When Prophecies don’t make sense

Somehow in my meditation earlier this week, I had this conversation ....

God: The Sun shall no longer be your light by day…

Me: Ah Lord, what did I do? Have mercy on me, this means gross darkness, please Lord, don’t do this to me. How will I see right and make right decisions in 2015? What will be my fate? I know I am not perfect but….

God: … neither shall your moon give light to you…

Me: This is serious, Ok.  Lord I’m sorry for whatever it is … but where is all this coming from…

God: (not minding my nervous replies)…Because…I myself will be to you an everlasting light, I will be your God, your Glory and your beauty…this means your Sun shall no more go down, nor shall your moon ever withdraw itself… I am now your everlasting light … your days of darkness are over…You will only keep shining. (Isaiah 60:19 Emphasis mine)

Me: (obviously broken)…WooooooW!!! I never knew this was where You were going … wow! What did I do to deserve this kindness? Father you are sooo amazing. I am sorry for….

God: You need to learn the act of listening. What I say may not always make sense to you at 1^st instance, but all you need to do is just listen. Moreover, if what I say to you always makes sense to you then I am Not God. Remember my thoughts are “far higher” than yours as the heavens are higher than the earth. (Isaiah 55:9).  
 

 

As I read through Isaiah 60:1-5 and I saw the prophet speaking to an audience. Hear what he told them. “Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Then he began to speak promises to them, at a point he says “you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] Sea shall be turned to you [vs 5].

If your thought were as good as mine, you’d be asking the same question I asked… “DEAD SEA” ke? Why the Sea of death?  A SEA that is considered to be a place of death and desolation? its one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water, its salinity more than 9 times as salty as the ocean making aquatic life is impossible and hence it’s name. In the Old Testament, Dwelling in caves near the Dead Sea is recorded as having taken place before the Israelites came to Canaan, and extensively at the time of King David. So it was a place of refuge for the depressed.  

Then suddenly it was discovered that the waters of the Dead Sea contained important chemicals. In G.T.B. Davis’ book Rebuilding Palestine, he wrote, “One is almost staggered by the computed wealth of the chemical salts of the Dead Sea. It is estimated that the potential value of the potash, bromine, and other chemical salts of its waters is... four times the wealth of the United States!” (G.T.B. Davis, Rebuilding Palestine According to Prophecy); Isaiah himself did not know this, but the God who caused the Dead Sea to play a part in His program in the last days knew all about it, and He led the prophet to so prophesy here in this verse.  Today, several therapies and treatments hail from this same “dead sea”. Isn’t this God hilarious?

Did your Pastor/leader declare a prophecy for 2015 that “just doesn’t add up” or “you just don’t feel it”?

Do you feel like you are in the “wrong audience”?

Does it look like what God seems to be saying isn’t what you really need right now because that doesn’t look like what you need?

Do you feel so much in darkness that the idea of shining (Isaiah 60:1) doesn’t look possible? Or “hmmn its possible but not this year, maybe next…” (In your mind)

Does your current situation look like it would defy the possibility of the prophecy to be fulfilled in your life?

 Then this is for you. The Israelites were in such an emotional depleted state when God told them “…Believe in the Lord your God …. Believe His prophets also…”  (2 Chronicles 20:20). God’s word may not make sense to you today, but Isaiah 46:10 describes Him as “….Declaring the end from the beginning…” This is why God is God.

Do you believe?

 

 

 

Think "Fruits", Do "Roots" [Part 2]

Hi.
I shared a thought yesterday and got some feedback from a few friends needing some clarification on the subject of taking root downwards in order to bear fruit upwards in 2015.
I like to share one conversation I found very "down-to-earth" and profound. I believe this will help you as you quietly "anticipate" a great year ahead.

