught us importunity in Luke 18:1-8. In Matthew 15:21-28 is the story of the Canaanite woman who refused to take “no” for an answer. All the statements Jesus made was enough to discourage her but she insisted on getting what she wanted so much that at the end, Jesus commented, “woman, you have great faith.”

Don’t take offence
We must develop the right approach to our moments of frustration in life. We must learn to be proactive and not reactive – either against human beings or against God our Creator. When Rachael got to a point in her journey of disappointments in life, she desperately said to Jacob one day, “Give me children or I’ll die” (Gen 30:1). When John the Baptist was disappointed, he queried Christ, “Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?.” After Jesus gave him the proves of his Messiahship, he warned “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on the account of me.” (KJV says “take offence”). Hope you remember this was the same John introducing Christ in Matthew 3 and telling the people he was unworthy to untie his sandals.

Capitalise on your Area of Strength, explore and rejoice in it.
Mike Murdock said, ‘stay in the centre of your expertise and you will be far from your weakness.” Learn to do what you know best to do and give your all to it. Proverbs 24:10 says, “if you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength.” So build on your strength. Increase the reservoir of your strength and it will carry you through in the days of trouble (See Jer 12:5).

Deal with Worry and Cowardice.
Remove worry from your life. Don’t be a pessimist and never think solution lies in you alone. Don’t limit God and don’t use your small brain to help God think of what to do. Do you know that while Elijah was complaining he was the only one left, God said,
“yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.
Matthew 6:25-31 tells us God is in charge of our today and tomorrow. He clothes the lilies and feeds the birds. He can surely take care of your situation. So we should never be anxious or weighed down by anxiety. We are to simply face the business of seeking his kingdom first.

Encourage yourself.
In I Samuel 30:6, David encouraged himself in the Lord despite the odds that surrounded him. And this is a principle that has helped many in life. That’s why the writer of the Kohathite psalm in Psalm 42:5 could say,
“Why are you down cast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God…”
Remember they say it is not over until it is over. So you have no cause to be discouraged. See the summary of this man’s life;
Failed in business at 31
Defeated in legislature at 32
Failed in business at 34
Sweetheart died at 35
Had nervous breakdown at 36
Defeated in election at 38
Defeated for congress at 43
Defeated for congress at 46
Defeated for senate at 55
Defeated for vice president at 56
Defeated for senate at 58
Elected president at 60
This man was Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents America ever had. It is not over until it is over.

Confess positively
As a Christian you should be able to wake up every morning and say;
The Lord is my strength and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an enemy besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. (Psalm 27:1-3).
Your confession matters in times of discouragement. Say positive things about yourself and your situation and you will see things working out for you positively. Remember that Shunammite woman in 2 Kgs 4? Her child was dead but her confession was “it is well.” At the end it was well with her because God used Elisha to raise her dead son back to life.

Conclusion
Discouragement cannot but come. The issue is not whether you are going through it or not. The issue is what you are doing with it. The summary and conclusion of the matter is the title of one of Robert Schuller’s book: TOUGH TIME NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO!”

THE POWER OF THE TEACHING MINISTRY

Teaching is a powerful tool that God has used to transform lives over the years. Teachers are usually God’s instrument in stabilizing and reviving his church right from the days of the scripture and any church that will be revived and stabilized in our days cannot do without this ministry. Let us take a scriptural survey.

The Teaching that Stopped the Lions: 2 Kings 17:24-28

Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.'' Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.'' Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

While Israel went on exile, another set of people were brought into their land. This people did not know how to worship the Lord because they do not know what he requires. God therefore sent lions which began to destroy them. There is usually a requirement in worshipping the Lord. It is not enough to have a desire or to do it just any how. When these requirements are not met, lions will tear. There will be disharmony and disunity. There will be physical and spiritual death. Instead of gathering, the church may be scattering.

The solution was in Verse 27. A Priest was sent to live there, and teach the people what the God of the land requires and obviously, there was respite. The teaching ministry brings the divine requirement to the heart of the people and saves the flock from several problems.

The Teaching that Brought Revival: Neh 8:-9
Ezra was a wonderful teacher of the word. His credentials as a teacher were inspiring. He was one that devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the Lord and to teaching it. He put studying and observing or doing, before teaching.
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
(Ezra 7:10-11).
He therefore became a “learned man in the matters concerning the law of God.” Another version says he was an expert. His teaching skill and anointing were seen in Nehemiah 8. The people were attentive (Vs 6), and he had some Levites by his side who helped people to understand the word. They gave the word a sense – made it clear, giving the meaning so people could understand.

