Motivational Message

POSSESSING YOUR GLORIOUS FUTURE IN 2016, BY REV. JOHN KWASI FOSU

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Proverb23:18

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Eccl 7:8

The end of matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Have Faith and Hope for Positive Future

Some people do not aspire to impact their generation because they do not know the worth of their future.  God’s motivational words to the people of Israel as they found themselves in exile suggest that the plan of God concerning our future is always positive:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Certainly there is the need to have faith in the future that is better than the world we live in now if we are to impact our generation in this New Year.

Three major motivational thoughts that underscore the need to visualize and possess our glorious future are worth pointing out. The first concerns with the fact of history. The second point is the goodness and sufficiency of God and the third reason is about the sovereignty of God to turn situations around.  What appears to be bad can be used to serve as good (Romans 8:28). These points are worth elaborating:

The Fact of History

Hundreds of years ago, the world had the same dangers we have today. They just took different forms. And hundred years from now, scientist will, in all probability, have discovered a complete cure for AIDS, but there will be a new disease that we have never heard of that will be the dreaded disease. Yet history has it that despite diseases, wars and lack of resources life in general keeps getting better. There are ups and downs as well with the economic system of the world, but the overall trend is positive. We are moving from one degree of glory to another. In spite of the global problems of war and unfavourable weather conditions, scientists are still in the industry of inventing new things.

Granted, things are still not perfect, but they are a lot better than they used to be on many fronts. Human slavery in the western world has been abolished. Equality of humanity is history (that a black man is now the American President). Women can vote (including some women in Middle East), be well educated and enter the professions including the priesthood in many protestant denominations. Many childhood diseases such as polio in Ghana have been eradicated. We have more gadgets, appliances and equipment than ever to make our work and our lives easier. Would anyone living today want to live two or three hundred years ago? It is true that everybody likes progress and we must acknowledge that a problem with progress is better than problems without progress.

I remember that even twenty years ago, most secretaries in Ghana, were typing their documents using the traditional typewriter. There were several carbons separating the various sheets of onion skin paper. It is a pity that the poor ones who made a mistake had to erase the mistake on every piece of paper, brushing away the gummy crumbs after each rub. Today with computers, we can produce perfect copies of the perfect original as we need. That is improvement. Indeed, history teaches that we will always generally be moving toward a better future, although there will be dark moments along the way. 

20151227_094450The Goodness and Loving Nature of God

There is the temptation that this may sound too simplistic at first, but if we reflect on it, it is something worthwhile. The creator of the universe is omnipotent, omniscient, merciful, fabulously wealthy, wise, and all sufficient and he wants the best for us because he loves us. There is no doubt that God can run the universe and straighten out the mess. God has done it many times in the past. God may have to correct us and discipline us, but even that is for our own good. We tend to focus on all the things that are going wrong, and indeed there are plenty: There is high rate of poverty and diseases in the continent of Africa coupled with political and tribal wars. But if we dwell on these negatives, we will hinder ourselves and our own future. As human beings, we are limited and may despair when we have no solutions for these and other problems. But God who is in charge, does have solutions.

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they soon encountered a seemingly impossible obstacle. As they came to the Red sea (sea of reel), with the Egyptian army in hot pursuit, there was no human solution to this problem, but God had a plan, and he had the ability to carry it out. No matter how big your obstacle may be as the New Year begins, God has a good plan for your life and he will carry them through. No one on Moses’ leadership team would have ever thought of God’s solution. The reason being that they were mere human beings, and no mere human being can think like God.

No mere man or woman has a fraction or a percentage of the ability or wisdom of God. Although God’s plan was somehow perfectly illogical, only God knew he could and would part the Red Sea, preparing a path for the Israelites to cross safely. Once they were on the other side, he destroyed their enemies, still in hot pursuit, by causing the Red Sea to return to normal (Exodus 14).

A little later in the account of the journey to the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve spies into the Promised Land to explore it out. Ten came back with a negative report. “The people who live there are giants,” they said, “We will never defeat them.” Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, had a different perspective on things. “The people are large” they said, but the land is beautiful, flowing with milk and honey. With God’s help, we can defeat the inhabitants” (Numbers 13 and 14). God was not pleased with the negative report. He wanted the people to trust him. God still does. God is still at work today. Our problems may seem big, but God is able to deal with all of them.

