HAGGAI
Haggai means “FESTIVE”, he was one of the postexilic prophets a contemporary of Zechariah.
- He had qualities of a Pastor, an encourager whose word was in the hearts of people and the mind of God.
- He was the Lord’s messenger bringing to people the message of God.
Background
- During the reigning of King Darius in Persia from 522-486 BC, Haggai came to his task in 522BC.
- He joined his fellow exiles’ who had returned to their homeland to rebuild the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
- They started building an altar when the enemy started mocking their efforts.
- Haggai & Zacharia’s ministry caused the people to rally and complete the building of the temple.
Why the book of Haggai
-The book of Haggai addresses 3 problems common to all people of all times and gives 3 inspired solutions to those problems.
1. Disinterest: chapter 1vs1-15
-the people had returned from exile for the stated purpose of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem ,Ezra 1vs2-4,had made a start on their assigned work but opposition appeared causing a stop to the work.
-People had become more concerned with building beautiful houses for themselves perhaps in an attempt to blot out the memory of their exile in a strange land. (1vs 4)
-To wake the people from their apathetic attitude God speaks twice to them.
- There first needed to realise that they are fruitless ( 1 vs 1- 6 ) because they have turned from God’s house to their own houses ( 1vs 7-9).
-All their efforts at building their own kingdom can never produce lasting results.
-After seeing their problem the people then need to understand that God will accept what they do ,that he will be glorified if they will only yield to him what they have ( 1vs8).
2. Discouragement : chapter 2vs1-9
-some of the elderly people in the band of the returned exiles had seen Solomon’s temple when they were children and knew that nothing beautiful could ever be built compared to the former temple (2 vs3)
-Haggai brings a message to deal decisively with discouragement
- The solution has 3 parts
(i) To deal with immediate problems
(ii)T o bring a long-range resolution (2vs4)
(iii)Overcoming discouragement making people understand that they were building a temple for the day God will fill it with the glory of Solomon’s temple (2vs9)
3.Dissatisfaction 2vs 10vs23
-Now that the people were working they expected an immediate reversal of all years of inactivity
-The prophet comes with a question for the priests (2vs12-13) about clean and unclean things, their influence of one another.
-The response of the priests was cleanliness is infectious while holiness is not.
-The application is obvious, do not expect the work of 3 months to undo the neglect of 16years.
-The Lord’s word to the people was a surprise (2vs19),they needed to understand that God’s blessings cannot be earned but come as gracious gifts from giving God.
Personal application/revelation
-Haggai issues a clean call to his own people and to us by God.
- We should not allow difficulties ,enemies or selfish pursuits to turn us aside from our divinely given responsibilities.
-The noble nature of our calling and the promised presence of God and his holy spirit encourages us to fulfil our commission
* by emphasising the co-operative roles of a prophet ,priest ,prince and people
-Haggai also demonstrates the necessity for teamwork in carrying out God’s purposes on earth.
Holy spirit @ work
-2 vs 5 brings a reference of the holy spirit @ work.
- vs 2 explains how the spirit of God is meant to interact with the spirit of the people in order to get the work done
vs5 includes these significant points
(i) The holy spirit is a vital part of God’s covenant with his people ‘according to the word I covenanted with you ‘.
(ii) The holy spirit is an abiding gift to the people of God ‘my spirit remains among you’.
(iii) The presence of the holy spirit removes fear from the hearts of God’s people therefore ‘do not fear’.
Conclusion
These principles remain the same for the people of God today .At the heart of God’s covenant with his people is the constant operation of the holy spirit, working to release them from fear so that they may move bodily in fulfilling the divine commission.
The messages to people
(i) Consider your ways 1vs1-5
- consider what u have done 1vs1-6
- what are the results of considering your ways 1vs 12-15
(ii) Be strong and work 2vs 1-9
-comparison of new temple with Solomon’s temple 2vs1-3
- Call to be strong 2vs4-5
-coming glory of new temple 2vs6-9
(iii) I will bless you 2vs 10-23
- a question for the priests 2vs10-19
- a promise to Zerubbabel 2vs 20-23
by Getrude
Friday, April 16, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Secret to Greatness
Text: Mark 9:33-35
“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down Jesus called the Twelve and said “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” NIV
Introduction
Greatness is a subject that is perhaps least talked about by Christians. You might be aware of this but might have never considered why. My observations on this matter have largely revealed a deeply entrenched mentality among Christians which in many senses has lead to an unfruitful silence on this subject.
