Month: July 2021

For those who are familiar with Root Cause Analysis, you know the 5-Whys Technique. For those who aren’t as familiar, the long and short of the premise is this: To find the root cause of something, you ask a series of consecutive WHYs – with each WHY you uncover key underlying reasons.

Here’s my rendition of 5-Whys from the perspective of the reason I love, enjoy, and trust the Word of God. 😊💖

WHY #1: The Word of God is Unretractable

WHY #2: The Word of God is Incorruptible

WHY #3: The Word of God spans across my timeline of eternity with Him

Why #4: The Word of God is HOW I please God

WHY #5: The Word of God is the Highest Authority there is.

Did you know there was a time when God’s Word was scarce? 1 Samuel 3:1

There are those who can NOT hear the Word of God, BUT we are blessed and most privileged to be given the gift of the Word of God which comes with the ability for us to hear.

God speaks to us in so many ways. From my limited (not all inclusive) experience, it could be a thought, a dream, a song, a conversation, a verse in the bible, a line or scene from a TV show or a movie … or even something as seemingly random as a bird eating what I think was left-over bread that the wind blew to my balcony.

No matter what He uses or how He chooses to speak to me per time, He let’s me know it’s Him by echoing what He said through bible references and things about His nature – repeatedly! #Echoes 💖💖💖

My heart’s desire/prayer is that the HolySpirit helps me to continue to care for and regard God’s Word above ALL else.

For a long time, I read and understood the above bible verse from a religious duty and (consequently) judgmental perspective – a perspective where obedience was an indication of love as opposed to love for God being what births obedience. There’s a difference – in the latter, obedience to God’s Word is an expression of Love for God, not a mere KPI (key performance indicator).

The HolySpirit showed me that Jesus (in John 14:15) was not defining a performance indicator. Instead, He was stating a truth-FULL fact about the nature of any true healthy relationship.

The best way I can currently describe what the HolySpirit helped me understand about what Jesus said in John 14:15 is to draw a relatable parallel – think about someone you genuinely care about and things they like that you naturally won’t gravitate to BUT, because it matters to them, you pay attention and take an interest. Same idea, God’s Word matters MOST to Him (Psalm 138:2) …

… in other words, Jesus was saying: If you really care about Me (love Me), you will care about what matters most to Me [SeLaH].

Word of God, I love You … enable me to love you MORE (with my entire being). Be my unfeigned desire. You are the voice of God’s love for and to me. By Your Spirit, enable me to treasure You more than my next breath … fix my eyes on You.

There is no valid, justified, or reasonable reason for me to not trust You.

Continually consume me with irresistible longings and cravings to obey You. Make my life one long obedient response to You. Give me an understanding heart and an unrelenting passion to obey You. Unlock my understanding – open my heart to pay attention and respond appropriately to You.

Make me a house built on the Rock (You), make me a city whose foundation is God! Help me to always regard and exalt You above whatever else I think, feel, see, hear. Enable me to actively seek, believe, and expect You always.

Be everything I am and all I know/see.

What You say is what (AND all that) matters.

The quick answer is … ALL of it – ALL of however much God has given to you.

In an attempt to share how the HolySpirit led me to the above answer, I’ll be referencing three seemingly unrelated yet connected life-giving stories from the bible:

First, a few foundational context:

With all of the above context in mind, let’s dive in!

Zechariah 4:1-14

A seemingly half-awake Zechariah is shown a vision and was asked to describe what He saw. He did (Zechariah 4:2-3) but had no clue what they meant, so he asked the Angel who initiated the conversation.

Skipping through the “you-mean-you-ate-of-the-tree-of-knowledge-in-the-Graden-of-Eden-yet-you-don’t-know-what-this-means?” #Salty side comment in verse 5 🤣, the Angel told him the answer – an important truth: The continuous supply of Oil is the Word of God.

Still seemingly hazy about the answer provided (or maybe he forgot, as is the nature of all human kind), Zechariah asked again (Zechariah 4:11) – this time, he was more specific.