The Sovereignty of God has it that even the Bad Circumstance can be turned to serve as Good

We all remember the story of Joseph in the Bible. How could anyone have more bad things happening to him than Joseph? He was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery. He was taken into Egypt, far away from his family. He was later wrongly accused by his master’s wife of making sexual advances towards her and was subsequently thrown into prison for something he did not do. Finally, as a result of miraculous interpretation of dreams, he provided to the king’s cupbearer and the baker, he was summoned by the king himself to explain not only the meaning of a dream but what the dream actually was (the king had forgotten). Only God could have revealed this to Joseph. It was humanly impossible to know. The king promoted Joseph to the position of second in command and put him in charge of preparing the country for the lean years ahead as the king had dreamt about.

Meanwhile, back home, the lean years hit. Joseph’s father and brothers were running out of food. They had heard about plentiful food in Egypt. So ten of the brothers journeyed to the far country to purchase provisions for their families. Upon arrival, they were taken to Joseph, whom they did not recognize then. Joseph was then in his significance place.  But Joseph recognized them. After drilling them and holding one of them hostage, Joseph revealed himself to his family and asked that they be brought to Egypt so he could care for them. In a joyful reunion sense, abounding with hugs and tears, Joseph forgave all and said to his brothers, by saying you thought evil against me but God meant it for Good. Indeed, the Bible promises that all things work together for Good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Roman 8:28).

Visualize and Possess your Glorious Future Knowing that the end of matter is better than its beginning (Ecclesiastics 7:8)

Time has three dimensions: the past, present and the future. Likewise in everything, there is a starting point, a middle period and a glorious end. This part focuses on the future.  How does your end connect with your relevant living? Certainly your sense of future affect what you do now. Contrary to our traditional mind-sets about beginnings and ends is the end as God sees it and how God’s word helps us to see it.

“An interesting show begins in the morning” (Agoro beye de a efiri anopa) is a common Ghanaian adage implying that your end is determined by your beginning. But the wisest man who has ever lived, Solomon writes that your end is better than your beginning. I believe that God is more interested in your future than your beginning. However, the wedding of Cana (John 2) and the common African adage that an interesting show begins in the morning reveals the common human mindset about beginnings.  For the master of ceremonies remarked in John 2:10 that “everyone brings the choice one first.”

Indeed, we love to enjoy our best when we have begun marriage, education and ministry. But you know what, as reasonable as human approach to timing and purpose may be, it should not be presumed as divine. In God’s economy, the beginning is not necessarily foreshadow of the future because unimpressive start does not guarantee a gloomy future. This is true in our both spiritual and physical journeys in the Lord. On the spiritual note, now that we have been saved, we have a hope of glorious future where we are going to see Jesus face to face. In Apostle John’s picture (symbol) of heaven, we are going to walk on gold, no more sorrow, fears, frustrations and disappointments. But we are going to see the glory of God. On the physical dimension, perhaps Solomon might have learnt from his father David that although he did not start well, his end was great. So also Samson did start well, but his end was still greater. Thus as good as your beginning may be, it cannot be compared with the future God has prepared for you. A look at Eccl 7:8 reveals three main things that is worth talking about. These are the Beginning, the End and the Middle.

Despise not your Beginnings!

Although the end is better than the beginning, that better end can never be reached if there is no starting point. The starting point is the first step to reaching your desired end. It is said that a journey of thousand miles begins with a step. All the exciting things you see today have their beginning smaller than the end.  This means that you must have a starting point in everything that you intend to achieve in life.

There are references in the Bible. David started as a shepherd, but he became a king at the end of his life. Joseph started as a slave in Potiphar’s house but later became a prime minister of Egypt. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ had a humble beginning of being born in a manger.

Now, no matter how small your beginning may be, you have a promise of better future. You are therefore encouraged to recognize the value of small beginnings. Start with what you have as the year begins and like Jesus, despise not small beginnings. Instead, despise the shame of small beginnings.

Be Positive about your ‘ends’

God is more mindful about our future than our present and past. When the exiled Jews were released to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem during Dairus reign, those who had seen Solomon’s temple and its glory were sad because they felt it was in comparison, better than the one they had begun to build. God comforted them and said the latter glory of this house will be greater than the former one (Haggai 2:9). God promised peace about this house whereas to Solomon’s Temple, it was an answered prayer.

