Champion men for a Challenging world!

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

I have chosen to write this particular blog to men. Those men who have not given up on life, those who still look into the Bible and see themselves as the pinnacle of creation. There are 5 Cs that I will share which are not the entirety but they can serve as a good framework within which to attain to the potential that God has placed in us. These are all Christ centered points by design. There is a dangerous teaching going around these days that makes it seem that God never intended for us to be on this planet. As if men should not dream of impacting their world for good. It is not the pride of life, it is the God given gene that requires significance in the realm of creation. We are not them that are chasing after riches, we are them that have been given all things. (1 Cor 3:21) And as such we need to occupy to the fullest of our potential till Christ returns.

1. Christ:   Mar_9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth". 

Christ not only gives you a clean slate, He gives you the wherewithal to accomplish seemingly impossible things. The ability to attain to that which seems outside the realm of human acumen. If you don't know Him no amount of money can make you truly successful. Everything else falls away if you can't relate to Him. For truly your end is found only in your Maker. No man can live meaningfully without Christ. For all that you do is temporal. Get to know Christ today and unlock the realm of the impossible!

2. Competence:     Mar_7:37  "And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." 

After you discover what your unique giftings are, you need to give your life to Mastery. The world does not reward greatly that which has not been executed beyond expectations. Do it till your enemies cannot deny that it's good...until they become the marketers of your achievements. Do it like you are doing it for TV.lol Anything that you do halfheartedly is not worth doing at all. Determine that you will also be know for doing things well. Strive for excellence, strive for the extra on the extraordinary. 

3. Character:    Mat 21:12"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,.."

 A man's character is his compass. It defines your true North, what your boundaries are, the "four corners" of your belief system. Don't allow everything, in as much as you shouldn't always seek your own way. How do you behave amongst women, how far is too far for you? Is it settled in your heart according to God's Word or will we find people selling doves in the temple of your heart where God should reside? Character is not leaving a life without blemish, it is living a life that acknowledges and conquers ones blemishes. Character is an active driving out of all that is not consistent with the Word of God in your life. Are you struggling with worldly music?, or is it a lust for pornography?, or is it just plain being a churched "Casanova"? What defines your character is whether you have settled or are on the war path, whipping and driving these out of your life!

4. Charisma: Mat_19:14  "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 

On the flip-side we have Charisma. Charisma is likability. It is the ability to sway the hearts of the masses. Your achievements are at best "ok" if they do not win the hearts of people. Don't just seek to please them, seek to genuinely win them. Jesus wasn't a modern day political baby kisser, he genuinely did the kind of things that will have people's hearts melting. Don't be arrogant, remember the wisdom from above is easy to entreat.(James3v17) So what you know, and what you can give doesn't matter if there is no one who can receive. Develop the ability to allow people into your "space".

5. Connections: Joh_15:15  "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" 

One of the most treacherous areas for men is finding people to call friends. According to Jesus any man who wishes to be successful needs to have levels of friendships. You also need to have qualifiers to friendship otherwise every jack and Jill will trample over you. A true friend has seen your tears and they have seen your struggles, and through it all they have continued with you. Get connections that can contribute to your vision, and that you can in-turn assist to realize their own dreams. Don't let distance overcome true friendships, keep them as long as they are relevant to you, and as long as they don't harm you. 

At the end of the day every man is born with the blueprint for success on their genes. To be born with the kind of understanding and intellectual capability that no other creature possesses is a gift, make use of it. Dream and dream BIG for there are no laws against dreaming gentlemen!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Restore, Reconcile, Resume the journey!

2Co 5:18  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation"

Gal 6:1  "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

These are the two scriptures that have been a major influence on my thinking and conduct as a Christian. The sooner we realize the urgency of the need to continually reconcile man to God and to reconcile brothers back to God, the sooner we will stop back biting and carrying organizational grudges. Some of the fights we fight are not our fights. They are borrowed offenses which we are stuck with for life to our own detriment. 

The picture above was chosen to show us just how we should view our Christianity.  A journey of diverse characters, personalities, people of differing strengths and weaknesses. When a brother falls, restore as quickly as you can, love on him, keep him in the fold, don't allow him to draw back for there is a reason why we left that place of sin.

Gal 6:2  "Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ." (GNB)

Imagine looking at this picture and you were a part of the great trek to a better place and you see a child fall to the side of the tracks. What would your response be at such a time? Looking honestly we would not stand by or walk on, we would be "actively" involved in bringing such an one back to their feet. For to leave them there would be tantamount to murder. And that's exactly how the Word of God puts it. He who hates his brother is a murderer. 

