Tope Popoola

SUNDAY MUSING

THE COST OF TRUE WORSHIP

Which instruction around purpose in your life is being contested? Rejoice. It's a given! Battles birth miracles

Every divine instruction meant to move you forward will be contested. Confrontation is the first test of every genuine instruction or anointing.
You doubt it? Ask Newton how he came about his three Laws of Motion.

Adam faced no temptation until there was an instruction on which fruit not to eat in the garden

Goliath never showed up until David was anointed for a throne that was about to be vacant

Israel saw no walls or giants until there was a Canaan was to be possessed

Even the Messiah faced no temptation until there was a declaration of "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED", the stamp of the Father's approval

Every divine demand provokes a satanic offense

Child of God, mark this, if the devil fights it so hard, it's because God makes it so clear.

The toddlers of Israel were safe until Herod knew about the Messiah's birth.
Tithing, giving, generosity were never a problem until they started featuring around the worship of God.
The father of faith didn't tithe because a law compelled it.
He did it as worship.
He didn't pay it as a debt.
He gave it as surrender to the One who gave him all

You have no problem spending 80% of your income on self-adornment and the glorification of personal vanities that beautify the flesh.
The hair, natural or contrived
The nails.
The wardrobe.
The cars.
The cruise
The family holiday.
The dinner treats
The one-in-town house.
The head-turning car
Even charity!

But when it comes to a percentage offered as worship to the ONE who owns it all, tempers flare, doctrines flow in torrents, arguments fly in high gear, theology grows new wings, tantrums are thrown, logic takes over faith and relationships are ruined
The One who gave it all suddenly becomes undeserving of a part fo what He first gave
He gave you life, still went ahead and GAVE HIS SON for you, but you argue over whether He is worthy of your coins, called by whatever name

Staying true to God's instruction is worship
Worship is the highest level of surrender
It is not denominated in high-decibel songs rendered to the skillful melody of accomplished instrumentalists in marble-paneled walls and under multi-coloured klieg lights

Remember that worship was the main contention in Jesus' temptation!
Even Gethsemane was about worship
So was Mount Moriah
Whatever God puts His finger on, the devil wants so bad
That coward only fights what he fears
A generous Christian is a threat to hell and all it represents
For no man is a true worshipper whose fists are tightened

Every promise of God is a weapon before it is a fulfilment
And the devil never fights you
He fights your promise
He knows that the seed of your future is the instruction of your present
What you cannot give away, you really don't own

The devil hates you and will fight your worship for only ONE reason,

GOD LOVES YOU!

I hope you understand that?

Remember the sky is not your limit, God is!

www.linkedin.com

SUNDAY MUSING

THE LONE RANGER IS A GREAT DANGER!

And God said, “Let US make man in our own image..." - Genesis 1:26

Creation teaches us that collaboration is the backbone of development. Everything in creation finds its greatest value by combining with something else. Chlorine is poisonous. So is sodium. You wouldn’t dare add any of these two elements by itself into your food. But when chlorine is combined with sodium, it produces sodium chloride, also known as table salt, an enhancer of taste. Nobody can quench his thirst with hydrogen or oxygen. When both gases combine, the product is water, an indispensable commodity for the sustenance of life on earth.

Businesses grow bigger by synergy. It is the reason for mergers. Partnerships and outsourcing help to minimize risk, and to free time and resources to focus on the essentials of the business. The lone ranger stifles growth, of himself and all around him. You cannot become more by working alone. You increase capacity by working through and with others.
Why do many businesses fail? For many, ownership of a business is more of an ego thing than a purpose thing. Being known as Managing Director even when there is nothing to manage or direct gives a delusional sense of importance. Yet, it is better to own one percent of something that is working well and growing than own a hundred percent of nothing! Understandably, at the start of the business, resources are limited. To significantly scale the business, however, you must build the collaboration principle into your operations.
Every decapitator detests anybody playing with a knife around him! In a society where trust is generally a scarce commodity, suspicion rules the space. Collaboration never thrives in an atmosphere devoid of trust and loyalty to a common cause.

The Bible is a book of collaboration. One book with a central theme but written by different men at different times and generations.
Even God did not pull off the creation feat alone. He did so in concert with the Godhead.

He introduced Adam to partnership by creating a woman called Eve to collaborate with him.

Noah collaborated with others to build the ark.

The principle of delegation was introduced to human history by Jethro, the heathen father-in-law of Moses when he saw the latter bogged down with both the spiritual and administrative duties of leading almost two million people in the wilderness.

Moses received the template and design for the tabernacle. But he was not a builder. He needed the expertise of Bezaleel and Aholiab. Without Aaron, Hur, Joshua and Caleb working with him, Moses would never have succeeded in his leadership.

Even though He was Messiah and worked miracles, Jesus did not work alone. He had two groups of disciples, the twelve and the seventy!

If God who created all things worked in collaboration, how do you the creature think you would succeed alone?

Have you ever seen a comet? Comets are bright, distinct flashing stars, unmistakable in their appearance, but they don't endure. Their manifestation is sporadic and transient. Be distinct in excellence but never become a lone star. A lone star may stand out temporarily, but it takes a constellation to consistently brighten the skies.

Success is not about what one man does. It is about what one man can do with others. Collaboration is the ingredient that makes success sustainable. We rise by lifting others. The splendor of a king is sustained by the strength of his troops. People are the blood of meaningful enterprise. No matter how smart or distinct you may be, to be of significant value, don’t just work for or through people. Work WITH people.
Distinction without collaboration may end in extinction.
Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!

WATCH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOOTPRINT! - A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I have said it several times on this wall that responsibility is the price of liberty. Just because you are given the space to behave irresponsibly doesn't mean you have to! The real test of character is who you are when nobody is breathing down your neck. Nobody will stop you from abusing people your grandfather's age on social media but when the results come to haunt you, DO NOT blame your village people.

Recently, I applied for a particular certification in the USA. I didn't know what I was getting into. They conducted a CLINICAL background check to ensure that everything I listed on my resume - work experience, education, dates, certification claims, credit, contacts etc, - was checked out for authenticity and integrity. They called people. They checked out my social media handles and scoured through my posts. They even pointed out a slight discrepancy in the date I put on my LinkedIn profile and the date on my Resume regarding a particular certification. I had to revert to the actual certificate to reconcile the dates. Scary, right?

The checks lasted FOUR MONTHS! But thank God, the good news is that I came out clean and was able to get the prestigious certification which demands a certain level of integrity and character profile beyond the actual training.

If you are reading this and you are one of the bullies who have turned themselves to attack dogs for politicians who don't even know that you exist, or you have a penchant for abusive responses to people who do not share your point of view, or your posts are so laced with negativity because you want to catch clout and get followers, in the guise of NO GREE FOR ANYBODY, pull back NOW and think about your future. If you were an employer of labour or you want to give a certain level of responsibility or job to someone, would YOU give it to someone who behaves/writes/talks like you on social media?

May you not use your hands today to poison your tomorrow. If you can, reach out to everyone you have insulted and apologize or make a post to express a general apology and decide to turn a new leaf, PLEASE DO SO. This is not to shut you up. You can still express yourself and your views without being an abrasive irritant.
You may think nobody cares now. You may even think it's your wall and your page and whatever you write there is nobody's business!

Dey play! You hear? Dey play!