TWO WAYS       < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Matthew 7:13-23

There are two ways to go in this life. One is the way of God, and the other is the way of the world. It is not possible to walk both ways at the same time and get through. In life, it is either you walk in the way of God or the way of the world. Knowing God as a true and merciful God, He will not force or push any of His creation to a particular direction which way to take. However, He will do all that it takes for His creation to enter the way of life everlasting. All of His creation has that choice to make in regard to entering the right way. The command is the LordÕs and the choice is ours. Jesus commanded in Matthew 7: 13, ÒEnter by the narrow gate; for wide is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 ÒBecause narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.Ó There is no need for any further interpretation neither is there a need for expounding the word of Jesus. The message here is clear and sound, take the wide gate and broad way and settle for destruction or take the narrow and difficult gate and end up with everlasting life. Which way are you taking? Have you considered or thought about the way you are taking? Is it a popular way like the one every man is taking? If it is that popular with no challenges, it is time for you to challenge yourself by searching for the truth in regard to the direction you are taking because you might have entered the narrow way. The way which every man is running away from, the way that you have entered, through the narrow gate, the way that is unusually different from the popular and smooth is the way you want to consider. Psalm 103:7, He made His ways unto Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.Ó The way of the wilderness is the unpopular way, it is the uncomfortable way, and it is the difficult way. The way of the wilderness is the way that the Lord chose to take the children of Israel through because it was and is the one that leads to life. Among the children of Israel, Every man and woman that attempted to look outside of the way of the wilderness by constantly looking back to Egypt ended up complaining and could not get through to the life that is promised in the narrow way and difficult way.

ATTEND WITH INTENTION< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Proverbs 4

ÒMy son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings, do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.Ó (Proverbs 4:20-22) The word of God needs three crucial parts of the body to work with in order for it to be able to raise every man from the pit of darkness, destruction and the pit of eternal damnation. When the word of direction, healing and victory comes through the ear, it must be well received enough before the eyes can be begin to see what is not there as being there. It is the heart that will take that word and settle it for mediation or settle it with the purpose of remembering the words received. God told Joshua in Joshua 1:8, ÒThis book of 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.Ó Are you giving your attention to the word of God? Are you inclining your ears, eyes and heart? God can do all things in the world of today, as He did when He brought forth creation. All that was created was by the word of God. God, in His doing all things, there is only one thing that He cannot do and that is, ÒGod cannot fail.Ó God has not and will never fail. Are you allowing the word to enter, rather than for emotional entertainment? The word of God is not for emotional entrainment, it is to gain entrance and give the light required for the termination of darkness. Psalm 119:130, ÒThe entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.Ó The simple will be simple enough to hear the word of God and do all that the word calls for. However, the ones that are not simple will miss all that the word is communicating. What are you giving attention to? Whatever you give attention to outside the word of God that gives life is what will enter into your life, and what enters your life will make you into what you will be. Ask for the grace of attending to the word of God with intention and with a purposeful heart.

CALLING AND SENDING< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Mark 6:7-13

ÒAnd He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts- 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.Ó (Mark 6:7-9) The calling of believer is to follow, but not just to flow with the crowd. In His calling there is a time to be trained and a time to be ready to be sent out for the purpose of your calling. Have you been called? Any one that has received the calling of the Lord will have to go through training that corresponds with the assignment or task ahead. Among the disciples of Jesus, none called himself, but Jesus called each and everyone. ÒAnd as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 then Jesus said to them, ÒFollow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.Ó 18 They immediately left their nets and follow Him.Ó (Mark 1:16-18) His calling requires leaving all behind and giving Him all the attention. Has He called you and yet the old baggage is still hanging around you? If that were your case, you are yet to answer His calling. In His calling, old things must be left behind otherwise new things will not have a place to stay. Your lying skill is still intact; deception and manipulating of others is still operating in you. The one that calls you will not be able to move you forward until you are able to move away from your past. The one that calls you did not call you into religion but into Jesus reality. In His calling there is a time to be sent out. He that calls you will not send you until after you have been equipped with all that it takes to carry power. He called Moses in Exodus 3:4, after Moses had turned aside unto Him. ÒWhen the Lord saw that he turned to aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ÒMoses, Moses!Ó And he said, ÒHere I am.Ó It was after Moses answered he was not ready to get the assignment. Have you turned aside to answer Him? The bible recorded in Exodus 3: 10, ÒCome now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.Ó Without calling and answering, sending out will not come forth. Do you know where you are? If you have answered to His calling then you have a need to make yourself available to be sent out. The disciples could not be sent out until He called them to Himself and not to a material. In His sending them out, He laid it down that no material would come between them and their going. In His calling and sending there is power. What is holding you down from turning aside and making yourself available to be called and sent out? He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) God will give us the grace to answer fully.

