Welcome to 2021
Tuesday, 12th January 2021
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Welcome to 2021
Hello Friends, I welcome you to a brand New Year 2021 with 10, 11 days already shaved off and counting…
I pray for you, our partners, readers – offline and online that may the Lord expand your life towards His perfect will and purposes for your life and your love ones.
As promised in Psalm 91 and prayed in Matthew 6:10, may You be found in the centre of His will and His kingdom and all the blessings of obedience accruing to your benefit as we have prayed and fasted extensively over the 90 days towards the count down of 2020 to secure this year 2021, 2022, 2023 and beyond in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I know so many will be looking at this year and in just 11 days, so much have gone down under the bridge and some of us will be setting goals for this year. I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to share with you the 89 day message sent 28th of December 2020 trusting that you will read and harness the hidden treasures that the Holy Spirit will unveil unto you for your profiting.
Enjoy the reading and the meditating.
*Words of Caution for this year:*
_*Be attentive to the leading and promptings of the Spirit of the living God resident within you this year.*_
*The devil on rampage because He knows his time is short and he is a defeated foe – always playing into Gods sovereign plans and purposes for humanity. So, don’t arm him to destroy you.*
Always REMAIN and ABIDE *STEADFAST* in the shelter of the most high this year and always In Christ.
Ask *The Holy Spirit* to give you clearance on thoughts, emotions and corresponding actions as a result of those thoughts before embarking on anything.
Keep the Holy Spirit in you busy this year – He is waiting – don’t be led by the external events because they are smoking screens relative to the word of God – avoid *thoughts, emotions, words, actions like outings that are unnecessary* – Exercise your *dominion authority* given to you in Christ Jesus wherever, whenever, on whatever, and however necessary in this year.
Shalom!
*Amb. Monday Ogwuojo Ogbe*
Otakada Cyber Church Ministries Inc
Hereunder is the message sent on the 89th day on goal setting!
#goals #goalsetting #activitygoals #shorttermgoals #mediumtermgoals #longtermgoals #self #selfless #values #revival
Monday, 28th December, 2020
Blog link: https://www.otakada.org/goals-past-present-unachieved-and-future-goals-redrafted-and-adjusted-with-values-for-a-lifetime-day-89-of-90-1-day-to-end/
Otakada content count 2,220,208
*Goals – Past, Present – Unachieved and Future Goals : Redrafted and Adjusted with Values for a Lifetime – Day 89 of 90 – 1 Day to End!*
Friends, today, we shall be talking about goal setting from the kingdom perspective with values that endures.
If you are like most of us people at this time of the year, when the clock is ticking towards 2021 in a matter of days – 4 days to be precise, some of us will be looking at the goals we set in January 2020 or December 2019 or goals set, five or ten years prior and we shudder at the fact that some or non of those goals were realized.
Some of us are already making new goals, adjusting the old ones, adapting them to prevailing realities of our time.
Some of us are angry at God as a consequence of unrealized goals – *visible anger or with undercurrent anger* because, *“God has let us down,”* we say.
We make statements like, *“God does not hear me or answer my prayers.”*
Some of us have given up on God or prayer or fasting or the brethren in fellowship all together because, we say, *“The pursuit of God is useless.”*
This should not be. We need to explore our goals from God’s perspective and revisit again.
I want you today to pull out those goals and take a second look at them as we explore *Luke 10:38-42* and lets draw some crucial lessons that will help us to some actionable step(s) in drafting or redrafting of new set of goals for 2021 and beyond because the next 3 years will shake every foundation we are currently standing on so that those things which cannot be shaken can remain. It is coming to everyone – *Believers and non – Believers* alike.
Read this two awesome witnesses from the word of life:
Haggai 2:6-7
Amplified Bible
*_6 For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the desirable and precious things of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory and splendor,’ says the Lord of hosts._*
And
Hebrews 12:26-27
Amplified Bible
*_26 His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the [starry] heaven.” 27 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain._*
*A word for us:* There is a refining going on across the world by our Father and creator, God. It is not to destroy us but to refine us into the image and likeness of His Son – Jesus Christ. When all is said and done, God’s children will come out like refined gold, fit for the masters use – to call others into the kingdom of His dear Son for the great harvest of souls. *It is called revival.*
Read Mark 9:49-50
Amplified Bible
*49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.* 50 Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.”
*It is determined to happen.* So, we cannot possibly *pray it away, wish it away, mercy and grace it away.* Rather, we should ask for *inner strength, a soft heart* which is willing and obedient to divine mandate and redirection, as shown us for our lives through this season in Jesus name, amen.
*Just another note here:* If you have spent considerable time in the place of waiting in prayer like some of us within the last 89 days, asking for His kingdom and His plans for our lives according to the order of Matthew 6:10, I can assure you that God, like in my case, would have shredded our nicely packed goals into a thousand pieces, all to redraft those goals based on His kingdom and His plans for our lives as shown to us in the secret place of prayer and waiting.
Get ready to revisit your goals and fasten your seat belt as we look at the story of Martha and Mary!!!
Luke 10:38-42
Amplified Bible
Martha and Mary
38 Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, *who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching.* 40 But Martha was *very busy and distracted* with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.” 41 But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; *42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”*
In serving Jesus, Martha had very *pure motives.* Jesus gently informed her that Mary – with her eyes on Him – Had *right priorities.*
Mark those words – *Pure Motives and Right Priorities*
Some of us have right motives in our goals, our services to God and people but our priorities are wrong by 180 degrees that of God.
For instance, we can be so *busy, busy, busy* serving God and others but can’t remember the last time God spoke to us in the secret place, where we can dig deeper roots in Him in the sphere of relationship with the master and owner of the service.
