Discerning your Purpose in Life - part3

I KNOW NOT A MAN

Lk 1:34-35 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Mary, a young destitute virgin who lived in obscurity in the province of Galilee was visited by the angel of the Lord and was promise to be the mother of the Messiah. This was the greatest honor that could be bestowed on a Jewish girl. She was graced with such an honor not because she merited it or was so distinguished in piety but it was the grace of God. Though Mary believed the angel's message, she could not fathom how God was going to pull this off because she "knew no man". If she was going to conceive this promise of the Lord, she will need a man. Unfortunately, she knew no man as at yet. Mary lacked the human potential to produce the promise of God. If she were to be scrutinized, her deficiency, inadequacy and handicaps was painstakingly evident. She was inexperienced and her virginity was very apparent. However God chose her in spite of her handicaps to conceive this incredible feat. Her weakness made her liable to the promise of God.

There are many who have been given incredible promises of the Lord and yet they lack the means to manifest such promises. Such know not a man. They lack the human concepts, strategies or potential to conceive the divine promise. There are many of such who have been called into ministry and yet have no theological training. They lack the eloquence or oratory skills needed for good communication of the gospel. Some become incoherent when exposed to a congregation and yet the promise of the Lord to them is that they will preach the gospel. Others have been promised businesses and yet they lack the capital, or the commercial ingenuity to even initiate such feat. These people can not trust in man because they "know not a man". Their limitations qualify them for the grace of God. If they could conceive the promises of God they will not be used by God because then it will not be by His grace. God is still using the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. He chooses the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty so no man can glory in His presence (1Cor 1:27-28). These are used because they know not a man and therefore will have to depend on the grace of God.

Since Mary lacked the human potential as at yet to conceive the promise of God, she asked the angel how God was going to get this done. The angel made her aware that it will take the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Mary did not need a man to conceive the promise but the Holy Spirit. The angel indicated that when the Holy Spirit comes upon her, she will receive all the potential that she needed to manifest the promise of God. It is the Spirit of the Lord that imparts the grace we need to fulfill the will of God; hence He is called the Spirit of grace (Zech 12:10). We need Him in all our divine endeavors. Without Him we will be paralyzed in our attempt to fulfill the mandates of God. It does not take power or might to embark on our divine tasks but it is by the Holy Spirit (Zech 4:6b). Let us increase our fellowship with Him so He can grace us with the skills we need to birth the things of the Lord.

By Pastor Mantey

Setting Goals-part 1- Pamela Mantey [HQ].mp4

Setting Goals-part 2- Pamela Mantey [HQ].mp4

WHO ART THOU?

Zec 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Zerubbabel was the Jewish leader who was undertaking the rebuilding of the temple after their exile from Babylon. He had successfully laid the foundation of the temple but was gravely opposed by the enemies of the Jewish nation that the construction came to a halt. This opposition was insurmountable, immovable, and impassable, like a mountain. Completing the temple project was a daunting task in the face of such an incredible opposition yet God exhorts His servant through the prophet Zechariah not to give up. God promised to miraculously demolish such mountain into a plain. Though the opposition was surely like a mountain yet it could not hinder God in fulfilling His purpose through His servant. Therefore God asks: who art thou, O great mountain before Zerubbabel? God belittles the opposition in light of who Zerubbabbel was to Him. If Zerubbabel knew who he was, he would have been assured that God would surely empower him to fulfill his divine assignment.

Today, God’s question must resonate and be amplified in our hearts at the face of our oppositions. God is still asking: Who art thou, O great mountain before my people? It is not the size of the opposition that counts but our identity in God will determine the finality of the matter. Do you really know who you are in God then? Do you really know the God you belong to? We have allowed the size of our mountains to suspend our obedience to our divine assignments. We focus on the mountain and belittle ourselves. We compare our potentials to the power of the oppositions and we get so discouraged because we fail to bring God in the equation. Sure, your oppositions are great like a mountain before you, but to God, it is nothing like a plain. Do you know who you are in God? If you did you will not be discouraged. Your identity in God has equipped you to face any challenge and be victorious. You were born to be overcome.

