3SecretsOfProgressivePeople ~ (3) EMBRACE THE NEW WINE

"Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them,draw out now, and bear unto them governor of the feat. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was:~ John 2:7-9

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus gave a fore state of something that was about to happen. Whenever Jesus appears in any situation expect change to happen. He is an extraordinary change agent. (Click here and tweet this). After they had drunk the wine of men and were short of it, Mary approached Jesus for a miracle. He commanded pots to be filled with water and it turned into wine. The captain of the wedding was so moved by the new wine that he accused the bride of dishonesty.

Unbeknownst to them, Jesus had come to introduce a revelation of the things yet to come. (Click here and tweet this). The new wine tasted good when the people drank it, yet they forgot to question why such a wine has never been on the market. According to historians, for a wine to reach such a taste, it would have taken eight years. Yet it took Jesus only eight seconds for change to occur! (Click here and tweet this)

When people are so much ingrained in their old ways, they become apprehensive in trying new things. (Click here and tweet this). They drank the new wine but forgot to question the essence behind it. We are admonished to have the mind that Jesus had- a humble mind. It’s only through this mind of humility that God can impart the concept of the new wine to us.  Anyone in the history of mankind who did mighty things that had longevity exhibited a mind of humility. 

The secret to being great is to understand the power of newness. God’s faithfulness to us is new every morning. (Click here and tweet this). Jesus taught the disciples to pray and ask for each day’s bread. He was making reference to fresh and new revelation and not the old and stale one. Yesterday is gone another day has come, God is releasing fresh and new ideas, be ready to receive your own. (Click here and tweet this). The old wine has lost is potency that is why God is calling us to come and taste of the new wine. Embrace the new wine with all your heart! God is interested in making His partnership with us a win- win deal with his new plans.(Click here and tweet this).

Too many of us find it difficult to quickly adapt to the new things God is doing. (Click here and tweet this). I am often taken aback when believers are quick to label certain new things that are enhancing human life as of being from the enemy. The devil is humankind’s greatest enemy. (Click here and tweet this). He has and will never seek the welfare of anyone. This crossing over from a depraved mindset will be based on how prepared a person is to fill their mind with a new word from God every now and then. You can only aspire to be like him when we begin to think on these qualities; truth, noble, justice, purity, love and good reports. Progressive people are never afraid to embrace the new wine in order to behold the goodness of God.

Here are some steps to take if you want to embrace the new wine~

a.     Identify the last time you embrace something new and question whether is “really” working to its capacity

b.    Learn what the new idea, software, skill etc. entails and what it can do to help shape your life

c.     Refer your fears to experts for further clarification

d.     Embrace new ideas in smaller doses until you are well adept in handling it in full capacity.

Question: Why do you think people struggle to embrace new ideas? Let me know your thoughts.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

3SecretsOfProgressivePeople ~ (2) GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!!

“Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you"~ Genesis 12:1

You’ve heard a thousand times that comfort zones destroy people so therefore get out. Yet every day in and out, it seems many still get caught up in the embrace. Why? Any person used by God was called to leave something behind. (Click here and tweet this) A typical example is Abraham. God demanded that  he separated from his family. Though the promises of God concerning him were enticing, there were things he dreaded. This I believe was the reason why he asked his father and his nephew to come along. 

He brought along the "just in cases" we all sometimes carry along in executing the plans of God.  We make plans for failure and not success most of the times! (Click here and tweet this). God knew Abraham's own people were his comfort zone and without a separation, it will be difficult to do something great with him.God never said anything meaningful to Abraham as long as Lot was with him. (Click here and tweet this).

A Comfort zone can be a character trait, lifestyle or an attitude a person has been familiar with over the years and finds it difficult to let go. (Click here and tweet this). This could be handed down or self-acquired! Such ones will defend their comfort zones with every excuse and weapon available. Comfort zones create illusions about life and make you accept your state and never allow you to aspire higher. (Click here and tweet this). Your comfort zone may seem helpful but in the nutshell do you more harm than good. (Click here and tweet this). 

Elijah was only used to being in command and was not prepared for the other side of his of work. He was accustomed to seeing only the victorious side of the anointing of God but not the testing side.When Jezebel’s death threats shook him, he demanded that God killed him. If you stay too long in a particular place, you create a comfort zone difficult to give up. (Click here and tweet this).

If there is anything you can do, it will be to get out of your comfort zone. A few years, months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds ago, you promised to let go but up on till now, no change. Someday might come and go without breaking free if you don't seize your moment. Carpe Diem! (Click here and tweet this).

