YOUR SPIRIT WILL SUSTAIN YOU

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” PROVERBS 18:14

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16

 

It is very sad that most of the times we pay attention to the secondary issues of life at the expense of the primary and the most important ones. These misplaced priorities if not duly addressed could cost us dearly. Most of us will have to address our poorly spiritual lives this season. We would have to pay more attention to its development and stability. We would have to pay more attention to the nourishment, the adorning and growth of our inner man. It will go a long way to benefit us. It will provide stability and the endurance we need in the face of opposing storm. Our spirit is going to be the anchor which fastens us to that Rock of Ages who is Christ Jesus. Your spirit will sustain you in the times of your infirmity. I had an interesting conversation with this man on the train yesterday as I journeyed to preach at an appointment yesterday. I later found out that he was an Assemblies of God Pastor who had also traveled far for a pastors conference in my area. He asked me a question, is Christianity hard or easy? Both was my answer! What do you mean by both, he asked? He had just talked lovingly to her wife on the phone prior to our conversation. I said well ,it is like love, sometimes it’s bitter, sometimes sweet. I realized first of all he wanted to test my knowledge of scripture when he realized I was on my way to preach. Secondly he had this philosophy he wanted to defend and in a way influence me with such. I say he wanted to test my knowledge of scripture because he asked, what does MATTHEW 11:28 say, I quoted and then he added the verse 29 and 30, ” Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. I reckoned he comes from the school of thought who believes that Christians do not suffer affliction. I could see he was one of those who believe that if a believer suffers, it may be all be down to something he may not be doing right. He said, you see, Jesus said His yoke is light so how can you say Christianity is both hard and easy?. I said well sir, He still called it a yoke and a burden. It only becomes easier when side by side He helps us carry them.

Having spoken lovingly to his wife, he asked again, how can love be both sweet and bitter? I was like well, certain people lose their minds for love when their hearts gets broken. Why am I given all these illustrations? Our existence on earth till death is swallowed up in victory, till corruption puts on in-corruption is going to be both bitter and sweet. Sometimes it will be easy, and other times hard. Wisdom and prudence demands that we make preparations for the future. Feeding and building one’s spirit will stand him in good stead when troubled times come. Spending quality time on nourishing and building your spirit which is the inner man will sustain you in days of adversity. You will still be thriving when the outward man is well beaten down and ready to give up. It was a revelation Mary caught which Martha couldn’t comprehend. She spent her time sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing and feeding on spiritual food. For this Jesus said no man could take away from her, “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” LUKE 10:41-42. Strive for that most important thing which is, building your spirit through God’s Word. Storms may come, so may floods; but in all, you will still be standing. You will be well equipped with spiritual armour, and having done all, to stand, ” Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” EPHESIANS 6:13. May God give us the grace to pay more attention to our spiritual progress and development. We will never be the same again. In The Name that is above all names, Jesus Christ, Son of The Living God. Amen and Amen!

GOD’S PRUDENCE IN SUSTENANCE

“Now The LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” JONAH 1:17

“And the word of The LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there” 1 KINGS 17:2-4

 

It is good to know that as children of God, even though certain things may take us by surprise, God is always a step ahead, and always goes before to prepare an environment which necessitates our survival. We may not always be prepared for certain events, neither do we always have knowledge of what may befall us. The good news is, when trouble blows, Jehovah sees and knows! One scripture which I came across in the beginning of my Christian journey which really encouraged and sustained me and still does is, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of The Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early” PSALM 46:1-5. Knowing that God is an ever present help in times of need no matter the situation to me was the best thing I ever heard. God made me understood that there is no reason to press the panic button in any situation, because regardless of the situation, He’s always prepared a way, there is always a place where the streams of God shall make glad in every chaotic situation. Nathaniel was shocked to his bones the first time he met Jesus. Jesus began to say certain things about him, and he asked, “Whence knowest thou me?”. Jesus replied, ” Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” JOHN 1:48. God is always a step ahead. Before Philip brought him to Christ, Jesus had seen him way ahead. What makes you think that your situation takes God by surprise? It may take you by surprise but not the Omniscient God who knows all things, and speaks the end from the beginning.

Before Cornelius’ men arrived in Joppa to fetch Peter, God had revealed to him in advance and had prepared him for what was then unheard-of among the Jews, that is, a Jew keeping company with a Gentile. Before the men knocked at the door, The Holy Spirit said to him, behold three men seek thee. Arise therefore and go doubting nothing for I have sent them (ACTS 10:19,20). God always sees in advance and prepare a way for His people. For this reason He says, ” fear not for I am with you” (ISAIAH 41:10, ISAIAH 43:5, GENESIS 26:24). He is a very present help in times of need. We may not know or see with our sees but the fact He promises to never leave nor forsake us settles all anxieties. God knew before time that man will fall into sin and into condemnation, therefore was The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. He is called The Only wise God (1 TIMOTHY 1:17). His wisdom and prudence sees things before they happen and make preparation for such “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” PROVERBS 22:3. God will never suffer your foot to be moved.

The story of Jonah depicts God’s beyond extraordinary prudence and wisdom in preparing for his people in overwhelming situations. He knew beforehand that Jonah was to be thrown into the sea and had miraculously prepared a great fish to swallow him, who will then afterwards vomit him ashore. It caught him by surprise but with God, it was all planned out. Again we ask the question, if God be for you, who can be against you? Scripture says that, with the situation will He make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13). The way of escape or survival may not be all that glamorous, they may not be what you expected, but the fact God sees it fit buries all arguments. Elijah’s situation also throws more light on this subject. God prepared a raven to feed him when he sent famine into all the land. Though the earth be removed and the mountains be cast into the sea, there is a place whereof shall make the people of God. God’s already got you covered. Change is coming, just hold on. His prudence has already made preparation for every situation. All you have to do is trust and obey. You will never be the same again. In The Name that is above all names, Jesus Christ, Son of The Living God. Amen and Amen!