1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Through the process of our being born again, we were equipped with the potential to overcome any opposition that threatens our divine purpose. Therefore, if we get the revelation of who we really are in God, we will be launched into the power of faith to confront any opposition. If we focus on only our problems and ignore our divine identity we will be griped with fear. Do you know who you are? Do you know the name that God calls you? The mountain of opposition must be terrified of you. You are not a nobody but a child of the most high God. Do you know who you are?

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

In light of your divine identity, the mountain is nothing? It is there to expose your divine potential. If there is no mountain in your life, then the invisible God will not demonstrate His miraculous power in your life. Get ready for your mountain is about to be destroyed because you are a child of God. Your identity guarantees your completion of the divine assignment.

God exhorts Zerubbabel that as he has laid the foundation of the temple, he shall bring forth the headstone with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it to finish it. God does not start what He is not determined to complete. If he started it, then you should be fully assured He will complete it. If he built the foundation, then there is no mountain of opposition that will stop Him from laying the headstone. What then is this mountain that has gripped you with fear? What is this boastful mountain before YOU? I exhort you to awaken to your true identity and know that you belong to the most high God before whom mountains evaporate to become a plain.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

By Reindorf Mantey

Do you Believe?

Mat 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

Mat 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Examining this short narrative under the light of the Holy Spirit, we observe that Jesus Christ was on his way somewhere, though the bible does not state. Two blind men followed him crying, “son of David, have mercy on us.” Christ did not answer them or say anything at that moment. So they kept crying as they followed; “have mercy on us” till they got to his destination. These blind men were not angry, nor allowed their pride get in the way. They interpreted his silence as delayed but not denial. The mere fact that Christ did not respond or react to their cry did not mean that they had to turn back and or give up. These men were passionate about what they needed and humbled themselves to follow Christ without questioning him, murmuring against him or pointing fingers at him.

Sometimes, we as human beings not being careful allow our pride to get in the way of our deliverance, restoration, healing, or breakthrough. Instead of us considering and judging things from a divine perspective, we allow our fleshly emotions to have the best of us. This on the contrary causes us to loose the precious things God has ordained for us. “After all I’ve called upon his name, tried reading my bible, went to church and all night prayers, sang in the church choir, paid my tithes, fed and gave money to the homeless, so no and he is not minding me,” some may say. But do you know that his silence is a test of character, passion, and maturity? Do you know that the silence serves as a transfiguration period for us to be like him? Do not let your flesh deceive you that God does not want to answer you or give you anything. He is a prayer answering God and it is his desire and will that we prosper in every areas and aspects of life. Don’t shrink back! Be tenacious and diligent as these blind men were to access what God has for you. Don’t forget that since the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

According to the narrative, these blind men kept following and when they got the house Jesus asked them a simple question: “believe ye that I am able to do this?” Now, why would they have followed him if they did not believe that Christ was able to heal them? Did not their approach in Christ define their faith in him? The questions Christ asked bring us to understand that, there is a possibility that one can be very diligent, passionate, prayerful, etc and not believe. You see, Christ by the question was not really concerned about their problem, rather, their belief. In actuality our problem is not a problem to God, our sickness is not a difficulty to the Messiah, and our critical conditions are nothing but mere chaff before the Christ. Our moral deficiency is not a problem at all to Jesus because with him all things are possible. His concern is our belief in him. Do you believe that he can deliver you right now as you are reading? Do you believe that you can receive your miracle right now as I write to you? Do you have faith in him to transform you life?

The Lord asked them the question to initiate their faith. By the pronouncement of their belief in response to answer the Lord they activated the faith necessary to receive their sight. When these men were following Jesus the only thing they did was to cry “have mercy on us” which was not exact according to our deduction. The genuineness of their belief was locked in their declaration and until they spoke, they would have remained in that same condition. Do you really believe? If you believe, then you must speak it out. The bible says that let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Out of the mouths baby and suckling has God ordained strength. You shall decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee. The power to affect your today and or future is residing in your mouth and you must speak it forth irrespective of how you feel or what you are going through.

