Do Not Lose Your Identity 2

                                      Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Daniel was a very young man when he was conscripted into the court of King Nebuchadnezzar first as a trainee and later as a very important member of the court. Though Daniel outlived Nebuchadnezzar and other kings after Nebuchadnezzar such as BelShazzar, Darius the Mede and Cyrus, Daniel did not lose his identity as an Israelite. He refused to partake of the defiling delicacies of the King’s table and refused to stop praying to God even when a death sentence was issued against anyone who prayed to another god within thirty days. Daniel knew that Jehovah was and will always be God over all gods. So he ignored their threats and maintained his normal routine of communion with God. Though Daniel was eventually thrown into the den of lions, the Bible records that he was unscathed as the lions did not touch him. But when the conspirators were thrown into that same den of lions, they were immediately devoured by the lions. Please read Daniel Chapter 6. Daniel could have chosen to blend in with the people he interacted with; the people he was compelled to learn their language, culture and religion while he was in training for three years and most importantly while he was in service so he could probably be promoted. But Daniel chose to be Daniel, an obedient child of God and because he did not lose his identity, he prospered and was honored. But most importantly, Daniel’s refusal to lose his identity in obedience to God helped to entrench the worship of God in the kingdoms he served.

Do Not Lose Your Identity

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

 “Issachar is no better than a donkey   That lies stretched out between its saddlebags.  But he sees that the resting place is good And that the land is delightful. So he bends his back to carry the load and is forced to work as a slave.    Good News Translation

 “Issachar is a rawboned^[f] donkey lying down among the sheep pens.  When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. NIV

 “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.  He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor. English Standard Version (ESV)

 Issachar is a strong donkey,lying down between the sheepfolds. He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.… Berean Study Bible

The Bible records in Genesis Chapter 49 verse 14 that Issachar lost his identity and mission in life to a pleasant land and the supposedly rest that the pleasant land provided. Unfortunately, Issachar became a band of slaves over a period of time. Issachar who was divinely designed to provide leadership direction and influence (2^nd Chronicles Chapter 12 verse 32) sold himself and his generation to slavery. Fortunately, God showed them mercy and restored their leadership role in Israel.

Divine Exit Doors 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Mordecai and the Jews in Shushan were sentenced to death with the irreversible laws of the kingdom and therefore could not appeal against the sentence. Yet within that seemingly concluded blockade, God in His infinite mercies, power and love for His own created divine exit doors out of the death sentence. Haman who requested for and paid for the death sentence against the Jews died on the gallows he had prepared to hang Mordecai on. The Jews got another decree signed which empowered them to arm and defend themselves. The people that had planned to kill the supposedly defenseless Jews for fun became afraid of the armed Jews who had received royal authorization to fight back their attackers. Please read the entire book of Esther for details.

The people of Jericho barricaded their gates against the Israelites. Without recourse to the use of explosives which bring down fortified brick and mortar, God created divine exit doors for His people. Please see Joshua Chapter 6 for details.

The satraps thought they had Daniel silenced forever when he was thrown into the den of lions. But God created a protective wall of fire for Daniel by shutting the mouths of the lions. After Daniel was released and the satraps as well as members of their families were thrown into the den of lions, the lions had a feast of human flesh. Please see Daniel Chapter 6 for details. Additionally, the King opted to serve Daniel’s God and made a proclamation that made it mandatory for everyone to serve Daniel’s God.

Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image. Consequently, they were thrown into the fiery furnace of fire. But God intervened and the fire had no effect on them. Upon their release, Nebuchadnezzar publicly proclaimed the worship of Jehovah God in Babylon.

