All posts by Tunde Soniregun

APRIL 2014 ISSUE

Monthly Newsletter

GOD’S DESIRE; OUR DESIRE

It is written, “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:19) Any man who truly knows to fear God knows what God wants and what God does not want for His children. Knowing what He wants for us will make it impossible for us to ask or have a desire for what does not line up with His desire for us. All that we need to desire is the grace to constantly fear Him. God alone knows all of our desires; He knows those who fear Him and He is more than capable of fulfilling everyone’s desire.

Everything a man can consider as need is obtainable when we live in the fear of God. Proverbs 19:23 buttresses the importance of fearing God when it states, “The fear of God leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23) Are you one who desires not to have the Lord’s desire for your life? A man who presses for his own desires will get it with persistency.

Often time, however, getting one’s desire that is not of God leads to self-destruction. For example, the children of Israel, coming out of bondage of over four hundred years, seeing the wondrous work of God, strongly pressed for their own desire that was outside of God’s desire for them. They could not let go of Egypt but pressed in their asking for all kinds of food they ate while being enslaved in Egypt despite the fact that the Lord did not allow them to experience any lack. God responded and gave them the food they desired. The Bible records, “So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel.” (Psalm 78:29-31)

Be assured that God wants the best for you and whatever we do not receive could possibly be because it is out of time or out of place for us. Also, whatever we do not receive is evidence that we are still abundant in His provision. To know that we have abundance in His provision is to hold on with satisfaction. Anyone who loves abundance with increase could possibly become vulnerable to dissatisfaction. As stated above, “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23) Without doubt, if we fear Him and are able to hold on with satisfaction, there shall be no evil visitation. God will not fail in giving us only what leads to life and not to our self-destruction like that of the stoutest of the Israelites who were destroyed as mentioned in the above verse. (Psalm 78:29-31)

Among the dangers of having desires of our own over God’s desire is that it leads to temptation. The Bible makes us realize this in James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Wrong desire (desire that is out of place for us before God) and temptation often lead to sin and with sin there will always be destruction. Are you allowing your desires to direct your focus from what God can do for you?

It is worthy to desire the fear of God so we may abide and become satisfied in God’s desire and not end up in life’s dissatisfaction which always bring evil to man. The point of this write up is for us to live a life that brings desirable good things that are encased in the fear of God. Where there is no fear of God, nothing good will move in the direction of man.

FAITH CAPSULE: To know that we have abundance in His provision is to hold on with satisfaction.

EVERLASTING WAY

Devotions

FAITH CAPSULE: Have you considered engaging the way everlasting?

Psalm 139

There is a way of everlasting and there is a way of eternal damnation. Both ways do not complement each other and no man can take to both ways at the same time. Both ways are engage-able by choices man makes while having the breath of life. Which one of the two ways are you plying? The way everlasting is to God just as the way to eternal damnation is to devil.

The bible testifies, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psalm 90:2) “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.” (Psalm 145:13) “How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:3) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
All of the above scriptural verses testify where God is and where he will be. Where God is will also be a place for all of His obedient children. Have you considered engaging the way everlasting? The wicked ones are set on the way of eternal damnation. Have you asked or try to find out by virtue of the way you are living life if you are wicked?
Wickedness operates from the heart. Jeremiah testifies, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Is deception; lying; manipulation your identity? Are you keeping your heart to avoid missing everlasting by ending up in eternal damnation? The word of God points out a way of avoiding eternal damnation by stating, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Eternal damnation must be a “no-go” place. The psalmist wanted to make sure that the way of eternal damnation is not his portion when he spoke, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
By you inquiring, know it today that you have not engage the way of the wicked; the way to eternal damnation. The ones whose word of God is near in their mouth but far from their heart are the wicked one. Clearly from across the pages of the bible it is clear that wicked are set on the way of eternal damnation. Make a right choice and trust God for help of enablement to engage the way to everlasting and not to eternal damnation.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be kept away from the way of eternal damnation.

A DULL HEART

Devotions

FAITH CAPSULE: A heart that does not meditate on the word of God will become a dull heart.

Joshua 1

It is written, “For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.” (Jeremiah 10:21) When seeking God takes its place in the heart of man the heart of man shall never be a dull heart. However, when seeking God does not have a place in the heart of man the heart of man shall become dull.  The heart of man with meditation man will seek after God and not become a dull heart. Prosperity is the evidence of a heart that mediates and the book of Joshua 1:7-8 pointed it out, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” It is a thoughtful business to constantly engage meditation. Obviously, meditation is what will make a heart not become dull and when dullness does not have a place in the heart of man seeking God will have a place in the heart of man.

