John the Revelator wrote to the seven churches in Asia, what Jesus Christ revealed to him through an angel. In John’s letter to the church in Laodicea, he cautioned the church against being lukewarm. The church struggled with materialism which had separated them from God. “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

Material wealth is not a sign of spiritual blessing, neither is poverty a symbol of a close relationship with God. God’s desire is that we prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). It is when the accumulation of money and material wealth becomes our primary focus, that we become out of balance. Money is not evil but the love of money leads to evil, especially when people will compromise their values to make money. This includes compromising their relationship with God.

John’s counsel was that the church should buy gold which is refined by fire, white garments to clothe themselves to cover the shame of their nakedness and ointment to heal their eyes from blindness (Revelations 3:18). The message from Jesus means, that they should seek to have faith tried by fire which is much more precious than gold. That city was known for its manufacturing of white garments and eye ointments to treat eye diseases.

The garments were worth a lot materially but was not enough to cover their sins, neither had the physical ointments treated their spiritual blindness. In essence Jesus was asking the question; “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul” (Mark 8:36)?

I believe that God wants his people to prosper and this includes financial prosperity. We have to submit ourselves to God and remember that it is he who gives us the ability to gain wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). As such, we should not compromise our relationship with God to acquire wealth. We allow God to teach us Kingdom principles of wealth creation and allow what we own to bring glory to God.

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My Dad always says, “there are no empty spaces in life. You are either serving God or you are serving the Devil.” There are modern ideas which suggests that there is good and evil in everyone. There is also an ancient Chinese philosophy called yin and yang which relates to dualism. This suggests that opposite forces such as good and bad or light and darkness can be complimentary or interdependent. I was at a training at work where colleagues suggested that everyone possessed a Jekyll and Hyde character. This relates to where people have two different sides to their personality where one is typically good and the other is evil.

Paul said in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” John also said in the New Testament, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). However, John further explained that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). What this means is that once we confess Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, then we become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

When we become the righteousness of God, we are no longer sinners. We were sinners but we are now saved by grace. This is because Jesus died and nailed to the cross every sin that we ever committed or will ever commit. Once we confess him as Lord and allow him to be Lord of our lives then we are his righteousness.

We no longer have a reason to limp between two positions and consider ourselves good and evil. We sit on the side of righteousness in Christ Jesus and we renounce all that is evil. Darkness has no place among light as light covers darkness.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:14)?

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In our last devotion, we discussed the concept of neutrality and explored how this is sometimes linked to people pleasing. Today we will consider the term advocacy and consider what role the church has to play in this area. An advocate is someone who publicly supports a cause or who champions a case on someone’s behalf. Lawyers are considered advocates as they attend courts to present a case on behalf of a client.

John makes reference to Jesus Christ being an advocate for the church. The encouragement is that we do not fall into sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate in the person of Jesus. “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). A propitiator is someone who stands in the gap to appease or make amends for the wrongs done by others.

Our aim and assignment is to be like Jesus and to do greater works than he did. This often means standing in the gap for the less fortunate and being a voice for people who do not have a voice. There are many groups of people in the world who are disproportionately affected by poverty and discrimination. The church cannot afford to be silent on issues that affect the marginalised and oppressed. Neither can the church choose only to be vocal around issues that encourage ‘religious posturing’ such as abortion.

We are salt and light. Light cannot be hidden but shines brighter in the darkness. We are the salt of the earth and salt preserves and adds flavour to what would otherwise be bland and tasteless (Matthew 5:13-16). The church represents the heartbeat of the world and it is our presence on earth which keeps the devil from having complete dominion.

Our prayers are powerful and effective and we have a role to play in prayer for our nations and the world. However, there are circumstances when we have to do more than praying. Some occasions require a helping hand or a voice crying out to the darkness to stand back and allow the light to shine through.

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

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The concept of neutrality relates to being impartial and choosing not to take sides during a conflict. This position is appropriate for circumstances such as the beginning of a trial. A judge or a team of jurors need to be seen as impartial in order to judge a case fairly. It is at the end of the trial when the judge and jurors need to make a judgement. At this time they need to make a decision for or against either side and determine which side was wrong.

Oftentimes people suffer from people pleasing habits which makes them want to be liked by everyone. The problem with this trait is that you run the risk of sitting on the fence. As it relates to matters of injustice and inequality, we do not get the benefit of remaining neutral. Being silent or non committal when wrongs are being committed makes us culpable. “There is a time to keep silent and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

There are situations when we do not have the benefit of neutrality. Isaiah said, “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17). God is not a neutral God and Jesus did not take the ‘path of least resistance.’ Jesus would very often ‘call a spade a spade’ and his forthrightness put him in direct conflict with the religious leaders.

There is nothing easy about Christianity. It is a misconception to think that God wants us to walk around pretending to be perfect little Christians who do not see colour or do not see evil. We look for the good in others but there are times when we have to acknowledge evil and injustice. When we see injustice, we have to do what Isaiah said; seek justice and correct oppression.

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).

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This current struggle that you are facing has your deliverance wrapped up in it. God will use this process to expose your weakness in order to bring you healing. Yes, it’s all working together for his glory and he will help you to handle it.

God gives us strength to overcome temptation. The acknowledgement of our frailty and limitations, allows God’s strength to work in us to make us complete and strong in him. We possess a much greater strength than we think and the testing of our faith develops patience. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4).

Through Christ we can do all things and his strength made perfect in or weakness produces righteousness. Our help comes from the Lord and we find peace in his presence. When we wait on him he gives us strength to endure. I will wait on him for from him comes my salvation. My help comes from the Lord and struggles along with his strength produces maturity. God is with you in this test and he is strengthening you. Hold on to him and let him work in you to overcome. He will help you to endure it.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬).