Here is the 1st post if you missed it. http://ralphobafemi.blogspot.com/2015/01/think-fruits-do-roots.html

CONVERSANT: Fantastic read^5
¤Rafael¤: Sticker Sent  “hugs”
CONVERSANT: Morning ore
CONVERSANT: I've been pondering on your post yesterday
CONVERSANT: I feel like I get it but I still feel like I need some clarification.
¤Rafael¤: Hmnn talk to me...
CONVERSANT: I seriously want this year to be an outstanding year and I know I need to do things differently.
CONVERSANT: So you gave the example of the taller a building is the deeper the foundation would be.
CONVERSANT: How deep inwards does ones foundation need to be to spring forth d fruits that we want.
CONVERSANT: And how do u even know you've gone deep enough to begin with.
¤Rafael¤: Hmnn good question.
¤Rafael¤: The Holy Spirit will help us clarify this...
¤Rafael¤: Like I started by saying that we could be sooo engrossed about the need to bear fruits ( see practical results), So much that we forget that deeper roots are needed ...
¤Rafael¤: The taller the building, the deeper it's foundation should be. You need to see what digging roots mean in practical terms if u must understand this. ..)
¤Rafael¤: (Digging roots can be seen as the sacrifice and investments you put into a particular venture for which u desire to see great results
¤Rafael¤: For whatsoever venture it is, u will need to pay a price to get a result. Question is, what daily price or sacrifice have u made or are u making for that desire and result u want to achieve?
¤Rafael¤: U need to be able to itemise those desires or dreams.  What do I want to be? Where do I want to reach? What platforms do I want to mount? what product do I want to produce (brain child or talents)... then what   daily  price must I pay for this dream to come to fruition?
CONVERSANT: Ok I'm getting it now
¤Rafael¤: Until u are able to match the desired result with the price/sacrifice, u may be beating about the bush. ..
CONVERSANT: Hmm
¤Rafael¤: This sacrifice may involve praying, studying and research, seek training, and ACTing .... (not just thinking).
CONVERSANT: This truly is what I needed to hear/read to start the year. Thank you
¤Rafael¤: You asked how deep inwards does ones foundation need to be to spring forth d fruits that we want. ( keep digging. U will eventually find out how pleasant it is to dig because digging will eventually feed your dreams). There is a secret here I hope u can see it. When u dig until digging becomes a habit, u eventually will seldom stop digging because it forms a part of u and subsequently, you find out that digging becomes the endless source of your fruitfulness....
CONVERSANT: Hmm
¤Rafael¤: The moment u start sharing and giving to the society or achieving those dreams... u will always run back to that source... and that's how digging continues.... deep will always call unto the deep..
¤Rafael¤: I don't know what your skill is, but u may need to find a precise mentor that excels in your particular skill set where u desire exploits this year. . 
¤Rafael¤: In a nutshell. What end point do u see? What do u need to do daily to get there? Who has gotten there already such that can help u get there? Make each day count in doing something towards that target.
¤Rafael¤: Happy digging dear.
CONVERSANT: Wow
CONVERSANT: I wish I woulda had this revelation years ago
CONVERSANT: But it's never too late. Dreams don't have expiration dates...
CONVERSANT: Thank u({})
¤Rafael¤: Whatever part of you that  u choose to do and explore. ..face it and do it. U have your audience and your world is waiting for you.
CONVERSANT: At some point, I was beginning to feel like life was drifting past me. Was looking like the years were counting away, all because I still haven't gotten a job. In all of this, of a truth I know God has blessed me regardless of what i'm expecting. But last year, I completely gave up and I feel like people and even the one person I least expected gave up on me too.

CONVERSANT: Then towards the end of last year I started to ask God what was I missing, what did I need to do for a change, and then I read your post yesterday and that was the answer I needed.

¤Rafael¤: Wow!!!!!! Jesus is Lord.  I'm glad. Wow.
CONVERSANT: Change is never ever easy but I want 2015 to count!
¤Rafael¤: Hmnn
¤Rafael¤: Yes Yes Yes. let it count.
CONVERSANT: It will by His grace

Make it count this year.
Cheers.

 
 

Think "Fruits", Do "Roots"!!

.."And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah
Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.
 