To many being Christian and greatness are two opposed values. You can not be a worthy Christian and at the same time be called a great man especially by the world. On occasions when the subject is address within the church body, you end up feeling that desiring greatness is a worldly ambition and should never be consider by a true Christian. But this perspective I contend is contrary to what Christ revealed while here on earth. Let us therefore examine together the intricacies of this subject as discussed by our Lord Jesus.
The argument
One day, while on their way to Capernaum, Jesus disciples picked up an argument about who was the greatest among them. Interestingly they had just left the scene where they had failed to drive a demon out of a possessed boy (refer to Mark 9:14-30). Jesus had been on a mountain with Peter, James and John where he transfigured and talked with Elijah and Moses. Upon returning to the foot of the mountain, he found his disciple arguing with a large crowed because they had failed to drive out this demon. Now from such a failure and just a few verses latter, they start arguing about who the greatest among them was. Can you picture this? A group of failures arguing about who the greatest among them is. It is like ten people failing a test and latter comparing results to determine which of them is a better failure. I guess you have seen this before. Two people fail a test, and one asks the other, “what mark did you get” and the other says “30%” the inquirer then says “am better than you, I got 39%.” What the inquirer is saying in actual fact is that he is a better failure than the other. This in a sense is what the disciples where doing.
The bible does not indicate who started the raw, but perhaps it was James, John or Peter who might have picked on their fellow disciple for such a failure stating that if they had been around, they would have done better. But let us not speculate further because the bible does not say.
The disciples had an overt desire for greatness. They made no secret of it and each argued with the other vouching for their presumed greatness. They all thought they were greater one than the other.
Now Jesus knew their ongoing argument. But waited until they went inside the house in Capernaum behind closed doors before he confronted them about the matter. What a considerate master he is. He did not want to address the matter publicly and risk shaming them. His primary concern was to get them to know the truth about greatness and that is what we are also interested in.
Behind Closed doors
Behind closed door Jesus asked them what they were arguing about, but they failed to produce an answer. Now Jesus being who he was already knew what the argument had been about. His response to them holds the key to understanding greatness and diffusing ever negative thought against you becoming great. He said “...If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
Instead of rebuking them or condemning them about their desire for greatness, Jesus supplies them with the key to becoming great. In this Jesus revealed to them and us that it is not wrong to want to become great. It is not pride desiring greatness and God is not against us becoming great. On the contrary, he wants you to become great. This is why Jesus took the time to speak about this matter to his disciples. Here are three truths we can derive from Jesus words.
1. Greatness is for anyone
Notice that he does not address his disciple only but the whole of humanity. He said “If anyone wants to be first, he must the very last, and the servant of all.” Greatness is for “anyone” who desires it and not an elite group or those with some special gift. It is for “anyone.”
2. Greatness is for the desirous
Greatness only follows those who desire it. You will never stumble into greatness or find yourself in its arms by chance. It is never the case. Rather greatness follows “anyone” who “wants” it. You must “want to be first.” Do not feel guilt for wanting to be first or the greatest. It is not a sin.
Consider Jesus words again.
“...If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
3. Greatness is a decision
Greatness is a decision you make. You must decide you want to be first and great. It is a conscious and deliberate choice and is therefore tied to the activities and little choices you make daily. Each step matters.
The path to greatness
For so long, Christians have feared expressing their desire for greatness because it might be wrongly classed as pride. To compound this problem, most teachings on the subject have shaped the minds of many Christians to think retrogressively. If a brother or Sister in the Lord dares to parade their ambition to be the best and by far the greatest in a certain aspect, his ambition is likely to meet with a trashing from the “BE HUMBLE CLUB”
Jesus however held a different view. To him it is not the "what" of becoming great the matter, but the "how." His focus in the text we read is not whether you become great or not, or in what you become great. But how you do it. He did not turn to his disciples and begin a lecture about what the areas or careers to pursue or concentrate on to become great. But he told them exactly how to become great. It does not matter whether you want to be the greatest musician, chef, economist or student in the world but Jesus showed us that there is only one universal principle for getting there. You “must be the very last and the servant all.” This is the "how" and not the "what" of greatness.