1Jn 3:15  "Those who hate others are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life in them." 

Let's look at these people in solidarity and picture what a powerful force Christianity would be if we simply held each others hands and kept walking. I can guarantee you that these people are not asking each other about lineage or bank balances. They are not joined by class and societal positioning. They are united by the personal struggle they had with a tough master. The promise of a better life for all. I can guarantee you that some will find home before others do. They will reach a place of peace and settle for good, but for others they will keep walking and keep together till they are all safe in their place of the "promise". 

We should make reconciliation a major focus as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If we were honest with ourselves I'm sure we all know that one family where the members seem to stick together so strongly. They create memories and their smiles beckon you to join them. They pay for each others fees, or helped each other emigrate and they are all doing well. It's a very attractive picture. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the picture that the world sees when they look at Christianity. They can see the schisms and they can see the brothers we have left behind to be fodder for the beasts of the wild. And it doesn't look good. 

Luk 15:8  "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? "

Are not our brothers more precious than that woman's lost coin? Let's try and knit ourselves together in a spirit of love and true "comradery". The denomination is no the problem, the destination, however, is. The grades at school are not the matter, the growth in Christianity, however, is. Doctrinal difference is not the matter, for we can agree to disagree and continue to love those who are truly brothers in Christ. I'm not saying incorporate the totally lost. I am, however, saying that we can love beyond our differences and truly create the kind of Christianity that Christ set out to see.

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Living in The Inheritance!

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

Reading the Word of God we find that the issues of inheritance played a very pivotal role in Jewish culture, much as they do in many cultures around the world. It is no wonder then that God used this crucial issue to deal with us about his promises. The inheritance is important because it speaks of two things; i.e Relationship and Identity. You cannot inherit outside of relationship. Any inheritance will link you to a direct identity of lineage. 

Looking at Psalm 2, I find that this scripture is often misapplied by the generality especially in Charismatic circles. As the old idiom says, if you don't understand the purpose for a thing, you will inevitably abuse it. This is one of the Messianic psalms. It is Father God talking to His Son, a direct statement seen again in Matt3v17. He then promises to give the Son, "the heathen" as an inheritance and the ends of the earth as well. This is important to note because there is a reason why the Father wants this to happen and without that reason we cannot begin to understand this promise. It wasn't a promise to just ensure that Jesus gets the earth in order for him to be rich. Far from it! The Father wants the heathen back in fellowship with him. 

The Primary mission that Jesus had was to win an inheritance of souls. The central mission on the heart of God has always been to regain fellowship with men in their numbers. How are we then involved in all this? Good question. Rom8:16 and 17 makes it clear that for everyone who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit i.e born again, this person is a child of God. Herein is the 1st requirement for inheritance fulfilled.

Col_1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

It is the awesome reality for a believer that he is not just forgiven by a Sovereign and Supreme "Being" who is far away. We are recreated after the image of the 2nd Adam, into fellowship with God Almighty! Hallelujah!!(1Cor 15v45-). It is this truth that is borne witness to by the Presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. It doesn't stop there however...by implication being a part of those recreated after Christ means that we become candidates for the inheritance according to Rom 8:17. While many may fight to be the heir of their earthly fathers riches, it should not be so for a Christian. Our eyes are to be set on what is in store for us by virtue of divine son-ship. 

We become joint in ownership of all that was bequeathed to Christ by God Himself! What was the Chief of Christ's inheritance? It's the heathens, not money, not houses, not national influence. It was the promise of brothers! This is key to understanding the heart of God. Otherwise we become like the foolish prodigal son who spent his inheritance on riotous living. Not understanding that there is a mission field ahead we can become consumed in a worldly standard of prosperity. Just as Christ knocked on our hearts we should carry the message of hope to the heathens. We need to know that these have been promised by God Himself. That's the boldness that should garrison our hearts when we see unbelievers! We preach the gospel with boldness to those that we know God has given us already! When they come in they become co heirs with us. We will suffer the same as Christ suffered in this mission, no doubt about it. men won't understand at times, men will persecute us for our stance, they will marginalize us but we will be victorious nonetheless! For this is what God promised us.

