Olabode Ososami's Blog, page 5

Counted Faithful

Nehemiah 13:13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

There is a difference between being considered or said to be faithful and being counted faithful. Counting suggests we have been tested …weighed on the balance and found to be what we claim to be. How does God count faithfulness? Abraham was counted amongst the faithful – because he did not deny God, Isaac – his dear Sarah’s only Son. Abraham was not perfect? Did he not pretend that Sarah was his sister? And the scandal with Hagar? Still he was counted faithful, because he could release the most precious thing in his life.

Can you release the most precious thing in your life into the hands of God? Can you put God fully in control of your dearest possessions? Can you refuse the gifts that are not to be taken, so you can say, it was God and only God that made me rich.

Gen 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

The faithful are blessed. The unique blessing is that God will use them to distribute His goodness … mightily to others. But to be a conduit for blessings is to be exceedingly blessed too.

Verses for further meditation

Luke 16:10; Rev 2:10

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders have been counted among the faithful

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, help me in times of testing – so I am counted faithful. Amen

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Treasurers over the Treasuries

Nehemiah 13:13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

We are not just treasuries, but also treasurers. Men and women that can be trusted to look after and invest very wisely that which belongs to God. In the parable of the talents we see what God expects – profit. A decent profit is the fruit of our industry, labors and diligence when we trade God’s treasures in our hands. We earn more gifts when we use the ones we already have … and we sense God’s well done in our lives. Be careful of envying others because gifts differ – we are not blessed equally, but God knows what each can handle and makes no mistakes. To whom more is given do you know more is also expected.

There is a day of accounting when we shall be asked, what did we do with all the graces we freely received? How did our experiences bless someone else? The wealth that we have, did it benefit only us – or did we obey God to channel it to divinely selected ventures? I sense at the day of judgment, many fail because of mismanaging divinely given graces and treasures … so many squandered opportunities to do good that were not used.

Mat_25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Verses for further meditation

Ezra 7:20; Luke 12:21

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders can be trusted with that which belongs to another

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, thank you for all your graces and goodness freely given to me for your glory. Amen

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Treasuries

Nehemiah 13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

Do you know that God has poured some very precious things in us ? He created man to be very special and stored in us, His most precious gifts. The gift of faith … the grace to trust and believe God. Man is a house of gifts, gifts of healings, word of wisdom … discerning of spirits. Diverse gifts poured into God’s house – man.

But the treasuries, know the owner of the gift and the storage is still God. God owns us and all that we have not just 10%. This is so important so we see the role of storage does not permit us to spend or even manage as we want. The treasury must completely obey the owner. God does not only own, but He also protects all that belongs to Him. Remaining obedient is in itself a great protection. I pray that you will regain a sense of being a storage for God … not just to hold but to allow God’s resources to go where it has been ordained to go. Do not dam the flow of resources that belong to God. Give freely as you have been given.

1Cor 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Mat_6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

David was a man after God’s heart … indeed he did not build a temple, but he made provisions to enable Solomon build for God. David was the storage …no wonder God loved him so much.

Verses for further meditation

Ezra 7:20; Luke 12:21

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders can be trusted with that which belongs to another

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, thank you for all your graces and goodness freely given to me for your glory. Amen

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

I Commanded

Nehemiah 13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.



You cannot lead and be unable to take firm decisions. Nehemiah was often a commander …and there is a Commander in Chief – Jesus Christ. Once we have received the Commander-in-Chief’s directive we also command knowing we are backed with divine authority. A man who wavers is useless to all. There is time to grieve, there is time to pray, there is time to seek consultation …but there must also be times of firm decisions and commands. You may ask …who do I command.

Start with yourself. All that must cease in your life must be commanded accordingly. You must command every agent of darkness to leave your life …you must command your life to be subject to the word of God. Good commands. If you are the man, who heads his family, then you must be firm with your household … there are times when your firmness will be save your home from future troubles. If you are the woman, and you have children …there is a stage where your commands to your children to return from any so called social gathering by a decent time. In future, they will not be found in night clubs in the early hours of the morning because they were taught and commanded differently. Nehemiah commanded a cleansing and they obeyed his commandments.

