The Consequences of Idleness

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Wandering – In 1^st Timothy Chapter 5 verses 1 to 15, the widows are described as gossips and busybodies, tell tales interfering in people’s lives, sowing discord among brethren, creating problems among people, constituting themselves into authors of strife and contention, accusing people. Please read 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 11 to 12 and 2^nd Thessalonians Chapter 3 verses 6 to 12. Though the devil and his cohorts accuse the children of God daily, there are ways to overcome them daily – the blood of Jesus Christ, the word of God and your testimony of victory in Christ Who gives you the victory at all times as well as putting God first. Please read Revelation Chapter 12 verses 9 to 11 and Job Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7.

Covetousness – in the book of 1^st Kings Chapter 21, the Bible records that King Ahab for want of nothing to do coveted the property of one of his subjects, Naboth. Additionally, Ahab took a step further to acquire the property by approaching the subject to sell the property to him. When the subject refused to sell, he was upset and sulked all day. How idle can a person be! A King did not think of improving the quality of lives of the people he ruled over; he did not care about development projects that would benefit the people; he did not reflect on issues of equity and justice in the land and did not bother to learn from the successes of Kings like David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah as well as others who impacted the lives of the people positively. Rather, King Ahab immersed himself in coveting after other people’s properties; and pathetically, the property of his subject.

Idleness was also the reason King David saw Bathsheba. While other kings and warriors were busy at the battle lines, David idled time away on the roof top not thinking about the weightier issues of state but focused his attention and desires on a naked woman bathing. Rather than tame whatever desires were stirred in him particularly so when he discovered that the beautiful woman he could not wait to devour was the wife of one of his subjects who was busy at the battle lines; he proceeded to the sin of adultery and as if that was not bad enough, he attempted to cover his sin the moment he discovered that the woman was pregnant. But when his attempts at cover up failed, David, the man greatly beloved by God and many people resorted to murder. How unfortunate that a person like David who always invested time fell into the trap of the enemy simply because he chose a moment of idleness. Unfortunately, the consequences of David’s action were dire – he lost the child from the sinful liaison and but for the mercy of God, he would have lost the throne. Please read 1^st Samuel Chapters 11 to 19.

Be Innovative

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Inventions are solutions to problems. This is to say that people who solve problems are inventors. A number of Biblical characters such as Joseph, David, Esther, and Nehemiah provided solutions to national problems. So also did several people in history. Many more in contemporary times are making the world a better place to live in.

Inventions are not for a certain class of people. Anyone created by God can become an inventor because God is the author, source and father of inventions. Significantly, He created you in His image meaning that you have His attributes; the capacity to invent what will improve the quality of lives of people and bless humanity. Be that blessing today. Also, you may not necessarily invent something new as you can actually build on what is in existence by innovating on it.

The following are some young people who made witty inventions that made them globally famous, wealthy and respected. They are Mark Zuckerberg, Nicholas Woodman, Jan Koum, Jack Dorsey, Travis Kalanick, Garret Camp, Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, Sean Parker, Drew Houston, and a host of others too many to mention in this blogpost. Therefore, do not say that you are too young to be an inventor.

Wisdom for Seed Planting 4

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Before embarking on the journey of seed planting it will be worth your while to make a distinction between good ground and thorns. This is because a ground may be good to plant on but if it is full of thorns, what happens to the crops planted on that good ground? The plants will definitely grow but the thorns will always choke them and who knows what will happen. Is it then wise to sow among thorns? Please see Matthew Chapter 13 verses 7, 22.

Both wayside ground and rock could not provide what the seeds required to thrive – earth to protect the seeds from being trampled down and devoured; and moisture for the nourishment of the seeds. On the other hand, the ground with thorns provided both security and moisture yet had self destructive properties which ensured that the young plants did not grow beyond a certain level.

The wayside ground seeds were afflicted by external factors, people walking along the way and birds flying over the wayside whose sharp eyes spotted the seeds though trampled and devoured them. The rock lacked water and moisture; also external factors as rocks neither manufacture water nor retain water.

But the ground with thorns had an internal self destructive mechanism – the thorns which had no room and zero tolerance for anything that would benefit humanity. Thorns do not benefit humanity and one would have expected them to be pleased to have plants which would benefit humanity grow beside them. No way as they choked the life out of the plants. Thorns have no good intention towards anyone or anything and do not benefit anyone in any way. They are destructive and would always destroy as they always bring about destruction. A thorn infested ground no matter how fertile is not good ground.

Wisdom for Seed Planting 3 - The Wayside Heart

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The wayside heart is grossly unprepared for the gospel. Consequently, it cannot process the gospel which explains why the seed of the gospel planted in it is carelessly trampled upon and devoured. In like manner, business and money making ideas, products and services taken to the wayside ground will automatically fizzle out, the products and services will be treated as scum, disdained, rejected and if you have no idea who you are and what the quality of your products and services are; you will lose confidence in yourself, your ideas, products and services and will not have the confidence you require to multiply and compound your resources to wealth and success and be the blessing God created you to be to humanity. Why is that so? Because you took what is of value to a ground that is not prepared for value, does not know value, appreciate value and is therefore not receptive to value. What happens? That value is trampled down and devoured.

