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HARMONY WITH NATURE
Why this topic is of importance is due to many hurtful decisions many Christians especially leaders take in the name of being spiritual.
Recently somebody challenged me about the use of words, “strategy”. To such people it sounds human wisdom.
Then I reply the person thus: God gives us brain so that we may let him rest.
*Illustration with the ant*
The book of proverb talking about hard work and gathering of harvests talked about the ant.
He said: Go to the ant oh ye sluggard and learn…
In other words he is saying learn from nature
*Jesus teaching about his coming*
He said, it’s like a thief coming in the night.
His coming shall have a characteristics like seasons do, he then proceeded to give the signs.
*Jesus teachings through parable*
Jesus taught many spiritual truth using earthly things… Mustard seeds, servants, grain, sheep, treasure field, etc.
In essence, you cannot understand spiritual truth without firstly understanding natural things.
You cannot understand our Father who art in heaven if you cannot understand the role of our father who’s on earth.
Jesus said: If you men know how to give good gifts to your children, *how much more* our Father who is in heaven.
Spiritual leaders who would really affect earthly man will not dissociate men from their natural habitat else he will lead them to confusion.
Instead he should help them to harmonize their earthly experience as a forerunner of the heavenly experience which is to come.
Here are examples:
1. When we preach about supplies, we rarely underscore the place of hard work.
These days we overly hype grace as if grace is a remote control for supplies without labour
Jesus says: I work even as my Father works.
Paul says: these hands of mine provides for my needs.
This leads to the next point.
2. Pastor and full-time calling. Reading through my Bible I have not seen where the Bible expressly taught that preachers should not work.
Jesus knew where to meet his disciples after resurrection… They were known fishermen.
Paul was a tentmaker.
Inasmuch as it’s good to live a dedicated life, we must work when the ministry is in the growing phase.
God would rather have us work than become a beggar in his work; and with hunger comes all kinds of manipulations.
Let me make you laugh a little. Some twenty five years ago while in the university my food and money has finished. I had nothing left.
That particular morning as I entered the bathroom to have my bath I saw a wristwatch and I picked it.
As a Christian I cannot steal it, that I know.
Then I saw the owner. Naturally, I would just hand over and turn away. But because of acute lack at that time, I demanded compensation. He gave me. Any time I remember I shake my head… What one can do when hungry
When we are hungry we do certain thing as preachers we should not.
So if we don’t expressly hear God, let’s fill our extra hours out of pulpit with work.
*We are all in full-time ministry when all our lives is being lived for the expansion of the kingdom and his glory*
There’s no part time when we serve God. The early missionaries come along with skills… Doctors, nurses, teachers, etc.
God doesn’t subject his pastors to perpetual hunger in the name of ministry.
*3. Investment*
Many churches rarely teach their members the concept of investment. All we are about is kingdom investment (in church).
Jesus taught on talents and investments beyond heavenly deposits.
Let’s harmonize this area.
No matter who teach a thing, it’s not right if it’s not bringing result.
Africa in spite of the teachings on prosperity is growing poorer as a nation because the teachings on prosperity is devoid of investment senses.
Let christian leaders teach on investment. Yes, some seed sowing may be delay, yet we will ultimately come up with more prosperous members and church… But with delay gratification
When Christians refuse to own investments because they are not taught, there’s nothing left than Christians to be employees of unbelievers.
Some natural laws like investment principles are made to be uphold.
The work of anointing oil, grace and supernatural power is to blessed the work of our hands.
*There must be work to be blessed, the anointing doesn’t work on emptiness*
Natural laws are not expected to be flouted, they are to be respected.
For God created the earth, it’s laws and principles.
So we need to understand how it goes.
4. Abusive use of the body needs to be watched.
As Christians there’s is safe limits to the use of the body. Abuse of it will lead to death no matter the amount of anointing.
Understand your body, reduce stressors like too much work, much food, too much fasting and sleeplessness.
Although as human body cannot live without the spirit, in the same way the spirit cannot function on earth without the body.
We have cases of men of God who died as a result of excess fasting and denial of self from sleep.
After we die, life would go on, and other will step into the anointing we carelessly abuse.
*5. We should understand there are anointing for the marketplaces of life*
Every anointing doesn’t lead to the pulpit. Many because of overzealousness left their place of anointing to a deserted place in ministry.
For instance, my calling is firstly to the market places whether in the street or on the pulpit.
Joseph, Nehemiah, Daniel are examples of men called to the market places.
Don’t leave your place of strength for a ministry on the pulpit.
No anointing is greater than the other, what’s important is impact.
Nature will direct you to your area of fruitfulness if you’re keen. Watch carefully and occupy till Christ come.
*We all must find our place*
Judges 9:7-13 KJV
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. [8] The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. [9] But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? [10] And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. [11] But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? [12] Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. [13] And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
God bless you all
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WALE ADEWUMI