It appears as though the Angel ignored him at first because Zechariah had to ask the question again! (Zechariah 4:12) … If you ask me, I think the Angel gave him a side-eye like “didn’t-we-just-go-over-this?”.

Again, skipping through the repeated “you-mean-you-really-don’t-know-this?” side comment in verse 13, the Angel answered (this time) using terms that Zechariah would understand.

At first glance, it might seem as though the answers in verse 6 and verse 14 are different but they are the exact same!

Both answers are the exact same – JESUS.

Key Take-Away: The Oil is the Spirit of Jesus – the Word of God. He is Spirit and Life –John 6:63. His lovely Name is Flowing Oil –SOS 1:3(TPT).

God is very aware of our forgetfulness; He made provision for that too!💖

Next stop … 1 Kings 17:7-16

There was drought (and consequently famine) in the land. God told Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath, and that He had instructed a woman (a widow) to provide food for him. Jehovah Jireh (our Provider) in action again! 😊.

Elijah did as he was told. On arrival at the city gate, there was the widow. Without any time-wasting 😊, Elijah asked for water and food (1 Kings 17:10B-11) … the widow’s response (inverse 12 and in a nutshell) was “no can’t do, I don’t have it to give“.

First of all, let’s all acknowledge that we all saw the same thing: God asked someone who was on her last meal to provide food for another person! We all caught that right? If you didn’t, consider taking a moment to read 1 Kings 17:8-12. In it is an important point to note about God’s ways of doing things: not by human effort, might, or wherewithal … it goes beyond the humanly possible.

Second of all, the widow’s response was not what you’d expect from someone who had a prior conversation with God, where He was like: “Hey darling, I want you to provide food for My fiery friend. He’ll be coming over shortly and will be staying at your place for a while”. Her response had a different tone or tune, it sang a different song. No doubt, God instructed her – He certainly did. I’m convinced of this because God does NOT and can NOT lie. I also know that He speaks from the perspective of what He has already done. That said, when did He do this … when did He do what He had done … when did He tell (command, instruct) the widow of Zarephath to host Elijah by providing food for him?

My guess is verse 14 – when GRACE entered the chat. Then came the Spirit-Word of God (THE Oil) to the widow saying:

In between promise #1 that she will be supplied (given) all that she requires/needs, promise #2 that she will not die but that she will instead outlast the drought because (and promise #3) the drought will end, is where God commanded/instructed the widow to provide food for Elijah. God’s Word (in this case: His promises) is both the Command and the Grace (ability) needed to carry out the Command.

Upon hearing God’s Spirit-Word to her, something changed – the widow was enabled (graced). She did what she was commanded to do. Another point worth noting about the God’s way of getting things done through us is that God’s Word (i.e. instruction, command, or promise) to do something is the Spirit (Power, Grace) that does it. Furthermore, God provides for what He calls us to (do or be),and what He provides(Grace: THE Oil)is sufficient… it is exactly right and inherently MORE than enough. It is all we need to take the first and every step in Faith.

The widow held on to the Word of God to her. She held on to (and did NOT lose) Faith – the evidence of the promises God made to her. She believed and acted in obedience to God’s Word. True to His nature, the Word of God did what the Word of God said 💖. His Word to her was fulfilled to the letter! The bowl of flour was NOT exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty for the entire duration of the drought/famine (1 Kings 17:16).

Key Take Away: The Oil given is sufficient for the duration of The Wait (the drought, famine, or relay race). There’s always going to be a Wait Time in our walk with God. I will some day (in the future: 2025) understand this Wait Time to be a Time Relay, and will then refer to it as God’s 555 Timer – a device that controls the timing of a God-glorifying event – God’s Grace Timer.

Okay, last but not least … Mathew 25:1-12.

Here, Jesus uses the parable of ten virgins to describe two categories of people – both called, both given everything they needed to respond appropriately to God’s call – Oil (The Word of God), BUT only one was chosen.

WHY?

The parable of the ten virgins gives us some insight into this.