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What do you do when you feel bombarded by circumstances? How do you cope when unexpected challenges come knocking at your door? There is nothing that takes God by surprise and he is waiting to help you out of this difficulty. In fact, he already has the answer and a way of escaping this trial.

The answers to prayer don’t always come on the same day when we pray. In Daniel’s case, he waited twenty one days and then an angel came to reveal to him what had held up the answer. “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia” (Daniel 10:13). In this story, the angel gives Daniel insight into what takes place in the heavenly realms above the earth. Daniel gets a glimpse into a type of warfare that we often cannot see with our physical eyes.

There are demonic forces assigned to try to frustrate our advancement. There are principalities and powers that will try to hold back, delay or derail the blessings that God has in store for us. It was Daniel’s persistent prayers and fasting which released the answer. We are not giving up on getting what God has in store for us.

We learn to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We continue to pray and remain alert (Colossians 4:2). When the problem appears stubborn we persist and we add much fasting and prayer. (Matthew 17:21).

The reality is that we will not give up, throw in the towel, back down or surrender. We are standing on the promises of God and daily declare what the word says. We will wait in faith and hold unto hope beyond hope that God will answer and come to our defence.

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Jesus told his disciples that whatever they asked the father for in his name, that it would be given to them. Jesus stated that until that time, they had not asked for anything. He encouraged them to ask and receive so that their joy may be full. (John 14:23-24).

God desires that we prosper and be in good health and he will not hold back any good thing from us who walk in righteousness. He promises to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). James’s letter to the church warns that they do not have because they do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (James 4:2-3).

As long as our desires line up with the will of God, then our request will be granted. If our desires are for good things so that we can help others and help to advance the kingdom of God, then we know that God will grant our requests. As long as our desires are not purely to fulfill our selfish ambitions of greed and pride, God will hear our prayers.

Tell God your request so that he can supply your needs. He wants us to have joy and peace and he does not want us to live with anxiety and fear. God is waiting for you to ask. Pray and tell God what you need and then wait for the answer.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬).

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It was a mystery that Daniel and his friends looked better after ten days, when they did not eat the meat and wine from the King’s table. It was their sacrifice that caused the favour of God to fall upon them. Favour caused their appearance to be more favourable, than those who revelled in excesses. God will visibly manifest his grace towards us because of our sacrifice and praise to him. As we sacrifice our bodies to him, his grace will manifest through us.

It was grace that caused Daniel to have influence with the Chief of the Eunuchs, who agreed to Daniel’s request not to eat the meat and drink the wine. This was even though the Chief feared the King and was worried that if their appearance was worst off, that this could cost him his head (Daniel 1:10).

Nevertheless he trusted Daniel’s word and agreed to test what he said for 10 days. And in the end their appearance was better. Not only did Daniel and his friends look better in appearance, they stood out in other areas over their peers. “And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom” (Daniel 1:20).

We pray for favour that our appearance will be like that of Daniel and his friends. Favour will cause us to stand out among others and God will cause us to have influence. God will cause us to walk in dominion, so that even when we are asking for what may be outside of the norm, the answer will be yes. “So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬).

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Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived in Babylon during the captivity of the Jews by King Nebuchadnezzar. In the second year of his reign, the King had terrifying dreams and suffered from insomnia. He summoned the magicians, sorcerers and enchanters and demanded that they not only tell him what he had dreamt, but also the interpretation. The magicians were bewildered and told the King that what he was asking them to do was impossible. They requested of the King to tell them his dream so that they could give the interpretation (Daniel 2:1-7).

The King was adamant that he would not share his dream. He had a reward for anyone who could reveal his dream and the interpretation. If none of the magicians or wise men could do what he had asked, the decree was that they would all be killed. This included Daniel and his friends who ranked as wise men within the kingdom. Daniel asked what had caused the King such fury. When he learnt of the King’s request, he asked the King for time to give him an answer about his dream and the interpretation (Daniel 2:8-16).

Daniel and his friends prayed to God for mercy and prayed for revelation of the mystery concerning the King’s dream. “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven” (Daniel 2:19). Daniel sought an audience with the King and shared the dream and the interpretation. The result was that Daniel was promoted and he also requested the promotion of his friends.

Daniel used the experience to witness to the King about who God is. Daniel told the King that the wise men, astrologers and sorcerers could not reveal the King’s dream. Daniel explained to the King that it was his God in heaven who revealed mysteries.

“he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:22).

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We belong to God as he has adopted us into his family and we are is precious children. God protects his children and defends those who call on his name. God will not stand by and allow the persecution of his people. If God is for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?

There are seasons of testing, trial and persecution as we share in the inheritance of God. “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans‬ ‭8:17‬). Our suffering is for righteousness sake and God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability. God does not cause temptation or test but he causes anything that the enemy brings against us to work out for our good.

There are seasons when we feel despondent, but Jesus told his disciples that the gates of hell cannot prevail against his church (Matthew 16:18). We represent the church and we acknowledge that the enemy will try to target us. The promise is that the weapons will be formed but they will not prosper against us (Isaiah 54:17).

Remember the next time that someone comes up against you, that they are coming against God. God is mighty to save, protect and defend those who are his children. When God provides you with a job, anyone who threatens that job, threatens what God has established. God will not allow anyone to interfere with the marriage that he has joint together. Our bodies are his temple and he has promised not to put any of the diseases of the enemy upon those who serve him. When God is fighting for you, then no one will come against you and prevail.

“What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time” (Nahum‬ ‭1:9‬).

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