This teaching administration of Ezra brought revival. We see this result in Verse 9-19. There was conviction, there was joy (Vs 12), people were hungry and thirsty for more (13) and there was readiness to act on the word (14-17).

Teaching that Sustained a Kingdom. 2 Chronicle 17:7-11
In the third year of his reign he sent officials to teach in the towns of Judah. They were accompanied by Levites who carried with them the book of the law. The result was fantastic. Verse 10 says

“The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdom of the lands surrounding Judah so that they did not make war against Jeoshaphat.”

Jeoshaphat rather became more powerful and rich while nations brought gifts and tributes to him.

The Teaching that Brought Miracle
Jesus was the greatest teacher of all times. He is the Rabbi, the TEACHER. As soon as he started his ministry, Mark 1:22 says

“The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as teacher of the law.”

His teaching was authoritative, powerful and fruitful. A woman after listening to him exclaimed, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!'' When he expounded the scripture to some disciples on the road to Emmaus without them recognizing him after his resurrection, they said in Luke 24:32:
Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scripture to us?

Tying it up
We need teachers.
Teaching is a gift that God has blessed the church with. It is for you to identify whether you possess it. Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 12:28; Acts 13:1-2. They are scarce in the church. We need them greatly at a time like this.

The teachers are to brace themselves up like Ezra.
They are to study the word, do it and teach it. This was the example of Ezra and of Jesus:

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Act 1:1. (also see 1 Tim 4:16)

Teachers are to move to the realm of anointing where their word burns like the teaching of Jesus, packed with authority and power to produce faith which in turn produces miracles.

We must all be ready to learn
Teaching is useless when student are unwilling to learn. Jesus called us to learn from him in Matt 11:29. When we refuse to learn troubles come. In 2 Chron 15:3,5 the scripture says

For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law… in those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.

In the earlier passage of 2 Kings 17, we saw lion tearing the people apart. When teaching was put in place in the days of Jeoshaphat, we saw the revival that broke out and the blessing that came upon Israel and their king.

Do we want answer to our questions? Do we want transformation that will make us Christ like? Do we want a genuine revival that will wake us from our slumber and launch us to the realm of breakthrough physically and spiritually, then let’s embrace the Bible teaching ministry? No longer joke with Sunday School, Bible study, discipleship, and all the teaching avenue we have.

