Man knows his past because he experienced the bitter and sweet parts of it, he knows his present because it is right there with him, but no man can say he knows his future; for it is in God’s hand. You are here now, but can never tell where you will be in the next minute. You may have gone through hell and excruciating painful experiences this year, yet you do not know what the coming year holds.

People may judge you presently because of your present, but can I tell you that your future has a present for you that will silent your gainsayers and accusers. During the time of Prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 39:25:29:
• Israel had shame.
• Israel was unfaithful.
• Israel went into captivity.
• Some rejoiced because Israel was in pains.
• Some celebrated and mocked because it seemed to them that God has turned His back on Israel.
• Others decided to divide and de-possess Israel of their inheritance until grace showed up.
Like The Nation Of Israel
You may have had shame or written and labelled a failure, good for nothing, disgrace to others; never mind, when grace shows up, their mouth will be closed.
• Grace is that which is required when you are unqualified to receive it.
• It is grace because you really don’t deserve it.
• It is grace because you got it outside due protocols.
• It is grace because you may not in the right position to get it; that is the reason it is called grace.

In 2 Samuel 9, we discover a tale of a young man called Mephibosheth. Crippled by accident, went into exile by parental error and disobedience. Became a slave by negligence and fear. But grace showed up for him. Hear me! Life is not by grade, but by grace; not by labour, but by favour; not by merit, but by mercy; I pray for you as you end this year, may Grace show up for you. Remember, Christ is the true meaning of grace.
The Bible reads: “… But God demonstrated His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8.
• He is the answer to grace.
• He is the key to grace.
• He is the mystery of grace.

STOP!
Stop looking at men; change your focus now to Christ. As long as Abraham kept his gaze on Isaac for sacrifice he could not see the ram cut by the horn in a cricket.

Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Beloved! To have God as your Father, you must allow Jesus absolute ownership of your life. When God becomes your Father, you become a shining light. When God becomes your Father, you have access to grace. Let Jesus into your life.
Beware Of The Arm Of Flesh (1 Samuel 17:38-39; Nahum 1:7)

The battle we are fighting is not physical, but spiritual. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in (through) God for pulling down strongholds.”

We are in battle and only the Spirit of God can make us victorious. What is the arm of the flesh? This is human strength or aid. Putting faith in what man can do. It is judging the situations by the flesh – John 8:15.
George Duffield, Jr. 1858 wrote a poem:

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
Stand in His strength alone
The arm of flesh will fail you
Ye dare not trust your own
Put on the gospel armour,
And watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty,
Be never wanting there.

Reading through Jeremiah 17:5 – Thus says the Lord, cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.
And Isaiah 31:1: “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, not see the Lord!”
Beloved! Beware of the arm of flesh.

Sennacherib, King of Assyria came and entered Judah encamped against it, in his thought, he will conquer it and take it by himself. But Hezekiah spoke to his people and said: “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles,” 2 Chron. 32:8.
Is the Lord with you?
Is the Lord your God?
Then, fear not!

Exodus 15:3 says: “ The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name.” In Exodus 14:14: “The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.” Beloved – The Syrians in 2 Kings came after Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17), but the Lord was with him. 1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children and have overcome them (plural) because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Unlike Elisha, some people’s eyes are closed; they trust in self than in God. Are you of God? Psalm 20:7 says: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Never you trust your own — He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered — Prov. 28:26.

To Win The Battle:
• David refused to wear the armour of Saul.
• David took stones from the source (the brook).
• David confronted Goliath in the name of the Lord.
• David relied in God rather than on himself; therefore, avoid the wrong weapon.
• Advance towards the enemy in God’s name.
• Apply the divine weapon.
• Be observant.
• Select the right stone.
• Go to the brook.
• Don’t operate in the shadows of another.
• Step away from household limitations.
• Avoid old men feeble – old prophets, aged souls with weakened mentality and rejected kings.

Overcome To Come Over (2 Timothy 1:7)
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” There is never a short cut to greatness. Opposition is positioned for possession. No cross, no crown. Challenges of life are given for men to change from a feeble state to flying state. This point of discussion suggests that there is a location you are; a place you are presently, which needs to be changed. It is not your destined divine location. In this location, there is every possibility you could remain there, year in, year out. The only way out is to overcome the visible obstacles, to push forward despite all odds; to be able to crossover and go over to the land of milk and honey. Reading through Numbers 13:27-28, 33; we see the true meaning to overcome. There was a promised land, it was flowing with milk and honey just as the Lord promised. But… there were obstacles; these obstacles were big in size, very big that when they are weighed by the sight of the men. In size, the men saw themselves to be as small as grasshoppers – an easy to be crushed insect.

The one who promised the land knew that these giants exist. He knew the men were capable of taking the land even in the face of the giants. All He expected from them was to confront the giants, use their sword and spear against the giants and withstand their advances. He would have enabled them to slay the giants and took possession of the land; overcome them. How he would have done this, is not for them to know; all that was required was for the men to move forward and trust the Lord for victory.
To Overcome Is To – Conquer

It is an action word – a verb. It means to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty. It means to prevail over, get control of, bring under control, defeat, vanquish, beat, solve, triumph, overpower, overwhelm. It also means to gain control over it.

Yes! Mighty in size, but God knew the Israelites could win them. But until they overcome these giants, they cannot come over to the land of milk and honey.
Hear God’s Word (Proverbs 24:10)

“If peradventure, in case you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Giants are surmountable, but you need your strength to be big through the act and art of faith. There is no place you are expecting milk and honey that you will not see horns and bees. So, you need courage and strength.

In life, There Are:
• Marital giants – marital decay, marital crises
• Financial giants – poverty and financial mismanagement coupled with debts
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)
• Social giants – whatever you do seems impossible, you can’t please people
• Environmental giants – hate, harshness and limitations
• Moral giants – sin and a kind of lifestyle limiting you, which seems like a habit
• Spiritual giants – Totally separated from God
You can overcome whatever it is.

How To Overcome: Build Positive Mentality For Victory
• Know that these giants are surmountable – you can defeat them and they cannot last forever.
• Agree with God’s promise and disagree with the environmental factor.
• Believe on the promise of God.
• Step towards the giants. Your enemy’s power is stronger when you show signs of fear.
• Open your mouth, your confession determines your possession.
• Do not move with those who do not encourage your will to win.
• Avoid those who amplify your giants and empowers your fears
• Avoid things that can reduce your strength.

Gaining Strength As A Christian (Spiritual Exercise)
• Be careful, study to show yourself approved – 2 Timothy 2:15.
• Always allow God’s word to inspect you. In some developed countries, annually vehicles go through a machine for inspection before they can be certified road worthy; if there is any problem with the light, gear, brake, among others, they will not pass the test. And except it passes the inspection, it cannot be certified to be road worthy.
• Beloved, everyday allow God to inspect you through his word.
• Be a man of God’s presence – Psalm 91:1.
• Learn to sleep over challenges – Matt. 1:20.
• Speak to God rather than speaking to men.
• Never avoid the gathering together of the saints – Heb. 10:25.
• Always remember that we can do nothing without Jesus – John 15:4.
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)