EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 2, No. 47 – Monday, 20th November, 2017
(1 Kings.12:1-24)
ASSERTIVE CONDITIONS FOR GETTING TO AND REMAINING AT THE TOP (Part 2)
Welcome to the concluding part of this edition of The Message Now whose part 1 commenced last week. May we begin this concluding edition by stating certain incontestable truths.
First, life and its accompanying circumstances determine who walks into your life. You determine whom you let stay or whom you let go. Your decision about whom you let stay or whom you let go is a response.
It is such response that must never be taken during instances of three moments: (1) moments of pressure, (2) moments of anger, and (3) moments of discouragement.
The best of any decision is never, but such decisions taken when one is relaxed, unconditioned and operating in his/her most lucid sanctified mind. The better alternative to this best decision-moment is to be Spirit-led and always retain moments of spiritual reticence in God.
Spiritual reticence in this connection means quietness and control over and in one’s spirit (See very importantly the following passages: Prov.25:28 and Isaiah 30:15c). Without spiritual reticence,there is but one result: carnal irrationality, unnecessary trepidation and mindless leadership.
Be informed dearly beloved, God is not the trigger or facilitator of all men who come your way. But through God, you can sieve out the chaff from the wheat among so many that cross your path.
Second, no man can himself alone accomplish divine destiny. Every man will always require the accompaniment of others en route the path to greatness. This is no doubt part of the reason for Kenny Rogers’ astute aphorism.
Rogers wrote in his song titled, ‘Coward of the County’: ‘there is one for everyone’. The implication of this aphorism is an obvious one; in the darkest and most lonely room of life, there will always be one friend to console and if not, there will be the most Supreme One.
This aphorism therefore means that in the journey of life especially to the top, no one is to be belittled. A human messiah may emerge from where one least expects. Be open-minded, receptive, accommodating, yet be firm where necessary and in so doing, accord to everyone their due regard.
A man once shared a most disconcerting testimony in my presence. His testimony was to the effect that he had a brawl with a simple-dressed and seemingly unimportant fellow sitting next to him at a function. To his amazement, that unimportant fellow of yesterday was made a minister of the Federal Republic of his nation by the day following.
Question yourself right now: ‘what is my heart saying to me now? Am I found wanting in my relationship with others? Do not get this wrong. Not all that you meet deserve your company also. Why?
Although you may have benefited from them, but weigh the benefits against the disaster they have or would inflict on you and your destiny eventually. If the disaster outweighs the benefits then you have made the right choice of kicking them off.
Third, The enemy you fail to deal with whilst in the process of attaining divine destiny or whilst in the struggle to ascend the heights of greatness will deal disastrously with you overtime after your arrival at the top.
Attempting to tame men to one’s taste and culture is never the best. Rather, pray and allow God to train them to suit your purpose of existence and your vision which propels your purpose (See 1 Sam.10:26).
Experts have the ability to tame a serpent to become so friendly and even follow their manner of doing certain things. But will such taming remove the poison in the serpent? Those who specialise in animal training can train a dog to such degree that a dog, not a man, can deliver information to other people and places, successfully guide blind people to their destinations and even sniff out dangerous substances where there are bombs and chemical materials like anthrax in any building.
But please permit me to ask, does any of these trainings change a dog from being a dog? Will any of these trainings take the teeth of any dog from off its mouth? Can’t the dog at some point still bite its owner? Therefore training men is God’s skill and specialty. Let God always have His way.
From the foregoing facts, certain assertive conditions are subtly discernable from which any one with an interest for getting to and remaining at the top can learn.
(1) Listen to the views of others: intent listening is the sole panacea for effective learning. The result of the failure to listen is the outcome of failing to learn. No one leader or aspiring leader knows it all.
Therefore, borrow knowledge from others by listening to other persons’ views. Whether their views are less intelligent in comparison to yours or not, still listen. Their views may not be useful today, tomorrow they will.
(2) Realise that you are far less intelligent than you think and than others. Realisation of a weakness (be it by way of humility or by outright admittance) is the sole and surest catalyst of readjustment.
Readjustment of course is the key to innovation and understanding new ways of doing things differently. If there is one thing which the combination of realization and readjustment does to man, it is that it saves man from learning by experience but rather aids a man to learn from the mistakes of others.
(3) Distinguish clearly between personal and official: O pastor, executive chairman of organisation or boss of any kind, realise and readjust to the facts that: (a) you are not God.
As such, do not bear the business of God as though it is personal business. God is not asking for your defence of himself. Treat that which is of personal pain strictly as such. Let it not conflict with official ones.
(B) Do not take out any harsh decisions on any worker because of actions that strike you personally. If the decision you take affects the church or organization, bitter experiences because of the loss of but a hard worker may leave behind an unfillable vacuum, strain relationship or attract avoidable pain.
Therefore, learn to leave God as the judge of all wrongs done to you personally. Discipline to any one must be for purpose of growth, expansion and reformation in order to foster progress not otherwise.
(4) Understand that if you are going to get to the top and remain at the top, there must be load-shedding: common is the scene where trucks shed their load when ascending very hilly mountains. Such is a necessity if arriving at their destination will become a reality.
Very painful but it is the truth that getting to the next level and progressing still means cutting off certain likes, friends and friendships. Why?
(a) If a friend’s vision does not tally with yours; quickly shed him/her off. (b) If any one does not value you and your friendship, shed them off. They will in the end take away from you without adding anything. (c) Have very little attention for men who lack self-respect to themselves in particular. They understand not the reason for respecting other people.
(5) Be resolute in your avowed determination, be defiant in decision-making and be interested in the success of others ahead of yours. In so doing, God Almighty is the runner of your own life’s race and course.
IN THE END, UNDERSTAND THAT THE GREATEST GREATNESS IS AS FAR AND AS HIGH AS YOU HAVE ALLOWED THE GRACE OF GOD TO TAKE YOU. NO MAN CAN BE GREATER THAN THE GRACE AVAILABLE TO HIM. AVAILABILITY OF GRACE TO ANY MAN ON THE OTHER HAND IS DETERMINED BY THE RESPONSE OF THAT MAN TO GRACE AT ANY STAGE WHICH DETERMINES THE NEXT STAGE.
Altar call: Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
Hymn: I’m Pressing On The Upward Way
Pray now:
1. O God, whether it will pain me or not, help me to stop being the enemy of my own ascension and progress.
2. O God, shed-off all hands visible and invisible that are pulling me down.
3. I and my time in life shall not waste away.
4. O God, reconnect me to as many that are profitable to my life and destiny but whom I have shed off unknowingly or rashly and harshly.
5. O God, the true founder of Express Image Glory Ministries, connect me to the helpers of destiny appointed for me as you did onto King Saul in 1 Sam.10:26.
