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In your head [mind] or in your heart?

In most, if not all intellectual pursuit, one is taught to ask the right or appropriate questions. This is fundamental to all forms of learning. The above question or questions can be used as a vehicle in developing our relationship with God. Let us try to answer these question(s) with the aid of Scriptures.

1 Kings 3:9;

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Where does knowledge take place?

In your head [mind/soul] or in your heart [soul/spirit]?

Genesis 2:9;

The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Proverbs 18:15; Proverbs 2:10;

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

The word knowledge in the Bible denotes an understanding, a recognition, or an acknowledgment. To “know” something is to perceive it or to be aware of it. Many times in Scripture, knowledge carries the idea of a deeper appreciation of something or a relationship with someone. Hosea 4:6; my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored [mind] the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten [mind – memory] the law of your God, I also will forget your children. ESV)

Job. 28:12, 20, 22, 23; James 1:5; James 3:17; Job 12:12-13;

But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumour of it has reached our ears.” God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long-life bring understanding? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.

Colossians 2:2-3; Psalm 90:12; 1 Corinthians 1:30;

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Proverbs 15:14; Proverbs 3:1-35 (ESV); Proverbs 24:14 (ESV); Proverbs 10:8;

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. My son do not forget my teaching [mind – memory], but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

There is the knowledge of the Word of God that is the Logos in the Scriptures. And there is the understanding of the Word of God which comes by revelation from God Himself. Furthermore, there is wisdom of the Word of God, which is the application of the word of God at the right time and situation [Mathew 7:24; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.]. All three, Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding are with God. May God bless us with knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Amen.

Daniel 1:17; Daniel 12:4;

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll [Scriptures] until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

Proverbs 2:6; Proverbs 2:1-22 (ESV); Proverbs 2:10-11; 1 Corinthians 13:9-12; 2 Timothy 2:7; For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes [union with the Father in Christ], what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then [when we shed the physical body] we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

To be fruitful is to be productive, to produce good and helpful results in what we do. It is God’s will for us to be fruitful, hence the first blessing he pronounced after the creation of man is: “…Be fruitful, and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28). Nevertheless, there are conditions to be met in other to fulfil this will of God.

The first condition is to be tied to the umbilical cord of God through our Lord Jesus. How do you do that? The word of God informs us that, Everyone who receives Jesus and believes in his name have become the children of God (Jn 1:12). This is the reason Jesus said “My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my father” (Jn 15:8).

Secondly, it is not enough to be tied but to continually abide in Christ. So a fundamental key that makes a person fruitful is abiding in Christ: for in him we live, and move and have our being… for we are his offspring” (Acts 17:28). Jesus, still speaking in Jn 15:4-6 says: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

Thirdly, another crucial key after abiding in Christ is to consciously allow the word of God to tailor our way of living. Jesus states, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (Jn 15:7). Likewise, the Psalmist, speaking under the unction of the Spirit in Psalm one tells us that a fruitful person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither – whatever they do they prosper. There is however a condition attached to this, and it states: “ Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night.”

Fourthly, to be fruitful in your endeavours, pray that the will of God be established in your life and what you intend to do. Apostle Paul still speaking the mind of God declares: “Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

Fifthly, to be fruitful, show true agape love to others. In all our actions and dealings with others, we should be guided and do everything out of love. The kind of love defined in 1 Cor.13:4-7; Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. We are all familiar with Jn 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” If God were loveless, humanity would have ended up in hell where there would be gnashing of teeth, excruciating pain, torture, and sorrow. Jesus also advises us to love one another as he loves us; for “…Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn 15-12-13).

I pray that the Lord our God, who is the only source of our fruitfulness, and gives power to make wealth, as well as teach our hands to make profit will empower us with eternal grace to take root, bud and blossom in every good work and good word always in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remain ever blessed.

Tflame

To make a difference is to exhibit a distinct quality in every endeavour: education, vocation/profession, or ministry. To make a difference is to deviate from the normal way of doing something so as to achieve laudable and outstanding result. Making a difference in a crowd makes a person to stand out in any assemblage. Making a notable difference comes through acquisition of knowledge and experience built upon an innate virtue. The calibres distinguished through remarkable difference in their endeavours journey through less travelled road and leave inerasable footprints for incoming calibres to broaden. Robert Frost said, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Making a difference is not attained by sudden flight, but by toiling upwards in the night while other are sleeping

Those who make a difference in their world are those who are decisive in nature, they are not like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. They are originators who are courageous and firm in purpose. Those who make a difference rule their world because they know that sentiments in decision making are for the unwise. They are down to earth in their dealings with others. Tribalism is a strange word in their lexicon. These set of people believe that if something can be improved, the sooner the better, and if something should be corrected, it should not wait till the next day, and if something has to be done eventually, why not now? They know that on the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of uncountable people.

Those who make a difference in spiritual and secular assignments are guided by the skilfulness of their hands, and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Just like Ben Carson wrote Gifted Hands, they are also led through a heart of integrity. The skill they acquired through diligence continually single them out for a rousing recognition. Their continued integrity is nourished with the fear of the Lord in their heart, and enabled by the Holy Spirit Himself.

So, making a distinct difference in your spiritual and or secular assignments is a matter of preference and determination to follow through on the innate talent that God has equipped the person with.

Remain blessed in the precious name of our Lord Jesus.

tflame

A facsimile (from Latin fac simile, “to make alike”) is a copy or reproduction of an old book [John 1:1; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.], manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. According to Scriptures, the Word was God, God is the Word, then God said in Genesis 1:26; “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” After this, the serpent convinced woman and subsequently man, to disobey the one Law given then, by God, thereby bringing sin into the physical realm created by God. The facsimile went bad, resulting in the decision by God in Genesis 3:22; the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

This is the context of Psalm 82, wherein the Holy Spirit through King David prophesied, and this was later quoted by Jesus Christ in the gospel of John chapter 10 verse 34; Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? A line straight from the psalm which goes thus; God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”: “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

God did not leave the facsimile that has gone bad, to its own devices, there was a plan in place before the creation of the facsimile, to rectify the artwork of God, and that was the Salvation plan. This was subsequently executed, according to John 17:1-5; “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. Part of the rectification process includes what Jesus prayed in John 17:17; Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. The Word was God, God is in the Truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Finally, the goal of rectification of the facsimile or purification, absolution from sin and sanctification, is union with God, according to Jesus Christ in John 17:22-23; I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.