Learning to Love

(Singles Edition) One of the most beautiful passages I have ever read about love is this: Place me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm, For love is as strong as death Its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire Like a mighty flame Many water cannot quench love Rivers cannot wash it away If one were to give All the wealth of his house for love It would be utterly scorned. Song of Songs 8:6-7. If this is the true description of love (and really it is), then love is another paradox in life. Love is the most stubborn of human qualities that I have seen. It survives the deepest hurt, and triumphs over the greatest offence. One of my greatest puzzle, a research I am still committed to is where does love lie? Is it in the blood or the bone or heart or in the head? Everyone says love is in the heart. Even Samson’s fake lover Delilah once told him in Judges 16:15 "How can you say, `I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.'' But how does love survive a wounded and bleeding heart since that is the seat of love in its first place? How do you destroy a throne and you expect the king that sits on it to perform? I hope to have answer for all these. I have seen and read about stories and stories of love – love that will not let go. I see so many paradoxes and I have come to see how strong love is. I see wounded and thoroughly bruised hearts who still kept one thing intact – their love. Look at these words for example: “Despite what Gideon did I still love him even if he does not love me any longer.” - From a jilted woman. “It’s hard enough to love one’s husband and harder not to know his grave, I still miss Tade so much, and I know wherever he is today, he knows I can’t stop loving him.” - From a cheated woman “I still love Steve but I yearn for the sweet Steve I knew … Although I still love Steve but I’m beginning to feel that if something is not done quickly, I will run mad. Two mad people won’t be good for the family.” - From the wife of a drug addict. “If you ask me, I still love Regina and I want to believe that all what she said was the truth but I don’t want the pregnancy.” - From the fiancé of a lady impregnated by his friend “I showed her the way out and called her a gold digger but deep inside me, I know I still felt something for Amaka, I still love her but I need to teach her a lesson…On the other hand I don’t want to shut her out and subject myself to the agony of knowing that part of me is still out there.” - Husband of a runaway wife “Deep down in me, I love him, although my family had never accepted him for once… I still want to marry for love.” - Fiancée of a coming-and-going fiancé “I asked after Femi as I still loved him … I still have feelings for him but I know he is still unserious.” - A jilted lady whose fiancé’s action landed her in psychiatric ward. Straight Talks about Love Here are some basic or foundational truths everyone that wants to understand the biblical concept of love should be acquainted with. Love is of God Real, genuine love emanates from God. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. I John 4:7. When true love is manifested in any person, he has simply manifested the nature of God in him. This makes love goes beyond the blood, bone, heart or head. Love is different from lust Though there is a thin wall, the two are different words and worlds entirely. Many young people who profess they fell in love eventually discover they were lusting. They were simply infatuated and the fun is gone after few sexual experience and character discoveries. True love goes through test and like gold refined by fire lasts very long and becomes very precious. People who are always “falling in love” never had their feet on the ground in the first place. Their type of love could simply have resulted from mere display of charisma or admiration of one quality or the other. No wonder everybody wants to love a music star or film star, or a political icon or orator. Ultimately such people if not careful never have a home. Much of the expressions they receive from people are mere lust because they don’t fall under the definition of divine love. Some even get into their lives only to exploit them. Love does not have to hurt. One of the greatest acts of wickedness of humanity to each other is taking somebody’s love for granted. Love is a commitment. Love is a deliberate dumping of oneself and destiny into another’s hand. Hurting this innocent soul is unfair. One man on the first night of his wedding woke up in the middle of the night and looked at his wife deeply and helplessly asleep. He thought in his heart “how can a woman commit herself into my hand this way? See her fast asleep. I can do just anything to her now without her knowledge or ability to resist.” With this thought he said “Lord, let me never betray the trust of this woman or ever hurt her.” We should know however that when love has to hurt, it is part of the fun. There is always the balm of forgiveness and reconciliation. Love is a living thing Think of all the characteristics of living things. You find it in love. Therefore love must be fed, it must be allowed to breathe, to recreate, to move, reproduce and more importantly to grow. This explains why love could be cultivated. Someone who cares for you, gives you gifts, seeks after your welfare or protection may court your sincere love. David and Jonathan so loved each other out of such cultivated love that when Jonathan died, David said, I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 2 Sam 1:26. Love covers multitude of sins Love lives in a big heart, not in narrow minds. That is why the scripture says it could cover a multitude of sin. There is no sin that love cannot forgive and there is no number of times it would be tired of doing that – even when it is more than 70 x 7 times. Love is always forgiving and reconciling in spite of any differences that might exist between us. What we may need to define from time to time is what amount of intimacy or closeness should exist between someone else and you. You can love everyone but you cannot be close to everyone. Benjamin Franklin puts it philosophically this way: Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none. Learning to Love The following tips will be helpful in the light of the foundation we have laid above. Express love If you love anyone express it. God loved the world and he expressed it by giving us his only begotten son. Jonathan loved David and hear what the scripture said; And it was so, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul… And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Sam 18:1, 4. True love crosses every barriers and boundaries. It does not have to do with sex, race, colour, education, parental background, money or any of these physical circumstances. If it had to, Jonathan couldn’t have loved David. But we are more interested in the fact he expressed it. Many would die lonely and miserable because they don’t know how to love or how to express it. Some expressions are meant for normal daily love relationship with our fellow men. Some deeper more intimate expressions such as caressing, kissing and sex are exclusively reserved for marriage. Love expressed must also be welcomed and accepted. Imbibe the characters of love in I Cor 13 What are those characters? Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. (Vrs 4-7 LVB). Be Sincere and Straightforward Love is not hypocritical. Love does not fake it. Love speaks the truth in love. When it needs to rebuke, it does, because God also chastises us when we misbehave. Love does not pamper even though it lavishes. When you need to speak the truth, speak it in love. You don’t love a person when he is on the path of destruction and you are silent. Prov 27:5 says, Open rebuke is better than secret love. (KJV) Put away your personal reservations and blockade Many of us came from homes and backgrounds where love was not existing or where it was deeply hurt. Some came from polygamous homes, divorced homes, unfaithful parents, battering parents, uncaring parents, unspiritual parents, hyper spiritual parents etc. All these affect our disposition to love and its expression. When you carry this into relationship and eventually into marriage, you run into problems. Some have negative temperamental dispositions. Cholerics for example are least emotional and love is not on their priority list. They thrive more on activities and achievements and may prefer to use you to achieve their goals instead of truly loving you. But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE. It is not every love that can lead to marriage There are levels and categories of love. Agape love is the genuine love of God that flows amongst us as believers. Phileo love is that love that binds family members together. Erotic love is the one that seeks to exploit the other person sexually. You must always check what is happening in your heart or what is in the heart of that other person for you. Many men and women love Jesus as their Lord and Master – even as their friend when he was on earth. Examples were Mary Magdalene, the trio of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and others. But they never lusted after Jesus. Then we must understand when we think about marriage that many people can love us but it is not all those people that want to marry us or that we can marry. Love is fundamental in marriage, but that is not all. There must be a physical and spiritual chemistry. You must be compatible and God must speak. Some of those who love you or whom you love simply see you as a friend, a brother/sister, a mentor, helper, a father/mother and never a material for marriage. A love that can lead to marriage has the following characteristics: - It comes from a mature heart (not for kids) - It is God-ordained and arranged - It goes through a systematic process of divine discovery when its time comes (Knowing God’s will – Courtship – Marriage) - It is possessive. It cant be shared with anyone else. Define between love and compassion The fact that you had compassion or pity on someone may not necessarily mean you love him or her. You must confirm this. You ought to love all of God’s creature. But when it comes to marriage, it is not a matter of pity or compassion. It is a matter of who you will enjoy your life with for the rest of your life. If you miss it. You regret forever. Finally, we must recognize that our love for God is always the index of our love for man. I John 4:20 says If someone says, "I love God,'' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? So learn to love. Start loving. If you don’t start it now it will be difficult when you have a wife, a husband or some children to love.

