(99666,1,'2020-02-04 05:39:29','2020-02-04 03:39:29','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus Hailed from the Ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p>[signinlocker id=\"99665\"][/signinlocker]</p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 05:39:29','2020-02-04 03:39:29','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99667,1,'2020-02-04 05:41:28','2020-02-04 03:41:28','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus Hailed from the Ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p>[signinlocker id=\"99515\"][/signinlocker]</p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 05:41:28','2020-02-04 03:41:28','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99668,1,'2020-02-04 05:49:31','2020-02-04 03:49:31','','Email Locker (default)','','publish','closed','closed','','opanda_default_email_locker','','','2020-02-04 05:49:31','2020-02-04 03:49:31','',0,'https://expound.org.za/opanda_default_email_locker/',0,'opanda-item','',0),(99669,1,'2020-02-04 05:54:13','2020-02-04 03:54:13','','','','publish','closed','closed','','99669','','','2020-02-04 05:55:52','2020-02-04 03:55:52','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?post_type=opanda-item&#038;p=99669',0,'opanda-item','',0),(99670,1,'2020-02-04 05:56:01','2020-02-04 03:56:01','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus Hailed from the Ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p>[emaillocker id=\"99669\"] [/emaillocker]</p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 05:56:01','2020-02-04 03:56:01','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99672,1,'2020-02-04 06:01:37','2020-02-04 04:01:37','','Main Sign In Locker','','inherit','closed','closed','','99669-autosave-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:01:37','2020-02-04 04:01:37','',99669,'https://expound.org.za/99669-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99673,1,'2020-02-04 06:02:39','2020-02-04 04:02:39','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus Hailed from the Ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p>[emaillocker id=\"99669\"]</p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/emaillocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:02:39','2020-02-04 04:02:39','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99833,1,'2020-03-14 10:27:48','2020-03-14 08:27:48','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99836} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/expound-quotables-quote-about-faith-and-logic-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99836\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Faith is not superior logic. Faith is superior to logic.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->','Faith is superior to logic','','publish','open','open','','faith-is-superior-to-logic','','','2020-03-14 10:28:39','2020-03-14 08:28:39','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99833',0,'post','',0),(99675,1,'2020-02-04 06:20:37','2020-02-04 04:20:37','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus Hailed from the Ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99519\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:20:37','2020-02-04 04:20:37','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99676,1,'2020-02-04 06:22:15','2020-02-04 04:22:15','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus Hailed from the Ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:22:15','2020-02-04 04:22:15','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99677,1,'2020-02-04 06:30:40','2020-02-04 04:30:40','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99457} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-bible.jpg\" alt=\"Job chapter 1 exegesis\" class=\"wp-image-99457\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The book of Job belongs to the early epochs of human history. According to various chronological bible event outlines the book of Job can be located after the 8th chapter of Genesis.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As I was reading through Job Chapter 1, I struggled to ward off the feeling that there were some hidden treasures in the text that I was missing by a stretch.  So, I went over the chapter a number of times. The following are what came out of the not necessarily exhaustive and yet beautiful excursion. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>In the Author\'s  Eyes (Moses) Job’s Net Worth is Material, in God’s Eyes Job’s Net Worth is Spiritual </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In verse 3 , it is Moses the author of the book of Job speaking, (Job 1:3) Moses enumerates and quantifies the net worth of Job in material terms. <br> 3&nbsp;His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In verse 8 it is God speaking and He also takes time to quantity and qualify Job’s net worth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8&nbsp;And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The radical and striking difference between God’s perspective and the author’s perspective is hard to miss. In Moses terms, Job’s net worth is material, in God’s terms Job’s net worth is spiritual.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>God does not esteem nor value humanity the way humans do. The circularized  and corrosively materialistic society we live in esteems humans on the basis of material factors and prosperity indices. On the other end,God has another view. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\"But the Lord said to Samuel, \'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”</p><cite>1 Samuel 16:7</cite></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><br> Perhaps the above is a no brainier, but the key question to consider is, which of the perspectives do we allow (either consciously or subconsciously), to impact our life trajectories? God’s view or the world’s view? The answer to that lies in the matter of where we belong. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Look at John 17: 14-16 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.</p></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus and His faithful disciples were in this world but not of this world. If we are heaven ward our lives will be shaped by our consciousness of God’s view and How much He values us else we will wander and pander to the dictates and expectations of fellow earthlings. God is the only being with an accurate concept of who we are and what we are worth. At the cross, He did not over spend, He paid the exact price commensurate with the value of each soul. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> The Devil is not the Opposite-Equal of God </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p>[signinlocker id=\"99515\"]</p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Verse 6: 6&nbsp;Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is a lot that stems from that verse but for this scope I just want to focus on this fact: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>While in terms of character indeed the Devil represents every thing that God stands against however Satan is not necessarily the opposite of God in matters of magnitude and strength. Many people tend to confuse the Devil as the opposite-equal of God. When we practice juxtaposing opposites we think light versus darkness, tall versus short, big versus small, etc. It does not necessarily follow that Satan is the opposite of God in the nomenclature of opposites. God has no opposite in terms of size and magnitude. He simply has not match. </p></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><br>Simply: the devil is not an equal of God hence when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also among them. Just like all other beings coming to present themselves Satan had also come to submit, albeit in his perverted and subverted way. Nonetheless, He came to God, God did not go to him. His original place is that of service to God and nothing more. While he can surely devour, His power must never be overstated and in the presence of Jesus Satan stands no smidgen of a chance. Remember he actually purported to ascend above and set his throne above that of God but as a matter of fact He was cast down. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Like all Megalomaniacs Satan Suffers from a Chronic Self-Concept Illiteracy </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Verse  7: &nbsp;And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Verse 7 is interesting. Satan could have simply stated that he was coming from planet earth: period. But in his maladjusted quest to flex he decided to go ballistic about the detail of his territorial latitude and liberties. His response explicitly references lateral dominion (“to and fro”), and vertical dominion (“up and down”). <br>In a nutshell Satan is saying he is coming from planet (earth); a planet he has since captured since Adam handed the dominion over to him through disobedience to God. A planet he has absolute  control in and over and by extension; a planet where everyone does his bidding as opposed to the will of God. Do not forget that in the bible times and language to walk to and fro in a sense of surveying the land is a symbol of dominion. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Genesis 3:17 “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”  In the case in point Abraham was to, “walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it” for God would give the land to him (dominion). The devil is thus posturing as a despicable prince of darkness with unlimited to access to planet earth until God calls His attention to Job. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In verse 10 Satan charges God for putting a hedge around Job. Here is something from Satan that we can say “Amen” to. God places Satan in a position where he has to put his proverbial tail between his legs and eat his own words by inadvertently confessing that actually; he doesn’t have unlimited control as implied in his “up and down”, “to and fro” vainglorious rave. Like all megalomaniacs, egomaniacs and narcissists; Satan suffers from a chronic self-concept illiteracy. He has no accurate sense of his realistic power and control. He claimed unfettered and undeterred vertical and horizontal spherical dominion yet he had to confess failure to access the life of a mere individual whom God had protected. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> God is Awesome as Charged </h3>\nIn verse 10 Satan continues, “thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” What does the Church say? “Amen”. <br>\nIt is profound that God did not deny these allegations. So friend, it is true that God blesses the work of our hands, and our substance will be increased by Him in the land. To the allegations Satan leveled to God, in a sense God pleaded, “Awesome as Charged”.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is a question to ponder: How did Satan know that God had put a hedge around Job? The notion that Satan had actually attempted to harm Job prior to this encounter is not far fetched if you think about it. <br>The additional take home is therefore that: <strong>God protects His own</strong>. The Devil had to ask for permission to rattle Job. In fact in verse 11 He asked God to harm Job as he (we can safely presume) had failed. This sets the stage for a more dramatic unfolding of the Devil’s hideous scheme from whence we can observe the wondrous power and sovereignty of God: themes we uncover in Part 2 of Job Chapter 1 mini series. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','Job Chapter 1 (Part 1)','','inherit','closed','closed','','99456-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:30:40','2020-02-04 04:30:40','',99456,'https://expound.org.za/99456-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99680,1,'2020-02-04 06:43:09','2020-02-04 04:43:09','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h4> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h4></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:43:09','2020-02-04 04:43:09','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99679,1,'2020-02-04 06:33:46','2020-02-04 04:33:46','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99457} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-bible.jpg\" alt=\"Job chapter 1 exegesis\" class=\"wp-image-99457\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The book of Job belongs to the early epochs of human history. According to various chronological bible event outlines the book of Job can be located after the 8th chapter of Genesis.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As I was reading through Job Chapter 1, I struggled to ward off the feeling that there were some hidden treasures in the text that I was missing by a stretch.  So, I went over the chapter a number of times. The following are what came out of the not necessarily exhaustive and yet beautiful excursion. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>In the Author\'s  Eyes (Moses) Job’s Net Worth is Material, in God’s Eyes Job’s Net Worth is Spiritual </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In verse 3 , it is Moses the author of the book of Job speaking, (Job 1:3) Moses enumerates and quantifies the net worth of Job in material terms. <br> 3&nbsp;His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In verse 8 it is God speaking and He also takes time to quantity and qualify Job’s net worth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8&nbsp;And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The radical and striking difference between God’s perspective and the author’s perspective is hard to miss. In Moses terms, Job’s net worth is material, in God’s terms Job’s net worth is spiritual.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>God does not esteem nor value humanity the way humans do. The circularized  and corrosively materialistic society we live in esteems humans on the basis of material factors and prosperity indices. On the other end,God has another view. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\"But the Lord said to Samuel, \'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”</p><cite>1 Samuel 16:7</cite></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><br> Perhaps the above is a no brainier, but the key question to consider is, which of the perspectives do we allow (either consciously or subconsciously), to impact our life trajectories? God’s view or the world’s view? The answer to that lies in the matter of where we belong. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Look at John 17: 14-16 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.</p></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus and His faithful disciples were in this world but not of this world. If we are heaven ward our lives will be shaped by our consciousness of God’s view and How much He values us else we will wander and pander to the dictates and expectations of fellow earthlings. God is the only being with an accurate concept of who we are and what we are worth. At the cross, He did not over spend, He paid the exact price commensurate with the value of each soul. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> The Devil is not the Opposite-Equal of God </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Verse 6: 6&nbsp;Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is a lot that stems from that verse but for this scope I just want to focus on this fact: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>While in terms of character indeed the Devil represents every thing that God stands against however Satan is not necessarily the opposite of God in matters of magnitude and strength. Many people tend to confuse the Devil as the opposite-equal of God. When we practice juxtaposing opposites we think light versus darkness, tall versus short, big versus small, etc. It does not necessarily follow that Satan is the opposite of God in the nomenclature of opposites. God has no opposite in terms of size and magnitude. He simply has not match. </p></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><br>Simply: the devil is not an equal of God hence when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also among them. Just like all other beings coming to present themselves Satan had also come to submit, albeit in his perverted and subverted way. Nonetheless, He came to God, God did not go to him. His original place is that of service to God and nothing more. While he can surely devour, His power must never be overstated and in the presence of Jesus Satan stands no smidgen of a chance. Remember he actually purported to ascend above and set his throne above that of God but as a matter of fact He was cast down. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Like all Megalomaniacs Satan Suffers from a Chronic Self-Concept Illiteracy </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Verse  7: &nbsp;And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Verse 7 is interesting. Satan could have simply stated that he was coming from planet earth: period. But in his maladjusted quest to flex he decided to go ballistic about the detail of his territorial latitude and liberties. His response explicitly references lateral dominion (“to and fro”), and vertical dominion (“up and down”). <br>In a nutshell Satan is saying he is coming from planet (earth); a planet he has since captured since Adam handed the dominion over to him through disobedience to God. A planet he has absolute  control in and over and by extension; a planet where everyone does his bidding as opposed to the will of God. Do not forget that in the bible times and language to walk to and fro in a sense of surveying the land is a [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] symbol of dominion. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Genesis 3:17 “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”  In the case in point Abraham was to, “walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it” for God would give the land to him (dominion). The devil is thus posturing as a despicable prince of darkness with unlimited to access to planet earth until God calls His attention to Job. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In verse 10 Satan charges God for putting a hedge around Job. Here is something from Satan that we can say “Amen” to. God places Satan in a position where he has to put his proverbial tail between his legs and eat his own words by inadvertently confessing that actually; he doesn’t have unlimited control as implied in his “up and down”, “to and fro” vainglorious rave. Like all megalomaniacs, egomaniacs and narcissists; Satan suffers from a chronic self-concept illiteracy. He has no accurate sense of his realistic power and control. He claimed unfettered and undeterred vertical and horizontal spherical dominion yet he had to confess failure to access the life of a mere individual whom God had protected. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> God is Awesome as Charged </h3>\nIn verse 10 Satan continues, “thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” What does the Church say? “Amen”. <br>\nIt is profound that God did not deny these allegations. So friend, it is true that God blesses the work of our hands, and our substance will be increased by Him in the land. To the allegations Satan leveled to God, in a sense God pleaded, “Awesome as Charged”.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is a question to ponder: How did Satan know that God had put a hedge around Job? The notion that Satan had actually attempted to harm Job prior to this encounter is not far fetched if you think about it. <br>The additional take home is therefore that: <strong>God protects His own</strong>. The Devil had to ask for permission to rattle Job. In fact in verse 11 He asked God to harm Job as he (we can safely presume) had failed. This sets the stage for a more dramatic unfolding of the Devil’s hideous scheme from whence we can observe the wondrous power and sovereignty of God: themes we uncover in Part 2 of Job Chapter 1 mini series. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','Job Chapter 1 (Part 1)','','inherit','closed','closed','','99456-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 06:33:46','2020-02-04 04:33:46','',99456,'https://expound.org.za/99456-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99681,1,'2020-02-04 07:07:13','2020-02-04 05:07:13','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into Hi slide and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h4> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a global blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h4></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 07:07:13','2020-02-04 05:07:13','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99682,1,'2020-02-04 13:41:12','2020-02-04 11:41:12','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into His life and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to do”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h4> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a global blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h4></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 13:41:12','2020-02-04 11:41:12','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99683,1,'2020-02-04 13:55:53','2020-02-04 11:55:53','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99365} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1102014686_univ_lsr_xl-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99365\"/><figcaption>The Parable of the Prodigal Son</figcaption></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The parable of the prodigal son is one of the default go-to stories for Christians when we seek to underscore the unconditional love of God as immaculately epitomized by the Father in the parable.  At face value the unconditional love of the Father is the key deliverable of the story as narrated by Jesus. However, an up-close assimilation of the not only the content but the ingenuity behind the fictitious narrative illuminates the fact that while the unconditional love of the Father remains the key deliverable of the narrative, the gist of the story is not simplistically in the story in and of itself, but elsewhere. Keep reading... </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>The Parable of the Lost Son: Luke 15:11-32</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>10 Take Aways</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>A true story requires a mere narration  without any thought investment from the story teller, a fictitious story presents thoughtful detail informed by the sensitivity of the story teller to the inner affairs of humanity. In this regard a real life story would be deficient of necessary detail to underscore the profoundness of God’s love.</li><li>The fictitious narrative gives Jesus latitude to embed detail in the story that serves to teach and assert the principle of the parable, detail that would not be guaranteed in a real life story.</li><li>The triangulation around the psychology of a rebellious and repentant son, the grumpy elderly brothers’ attitude towards the Father and the younger brother, the steadfast and unconditional love of the Father, present a profound prism which establishes the beauty of the unconditional love of God as real as the ugly estate of human rebellion, jealousy and repentance. </li><li>Christ poignantly unveils the psychology of a rebellious sinner, repentant sinner, jealous brother, not only their mere actions which would leave us conjecturing about motive and disposition, but  delves compassionately into their inner thoughts and psyches. Through parading the deep psychologies of human struggles and thought, Christ powerfully lays bare His inner thoughts, feelings and emotions as a creator:  The sum disposition of a loving God who is not far removed but rather up-close to the external and internal struggles of humanity. Christ is on a compelling pedestal to tell the story as He is God-man tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, touched with the feeling of our infirmities. (Hebrews 4:15)</li><li>How profound is the story? it is so profound, it shouts the unconditional and amazing love of God not only through its content but more powerfully through its crafty construction and  the ingenuity behind narrative. </li><li>To grasp only the deliverable of the content of the story is to miss the bigger picture by a mile for there are many parables and real life incidents in and outside the Bible that powerfully uphold the undying love of God. The main takeaway of the story is not the story, but the motive behind the creativity and innovation of the story which is to demonstrate not only the omniscience of God but His immaculate relevance to the diverse and intricate complexes of humanity. The real essence of the story is not the story but the undying love, the compassion and all-detailed disposition of the story teller as captured not in the content of the story as it were, but in the divine construction of the story. </li><li>The intentional piecing together of the fictitious pieces of the imaginary scenario and characters to craft the parable is where the profoundness of the parable lies. The thinking behind the story, the consideration of what to include and exclude in the narrative is where lies the redemptive beauty of God and the hope for all mankind. </li><li>By default the story projects the unconditional love of the Father, however a detailed zooming in into the narrative creativity and ingenuity projects a high definition display of the closeness of God to humanity, His thoughtful concern with what we would classify as minutiae in the affairs of humanity is profoundly reassuring. Through the parable Jesus projects  demonstrable intimate knowledge and remedy for human woes of sin, rebellion, licentiousness, guilt, shame, repentance, jealous, disappointment, etc. There is nothing that we go through that shocks God, He is not even shocked by our sinfulness. His arms are ever open to meet us even at the very point where and when we are embarrassed by our failures and  have given up on ourselves. </li><li>The profundity is in the rotundity of the narrator\'s consciousness of the complex struggles, failures, frailties, regrets and the very potentials of human beings. This fact presents a radical station of a God whose disposition to humanity is not that of mere sympathy but sheer empathy, whose thrust is not merely supportive but decisively victorious.  In Jesus we have a God who is not only touched with the feeling of our infirmities but is more acquainted with our true situations more than we are, and more than we are prepared to face the fact.</li><li>Ultimately, the hope and salvation for humanity lies is not in our weak, unreliable and sometimes questionable love for God,  our hope and redemption lies not in how much we love God but in how much God loves us. We can rest assured that the foundation of our salvation is  the solid Rock, a more stable and reliable basis than what our frail humanness could ever collectively  assure. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n        Romans 8:38–39\n\n                    \n            \n\n    </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“For I am sure that neither \ndeath nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to \ncome, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all \ncreation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ \nJesus our Lord.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','When Fiction is more Powerful than Reality','','inherit','closed','closed','','99364-revision-v1','','','2020-02-04 13:55:53','2020-02-04 11:55:53','',99364,'https://expound.org.za/99364-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99685,1,'2020-02-05 08:36:24','2020-02-05 06:36:24','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into His life and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to do”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h3> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a global blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h4>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-05 08:36:24','2020-02-05 06:36:24','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99686,1,'2020-02-05 08:36:37','2020-02-05 06:36:37','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into His life and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to do”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h3> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a global blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h3>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>Isiah Chapter 53 </h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h4>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h4>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-05 08:36:37','2020-02-05 06:36:37','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99687,1,'2020-02-05 08:39:01','2020-02-05 06:39:01','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into His life and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to do”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing hid disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h3> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a global blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h3>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Against All Odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>Isiah Chapter 53 </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-05 08:39:01','2020-02-05 06:39:01','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99689,1,'2020-02-05 12:54:20','2020-02-05 10:54:20','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99600} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grow-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99600\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I am aware that the subject of purposeful living is a tired causeway for motivational speakers. Notwithstanding, the difference between bubblegum-motivational-talk and the word of God is that skin-deep motivational talk can get you excited and the next morning when you check as to why you are excited you will struggle to pin your excitement on any solid base. However with the word of God, you will get uplifted, challenged and inspired and your “why” base will remain sustainably intact. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Potential Versus Purpose </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let me open with this quote: <br>\nAs the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Our Father Cares page 308)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the draw cards of motivational talk is the, “achieve your potential” mantra. However, the life of Christ teaches a radical concept about life. Jesus did not achieve His potential, however He achieved His purpose within the 33 and a half years He spent on planet earth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus did not achieve His potential but He achieved His purpose.  </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus could have potentially been a great ruler of Jews if He wanted to pursue that but He did not exhaust his potential in that line because He did not pursue that. He could have pursued His full potential as a healer and set up a ministry to do much healing work for at least 40 to 50 years or so but He did not pursue that and therefore He did not achieve His potential in that. Generally Jesus did not achieve His true potential because He had not come to achieve any potential but rather to accomplish a specific purpose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is the point of departure, when the human will is aligned to the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. “Omni”  means “all”, “potent” means “power” or “powerful”. In other words, when the will of a human being is aligned to the will of God there is no limit to what the human being can achieve. If you understand the import of the foregoing then you would understand that even two thousand years would not suffice for one to achieve their true potential because once the human will is aligned to the will of God the possibilities can not even be quantified. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anchor Verse: John 17:4  “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”<br>\nThis Jesus said just before he was crucified. He could look back into His life and work and confidently say, “I have finished the work which you gave me to do”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, at the apex of his  earthly ministry while hanging on the cross and shouldering the frightful mass and weight of the iniquities of the human race, He declared that He had finished the work God had given Him to do. <br>\nAt 33 years Jesus could look at His life and work and declare that He was done with His purpose on earth. This fact alone is profoundly instructive on purposeful living. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do you know how this was possible for Christ? It was possible because at the age of 12 Jesus already knew His purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luke chapter 2 verse 48-49 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father\'s business?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> What do you want to be when you grow up? </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people will be quick to dismiss the sterling success and accomplishments of Christ in the short time He was down here as mere outworking of His limitless divinity. Christ however demystified this notion when addressing his disciples: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>John 14:12 <br>\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So friend, there is actually no excuse for mediocrity in any front. Jesus promised that we can do it so long as we plug to the same power He was plugged to. As we are soon to discover, poverty, a poor background, inhibiting socio-political factors, rejection etc did not stop Jesus and thus they can not and should not stop me and you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Let’s look at the odds that were staked against Jesus when He achieved His mission: </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> 1. Poverty </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus came from a poor family. <br>\nLuke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Remember that according to Leviticus 12:8, for the ritual Mary and Joseph were performing upon the birth of a male first born child the ideal sacrifice model was a lamb for the burnt offering and either a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. The sacrifice model brought according to Luke 2:24 was an insignia of poverty. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong> Chances are high me and you have more resources and opportunities that Jesus had in any grind and drive of life</strong>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> Jesus hailed from the ghetto </h2> <br> In John 1: 43-46, Philip is interacting with Nathaniel and draws the attention of Nathaniel to the Messiah from Nazareth whom Moses in the law and the scribes have written about, Nathaniel’s reaction is, “What good can come of Nazareth”. To give context to Nathaniel\'s reaction, studies indicate that Nazareth was a community notorious for poverty, crime and violence, a slum or Ghetto if you like, and this was Jesus’ hood.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Jesus did not hail from some opulent or leafy suburb and this proves the fact that your address of birth is not necessarily your destiny and neither can it hinder  your dreams and drive if you are determined to achieve your purpose. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus was born in the era when Jews were under Roman rule. Do you know what that means, it means “apartheid”, or imperialism (colonialism) if you like it, did not stop him. <br> We can not be previously disadvantaged, currently disadvantaged and forever disadvantaged. Somewhere we must have what it takes to break the vicious cycle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Jesus had no family support </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Oh by the way, Jesus did not have family support in his mission. John 7:4 declares that he was rejected neither did His brethren believe him. Jesus’ family thought their very own was a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the family. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Going with this:  Jesus was embarrassingly rejected home and away.  John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The religious leaders dismissed Him as the son of Joseph. By asserting his sonship to Joseph they were casting aspersions on His divine birth. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the book of Luke, other than Simeon and prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 1) who acknowledged the messiahship of the baby Jesus in the temple, the first entities to acknowledge Jesus’ holiness were demons (Luke 4:34). The take home: none of the excruciating rejection from the very race He had come to save discouraged Jesus. He trudged on and accomplished His purposes regardless.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus did not enjoy church support. As a matter of fact, He  ultimately left the church and started a new church in the upper room. The church He had referred to as as “my house” (Mathew 21:13) He later distanced himself from it. “Look, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mathew 23:38</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3> Jesus had no funding </h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One scribe admired what Christ was doing and verbalized that he would like to follow Christ. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><p>Do know what that means? It means Jesus had no funding for His start up. However that did not stop Him. How many a young person out there are languishing in lack of purpose and decisiveness in their enterprises and the default let off is, “Only if I could get funding. You can’t seek to use some one else’s yield (harvest) as seed for your untried and tested dreams. Funding is for scaling. It can not be scaled before it is. You scale what is already established. Even the notion of “seed” funding has its place. Back to the spiritual import: Little is much when God is in it. “Oh But I’ve got nothing…”, you say. God loves working with nothing. In fact He has a track record of achieving wonders with “Nothing”. At one time He stepped onto nothing and spoke to nothing and through that our world came to be. Oh and God does know how to put “nothing” to good use. Ask Elder Job. When God had finished creating planet earth do you know upon what He hung it? “Nothing\". Job 26:7 [He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.]<br> If you’ve got nothing, that\'s great, God says, bring it, and you will see what we can do with it. </p>\n\n<h3> How Jesus scaled from a one-man-band, to a start-up, right up to a global blue chip without funding, presents profound universal and timeless life principles to be studied through endless ages.</h3>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Jesus won against all odds </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<p> [signinlocker id=\"99515\"] </p>\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What can you achieve with 30 years of preparation/planning and 3 and half years of execution!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Jesus’ sterling accomplishments are beyond enumeration. However the 5 below are enough home work for us when we appreciate them in cognizance of the fact  that He achieved these, against all odds. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Jesus turned the world upside down. In a world with over 7 billion people more than 2 billion of these are Christians. You have over 2 billion people called by the name of a man who lived down here only for 33 and a half years and had no biological offspring to see to His legacy and posterity. When Jesus said that many would  come in His name and cast demons and ultimately He would reject them and tell them He never knew them (Mathew 24;5), He was not a celebrity. He was not an Instagram influencer. He had no followers on Facebook neither did He have a Twitter handle. He came and changed the world in an era when there were no cars and means of mass communication. He worked from the ground up and achieved His goals against all odds.</li><li>Jesus trained 11 disciples successfully. Notwithstanding that the team He worked with did not get the object of his mission until He died, resurrected and left for heaven, Jesus had the wisdom and the grace to identify men that had the potential to grow and transform and be similarly on fire for the gospel as their master was. Jesus had a strategy for His 3 and a half years of public ministry and what would happen when He was no longer down here and that worked to the dot.</li><li>Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached, taught and reached out to outcasts and the downcast. While He had a very short span of time for His ministry, He was never too busy to meet human needs. </li><li>He conquered sin. Hebrews 4:15: \"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\"<br> Never was He at any point tempted to be impatient or to cut corners on the basis of the weight of his mission and its urgency. He  had normal “down time” as me and you in that He also got tired and retired to sleep when He needed to.</li><li>Lastly: He died for us. Jesus accomplished the complex mission of avoiding murder while committing to die for us without being suicidal about it. This is a hard saying. If you were to ask Jesus what He wanted to be when He grew up His dream was neither to be a pilot nor an engineer, or whatever the lucrative mainstream career paths were for that time. His dream was to die. He ultimately accomplished that. On the very cross before He gave up His spirit He declared, “It is Finished”. That meant quite a mouthful and part of what it meant was that His earthly mission had been accomplished. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When He said “It is finished the essence of Isiah Chapter 53 had been accomplished. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>Isiah Chapter 53 </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n1.Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>When I grow up </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up, I want to own a big car, when I grow up I want to own that big house and live with my big happy family. When I group I want to obtain a prestigious qualification and excel in fronts academic and professional.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to grow down and become as humble as a child. To grow up I need to aim higher than that. To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to aim higher than the clouds. To grow up I need to aim higher than the crowds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. Forget politics, terrorism and global warming. When I grow up I want to deal with bigger things. I want to fight sin, I want to conquer lust and pride and ultimately, through Christ I want to conquer death. Ultimately, I would like to have an interview with  death and pose a question, death where is your sting. When I grow up I want to deal with real issues. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need grow down and be as humble as a child. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I grow up I want to go places. I mean real places. Forget table mountain, Dubai and the Grand Canyon. When I grow up I want to go up, fly across the sun, scale neptune and explore orion. When I grow up I want to go planets. When I grow up I want to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But to grow up I must realize that I am destined for greatness. <br>To grow up I need to aim higher than high. To grow up I need to bury all excuses. To grow up I need to realize that my time is now. To grow up I must realize that “Yes I can”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>What do you want to be when you, Finally; grow up?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<p>[/signinlocker]</p>','What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99597-revision-v1','','','2020-02-05 12:54:20','2020-02-05 10:54:20','',99597,'https://expound.org.za/99597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99701,1,'2020-02-11 18:26:21','2020-02-11 16:26:21','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99702} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/expound-quotables-quote-about-the-fear-of-God-.png\" alt=\"If you Don\'t Fear God you are Coward\" class=\"wp-image-99702\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> If you Don\'t Fear God you are Coward </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->','If you Don\'t Fear God you are Coward','','publish','open','open','','if-you-dont-fear-god-you-are-coward','','','2020-02-08 18:29:53','2020-02-08 16:29:53','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99701',0,'post','',0),(99702,1,'2020-02-08 18:27:21','2020-02-08 16:27:21','','expound-quotables-quote-about-the-fear-of-God-','','inherit','open','closed','','expound-quotables-quote-about-the-fear-of-god','','','2020-02-08 18:27:21','2020-02-08 16:27:21','',99701,'https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/expound-quotables-quote-about-the-fear-of-God-.