Divine Encounters

Day 298 Reading: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John We live in a world that is craving for love. Many are looking for love and looking in all the wrong places. The world is fuelled by a lust that many have mistaken as love. The devil has disguised his offering of lust and camouflaged it as love. We see it every day presented and served to us in many different forms. What many don't understand is that the devil's offering is presented to the world with an icing that covers the contents of what is laid on the plate offering from the enemy. Paul writing to the Corinthians warned them that the enemy does camouflage as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14. The result of consuming what the enemy has served us is that our hearts have been dulled and many of us have shifted from having our moral compass guided by the Bible to become humanistic in our morality. Compromising doesn't begin with a big sin, but with a subtle shift of the heart from loving God wholly to having a mixtur...

Day 295 Reading: James 1:1 - James 5:20 Whilst reading the Bible in each book I have sought to look for one main thing that is a focal point. I am sure you will agree that it's not simple to do that as each book in the Bible has numerous teachings that God desires we understand. While reading the Book of James my mind had many thoughts of what to blog. However, as I thought and prayed about it I felt I should blog about the tongue. James in writing this letter warns the believer that many destinies have been ruined by the tongue. When this small part of the body is not under God's control the havoc it can do is great. Just think of the many dictators in history. Many rose to the place of prominence because of their words.   You taste food with the tongue, not the hands that bring it to your mouth. Your eyes may see a meal and it may look delicious but the tongue will reveal whether what you saw was great to taste or not. This is the same with words. How do your words ta...

Day 290 Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1 - 1 Timothy 6:21 Welcome to the first letter written to Timothy. I believe God has something ordained for you and me in this season that can be found in the instructions, advise and wisdom Paul wrote to Timothy. Remember that Paul and Timothy went on a missionary journey together. However, Timothy remained in Ephesus and became the overseer of the flourishing church. Ephesus was a busy trading town with a flourishing economy with people from many different cultures.  Whenever we start a new season we find ourselves hopeful of making greater progress more than ever. We look to a new day as an opportunity to change our fortunes of yesterday. We experience this either at the start of the new year, new month, new week or even in the morning when starting off a new day! Developing the right mentality to see what we desire established and the pain we suffer eradicated we need to understand that we need to understand the value of a good fight of...

Day 292 Reading: Philemon 1:1 - Philemon 1:23 God is interested in every aspect of our lives. He is not just a God who answers our big prayer needs but also interested in our small day to day details. God sees everything and thus when Paul writes the letter to Philemon we learn about God's heart to employers. Firstly, God is the biggest employer in the universe. Look at creation and you will realise that God has many employees. God's employees range from the angelic to human. In God's system, God has many tools to use that all work for Him. He is the Master and in control of everything. However, God has given mankind a free will. That free will gives you the ability to either recognise your employer or disregard His intentions for you. Many today go about their business without consideration of who God is. When as a believer you don't view your vocation as part of your worship to God then mediocrity is the result. I am at a place in my life where the im...

Day 291 Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1 - 2 Timothy 4:22 We live in a day and age where people admire giftings. When we think of Serena Williams we think of the gift she is in tennis, when we think of Mozart we think of classical music and I could list many giftings that society admires. One day while thinking about my place here on earth God reminded me that I am gifted. Please say it to yourself, " I am gifted".  Life has a way of dividing people into haves and have nots and many times we believers seem to think we are in the realm of have nots. Paul whilst writing to Timothy reminds him to stir up the gift within him. Paul was telling Timothy there is potential inside of you and it cannot become something unless you awaken it. God placed gifting in you. It's your responsibility to stir up the gift within to be able to shine like a star in God's eyes.  Why must we stir up every gift within us? God has not given us a spirit of fear. Fear is one reason many hav...

Day 289 Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1 - 3:18 One of the worst things that can happen is to meet a bad teacher. You see teachers help develop the mind. A good teacher will cause a student to question and seek knowledge that benefits their development. A bad teacher, on the other hand, brings knowledge that doesn't grow a person. Instead, it derails the mind of the learner from the truth and sets them on a course of falsehood. Paul in writing the second letter to the Thessalonicans is having to address the issue of false teachers. False teachers cause people to walk in error. May I ask you what teachings or thoughts have you imbibed that are false doctrine? What have you read, heard or thought that has hindered your walk with God? Ever heard something agreed with it because it sounded right but something was not right?  We live in a day and age where our ears need to have sieves to be careful about what we allow into our minds and hearts as teachings. We need to ...

Day 288 Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1 - 1 Thessalonians 5:28 Life has so many distractions. Too many I should add. Many times I have left home with a plan of action but then one phone call derails the entire day. Social media doesn't help. We now have to detox ourselves of Whatsapp, FaceBook, Instagram and many others we use. Paul in writing to the church at Thessalonica gives brief instructions. This was a church that was started and before Paul could stick around to ensure that the new believers were grounded Paul accompanied by Silas had to flee to Berea at night Acts 17: 1-10 . The accusation against Paul was that he was turning the world upside down. We need more people like him today more than ever. Paul encourages the believers to not forget that Jesus is coming again and the date or day is unknown. He encourages the believers to stay ready for the return of the Messiah. The believer is encouraged to put on light and do away with every form of evil deeds. Fle...