To achieve greatness, one must chose to deliberately be last and serve all. You cannot be selective as to whom you serve. Your service is to the world and you must serve all.
This is not to say you must serve the entire population on earth before you become great, but rather that your service must be available to all those God directs into your path. Do not have favourites irrespective of whether certain people treat you good or bad. Afford each person equal amounts of your service in life with a thankful heart. Do not grumble about it. Thank God for the privilege of those he has given you to serve. It is in serving them that you become great.
Though you might be more talented, beautiful or handsome, true and lasting greatness does not result from downsizing other in an attempt to make yourself appear better. The world’s model of greatness is based on advocacy and comparison. It provides measures for greatness and weighs each man against them. Are you smart enough? Are you rich or wealth? Do you have the hottest body in the world? These are the things that the world uses to measure greatness and create legends. Jesus however points out that heavens model of greatness is based on relationships and how you contribute to them.
Servant hood fuels the greatest relationships on earth. Trying to become great the worlds way only fosters competition and rivalry like we saw with the disciples arguing. Heavens way to greatness promotes relationships and service to one another. It is the best economy that has ever been deployed.
If you desire true and lasting greatness, then chose to do it heavens way. Become a servant of all. Decide to leave a legacy of greatness and I promise you won’t regret it.
In conclusion allow me to say,
“No man has ever become great without first desiring to be great, deciding to become great and then deprecating themselves to become a servant and friend of all.”
God bless you!
Author: Ephrem Namagonya
“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down Jesus called the Twelve and said “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” NIV
Introduction
Greatness is a subject that is perhaps least talked about by Christians. You might be aware of this but might have never considered why. My observations on this matter have largely revealed a deeply entrenched mentality among Christians which in many senses has lead to an unfruitful silence on this subject.
To many being Christian and greatness are two opposed values. You can not be a worthy Christian and at the same time be called a great man especially by the world. On occasions when the subject is address within the church body, you end up feeling that desiring greatness is a worldly ambition and should never be consider by a true Christian. But this perspective I contend is contrary to what Christ revealed while here on earth. Let us therefore examine together the intricacies of this subject as discussed by our Lord Jesus.
The argument
One day, while on their way to Capernaum, Jesus disciples picked up an argument about who was the greatest among them. Interestingly they had just left the scene where they had failed to drive a demon out of a possessed boy (refer to Mark 9:14-30). Jesus had been on a mountain with Peter, James and John where he transfigured and talked with Elijah and Moses. Upon returning to the foot of the mountain, he found his disciple arguing with a large crowed because they had failed to drive out this demon. Now from such a failure and just a few verses latter, they start arguing about who the greatest among them was. Can you picture this? A group of failures arguing about who the greatest among them is. It is like ten people failing a test and latter comparing results to determine which of them is a better failure. I guess you have seen this before. Two people fail a test, and one asks the other, “what mark did you get” and the other says “30%” the inquirer then says “am better than you, I got 39%.” What the inquirer is saying in actual fact is that he is a better failure than the other. This in a sense is what the disciples where doing.
The bible does not indicate who started the raw, but perhaps it was James, John or Peter who might have picked on their fellow disciple for such a failure stating that if they had been around, they would have done better. But let us not speculate further because the bible does not say.
The disciples had an overt desire for greatness. They made no secret of it and each argued with the other vouching for their presumed greatness. They all thought they were greater one than the other.
Now Jesus knew their ongoing argument. But waited until they went inside the house in Capernaum behind closed doors before he confronted them about the matter. What a considerate master he is. He did not want to address the matter publicly and risk shaming them. His primary concern was to get them to know the truth about greatness and that is what we are also interested in.