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(99703,1,'2020-02-08 18:29:02','2020-02-08 16:29:02','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99702} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/expound-quotables-quote-about-the-fear-of-God-.png\" alt=\"If you Don\'t Fear God you are Coward\" class=\"wp-image-99702\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> If you Don\'t Fear God you are Coward </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->','If you Don\'t Fear God you are Coward','','inherit','closed','closed','','99701-revision-v1','','','2020-02-08 18:29:02','2020-02-08 16:29:02','',99701,'https://expound.org.za/99701-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99704,1,'2020-02-16 18:47:06','2020-02-16 16:47:06','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99705} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/the-value-of-now-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The Value of Now\" class=\"wp-image-99705\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Achieving your goals one now at a time</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Now” is not only the only link between the past and the future, the previous moment and next, but between your life trajectory, your plans and their unfolding. I can not emphasize this point enough. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Now” is the only link between ambition and accomplishment. This fact and consideration alone will turn our concept of “now” right on its head.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let’s illustrate the point more.<br>\nLook at your life in general, look at the plans you have, look at your goals, nothing in the immediate or distant future, nothing remote (in time or process) will be accessible if “Now” fails. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The assignment that is due tomorrow will not be submitted if “now” is not handled appropriately and that may derail your entire academic goal. If you miss work today or now, your employment status is compromised at best or jeopardized at worst. If “now” goes South, tomorrow (if it comes to you) can be a whole new ball game.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The lofty ambitions and aspirations some of which we are already working on: are not accessible outside an appropriate and fruitful handling of “now”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>There is a time for everything</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The reason people fail to achieve long term goals or any goals in the long run, is that “now” looks unimportant, the value of now is hardly appreciated. Right “now” someone thinks that how they should handle “now” is optional. They could either get on to that important task as planned or they can rather tune up some movie on Netflix and shelve the important task for later. Now seems to have a plurality of options with regards to how it can be handled. However every purposeful individual bent on achieving set goals knows clearly that the principle of acing “now” is not optional. In the ecosystem of life there are no options really. There is time for everything and time to work is time for just one thing: to work! Time for play is time for just one thing: to play.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Now” is often despised as an unimportant passing moment whose mishandling can be easily corrected in the next moment. This is a big lie we tell ourselves. As a matter of fact there is no optimal access to later, or tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or any other lofty life milestone outside the efficacious handling of “NOW”. The many nows we have misused and many we have been lent have a fleeting influence that makes us think there will always be “next time”. Not true.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Between the gone and the coming “Now” is the only way forward, to a non guaranteed forward.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The foregoing is what gives context to, “To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 11:7</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Now is the only door to the next step in the ladder of life. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Top achievers will tell you that the key is not to focus on the overwhelming lofty end product but on the process. Do  you know what focusing on the process entails? It entails handling your series of nows productively.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A life of failure is in essence a series of mishandled nows. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Keep wasting one now after another, (through idleness, slothfulness or busywork) before you know it the misused nows will add up to wasted moments, hours, days, weeks, months and years. They amount to a wasted life. It will dawn then that just like success in life is not an accident, neither is failure. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You are where you are today, right now according to how you thought, what you decided and what you did in your timeline’s old “nows”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Right now, in this seemingly negligible moment of time called now, a great legacy is either being born or built or being aborted. Right now the obituary to be read at your funeral (perhaps many years from now) is being scripted silently. Right now your future is being formed and decided by you. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Take note, success will be a net outcome of a whooping series of aced nows, however don’t be overwhelmed by countless units of nows, right now you only have one now to deal with and this will always be the rhythm of your life. One now at a time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><strong>Psalm 90: 12<br>  So teach us to number our days,<br>  That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.</strong></p></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Note, David’s prayer is that we learn to number our days, not to count then. So the point is not about the collective quantifying of the days but progressive living. Counting would imply mere quantifying while numbering implies progression. In other words day 1 lays the foundation for day 2, and day 2 lays the foundation for day 3 and so forth. <br>\nNumbering our days means that our lives are closed systems as opposed to open ended systems. A closed system has an A to Z structure. <br>\nThe tragedy of life is when you are on day 8 and days 1 to 7 have not been handled productively. i.e. You will struggle with mid life if childhood affairs were not handled appropriately. You will struggle in your life’s sunset years if mid life is not handled appropriately. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In numbering our days we ought to understand that opportunities, challenges and dynamics of day 2 presuppose the dutiful handling of day 1. Day 1 capacitates us for day 2 challenges and opportunities. The operative of life is cumulative and progressive. The idea is that age must come with maturity, wisdom, independence and stability. When age comes strolling alone the sight must be an eyesore to the engineer of life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>An individual at 40 still grappling with adolescent challenges and opportunities is the travesty of life on two legs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>The value of now is invaluable</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Thus, the value of now is invaluable, its importance is incalculable. An appropriate and dutiful handling of now not only secures the meaning of life at present, but lays the foundation while giving direction and perspective to the series of prospective nows, whose succession is the unitary unfolding of the future. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Now has no intrinsic value, it doesn’t come with a truckload of goodies, it has nothing else to offer beyond the mere value of access to it. The value of now derives from our investment of it rather than investing in it. Invest now, don’t just expend it. It is too short-lived and transient in any case and the only means of drawing maximum profit from it is investing it as opposed to investing in it.\n<strong> The only way to invest now is to derive permanence out of its transience (temporariness). </strong>\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Keep in mind that investing now and handling now productively do not imply the absence of failure. We may fail at one point or the other, but the object is to do our best to achieve set objectives. Remember this, God has NOT asked us to be successful, He has asked us to be faithful.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The Value of Now','','publish','open','open','','the-value-of-now','','','2020-02-24 17:12:58','2020-02-24 15:12:58','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99704',0,'post','',3),(99705,1,'2020-02-08 18:53:04','2020-02-08 16:53:04','','the-value-of-now','','inherit','open','closed','','the-value-of-now','','','2020-02-08 18:53:04','2020-02-08 16:53:04','',99704,'https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/the-value-of-now.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(99706,1,'2020-02-08 18:54:29','2020-02-08 16:54:29','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99705} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/the-value-of-now-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The Value of Now\" class=\"wp-image-99705\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Achieving your goals one now at a time</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Now” is not only the only link between the past and the future, the previous moment and next, but between your life trajectory, your plans and their unfolding. I can not emphasize this point enough. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Now” is the only link between ambition and accomplishment. This fact and consideration alone will turn our concept of “now” right on its head.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let’s illustrate the point more.<br>\nLook at your life in general, look at the plans you have, look at your goals, nothing in the immediate or distant future, nothing remote (in time or process) will be accessible if “Now” fails. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The assignment that is due tomorrow will not be submitted if “now” is not handled appropriately and that may derail your entire academic goal. If you miss work today or now, your employment status is compromised at best or jeopardized at worst. If “now” goes South, tomorrow (if it comes to you) can be a whole new ball game.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The lofty ambitions and aspirations some of which we are already working on: are not accessible outside an appropriate and fruitful handling of “now”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>There is a time for everything</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The reason people fail to achieve long term goals or any goals in the long run, is that “now” looks unimportant, the value of now is hardly appreciated. Right “now” someone thinks that how they should handle “now” is optional. They could either get on to that important task as planned or they can rather tune up some movie on Netflix and shelve the important task for later. Now seems to have a plurality of options with regards to how it can be handled. However every purposeful individual bent on achieving set goals knows clearly that the principle of acing “now” is not optional. In the ecosystem of life there are no options really. There is time for everything and time to work is time for just one thing: to work! Time for play is time for just one thing: to play.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Now” is often despised as an unimportant passing moment whose mishandling can be easily corrected in the next moment. This is a big lie we tell ourselves. As a matter of fact there is no optimal access to later, or tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or any other lofty life milestone outside the efficacious handling of “NOW”. The many nows we have misused and many we have been lent have a fleeting influence that makes us think there will always be “next time”. Not true.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Between the gone and the coming “Now” is the only way forward, to a non guaranteed forward.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The foregoing is what gives context to, “To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 11:7</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Now is the only door to the next step in the ladder of life. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Top achievers will tell you that the key is not to focus on the overwhelming lofty end product but on the process. Do  you know what focusing on the process entails? It entails handling your series of nows productively.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A life of failure is in essence a series of mishandled nows. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Keep wasting one now after another, (through idleness, slothfulness or busywork) before you know it the misused nows will add up to wasted moments, hours, days, weeks, months and years. They amount to a wasted life. It will dawn then that just like success in life is not an accident, neither is failure. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You are where you are today, right now according to how you thought, what you decided and what you did in your timeline’s old “nows”. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Right now, in this seemingly negligible moment of time called now, a great legacy is either being born or built or being aborted. Right now the obituary to be read at your funeral (perhaps many years from now) is being scripted silently. Right now your future is being formed and decided by you. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Take note, success will be a net outcome of a whooping series of aced nows, however don’t be overwhelmed by countless units of nows, right now you only have one now to deal with and this will always be the rhythm of your life. One now at a time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><strong>Psalm 90: 12<br>  So teach us to number our days,<br>  That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.</strong></p></blockquote>\n<!-- /wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Note, David’s prayer is that we learn to number our days, not to count then. So the point is not about the collective quantifying of the days but progressive living. Counting would imply mere quantifying while numbering implies progression. In other words day 1 lays the foundation for day 2, and day 2 lays the foundation for day 3 and so forth. <br>\nNumbering our days means that our lives are closed systems as opposed to open ended systems. A closed system has an A to Z structure. <br>\nThe tragedy of life is when you are on day 8 and days 1 to 7 have not been handled productively. i.e. You will struggle with mid life if childhood affairs were not handled appropriately. You will struggle in your life’s sunset years if mid life is not handled appropriately. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In numbering our days we ought to understand that opportunities, challenges and dynamics of day 2 presuppose the dutiful handling of day 1. Day 1 capacitates us for day 2 challenges and opportunities. The operative of life is cumulative and progressive. The idea is that age must come with maturity, wisdom, independence and stability. When age comes strolling alone the sight must be an eyesore to the engineer of life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>An individual at 40 still grappling with adolescent challenges and opportunities is the travesty of life on two legs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>The value of now is invaluable</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Thus, the value of now is invaluable, its importance is incalculable. An appropriate and dutiful handling of now not only secures the meaning of life at present, but lays the foundation while giving direction and perspective to the series of prospective nows, whose succession is the unitary unfolding of the future. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Now has no intrinsic value, it doesn’t come with a truckload of goodies, it has nothing else to offer beyond the mere value of access to it. The value of now derives from our investment of it rather than investing in it. Invest now, don’t just expend it. It is too short-lived and transient in any case and the only means of drawing maximum profit from it is investing it as opposed to investing in it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Keep in mind that investing now and handling now productively do not imply the absence of failure. We may fail at one point or the other, but the object is to do our best to achieve set objectives. Remember this, God has NOT asked us to be successful, He has asked us to be faithful.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The Value of Now','','inherit','closed','closed','','99704-revision-v1','','','2020-02-08 18:54:29','2020-02-08 16:54:29','',99704,'https://expound.org.za/99704-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99707,1,'2020-02-09 06:23:20','2020-02-09 04:23:20','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God had just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was directed by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human (Nimrod’s) directive </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Integrity is Trust in God</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua: 24:15) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof? A Spotlight on Business and Christianity','','publish','open','open','','is-your-enterprise-fire-proof-a-spotlight-on-business-and-christianity','','','2020-02-11 02:38:13','2020-02-11 00:38:13','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99707',0,'post','',0),(99708,1,'2020-02-09 06:21:39','2020-02-09 04:21:39','','christianity-and-business','','inherit','open','closed','','christianity-and-business','','','2020-02-09 06:21:39','2020-02-09 04:21:39','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(99709,1,'2020-02-09 06:23:20','2020-02-09 04:23:20','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive.&nbsp; Build with God.\nGod always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith\n(Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. they said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) </li><li>The ark was built in obedience and the\ntower was built in defiance. Noah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. </li><li>The ark was built on the basis of trust\nwhile the tower was built on the basis of distrust. Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.&nbsp; </li><li>The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. “They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. </li><li>The ark was built for a noble purpose\nwhile the tower was built to make a name. The rebels desired to make a great\nname and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame\nprecipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have\ncome to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise.\nWhen they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in\nmind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative.\nGod said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless\nthee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God\npromised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue\ngreatness. </li><li>The ark was built in, and for\ndependence on God while the tower was built for independence. Sometimes as\nhumans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards\nbut just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could\nbe more disingenuous that this mode of thinking. God is the source of\neverything including life and prosperity. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of\ntrust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust\nGod. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is\ngreater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that\nGod can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity\ninsurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable\nas a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He\nrelies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God.\nGod can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you\nwhen your net worth is His steadfastness. In it in this context that we can prosper\nin all our endeavors. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 06:23:20','2020-02-09 04:23:20','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99710,1,'2020-02-09 06:25:48','2020-02-09 04:25:48','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive.&nbsp; Build with God.\nGod always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith\n(Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. they said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) </li><li> <h2> The ark was built in obedience and the\ntower was built in defiance. </h2> Noah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. </li><li>The ark was built on the basis of trust\nwhile the tower was built on the basis of distrust. Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.&nbsp; </li><li>The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. “They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. </li><li> <h2> The ark was built for a noble purpose\nwhile the tower was built to make a name. </h2> The rebels desired to make a great\nname and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame\nprecipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have\ncome to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise.\nWhen they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in\nmind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative.\nGod said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless\nthee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God\npromised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue\ngreatness. </li><li>The ark was built in, and for\ndependence on God while the tower was built for independence. Sometimes as\nhumans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards\nbut just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could\nbe more disingenuous that this mode of thinking. God is the source of\neverything including life and prosperity. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 06:25:48','2020-02-09 04:25:48','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99713,1,'2020-02-09 06:49:58','2020-02-09 04:49:58','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h3> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. they said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n\n<h3> The ark was built in obedience and the\ntower was built in defiance. </h3> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<h3> The ark was built on the basis of trust </h3>\nwhile the tower was built on the basis of distrust. Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<h3> The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h3>\n\n“They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h3>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h3>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous that this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 06:49:58','2020-02-09 04:49:58','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99712,1,'2020-02-09 06:49:23','2020-02-09 04:49:23','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<h3> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive.&nbsp; Build with God. </h3> \n\n\nGod always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith\n(Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. they said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n\n<h3> The ark was built in obedience and the\ntower was built in defiance. </h3> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<h3> The ark was built on the basis of trust </h3>\nwhile the tower was built on the basis of distrust. Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<h3> The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h3>\n\n“They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h3>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h3>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous that this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 06:49:23','2020-02-09 04:49:23','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99715,1,'2020-02-13 07:00:50','2020-02-13 05:00:50','<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death, the dry dreary dread of the living.</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death, I have not known you but I do know you.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">As I mull over your inscrutable business my point of departure is a crashing halt.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You know how to break hearts, you know how to tear souls apart.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You are a thief with a middle name and a surname.You steal, you kill and you destroy.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You have no good reputation to maintain. You care not what adjectival prefixes are conferred upon your morose noun.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Call you untimely death, premature death, You simply won’t be bothered. You are unstoppable in your morbid hocus-pocus.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">“Worst timing” is your strategic plan. Without an invite you come in. Without notice you arrive. Every home is your home. In every family you are that member who dismembers.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Every birth is an irresistible invite to you, it’s a matter of when not if before you grace the occasion of everyone’s life with your disgrace.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Clumsiness is your preferred precision. Disrepute is your reputation.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Your track record are your stealthy untraceable bloody steps to whomsoever is surely next.</span>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death,The dry dreary dread of the living.</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death you are tone-deaf to occasion.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You employ gate crushing for your grand entrance. You have no struggle in getting attention. Disruption is your hallmark and wrecking havoc is your clinical act.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You rearrange the agenda of the day without consultation. You hardly attend planning meetings but when you rock up your orders are not optional.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You are delivered unordered and when you land disorder is the order of the day.</span>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death,The dry dreary dread of the living.</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Our teary eyes and agonies of tragedy are your daily fix, you giggle when we mourn not only because you have struck but more so because you will most certainly come back.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You delight in hand crafting tragedy and human misery is your mastered masterpiece.You are deft in subverting reality.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death listen, your incurable oxymorons are not funny.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You make children motherless and Fathers childless. Your linguistic jokes are killing us literally.</span>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death, the dry dreary dread of the living,</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">But don’t be too cocky yet. I know your power. You thrive in human ignorance.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Those who don’t know God know not your limits nor your glorious fate.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You are a terrorist par excellence. Terror is your operative, you blast unexpecting victims and casualties to their wits end, You strike fear for a living.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">“You will never see your dead loved ones again....” is the gospel truth of your puerile heap of lies with which you haunt and hound the unbelieving minds of many.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">To those who don’t know that your sting is temporary... your blow is permanent.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">When you strike, some suffer mere sadness and some sheer devastation.The difference is Jesus.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">To those who know the end game, your conclusion is not conclusive.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death listen, your blows are fatal yet not final. You will ultimately grin and grimace at your grim lifetime career in death-craft when at last the casualties you have in cemeteries lined up are thrown an eternal lifeline.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">The resurrection morning will summarily undo your gory to-do list. The grand union of parted loved ones will be the high definition undoing of your doing.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">I have been keen to hear what your response shall be to the question, “Where oh death is your sting?” until it dawned to me that at that point the question will be mere rhetoric.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">By then you would have shamefacedly shoved your creepy tail betwixt your ugly, scandalous and unwelcome legs and self destructed into eternal oblivion.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">For when the tables turn then it will be your turn.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Oh, When I peep into the future then I see that your deathly paws have a paucity of wisdom and your deadly claws are clueless for ultimately your last casualty is yourself.</span>\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Oh Death, I have not known you but I do know you.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You surely look and loom invincible for now, but I know ultimately your end is more permanent than your sting.</span>','Death','','publish','open','open','','death','','','2020-02-24 17:23:26','2020-02-24 15:23:26','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99715',0,'post','',0),(99838,1,'2020-03-14 22:19:38','2020-03-14 20:19:38','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99839} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/churh-and-dress-code-suit-and-neck-tie-bondage-1024x364.png\" alt=\"Suit and necktie bondage. Church and dress code\" class=\"wp-image-99839\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I can barely imagine any issue that is as half as divisive as the issues of dress and music in Christendom. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The point of departure for\nthis post is captured in the title, “Does wearing a suit and a necktie make you\nholy?”