Day 287 Reading: Colossians 1:1 - Colossians 4:18 When Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians he focused on Christ and the body. The letter to the Ephesians is about what Christ has bestowed on the body. Thus we believers discover that we are sat in heavenly places in Christ from Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. However, to the church in Colossae, he focuses on Christ the Head. Notice that Paul prays for the believer to be filled with wisdom in both letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. We all need wisdom, however, divine wisdom is more important. One of the first things that Paul speaks about is that the believers in Colossae had a faith in Christ that was spoken of. As I read this statement the Holy Spirit reminded me of the importance of having faith in Christ alone. Many today have faith in people, things, money, a gift from God and forget that faith is to be rooted and grounded in Christ alone. Faith in anyone and anything else is bound to fail. The ...

Day 286 Reading: Philippians 1:1 - Philippians 4:23 I am yet to meet a person without any trouble here on earth. This year has taught me a lot. I have seen both mountain tops and valleys that I didn't know existed. We all have our share of stories of trials and testimonies. In my listening to many stories of the woes of many, I have sought the heart of God regarding a simple matter. What attitude does God expect of us His children in the midst of warfare?  Paul's letter to the Philippians was written while he was under armed guard. He was a prisoner facing the prospect of being sentenced to death. Paul consistently encourages the believers to rejoice. In my Bible, and I use the NKJV version, the word rejoice is used by Paul 8 times in this letter to the Philippians.  You are to rejoice because you have hope in Christ. Irrespective of the challenges of life you are facing, don't despair that your case is hopeless. You have something that only Christ can give...

Day 285 Reading: Ephesians 1:1 Ephesians 6:24 The letter to the church in Ephesus is one of my favourite books if that is allowed in the Bible. This is one book of the Bible I have read many a time seeking to understand the position of a believer. You see in this book there are three words that I believe are key to understanding it: SIT, WALK and STAND.  Paul begins by telling the believer of the place He is situated. We are not walking towards the throne, we are already sat on the throne together with Christ. Once it becomes clear to the believer that they are seated in Christ with Christ in heavenly places then every satanic agenda is a walkover. You and I have to understand that we are partakers of the inheritance that God set for Christ. We are co-heirs. Learn to sit in Christ as one who is victorious. As one sits then they are able to seek for wisdom that they may understand the depth, length and breadth of the glorious riches to be accessed in Christ.  P...

Day 283 Reading: 2 Corinthians 10:1 - 2 Corinthians 13:14 We all go through situations, circumstances, or challenges in life that can alter our lives drastically. I will be very personal in this blog not because I want to solicit empathy but to encourage someone.  Such moments end up being very disheartening to the soul but they can be very rewarding if pivoted in the right direction. For the last three days as I have read this letter to the Corinthians, my mind has kept thinking about the sufficiency of God's grace. Paul declared that is was of the outworking of grace that we are saved. Salvation is not because of our works but because of God's unmerited favour that we have what we didn't deserve. Jesus took our punishment, stood in our place and received what we deserved as sinners and we, in turn, received the forgiveness that we didn't ask for. Paul in Romans declared that all this was done while we were still sinners. God sent His Son to die for you wh...

Day 282 Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1 - 2 Corinthians 9:15 Before you think I want your money and switch off give me a few moments of your time. Today I find that many believers are frustrated by this topic and don't want to give. My concern is that we have become hard-hearted and moved from the position of generosity they once held. Let me ask you a question I asked myself? Have I become more of a miser as I have grown older or generous? I have noticed that many people have been hurt by people taking advantage of their generosity. Why is it important that I maintain a generous heart even when people hurt me by taking advantage of my generosity? How do I avoid the heart of a miser from becoming my heart? How do I maintain a generosity that pleases God? Tithing doesn't signify generosity. The tithe belongs to God. As I was meditating on this I renewed my commitment to being a tither. Many may not agree with tithing today due to doctrinal differences. That is not a ...

Day 281 Reading : 2 Corinthians 1:1 - 2 Corinthians 4:18 Recently while talking with my mum she mentioned how many people are tired of trouble. As she continued talking I kept silent and allowed her to just share her burdened heart regarding all the challenges facing her and many she knew. She knew that her son would say something to encourage her in the midst of all the turmoil facing her and her friends.  Paul faced trouble. From being stoned, hated for preaching, to being arrested on numerous occasions. He understood trouble so much that when reading through the Book of Acts I was encouraged by his attitude towards all the situations he faced. In this second letter to the Corinthians, though theologians tell us that this was actually the third letter, Paul looks at the challenges we all face in a different way. As I read the first 4 chapters of 2nd Corinthians I realised that Paul looked at the issues of life in a particular way. As I read the more I became aware th...

