Your disciplined life showcases God’s grace in holiness. Arising in your calling has various aspects that should ignite your enthusiasm. Firstly, you are called to make Jesus known to the world.

Looking at Daniel 1:4-20, it becomes clear that taking care of your body and enriching your mind with knowledge relevant to your calling is crucial. How you present yourself and your intellect plays important roles in interactions.

Challenges are common, especially at the beginning of your calling, like Daniel faced. Consider the ways you might stumble and remember that God, who loves you, provides a way out when you endure temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Lastly, remember not to take credit for your achievements. Give glory to God, and in situations where you’re tempted to seek glory for yourself, point people back to God.

In the opening verse of the book of Jonah, we find a precise description of who he is. This underscores that God’s callings are never arbitrary; He knows precisely whom He calls. God, in His infinite wisdom, considers every strength and weakness when making His selection. Just as God’s meticulous design is evident in creation and humanity, He’s also aware of every detail in the assignment He has entrusted to you. This knowledge carries significant implications.

In verse 2, the word “arise” holds particular significance. In this context, “arise” means to stand up, embrace, and walk in the gifts and calling that God has bestowed upon us. Ephesians 5:14 emphasizes that there is light for those who arise in their calling. Moreover, Matthew 5:16 states that your good works are only visible when your light shines. It’s crucial that Christ’s light radiates through your actions. Job’s introduction in Job 1:1 and 8 highlights that his light preceded any mention of his possessions or abilities. This light is the fear of God; thus, your primary attribute should be the fear of God.

The fear of God is intimately linked with holiness. Holiness doesn’t imply the absence of sin but rather being set apart from the common. The challenge isn’t being in the world but being of the world, blending in with others (as mentioned in John 17:14-15). You can only make a meaningful impact when the difference is unmistakable. This must be evident outside the confines of the church, as people will follow your example when they perceive this difference.

In conclusion, making a genuine impact in the world necessitates being set apart to draw others to Christ. You must rise in your calling by revering God and embracing holiness. Extremes can hinder your calling, as Satan is an extremist, whereas God embodies balance. Disruption of this balance leads to disharmony. Satan may push you to extremes. On one hand, you might become overly “religious,” making it hard to connect with people you want to help find salvation. On the other hand, you could swing too far in a “carnal” direction, unintentionally getting in the way of others. Striking a balance between holiness and being relatable is essential.

When we align ourselves with God’s perfect Will for us in a season, we position ourselves to receive His provision. With that said, there is no provision without alignment in our position. A lack of position will manifest as a rush to pursue many avenues in order to find provision in many pursuits, which is hardly what God wants for us. However, when we stay in a God-inspired position that meets the requirements of our needs, we benefit from a clear direction that adjusts our posture.

Our only task as sons and daughters is to seek first and foremost the Kingdom of God, and everything else will be provided for (Matthew 6:33).

It is counterproductive to seek provision while being out of position (see James 4:3). That is why a person out of position will always be out of God’s provision as it is withheld. To elicit our position as sons and daughters, we must abide in God’s Word and let it abide in us as well, so that our desires align with His Will (see Psalms 37: 4).

Since God uses people to provide for His children, our relationship with people is also important. God works in such a way that He uses man in order to help us get to our destiny and to help us carry our burdens along the way. For this, He has graced our journeys with two types of relationships: destiny helpers and burden bearers, the people who stand by us in difficulties. The story of Christ demonstrates that even He had burden bearers in the likes of Mary Magdelein and John (Matthew 3:13; John 19:25).

It also creates in us a teachable spirit that allows us to listen to God’s commands regarding how to live. Lest the earth and everything in it close up to us, cutting off provision (read Leviticus 18:26-28).

Brokenness, the third key, is an attitude of always needing God no matter where one stands. It is the attitude that enables us to never grow independent of God no matter how high we rise. Psalms 51:17 illustrates how brokenness is a posture to be positioned in.

Tithing represents the fifth key. In Malachi 3:8, the number “ten” means “all”. Thus, when we give 10% of our tithe, we are actually giving God our all. Additionally, when we don’t tithe, we are not just robbing God but ourselves too (read Malachi 3:8-10 and 1 Corinthians 6:19). Money has power, but when the tenth is offered to God in our tithes, He gives us authority over the rest.