Behind Closed doors
Behind closed door Jesus asked them what they were arguing about, but they failed to produce an answer. Now Jesus being who he was already knew what the argument had been about. His response to them holds the key to understanding greatness and diffusing ever negative thought against you becoming great. He said “...If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
Instead of rebuking them or condemning them about their desire for greatness, Jesus supplies them with the key to becoming great. In this Jesus revealed to them and us that it is not wrong to want to become great. It is not pride desiring greatness and God is not against us becoming great. On the contrary, he wants you to become great. This is why Jesus took the time to speak about this matter to his disciples. Here are three truths we can derive from Jesus words.
1. Greatness is for anyone
Notice that he does not address his disciple only but the whole of humanity. He said “If anyone wants to be first, he must the very last, and the servant of all.” Greatness is for “anyone” who desires it and not an elite group or those with some special gift. It is for “anyone.”
2. Greatness is for the desirous
Greatness only follows those who desire it. You will never stumble into greatness or find yourself in its arms by chance. It is never the case. Rather greatness follows “anyone” who “wants” it. You must “want to be first.” Do not feel guilt for wanting to be first or the greatest. It is not a sin.
Consider Jesus words again.
“...If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
3. Greatness is a decision
Greatness is a decision you make. You must decide you want to be first and great. It is a conscious and deliberate choice and is therefore tied to the activities and little choices you make daily. Each step matters.
The path to greatness
For so long, Christians have feared expressing their desire for greatness because it might be wrongly classed as pride. To compound this problem, most teachings on the subject have shaped the minds of many Christians to think retrogressively. If a brother or Sister in the Lord dares to parade their ambition to be the best and by far the greatest in a certain aspect, his ambition is likely to meet with a trashing from the “BE HUMBLE CLUB”
Jesus however held a different view. To him it is not the "what" of becoming great the matter, but the "how." His focus in the text we read is not whether you become great or not, or in what you become great. But how you do it. He did not turn to his disciples and begin a lecture about what the areas or careers to pursue or concentrate on to become great. But he told them exactly how to become great. It does not matter whether you want to be the greatest musician, chef, economist or student in the world but Jesus showed us that there is only one universal principle for getting there. You “must be the very last and the servant all.” This is the "how" and not the "what" of greatness.
To achieve greatness, one must chose to deliberately be last and serve all. You cannot be selective as to whom you serve. Your service is to the world and you must serve all.
This is not to say you must serve the entire population on earth before you become great, but rather that your service must be available to all those God directs into your path. Do not have favourites irrespective of whether certain people treat you good or bad. Afford each person equal amounts of your service in life with a thankful heart. Do not grumble about it. Thank God for the privilege of those he has given you to serve. It is in serving them that you become great.
Though you might be more talented, beautiful or handsome, true and lasting greatness does not result from downsizing other in an attempt to make yourself appear better. The world’s model of greatness is based on advocacy and comparison. It provides measures for greatness and weighs each man against them. Are you smart enough? Are you rich or wealth? Do you have the hottest body in the world? These are the things that the world uses to measure greatness and create legends. Jesus however points out that heavens model of greatness is based on relationships and how you contribute to them.
Servant hood fuels the greatest relationships on earth. Trying to become great the worlds way only fosters competition and rivalry like we saw with the disciples arguing. Heavens way to greatness promotes relationships and service to one another. It is the best economy that has ever been deployed.
If you desire true and lasting greatness, then chose to do it heavens way. Become a servant of all. Decide to leave a legacy of greatness and I promise you won’t regret it.
In conclusion allow me to say,
“No man has ever become great without first desiring to be great, deciding to become great and then deprecating themselves to become a servant and friend of all.”
God bless you!
Author: Ephrem Namagonya
Monday, January 11, 2010
THE SEED OF THE JEWS
JEWISH DESCENT
It has come to that time of the year again when people make new resolutions, but with the exception of just a few, people have some resolutions that keep on appearing on their list every year. They have failed to accomplish or dominate fully in that particular area. It is also that time that pastors all around the world declare what year it would be, well my pastor has declared this year, ‘THE YEAR OF DOMINION.’ While a few critics say every year is the year of the Lord and one would want to share their view but my pastor made that declaration when I was working on my last article and it helped me see something that I missed before;
“.... If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.” (ESTHER 6:13)
The story of how God used Queen Esther to deliver His people from the hand of their enemy is well told and I liked the movie ‘A NIGHT WITH THE KING.’ But for the sake of this article please let me be allowed to briefly narrate the story in my own words stressing bits that are relevant:
The book of Esther begins on a hyper note when a great King, King Ahasuerus, of over 127 provinces throws a big party showing his wealth to all. The excitement is cut short by the refusal of Queen Vashti to be part of the king’s display. The king as an example to all the women in the provinces puts her away never to return to the throne. After the king’s wrath subsides a beauty contest is set forth and Esther by the hand of God finds favour before the King but she does not reveal Mordecai as her uncle. In a short while a plot against the King is discovered and revealed to the King by Mordecai. His act though not rewarded is put the book of chronicles of the King.
