Running with Certainty

[1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV] “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”.

Reference

[Deuteronomy 2:1-6 KJV] “Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. [2] And the Lord spake unto me, saying, [3] Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. [4] And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: [5] Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. [6] Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink”.

Motivation

I want to speak to you today about running with certainty.

There was a time when the children of Israel took their journey into the wilderness and compassed a single mountain for far too long. Then the Lord came to them and commanded them to turn towards the north and journey on.

Sometimes, when we receive such instructions, we become impatient and begin to run over heads and heels just to advance, but although we are set to break camp and advance, we should run with certainty.

There are many people running; most of them are running because they see everyone else running. Many are also running because they have been running the kings errand, so even if they have no message they still want to run.

Discussion

To run with certainty is to run as someone who is seeking to obtain a crown; A crown from the Lord who shall reward His faithful servants. It is not about what is popular or what is nice, but it’s all about pleasing Him who called you into the contest. Running with certainty is to run as one who is striving for mastery.

Until you run in life with certainty, no one will take you serious. The master rewards only those who do His will and run His errands. God does not supply grace to those who are doing their own thing. No shrewd leader give resources to those doing their own thing. You must be striving lawfully and striving to obtain.

There are three things you fundamentally need in order to run with certainty:

1. The Holy Spirit:

The Bible says that where there is no vision the people perish because they cast off restraint (See Proverbs 29:18). We, however, know that those who strive for a crown must strive lawfully and with a lot of self control. In an information and digital age, what you need is to know what you don’t need. If you google a phrase, there will be thousands of suggestion, the onus lies on you to know what to avoid and what to subscribe to. The scriptures tells us that when the Holy Spirit is poured upon us, the young people shall see visions. They shall see the way clearly and know what to choose and what to discard.

2. Table:

Any vision that you don’t pen down will be lost (See Habakkuk 2:1-4). Every serious visionary writes down his or her visions clearly on tables. Where are your tables? Where is your pen?

3. Wisdom:

Very often, a vision shows you the end, but by wisdom you discover the steps that will take you there. Wisdom is profitable to direct. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” [Proverbs 4:7 KJV]

1. Pray for wisdom
2. Find and learn from an ant
3. If you can’t find an ant, remember wisdom cries in the street, and at the gates; just stop being intellectually dishonest and dull, cynical (scornful), and foolish. There is a lot of wisdom in the street.
4. Delight yourself in the testimony of the Lord, it makes wise. Read biographies and learn through testimonies.

4. Grace:

Romans 9:10-16 teaches that it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth; it is the Lord that shows mercy and gives grace. Jacob excelled not because he was good or perfect. He excelled because God showed compassion and gave him grace.

May you run with certainty from today in Jesus’s name, Amen!

Stay blessed; I love you!

Noah Simpe Bediako

Rev. Simpe preached this message at the just ended Mid-Year Bible Seminar; listen to it at; https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-dne6q-b767bd

Originally published at highcity.org

It’s Time to Take that Step of Faith!

“​Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.  So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” (Esther 4:15‭-‬17 KJV)

Esther is a little slave girl who became queen in a foreign land; shortly after she became the queen, the enemies of Israel began to afflict them. There came a time when the people of God faced a near extinction. Their enemies hatched a plan to finish them off, so she being a Jew and the queen as well, needed to step in. Then the real problems began to confront her; the laws of the land forbade anybody from coming to the presence of the king without his invitation.

Many things and decisions in life are neither black nor white; many of the things are shades of grey. They are neither here nor there.  Therefore, there always comes a times when we must step out into the waters in faith. You must just take the risk and act by the word of God.

Today, I came to exhort you to take the risk and step out in faith. Step out on the word of God in favour of the kingdom of God and the people of God. Esther finally fulfilled her destiny when she decide to go all out for the people of God. She did not seek her own; she sought to serve the people of God by representing them before the king not fearing what might happen.

She stepped out admitting that she might fail or succeed but she was willing to both live and die for what she believed was right. You must also decide now and move out to obey and re-present God. We must take the risk of obeying the word of God in this crooked and perverse generation.

It is time to step out in faith. It is time to open full gear action. There should be no room for half hearted obedience. We should be ready to take that step of faith. The step of faith is full of unsure foundations but it is taking God at His word. Queen Esther took God at His word, though she did not know Him much.

Queen Esther stepped out in faith; she took the step of faith but not frivolously; she took the steps seriously. She requested for fasting and prayer; and  she fasted and prayed herself. This is the time; you cannot continue to scratch as chicks; we must soar as eagles. This is the time to dare God and give outrageous offerings and sow seeds. This is the season to start living as kings and serve as priest.

I don’t know what ideas the Lord is dropping in your heart. Please follow the word. Follow your dream. Take that step in faith. Act wisely and walk into more. God is with you; only if you are acting on His word. Take that step of faith. May the Lord take any chicken heart out of you! May He give you the Spirit of Courage and Strength to step out into the unknown by faith.

That little idea could turn out to bring great deliverance to others. That little idea could prosper into millions. That little idea could result in the planting of 100 churches. This is the time. It is time to step out and fight forward.  It is time to go all out. God is up to something. This is the time to stand and be counted. This is the time to drink deep or taste none. No lagging behind, step out and step up your game.

Stay blessed; I love you

It’s Time to Take that Step of Faith! was originally published on HighCity Church