I pray God will back up your divine decrees. The Bible teaches us that His angels are ministering spirits … they attend to our commands when they are of God. Being a commander is not the same as being a dictator. All strong leaders know that there is a place for firm instructions that must be quickly executed.

Gen_18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Verses for further meditation

1 Timothy 4:11; Joshua 11:15

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders have self-control … they have commanded themselves first.

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, help me to hear and obey your commands. Amen

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Corn, New wine and Oil

Nehemiah 13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

God wants all the tithe, a tenth of all He has given to be dedicated to Him, to confirm that we worship Him who gave all in the first place. In this text three specific provisions are itemized. Corn represents that which is used to make bread – the word of God. When we meditate on the word of God, we should take the words to God … many promises have been given us …but not given to be void …but to be taken to God to produce an effect – not returning to us void. We cannot take to God, the word that we have not assimilated … as we chew on the word of God …we are given words borne of the meditation to be taken to God for our help and comfort. The word returns to change us to be more Christ like.

The new wine …joyful praise, our attitude of thanksgiving are awesome offerings before God. And then there is oil, oil represents the Holy Spirit which causes a fruit in our lives. The fruit of repentance, the fruit of love …the fruits of longsuffering, empathy and patience.

What are you taking to God? Just money? Yes He owns your money but even more demands a changed life, your all.

Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

 

Verses for further meditation

Hosea 9:4; Hosea 6:6

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders have a different sense of giving that pleases God

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, may my giving be pleasing and acceptable unto you. Amen

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Setting in Place

Nehemiah 13:11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place

There is a difference between contention and putting a new reality in place. Many are better at contention, but lack a vision on what needs to be installed. Others have vision, but do not have the stomach to fight the fight of faith. Leaders need grace for both efforts. Nehemiah is not just a trouble maker, but God has given him clarity on what must be done and the changes that are required.

A leader must see the things that are out of place … he must appreciate the need for structural adjustments be it in an organization, economically, politically, in the family or even in ministry. God will give you a vision for the adjustments that must be made even in your marriage. Be patient to receive that vision, before contending against what is wrong. Where there is a vacuum in vision, you may only be pulling down, only to create space for a worse situation. Indeed having a vision for adjustments must precede any zealous crusade for change … what do you want to change to must be known before uprooting the things that are undesirable. Meditate on your family, business or ministry… ask God, what must be set in place.

Verses for further meditation

Proverbs 29:18; Jeremiah 14:14

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders have been given a vision of what must be changed and how to change it

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, help me to see the things you want to reset within my influence. Amen

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Contention

Nehemiah 13:11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

Contention is good when it is driven by God-given zeal for the house of God. Many are in contention, but not for God … others do not want to confront anything and so they live ever in compromise with the culture. The bible asks us to contend for the faith as though this were something that we will lose if we relaxed and allowed ourselves to slide into a lethargic sleep. Contend means fight … get into an argument … disagree where necessary … kick up a fuss if need be. There is a time and a place for this. Be careful, do not get into the habit of being a brawler … and many things are not worth contending for. We need to discern the difference and be able to identify what is not worth getting into strife for.

Nehemiah was a man of courage. It takes courage to contend with rulers – who will wonder what is your agenda ? … and why are you making them look bad. Elders and rulers can be very wrong, often they have been lulled into a status quo that must not be disturbed and deceived into positions that seem settled. To challenge elders and rulers is the work of Spirit-filled leadership. To seek answers to sensitive questions can be annoying to some …but you must obey God and not men.

If you want to be a man-pleaser than leadership is not for you. God cannot use you to build that which has been demolished if you can only work when in agreement with others. You must know how to achieve the will of God even in contentious environments. But don’t be a trouble maker. See the example of Christ.

Mark 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Verses for further meditation

Joshua 10:25; 2 Timothy 4:7

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders must be courageous to contend when required. Choose your battles wisely

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, help and strengthen me: give me courage to play my part. Amen.

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Private Agenda

Nehemiah 13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled everyone to his field.