The first time Haman appears on the scene is when he is being promoted and he is set above all the princes that were with him, next in command to the king. All the princes in the court yard showed their respect to Haman as he passed through but Mordecai the Jew could not get himself to bow before this man nor show him any reverence. When Haman found out of this defiance he wanted to kill him but when he found out that Mordecai was a Jew and they showed him Mordecai’s people, Haman wanted to kill all of them. The hatred was in the blood and had been there for a long time. Haman the son of Hammedatha was an Agagite (does that ring a bell?) his existence is a result of the failure of King Saul to completely carry out the Lord’s command (1 Samuel 15). Haman’s hatred for the Jews could be justified in human terms as the Jews are a long time enemy that tried to get them extinct.
Haman starts his plot against the Jews and all seems to be going as planned, He has the Kings ring and nothing can stop him. Meanwhile Mordecai makes Esther understand that she was brought to the palace for that very purpose. Esther proclaims a fast for all the Jews so that they should call upon their God. That night the king fails to sleep and has a servant read from the book of Chronicles and remembers Mordecai, the man who saved his life. The king wants to honour a man and ask Haman for an opinion on what should be done, Haman says all the nice things that should be done because in his mind he is the king’s favourite. The king commands Haman to perform all that he had said on Mordecai his enemy, the man whom he had planned to kill all along. He gets home and starts to complain to his wife about the unfortunate turn of events but his wife’s and wise’s response is not comforting at all
13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. ESTHER 6:13
Notice the reason they give Haman for him being utterly destroyed, ‘IF Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews,’ you know that word IF means there is a condition that must be must be meet in order for the whole statement to be held true. when this condition is met then the destruction does take place. And that condition is that Mordecai must be the seed of the Jews, if he is not the seed of the Jews then the following statement of utter destruction becomes void. Hold on, is the key for this victory and dominance just in descent? Not just any descent but it must be Jewish Descent? What was it about the Jewish seed, that even these wise men, non believers, could not miss the pattern but recognised it from a far that those who forge war or hatred against them (Jews) are utterly destroyed? Let’s go back to the origin of this nation and see the thing that actually makes them peculiar seed.
God’s word
Now the LORD had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you 2 I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3
I have come to the understanding that everything that happens in life, God is most likely to have spoken about it to His men servants. Reading through the passage in Genesis it makes it clear why one can not prevail against the Jewish seed because of the role God played in the birth and the increase of this nation. You can clearly see the divine hand of God as Abraham travelled about to find the promised land, twice he lied about his wife but God fought for him and she was given back to him. The blessing passed on to Isaac his seed when he was able to harvest with hundred percentage yield in a dry and thirsty land and this followed on to Jacob and then Joseph the man who found favour before Pharaoh and became the redeemer of the whole family from the famine. In the land of Egypt they multiplied and even the more when the oppression started showing it was time to redemption as God had planned it in advance and spoke to Abraham about it (Genesis 15:14).