When God calls you, he displaces you to reposition you. (Click here and tweet this). God loves to create a disorder in our plans so that His plans will become pre-eminent in your life. (Click here and tweet this). If you don’t move nothing around you moves. Be prepared to enter into a defined state of your life by getting out or giving up your zone. (Click here and tweet this).  One of the most powerful things God did was to hand over your will to you. His mindset was not to control you as a robot but allow you to make decisions and choices on our own because He respects your abilities. Your will is your life! What you decide to do is what will happen and no one can stop it. (Click here and tweet this). 

"Will thou be made whole" Jesus asks the man at the pool of Bethesda ? Jesus never prayed for him but only made mention of what his problem was. His bed had become his comfort zone! May be its time you make the minor adjustments so you can have a major turnaround in your live. (Click here and tweet this). Progressive people are quick to determine if something, a place or thought pattern is becoming a comfort zone. If it has, they are quick to get out!

To break free from any comfort zone, here are some suggestions~

a.     Be honest and identify what your comfort zone is.

b.    Retrace the steps on how you got there

c.     Let your pain of losing out because of the comfort zone motivate you to want to break free

d.     Never forget to pray to God for help in breaking free

Question: How did you/are you planning to break free from your comfort zone? Let me know your thoughts.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

3SecretsOfProgressivePeople ~ (1) CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION!!

“And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking”. ~ Matthew 8:23-24 

He saw men as trees! Quite a revealing answer from a man who had never seen in his life! How in the world could a man who had never seen in his life see people as trees? This had nothing to do with sight but with perception. His perception had been formed based on how maybe he was treated by people or how he thought of human beings. The eyes of his heart had already seen human beings and formed its own opinion. (Click here and tweet this).

We are often told to change our confession without us giving prior recognition for a change in perception. (Click here and tweet this). Perception plays a major role in the way we process our thoughts. Until one is given the tools that will help them perceive right, their confession and subsequently expression will be askewed. Ever come across elegant and beautiful women who have the wrong sense of being? They are intellectually clued on, physically beautiful yet lack a sense of self pride. Ever met men who ought to go higher but have given up on life yet around them is every tool they need? It all boils down to how they perceive themselves.

We were grasshoppers in our own eyes and so were we in the eyes of the children of Anak- this is the report the twelve spies gave to Moses. (Numbers 13:32-33) (1). If God had no plans of giving to them the land, He wouldn’t have spoken some 430 years  concerning it to Abraham.  They perceive themselves in the wrong sense in the face of the giants. Most people have a wrong sense of perception about themselves and unfortunately it affects everything they do. (Click here and tweet this). This mentality is wrong. Sometimes it’s due to a person’s upbringing or it could be self-inflicted.

Words you give ear to plays a major part in shaping the way you perceive yourself. (Click here and tweet this). A person who constantly receives positive and uplifting words is bound to perceive himself and others better than someone who is constantly being told their faults and why they can’t make it in life. Everyone has giants yet not everyone is defeated by their giants. (Click here and tweet this). Guess why? Their perception of who they are in the light of God’s word is the answer. If you can believe what the word say, you can receive what the word gives.(Click here and tweet this). Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. (Click here and tweet this). It’s about time you begin to perceive yourself differently.

How do you perceive yourself in relation God? How you see yourself in the light of God's word is nothing short of what Jesus asked the former blind man. What you perceived within your members can alter your confessions. Progressive people chew on the word and via that work on constantly changing their perception about a lot of things.

The way out is simply this~

a.     Avoid the company of people who always point out your weaknesses and never give solutions.

b.    Feed yourself with uplifting words/Programmes/ Books.

c.     Concentrate on your strengths and Let God deal with your weaknesses.

Question: What does perception mean to you? Let me know your thoughts.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

HOW TO BREAK FREE FROM SIN

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door and unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.~ Genesis 4:7(KJV)

This scripture paints an interesting picture when it comes to the believer and how sins seek to dominate their lives.  Sin is at your door not yet entered into your house- meaning it’s lurking, strategizing, and patiently waiting for an opportunity to entice and possess you. (Click here and tweet this). Its desire is not for anyone but you the child of God.

Everyone has a weakness. Sin isn’t a mistake or a weakness. Sin is sin, mistakes are mistakes and weaknesses are weakness. (Click here and tweet this).When mistakes are committed there is always an opportunity for a re-takes. Weaknesses are natural however debilitating or not. It’s through your weakness that the enemy attacks.  David’s weaknesses led him to sleep with someone’s wife and Solomon carried it over. Abraham had a weakness for fair women, Isaac did too and Jacob took it to the next level. Your ignorance is the strength of your foe. (Click here and tweet this). Sin however comes about through the medium of your weaknesses when it’s not strengthened by the word of God. The devil knowing what you are weak at will hammer you consistently with it until either you give in or overcome it. (Click here and tweet this).