 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah
Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward."... ISAIAH 37:31
 
Wonder why I shared this verse twice? because you need to get it. You should Probably read it again.
As aspiring & progressive dreamers, we care so much about bearing fruits, whichever way we look at fruitfulness depends on each individual: promotion in career, buying a new car, increased earnings, child bearing, building a house, greater speaking platforms, avenues to bless others, reaching out to the needy, wax a new music album, write a new book, win more souls for Christ...whatever feat that must be achieved this year that we may term "bearing fruit", would depend alot on how much "taking root downward" is done.
 

I was opportuned to visit a construction Site lately and i recall the Site Engineer emphasizing that the intended load for the structure (a duplex) would require more than a 3ft deep foundation, with its columns reaching 5 - 6 ft deep... it was like digging a trench... then i asked myself a simple question.... how much of my intended & desired heights can my current foundation carry? 
 
The CN Tower in Canada used to be tallest building until the opening of the Burj khalifa in UAE, January 2010, it had its foundation 15metres deep. Let me explain this. A typical telecoms mast you see by the roadside is about 40 - 50m in height, divide that into 3 and you will see the depth of the foundation of that structure. 4 months was spent, excavating and putting the foundation in place. Amazing, isn't it. How deep!!
 
Now i got you thinking again about your dreams & plans for 2015, your "crazy" targets, "radical goals",  "big dreams", "wild aspirations", "gigantic expectations"...they are not impossible, its just that a structure is only as strong as its foundation.
 
In btw**, Something tells me that someone reading this piece does not even have a "Big dream" for 2015.

If you have carved your dreams & targets for 2015 according to your resources or salary or savings, please get back to the drawing board.
The extent of your possibilities in 2015 is the extent of elasticity of your mind. For as far as God is concerned, All things are Possible. (Selah)
 
Think "Fruits", Do "Roots".
Happy New Year & Happy digging.

Eku ipalemo Odun

In the past few days, the air has been filled with the traditional salutation & greetings amongst the Yoruba speaking… “Eku Ipalemo Odun” which means “how are you gearing up for the New Year” or “hope preparations are going well for the New Year”. I tried to find the literal translation of this greeting and it’s something close to this “how are you putting things in place for the New Year” or “how are you cleaning up the grounds for the New Year” and I seem to be more interested in this very translation.

It seems that our fore-fathers & fathers had an understanding about starting a New Year (they may not have practiced it though), that we may need to learn from. It’s an up-spoken idea that the grounds should be cleared in preparation for the New Year. Scriptures says that no one puts new wine in old wineskins, no one uses a new piece of cloth to patch an old clothes. Luke 5:36-37.

 

Have you thought about the joy of creating a new environment for yourself for 2015? What do you need to “get rid of”, what do you need to give out? What do you need to stop doing, change doing or start doing afresh? Some things have occupied your “space” for too long and maybe you just need to “Palemo” so that you can breathe fresh air. Cleanup your wardrobe, cleanup your mind, decide to think “fresh & positive”, let go of hurts & pains of 2014, it’s your decision to make. Cleanup your library, get it set with new books (or even old books with new subjects) that you will need for this New Year. Cleanup your relationships, press the necessary buttons, ADD, DELETE, SHIFT+DELETE. Cleanup your browser cache, what websites do you need to visit less this year or probably STOP visiting? (you know those annoyingly unprofitable websites that takes 2 or more hours of your day), get rid of old pots, frying pans and utensils that have become an eyesore in your kitchen (my Pastor will always mention this), Cleanup your PC & workspace, your desktop, your hard-drive, create space & create change. When you get to the office, cleanup your desk, you’ll be surprised at some items that have become ancient landmarks on your desk that you never or rarely used.

 

Lastly, that item you need to change, dispose or get rid of, may just be someone else’s New item/new gift/ or answered prayer for the New Year. One great writer on the subject of prosperity/poverty has this to say “Withholding more than you need is an unhealthy complex and a sign of slavery to fear”. Proverbs 11:24:

Get rid of debris, Get Fresh. It’s a New Year.

Welcome to 2015.