We must understand that the Lord has not made an end of revealing mysteries unto His people. There are still things that the Lord wants to tell His people. There are still principles to be understood. There are still things that He wants to show us. How can we grow as a body, a church, if we discount the mysteries that God is currently revealing to His people? It is truly sad that the body of Christ has access to the one who knows all yet we believe that our current knowledge is the fullness of God.

There is revelation that is coming forth. There is prophecy coming forth. There are things that the Lord is allowing to be revealed because now is the time that this knowledge needs to be dispensed. However, if we are not willing to hear what God is saying, we will find ourselves persecuting those who have been charged by God to say what has not been heard before. Now, we must not be ignorant and just start taking everything that everyone says to heart. God forbid, if the church began to accept ungodly teaching and ungodly doctrines formed by men for the glory of men. No, God had left us the scripture for a reason. He has left us the scripture for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16. When the revelation is from God it will line up with what He has already spoken. It will not go against the teaching or training of the body. The mystery should bring greater clarity or should expose another side of something. It should not come to oppose what has already been stated by God.

When we get to a point that we feel we have learned all we can about God, we have officially cut off any chance of advancing further in God. You can only manifest on the level that you see God. Just like Elijah told Elisha, concerning the double portion that Elisha asked for, if you see me when I go up you can have it. If you can perceive me correctly, the thing that you ask for will be done unto you. It is the same thing with us, if we are able to see God correctly we are able to manifest on the level that we see Him. Stay on The Path.

I think the one thing that we have overlooked when teaching this scripture is the portion that says “as yourself.” The way that you love yourself determines how effectively you can love other people. There is no way that you can love other people with a whole and full love when you don’t afford yourself the same kind of love. While we must never become vain or self-centered, we must learn to love ourselves. There are different kinds of love. However, the kind of love that is referred to within this principle is Agape. Agape is defined as actively doing what the Lord prefers. It is also defined as a discriminating affection which involves choice and selection. The reason why the definition is so crucial to me is because it clearly states that loving yourself is a choice that you must make. It is not always easy to forget about the wrong things that you have done.

A couple of things can happen when we don’t love ourselves but try to love our neighbor. We can love them for the wrong reasons. Specifically, our love for them can be solely motivated by our desire to be affirmed by them. When we are in a relationship where we are seeking affirmation from someone else, we place ourselves in a very dangerous situation. We allow the person who we are in relationship with to shape our perception of whom we are. Within these relationships, it is very easy to find yourself doing things you never thought you’d do. The reason for this is because you have allowed this person to become your voice of truth and reason in exchange for what you think is their love. The way that you avoid this is by coming into relationships with an understanding of your value. It is important that you never leave it up to someone else to define you. It is God who defines us and gives us purpose.

For some of us, it is a task to look at ourselves in the mirror knowing the truth about our past. It can be rather difficult to feel like we are worth loving. However, we must remember the blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross for us. This blood has purified us, justified us, cleansed us, purchased us and made us new. This blood has restored our self-respect, our wholeness and has given us life. We must learn to look at ourselves through the blood of Jesus and love the new creation in Christ. Once we do that, we are able to look at others through the same eyes. We are able to look at them through the blood which keeps everything and everyone in perspective.

Lord, we thank you for your blood. We thank you for Calvary and the act of love that was shown there. Teach us to accept your salvation and liberty in every portion of our lives. Help us to not allow condemnation and past sins to keep us from walking in love. Restore our minds, hearts and souls; show us how to love ourselves that we may effectively show love to others. We let go of all the past hurt and mistakes. We embrace the newness of life that is found through you. We thank you for mending our hearts and causing us to be people that walk in love for ourselves and for our fellow man. Help us to stay close to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

 __________________________________________________________________

About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007. Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God. An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010. Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’ book.  

We as believers must began to desire to really see the function of God in our lives. We must desire for the power of God to be at work in us, as it is referred to in Ephesians 3:20. We must desire that His love be established in us. For, when we are established and rooted in love and Christ dwells within, it is then that the power can work with in us. We have grown so systematic that love for each other has gone lacking. Therefore the power of the people has suffered. Everything that Jesus did was out of love. In the same manner, that is the spirit that we should operate in because that is where power lies. Power lies in love and not obligatory forms.