Be a Flowing Stream

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Flowing streams distribute their God given resources, namely water as directed by God. That is why streams flow into rivers and rivers flow into seas and seas flow into oceans. That way, they distribute their natural resources as God would have them distribute such resources so that humanity and other living beings are blessed. In like manner, God expects everyone blessed with divine resources to distribute such resources as directed by God for the blessing of humanity as well as other living beings.

Resource distributors are not necessarily people who give away resources for free. They also include people who distribute resources for a fee such as the distributor of grain in Proverbs Chapter 11 verse 2b. He sold the grain yet was blessed for doing so. Joseph sold the grain that was harvested from the farms of the Egyptians to the Egyptians yet they blessed him. Please see Genesis Chaptre 41 verses 54 to 57, 42 verses 1 to 5, 47 verses 13 to 26.

Distributing resources expands resources as in the case of the diligent servants described in the parable of talents. Please see Matthew Chapter 25 verses 14 to 30.  The wicked and unprofitable servant was cast out into outer darkness because he refused to expand the resources he was blessed with through distributing it.

Choose Global Desirability

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God is the author of global desirability in the life of anyone. He does it by giving the person destined for global desirability His glory. Please see Haggai Chapter 2 verses 6 to 9 and Isaiah Chapter 60 verses 1 to 22. This glory of God usually manifest through His Presence in the life of a person. The Bible records that God was with Joseph, Isaac, Abraham, David as well as a number of other successful Biblical characters and this holy Presence in the life of a person manifests in a number of ways.

For David, it was military prowess; Joseph, it was the gift of problem solving through the word of knowledge and wisdom coupled with his sincere commitment to God. Daniel was also blessed with this gift and rose to global desirability, relevance and prominence. He was greatly sought after by Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius.

A person, institution, product or service can be globally visible yet not desirable. But when God is with you and His presence and glory is in you, He makes you globally visible and desirable as in the case of Joseph. There is a difference between global visibility and global desirability. A person, institution, product or service can be globally visible because of the opportunities or privileges available to occupy global platforms or space yet may not be globally desirable; that is liked, accepted or wanted. In such cases, global visibility is of no use really. What is the essence of being known globally and yet not desired, therefore not relevant and significant? But global visibility accompanied by global desirability culminates in significance and relevance which ultimately translates to dominance if managed wisely as instructed by God through His Holy Spirit.

Soul winning Births Wealth

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Soul winning is not struggling for positions but service to humanity – Luke Chapter 24. It  is about doing good to the people. You are a soul winner when lives are positively impacted for Christ. The gospel and not personal lives or wealth should be preached. Jesus had vision, mission statements and a clear job description – Luke Chapter 4. Jesus did not act independently. He acted on the father’s instruction based on the divine mandate he received. The presence of the Holy Spirit is Who you need to minister. If God is in it, then go ahead. Soul winning is not about crowd, it is about impact. The primary reason for Pentecost was for believers to become effective witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pentecost was therefore designed for believers to receive power to become witnesses to God on a global scale To witness is to give evidence or be an evidence yourself, in this case proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the lives of believers.  That is why the Holy Spirit was given to believers.

Jesus gave procedural instructions on how to bear witness of Him. First, from your home, in your community, nation and then on a global scale so that if you are effective witnesses at home, then you can succeed outside. To be an effective witness, your lifestyle should reflect the nature of Christ. The world out there does not see Jesus physically. They see Jesus through you (Acts Chapter 4 verse 13, John Chapter 1 verses 40 to 46). The world around you needs to see the character of Jesus in you. Your qualitative lifestyle – changed lifestyle in appearance, talk is a proof that Jesus is raised and is a tool for evangelism. There must be a clear difference in the behavior patterns of believers and unbelievers. We should live lives that other people can copy. What people want to see is the proof of your encounter with Christ (Romans Chapter 2 verse 24). It is one thing to proclaim the resurrection and another to reflect the glory of His resurrection. There must be a difference between a believer and an unbeliever in their lifestyles. This is what the Apostle Paul meant in 2^nd Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 1 to 3. Our lifestyles commend and recommend people to Christ. You are the Bible that those who have no access to the bible will ever read. Therefore, you must live the Christlike life. Jesus lived the life he preached and Jesus was teaching through His lifestyle. 1^st Corinthians Chapter 4 verse 16. Paul did not preach a single message. But the manner in which he handled the viper attack made the people refer to him as a god. Wherever you are, you are an open Bible that people need.

If your lifestyle does not support evangelism, then it is a blasphemy. As Christians, we are expected to live exemplary lifestyles that glorify God (Matthew Chapter 5 verse 14). Your lifestyle is the beginning of evangelism (Acts Chapter 1 verse 1). Some of us wear character masks (2^nd Thessalonians Chapter 3 verse 16). It is possible for a child of God to be a negative witness.

