Perfect Blessings – What is it?: Dear Christians, We Need to Stop Saying We’re “Blessed” – Read why on Otakada.org
#blessed #Blessings#PerfectBlessings
Saturday, 2nd of July 2022
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Perfect Blessings – What is it?:Dear Christians, We Need to Stop Saying We’re “Blessed” – Read why on Otakada.org
Dear Friends, welcome to the new month of July 2022. You have crossed successfully to the second half of 2022. It is something to be thankful for because many could not make it despite all the hopes, plans and promises.
It is not on account of our goodness or our righteousness but on account of His goodness, His righteousness, His grace and mercy upon our lives – To Him be all the glory forever in Jesus name, amen!
I just returned to Jos after covering 2506 km, driving on Nigerian roads, to Abuja, Lokoja, Akure, and Lagos within eight days window, visiting our partners around the country and talking to new ones. If you are able to travel through those roads untouched, with all the kidnappings, dangerous road traps, it is a thing to give thanks to God, and also as intercessor, it changes the depth of our prayers. There are certain people you can’t intercede effectively until you sit where they are hurting and experience their pain as your own then you are ready to pray from the dept of your spirit, otherwise, shallow mental prayers will be your portion. Ask Jesus who visited the planet earth and the exchange in the garden of Gethsemane.
We had to change the gearbox and shock absorbers. Thank God!
By the way, that is what 90% of Nigerians who can’t afford flight ticket go through everytime they use those roads
Road Travel to Abuja, Lokoja, Akure and Lagos – 2506km
By the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I also visited Owo, The St Francis Catholic Church where worshipers were massacred during Sunday Service of June 5th 2022, got first hand information to help us in our intercessory function for the body of Christ and to get others aware in the south west with the bid to secure their worship centres and do the needful – Spiritually speaking.
Yes, God protects but you don’t leave your door wide open when you go to bed at night because God expects all of us to be discerning of the times and seasons we are in.
Yes, God permits His people to perish for lack of knowledge, including our children (Hosea 4:6) – knowledge of His divine will and purpose and knowledge of what His Spirit is saying to the Churches as a whole for full and total obedience to divine counsel.
Hereunder is our vision and mission statement for those who don’t know about who what what God’s Eagle Ministries exist to be and do:
Our Vision:
We envision a UNITED Christian World through Christ Centered – Obedience based Disciple Making.
Our Mission:
We are One in Christ Jesus – We exist to Foster Unity of Spirit and Faith Amongst the Saints.
Supporting Supporting – Ephesians 4:3,13; Psalms 133:1; John 17:21, Matthew 28:19, John 8:31; John 16:1
In the body of Christ, to which we all belong, when one is touched, all are touched – does not matter where they may be on the planet, as long as they belong to Christ and have confessed Christ as their Lord and savior, every other human culture or practice is secondary. The Spirit of God is one that unites us all in Christ Jesus.
So, if you’re passionately passionate about unity in the body of Christ, then we can walk together as partners.
Get details of current project via this link: https://www.otakada.org/perfect-spiritual-expedition-come-travel-with-us-to-the-furthermost-part-of-the-earth-to-the-continent-of-oceania/
Below is the video from St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State
See the video of the visit and interview below:https://youtu.be/4fPBYcHvKUE
Prior Prophetic Warning on the 29th of April 2022
About a month plus, before that attack, the Lord had revealed to me about the need for South West to be alert which we shared via this link and specific instructions on what to do to enforce God’s protective edge over the South West. Let Him who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches in Jesus name, amen
Perfect Blessings – What is it? Dear Christians, We Need to Stop Saying We’re “Blessed”
There seems to be a disconnect between what God calls blessings and what some in the body of Christ erroneously call blessings. It was as a result of such errorneous proclamation I decided to bring Perfect Blessings today with subtitle from Bro Scotts message delivered in 2019 on –
Dear Christians, We Need to Stop Saying We’re “Blessed”
I pray you will be blessed indeed by this message – It is in context of America so there are terms or locations there that might be confusing to readers from other parts of the world, so beware and may the Lord grant insights in Jesus name, amen.
Scott
I was on the phone with a good friend the other day. After covering important topics, like disparaging each other’s mothers and retelling semi-factual tales from our college days, our conversation turned to the mundane.
“So, how’s work going?” he asked.
For those of you who don’t know, I make money by teaching leadership skills and helping people learn to get along in corporate America. My wife says it’s all a clever disguise so I can get up in front of large groups and tell stories.
I plead the fifth.
I answered my buddy’s question with,
“Definitely feeling blessed. Last year was the best year yet for my business. And it looks like this year will be just as busy.”
