Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

It was in 2019 that I met one Dr. Allison at a breakfast meeting organized by Reverend Effiom O. Effiom in London. After breakfast, we both exchanged contacts and he promised to get back to me. In his follow-up call, he requested for my account details, desirous of sending some cash gift. I never visited the subject again. One day, I put a call across to him on courtesy basis. After pleasantries, he enquired if I saw what he sent to me. I protested in innocence, arguing I would have called to appreciate him. To my chagrin, he had sent some money just two days after he asked for my account details back in August. Four months had passed before the truth came to light. I never received an alert to that effect. If I didn’t call, the gift would have gone unnoticed and unappreciated.

Your gift is your strategic edge. It is what makes you different from the pack. Your gift, when fully harnessed, is what brings you before the mighty people in the society…The way to discover what has been given you is to be in constant communion with the Giver – God.

Let’s put a spiritual spin on that. Your gift is your strategic edge. It is what makes you different from the pack. Your gift, when fully harnessed, is what brings you before the mighty people in the society. We are not just referring to spiritual gifts here; it is the totality of all that God has endowed you with. Paul knew the importance of spiritual gift and he had to write to Timothy not to neglect what he’s got. Many people have not lived distinguished because of neglect of their gifts. The issue is this, unless you know that there is a gift of God inside of you, it cannot even be harnessed much less of deploying it. The way to discover what has been given you is to be in constant communion with the Giver – God. Calling Doctor Allison revealed what he has given me; calling on God will do no less.

In a recent meditation, we stressed the importance of walking in the Spirit. Attempt was also made to understand what it means to walk in the Spirit. Our text for meditation today may help to further throw more light on the subject. It describes the four living creatures that Ezekiel saw in his vision. These mysterious creatures were said to have four faces and four wings each. Though they were different in appearance they had one thing in common – they all went forward. Besides going forward, they also went only where the Spirit wanted to go. From here we have the impression that progress is far more than just moving forward; it has to be in the direction where the Spirit is going. Going in the direction of the Spirit is walking in the Spirit.

Until you move in the direction of God you are not doing much…Seek to make progress; but make sure it is in the exact direction in which the Spirit is moving.

In Romans 8:27, Paul made reference to the mind of the Spirit. That essentially is talking of the purpose or the inclination of the Spirit. It depicts the direction of God over a matter at a particular time. How often do people sweat over plans and projects which in the eyes of the world are marks of progress but weigh nothing on the scale of Heaven! Until you move in the direction of God you are not doing much. Understanding the mind of the Spirit is very important because God is busy looking for only those who will carry out His purpose. Seek to make progress; but make sure it is in the exact direction in which the Spirit is moving.

From the beginning of creation, God bequeathed dominion or authority to man. Man’s authority is comprehensive – authority over all! Psalm 8 is David’s expression of awe at this unique privilege. Enjoyment of this enormous privilege begins with the consciousness of it. Spiritual consciousness of what God has given is vital to appropriating it. The ordinary mind cannot understand the things of God; so one has to pray for the type of illumination that is only made possible by revelation.

…God bequeathed dominion or authority to man…Heaven is waiting for such a time when the saints of God will begin to teach the principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God. It takes authority to do this.

There are no two ways about it:  a revelation of our lot in God will bring revolution to us and to the world. The man or woman who has the revelation of his authority in God will cease from living beggarly here on earth. To further enhance our chances of enjoying our heritage of authority, we must also understand the intention of God for the bestowal. The more we comprehend the purpose of God for a thing, the safer we are from abusing it. So, why was man endued with so much authority? It is for the glory of God. Whatever He gives is so that He might be glorified. So anyone who wields authority must do so to the glory of God. Heaven is waiting for such a time when the saints of God will begin to teach the principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God. It takes authority to do this.

Sometime in April this year, I was answering a call from one of our network pastors. I had to excuse him when another trunk call came in, promising to get back to him later. That call took about one hour, trying to sort out family issues of some brethren. In listing his many burdens, Apostle Paul included the care of the churches. That would certainly include the pursuit of harmony among brethren. This verse of scripture attests to his drive for peace and unity. It is apparent that the two women mentioned here were at daggers drawn over some issues. Knowing that such things could fester and derail the move of the Spirit in the church, Paul made a passionate appeal to them to consider their common grounds in the Lord and keep the peace.

While working in a team will come with its hiccups, the truth of scriptures will always be right that two are better than one. Brethren must be conscious that schism in the Body is inimical to the progress of God’s work.

It is sometimes the case that some individuals in a local assembly don’t get along. This will be a big indictment when considered in the light of how some lower creations get along. For instance, the feat that the ants achieve is by working together. Few other creatures maintain the team spirit you find among the ants. Interestingly, they don’t have appointed governor or ruler. When scripture enjoins us to visit the ant and consider its way in order to be wise, it simply reminds us that working solo is not wisdom. While working in a team will come with its hiccups, the truth of scriptures will always be right that two are better than one. Brethren must be conscious that schism in the Body is inimical to the progress of God’s work.

In our March edition of Unity Service at Firstlove Assembly, I prefaced my teaching with the exhortation that everyone should go and get a skill. Your skill or gift is a master key that will keep unlocking doors for you. There are a number of classic examples of how a man’s gift can make room for him and bring him before great men. Joseph was not only a stranger in Egypt but also a convict. However, all these were waived aside when Pharaoh had a dream and no one could interpret it. Joseph was called in and he gave Pharaoh the meaning of his dream. Daniel had a more tedious task. The king dreamt but forgot his dream. Working in concert with his colleagues, they sought God over the mystery dream. God relayed the dream to Daniel and gave him the interpretation. That became the channel for their lifting in Babylon.

…if you work on your gift and are in a position to provide services to them, they will beat the path to your door. You will become a person that is sought for.

There is one more example. David’s skill in playing the musical instrument brought him to Saul’s court. As Saul was being tormented by an evil spirit, the musical skill of David came handy to work a relief for him. In all the cases we have cited, none of them applied to see the king. Rather the king sought for their services. Generally, the nobles of the earth like to protect their space. They do not entertain just anybody in their presence. However, if you work on your gift and are in a position to provide services to them, they will beat the path to your door. You will become a person that is sought for.

While writing to the Ephesians, Paul taught them to know that there is an ongoing war which is spiritual and not physical. He considered the war as against principalities, powers, and demonic rulers of the earth. For the same reason, he reminded the Corinthians that the weapons of their warfare are not physical. It goes without saying that if the battle is not physical neither should the weapons be. Therefore, in order to secure victory in the ongoing battle, one must be aware of the weapons that the enemy engages. One of them is manipulation.

A prayerful life plus obedience to God will help in no small way to walking in the Spirit.

A clear case of how Satan manipulates people can be seen in the life of King David. For no justifiable reason, he ordered that the army of Israel should be numbered. That initiative was contrary to the mind of God. The initiative also failed the test of scrutiny by the king’s trusted advisers; but David had his way. It was Satan who moved him to embark on that frivolous exercise which later led to the destruction of thousands of people and livestock. Saul was manipulated to envy, anger, murder, wrong decisions, and eventual death. Satan and his angels constitute blockade to people’s progress (1 Thessalonians 2:18). However, Jesus has already won the victory! In our previous meditation, we anchored our chances for victory on walking in the Spirit. A prayerful life plus obedience to God will help in no small way to walking in the Spirit.