Take Vantage Positions 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

13 “You are the [a]salt of the earth; but if the salt has [b]lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery]. 14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew Chapter 5 verses 13 to 16.

God set you on a hill? Are you on the hill? Joseph was born for global leadership but he was born and raised in Canaan until circumstances that would be considered negative but albeit positive moved him to Egypt, the place of global leadership where his divine IPs were accepted, relevant and made him significant and dominant.

What dreams were there for Joseph to interpret in Canaan, the jealousy and envy of his siblings that had snowballed to hatred and death wishes for him? Canaan was no place for him at that point in time for him because it was not the hill God set him on. . Egypt was and God took him there; and he was celebrated because his lights shone as they ought to have shone, and significantly where they should shine; and people saw the good works of Joseph and glorified God for filling Joseph with His Spirit to bless humanity.

Beloved, I have no idea where you are presently but if it is not God’s hill for you, then you need to move urgently to where God wants you to bless humanity. If it is a place of strife and contention, I advise that you get out of strife and contention into God’s plans and purposes for your life. Do not be embroiled in fruitless mental processes, utterances and activities that do not lead anywhere and do not promote.

Decide to be Wealthy 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

While poverty can be multi dimensional, the tools for eliminating poverty are also multidimensional. Therefore if poverty shows up as financial poverty, you start the elimination process by cultivating and maintaining a fervent relationship with God, repent of all the known and unknown sins that festered poverty in your lineage (most times poverty is generational), in you and  then ask God for what to do. You can start from the Bible where the promises of God concerning financial abundance are myriad. Please see Deuteronomy Chapter 15 verse 6, 28 verses 12 and 13, 2^nd Corinthians Chapter 8 verse 9, 3^rd John 1 and 2.

Certainly, there is a spiritual dimension to challenges but that dimension can be addressed spiritually by dealing with the spirits and satanic beings behind the oppression through the blood of Jesus Christ rather than dancing around the spiritual oppression through divination, complacency, pity parties and what have you. Complacency is actually quicksands. It sinks you deep into a rut where you are hampered by the inability to get out of whatever rut you need to get out of.

You can break out of poverty if you make up your mind to do so irrespective of the odds stacked against you. You can start now and immediately reject and renounce poverty no matter how long poverty has resided in your lineage. You can do this by a reorientation from generational mindsets regarding poverty and wealth. Study generational expenditure patterns, income generating patterns, wealth creation mentality, what people recourse to when faced by challenges. Do the members of this family ever seek out their divine purposes on earth? Do they exist to eat and breed children, with no generational impact on humanity other than just eat and breed children? Do they celebrate poverty as a mark of righteousness and piety? Poverty is not a mark of righteousness and piety. It is a mark of satanic opposition.

Decide to be Wealthy 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Nobody was created poor by God. Everyone was designed to be wealthy in the original plan of God for man. However, sin interfered and brought poverty along which explains why Jesus Christ became poor so that humanity can regain wealth. Please see 2nd Corinthians Chapter 8 verse 9. Therefore, the choice and decision to be wealthy is yours irrespective of wherever you are now in the wealth pedestal and whatever circumstances assail you. The choice and decision to be wealthy has to be accompanied by a speedy and prompt mental paradigm shift that will dislodge all the mental strongholds of poverty entrenched in your mental processes over the years. 

Poverty means lack, absence of capacity. A state of lack or want is a state of poverty reflecting spiritual poverty, ignorance, poverty of ideas, financial poverty, emotional poverty, psychological poverty, material poverty, poverty of ethics, etc. Therefore, poverty incapacitates, most often to stagnate, to hinder or limit progress, to slow down and to progressively destroy. 

Poverty is satanic and manifests the following symptoms – spiritual poverty, mental poverty, including intellectual poverty, financial poverty, physical poverty, etc. Poverty is also multi dimensional and afflicts at various levels – mental, physical, intellectual, marital, spiritual, financial, economic, social and political. Even when poverty is satanically induced, it can be eliminated at the foot of the cross through total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God never intended poverty for anyone. It is a tool of the enemy to stop people from entering into and actualizing the plans and purposes of God for their lives. No matter the hydra headed dimensions of poverty, the satanic altars serving it, the events and circumstances in your life that make it seem like poverty is your lot in life, beloved, hear the word of God in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 8 verse 9. From this Scripture, it is clear that poverty is not God’s plan for anyone. Secondly, poverty can be eliminated because over 2, 000 years ago, Jesus Christ paid the full price for the elimination of poverty. Please see Colossians Chapter 2 verses 12 to 15, 1st John Chapter 3 verse 8. Therefore, if poverty afflicts you on account of sin (be it personal, ancestral, community, national) or it is satanically engineered, Jesus Christ has paid the full penalty for it. What you need to do is take the poverty and all its branches and root to the foot of the cross for total destruction and elimination from your life and lineage. God is faithful and will gladly do it as His desire and plan for you is to live an abundant life in Christ Jesus.