NO TO ANGUISH SPIRIT< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Exodus 5, 6:1-9

God was set to bring the children of Israel out of bondage of over four hundred years. Moses was the vessel in the hand of God to carry out the mission. God met with him and gave him His word. The word of God is power, ÒHe sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.Ó (Psalm 107:20) In MosesÕ hand was the rod that has been branded with power through the word of God that was pronounced on it. All that Moses needed to do was to go and delivered the message as sent by God. Moses approached Pharaoh the first time since he ran away from Egypt because of his murderous act. Moses was not just returning to a new Egypt but he was returning with a great assurance from God when the Lord told him, ÒNow the LORD said to Moses in Midian, Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.ÓÓ (Exodus 4:19) The Old Pharaoh and all that could stand against Moses have been taken care of by God. Moses, having laid the message down for the children of Israel, expectation for freedom became high. However, Pharaoh did not accept MosesÕ package because he did not know the God that sent Moses for the deliverance of the children of Israel. When the engine of deliverance vehicle supposed to be starting up, when breakthrough and deliverance supposed to be nearer it turned out to become far and bleak with no hope but more difficulty. Pharaoh rejected MosesÕ first approach and increased the labor of the children of Israel. What seems to be coming to an end suddenly turned around and appears to be impossible. Does that sound like your case? As a result of what seemed to be a failed attempt to the children of Israel, the children of Israel does not want to entertain Moses any longer, ÒSo Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses because of the anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.Ó(Exodus 6:9) Anguish, a great suffering from worry, grief or pain caused the children of Israel not to heed. Know this day that the Lord is still on the throne and He will not leave you nor forsake you. Be encouraged by His word that never fails. Let your mind stay on Him, ÒIsaiah 26:3, You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.Ó Hold on to His promises by the time you know it this season shall pass. It passed for the children of Israel and deliverance had its way. Your deliverance is nearer more than ever.

HALF KNOWLEDGE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Acts 4:32-37, 5:1-11

As much as lack of knowledge can be devastating, so is half knowledge. In every operation of lack of knowledge or half knowledge concerning the word of God, there is a risk that devastating consequences will take place. Leviticus 10:1-2, ÒThen Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.Ó There was no time or position for both sons of Aaron to give an excuse of their grave operation. Nadab and Abihu had witnessed the offering many times but that did not qualify them to carry out the offering. Many are witnessing, many are participating or operating certain responsibilities in the church, but it is not a demonstration or confirmation of knowledge required. The business of God is not a toy and God will not overlook sin. If you are operating without a full knowledge, it is time to learn and avoid painful consequence. Ananias and Sapphira exposed themselves to the danger of losing their lives when they operated what could be considered as half knowledge. The Bible recorded in Acts 4:36-37, ÒAnd Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostlesÕ feet.Ó It is evident that Joses and Branabas knew well enough to deliver exactly what they received from selling their property. They could not lie to the apostles because they knew the consequences. Also, it must have been an ongoing practice for Ananias to be familiar with, but not having the knowledge of its truthfulness. ÒBut a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostlesÕ feet.Ó Ananias and Sapphira had witnessed what the process was, but they lack the knowledge that it takes to be truthful. Knowledge is truth and truth is knowledge. Do not be an onlooker locked up in the details of what the practices are. Avoid being ignorant in the things of God because ignorance will make a destitute believer. Take time to study the things of the Lord, observe, meditate, and participate before you activate. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, there is no evidence that God ever overlooked sin except that He forgives sin. In every operation of no-knowledge there is a costly price to pay because it leads to sin. Ask God to fill you with knowledge of His word.