Monday 8th May 2017
JUBILATE - NEW LIFE IN CHRIST - BE PERFECT
Genesis 17:1-9
The Covenant of Circumcision
17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram[b]; your name will be Abraham,[c] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
Footnotes:
- Genesis 17:1 Hebrew El-Shaddai
- Genesis 17:5 Abram means exalted father.
- Genesis 17:5 Abraham probably means father of many.
People misunderstand and misconceive God's demand for perfection, to the extent that they erroneously conclude that perfection is an unrealistic Christian demand. But they forget that even Jesus demanded that we be perfect (Mathew 5:48)! I pray that the power of God comes upon you today so that you start experiencing perfection as God demands it, in Jesus name. Perfection as demanded by God can be seen to be unattainable if you think it is to be attained by our strength. However, the truth of the matter is that, if man did not create himself, but came into existence through the power and wisdom of God, by this same power and wisdom, God will help man attain perfection. The problem with people is unbelief. They forget His word in Hebrews 11:6, that says,
"But without faith it is impossible to please him......he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"
Incidentally, unbelief breeds disobedience. This is what happened to Adam and his wife in Eden, they failed the test and fell into imperfection through their unbelief in the efficacy and infallibility of God's words.
From God's point of of view, perfection is total obedience to God's instructions in faith. You are perfect if you obey what God asks you to do, even if it seems illogical or is politically incorrect. Like it was with the patriarch, Abraham, faith brings justification, which is the key to perfection.
Do you find yourself in a state of unbelief? Are you one of those who do not believe that perfection is attainable? If you are then you must pray today like the man whose child was tormented by the devils in Mark 9:24, he said ".....Lord I believe; help my unbelief "
Parting shot: The Spirit of Jesus Christ helps us into perfection. Therefore, accept Jesus today and ask Him to give you His Spirit, and His Spirit will make you perfect.
JUBILATE - MAISHA MAPYA NDANI YA YESU! - UWE MKAMILIFU
Mwanzo 17: 1-9
1 Abramu alipokuwa mtu wa miaka tisini na kenda, Bwana akamtokea Abramu, akamwambia, Mimi ni Mungu Mwenyezi, uende mbele yangu, ukawe mkamilifu.
2 Nami nitafanya agano langu kati ya mimi na wewe, nami nitakuzidisha sana sana.
3 Abramu akaanguka kifudifudi. Mungu akamwambia, akasema,
4 Mimi, agano langu nimefanya nawe, nawe utakuwa baba wa mataifa mengi,
5 wala jina lako hutaitwa tena Abramu, lakini jina lako litakuwa Ibrahimu, kwani nimekuweka uwe baba wa mataifa mengi.
6 Nitakufanya uwe na uzao mwingi sana, nami nitakufanya kuwa mataifa, na wafalme watatoka kwako.
7 Agano langu nitalifanya imara kati ya mimi na wewe, na uzao wako baada yako, na vizazi vyao, kuwa agano la milele, kwamba nitakuwa Mungu kwako na kwa uzao wako baada yako.
8 Nami nitakupa wewe na uzao wako baada yako nchi hii unayoikaa ugeni, nchi yote ya Kanaani, kuwa milki ya milele; nami nitakuwa Mungu wao.
9 Mungu akamwambia Ibrahimu, Nawe ulishike agano langu, wewe na uzao wako kwa vizazi vyao baada yako.
Watu wengi wanashindwa kuelewa agizo la Mungu la kutaka tuwe wakamilifu, wakidhani kuwa ni jambo lisilowezekana kibinadamu, hata kufikia kudhani kuwa ni bora kutolitilia maanani! Kumbuka kuwa hata Yesu alisema tuwe wakamilifu, kwa kuwa Mungu wetu, ambaye ni Baba yetu anataka tuwe wakamilifu kwa kuwa Yeye ni mkamilifu (Mat5:48). Namwomba Mungu kuwa leo akutane na wewe, na nguvu zake zikushukie ili upate kuona na kuishi katika hali ya ukamilifu, kama anavyotaka Mungu, kupitia kwa Yesu Kristo.
Ukamilifu unaweza kuonekana hauwezekani kufikiwa pale mtu anapodhani kuwa, ukamilifu unapatikana kwa kutumia nguvu na ujanja wetu wenyewe. Ukweli ni kwamba, kama mtu aliumbwa kwa kutokana na uwezo na hekima ya Mungu, basi ni hekima na uwezo huo huo, ndiyo utakaomwezesha mtu kuupata ukamilifu. Ila tatizo kubwa ni imani. Imani inayowezesha kupokea. Wengi wanalisahau lile neno katika Ebr 11:6, lisemalo, ".....pasipo imani haiwezekani kumpendeza.....Mungu huwapa thawabu wamtafutao......"
Matokeo ya kutokuwa na imani ni kutokuwa na utii !
Hili ndilo lililomwangusha Adam bustanini! Walishindwa mtihani waliopewa wa kukosa uvumilivu na kutokuwa na imani kwa neno la Mungu walilopewa kuhusu kutokula matunda ya mti wa "Ujuzi wa Mema na Mabaya". Hawakuamini uwezo wa Neno lake na nguvu yake ya kutenda mema na mabaya.
Msimamo wa Mungu juu ya ukamilifu ni kwamba utakuwa mkamilifu kama utakapoyatii maagizo yake na kuyatenda, hata kama haikubaliki kisiasa na kijamii. Kama ilivyokuwa kwa Ibrahim, utii ulimpa haki, na haki ni kigezo muhimu katika kuupata ukamilifu.
Nikuulize, na wewe huamini? Ni mmojawapo wa wale wanaoamini kuwa kuupata ukamilifu ni ndoto? Kama ni hivyo basi Maombezi Mungu sana ukitubu kama yule mzazi ambaye mwanawe aliponywa mapepo, alilia, "...Naamini Bwana, nisaidie kutokuamini kwangu" ili kwako isidaiwe kuwa ni dhambi.
Mwishowe, jua kwamba ni Roho Mtakatifu, atumwaye na Baba kwetu, ndiye anayetusaidia sisi watu tufikie ukamilifu. Kwa hiyo , Siri ni kupokea Yesu ndani ya moyo wako na kumwomba akupe Roho wake Mtakatifu, hiyo atakufanya kuwa mkamilifu. Barikiwa!