. “Suit and necktie” are chosen for immediate resonance and are by no\nmeans used to disenfranchise the females from the discourse. By extension, the\nquestion interrogates the issue of what holiness really is and whether or not\nlegalistic impositions on conduct for corporate worship do hold water. The\nquestion that also arises, inescapably is, what attire is acceptable for\nchurch? Should such a question even arise?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Two framing contentions.</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li>Some Christians feel people need to come dressed at their “best” when they come to church for they come to meet their King and as such they have to be in their best (formal) attire and conduct.</li><li>Some feel the issue of attire is a non-issue as the defining principle of true worship is worshiping God in spirit and truth.</li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<strong> Let’s delve into a few insights and then conclude with a few biblical guidelines</strong>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Let’s deal with the first\nframing contention that asserts that we should come to church at our best\nattire (and in most cases “best” is misused as synonym for “formal”) as we are\ncoming to meet our King, as a matter of fact, the King of the Universe. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This notion seems to curry favor with a lot of average Christian thinking that has been regrettably entrenched as gospel truth. The argument that when we come to church we are coming to meet our King and thus we should be in the best (formal) of our attires only holds water until we appreciate that the very King is our Father. Now, Do you really need to dress up to meet your Dad? God is many things to us but the defining principle for our relationship with Him is that He is our Father, for we are His sons and daughters.&nbsp; At this point there is no need to deconstruct the “formalistic” spat further, its flawed framing is sufficiently and defectively untenable. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Secondly, God is omnipresent. This denotes that He is present everywhere without necessarily having to be physically present everywhere for He arts in heaven. The nub of this fact is that we live in the presence of God every time everywhere. In whatever business we do in our kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and elsewhere (everywhere) God is ever present. Therefore,[signinlocker id=\"99519\"]we do not go to church to meet God primarily (We go to church  with God), although we ultimately do as He is the center of what we go to church for. Nonetheless we go to church primarily to fellowship with fellow humans, of course in the presence of an ever present God. Thus; most of our notions of decorum and propriety are informed more by culture and human expectations and have nothing at all to do with God. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:separator -->\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"/>\n<!-- /wp:separator -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Nothing is sad as seeing humanity anoint mere tradition on the throne of gospel truth and generations swallowing the formalistic palaver as if it were a thus saith the Lord. </strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In order to exercise mental hygiene on this issue, the formalistic tribe who are driven by a lopsided ratio of zeal to knowledge must interrogate the basis of their positions on this issue. In most cases the dogmatic overbearing disposition stems from mere socialisation. There is no wisdom in reason that is circumscribed within the confines of socialisation and taps not from the rich and diverse cultures and experiences outside its place of birth and imminent death. A fixation on mere tradition is what led the Jews to crucify their own messiah. Perish the thought of dead formalistic and parochial traditionalism. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The biggest currency for true fellowship and Christianity is social literacy or social intelligence. Godly social literacy places a high premium on fellow humans and ceases to cast fellow mortals as mere objects to be judged and regulated. This spirit derives from true Christian love and a high level of tolerance for fellow mortals humans who neither dress like us nor conduct themselves as we do. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3>Biblical guidelines on dress</h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>&nbsp;1 Peter 3:3-4 </strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>3 Your beauty should not come\nfrom outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold\njewellery or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the\nunfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s\nsight.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"left\"} -->\n<p style=\"text-align:left\"><strong>A few take-homes</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> While the preferential aspects of modesty are subjective, the principle is objective </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One fundamental principle of dress across the bible is modesty. Then there are those of us who will seek to subjectivise and relativise the issue of modesty until there is nothing left to work with and thus inevitably undermine the wisdom of God in giving out the principle. While superficial and preferential aspects of modesty can be debated, the core fundaments of the principle are sufficiently objective. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Modesty fundamentally means that whatever is chosen as dress or attire should not emphasise sexuality. If you are struggling with what this means and boils down to practically, I have no doubt in my mind that God will help you in this regard if you are sincere. Prescriptivism has been one major problem around the issue of dress and to venture into prescribing mechanically what to wear or what not to wear is to miss the point by a huge stretch. My view is that Jesus has no struggle whatsoever in dressing his children up to His divine satisfaction. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The best way to assimilate the principle of modest is to ask a few questions when deciding on the issues of dress:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><li><strong>Does this attire deemphasise my sexuality? </strong></li><li><strong>Does the attire help me focus less on myself and more on God? </strong></li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>If you can answer “yes” (earnestly) to those two questions then go ahead and wear it. </strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>By the way, the above questions form the reason why most people are comfortable in adorning modest yet casual attire rather than rocking up in overly formal wear at church. In most cases, encumbering formal wear like a suit or anything similar for females, tend to keep the wearer more self-conscious and self-absorbed than modest yet casual apparel that essentially divests attention from self.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> Principles of Modesty are for our edification </h3>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This is very important. Having asserted the objective principle of modesty I have to state that the principles of modesty and all education on how we should conduct ourselves are for our edification and the edification of those whom we have influence over. These principles are NOT for sizing up or measuring the spirituality (Judging) of others. In other words, the biblical principles of modesty are for our benefit and the benefit of those we have access to influence positively. These principles are NOT for policing fellow mortals and curating their spirituality based on the shortness or lengths of their skirts or on whether or not their attires meet our rigid and formalistic human standards. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:separator -->\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"/>\n<!-- /wp:separator -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2>The principle of modesty is a shield and not a weapon.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Consider this, “The foul spirit of forming negative and uninformed opinions about others is the outcome of the “judge” over estimating their importance and esteeming themselves better than the “judged” in a convoluted paradigm of comparative holiness.” (<strong><a href=\"https://expound.org.za/why-do-we-judge-others/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Judgementalism: The Scourge of Chronic Introspective Illiteracy, Expound: 2020 (opens in a new tab)\">Judgementalism: The Scourge of Chronic Introspective Illiteracy, Expound: 2020</a>)</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In conclusion, wearing a tie and a suit or whatever the equivalent are for females does not make anyone holy. Holiness is an outcome of: rather than a means to: salvation. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Don’t hesitate to share your\nthoughts below. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Recommended Post: </strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n[/signinlocker]\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong><a href=\"https://expound.org.za/why-do-we-judge-others/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Judgementalism: The Scourge of Chronic Introspective Illiteracy (opens in a new tab)\">Judgementalism: The Scourge of Chronic Introspective Illiteracy</a></strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Does wearing a suit and necktie make you holy? Mental hygiene on church and dress','','publish','open','open','','what-is-best-dress-code-for-church','','\nhttps://expound.org.za/why-do-we-judge-others/','2020-03-15 11:03:46','2020-03-15 09:03:46','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99838',0,'post','',7),(99836,1,'2020-03-14 10:27:04','2020-03-14 08:27:04','','expound-quotables-quote-about-faith-and-logic-1','','inherit','open','closed','','expound-quotables-quote-about-faith-and-logic-1','','','2020-03-14 10:27:04','2020-03-14 08:27:04','',99833,'https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/expound-quotables-quote-about-faith-and-logic-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(99837,1,'2020-03-14 10:27:48','2020-03-14 08:27:48','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99836} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/expound-quotables-quote-about-faith-and-logic-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99836\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Faith is not superior logic. Faith is superior to logic.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->','Faith is superior to logic','','inherit','closed','closed','','99833-revision-v1','','','2020-03-14 10:27:48','2020-03-14 08:27:48','',99833,'https://expound.org.za/99833-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99717,2,'2020-02-09 14:37:50','2020-02-09 12:37:50','Death, the dry dreary dread of the living.\r\n\r\nDeath, I have not known you but I do know you. \r\nAs I mull over your inscrutable business my point of departure is a crashing halt. \r\nYou know how to break hearts, you know how to tear souls apart. \r\nYou are a thief with a middle name and a surname.You steal, you kill and you destroy. \r\nYou have no good reputation to maintain. You care not what adjectival prefixes are conferred upon your morose noun. \r\nCall you untimely death, premature death, You simply won’t be bothered. You are unstoppable in your morbid hocus-pocus. \r\n“Worst timing” is your strategic plan. Without an invite you come in. Without notice you arrive. Every home is your home. In every family you are that member who dismembers.\r\nEvery birth is an irresistible invite to you, it’s a matter of when not if before you grace the occasion of everyone’s life with your disgrace. \r\nClumsiness is your preferred precision. Disrepute is your reputation. \r\nYour track record are your stealthy untraceable bloody steps to whomsoever is surely next. \r\n\r\nDeath,The dry dreary dread of the living. \r\n\r\nDeath you are tone-deaf to occasion. \r\nYou employ gate crushing for your grand entrance. You have no struggle in getting attention. Disruption is your hallmark and wrecking havoc is your clinical act. \r\nYou rearrange the agenda of the day without consultation. You hardly attend planning meetings but when you rock up your orders are not optional. \r\nYou are delivered unordered and when you land disorder becomes the order of the day. \r\n\r\nDeath,The dry dreary dread of the living. \r\n\r\nOur teary eyes and agonies of tragedy are your daily fix, you giggle when we mourn not only because you have struck but more so because you will most certainly come back. \r\nYou delight in hand crafting tragedy and human misery is your masterpiece.You are deft in subverting reality. \r\nDeath listen, your incurable oxymorons are not funny. \r\nYou make children motherless and Fathers childless. Your linguistic jokes are killing us literally.\r\n \r\nDeath, the dry dreary dread of the living,\r\n\r\nBut don’t be too cocky yet. I know your power. You thrive in human ignorance. \r\nThose who don’t know God know not your limits nor your glorious fate. \r\nYou are a terrorist par excellence. Terror is your operative, you blast unexpecting victims and casualties to their wits end and you strike fear for a living. \r\n“You will never see your dead loved ones again....” is the gospel truth of your puerile heap of lies with which you haunt and hound the unbelieving minds of many. \r\nTo those who don’t know that your sting is temporary... your blow is permanent. \r\nWhen you strike, some suffer mere sadness and some sheer devastation.The difference is Jesus. \r\nTo those who know the end game, your conclusion is not conclusive. \r\nDeath listen, your blows are fatal yet not final. You will ultimately grin and grimace at your grim lifetime career in death-craft when at last the casualties you have in cemeteries lined up are thrown an eternal lifeline. \r\nThe resurrection morning will summarily undo your gory to-do list. The grand union of parted loved ones will be the high definition undoing of your doing. \r\nI have been keen to hear what your response shall be to the question, “Where oh death is your sting?” until it dawned to me that at that point the question will be mere rhetoric. \r\nBy then you would have shamefacedly shoved your creepy tail betwixt your ugly, scandalous and unwelcome legs and self destructed into eternal oblivion. \r\nFor when the tables turn then it will be your turn. \r\nOh, When I peep into the future then I see that your deathly paws have a paucity of wisdom and your deadly claws are clueless for ultimately your last casualty is yourself. \r\n\r\nOh Death, I have not known you but I do know you. \r\nYou surely look and loom invincible for now, but I know ultimately your end is more permanent than your sting.\r\n','Death','','inherit','closed','closed','','99715-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 14:37:50','2020-02-09 12:37:50','',99715,'https://expound.org.za/99715-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99718,2,'2020-02-20 11:05:57','2020-02-20 09:05:57','<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Ever felt a poem coming\nWords boiling in your veins waiting to be birthed through ink\nEver felt vowels curl up your spine begging to be freed\nOnly to find that it\'s linguistic constipation</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I’m constipated\nMy soul is full of emotion but my hand can’t spell it out\nI’m bloated\nHead full of air\nYou’ll think there is peace in there, but it’s a chaotic whirlwind of confusion. A ravaging storm threatening to tear my soul apart\nSee I haven\'t written anything good in the last six months\nWait....I haven’t written anything in a good six months. I haven’t unbottled all I’ve seen, smelt, felt and heard.