The five foolish virgins were careless hence the name. The foolish tend to care less about the things of God. Case in point: the foolish man who built his house upon the sand (Matthew 7:26-27). With both the man and these virgins, they heard the Word of God but did not do the needful – they did not receive, trust (hold tight to), or rely on the Grace of God. As we saw with the widow of Zarephath, doing the needful (doing the Word of God) is made possible only by Grace (the Spirit of God) – this is what the Angel told and explained to Zechariah inZechariah 4:6.

We are able to the needful, howbeit humanly impossible, when we believe (actionably, purposefully, usefully receive or keep) the Word of God … when we hold tight to what we’ve been given by God: His Spirit-Word (THE Oil) – all of it. Herein lies the difference between the five foolish virgins vs the five wise virgins. Both were on the same playing field like that of a relay race … both were given all they needed (Grace: The Spirit-Word of God, THE Oil), BUT the foolish five took their God-given Grace forgranted (they cared less about the Spirit-Word of God … they treated Him with less care … they certainly did NOT treat Him as Holy).

One way to look at or better understand the difference between the two groups is that the five foolish virgins held on to a portion of the Oil that they were given – this translates to partial, half, or lukewarm trust in (and obedience to) the Word of God. On the other hand, the five wise virgins held on to ALL of the Oil they were given – this translates to full, unreserved, absolute trust in (and obedience to) the Word of God.

As with any relay race, there was a delay (a planned delay). Nevertheless, the measure of Oil given to each one of them was given based on all things considered (including the delay).

When it was time for the expected end, time to go meet the Bridegroom (the One to Whom and by Whom they were called), the foolish virgins were out of oil – one could say that they were running on fumes or out of juice. They asked the wise virgins for some of their oil BUT they (the wise virgins) said “NO“.

While the wise virgins were right to say “NO“, up until a few weeks ago, I always thought their response was very “not-nice” and not remotely “Christianly”. I went as far as wondering why Jesus would choose (seemingly) not-nice people.

To help correct my misguided perspective on the matter, the HolySpirit showed me what the wise virgins did by saying NO.

In not giving their Oil away, the wise virgins did NOT lose Faith [SeLah]. This is why they were chosen … why they were allowed to come near (to enter in). Also, it is why the answer to the question: How much Oil is needed? is ALL OF IT – ALL of what you’ve been given.

Key Take-Away: The amount of Oil given is exactly what is needed –no more, no less.

The summary of the matter is this 😊 …

Thank you Abba for the gift of YOU (Your Word and Your Spirit). Your Word is the Voice and expression of Your Love. Everything You speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. Word of God, Your Name is Flowing Oil (Songs of Song 1:3 TPT). You are the joy and the rejoicing of my heart, my heritage forever. Be everything I am and ALL I know. Nothing else will do. Spirit of God, HolySpirit – my marrow, Your presence releases a fragrance so pleasing. I never want to be without You. Thank you for performing ALL things on my behalf.

I didn’t see that coming!!

Growing up, from stories like the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7) and the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), I learnt the truth that God is relentlessly patient and that He will pull all stops to get me back.

I AM the LORD your God, I have paid a huge price for you. I gave Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you, that’s how much you mean to Me. Because you are precious in My sight, you are honored and I love you! I’d sell of the whole world to get you back, trade creation just for you.

Isaiah 43:3-4(AMP, MSG)

God’s Love is intense! and I absolutely love and enjoy it! Isaiah 43:3-4 (to me) is a kiss from God! I digress (couldn’t help myself 😊).

Okay … before I get into the HolySpirit-inspired understanding of the revelation that I am worth the wait, let me provide some context:

Waiting is NOT my forte. It is sooooo NOT my strongest suit.

With that cleared up, I’ll jump right in to how I understood what the HolySpirit showed me about what God said to me: I am worth the wait too.

The wait in this context is what is at the end of the waiting: WHAT God gave me, WHAT I am waiting for. By His grace and choice (nothing to do with what I did or did not do), solely by His choice (a choice made in His love), God made me worth what He gave me. In His choice to give me what He has given me, He simultaneously made me worth it (He made me deserving of it).