The statement made by the wise men, ‘If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.’ can be seen as an answer to the prayer offered on mount Horeb by Moses the servant of God. Moses asked God to go with the Jews (God’s people) so that they could be distinguished from any other nation or People (Exodus 33:13-16). As long as they walked in obedience the Jews were a powerful force on the earth, their leaders were able to command the sun to stand still for the whole day in order to win a battle (Joshua 10:12-13) and God fought the battles on their behalf and went as far as to proclaim that the battle was His and the Jews would not lift a sword(2 Chronicles 20:17) and on another occasion had Gideon to send back many soldiers and remain with 300 men only so that the glory should be given back to God and not take the glory for themselves (Judges 7:2). Reading through the account of David and his army you will certainly see that the men were highly favoured they were skilled above any mere man of their day as one would slain a thousand and two would slain ten thousand. One of the stories I like is of prophet Balaam, with the money offered to him there was all the motivation to curse the children of Israel but every time he tried he ended up blessing them and in end rebuked the king who was offering him lots of riches saying:
18........, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. Numbers 23:18-20
That seals the very fact that the Jews are indeed God’s special people and He will do whatever it takes to preserve the promise He made unto Abraham his friend that even though He punished them and sent them away from promised land but in the End he managed to gather them but to this land and now the are back to being a nation. The seed of the Jews has dominion over every situation upon their lives since they are highly favoured.
You might be wondering why I have dwelt much on establishing the Jewish Descent and considering how relevant that is to having dominion today. Well by establishing that the Jewish history we see that what God spoke about this people was accomplished and we have proved Him again to be a true God as the words spoken to Abraham are still true to date. Wait there is still a part of what was spoken to Abraham that we haven’t looked at, ‘and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ Who was God referring to? surely not just the Jews otherwise it could have been better to be consist and use the word ‘Descendants’ as He previously had done when referring to them. In this case the word ‘ALL’ takes on it literal meaning and includes every family in the World that are willing to be blessed.
God’s Special People
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9
Peter writing to gentiles (The KJ version which uses the word strangers, 1 Peter 1:1) refers to them as a Chosen generation, Royal Priesthood, a Holy nation because he now understood that the call to the blessing (having been in Cornelius house and seen the Holy Spirit come down on the Gentiles) was not only limited to the Jews but it was to all those that had been born again not of flesh but of the Spirit because those that had received Christ had become children of God by faith( John 1:12). Paul also agreed with this that he fought earnestly for the acceptance of the Gentiles by the Jews without works, circumcision, and/or ’the law’ into the church. He (Paul) said the promise of many nations was made unto Abraham before the law was given and before he was credited with righteous so that Abraham could be the father of us all. When God referred to this promise He said through your seed shall all the nations be blessed meaning there was only one way unto that blessing and that is through Christ Jesus (Romans 4:11-12,16-17, Galatians 3:8-9,16-18,26-29).
Those that are saved are more than conquerors, they do not just have the ‘Jewish factor’ but the ‘promise factor.’ God included you and it must also be said everyone (1 Timothy 2:4) into the equation of blessing and dominion. And as if to ensure you have not forgotten Apostle Paul reminds us that if God is for us no man or thing can be against us (Romans 8:31,37). We are also able to boldly quote any scriptures that were written in the O.T knowing that in the blessing there neither Greek nor Jew but we are all the same. We are the children of God and hence are protected in that covenant blood on cavalry that no weapon forged against us can prosper (Isaiah 54:17) and indeed there is nothing that is able to stand in our to hinder us from achieving our goal (Zechariah 4:6-7). We don’t have dominion over circumstances of our own accord but the Spirit of God lives in us and that Spirit knows no failure (Philippians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 6:19)
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[a] faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4
Dominion is defined as authority to govern or rule. This was originally just over every living creatures on the earth but Christ expanded this dominion and included every power of the enemy (Genesis 1:26-28, Luke 10:19). Now knowing our source of strength and origin it is time to arise and dominate as we were originally intended to, we can’t have the same resolution every year and still fail to master it:
we can’t be struggling with the same sin and insecurities
we can’t be watching while our relationships are falling apart.
we can’t sit and see others perishing while we are enjoying kingdom life.
WE MUST ARISE AND DORMINATE IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE THIS IS THE YEAR OF DOMINION for like Jeremiah before you were born you had been ordain for a time such as this that as a child of God you arise and shine proclaiming victory in all areas of life to the glory of God.