Navigating the Pathway of Peace

Text: Joshua 22 Introduction If we shall be the true sons of our Father and if we must resemble his son Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we have no alternative than to always tow the path of peace. Peace is needed in our nation, our community, our families and particularly in the church of Christ. It will be most ironical and unfortunate if battle rages in all other fronts of the society and one gets into the church of the saints and what you still find there is hatred, enmity, strife, envy, quarreling and general lack of peace. That is why we want to take a look at this very interesting story in the Bible and see what vital principles we could draw out that will always help us to navigate the path of peace, tow it and indeed live in it. Backgrounds (22:1-9) The setting of the story in our passage dates back to the time Israel began to conquer territories before the crossing of the Jordan (right from the days of Moses). When the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh saw that the earlier areas conquered were lands of pasture, good enough for their tribes as people with great flocks, they demanded to be given those lands as their own inheritance. Moses consented to this but on the ground that they will follow their brothers to go and conquer their own territories and after that, they would return back to their own allotted land. Record has it that these two and a half tribes were faithful to their promise so much that after the assignment, Joshua commended them, appreciated them, blessed them and gave them a lot of riches and possession to return with to their own land. This ought to become a basis of trust and confidence that Israel ought to repose on these tribes but as we will see later, it didn’t go like that. Concept of Intention As this tribe proceeded on their journey, they built a very impressive or imposing altar in the region of Jordan. (Vrs 10). They had a good intention. Their purpose was stated in verse 24-29