The devil will never entice you with anything you are strong at. (Click here and tweet this). His first temptation he attacked Jesus was that of food; he knew Jesus had been fasting for 40days and 40nights and needed food. Because he understands the bloodline, he tailors his attack to suit the weaknesses exhibited for ages through the bloodline- a particular trait of weaknesses and sins that has been dominant in your family line for ages.  Thus if you will agree with me and be honest, what you are struggling with in terms of weakness that leads to you sinning has/is being exhibited either by your father or mother or someone closer in the family before. (Click here and tweet this).

Unbeknownst to many who suffer from the bondage of sin, there is so much power available for one to be totally broken free through Christ.  Often times, they get so blinded by the sin they commit so much so that telling them it’s possible to be free is something difficult to believe. (Click here and tweet this).

The Apostle Paul takes it a step further and explains that the law of sin and death that had kept people in bondage has been broken by the law of life in Christ Jesus. He continues to assure us that there isn’t any more condemnation for anyone who is in Christ Jesus. For the law of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. (Click here and tweet this). Where sin had led us onto death Christ came and redeemed us back onto life through salvation. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but He came so that the world through Him might be saved. Click here and tweet this).

Here is the 3minute simple step to take:

A.   Acknowledge that you are a sinner and name the particular sin to God. (Not quite popular with the so-called new age teachings).But hey until you accept your state, no one can help you. (Romans 3:23, 6:29)

B.    Plead the blood of Christ to wash you fresh from the strong hold of and guilt of sin. The only power available to break you free from the vicious cycle of sin is the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 9:22)

C.     Accept your new state as a born again child of God and desire to be baptised in water. (John3:3)

Prayer: "Dear Lord I thank you for this great salvation that is free. I commit my struggle with sin into your hands knowing that you alone can deliver me from its clutches. Empower me through the blood to overcome this sin. I thank you that it's done in Jesus mighty name". Amen!!!

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

WHAT SIN WILL DO TO YOU

Pride goes before destruction! I see sin as a slap in the face of God who created us. As if to say I am the lord of my own life and I can do whatever I choose….more or less to say I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do especially God. Our society has gotten to a point where men are blatantly daring God and will continue to do so until He finally proves himself. (Click here and tweet this).

The prince of the power of the air is now very much in control. His easiest method is that of lust- for power, money and sex. Sadly many have been caught in its web. Can a man ever be truly well if he separates himself from his true source,I doubt? When we sin we lose a part of ourselves to the deceptive power of the enemy. (Click here and tweet this).The nakedness that ensued in the Garden of Eden due to sin is still prevalent even when the blood of Jesus freely speaks of a divine covering.

Sin will rob you of yourself value and reduce you to nothing. (Click here and tweet this). The devil first sinned and due to it lost his first estate. His desire is to cause you to be a stateless person like himself. A wanderer who has nothing to lay claim on except the worldly system which has also be taken by Christ. Sin has nothing to give you except hell on earth and also in eternity. (Click here and tweet this).

There is nothing painful than to be a slave to something you were created to overcome. (Click here and tweet this). Yes, it doesn’t matter what you believe or disbelieve, the breath of God is what makes you who you are. Within the capsule of the breath of God is the knowledge of good. Deep within the recesses of your spirit is the purity of God which is seeking to dominate the evil and sinful persuasions of the flesh. (Click here and tweet this). This can only happen when emphasis is placed on the word of God as the only way to dominate sin. 

Becoming a slave to a vicious and tasking cycle of a lifestyle is debilitating.  (Click here and tweet this). The sole purpose of sin is this- to keep you as a puppet to the doings of the devil, to make sure your God given talents, skills, abilities and opportunities never yield its full measure and finally to make sure that you never make to heaven but end up in hell.

Measure your life not with what politicians say but what the word of God says. (Click here and tweet this). At the end of the day, politicians come and go but God’s word will abide forever. Find the answers to your sinful deeds in the word of God and never give up the struggle to be free from sin. (Click here and tweet this). No one is perfect but through Christ everyone can be perfected. This will only happen when Jesus becomes the Lord and centre of your life and everything you do.

Question: As a child of God, what have been some of the consequences of sinning? Let me know your thoughts.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

WHAT IS SIN?

What is sin? Your guess might be as good as mine because the popular answer that sin is being separated from God will be given. Not good enough! It might be true to some extent. However, I believe there is a precursor to there being a separation. As maturity set in and after much study of God’s word, I asked myself this question- if holiness comes out of ones relationship with God and the practise of His word, where then does sin come from? I have concluded and can confidently say that "sin is a fundamental relationship". It isn’t a wrong doing but a wrong being. (Click here and tweet this). It is a deliberate and determined independence from God. It’s a premeditated rebellion against the word of God. (Click here and tweet this).