In conclusion, provision is rooted in the notion of one’s positioning within the Kingdom of God. The significant role of one’s stance in relation to God’s Will provides the foundation for the blessings and divine abundance we have in Christ. By considering the above-mentioned keys, we can seek not only fulfillment for ourselves in God but also a deeper understanding of our relationship with God. Remember, provision is not solely an outcome of one’s actions but a product of being in alignment with God’s Will. Therefore be positioned for provision.

Understanding the mandate of the Benjamin generation requires looking at the relationship between Jesus Christ, Joseph, and Benjamin. Drawing parallels between Joseph and Christ reveals their shared experiences of rejection by their own families. Both Joseph and Christ eventually became the bread of life for those who rejected them – in Egypt and on the cross, respectively (see John 6: 35-36 and Genesis 43:31).

Genesis 43 shows that without Benjamin’s presence in Joseph’s dealings with his brothers, the crisis escalates, favor is lost, and the consequences become more severe. This situation is linked to the concept of grace, symbolized by the number 5 in the Bible. Several clues in the Bible points to an account of Grace as symbolized by the number 5 in the stories of Noah, Ruth and King David (see Genesis 43: 34, Genesis 5: 28-32, Ruth 2: 10).
Just as Benjamin received five times more, God intends to use the fivefold of grace to address the moral and spiritual decline in the world.

Similar to how Benjamin received five changes of clothes from Joseph, Jesus Christ has clothed this generation with an overarching anointing that guarantees prosperity through His presence. As we learn from Joseph’s story, prosperity is not defined by our physical condition, nor is wealth determined by what we claim ours, but it is partnership with God that gives good success to the Benjamin generation, whether in ministry or in the various domains of life; testifying to the unbeliever of the assurance of God’s absolute involvement in the lives of those who choose to serve Him in these last days.

Reading Psalms 103:5, we understand that what characterizes the Benjamin generation’s youth, it is the fact that God renews it. Young and old are therefore qualified to serve God and He is willing to use us to share the Gospel. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is far more valuable than anything the world offers.

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well teaches us that during difficult times, people tend to divert their attention from reality by engaging in a variety of activities that are disguised as leisure.

In summary, the Benjamin generation is marked by love, compassion, and a deep commitment to serving God’s Kingdom. They live in the finished work of Christ, extending grace and salvation to a fallen world. It’s an invitation to claim your place in this generation and be part of a powerful movement of God.

Receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior means actively being out and about for the Kingdom of God. This involves a genuine passion for and involvement in the salvation of others. A born-again Christian willingly participates in various ministry activities, such as sharing the Gospel, caring for the sick, engaging in youth events, evangelistic campaigns, or contributing tithes and offerings.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s often the things we hold dear that can challenge our surrender to Jesus Christ. For example, our wealth, as mentioned in Matthew 19:20-21, or our family and close relationships, as highlighted in Exodus 32:29, may stand between us and our growth in Christ. Other potential challenges may include our personal goals and desires.

Being out and about for Christ also includes contributing to the Kingdom of God through service and worship. God, as our loving Father, not only provides for our daily needs but also grants us wisdom. He uses times of prosperity to prepare us for times of need, as seen in Genesis 41:28-36. Giving can be challenging because it may seem like God always asks us to give during inconvenient times. However, when God calls us to give, He generously blesses us in return.

This not only garners favor among people on Earth but also accumulates treasures of eternal value in God’s Kingdom. Being out and about also means treating people well, even when we don’t immediately benefit from them. We may wonder, “Out and about but where?” Our natural inclination is to move away from crisis situations, but wisdom in crisis involves listening to where God wants us to be.

In conclusion, being out and about calls us to invest in the Kingdom of God. As the Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Safeguarding our hearts, as advised in Proverbs 4:23, entails investing our treasures in matters of God. This is the key to being good stewards of the resources in our lives, submitting them to God. Advancing the Kingdom of God is the most significant investment we can ever make.

It is not always important to learn everything, as choosing knowledge that is inappropriate for you could have disastrous consequences for you. In essence, it is more important to do what is correct for you than what is either beneficial or detrimental in the period of life you are currently experiencing. In Genesis 3:4, we see that the truth had been used by the devil to deceive Eve. The enemy is so cunning that he is capable of tricking you with the truth. Jesus’ ministry had not begun between the ages of 12 and 30 years old. If the time between these years is estimated, it took Jesus 18 years to develop a ministry that operates in 3 years. This is the core of growth; God always builds things slowly out of patience.