Day 280 Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - 1 Corinthians 16:23 God has given to you and I gifts to enhance His Kingdom. God's desire is for the Kingdom to be advanced. Jesus while here on earth spoke about the Holy Spirit. He taught that the Holy Spirit would come to instruct, guide, teach, convict the believer. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven He instructed that the disciples remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with the Holy Spirit and power Acts 1:8.   The Holy Spirit's coming onto the believer changed the landscape and empowered the believers to do the works of God. Jesus had promised the disciples that they would perform greater miracles than what He had done John 14:12 . The church in Corinth is similar to the Body of Christ today. Gifted with diverse giftings that have divided many while blessing more. As I read today's passages God asked me a question? Why would Paul write about love in the middle of his exposition of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? W...

Day 279 Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:1 - 1 Corinthians 10:33 Walking past a pastry shop they had these sumptuous looking slices of different cakes. It was my first visit to the US and the cakes I saw in that shop still remain in my mind many years later. Those who know me know that I love cake. There was a slice of fruit cake, black forest, white forest, ginger and cinnamon cake, vanilla cake, and others that I wondered what was going on. The lady at the counter saw me asking questions about the cakes and came over to ask if I wanted to buy. Of course, I wanted to buy the shop however I remembered that eating all that cake would soon have me sick. I chose to pass the offer and walk away.  As I read the passage of scripture above I asked how do we flee sin or the appearance of it? Paul writing to the Corinthians speaks of God making a way out of every temptation. Now for some, they will read about my temptation for cake and laugh however God has taught me that one's weaknes...

Day 278 Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1 - 1 Corinthians 5:13 Paul kept in touch with his flocks. He felt it was his responsibility to know the affairs of the brethren. When writing to the Corinthians we find that he not only is answering their questions but also dealing with issues they  had. Paul must have been made aware of the issues the believers were dealing with. He even got to know of situations where they erred by entertaining sin. As I meditated on what to write I felt I needed to highlight three things.  Firstly, as a believer understand that God has given you grace that enriches you in everything by Him in all utterance and knowledge 1 Corinthians 1:5 . This statement struck me as I read it because it became a spotlight showing me that I had not really understood all that God has given me. God has enriched me with all I require for life. Life may say something else however God desires I reinforce it in me that God has enriched me in all things. I am not wait...

Day 277 Reading: Romans 11:1 - Romans 16:27 What's on your mind? What do you think most about? What preoccupies your mind above all things? Your thoughts are important to God and yourself. You are the sum total of your thoughts. Yes, I know that sounds harsh but how you think will determine your life. Your thoughts give you a perception of life. How you think determines what you see. It's important to understand that if your thoughts are negative your life is negated. If all you think are problems then soon your life will only attract problems. Thoughts are magnets pulling the physical reality of our thinking. You will meet two types of people in life. Optimists and pessimists. Optimists see the bright side in the horizon always while pessimists never see good only the bad. Sometimes listening to a pessimist will make you realise that their attitude is similar to an ostrich that refuses to look up and instead buries its head in trouble. The question one must ask is...

Day 276 Reading: Romans 6:1 - Romans 10:21 Life is not funfair but warfare. Children spend their time playing games and to become mature in the ways of God one has to learn to overcome issues in life. Jesus promised that challenges will come and when they do one should rejoice  John 16:33 . You may wonder why joy is necessary when facing difficult challenging times. May I point you towards the prophet Isaiah who proclaimed that joy is the bucket we draw from the wells of salvation in life  Isaiah 12:3 . I don't know how your days, weeks and months have treated you so far. One thing I know is that God is still in charge and that alone is a reason to be joyful. Paul while writing to the church in Rome encourages them that they are more than conquerors. He encourages the believer to understand that they are more than conquerors. In a world where we revere conquerors to be called more than a conqueror reveals to us how important our identity is. God sees you as m...

Day 274 Reading: Acts 21:1 - Acts 28:31 We live in a world where influencers are critical to brands. For any brand to become famous it must allow influencers to help advocate for it. Few people are known to have influenced the Kingdom of God like Paul. Paul was an influencer who propagated the cause of the Kingdom. The Book of Acts records how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to the known world. We the believers of today are continuing to write the chapters of the Book of Acts. God has not stopped moving on earth and His Kingdom is advancing more than ever. What lessons have I learnt from the Book of Acts? Be willing to proclaim the gospel to everyone. Many times we are unable to preach the gospel to high ranking people. Don't be arrogant and forget that we all are in need of salvation and the status of man should not be a hindrance.  The power of God is needed for the salvation of mankind. Miracles are not to puff the preacher up but to magnify God and thus dr...