It is significant to point out that in God’s message of hope to the Israelites who were in captivity in Babylon, the Lord said, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). In fact, life must be better at the end than the beginning. Your marriage must be more fulfilling in your old age than you begun. Your Christian life and ministry must be more fruitful at the end than you begun. Your education must be more successful at the end than you begun. In fact, even as you have life, you have hope of better future.

Maintain Focus in your ‘Middle’

Everything that has a beginning also has an end. But between the beginning and the end, there is also a period and a process. Sometimes it is not the beginning that is a problem or the end but the middle. That is why patience is needed. Many at times give up at this period. The middle period is not always pleasant. The middle period in Joseph’s life was the period between the sharing of his dream and his position of prime minister. That is his presence in the pit, slavery in Potiphar’s house and his imprisonment. Job’s middle period was his continuous, multiple afflictions. Your middle may be characterized by frustrations, disappointments, temptations and promise and fails. But here are some things that you can do to sustain you at this point:

Have a Vision and Focus and Maintain that Vision

Your vision is your future. It is the compass of your life. Without vision and focusing on it you will perish. Jesus had the end in mind that is why he was able to endure the cross (Hebrews 12:1). Vision begins with the indignation over the status quo, and it grows into the earnest quest of an alternative.

Have Faith and Positive Attitude

Faith is like a working flashlight, no matter how dark it gets it will help you to find your way. Have a positive attitude and never say it is impossible. Egypt, the cradle of civilization was also the first to develop the act of writing using symbols known as hieroglyphics. The word “impossible” in the Egyptian hieroglyphics is a symbol of a man walking on water. To them it was impossible for a man to walk on water without sinking and for that matter this symbol symbolized that. You know what? Jesus in over 2000 years ago defiled that “word” including his disciple Peter by walking on water.

Persevere to the Desired End

Although there are many resistances in the middle, but note that persistence breaks down resistance. In the controversy between the river and the rock, the river emerges the winner not because of strength but because of perseverance. Your ability to persevere is an indication that you are on your road to successful end.

Show Gratitude

Another characteristic thing to do as we find ourselves in the middle is gratitude. Zoe M. Hicks sees gratitude as a powerful force that attracts more of what we are grateful for to ourselves. Our lives should be full of gratitude if we believe God is for us. The law of God’s Kingdom is progress. He turns evil to serve good.

Gratitude acknowledges what God has done and says, “Thank You.” As we gratefully remember what God has done in the past, we will have faith for the future. In fact, are to thank God for answers to our prayers even before we see them based on His past records. We have to be grateful for all that God does for us every day and all that God is going to do for us and our love ones. We know he is going to keep doing these good things because of his nature. He is all powerful, he is good, and he loves us.

Have you ever thanked God for answering your prayers (the ones you believe are in his will for you and your beloved ones) before you see the answers? This is the way Jesus prayed when he raised Lazarus from the dead: Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41-42). He prayed. The confidence he expressed in his father before he saw his prayer answered was amazing. No wonder Lazarus came walking out.  

Conclusion and Reflections

Seeing your glorious future and possessing it forms the basis of this article. It is connected to developing a Godward vision and achieving it. It has thrown light on the motivation that the fact of history, and God’s nature should serve as a resource for developing a mental picture of your significant living. The philosophy here is that one’s vision serves as a guide to making impact. Where vision can be defined as an act of seeing, of course an imaginative perception of things combining insight and foresight. It has the idea of deep dissatisfaction with what is and a clear grasp of what could be. May God help you to see and possess your glorious future as we enter into 2016.

May God bless you, by Rev. John Kwasi Fosu (www.revfosu.com)

Wishing you glorious 2016

RENEWING MINDSETS ABOUT WORK: AN IMPORTANT PROGNOSIS FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT, By Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

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Renewing mindset about Work for Africa’s Development
By Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

In my recent work on the Discourse on African’s Development: Moving from Diagnosis to Prognosis, it was established that taking into consideration Africa’s abundant resources, it stands the chance of Development when the mindset of Africans are renewed, especially through the influence of the Biblical worldview about work, time creation and God. As a continuation on that reflective work, this article attempts renewing mindsets about work in the African context.Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

The key to every development of a nation starts with positive mindset and thus attitudes to work. The rational is that hard work works. An observation and examination of the general attitudes of many Africans about work, identifies many dimness with which many people regard their work. These unconcern attitudes are not only seen in Government sectors but in the private sectors as well. In Ghana for instance, many government and for that matter public functionaries are run down due to the workers’ poor attitudes to work. This phenomenon is unfortunately not only a problem with the so called secular world, but also prevalent among Christians as well. Unfortunately, the salt and light ministry of the Christian does not reflect in some Christians’ working environments.