For these blind men to see they needed to actualize their belief through speaking. As far us God was concerned, He had made the provision already. It was not yet manifested because all these years they “cried” but never took a step in declaring their belief. God had already healed you before the foundations of the earth. Your “messed up” life was fixed even before you were born. Your ministry was established before you even started ministry. That marriage you desire was put together even before you thought of having a desire for marriage. All you have to do is to speak it out you belief so that the faith needed will be activated. Declare your belief in Christ and see it manifest for all to see the power and glory of the risen Lord. If you believe, then declare it and according to your faith it shall be done unto thee.

DO IT AGAIN!

Gen 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

The Bible says God created the earth and placed Adam and Eve in a garden called Eden – pleasure. God gave them a commandment not to eat the fruit of knowledge of good and evil but they disobeyed. Their disobedience placed them in direct opposition to God and therefore He had to cast them out of the garden. In the midst of time while God was casting them out of Eden he gave them a pronouncement, a prophetic declaration. He told them that although Satan through his deceptive means has caused them to deny their heritage and status in God, through their seed they will crush the head of the serpent. So when they came out of the garden their only hope of restoration was the seed God promised them.

Adam with the prophetic word in mind knew his wife and she bore him children. With Cain being the first the born and Abel the second, they were confident that one of them was the seed God was talking about. Preferably, the first son, Cain! But something tragic happened during the cause of life. Cain became messed up and murdered his only brother Abel. Now Adam and Eve’s dreams and hope for restoration had been shattered.

With Cain rejected, driven from the presence of God and Abel murdered, what was going to be the outcome of Adam and Eve’s generation and moreover the prophetic word given to them by God?

Many of us find ourselves in situations such as Adam and Eve and all we can think of is throwing in the towel. Some also forget that God is God indeed and nothing can and will stop him from fulfilling his purpose in our lives as we allow him.

Isa 14:27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Adam and Eve held on to the promise of God and took a step again. The Bible tells us the he “knew” his wife again and she bore him a son called Seth meaning in stead of or substitute or appointed. Because he did it again their dreams and hope for restoration were realized. Their trust in God became the vehicle that transported them to arena of doing it again, thus “knowing” his wife to produce another seed. Do you trust God? Do you really believe God be who you say He is?

Maybe you have placed your trust in someone or something and you have been disappointed. You have been left paralyzed, demoralized and traumatized. You are so discouraged that you have thrown in the towel. You are confused and clueless of what to do in life anymore. I write to you to encourage you that God has a vision for you life. He has a mandate for your life. It is does not matter whether you have lost your “Abel” and frustrated with your “Cain”. God has an appointment for you. The vision of God for your life is set for an appointed time. Believe His word, and trust also in him and He shall bring it to pass. For as long as He is seated on the throne, that vision or prophecy will be made manifest. It is not over until God says it is over. Don’t throw in the towel for the vision of God is set for an appointed time even though it seems you have lost it all.

Now, considering Adam and Eve’s situation, they should have given up, complained, murmured against God like some of us do. They should have departed from righteousness unto ungodliness just because the manifestation of the Lord’s promise was delayed. Rather they remembered the word declared to them by God and decided to take another step. Though they failed the first time but that did not stop them. They did it again and succeeded.

I might not know what you are going through but I have come to you today in writing to tell you don’t loose hope but rather trust God and His word and do it again. Whatever the devil might have stolen from you don’t let it stop your confidence in God. You might not understand God’s plans or His ways but Jer. 29:11 clearly states that His plans towards us are good and to bring us to an expected end. Rise up mighty man and woman of God in obedience to His word and do it again. Whatever the Lord has spoken to you, don’t withdraw because of your past failure. Let it be your experience and do it again.