Hence, I am worth the wait. I am worth what He gave me. In His love, He designed and crafted what He gave/gives me uniquely and specially for me.

It is sooo like God to make us worthy – When you can, check out Isaiah 53. It describes all the stops God pulled for our salvation, it summarily outlines all that Jesus suffered (including death) so that we may have and enjoy LIFE – verse 4 says: the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, a few verses down (in verse 10), it says: it pleased God to bruise Jesus, to crush Him in pain for us! … for our salvation!

I Corinthians 6:20 says “we were bought with a preciousness” – we were redeemed, bought back from slavery and the bondage of sin and death!

The truth that I am worth the wait (that I am worth what and ALL God has given me) makes waiting desirable! It gives me an incentive to wait. I recognize that waiting might still not be my forte BUT I look to, and undoubtedly trust, the HolySpirit (my Helper and Marrow) to help me wait.

A couple more related revelations …

Revelation 3:11B (no pun intended 😉). Paraphrasing, it says: hold tight to what you’ve been given, keep a tight grip on it so that no one takes it from you.

Reading the above scripture has since led to the question: What has God given me? I ask this question every now and again to take stock of what God has given me and so that (with the help of the HolySpirit) I can hold tight to it and NOT let anything, or anyone (including myself), take them away from me. #NoTakers

Related Revelation #1: If what’s at the end of the waiting is what God gave me, not waiting is a “Taker”. Not waiting deprives me of what God has given me. In other words, it steals it from me.

The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy BUT I (Jesus) have come that they (believers) mighthaveand enjoy LIFE – real and eternal life, more abundantly and better than they ever dreamed of.

John 10:10

Not waiting on God is a thief! [SeLaH]

Next 😊 …

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

“ … whatever you ASK for in prayer, BELIEVE you RECEIVE them, and you will HAVE them.”

There’s the Asking, the Believing, the Receiving, and the Having.

What about the Giving? It’s a done deal! It is not an open or pending item. That part is covered!.

Related Revelation #2: When God says Ask (Matthew 7:7), He already wants to give. Asking is NOT what inspires God’s giving.

I’ve come to learn that:

El Shaddai (Giver of Himself) – the One from Whom ALL blessings flow, Giver of life and every good gift, I acknowledge You, I love You, I appreciate You. Thank you for taking care of me and for loving me the way you do – BECAUSE of you, my heritage is indeed beautiful. You are my inheritance, my prize, my pleasure, my satisfaction, and my portion forever!

I CAN’T wait! (pun intended 😊). I excitedly wait to have and enjoy ALL that You have stored up for me. 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Samuel 3:11.

… we can NOT round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the HolySpirit.

Romans 5:5(MSG)

In spite of my natural inclination (weakness), I confidently say I CAN wait because I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me through His Spirit (the HolySpirit) Who is a foretaste of ALL that You have given me and have stored up for me (Ephesians 1:14).

Since my enrollment in the school of surrender, here’s what I’ve learnt …

Surrender leads to MORE. The “math” seems off, but it is intriguingly and assuredly true. John 12:25 MSG    Luke 6:38 MSG    James 4:6

               “The price for all of God is all of me” – SeLaH

Surrender requires humility – letting go of my self–consciousness (my self-orientation). Giving up my sense of self (aspects of my self that I exalt i.e. my reputation, ego, intellect, preferences … fears, weaknesses, insecurities, including my attempts to overcome them). Dying to self.

Surrender is a genuine expression of worship (Romans 12:1 TPT).

I found it fascinating and (more so) endearing that …

God promised Abraham a son (Genesis 17:15-19) —–> God gave Abraham a son – Isaac (Genesis 21:1-3) —–> God asked Abraham to give up Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19).

RE: Call to Surrender – Abba, on the authority of Your Word and on the basis of who You are, I come (Hebrews 4:16 AMPC), I look to You for grace to surrender – to let go of all of me. Thank You HolySpirit for performing this for me (Psalm 57:2). I give my self and my life over to (and in exchange for) You – You are the life I choose.

… okay, off I go – back to class! 😊