Some of us don’t even know how to receive joy, peace, encouragement, steadfastness from God. We know how to give all but we don’t know how to receive from God and others – Some of us don’t know how to be ministered to by others. We think we are almighty in our work with God that we do not need to be fed or corrected anymore – ministered to.
We need to do a soul searching in His presence so that He alone can bring out the core motives in our hidden hearts of stone. Apart from that, we need accountability partner(s).
*The Need For Accountability Partner(s)*
We need to have an accountability group or inner circle or partner(s) to tell us what they are discerning about us and our motives and correct us where necessary.
*_Peter had Paul – Galatians 2:11-13. David the king had Prophet Nathan – 2 Samuel 12:1-22 and so must each one of us!_*
Too many of us work as HARD as Martha, chasing a dream, a goal, trying to achieve goals that we ourselves or others have told us we should have.
Books, CDs, Zoom meetings, and seminars aimed at the achiever market all have the same message: if we want to get to the top, we have to set goals.
There is nothing wrong with setting goals. Too many of us are trying to accomplish too much without identifying our *main mission.*
I repeat our, *“Main Mission”* or *“Gods Mission for us”* or *“Gods Plan and Purpose for our lives”*
*What is wrong with our goals?* Goals that are set to serve *ONLY* the goal setter are, by definition, *SELFISH* – Hardly a value that God shares.
*The key* – and the *challenge* is to keep our motives and goals pure and God – honouring.
Let me give you some examples to help you put things in proper perspective and nail it home :
*1) Secular Job:* If God says, your job is to stay on that job, then, make a goal that will help you advance in that job that will lead to your lifting and the glory of God, also, do it for the purpose of advancing the kingdom, both in your workplace, making disciples in the marketplace and by providing enough income so you can support the kingdom as you are led.
Example abound in scripture – Read this account of *Jesus partners for ministry:*
Luke 8:1-3
Amplified Bible
Ministering Women
8 Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve [disciples] were with Him, *2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene [from the city of Magdala in Galilee], from whom seven demons had come out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi’s disciples].*
As a worker, if God has called you into the workforce, then make kingdom expansion your mission like Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna in the above scripture.
*2) Entrepreneur :* If you have confirmed that God wants you to create service and make millions, then your goal should be the best you can be at doing whatever makes you millions. Make goals also to advance the kingdom of God as you ask Him in the secret place where to send the funds to – Before, During and After the funds have arrived. If you do not do this before funds arrive, it will find expression elsewhere – guaranteed!
*Remember:* Make commitment and tie those commitments to your prayers for breakthrough in your efforts and see how God moves in miraculous ways to fulfil those goals for His glory and your benefit and His kingdom expansion.
See example in scripture: *Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the body of Jesus*
*John 19:38-42*
Amplified Bible
38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea—a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews—asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, [weighing] about a hundred [Roman] [a]pounds. 40 So they took Jesus’ body and bound it in linen wrappings with the fragrant spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. *41 Now there was a garden at the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb [cut out of solid rock] in which no one had yet been laid.* 42 Therefore, because of the Jewish day of Preparation, and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
*3) Given your time and talent to God – full time or Part Time:* if you have given your time and talent to God, after you have confirmed from God what He wants you to do, where He wants you to do it and how He wants you to do it, then your goal is to ensure you put all of you into it and set goals that lines up to God’s goals and trust Him to provide all that you need to achieve those goals that He Himself have given you to achieve for His glory.
*Example abound in scripture* and benefit that accrue as a consequence of obeying.
*Luke 18:28-30*
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left all [things—homes, families, businesses] and followed You.” *29 And He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.”*
*What if, Goals are not achieved?*
If our goals are not achieved for whatever reason(s), then find out why, if you have green light from Him, then stay at it. God might be allowing you to build patience, or timing might not be right or our heart are not right or ready for what we are asking for.
It could be a million and one reason which we can find out by going back to our manufacture, God on our knees. *Remember: What God initiates, He will sustain – Not by power or might, but by His spirit – Zechariah 4:6 – Come rain, come thunder*
So, look at your goals again, go and pray about them, better still, ask using *Matthew 6:10*
He will speak, He will show through visual, audible, dreams, visions, circumstances and situations or confirmed by others in your circle or outside your circle.
*Remember:* God put us here for His glory, not our self-glory but our benefit. Our Glory should be derived from His. Lives framed by goals that don’t serve ourselves but which serve Gods higher purposes is the core of our existence here on earth and in all eternity.
I conclude by asking you to read, meditate *Revelation 4:11 and Luke 18:18-27* in the rich young ruler who could not accept *Matthew 6:10* for his life – Your kingdom come and your will be done.
God wanted him full time and but he preferred money and money making to serving God full time – Do you have the peace and joy of God in whatever you do? If not, you might be doing the wrong thing. You can only find out like the rich young man in this text by going back to Him in the secret place as highlighted hereunder and go back to redraft your nicely put goals –
*Remember* – _What God initates, God will sustain, not by power, nor by might but by His spirit, says the Lord_ – Zechariah 4:6 :
Revelation 4:11
Amplified Bible
11
*“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”*
Luke 18:18-27
Amplified
*The Rich Young Ruler*
18 A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher [You who are essentially and morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially and morally] good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not testify falsely, Honor your father and your mother.’” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these things from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing; sell everything that you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” *23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.* 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How difficult it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And those who heard it said, “[b]Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
Shalom!
*Ambassador Monday Ogwuojo Ogbe*
Otakada Cyber Church Ministries Inc
Originally posted on January 12, 2021 @ 10:33 am
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