It has come to that time of the year again when people make new resolutions, but with the exception of just a few, people have some resolutions that keep on appearing on their list every year. They have failed to accomplish or dominate fully in that particular area. It is also that time that pastors all around the world declare what year it would be, well my pastor has declared this year, ‘THE YEAR OF DOMINION.’ While a few critics say every year is the year of the Lord and one would want to share their view but my pastor made that declaration when I was working on my last article and it helped me see something that I missed before;
“.... If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.” (ESTHER 6:13)
The story of how God used Queen Esther to deliver His people from the hand of their enemy is well told and I liked the movie ‘A NIGHT WITH THE KING.’ But for the sake of this article please let me be allowed to briefly narrate the story in my own words stressing bits that are relevant:
The book of Esther begins on a hyper note when a great King, King Ahasuerus, of over 127 provinces throws a big party showing his wealth to all. The excitement is cut short by the refusal of Queen Vashti to be part of the king’s display. The king as an example to all the women in the provinces puts her away never to return to the throne. After the king’s wrath subsides a beauty contest is set forth and Esther by the hand of God finds favour before the King but she does not reveal Mordecai as her uncle. In a short while a plot against the King is discovered and revealed to the King by Mordecai. His act though not rewarded is put the book of chronicles of the King.
The first time Haman appears on the scene is when he is being promoted and he is set above all the princes that were with him, next in command to the king. All the princes in the court yard showed their respect to Haman as he passed through but Mordecai the Jew could not get himself to bow before this man nor show him any reverence. When Haman found out of this defiance he wanted to kill him but when he found out that Mordecai was a Jew and they showed him Mordecai’s people, Haman wanted to kill all of them. The hatred was in the blood and had been there for a long time. Haman the son of Hammedatha was an Agagite (does that ring a bell?) his existence is a result of the failure of King Saul to completely carry out the Lord’s command (1 Samuel 15). Haman’s hatred for the Jews could be justified in human terms as the Jews are a long time enemy that tried to get them extinct.
Haman starts his plot against the Jews and all seems to be going as planned, He has the Kings ring and nothing can stop him. Meanwhile Mordecai makes Esther understand that she was brought to the palace for that very purpose. Esther proclaims a fast for all the Jews so that they should call upon their God. That night the king fails to sleep and has a servant read from the book of Chronicles and remembers Mordecai, the man who saved his life. The king wants to honour a man and ask Haman for an opinion on what should be done, Haman says all the nice things that should be done because in his mind he is the king’s favourite. The king commands Haman to perform all that he had said on Mordecai his enemy, the man whom he had planned to kill all along. He gets home and starts to complain to his wife about the unfortunate turn of events but his wife’s and wise’s response is not comforting at all
13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. ESTHER 6:13
Notice the reason they give Haman for him being utterly destroyed, ‘IF Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews,’ you know that word IF means there is a condition that must be must be meet in order for the whole statement to be held true. when this condition is met then the destruction does take place. And that condition is that Mordecai must be the seed of the Jews, if he is not the seed of the Jews then the following statement of utter destruction becomes void. Hold on, is the key for this victory and dominance just in descent? Not just any descent but it must be Jewish Descent? What was it about the Jewish seed, that even these wise men, non believers, could not miss the pattern but recognised it from a far that those who forge war or hatred against them (Jews) are utterly destroyed? Let’s go back to the origin of this nation and see the thing that actually makes them peculiar seed.
God’s word
Now the LORD had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you 2 I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3
I have come to the understanding that everything that happens in life, God is most likely to have spoken about it to His men servants. Reading through the passage in Genesis it makes it clear why one can not prevail against the Jewish seed because of the role God played in the birth and the increase of this nation. You can clearly see the divine hand of God as Abraham travelled about to find the promised land, twice he lied about his wife but God fought for him and she was given back to him. The blessing passed on to Isaac his seed when he was able to harvest with hundred percentage yield in a dry and thirsty land and this followed on to Jacob and then Joseph the man who found favour before Pharaoh and became the redeemer of the whole family from the famine. In the land of Egypt they multiplied and even the more when the oppression started showing it was time to redemption as God had planned it in advance and spoke to Abraham about it (Genesis 15:14).