The seemingly deprived mindset of average Africans about work needs to be presented. Some see work as a necessary evil whose only use is to provide them with only daily meal. Others see work as a means of amassing wealth. Still other Africans perceive work as a curse. A punishment that God sentenced Adam and Eve into for disobeying him (Genesis 3:17-19). This false mentality probably implies that the more physical one’s work is, the more it is to be looked down upon – since the harder the work the more the person is seen as cursed. In my opinion, this unfortunate mindset permeated the brains behind most of the corrective measures of Africa’s Judiciary and Educational Institutions. I remember that when I was in a Secondary school in Ghana, whenever I broke the school’s code of ethics and conduct such as coming to school too late, the punishment I received was a portion of land to weed. Based on that experience, I saw farming and other kind of work that involved physical strength as a punishment. Should that be the case? Most people who are sentenced to imprisonment in Africa are declared to serve in number of weeks, months and others years in hard labour. These situations then make the average African to think that hard work is a curse or punishment at the expense of recognizing that hard work works.

Unfortunately this wrong world view about work inform both religious and non-religious singers and artists to further propagate this false notion. What one sees from many film and music video clips is that whenever God blesses someone in the African context, he or she works in a fully furnished Air-conditioned office. Eventually most highly professionally skilled personnel such as engineers are not usually seen on the field of practice. Could Africa be developed with that mindset?

These pictures about work thus call for balanced and renewed mindset from a biblical perspective. Work is to be seen as a civic responsibly to the nation and thus fulfillment of God’s command. A redeemed mind must therefore see work as God sees it. A good citizen is to find fulfillment in work as service to humanity, creation and worship of God. Jesus, God incarnate worked hard as a Carpenter (Architect) – that called for physical strength, a teacher (Lecturer), and a healer (Doctor), as a Servant Leader (Politician) and ultimately as a Redeemer (Priest or religious worker). Thus Jesus could say that he came that “we might have life in abundance (John 10:10).”

The implication of this worldview about work is that whatever work that one is involved in must be seen as a call and thus is holy and divine service. There should not be separation as to spirituality and secularity of work from God’s perspective. People are differently gifted and talented in life to impact their generation differently and thus positively. One’s calling may be to preach the gospel, do development work or work in a government ministry or private organization. All are of equal importance to God. Thus for development of our part of the world, Africa, there should be the developed mindset that with God there is no work that is menial or trivial as long as it is done as unto God and not unto man (Col 3:23). It should also be understood that our work is relational to our worship and the two cannot be separated.

Authored by Rev. John Kwasi Fosu
http://www.revfosu.com

 

DISCOURSE ON AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: MOVING FROM DIAGNOSIS TO PROGNOSIS, By Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

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Discourse on Africa’s Development is an attempt to give some reflections on Africa’s relatively poor developmental situation. Many writers and commentators on Africa’s developmental issues focus more on the problems that confront the continent which in this write up refers to Diagnosis instead of coming out creatively with some solutions to the developmental crisis which is Prognosis. Hence my choice of words in the topic of this article, Discourse on Africa’s Development: Moving from Diagnosis to Prognosis.

The fact that Africa has been greatly blessed is undeniable. I agree with Darrow L. Miller’s observation that Africa’s abundant natural resources make her the wealthiest of the World’s seven continents. Religiously, Africa played a pivotal role in the growth of the Judeo-Christian faith. In terms of human resource, the wealth of Africa lies in the fact that they are created in the Image of God. The rich culture of Africans can be seen all over the world. Moreover, the irreversible increase and influence of the Church in Africa with particular reference to African Pentecostalism and Charismatism serve as a sign of Africa’s blessings as a continent.

The paradox that haunts the minds of all well-meaning Africans is that despite these countless blessings and riches, Africa remains undeniably the most poverty-stricken and broken continent. A look at the contemporary history of development reveals that there are signs of development in all the continents that were relatively poor with the exception of Africa. Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore are today in favourable transition to a more healthy economic conditions. How is it that Africa continues to suffer? I do not subscribe to the ideology that Africa is under curse. Neither should Africa be described as a dark hole, which means they always receive aid but remain as they are without making any wise use of the aid for development.