The words rolled off my tongue without a second thought. Like reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or placing my usual lunch order at McDonald’s.
But it was a lie.
Now, before you start taking up a collection for the “Feed the Scott” fund, allow me to explain. Based on last year’s quest to go 12 months without buying anything, you may have the impression that our family is subsisting on Ramen noodles and free chips and salsa at the local Mexican restaurant. Not to worry, we are not in dire straits.
Last year was the best year yet for my business.
But that is not a blessing.
I’ve noticed a trend among Christians, myself included, and it troubles me. Our rote response to material windfalls is to call ourselves blessed. Like the “amen” at the end of a prayer.
“This new car is such a blessing.”
“Finally closed on the house. Feeling blessed.”
“Just got back from a mission trip. Realizing how blessed we are here in this country.”
On the surface, the phrase seems harmless. Faithful even. Why wouldn’t I want to give God the glory for everything I have? Isn’t that the right thing to do?
No.
As I reflected on my “feeling blessed” comment, two thoughts came to mind. I realize I’m splitting hairs here, creating an argument over semantics. But bear with me, because I believe it is critically important. It’s one of those things we can’t see because it’s so culturally ingrained that it has become normal.
But it has to stop. And here’s why.
First, when I say that my material fortune is the result of God’s blessing, it reduces The Almighty to some sort of sky-bound, wish-granting fairy who spends his days randomly bestowing cars and cash upon his followers. I can’t help but draw parallels to how I handed out M&M’s to my own kids when they followed my directions and chose to poop in the toilet rather than in their pants. Sure, God wants us to continually seek His will, and it’s for our own good. But positive reinforcement?
God is not a behavioral psychologist.
Second, and more importantly, calling myself blessed because of material good fortune is just plain wrong. For starters, it can be offensive to the hundreds of millions of Christians in the world who live on less than $1 per day. You read that right. Hundreds of millions who receive a single-digit dollar “blessing” per day.
During our year in Guatemala, Gabby and I witnessed first-hand the damage done by the theology of prosperity, where faithful people scraping by to feed their families were simply told they must not be faithful enough. If they were, God would pull them out of their nightmare. Just try harder, and God will show favor.
The problem? Nowhere in scripture are we promised worldly ease in return for our pledge of faith. In fact, the most devout saints from the Bible usually died penniless, receiving a one-way ticket to prison or death by torture.
I’ll take door number three, please.
If we’re looking for the definition of blessing, Jesus spells it out clearly (Matthew 5: 1-12).
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2 And He began to teach them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I have a sneaking suspicion verses 12a 12b and 12c were omitted from the text. That’s where the disciples responded by saying:
12a Waitest thou for one second, Lord. What about “blessed art thou comfortable,” or 12b “blessed art thou which havest good jobs, a modest house in the suburbs, and a yearly vacation to the Florida Gulf Coast?”
12c And Jesus said unto them, “Apologies, my brothers, but those did not maketh the cut.”
So there it is. Written in red. Plain as day. Even still, we ignore it all when we hijack the word “blessed” to make it fit neatly into our modern American ideals, creating a cosmic lottery where every sincere prayer buys us another scratch-off ticket. In the process, we stand the risk of alienating those we are hoping to bring to the faith.
And we have to stop playing that game.
The truth is, I have no idea why I was born where I was or why I have the opportunity I have. It’s beyond comprehension. But I certainly don’t believe God has chosen me above others because of the veracity of my prayers or the depth of my faith. Still, if I take advantage of the opportunities set before me, a comfortable life may come my way. It’s not guaranteed. But if it does happen, I don’t believe Jesus will call me blessed.
He will call me “burdened.”
He will ask,
“What will you do with it?”
“Will you use it for yourself?”
“Will you use it to help?”
“Will you hold it close for comfort?”
“Will you share it?”
So many hard choices. So few easy answers.
So my prayer today is that I understand my true blessing. It’s not my house. Or my job. Or my standard of living.
No.
My blessing is this. I know a God who gives hope to the hopeless. I know a God who loves the unlovable. I know a God who comforts the sorrowful. And I know a God who has planted this same power within me. Within all of us.
And for this blessing, may our response always be,
“Use me.”
Since I had this conversation, my new response is simply, “I’m grateful.” Would love to hear your thoughts.
This brings us to the end of today’s title, “Perfect Blessings – What is it?:Dear Christians, We Need to Stop Saying We’re “Blessed” – Read why on Otakada.org”
Remain Blessed in Him!
Shalom!
Ambassador Monday Oreojo Monday Ogbe
God’s Eagle Ministries
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