The heart which is constantly active in meditation will become active in experiencing God’s prosperity. God’s prosperity as mentioned by the Lord to Joshua is an all-round prosperity. All-round prosperity is the one that gives good success. The ability to observe and to do according to the word of God comes only from constant and consistent meditation on the word of God. Doing and observing the word of God is a demonstration of obeying God. Also, obeying the word of God is the evidence of seeking God.

As a believer, where do you stand in seeking God? Seeking God starts from the heart and when the heart is dull, nothing becomes bright in walking the world of darkness.

The Psalmist stated that, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). The secret place of God is no longer a secret to those that know to seek Him in the pages of His word which never fails. Spending time and holding on to the word of God in meditation brings about prosperity that leads to good success. This is a secret to those that are yet to discover it in the pages of the Bible. God cannot be mocked and neither can He be manipulated and whatever is sowed is what you will reap. Sow by investing time in meditation and the heart will be active and not dull.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of enablement to be constant and consistent meditating on the word of God.

HAVE FAITH

Devotions

FAITH PRESCRIPTION: Jesus is Lord and there is nothing He cannot do.

Mathew 11

What is it that is causing you to have doubt instead of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? With doubt fear will eventually come to place. Where there is fear or when fear is rising, faith will sink. The Bible identifies the source of faith stating, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Engage hearing and hearing by the word of God, allow faith to rise so that fear will sink and doubt will have no place in you. Deny your present situation or your location from operating as an agent that causes you to doubt.

John the Baptist doubted Jesus. It is written, “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:2-3) Is there any representative of prison in your life that is causing doubt of what Jesus can do? John the Baptist, while spending time in prison doubted Jesus. It was John that baptized Jesus. It is written, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him” (Matthew 3:13) John the Baptist bears witness of Jesus, “…Behold The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.”’ (John 1:29-30) John also exalted Jesus when he stated that, “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.” (John 3:31)

Despite all which John the Baptist knew about Jesus, when he was in the prison of his life, he doubted Jesus. John wanted to know what he already knew. Remember you have heard it all and you have seen it all; if you will hold on to all that you have known you will depart from doubt and not dwell in it. Jesus’ response to John’s doubt is the same response that is speaking to you, “…Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Mathew 11:4-6) Where there is doubt faith has a tendency to drown. Hebrew 11:6, “…But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Take your stand and declare to your situation that Jesus is Lord and there is nothing He cannot do.

Prayer for today: Ask for help that your faith will not fail.

PRAISE HIM!

Devotions

FAITH CAPSULE: We have a God whose thoughts for us are good.

Psalm 92

God is a good God. He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving for all He has done, all that He is doing and all He will do. Psalmist prescribed to us stating, “It is good to praise the Lord, and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.” (Psalm 92:1-3) Indeed and in truth, He is a gracious God and deserves to be consciously and continuously given all our praise as we engage a season of celebrating His gracious plan of salvation. God sent His beloved Son to die for our sin.

The psalmist points out, “How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!” (Psalm 92:5) We have a God whose thoughts for us are of good and not of evil. We do have a God whose thoughts were demonstrated in His work. The same God yesterday and today once told the Israelites, “I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  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.” (Jeremiah 29:10-11) Interestingly, what He says to one speaks to all and it is clear when He sent His Beloved Son, The living Word of God to come and die for us that we may have salvation.

It is worthy to praise Him with understanding. Without understanding, praising Him will not be backed with all of our strength and that could be the reason why the psalmist declare, “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding”.  There have to be the understanding that praising God is what grants access into His presence. In any attempt to get to a king that is on throne, there has to be a process and the process is in traveling through the gate which leads to the court where the king sits and reigns as the king. The psalmist clearly understood this when he stated in Psalm 100:4, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.”

There is hardly any other means which access us to the presence of God better and faster than praise. Also, understand it that praising God cannot be separated from thanking Him. However, when we praise Him we glorify Him (Psalm 50:23) and when give Him thanks we magnify Him (Psalm 69:30). In this season, give God unceasing praise and thanks for His gracious thought which brought us salvation.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of strength thanking God without ceasing.