The 2nd part of the inheritance in Ps 2 is interesting when we study it carefully. God promised the uttermost parts of the earth to Christ for a possession. This makes it abundantly clear to me that the promise to Jesus was not just for soul saving but for dominion "AS WELL". I would like to put it to you that if we can get the order of the inheritance right we will in no wise fail to realize the blessing of God in supplying for our needs. There is no glory to God for possessing the nations if the heathen therein are not won. God knows that evangelism needs money, which is why for those that are truly winning souls to the kingdom, money is there in abundance to satisfy the needs.

Act_4:34  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

If we are to alleviate poverty within the body of Christ we need to begin to have a kingdom centered focus. We need to build up ourselves as spiritual stalwarts for the kingdom, willing to lose everything for Christs glory, knowing that we can't lose after all. For to live is Christ and to die is gain. Let's get back to the right hinges for operating in godly prosperity. Lets be liberal in our alms, liberal in supporting the work of Christ, for indeed the ox will not be muzzled as it treads out the grain. Our portion is there in sufficiency.

This is just the first part of the teaching on living in the inheritance, but it is the most integral part. We will endeavor, God allowing, to look at "The name of Jesus and growing in son-ship in the coming posts for it is truly amazing the things that we are given in the New testament to equip us on the journey. But until then keep walking in the The Inheritance!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Fathers and Sons, the modern day Wrestling ring

Php 2:22  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. (Paul of Timothy)

Tit 1:4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 

1Ti 1:2  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1Ti 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

2Ti 1:2  To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus

Pro 30:11  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 

The issue of fathers in the body is a burning one in our generation. We find that there is a meteoric rise in those who are being addressed as "Father, Dad, Papa, etc..". On the other hand, we find more and more believers who are crying out against this phenomenon claiming abuses by those being addressed as such. This article is not written in vindication of any who are in abuse of their authority, neither is it written to justify those who are in rebellion to rightful authority.

In the great rebuke in Matt 23, Jesus addressed a similar situation, wherein the scribes and pharisees were holding their offices to no good in the worship of God. The religious system had degenerated to such an appalling state that those in authority were lording it over those who were "followers". The state of affairs had become such that they were teaching erroneously, and all of this to entrench their rule over the poor Israelites, who in most cases had to be subject by law to those who held the "seat of Moses". Jesus in a heated rebuke, told his disciples and the crowd that was listening not to call any of them Rabi or Father, for "they"(his followers) had only one Father, one Master, only one to whom they were ultimately accountable to and therefore should hold in such high esteem.

 I give this background because it is important to know the context so that the interpretation of the whole counsel of scripture becomes clear. I have seen an ever increasing trend in the body of Christ which is threatening the growth of the entire body, and the longevity of it's fundamentals. This debilitating syndrome is the "doctrinal extremity" syndrome. I define it as: that application of a scripture as doctrine without the consideration of other corresponding and equally authoritative scriptures. Matt 18:16 states a fundamental precedent for the drawing up of doctrine. In the mouth of two or three witnesses is a matter established. Nothing is established without scriptural "triangulation" for every Word of God is inspired.

In John 2, John the beloved acknowledges the occurrence of 3 types of Christians i.e fathers, sons, and children. This is an indicator of how our lives should progress, there is the babyhood stage wherein we find everyone who gets born again. These should rightly be dependent on those who are sons and Fathers. Simple logic will tell us why this is so. The Sons are the more responsible ones, they have fought some battles and won. They have gone through some schooling and they have a grasp of doctrinal construction and truths. When speaking naturally, a home can be left periodically in the care of a son. The children can also be left in the care of sons. It is this stage which can make or break a Christian but I will expound below. Lastly we have Fathers. These are the ones that have a mature revelation of God and His ways. Undeniably there is a time factor in this scenario, for God cannot be fathomed in an instant. I will however be quick to say that maturity in the word and the ways of God is the only yardstick for growth in Christ and in the faith. To learn His ways requires training in obedience. It requires not just the winning of one fight nor the understanding of some truths, it requires the grasping of the meat of the faith. Fathers have not only grown up but they have begotten others and are growing or have grown others.

In my humble observations I have noted that the falling away is largely in the bracket of sons. Sons are curious, they are presumptuous because they know certain truths for themselves. Sons have heard from God and believe they have heard the final story. To be a Son places you in a position where you can discern the truth without constant aid, which means you can see the faults of the fathers. Unfortunately until Jesus comes and perfects all, faults will be the reminder that we are still present in the body. The true test of a son naturally is to see the fault of a father and not rally a coup for the unseating of the father. The test of a son naturally is to be submitted and respectful to a father who is not right in all aspects. In the faith we find that those who are fathers suffer coups of the most magnanimous orders. As a son, I have seen the loss of brothers who could not stand to "suffer" under a father. They interpreted chastising as abuse, interpreted mistakes as the apocalypse of relationships and selfishly sought the way that aligned to their "present" convictions.