\nThe gutters of my mind are clogged but the rain is still pouring in</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I even made a commitment to write every morning and every evening\nBut word and thought don’t seem to align\nEmotion and ink don’t see eye to I\nI just can\'t seem to find a way to let it all out</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\nThis is the writer’s block.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The writer’s block is not some fancy phase experienced by elite writers. It is a universal phenomenon that has seen many go homeless, bankrupt and settling for divorce.\nIt is when we run out of the ink of life\nWhen time becomes stagnant and all our wishes and desires seem to never meet the light of reality\nWhen we put the pen down and give up on writing our story because we’ve run out of ideas, out of inspiration, out of motivation, and courage\nBecause we have run out of the will to continue with the poetry, with the story , with the song.\nThe point is we all and I mean all, get writer’s block\nWhen love dies and we stare into each other’s eyes, wondering what happened to the fire that kept our hearts burning\nWhen we opt to raise our hands not as a sign of continuing the story but a desperate giving up Brutally erasing some of the characters we ourselves chose to make part of the plot</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We ourselves, do you hear that . We.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\nThat is the problem.\nWe want to hold the pen, we want to be authors of a story we never started .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We want to submit our manuscripts only for editing but still want to call Him the Author and Finisher of our faith.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Why do we insist on carrying such a heavy load when we can hand over the pen to the one who drew the stars in the skies\nOne who will never run out of ideas because of His Omniscience\nOne who never loses motivation because He is committed to the craft His art, we His creation.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Have we forgotten He willed us into existence He, whom we can always hand the pen over to when we’ve written ourselves into messes\nThe one whose blood will wash away all curses.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\nSo even on the days when the words of my heart cannot find their way to the pages of my poetry book I’ll rest in this, that My Creator is still at it and He never has and never will know the Writer’s block.</p>','Constipation','','publish','open','open','','constipation','','','2020-02-20 11:06:02','2020-02-20 09:06:02','',0,'https://expound.org.za/?p=99718',0,'post','',0),(99719,2,'2020-02-09 15:05:11','2020-02-09 13:05:11','','photo-1501139083538-0139583c060f-e1569669408685','','inherit','open','closed','','photo-1501139083538-0139583c060f-e1569669408685','','','2020-02-09 15:05:11','2020-02-09 13:05:11','',99715,'https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/photo-1501139083538-0139583c060f-e1569669408685.jpeg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(99720,2,'2020-02-09 15:05:41','2020-02-09 13:05:41','<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death, the dry dreary dread of the living.</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death, I have not known you but I do know you.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">As I mull over your inscrutable business my point of departure is a crashing halt.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You know how to break hearts, you know how to tear souls apart.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You are a thief with a middle name and a surname.You steal, you kill and you destroy.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You have no good reputation to maintain. You care not what adjectival prefixes are conferred upon your morose noun.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Call you untimely death, premature death, You simply won’t be bothered. You are unstoppable in your morbid hocus-pocus.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">“Worst timing” is your strategic plan. Without an invite you come in. Without notice you arrive. Every home is your home. In every family you are that member who dismembers.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Every birth is an irresistible invite to you, it’s a matter of when not if before you grace the occasion of everyone’s life with your disgrace.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Clumsiness is your preferred precision. Disrepute is your reputation.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Your track record are your stealthy untraceable bloody steps to whomsoever is surely next.</span>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death,The dry dreary dread of the living.</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death you are tone-deaf to occasion.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You employ gate crushing for your grand entrance. You have no struggle in getting attention. Disruption is your hallmark and wrecking havoc is your clinical act.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You rearrange the agenda of the day without consultation. You hardly attend planning meetings but when you rock up your orders are not optional.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You are delivered unordered and when you land disorder becomes the order of the day.</span>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death,The dry dreary dread of the living.</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Our teary eyes and agonies of tragedy are your daily fix, you giggle when we mourn not only because you have struck but more so because you will most certainly come back.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You delight in hand crafting tragedy and human misery is your masterpiece.You are deft in subverting reality.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death listen, your incurable oxymorons are not funny.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You make children motherless and Fathers childless. Your linguistic jokes are killing us literally.</span>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Death, the dry dreary dread of the living,</em></span></h3>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">But don’t be too cocky yet. I know your power. You thrive in human ignorance.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Those who don’t know God know not your limits nor your glorious fate.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You are a terrorist par excellence. Terror is your operative, you blast unexpecting victims and casualties to their wits end and you strike fear for a living.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">“You will never see your dead loved ones again....” is the gospel truth of your puerile heap of lies with which you haunt and hound the unbelieving minds of many.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">To those who don’t know that your sting is temporary... your blow is permanent.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">When you strike, some suffer mere sadness and some sheer devastation.The difference is Jesus.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">To those who know the end game, your conclusion is not conclusive.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Death listen, your blows are fatal yet not final. You will ultimately grin and grimace at your grim lifetime career in death-craft when at last the casualties you have in cemeteries lined up are thrown an eternal lifeline.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">The resurrection morning will summarily undo your gory to-do list. The grand union of parted loved ones will be the high definition undoing of your doing.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">I have been keen to hear what your response shall be to the question, “Where oh death is your sting?” until it dawned to me that at that point the question will be mere rhetoric.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">By then you would have shamefacedly shoved your creepy tail betwixt your ugly, scandalous and unwelcome legs and self destructed into eternal oblivion.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">For when the tables turn then it will be your turn.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Oh, When I peep into the future then I see that your deathly paws have a paucity of wisdom and your deadly claws are clueless for ultimately your last casualty is yourself.</span>\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Oh Death, I have not known you but I do know you.</span>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\">You surely look and loom invincible for now, but I know ultimately your end is more permanent than your sting.</span>','Death','','inherit','closed','closed','','99715-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 15:05:41','2020-02-09 13:05:41','',99715,'https://expound.org.za/99715-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99721,2,'2020-02-09 15:06:32','2020-02-09 13:06:32','Ever felt a poem coming \r\nWords boiling in your veins waiting to be birthed through ink \r\nEver felt vowels curl up your spine begging to be freed \r\nOnly to find that it\'s linguistic constipation\r\n\r\n I’m constipated\r\n My soul is full of emotion but my hand can’t spell it out \r\nI’m bloated \r\nHead full of air \r\nYou’ll think there is peace in there, but it’s a chaotic whirlwind of confusion. A ravaging storm threatening to tear my soul apart \r\nSee I haven\'t written anything good in the last six months \r\nWait....I haven’t written anything in a good six months. I haven’t unbottled all I’ve seen, smelt, felt and heard. \r\nThe gutters of my mind are clogged but the rain is still pouring in I even made a commitment to write every morning and every evening \r\nBut word and thought don’t seem to align \r\nEmotion and ink don’t see eye to I \r\nI just can\'t seem to find a way to let it all out \r\nThis is the writer’s blockThe writer’s block is not some fancy phase experienced by elite writers. It is a universal phenomenon that has seen many go homeless, bankrupt and settling for divorce. \r\nIt is when we run out of the ink of life \r\nWhen time becomes stagnant and all our wishes and desires seem to never meet the light of reality \r\nWhen we put the pen down and give up on writing our story because we’ve run out of ideas, out of inspiration, out of motivation, and courage \r\nBecause we have run out of the will to continue with the poetry \r\nThe point is we all and I mean all, get writer’s block \r\nWhen love dies and we stare into each other’s eyes, wondering what happened to the fire that kept our hearts burning \r\nWhen we opt to raise our hands not as a sign of continuing the story but a desperate giving up Brutally erasing some of the characters we ourselves chose to make part of the plot \r\nThat is the problem.\r\nWe want to hold the pen, we want to be authors of a story we never started We want to submit our manuscripts only for editing but still want to call Him the Author and Finisher of our faith Why do we insist on carrying such a heavy load when we can hand over the pen to the one who drew the stars in the skies \r\nOne who will never run out of ideas because of His Omniscience \r\nOne who never loses motivation because He is committed to the craft His art, we His creation Have we forgotten He willed us into existence He, whom we can always hand the pen over to when we’ve written ourselves into messes \r\nThe one whose blood will wash away all curses \r\nSo even on the days when the words of my heart cannot find their way to the pages of my poetry book I’ll rest in this, that My Creator is still at it and He never has and never will know the Writer’s block.\r\n','Constipation','','inherit','closed','closed','','99718-revision-v1','','','2020-02-09 15:06:32','2020-02-09 13:06:32','',99718,'https://expound.org.za/99718-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99725,1,'2020-02-10 06:28:25','2020-02-10 04:28:25','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h3> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n\n<h3> The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h3> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<h3> The ark was built on the basis of trust </h3>\nwhile the tower was built on the basis of distrust. Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<h3> The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h3>\n\n“They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h3>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h3>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-10 06:28:25','2020-02-10 04:28:25','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99724,1,'2020-02-10 06:18:42','2020-02-10 04:18:42','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h3> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h3> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n\n<h3> The ark was built in obedience and the\ntower was built in defiance. </h3> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<h3> The ark was built on the basis of trust </h3>\nwhile the tower was built on the basis of distrust. Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<h3> The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h3>\n\n“They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h3>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h3>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous that this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-10 06:18:42','2020-02-10 04:18:42','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99726,1,'2020-02-11 01:54:34','2020-02-10 23:54:34','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of\nGod that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that\ntime) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise\nGod had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<h3> The ark was built with God-made\nmaterials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h3>\n\n“They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h3>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h3>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 01:54:34','2020-02-10 23:54:34','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99727,1,'2020-02-11 01:55:06','2020-02-10 23:55:06','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h3> The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h3>\n\n“They used brick\ninstead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators\ndid not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h3>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h3>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 01:55:06','2020-02-10 23:55:06','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99728,1,'2020-02-11 01:55:52','2020-02-10 23:55:52','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h2>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. Aim to be purposeful and not to be great, greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<h3> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h3> Sometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 01:55:52','2020-02-10 23:55:52','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99729,1,'2020-02-11 01:58:04','2020-02-10 23:58:04','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely accomplished.