In my opinion, Africa stand a greater chance of development and transformation when the mindset of the people are renewed. This is a way of saying that there should be a call for significant change in the worldview of Africans when there is a discourse on Africa’s development. Thus for a balanced development of the African continent, there should be a promotion of the worldview that is based on the biblical concepts of development.  A worldview that should see creation and for that matter the environment, people, work, time as God sees them. This balanced worldview should therefore be taught in schools, colleges and universities, in the media and above all in the church as agents of national development. Christians and for that matter the Church in Africa should see Jesus as not only the Lord and Saviour of their lives, but also as the King of their nations and universe as a whole. This mindset should serve as the basic prognosis to Africa’s development.

This article serves as an opening discourse on the topic under consideration: Discourse on Africa’s Development: Moving from Diagnosis to Prognoses. Readers, Scholars, Christian Leaders and Balanced und unbiased Politicians are called upon to join me in the discussion. The rational is that, since ideas rule and make a great nation, your creative contribution to this discussion may serve as a great way of impacting your generation.

For your contribution, address it to the following e-mail for the publication on this website:

revjkfosu@yahoo.com

www.revfosu.com

 

Rev. Fosu at his Master's Degree Graduation Ceremonyrevjkfosu@yahoo.com

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YOU ARE BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVOURED! By Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

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Rev. Mrs. Mary Fosu at her MPh. Degree Graduation Ceremony

Your union with Christ places you in a significant position of being blessed. The Apostle Paul in speaking about our riches in Christ points out in Ephesians 1:3 that,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Indeed Paul talks about our positional blessing as far as our faith in Christ is concerned. It is this positional blessings that informed the Angel to greet Mary that “You who are blessed and highly favoured.” This greeting came at the time when physically Mary was not well of. Yet she was blessed in the Spiritual realm.

Note that, like Mary, the mother of Jesus, your blessings are not tied to your present environmental circumstances. Your significance is in God and he has blessed you in the spiritual realm, awaiting your appropriate response of faith for physical Manifestation.

 

ARISE AND IMPACT YOUR GENERATION NOW! by Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

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Arise and impact your Generation now! By Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

Rev. Fosu at Bochum, Germany

Impacting your generation has no expiry date. If the starting point of relevant living is getting connected with God, then recognize the fact that the time to impact generation is now. It begins from recognizing and affirming your design. For God has made you for a purpose. Let the period of living in regret and anxiety be over. Regret looks at the past, worry looks at the prevailing circumstance, but faith looks ahead. If God chose and sent Moses as a deliverer at the age of eighty (80), then there is hope for you. If God could anoint and use David at a tender Age of seventeen (17) then it is not over with you. You still have a chance to make impact. The only barrier is for you to live purposeless life. And this is what this site helps you to avoid.

Authored by http://www.revfosu.com

 

 

IMPACTING LIVES THROUGH FAITH, By Rev. John Kwasi Fosu

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TAKE A STEP OF FAITH AND COURAGE

Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows.

Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6)

Those who impacted their generations in the biblical times are those who took steps of faith and courage. John L. Mason in his book “Let Go of Whatever makes you Stop,” states that “faith can rewrite your future.” The only thing that stands between you and the accomplishment of your goal, dreams or God’s purpose for your life is merely the courage to try and the faith to believe that it is possible. This essay points out some essentials of operating godly faith and Courage needed to Impact one’s Generation.

Kill the pride in you or it will kill your faith and courage needed to impact your generation!

In chapter thirteen of 1 Samuel, when Saul became King over Israel, he chose two thousand men for himself at Michmash and thousand men for his son Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin in their war against the Philistines. They were arch enemies as biblical history reveals. Jonathan attached the philistines’ outpost at Gibeah. However Saul, out of pride had the trumpet blown throughout the land that he had attached the Philistines. This made all the people of Israel to gather around Saul at Gilgal to join in the battle. Now the Philistines assembled to fight the Israelites with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horse men and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and their enemies were hard pressed, some hid in caves, thickets, among the rocks and in cisterns. Some crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead to join the enemies. That is they took the other side to avoid destruction. Saul with the troops was quaking in fear and discouragement and was staying at some pomegranate tree in migron. The devastating circumstance is that physically they had no strong weapons to rely on the day of battle. It is important to emphasize from this background that Saul’s growing pride started out small – taking credit for a battle that was won by his son. Left unchecked his pride grew into an ugly obsession thereby destroying him, tearing his family apart and threatening the wellbeing of the nation.