Paul spoke of Timothy as His son. He spoke of Titus as His son. He continued teaching and grooming Timothy even after he had left a Church to him. I see in these relationships something healthy for the body of Christ. it is nothing of the manner that Jesus had to deal with and to rebuke. Paul was responsible for the growth of Timothy and Titus. He lovingly corrected and instructed them. The "sons" took what their "father" taught and taught it to others. They served under Paul and doubtlessly saw the man for who he really was apart from the fiery preaching and miraculous signs. For you cannot spend any considerable length of time with a man and not see his failings I assume they both saw Paul's weaknesses. In this present day we increasingly find those that cannot learn from the fathers. They are quick to break relationships with fathers. Constantly exposing the faults of their fathers, constantly profiling their own "revelations" and how they are "better" than what their fathers saw. The older I grow the more I realize the need of fathers in the house. I don't see the infallibility of fathers but I see the necessity. I see the lack of genuine fathers too, but I see the few who are earnestly trying being vilified and hung out to dry. 

When your years are few and wisdom is lacking, you begin to believe that you can handle your fathers burden better, unfortunately time will tell you that you are not so strong, so faultless, so infallible. True wisdom is to learn from the father, see his mistakes, pray for him and cover him e.g the sons of Noah.(Gen 9) True wisdom and maturity in the son is to see what can be improved and reason with the father in humility. We could halve the problems in Christianity if sons wore meekness and put on patience. For one day the son shall of necessity have to take up the fathers role and God-forbid he finds himself with sons such as he. Paul in Titus 2 exhorts sons to be sober minded, for sobriety is indeed the most lacking and most needful in this bracket of sons.

This article is not meant to be balanced between the failings of sons and that of fathers. It is but an excerpt that deals with the one half of the equation. It is written to brothers because the rebuke of fathers is left to other fathers. I am not fit for such a task for I shall rebuke what I in time will find myself choosing to do as a matter of wisdom. This is not to say there are no miscreants, and utterly malicious men who masquerade as fathers. Whose heart is not for the sheep but who are clothed in malice. These being reprobate in mind I as a son in the faith of God would not hesitate to call out as Paul did. Albeit this article is meant for those who are genuine brethren, brothers and sisters who don't realize the danger that they are in for their attack on fathers. For God is a God of order. 

This article is written with a burdened heart for the ails in the body of Christ. A cry for the heart of the sons to return to the fathers. For some, repentance and reconciliation is needed. The softening of hearts that were bruised in some cases. In the end I trust we will see the necessity of building with the kingdom in mind, for the strength of the family lies in unity.

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Have Faith in God!!!

Act_16:5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 

Rom_14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Mat_21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

For this post I will digress from "Dead or alive" and give you what I felt led to share on today. Where He leads we follow and our Agendas should never take precedence.

There is a distinct difference in scripture between "the faith" and "having faith". This is chiefly why I believe in the "Word of Faith movement", not withstanding the numerous lost people out there who take it the wrong way. And this goes for every known belief movement by the way. Show me a Christian denomination that doesn't have loonies and I will show you the Second Coming of Jesus.

The faith is the belief core which identifies all who belong to Christ. It was a title used to identify us during the early days of the Church because we were different. It also describes the way in which we come to belong to this body of Christ, which is by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave His life a ransom for us. Therefore the undertone when one declares himself a Christian is that he is convivted in that one truth even though he has not seen Jesus facially or heard from Jesus necessarily. The substance and object of his beliefs is an intangible. That is why we were called those of "the faith". Therefore we can establish that "the faith" is an explanatory noun i.e it is a name given to us by virtue of certain traits unique to our worship.

Having faith is another thing altogether, if we are to look at the Word of God didactically. Having faith is the present continuous state of conviction in God. This one is applied primarily to a person or collectively to a group of people who possess the trait. It is the heart element that gives birth to the title above. It is apparently a measurable trait, but only at a spiritual level. 

Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

It is that response of the human heart to the unctions, the instructions and the revealed truths of Gods Word (Read Heb 11). Even though it is an intangible trait, it has tangible results or outworkings. Mark 11:22 is the foundation for the popular "faith moves mountains" slogan. Jesus Himself intended for us to understand this aspect of Christian life. It is what I call the "circumstance changing obligation" of a Christian. Someone might say "the working of miracles and transformation of lives is all God's work" and that is very true. However the scriptures clearly require that we avail our faith for God to use as He sees fit. This is because God works through men to accomplish His agenda on earth. Otherwise the work of evangelism would be entirely His. Paul tells us that faith without works is dead. This he said in admonishing those who were of the faith, but had no corresponding actions to put their faith to work. 

WHAT FAITH DOES

1. Matt 6:30- Faith assures us of God's provision and gives us peace in God. It's one of the most basic outworkings of faith. Having peace in God because you know the provision is guaranteed. Also read Dan 3. The Hebrew boys were at peace when their lives were at risk.

2. Matt 14:31- Faith will enable us to do seemingly impossible things. A lack of it will lead to us drowning in life's challenges. COntrary to popular belief these days it's not grace alone needed to survive the storms of life. It's grace through faith!!

3. Matt16:8- Faith helps us understand the mysteries of God. Also read Heb 11:3. There are certain things that only a man of Faith can understand.

4. Matt17:17- Faith helps us alter the situations in other peoples lives. Be it sickness, or posession having faith will enable us to take a stand on their behalf and deal with the supernatural bondages. Also read James 5:15. There is a prayer birthed in the heart of a man of faith, it is "his" prayer that can save the sick.

HOW FAITH COMES

Faith can come and that is one of the greatest joys of the faith!

1. Rom10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Every kind of faith can come through the hearing that comes from the Word of God. (Another story altogether!) This is why we listen to the Word of God, why we meditate on it. We want that hearing that brings faith into our hearts!

2. 1Cor2:4-5. Faith can also come through witnessing the power of God on display. Acts 1:8 tells us that we will be witnesses after being endued with power from on high! Proof producers of the goodness of God hallelujah!!! And when men sees the proof they will come running to the light. 1 Cor14:24 shows us that a display of the gift of prophecy can lead to the conviction of a man unto repentance. Hence we need miracles in the Church in these last days. A cautionary note though is that, not every miracle is from God. Just like not every preacher is sent of God.

Stay Growing in the faith and in faith!! It's the guarantee that your future is better and brighter! It's the guarantee that you will make the world brighter and better for others as well!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Dead or Alive? (Part 1)

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Rom_6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom_6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The phenomenon of death is a topical one in the Scriptures. The first person who was "promised" death was the first man Adam. Christ had to die in order for us not to be dead anymore, we seem to die with Christ, but the life we live after we are alive in Him seems to be a life of death, and this time death to sin.

People ask the question "did God lie to Adam or did he mean a different kind of death?" Truthfully speaking "God cannot lie"(Tit_1:2) So proposition 2 takes effect. A different kind of death. We need to note that God said "in the day that thou eatest thereof", which means after eating from the tree the two human ancestors became dead men walking. This principle becomes the major stumbling block for those who do not understand being "born again" and why it is necessary. There is more to the death of man as the monarch of creation and the impact of that single "day" than can be expounded on this short blog, perhaps another time, but it happened just as God said it would.

In summary sin entered into the world through that one act of treason by man(original world dominator and custodian). (Rom5:19). Death became a reality in a world which was free from death. In it's simplest definition sin is that death dealing agency which results in alienation from God. Just as God's life was intended to be progressively enriching, sin is progressively debilitating.

Rom_5:19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Then Christ died. Not as a child of disobedience, for His lineage was not in man but in God. And thus He couldn't partake of that separation from God save He give up His life as a ransom for those who deserved eternal separation by reason of their nature of sin. This is where it becomes very interesting. He who didn't deserve any form of death partook of it, those who didn't deserve reconciliation with God now had the choice to come back into it and have life again (Jhn3:16) Sin came with the aid of man and his escape has been made such that he still has a part to play in his accessing of life.

We have entered into life, indisputable, however we have also entered into a different class of death. We are dead to sin. Death has pivotal points of reference. If we don't understand where our point of reference is as believers we lose a vital vantage point. The devil wants us to believe that we are still on His side of the fence, and God is still "trying" to move us. But it's the other way around glory to God!!!! We are on the side of His life, and the devil is peaking into it trying fruitlessly to move us back.