The 21st century has brought to bear the deep seated desire of man to be separated from anything God. (Click here and tweet this). There seems to be an amassing army of secularist demanding that “God” should be taken out of society. Yet the same people have no trouble advocating for anything sinful to flourish. It’s interestingly how most political leaders of our times advocate for sinful acts to flourish via their policies. (Click here and tweet this). Humanity seems to have been caught up in the web of the deception of the devil. Sin is now glamourized and glorified. Nevertheless, this attitude won’t negate what God’s word says about it.

Little do we hear even now in churches messages dwelling on sin and God’s redemptive plan? (Click here and tweet this). For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God describes the state of man before the redemptive plan of God was put in place. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank God for saving us from the condemnation the world was facing. But as many as received Jesus, he has given us the power to be His sons….sons of God and not of sin!

God doesn't tempt anyone with evil (sin) but a person’s lust does it all says (James 1:13-15).God doesn't TEMPT anyone but rather TRIES by His word. Everyone is alive and very much aware when they are being led into sin. (Click here and tweet this). How do I know this? Because I am a human being! The writer says temptation happens when we are drawn away by our own lust. This is where most get it wrong because once you talk about lust many immediately think about sex. Lust has an itch sex alone cannot scratch. Click here and tweet this) .

Watch what you have an insatiable craving for that you know will lead you into sin. The enemy doesn’t come with a billboard on which is written “I want to tempt you”. The devil will always entice you by what you lust after. (Click here and tweet this). Could it be the fame, music, money, man or woman? What is that TV show or magazine saying to your spirit person? Can you see where it’s leading to? Infact have you noticed you’ve change lately? These are some of the fundamental pointers you should be aware of in dealing with the cunning approach of the devil to entice us through lust.

Question: What does sin mean to you? Kindly leave your comments on the blog.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II

3MasterKeysOfSuccess – (3) “MONEY”

The final master key to determine how successful you will be is money. Is money really the root of all evil? Is that what the writer said? No and a big no! Money isn't the root of all evil...but the love or insatiable desire or the extreme pull for money at all cost is the root of all evil. (Click here and tweet this). When a person would want money at any cost without regard for due process, they are teetering towards evil. To be financially Successful, there ought to be an intent. Anyone desiring to be should be made aware of the need to properly manage their money. (Click here and tweet this). You can have the world greatest vision but without money, it will be meaningless. You can talk, hoop, jump and do all sorts of gimmicks but at the end of the day, society will demand to be shown the money. 

Until you recognise that the little you have is enough to support you and push you into your big, it becomes so easy to abuse it. (Click here and tweet this). If within a second you cannot tell what you'll do with a million pound, you wouldn't be able to tell what you'll do with a pound. Money does grow in trees I guess you have heard it a thousand times. Frugality is the new wealth! However money grows out of the implementation of your ideas.(Click here and tweet this). Nobody wants to invest in something the innovator hasn't. That is why yo need to have enough to start you in the pursuit of your vision.

Until your ideas are big enough to attract  major funding, the little that you have must be used to support your vision or you stand the risk of losing out. The early stages of any endeavour require the input of the bearer financially. You only need to be poor to realise how incapable you are in winning with your vision. (Click here and tweet this). Many should-have-been great individuals never amounted to anything because of the lack of finance. It's is said every poor person seems to have some great idea but are never able to materialise it. (Click here and tweet this). It’s sad because their poverty stops them from turning the virtue within into a reality.

Ecclesiastes 9:15 paints the picture of a city that was under attack from an enemy. Through the advice of a poor wise man, it was saved. It continues to say that after the war everyone forgot the poor wise man. Now you notice how the writer kept on using the phrase "poor wise man". The point here is that though he was wise he couldn't translate his wisdom into the acquisition of financial power. It’s a known fact that wisdom has the ability to draw things onto the possessor. (Click here and tweet this). Thus without a financial clout to support his wisdom , nobody took him serious.

Wisdom with financial power is an advantage.(Click here and tweet this) Every successful person knows that without money to support their endeavours, they will soon be forgotten. I doubt if it will be wise to spend the entirety of your life pursuing money. I personally believe that money is a reward that comes to those whose desire is to solve the ills of society. (Click here and tweet this). Once you learn how to manipulate your finance well, you will be granted access to so much to keep the cycle of financial power going. Always remember this- you're blessed to be a blessing onto others.

Question: What steps have you taken or are taking to secure your money? Leave your comments on the blog.

Yours In His Service

Joe Akuoko II