"But in fact we have done it for fear, for a reason, saying, `In time to come your descendants may speak to our descendants, saying, "What have you to do with the Lord God of Israel? "For the Lord has made the Jordan a border between you and us, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no part in the Lord.'' So your descendants would make our descendants cease fearing the Lord.' "Therefore we said, `Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, `but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come, "You have no part in the Lord.'' ' “Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, `Here is the replica of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.' "Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn from following the Lord this day, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the Lord our God which is before His tabernacle.'' No intention could be as good as this. They took the action of building the altar in sincerity of heart and in the fear of God and in securing a future for their children as relating to God and his covenant with Israel. Communication of Intention But good intention and sincerity are not enough. Is it communicated and well communicated? Are the right people informed? Are the stakeholders carried along? I have met many people who have been hurt in one way or the other because they took certain actions in the integrity of their heart yet they eventually got misunderstood, got blamed or even punished for it. It has happened to me before and perhaps it has happened to you. It happened to these two and half tribe of Israel. Their intention was misunderstood and they were almost punished for it. But what happened? They were poor in communication. They were just released by Joshua their leader with much commendation, blessing and prosperity. It is proper that they had discussed this issue of building an altar with their leader Joshua before leaving. Joshua to would perhaps have wanted to get the other elders and leaders of Israel informed and mobilized concerning the good intention of these tribes as they return and everyone would have approved of it or at least be aware of it. But they kept it at heart until the point of execution. This kind of secrecy may be good for other things, not for such a sensitive issue like that of an altar. If also they were assuming, it is equally wrong. In the principles of communication, assumption is a great sin. One must never assume the other party understood his intention unless it is well communicated. So our intentions must be well communicated. We must learn to carry all stakeholders along if we will not be misunderstood and if we will not create crisis. These stakeholders could be our spouse, children, siblings, parents, church members, committee, boss in the office, community leaders, project partners, colleagues at work, at school etc. By this we will be avoiding problems that would begin to call for settlement and we will be navigating the pathway of peace. Misunderstanding of intention It is very easy to misunderstand intentions when they are not well communicated. All Israel misunderstood the two and half tribes. This lack of good communication on one side and misunderstanding on the other side produced the following fruits: - Wrong information: An informant gave Israel incomplete information. An incomplete information is as dangerous as a wrong information (Vrs 11) - Wrong interpretation: They interpreted their altar as an altar of idolatry (vrs 16-17) - Wrong conclusion: They concluded that their action is treachery, rebellion and a cause for God to be angry with Israel (vrs 18) - Wrong reaction or counter action: They gathered the whole army of Israel to fight against them (vrs 12). The four elements above are things that are destroying the peace of many human organizations including the family and even the spiritual organism call the church. Where people are wrongly informed, where issues are wrongly interpreted, where wrong conclusions are made and where wrong reactions and actions are taken against issues, there is bound to be trouble. The way of peace is to avoid them like a plague and one non-negotiable antidote against them is proper communication of intention. It is unfortunate to note that all these conclusions were reached without any inquiry or explanation for those concerned. Role of Information Carriers It was just one man that sparked off this whole trouble. Verse 11 (NKJV) says, Now the children of Israel heard someone say, "Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side occupied by the children of Israel.''

And that was it! Just a piece of information from someone. This man or woman did not ask any question, he/she did not make any investigation. All he did was to go and spread the rumour or directly report a sensitive case that would have brought the destruction of hundreds of thousands of people without a genuine cause. These kind of people are very much alive today. Perhaps you are one of them. This are people who cannot confront issues and make their investigation especially from the mouth of the person a mater concerns. Their job is to report people, spread rumour, gossip and backbite. They are fire kindlers and when they are discovered to be the smoke behind the flame, they thin out in fear and shame. It is better not to carry any news you have not confirmed. It is better not to pass any information across which you cannot stand to say “I said it”. It is better not to welcome anyone who wishes to speak about another person but would not like to have his/her name mentioned or say the same thing in the presence of the person he/she is speaking about. Cowards are destroyers of peace. Power of Investigation The other tribe still did well by not attacking the two and half tribe without hearing from them. A powerful delegation of Phinehas (the Zealous Priest) and ten rulers from the chief house of the ten tribes was raised both to investigate and confirm the matter. (Vrs 13-15). This is a good step in peace making. We will always be on the peaceful and safer side when we learn to find out where the truth of any matter is. We must never assume or act without consulting the person/people who is/are involved before we resort to taking any action whether positive or negative. But when investigating, we need to go in the spirit of wisdom and humility, not to condemn but to confirm. Our intention, presentation and disposition may determine the response of the person we went to meet. In a modern culture like ours, the delegation might have met a communication block because they came with a wrong mindset and the speeches they out forward might have done more harm than good. But thank God for the large-heartedness of the two and half tribes. The Power of Explanation The two and a half tribe gave a good answer to the investigators backing it up with statements to really prove their integrity. They did not reply with pride or insult nor did they start to use question to answer question. Their response was not like that of the Benjaminite in Judges 20 who responded to their brethren with war and almost got their tribe exterminated if not for God’s mercy and commonsense among the remaining tribes of Israel. To tow the path way of peace we must learn the skill of simple explanation when required to do so. It should not be done in pride, arrogance or resentment. It should be done to make room for clarity and a fair sense of judgment. The truth should also be spoken. It is better not to take an action you will not be able to confidently defend when asked to do so. These are what lead to lie and economizing or negotiation of truth. The Power of trust and integrity After the two and half tribe spoke, the strong delegation of priest and elders had no choice than to believe them. First their speech was so convincing and their integrity was proven beyond doubt. The testimony was this:

And when Phinehas the priest and the rulers of the congregation, the heads of the divisions of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.