You should not be afraid of death..it's which side of death you're on that should bother you. Be dead to sin (alienated from it's debilitating effects, free from it's fear mongering tactics, and it's effects on the quality of your life, free from all it's sponsored effects i.e sickness, infirmity, poverty, weakness), and be alive in Christ (in His kind of life, it's benefits, walking in the power of it)

HOW TO

1. Receive Christ and be born again (Rom10v9-10): Christ died already, paid for it already, it is available to all those that accept it as a free gift. Confess His Lordship, in your life and receive His life!!!

2. Work out your salvation (Php_2:12): After number 1 you need no more to make you any more righteous (right with God) than you are already. However renew your mind. (Rom12v1) Make it your goal to live like the man God meant you to be. Blameless in every man's sight, for it is this that gives God the glory for what He has done in your life.

3. Find others who have this life who will help you grow. We are only as strong as we are united! (Acts 2:42) Iron indeed sharpens iron

4. Share your testimony. Allow others to have the same experience you have. If you have it you can't keep it to yourself! It's too good not to share Remember each life that accepts Christ is a life which has escaped death, and come back to life!

In our next blog we will, God allowing, look at the effects of death and the effects of life in more detail.

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

A Royal Priesthood (Part 2)

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

1Pe 2:10  "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." KJV

1Pe 2:9  "But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage, a holy nation, a people belonging specially to God, that you may make known the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." WNT

Continuation....

We touched on the Royalty part of the subject in our last edition. This one will endeavor to move to the priestly part. Our God has always been a God who values interaction with His people. In the Adamic Covenant we had God being available to man by His visitation in the Garden (Gen 3:8). We see the same with Enoch, with Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Israel, it seems God is unwilling to go without human interaction.

In the Mosaic Covenant we find God instituting the Priestly office as a means to administer reconciliation with His people, to act as intermediaries in His quest to have fellowship with man. God is principle "bound", hence when man violated His divine statutes and alienated themselves from His life He "had" to allow the course of the redemption plan to go it's full course. In this covenant God would once again dwell with man (i.e in the symbol of the Ark of His presence). The priests were the Central to this covenant because they held the ordinances of God within the Ark. They stood on behalf of the nation and gave God the sacrifices meet for the covering of sins primarily so that the slate would be clean again for the sinful nation. We see how instrumental and influential this post of priest was in that when the lepers were cleansed, they had to get the approval of the Priest in order to re-enter society (Mar 1:44). 

Over and above their duties, the carrying of the presence of God, ensured that the blessing and power of the Lord rested on Israel, to the extent that the physical forces before them responded to that presence (Josh 3:13) Now just to clarify again; we ARE a Royal Priesthood. We carry God's presence within us wherever we go.

1. As priests we are Covenant custodians: contrary to popular New Age beliefs, we have a covenant with God, which has requirements. These are not requirements to remain in righteousness but requirements to exhibit and walk in the fruits of righteousness. To be a Priest requires awareness of the nature and precepts of God. For we cannot represent Him whom we do not know. A devout prayer life is critical in this regard. To constantly inquire of the Lord concerning your life and the lives of those around you. To know as the Psalmist says "their end", what their current and future prospects are hence what is needful for them.

Gal_5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit (the recreated human spirit that is alive in God) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Psa 73:17  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 

2. As priests we are Covenant enforcers: There is a rising tide which I find being driven in the body of Christ. It is a tide which seeks to nullify what God promises the recipients of the New Covenant. There has never been a covenant which didn't promise prosperity for the children of God, physical and spiritual gain and increase as a result of walking with God (Isa_33:24  And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity). I will also be quick to say that these covenants were also balanced in that there was a provision or a requirement to be in "right standing with God" in order to partake of His promises. The priestly office is particularly critical because it is meant to keep the people of God in balance by reminding them of both the promises and the requirements or statutes of God. To mature in Christ is to hold both sides with equal mastery to the glory of God.

*God's material blessings were not selective, they were for the covenant nation. His health promises were a national promise. He never selected a few to prosper and a few to be disadvantaged perpetually. This is the God we serve.

Deu_11:13  And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 

Gen_28:4  And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 

Gal_3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

Heb 6:13-14 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 

Those that preach prosperity and those that preach suffering for Christ, have two ends of the same stick. Unfortunately we have excess on both ends and we find the world wondering which way to go when we should actually just give them the whole stick to familiarize themselves with the "whole counsel of God". To be a Priest means to understand the heart of God and represent it to His people. I have not exhausted the subject but I have distilled what I believe are some major aspects on it. This is a deep kingdom albeit it is built precept upon precept.

In His Royal and Priestly Service,

George Mwamlowe