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h2>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 01:58:04','2020-02-10 23:58:04','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99731,1,'2020-02-11 02:04:24','2020-02-11 00:04:24','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h2>The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> The Ark Was Water Proof </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as He relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as He/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As For me and my household, we will serve the Lord!&nbsp; Joshua 24:15 </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:04:24','2020-02-11 00:04:24','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99734,1,'2020-02-11 02:23:56','2020-02-11 00:23:56','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\nThere is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good. \n<br/>\nAnd God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)\n<br/>\nWhy did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work. \nThere are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways.\n\nGood reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because:\n\n<b> a) God has just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<br/>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b> <br/> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b> <br/> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:23:56','2020-02-11 00:23:56','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99733,1,'2020-02-11 02:21:46','2020-02-11 00:21:46','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\nThere is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good. \n\nAnd God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)\n\nWhy did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work. \nThere are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways.\n\nGood reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because:\n\n<b> a) God has just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) </b>\n\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) </b>\n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:21:46','2020-02-11 00:21:46','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99735,1,'2020-02-11 02:25:41','2020-02-11 00:25:41','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God has just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br/>\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br/>\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br/>\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><h3> Integrity is Trust in God</h3></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:25:41','2020-02-11 00:25:41','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99736,1,'2020-02-11 02:27:53','2020-02-11 00:27:53','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God has just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Integrity is Trust in God</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua: 24:15) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof?','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:27:53','2020-02-11 00:27:53','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99737,1,'2020-02-11 02:28:58','2020-02-11 00:28:58','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God has just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Integrity is Trust in God</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua: 24:15) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof? Spotlight on Business and Christianity','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:28:58','2020-02-11 00:28:58','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99738,1,'2020-02-11 02:29:37','2020-02-11 00:29:37','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God has just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Integrity is Trust in God</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua: 24:15) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof? A Spotlight on Business and Christianity','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:29:37','2020-02-11 00:29:37','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99739,1,'2020-02-11 02:30:25','2020-02-11 00:30:25','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God had just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was\ndirected by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human\n(Nimrod’s) directive. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name. </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Integrity is Trust in God</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua: 24:15) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof? A Spotlight on Business and Christianity','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:30:25','2020-02-11 00:30:25','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(99740,1,'2020-02-11 02:38:08','2020-02-11 00:38:08','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":99708} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://expound.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/christianity-and-business.jpg\" alt=\"Christianity and business\" class=\"wp-image-99708\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A useful point of departure for the subject of business and\nreligion or business and Christianity is to debunk the notion that the two are\ndichotomous (exist as parallels). We tend to view business as something far\nremoved from the spirit of religion, a jungle governed by the laws of the rabid\nstreet grind where only the fittest survive… and religion as that cloistered\nenviron far removed from the madding hustle and bustle of life. However, inspiration\nhas a different view altogether: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“Religion and business are not two separate things: they are\none.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and\nHerald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 349.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something profound about what God did when He had crowned His creation with humanity (Genesis Chapter 1). An all knowing God, who finishes before He starts, An all knowing God who knows things comprehensively before they are: turned around and looked at what He had created (particularly humanity) and declared it was very good.  </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) <br> </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why did an all knowing God review and pronounce the appraisal of His own work.  There are many reasons He did this but for the scope of this message I would like us to zero in on these three take aways. Good reviewed His creation of Humanity and declared that it was good very good  because: </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> a) God had just tailored a garment He would be proud to wear: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\nAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)\n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> b) God had just designed a curriculum He would be proud to enroll Himself for: </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.(Luke 2:52) \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<b> c) God had just manufactured a product He would be proud to buy even at the cost of himself. </b>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18) \n\nThe foregoing is a mouthful but there is more to chew on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In exploring the subject of fire proofing our enterprises I\nwould like us to employ the building motif so as to draw out some timeless and\nuniversal lessons. In doing so we will compare and contrast the building of the\nark (Genesis 6 and the building of the tower of babel Genesis 11 1-9) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 1. The construction of Noah’s Ark work was directed by God while the construction of the tower of babel was a human (Nimrod’s) directive </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \nBuild with God. God always completes what He begins, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete the good work he has started (Philippians\n1: 6). In Gen 11:3 the rebellious community in Shinar took an initiative to\nbuild. They said one to another “Come let us” but the object of their\nenterprise was never accomplished. In verse 7 God’s employed the same phrase “Come\nlet us...” and took an initiative to curtail the work of the rebels and He achieved\nthe object of His move as the work of the builders was surely thwarted.\n(Gen 11:8) \n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 2. The ark was built in obedience and the tower was built in defiance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nNoah built the ark in obedience to God’s directive\nwhile Nimrod masterminded the building of the tower in defiance to the order\nfrom God to scatter around the and repopulate the earth. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 3. The ark was built on the basis of trust while the tower was built on the basis of distrust</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n Noah trusted the word of God that a flood (a completely alien concept and phenomenon to him at that time) would come. The tower was built on the basis of distrusting the promise God had made of not destroying the world with water (flood) again.\n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 4. The ark was built with God-made materials, the tower was built with man-made materials</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\n“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar” Gen 11: 3. Disengaged from God the agitators did not know what was coming hence their architecture was miscalculated. \n\n</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 5. The ark was built for a noble purpose while the tower was built to make a name</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\n\nThe rebels desired to make a great name and create a great legacy for themselves but their quest for fame precipitated disgrace. The name they made for themselves and the name they have come to be known by through the ages is “babel”, a name for confused noise. When they started the project, this is certainly not the great name they had in mind. The take home: Aim to be purposeful and not to be famous or great. Greatness is God’s prerogative. God said to Abraham, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Gen 12:2 God promised greatness to Abraham and it materialized, Abraham did not pursue greatness. \n\n<br></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> 6. The ark was built in, and for dependence on God while the tower was built for independence </h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> \n\nSometimes as humans we can work so hard not because we are diligent and obedient stewards but just to ensure that we do not have to need God in our lives. Nothing could be more disingenuous than this mode of thinking. God is the source of everything including life and prosperity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<h2> 7. The Ark Was Danger-Proof, The Tower was not </h2>\n<!-- /wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The ark survived the violent storm because the originator of\nthe storm and the architect of the ark were the same person. Only God knows the\nintensity of the storm that is coming and only He can accurately determine how\nstrong the house you are building must be. He knows the materials that will\nstand the impending storms. Without the master builder you can build but you\nare building in the dark and building with the wrong materials, you are\nbuilding on sand. You may have an idea of the looming storms but you have nor expertise\nnor the accuracy to build a house that will withstand the intensity of the\nstorm. When the storms come the house will fall and great will be the fall. It\nis time now to involve the master architect in building the house. Noah would\ntestify that this way you are building on the rock and when (not If) the storms\ncomes, for they will surely come, your house will stand. Even the architecture\nof the ark was directed by God and was thus built with strong and appropriate materials,\nultimately the ark was preserved by God through angels that excel is strength\nnot the cypress or gopher wood it was built with. The take Home: God can only\nprotect and sustain that which is His. We are not fighting flesh and blood but\nsupernatural principalities hence we need a mighty God as our ever-present\nanchor. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The tower was perhaps water proof but certainly not fire\nproof - they did not know what was coming. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>“The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange\nmisunderstandings among them, and in their rage and disappointment they\nreproached one another. Their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.\nLightnings from heaven, as an evidence of God\'s displeasure, broke off the\nupper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground. Men were made to feel\nthat there is a God who ruleth in the heavens.” Patriarchs and Prophets\n(Chapter 10)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;They had built with\nwater in mind but two things came and out maneuvered their scheme, language\nbarrier and lightning. The project was not confusion-proof nor fire proof just\nlike all Godless enterprises. &nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2> Integrity is Trust in God</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Christianity only works when an ecosystem of trust has actualized between God and man. You see it is great that we can trust God. God is faithful and there is no shadow of turning with Him. However, it is greater for us, When God can trust us. And the ecosystem of godliness is that God can only trust those who trust Him. God is the only reliable integrity insurer or insurance for all humanity, human beings outside God are as reliable as a locomotive disengaged from the rail. A human being is as reliable as he/she relies on God. A human being is as trustworthy as much as he/she can trust God. God can only trust you when your collateral is Himself. God can only trust you when your net worth is His steadfastness. It is only in this context that we can have meaningful prosperity in all our God assigned purposes. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua: 24:15) </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is your Enterprise Fire Proof? A Spotlight on Business and Christianity','','inherit','closed','closed','','99707-revision-v1','','','2020-02-11 02:38:08','2020-02-11 00:38:08','',99707,'https://expound.org.za/99707-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0);