Secondly the delegation too trusted their words and that settled it. In peace-making, trust is a fundamental issue. Love believes all things especially when spoken with precedence of integrity. At least, these two and a half tribe had a precedence of faithfulness as we just saw in the way Joshua commended them and blessed them. Once someone has explained a case (unless maybe when he/she has a precedence of lack of integrity) the best is to believe and lay the case to rest. Conflict Resolution Eventually the conflict was resolved. Israel was pleased, pacified and they shelved the idea of going to fight with their brothers. They sheathed their swords. In fact they blessed God at the end of it all and acknowledged his presence in their midst. (Vrs 30-33). This is what we call win-win conflict resolution. The end of every conflict resolution should be peace and acceptance of each other. The matter should totally melt away from the heart of all the parties and every evil intention should be done away with. Everyone should acknowledge the presence of God and God would be blessed and glorified. A conflict resolved and communication is still poor - no greeting, no warm relationship among the parties – is a conflict not resolved. The God of peace will not be happy. Conclusion Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:19.

ADAPTED FOR SUCCESS AND GREATNESS

One day, a young camel decided to ask his father some questions about growing up. “Daddy, why is it that we have humps on our backs?” “Well son, we have humps on our backs which contain fat to sustain us through many days when we are out in the desert.” “Oh thanks, Dad,” said the youngster. He then asked, “Daddy, why is it that we have long eyelashes over our eyes?” “Well son,” said the father, “in the desert, there are many sandstorms which whip up a lot of sand which can get into our eyes. The long eyelashes protect our eyes from being blinded.” “Oh thanks, Dad,” said the youngster. “Dad, why is it that we have great big padded feet?” “Well son, in the desert, the sand is very soft and we need big feet to be able to walk on the sand without our feet sinking into the soft sand.” “Well thanks, Dad, but what are we doing in London Zoo?” What are we doing in London zoo? It’s a big question this young camel has thrown to his father. If we have humps to sustain us through many days in the desert, long eye lashes to prevent sand from entering our eyes and blind us, great padded feet to walk without sinking in the soft sand, we are created and adapted to be kings in the desert. What then are we doing in London zoo? Why are we caged here and not allowed to fulfil our destiny? Issues for you to think about You are adapted for success Adaptation in biology has to do with the development of physical and behavioural characteristics that allow organisms to survive and reproduce in their habitats. Though biology thinks in terms of acclimatisation and evolutionary adaptation, my own concept of adaptation is a spiritual adaptation. By this I mean that God has created all you need to survive, reproduce and succeed here on earth which God had given you as an inheritance. The gills, scales and fins of a fish all had a purpose. The poisonous gland in a toad, the rolling 360o eye and the inverted tongue has a purpose. The elephant trunk, leg and ear have a purpose for its success and domineering role it plays in the jungle. So is the camel we mentioned above. And so are you as a human being. At creation, God made you in his likeness and image and he said, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. (Gen 1:28) Inside of you is an intricate wonderful network of divine asset that David assessed one day and exclaimed, I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (Psalm 139:14) Everything in you is wonderfully and graciously and purposefully made – your eyes, nose, head, mouth, hands, leg, heart and everything you posses. They are all designed so that you can use them to fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion while you are here. It has been discovered that, "Your brain can store 100 trillion facts. Your mind can handle 15,000 decisions a second, as is the case when your digestive system is working. Your nose can smell up to 10,000 different odors. Your touch can detect an item 1/25,000th of an inch thick, and your tongue can taste one part of quinine in 2 million – parts of water. You are a bundle of incredible abilities, an amazing creation of God. Part of the church’s responsibility is to identify and release your abilities for serving God. "- Rick Warren Inside of you are wonderful talents and gifts - both physical and spiritual. And you remember Prov 18:16? A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. At every time there is always something in your hand that God wants to use to prosper you. He deliberately puts it there; unless you are not using it. When Moses was to cross the Red Sea with the children of Israel, God asked him what is in your hand (a rod). When that prophet widow was in trouble and they were about to take her only son as a slave to pay her dead husband’s debt, the question Elisha asked her was what do you have in the house (a jar of oil). When Jesus was to feed five thousand, the disciple said this was impossible until Andrew saw a boy with five loaves and two fishes. Jesus said that was all I needed. Your placement is also a divine adaptation for your success and greatness in life. You are not here by accident. God placed you here so you can find him and thereby find your destiny and fulfil it. Paul said in Acts, And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him… (Acts 17:26-27) So you are adapted for success. You