An infant Christian is one who has carnal thinking, making decisions based on what is happening in the physical world and basing their emotions on what they feel like doing or what they don’t. (see Romans 8:4-8). As a Christian, you must only depend on God and what concerns Him; in contrast, this kind of Christian depends on themselves. Reading John 21:18, we can see that growth follows submitting to the Holy Spirit, but if you are also resisting the voice of the Spirit, you may become stagnant. The issue here is not sin, but rather a refusal to develop and a preference for staying in ‘comfortable’ environments.

God is the only being that is omniscient and omnipotent. He is also the only one who can change people’s hearts daily (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). Not everyone has the capacity to experience love which is the fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22–23, that is only given by the Holy Spirit. Returning to what Paul was discussing in Corinthians, the milk he was referring to is essential. It is a foundation that is based on God’s love. Thus, you won’t submit to the Holy Spirit if you lack love. Hence you should not not only be impressed by someone’s oratory—look at the fruit instead, which is love—to determine whether they truly love God.

As a seed becomes completely visible after its fruits are produced and so is the fruit of the Spirit. When others start to notice the fruits of the Spirit in you, you are a Christian who is showing these characteristics. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, these fruits will be created in you; in fact, abiding by the Spirit will cause this to happen. According to 1 Corinthians 3:10–14, focusing on verse 12; any edifice created based on wealth, knowledge, or anything else is doomed to failure and only becomes valuable when it is based on Jesus Christ. Your thoughts should be based on a desire to advance God’s kingdom. Without faith, you have no business looking for earthly goods (see Philippians 4:8; 2 Peter 1:5-8).

In Genesis 2:8, we find the Lord God planting a garden in the eastern part of Eden and placing man, Adam, within it. This garden, the Garden of Eden, symbolizes God’s presence, and it was the initial dwelling place for man. At this stage, God’s presence was external; Adam could see God but had not yet fully experienced Him within.

Here, God’s presence is invisible but internal. He dwells within us, making us carriers of His divine presence. In Romans 5:19, the apostle Paul discusses how we were initially disqualified through Adam’s disobedience but became qualified through Jesus’s obedience in His crucifixion and resurrection.

Rest signifies that everything necessary has already been provided. When you strive to do everything with your own strength, it reveals a lack of trust in God’s provision. Instead, position yourself to receive and experience the rest of God as you navigate life’s challenges. Your position will bring your provision.

The position that God has ordained for you is what leads to provision in your life—sitting down, and resting in Him. In John 6:10-11, before multiplying the bread, Jesus instructed the people to “sit down.” Those who received and benefited from the multiplied bread were the ones who obeyed and sat down. God desires you to find rest in Him.

For believers, this signifies the transformation of our minds into the New Shape through the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5). God’s original intention was for us to live in communion with Him and reflect His nature. While humanity initially fell short due to disobedience, Jesus Christ, the second Adam, came to restore God’s original plan through Salvation (John 5:18; Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-4).

This implies that we deviated from the Original Shape due to Adam’s disobedience, and now, with Salvation through faith in Christ, we must strive to Stay in that New Shape. Falling out of shape means losing three essential qualities God granted us at creation: dominion over self, connection, and intimacy with the Spirit of God, and dominion over the flesh. Dominion over self was initially granted to humanity. However, Adam’s disobedience disrupted this submission to God. In contrast, Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate, fully submitted to God and received dominion over all things in Heaven and on Earth. Nature itself obeys Christ because of His dominion.

In our fast-paced world, it’s essential to develop avenues for constant access to the Word of God. Seeking the kingdom of God means maintaining access to His Word and meditating on it regularly (Joshua 1:8). We have been given everything pertaining to life and godliness in Christ, ensuring we are not overwhelmed by worldly pursuits (2 Peter 1:3). The trajectory of our lives depends on the information we receive, making meditation on the Word of God a matter of life and death.

In the Old Covenant, believers had a limited understanding of God’s redemption plan and often misrepresented Him. However, Jesus Christ, in whom the Holy Spirit constantly rested, fully represented God on earth. His interactions demonstrated God’s character—merciful, forgiving, and loving. The Holy Spirit resting in Jesus magnified the Father’s glory in the Son.

The third spiritual asset lost outside the New Shape is dominion over the flesh. Our bodies continually wrestle with our spirits until Christ’s return.