People all over the world, whether in God’s Ministry or doing their own private thing in business, are full of their private plans and plots. Many will say God asked them or called them into some venture or the other, to justify their zeal. But if you observe a little closer, you will get a sense of why they have started a church or business … the same reason …to find their portions.

Greed is often masqueraded as something else, and the survival of the priest will often not be seen as a prime motive as funds are gathered through questionable means supposedly for God’s work.

Providing for God’s servants is always God’s business and He has various ways of doing so. It could be the mouth of a fish, the kitchen of a widow at Zarepath or the brook side ravens … but God’s own will be provided for.

The Levites and singers have rushed off to do their own thing …whether in God’s house or elsewhere. Some have found good administrative positions where they can be trusted for their honesty – others are singing at concerts and have more than a few commercial hits as gospel music becomes chart busting material. Few agree that there is a difference between the work God has called and the field which belongs to man. How do you discern the difference ? This verse presents an important distinction and that is the underlying motivation for the work. Work done for financial gain and commercial success feeds the survival instincts of the Levites and cannot be God’s calling. But what can the Levites and singers do when they are not provided for … the Bible says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. May God teach us to wait patiently for Him.

Psalm 145:15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Verses for further meditation

Isaiah 40:31; Jeremiah 14:22

Thoughts for Business and the work place

A study of motivation reveals a lot about the person

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, help me to wait for my season in the place you have positioned me.

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Levites not Provided for

Nehemiah 13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled everyone to his field.

God’s priests are taken care of by God. We do not work for a living as saints …God is our source, our provision and so we work in obedience to Him. This is a completely different paradigm of work. Today many combine cut throat emotional intelligence with zeal to stay ahead where God has asked them to withdraw. But how can we obey God to withdraw from situations that earn us comfortable incomes. We must trust God to provide and be able to lean on Him fully.

There is a sad state of backsliding when that which belongs to God’s priest shave been diverted to make room for satan’s boys. The priests have fled for cover and gone to the fields while the chamber that should house their comforts has been assigned to the devil’s agents, in this case, Tobiah’s gang. Nehemiah begins to make the needed corrections to the correction. It begins with the understanding that the Levites are on the fields instead of being in the temple. I do not mean we should live and sleep in church, but there is a strange situation when those called by God are unable to fulfill their call because of strange displacements orchestrated by modern day Tobiahs. The result is that the people scorn the work of God as the roles have been usurped by business opportunists and political artists mocking the vision of Nehemiah to rebuild the kingdom and restore kingdom standards. Nehemiah gets an accurate perception of what has gone wrong and the outcomes.

Do you sense people mocking the work of God around you? Where are the Levites, the custodians of God’s truth?

2Kings 17:32 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

Verses for further meditation

Hosea 6:9; Revelation 5:10

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Leaders have deeper perceptions of truth. They can discern details and causes

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to understand what is going on around me. Amen.

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.

Vessels of God

Nehemiah 13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

There can be no vacuum. If you empty chambers and do not fill them with something else, soon the enemy comes back with his stuff and brings even more than before, now that the room is swept clean. Nehemiah brought again … meaning these vessels were there before … the things of God, the offerings and the frankincense.

Fill your life with the things of God as you get rid of the dross and nonsense of the devil. Fill your home, your spare moments with materials that honor God. Songs of praise … listen to His word, read scripture and books that edify… saturate your environment with Him and things that will bring him glory. It is not enough to go to Church and come back resolved to be good … if you do not replace your evil habits with biblical habits of prayer, meditation and bible study, soon evil habits will return.

The Holy Spirit wants to fill you to the brim, if you will invite Him to do so. Vessels of God are instruments to honor God … Lord, I pray my life will be filled with all that honors you and that alone. May our words, thoughts and every deed honor God. Always.

God created us for His glory. That was the original plan. Our body was created for His glory …but mankind fell. God wants to fill us again with Himself. Will you let Him?

2Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Verses for further meditation

Jeremiah 18:4; Mat 2:11

Thoughts for Business and the work place

Pleasing God must be a top priority.

Suggestions for Prayer

Lord, let my life be pleasing always unto you. Amen.

As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.

To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.

Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.