must question the status quo If the father of that camel was not thinking this way, then the son is ready to challenge the father. As long as you don’t want to challenge your existing status, you are not ready for any promotion in life. As long as you are satisfied with your present condition spiritually, physically, academically, financially and otherwise, you remain where you are. But the day you rise up and like the sons of the prophet you say, this place where we are dwelling is too small for us, then you are ready to move to the next level. The young camel looked at all the assets he possessed - big hump, long eye lashes and greatly padded feet and he thought this must not be for nothing. There must be a greater reason why God gave me all these assets. Think of yourself too. Look at al the assets God has blessed and endowed you with. Then rise up and become what you were born to be. You must get out of your confinement O many lives are caged in a zoo! They are confined. They are limited and their destiny is covered with a seal. (I break that seal over your head in he name of Jesus). That young camel asked the father, what are we doing in a London zoo? Why are we confined here? If we have humps on our backs which contain fat to sustain us through many days when we are out in the desert, if we have long eyelashes to protect our eyes from being blinded and we have big padded feet to walk on the sand without our feet sinking into the soft sand, then why are we here? Some of you might say is a London zoo not better than a Saharan desert? For these camels, I assure you it is not better. And can I tell you, zoo is zoo whether London or America or Nigeria. In a zoo you are limited. You are confined. In a zoo, you are commercialised. You are there just to entertain people and help the zoo keepers make money. You can’t grow to your capacity physically, mentally and otherwise. Go to America and Britain and see trained engineering graduate from Nigeria doing night guard. See graduates washing corpse and changing diapers for old men/women at aged home or earning peanuts at supermarkets. Some even have better jobs but they are not free. So the idea is not where the zoo is. The problem is being in the zoo, being limited. God has created us to be free, realize our potential and fulfil our destinies. So get out of every limitation and use all your divine adaptation to the best and the greatest you can be. The sons of the prophet said let us go to the Jordan and cut timbers and construct a bigger place for ourselves. Jabez cried to God and said O! that you would bless me and enlarge my territory. John Maxwell once observed that, "Certain species of fish will grow according to the size of their environment. Put them in a tiny aquarium, and they remain small even at adulthood. Release them into a huge natural body of water, and they grow to their intended size. People are similar. If they live in a harsh and limiting environment, they stay small. But put them someplace that encourages growth, and they will expand to reach their potential." So you are not meant for the zoo. You are meant for the field where you can test your potential and be what God intends you to be. You are meant for the skies where the eagles fly and there is no limitation to the height you can attain. You must answer the question, “What are you doing here?” So, what are you doing here? Here is not your place. There is your place. God said in Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. In I Cor 2:9, the scripture says, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. So what are you doing here? Elijah was asked that question and he couldn’t answer because he left his divine posting out of frustration. Are you frustrated by what people are doing to discourage you? Don’t be. Adam was asked a similar question and he only looked for excuses because he has eaten the forbidden fruit and discovered he was naked. Have you disobeyed God and now you are naked and helpless like Saul who had to go and consult a medium because he said God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. What are you doing here? Here is not your destiny or destination. It is time to get out of this zoo – out of this limitation and satanic barriers against your breakthrough. It is time to arise and shine. What will you do? The prodigal son said I will arise and go to my father. He got there; he met with forgiveness, divine love, restoration and prosperity. Esther said I will go and meet the king, If I perish, I perish. She didn’t perish. She met with favour and her enemies were destroyed. The two lepers in the days of Elisha said, "Why are we sitting here until we die? "If we say, `We will enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.'' (2 Kgs 7:16) But they did not die. When they got to the camp of the Syrians, all the enemies have disappeared. They ate, packed as much as they can and then declared the news in famine-ravished Israel. That day a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel. Your sitting down and folding your arms will do you no good. Nor will it do anyone any good. Many are waiting to be blessed because of your blessing. Your generation is waiting for your glorious manifestation. Let me close in the words of Nelson Mandela "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frighten us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God Your playing small doesn’t serve the world There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And, as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. So you are adapted for success and greatness. What are you doing here? Nothing. Rise up and be the star that God has created you to be."