Divine Pathways to Fame 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God is the One Who raises the poor and needy out of the dust, from obscurity and insignificance, dishonor and lack into limelight, significance, relevance, honor and wealth – Psalm 113 verses 7 to 8, 1^st Samuel Chapter 2 verses 7 to 10, Psalm 78 verses 70 to 72, 107 verse 41, 145 verse 14. Some biblical examples include Hannah, Joseph, Abraham, Daniel, Mordecai, Esther, Obed-Edom, Ruth, Rahab, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, David,

God raises the poor out of the dust. David was an unknown shepherd boy in Israel, the least of his father’s sons yet God in His infinite mercy chose to make David king in Israel, and gave him national and regional fame as time progressed. Psalm 78 verses 70 to 72, 113 verses 7 to 8, 1^st Samuel Chapter 16 verses 1 to 13, 2 verses 7 to 8, and Isaiah Chapter 43 verse 19.

God raised Ruth out of Moab, widowhood without children and money, obscurity and who knows what else would have befallen her in Moab to become the wife of Boaz, a significant and well known man of substance in Israel as well as the mother of Obed, who fathered Jesse, the father of King David. Ruth Chapters 1 to 4. In essence, Ruth, the unknown Moabitess became an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ – Matthew Chapter 1 verse 5.

Rahab also rose to limelight and fame by the grace of God after she sheltered and protected the two spies sent by Joshua to Jericho. The Rahab who was described as a harlot in Joshua Chapters 2 verse 1, 6 verse 17, 22, 25 is mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ as the wife of Salmon and mother of Boaz who married Ruth and fathered Obed, the grandfather of King David.

Esther, a Jewish captive and orphan in Babylon; living with her older cousin Mordecai became famous, royalty when she married King Ahasuerus, the then ruler of a vast empire that spanned Asia and some parts of Europe. Significantly, God raised her to fulfill divine purpose. It is also significant to note that everyone God raised out of the obscure situations and positions in life fulfilled divine purposes.

Celebrate You

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Why?

You are fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 137 verses 14 to 18. This speaks of gratitude to God for who you are, how He created you and why He created you. David understood this and that explains he was unusually confident, celebrated himself and excelled, and prospered wherever he went. I pray that God will help you to see who you are so that you can place the right value on you and celebrate you accordingly in Jesus mighty name.

God loves you and gave up his only begotten son so that you can be reconciled to Him. Please see John Chapter 3 verse 16, 4 verses 9 to 11, 16, 19 and Jeremiah Chapter 31 verse 3.

You are special to God. Please see Deuteronomy Chapter 7 verses 6 to 8.

God is mindful of you and takes care of you. Please see Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 6 to 8, Psalm 8 verses 1 to 9.

God crowned you with glory and honor . Please see Psalm 8 verse 5.

God visits you to expand and increase you, restore life to you. Please see psalm 8 verse 4, Genesis Chapter 21 verse 1, Ruth Chapter 1 verse 6, Luke Chapter 1 verses 68, 78, 7 verse 16, 1^st Samuel Chapter 2 verse 21.

God gave you dominion over the works of His hands. Please see Genesis Chapter 1 verses 26 to 28, Psalm 8 verses 6 to 9.

God inscribed you on the palms of His hands and your walls are continually before Him which explains why He cannot forget you. Please see Isaiah Chapters 49 verses 13 to 16, 44 verse 21 and 1^st Samuel Chapter 1 verses 19 to 20.

How to Get Out of Satanically Arranged Situations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

You can get  out of satanically arranged situations easily. How? By doing what God taught you to do best and which you have always done to bring glory to the name of the Lord.

In such situations, you ignore the machinations and contrivances of satanically controlled people and keep at doing what God wants you to do.

Joseph is a classic example. In spite of the envy and hatred his brothers showed to him, he went out to look for them. Yet, they sold him into slavery. As a slave in a foreign land, Joseph continued putting his best foot forward until the devil struck again through Potiphar’s wife. How about in jail? He was still at his God given best and in the fullness of time, God enlarged his coast to the point that every gang up and conspiracy against him was silenced forever in Jesus mighty name.

The Apostle Paul preached the gospel in and out of season. Severally, his life was threatened and on a number of times had close shaves with death; yet he arose from every one of those situations to preach the gospel, even more determined.