 

Taking credit for the accomplishment of others indicates that pride is controlling your life. When you notice pride taking foothold, take immediate steps to put it in check giving credit to those who deserve it. Pride in your life may be in the form of forgetting who is on your side and relying on your own resources. This produces panic at the sight of oppositions. Humility focuses attention on God and his resources and trusting Him to help in the midst of problems and temptations. The Israelites became terrified and hid when they saw the mighty Philistine.

 

It is important to note that it is in the midst of these terrifying circumstances, discouraging atmosphere, frustrating period that Jonathan with the armor-bearer in 1 Samuel 14:1-13 arose in faith and courage to attack their enemies.

Jonathan out of his bold step of faith and courage did confront the enemies and did overcome them. Irrespective of the terrifying circumstances he found himself, he indeed succeeded and victory was on his side. There are some lessons that can be drawn from Jonathan’s adventurous encounter. This is necessary for every Christian who wants to succeed in life and thus remain victorious in life’s struggles against oppositions and for accomplishments of one’s goals or purposes in life.

Some Barriers to overcome in taking Steps of Faith and Courage

Jonathan in his step of faith and courage had to overcome certain barriers which are enemies of faith.

Barrier of Negative Past Experience

Jonathan could have remembered what the father did when he first attacked the enemies at Gibeah. When Jonathan attacked and destroyed the philistine’s outpost, Saul took all the credit. Yet this arrogant past experience of Saul did not discourage Jonathan. Your past must be a place of reference and not a place of residence. In taking a step of faith and courage to achieving your desired goal and purpose in the midst of opposition, you must overcome the challenge of your negative past experience. Perhaps you are afraid to begin something great in life because you have ever failed in some areas of your life. Be it exams, marriage plans, business plans or an attempt to travel overseas. Realize that those past disappointments are not the end of your life. Take a step of faith and courage.

Barrier of Crowd

Jonathan in taking a step of faith and courage did not tell his father and the other Israelites. He did not seek approval of the crowd. Note that it is human to follow the crowd, but it is divine to follow the principles of God. Know the secrete of been secretive in your stets of faith and courage. Jesus understood this principle by receiving supernatural strengths in privacy and sometimes with some core disciples but demonstrated God’s power and miracles in the crowd. Jonathan confined in the armour bearer. It is said that “if you want to move faster you must go alone, and if you want to travel far you must go with someone. The four men who took the step of faith in Mark 2 did all they could to overcome the barrier of crowd by passing through the roof of the building of where Jesus was in order to lower the paralytic man in front of Jesus. When Zacheus wanted to see Jesus at all cost, he run ahead of the crowd to climb the sycamore tree. What a step of faith! So Jonathan with his armour bearer dealt with the barrier of the crowd. This is what Jonathan did. He avoided the crowd to take a step of faith.

Barrier of Tradition

The Political tradition and culture of Jonathan’s day demanded that all eyes were on his father Saul, to lead them to battle. However, Jonathan out of divine inspiration to take a step of faith and courage took the initiative. Inasmuch as one’s traditional and cultural background is important in the practice of Christianity, the voice of God and for that matter divine illumination of the word of God about a particular situation should be taken precedence over one’s cultural tradition in matters of faith and courage.

Barrier of Prevailing Circumstances

The present circumstances of Jonathan and the armour bearer appear that there was no hope. Consider the size of their enemy’s weapons against theirs. They were in darkness of fear, frustration and discouragement. All these threatened Jonathan. Yet He arose. Jonathan arose by looking beyond his present circumstances. Regret looks at the past, sorrow looks at the present circumstances, but faith looks ahead. Have a positive attitude no matter the present circumstances. It is not the circumstances that matter, but what you do about it. The circumstances that imprison you cannot limit you. Remember the former president Nelson Mandella who is a legend of his time. He was twenty-seven years in prison, yet rose to become the first black president of South Africa. You may not be responsible for been knocked down but you are responsible for your rising up. The afflictions you are going through are for a moment. They are temporal. They have not come to stay. Once the disciples of Jesus were scattered and were hidden. Some out of frustration denied Jesus. Others also took other side on that Friday of Jesus’ death. But remember that Jesus resurrected. Sunday morning came. You know what? There is day and there is night. There is joy and there is sorrow. It is today that you are crying. Tomorrow you will laugh. Your tomorrow is on the way coming. Every tomorrow has two handles. You either take it by the handle of faith or by the handle of courage.