I want to leave you with this. In Exodus 17, Moses told Joshua to get an army together and fight. Joshua was not skilled but he was obedient. Moses went to the top of the mountain on that day with the understanding that as long as he kept the rod of God exalted, they would win. In the end, Moses had kept the rod exalted and the Isrealites prevailed.

In Joshua 10, Joshua was leading the Isrealites and came against trouble with the kings of the Amorites. There was no rod but he understood how God functioned. He knew that if God was exalted that victory was at hand. So, he told the sun to stand still. The sun and the rod were both representations of God to those people. When Joshua had no rod, he didn’t worry because he knew that the rod was not the point. The point was to make sure that God was exalted. So, he found the same God in a new form that was relevant to where He was and he gained victory. I am not saying that there are many paths to God. I am saying that the ways that God can show up are infinite. We relegate ourselves to form status when we began to assume that we have figured God out. What happens to the next generation if we don’t teach them the principle behind the things we do? We have them trusting in objects and not focusing on the objective of God. When God’s objective becomes our focus we allow ourselves to see God use different things to get the job done. Why buy a beautiful car with no engine? Why buy into a system with no results? Choose function, choose power, choose God! Stay on The Path.

About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007. Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God. An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010. Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’ book. 

Now, in studying, I did find that Vashti came from a royal lineage. The thing is the royalty that she was associated with had been conquered. So, with all of her royal blood, it meant nothing until she married into a family that still had power.

As much power as you think you have, you’ve got to remember you only have it because you married into the family. We are the bride of Christ. Without our bridegroom, we are nothing. His great love for us has empowered us to be people of affluence and influence. It is nothing that we have done. It is all Him. If we forget that, then we land ourselves in the seat of Vashti. We allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in what we are doing that when God calls us to do something we tell Him no. I am reminded of a scripture, Isaiah 45:9, that says, “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?” Just because God graced you with a position you never gain the ability to second guess His instructions.

This is the Vashti complex. It is a mindset that believes it has arrived but forgot the means by which it got there. Unfortunately, this is something that is happening quite a bit in the body of Christ. We have people that have been called to preach and have forgotten just who called them. They’re trying to strike a compromise with God about something that He’s told them to do because it is possibly an inconvenience for them. See, the thing we must be careful of is being graced with a position then not seeking the Lord about what we are to do when we get there. When we began to make our own plans in a place where God has put us, disappointment is surely to come. Why? There is a purpose for the reason God positioned you where he did. If you fail to plan based around the purpose of God, when it is time for His purpose to be made manifest it will incite a struggle between your will and God’s will.

God positions us strategically for His purpose. We must never lose sight of that purpose and get beside ourselves. We must walk in obedience. Our ears and hearts must be sensitive to the voice and move of God if we desire to stay in the position that He has given us. In the words of Beyonce, “don’t you ever for a second get to thinking, you’re irreplaceable.” Stay on The Path.

 __________________________________________________________________

About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007. Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God. An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010. Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’ book. 
 

The favor of God graces you with a gift or an assignment or a call. Gaining favor with man often has everything to do with how graciously you handle the God given assignment, gift or call. Favor has become the irrevocable backstage pass in some of our sermons. We have screamed that the enemy cannot hold you back because of the favor of God that is on your life. While it is true that the enemy cannot defeat you if God is for you, it is important that we understand that we can’t act unruly just because we are favored.

What I love about Esther is that when God graced her to be on a platform that should’ve been unheard of for her, she acted humble. This is what we must learn to do. When God graces us with a platform, we cannot become haughty. We must remain humble of spirit because it is this humility that will cause man to see the gift of God that is in us. Now, they want to help us so that the gift, the call, the purpose that has been placed on our lives can be fulfilled. When Esther found favor with the Eunuch, he made sure that Esther received special care. Esther received more beauty treatments than the rest of the girls. He gave her special food. He assigned her seven maids, the number of completion, selected from the king’s palace. Then, he moved her and her maids to the best place.

