Face Off with Life

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[Philippians 3:12-19 KJV] “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. [16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. [17] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. [18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: [19] Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”

The phrase “to face off” is to take up an attitude of confrontation, especially at the start of a fight or game. Face off is a method of beginning play (as in hockey or lacrosse) in which two opponents face each other and attempt to gain control of a puck or ball dropped or placed between them.

In this teaching, I will be discussing four things that will empower you to face off with life. We shall be sharing on gaining control in life. Life is a battle, a battle against all the things you will not yield to. Life is a struggle unless you yield to the drift. You must be willing to battle the odd and to rise above the storms if you are ready to win.

The four things you need to face off with life are:

1. Faith:

All things are possible to him that believes. If only you can hear and receive what God has said as the truth and to live by it, you shall see possibility.

[Mark 9:23 KJV] “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”.

One day I was watching a BBC documentary on how Masai men went hunting, to cut a portion of game a team of 15 lions and lioness had hunted down. One of the key things that the Masai men had was faith or confidence. They squat there gazing at the lions as they ate the game. They kept gazing until the lions spotted them, and they arose as one man and began to approach and confront the lion; the lion backed off from the game when they saw the Masai men coming.

When you believe the word of God and face life with confidence, you begin to win the battle of life. Believe!

2. Faithfulness:

This is the secret to stewardship; Faithful in little things, with unholy mammon, and to things that belong to another man. Faithfulness makes you a steward. Loyalty puts you in charge.

[Luke 16:10-13 KJV] “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. [11] If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches ? [12] And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? [13] No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”.

The secret to faithfulness is singleness of heart. You must have a single master if you want to be faithful. As long as you are considering other options, you cannot and will not be faith. Faithfulness comes through total yieldedness.

3. Maturity:

There is no difference between a child and a slave. Maturity puts you in charge to rule. Maturity comes through mentoring and learning to be subject to your tutors.

[Galatians 4:1-5 KJV] “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; [2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. [3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: [4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”.

Maturity comes with time, it comes through sonship and connection with fathers. When you are submitted and loyal to your father, he pays the bills and takes you places.

4. Fruits:

The branch that bears fruits is blessed and pruned and prepared by God to bring forth more fruits.

[John 15:1-5 KJV] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. [2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing”.

When a branch bears fruits, it is empowered to bear more fruits; we must, however, be careful how we behave when we begin to bear fruits and get empowered. Many of us lost the face off with life and lose control because we tend to have a poor attitude when we start making some progress.

I pray that the Lord will help you to believe His word concerning you, to be faithful in all things, to mature with time, and to maintain the right attitude even when you begin to bear fruits and empowered. You will have dominion and win in this battle of life, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Be blessed; I love you!

Noah Simpe Bediako

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