 

Steps of Faith and Courage

  1. Know that God is with you

Determine to take a step of faith because like Jonathan, you are serving the living God. And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. It may be that Jehovah will work for us. For there is no restraint to Jehovah, to save by many or by few (I Samuel 14: 6). Be motivated by the truth that like Jonathan, when only God is with you, you are more than majority. Indeed, faith sees the invisible but it does not see the non-existent.

  1. Recognize the Importance of Positive

           confession      

Two things are mentioned here in this step. One has to do with positive and the other has to do with confession. Not all things that come to mind are positive. Some are negative and intend to ruin, discourage or frustrate you in life. The one to focus attention on is that of the positive thouts. Again, not all things that come to mind are worth confessing. The scripture points out that the tongue has power over life and death. Everyone is satisfied by the fruit of his lips. Jesus taught that you can have what you say if it is said in faith (Mark 11:23). In the midst of intimidation, Jonathan was positive. And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, Come up after me, for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel (l Samuel 14:12b). The positive confessions counter and defeat negative thoughts and see yourself in accordance with your dream. The Psalmist put it better by writing that

 “out of the mouths of babes and suckling, You have ordained strength, because of ones vexing You, to cause the enemy and the avenger to cease (Psalm 8:2).

Jonathan’s positive confession came to fulfillment. The enemy was ceased. Make it your habit from now to confess positively about your spiritual growth, your health, relationship and marriage, profession, ministry and all other areas of your life. There is power in positive confession. Agree with David to say that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Confess each day that you are blessed and highly favoured and that you have hope!

  1. Consider the Value of Perseverance

Climbing with his hands and feet did not discourage Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:13). Persist in your step of faith and courage. Persistence breaks down resistance. In the controversy between the river and the rock, the river emerges the winner, not because of strength, but because of perseverance. Persist because God has seen your weaknesses and understands you. He knows your ambitions and what he wants you to accomplish. Your ability to persevere is an indication that you are on your way to success.

  1. Be assured that God honours Faith

Realize in your step of faith and courage that God honours faith and visualize the end result from your initial actions of faith. God always rewards those who come to Him in faith (Hebrews 11:6). Jonathan’s faith was rewarded. They killed twenty men in their first attack (1 Samuel 14:14). Saul and his discouraged troops were revived and could join in the battle (1 Samuel 14:20). Those who were with the enemies or had joined their opponents because of fear and frustration came back to support Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:21). Last but not the least those who were fearful and thus hidden also joined in the attack (1 Samuel 14:22). Your step of faith and courage will never go unrewarded.

The four men who carried the paralyzed man by faith never returned home disappointed. Their sick friend was forgiven and healed (Mark 2:1-9). Zacheus who took the step of faith and courage to see Jesus even from the top of a tree did not see frustration. Jesus honoured his faith. Zacheus did not only see Jesus, but he enjoyed the physical presence of Jesus in his own house. God honours faith. Take a step of faith in the aspect of financial giving for the course of God’s Kingdom and God will bless you abundantly. By faith and courage, sow some seeds of love in your marriage relationship   and God will honour it. God rewards well whatever is done in faith.

Conclusion and Reflection

This article has pointed out the value of taking step of faith needed to impact lives.  Faith that is necessary in every aspect of life’s journeys. Beloved, I don’t know how discouraged you may be in your efforts to do something great and worthwhile for your generation at the time of reading this material. You may be going through some spiritual conflicts with the powers that be. You may be going through some financial difficulties, pressures from friends and families. The antidote to life’s crisis is faith in Christ. For without Christ, life is full of crisis. The steps of faith and courage unfolded in this chapter serve as flashlight. No matter how dark you find yourself; they will help you find your way out.

Note that as a spiritual exercise, faith is an individual affair. Take a step of courage. Have a positive attitude towards life’s challenges. In African religious heritage and in Akan culture in particular, the fearful are disqualified from becoming ancestors. For example, whoever decides to run for his or her life at battlefield and dies in the process becomes disqualified to be canonized as an ancestor. Be a woman or man of faith and courage. They are rewarding virtues that cuts across cultures. No wonder the writer of Hebrews devotes a whole chapter to talk about Heroes of faith (Hebrews 11).