The statement made by the wise men, ‘If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.’ can be seen as an answer to the prayer offered on mount Horeb by Moses the servant of God. Moses asked God to go with the Jews (God’s people) so that they could be distinguished from any other nation or People (Exodus 33:13-16). As long as they walked in obedience the Jews were a powerful force on the earth, their leaders were able to command the sun to stand still for the whole day in order to win a battle (Joshua 10:12-13) and God fought the battles on their behalf and went as far as to proclaim that the battle was His and the Jews would not lift a sword(2 Chronicles 20:17) and on another occasion had Gideon to send back many soldiers and remain with 300 men only so that the glory should be given back to God and not take the glory for themselves (Judges 7:2). Reading through the account of David and his army you will certainly see that the men were highly favoured they were skilled above any mere man of their day as one would slain a thousand and two would slain ten thousand. One of the stories I like is of prophet Balaam, with the money offered to him there was all the motivation to curse the children of Israel but every time he tried he ended up blessing them and in end rebuked the king who was offering him lots of riches saying:
18........, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. Numbers 23:18-20
That seals the very fact that the Jews are indeed God’s special people and He will do whatever it takes to preserve the promise He made unto Abraham his friend that even though He punished them and sent them away from promised land but in the End he managed to gather them but to this land and now the are back to being a nation. The seed of the Jews has dominion over every situation upon their lives since they are highly favoured.
You might be wondering why I have dwelt much on establishing the Jewish Descent and considering how relevant that is to having dominion today. Well by establishing that the Jewish history we see that what God spoke about this people was accomplished and we have proved Him again to be a true God as the words spoken to Abraham are still true to date. Wait there is still a part of what was spoken to Abraham that we haven’t looked at, ‘and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ Who was God referring to? surely not just the Jews otherwise it could have been better to be consist and use the word ‘Descendants’ as He previously had done when referring to them. In this case the word ‘ALL’ takes on it literal meaning and includes every family in the World that are willing to be blessed.
God’s Special People
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9
Peter writing to gentiles (The KJ version which uses the word strangers, 1 Peter 1:1) refers to them as a Chosen generation, Royal Priesthood, a Holy nation because he now understood that the call to the blessing (having been in Cornelius house and seen the Holy Spirit come down on the Gentiles) was not only limited to the Jews but it was to all those that had been born again not of flesh but of the Spirit because those that had received Christ had become children of God by faith( John 1:12). Paul also agreed with this that he fought earnestly for the acceptance of the Gentiles by the Jews without works, circumcision, and/or ’the law’ into the church. He (Paul) said the promise of many nations was made unto Abraham before the law was given and before he was credited with righteous so that Abraham could be the father of us all. When God referred to this promise He said through your seed shall all the nations be blessed meaning there was only one way unto that blessing and that is through Christ Jesus (Romans 4:11-12,16-17, Galatians 3:8-9,16-18,26-29).
Those that are saved are more than conquerors, they do not just have the ‘Jewish factor’ but the ‘promise factor.’ God included you and it must also be said everyone (1 Timothy 2:4) into the equation of blessing and dominion. And as if to ensure you have not forgotten Apostle Paul reminds us that if God is for us no man or thing can be against us (Romans 8:31,37). We are also able to boldly quote any scriptures that were written in the O.T knowing that in the blessing there neither Greek nor Jew but we are all the same. We are the children of God and hence are protected in that covenant blood on cavalry that no weapon forged against us can prosper (Isaiah 54:17) and indeed there is nothing that is able to stand in our to hinder us from achieving our goal (Zechariah 4:6-7). We don’t have dominion over circumstances of our own accord but the Spirit of God lives in us and that Spirit knows no failure (Philippians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 6:19)
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[a] faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4
Dominion is defined as authority to govern or rule. This was originally just over every living creatures on the earth but Christ expanded this dominion and included every power of the enemy (Genesis 1:26-28, Luke 10:19). Now knowing our source of strength and origin it is time to arise and dominate as we were originally intended to, we can’t have the same resolution every year and still fail to master it:
we can’t be struggling with the same sin and insecurities
we can’t be watching while our relationships are falling apart.
we can’t sit and see others perishing while we are enjoying kingdom life.
WE MUST ARISE AND DORMINATE IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE THIS IS THE YEAR OF DOMINION for like Jeremiah before you were born you had been ordain for a time such as this that as a child of God you arise and shine proclaiming victory in all areas of life to the glory of God.
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