The next part will help us shine a light on Jesus Christ and the key to staying in the presence of God. This will also be an opportunity to discover what is in for those who stay in the presence of God (see Psalms 91). The key of David is given to the Faithful Church of Philadelphia by Jesus Christ in His divine authority when He addresses the seven churches in the book of Revelations (Revelations 3:11). The question of “what is the key of David” then emerges. By comparing Matthew 16:19 to Revelation 3:7, 8, and 12, we can see that Jesus Christ not only possesses the key of David but also the keys of the kingdom [of God].

Now, keep this in mind, for such is the anointing residing in the concept of keys. Whilst 2 Samuel 7 reveals to us that the key of David is King Solomon, whom God ordained to build a Temple in Jerusalem in the Old Testament, we learn that the keys of the Kingdom that Christ gives to Simon Peter – those pertaining to His Temple like in the Old Testament – empowers His Church or any “two or three people gathered in His Name” to bind or loosen things on earth with God’s Authority. In the New Testament, the power of the keys of the Kingdom applies both to the Church on earth and the New Jerusalem to come, each representing the Kingdom of God (Revelations 3: 7-13).

What then grants such authority in the Keys of the Kingdom of God?
The answer resides in Him who holds the keys in both instances: Jesus-Christ. The revelation of the identity of Jesus Christ is the strongest foundation for one to stay in the presence of God. When we decipher the identity of Jesus Christ, we decipher our own identity in Him, and this always brings us to a place of thanksgiving. Whilst many confuse Jesus-Christ with a prophet whether it be John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or any other prophet, He still asks you today, “Who do you say I am?” in the same manner He asked His disciple Simon Peter (read Matthew 16: 14-16).

In conclusion, unpacking the mystery of Jesus Christ reveals that He is equal to God the Father. The revelation of the knowledge of who Christ is allows us to STAY IN the fullness of God! The Church of God received its Authority in heaven and earth through Christ (Matthew 28:18). As we gather in His Name, He has empowered us as His Church through the Keys of His Kingdom. As we sit in His presence, we are of those who dwell in His shelter, He remains our refuge and fortress forever (Psalms 91), Hallelujah!

People describe Jesus differently. Some describe Him as a modern prophet who was betrayed. Many describe Him as their Lord and Saviour, others call Him their “Bestie”. And, some only use His Name when swearing. But consider this, in a practical manner, one cannot benefit from an official if they do not acknowledge their authority. Who do you say Jesus Christ is to you? The best way to find out about Jesus is to open your Bible and read what He says He is. And If you do not acknowledge the fullness of Jesus Christ, you will never experience Him in His Fullness. When we carefully read John 8:48-59 we begin to build an accurate picture of who Jesus Christ says He is: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Looking into “I AM” translated from YHWH: In its original Hebrew pronunciation, it is a Word with no vowels, a sound of inhaling (first breath) and exhalation (last breath).

To further substantiate this read John 1:1-4, which helps us understand that “Everything came into being through the Word” and we exist because of Jesus Christ who is the Word. This helps us understand that at the beginning of our first breath (birth) and our last breath, Jesus will forever remain our source of life (as we read from John 1:1-4). This calls us to never cease giving thanks to God for giving us the breath of life. Even when we do not have much to say, we need to be thankful for the breath He has given us. The reason why God introduced Himself as “I AM” is because He wanted to reveal Himself through the entirety of His Son, Jesus Christ.

But for us, today through Christ, we are in communion with the Father, what a privilege for which we have to thank God daily. Jesus introduces Himself as “the Good Shepherd” (see John 10:11-18) and here are some qualities of a good Shepherd. Firstly, the good Shepherd leads His flock wherever He goes. We are the sheep as the Bible describes, whilst Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd. And in His function, He always ensures that He accompanies and leads us in every circumstance that He puts us in. And it is true that without the good Shepherd, our fate is to stray from His purpose, and it reverts us to the reality that we constantly in need of the good Shepherd to lead us in this life.

For that to happen, one has to be in the sheepfold and STAY in it. This entails following the good Shepherd, abiding in Him, in His Word, and His instructions. And when we are knowledgeable of His provision, we can claim it by turning to His Word, in His faithfulness and riches He will always supply for His Sheep. Jesus further introduces Himself as being the Vine (see John 15:1-5). In God simply existing, He had given believers or unbelievers, everything they’d need to live in this life (intelligence, health, gifts, skills) however the further one stays away from God, the less these are sustained by the Source (Jesus-Christ) and eventually dying out (see Psalms 127: 1). But for those who abide in Christ, the true Vine, together with what they build, bring forth fruits both in this life, in the Spiritual life as well as in the Life to come (i.e. Eternal Life).