It is amazing what doors will be open to us if we would learn to walk in humility. It was the grace of God that landed her in the palace. Furthermore, it was God that allowed her to be under the care of Hegai. Yet, it was her countenance that gained Hegai’s favor. You never know who God has assigned to help you get to your purposed place. This is why it is so important to always walk with the understanding that no matter how high I go, I’m only here by the grace of God. Stay humble! Stay on The Path!

To purchase your copy of Calvin J. Walker’s hit debut book, The Gallery, please go to booklocker.com/books/4374.html 

 __________________________________________________________________

About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007. Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God. An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010. Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’ book.

In order for the body of Christ to truly advance, we must move past this work based faith and their wealth based rewards. We must understand that favor may come with benefits but above all it comes with instructions. In the bible, favor is often used interchangeably with the word that we know to be grace. What is grace? Webster’s describes it as unmerited (not earned) divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification. Another definition is approval.

One of my favorite scriptures comes in the form of Psalm 41:11. It says, “By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.” In this scripture favor means desire. This is one of the most profound statements in the bible. I know that He desires me because in the midst of all that I have gone through He hasn’t allowed my enemies to triumph over me. Being favored of God does not always mean that you are wealthy but it does mean that He has approved you and will cause you to triumph in the midst of adversity.

Favor is not this fanciful, spiritual credit card that you can go swipe when you want something. We have attempted to use it like that though. We go to the car lot and try to swipe our favor even though He never told us to go. We go into different endeavors and try to use favor even though it was not His will for our lives. But, because we have not understood the principal of favor we have become frustrated. Favor is God’s desire for your life. When people are favored to do something they have the approval and assistance of God to accomplish a task that He created them for. And, because they are abiding in the obedience of their call, you will see these people walk in the blessing and benefits of the Lord. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” God’s righteousness is that which He approves.

So, when you are walking in the place that the Lord desires you to walk in you will be blessed. However, it won’t just be because you have this magical favor. It will be because you are walking in obedience to the word and will of God for your life. Stick around, next time we will discuss some people of favor and see how their obedience or disobedience worked out for them. Walk in God’s purpose for your life. Stay on the Path!

About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007. Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God. An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010. Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’ book.

All throughout the bible it is apparent that God’s blessings have a way of hitting nations, families and groups of people that are dwelling in unity. Psalm 133 states, “¹How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!  ² It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. ³ It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

As we see in the scripture, the Lord bestows His blessing when His people are dwelling together in unity. This is not just an Old Testament thing. We can go over to Acts 2:1. On the Day of Pentecost, all the believers were together in one place. The sound came from heaven and filled the whole house. In the Greek, the word for whole is holos. It means that all parts are present and working as a whole.

We have desired the move and power of God. However, we have been walking around extremely DIM. All the parts of the body are not present. All of the parts are not working as a whole. The “greater works” power from God has not come because we are not operating properly. It doesn’t matter if you have a great gift with no power. It doesn’t matter if you have a large congregation but it causes no change. We have been so worried about our needs and our stuff and our things that we have forgotten that we don’t have to do this alone. Ministry is hard enough without shouldering any extra burdens. We have attempted to go at this alone too long. The body of Christ must operate as a unit. We must operate as one. If you have a mindset that you don’t need anyone your vision is dimmed. This is not a good place to be. You’ve got to get back to a place where you realize the need to be connected with your fellow brothers and sisters. You can’t afford to forsake the fellowship of the bretheren if you truly want to see the success that God had in store for you. That fellowship keeps you sharp and strengthened and in-line. The enemy would seek to move you out of fellowship because he wants you to walk in error. But, I’ve come to tell you, no matter who you are, that you are too important to the rest of us for us to allow you to walk in error. The body of Christ must be the unified front that God is calling it to be. Words like “my” and “mine” must be traded in for “ours” and “we.” For it is then, when we have our hearts set to seek after His kingdom that we will see true manifestation. And, the blessing of the Lord will be bestowed upon His people. Stay connected. Stay on The Path!