NWM Blog

It’s amazing how God’s word can guide us in all issues of life. Scripture says that all we need for life and godliness is in him. So, in this blog there will be an express focus on the principle of Spiritual Leadership.

Honesty

Leviticus 19:11-13, Psalm 101:7, Proverbs 20:7 and Ephesians 4:25 are great scriptures about dealing honestly with others. Honesty is always non-negotiable with God. The Psalmist writes “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence” (Psalm 101:7, New International Version). So many people tell small little lies on their jobs and even in their business in order to gain an advantage or an edge but doesn’t please God.

Ephesians 4:25 tells us to avoid falsehood and always speak truth to our neighbors. In our business dealings we must avoid defrauding our customers, no matter what allure of quick profit might exist. Many business people lie to their customers in their advertisements, in order to sell their goods and services. God wants us to treat our customers and employees fairly because it glorifies him. We must be an open book in all our dealings.

As employers we must never unduly cut-off benefits and wages of employees, in order to increase our bottom-line. Transparency is extremely important in the process of honesty. There can’t be empty promises made to employees about promotions and other things because we misrepresent Christ when we operate that way. There should never be room for any type of employee discrimination or prejudice because it’s not a fair business practice and ultimately it displeases God.

-Seyi Ola

It’s amazing how God’s word can guide us in all issues of life. Scripture says that all we need for life and godliness is in him. So, in this blog there will be an express focus on the principle of Spiritual Leadership.

Spiritual Leadership

Moses: Exodus 33:8, Numbers 10:29, Exodus 14:13, Exodus 7:6 are great scriptures that display leadership principles from Moses. The scriptures reveal that leadership requires courage, confidence, clear vision/goal, transparency and obedience to God’s voice. Exodus 33:8 teaches us the principle of transparency, because it showed how Moses interacted with God. The people watched as he went, in and out of the “tent of meeting”. As leaders in today’s world our followers (employees/members) should be able to see our lives (before God and man). Our business practices have to be upright and transparent. As an employee at a job we should always live transparent life-style. People should be able to see our lives. Numbers 10:29 teaches us the principle of confidence. Moses was extremely clear and confident about God’s direction for the people. Moses told his father-in-law come with us and we will do you good. Moses was confident and decisive because he was sure of Gods’ directives. We need more leaders that are confident when making decision. Leaders that can provide clear directives are very important in today’s world. At our jobs we should be confident and clear in our decision making. Exodus 7:6 teaches us the principle of obedience. As a Christian employer or employee we should only do what God has prescribed for us to do in his word. All Christian employers or employees should follow and obey God’s word if they want to be successful. Many business owners/ leaders are now abandoning Judeo-Christian values for secular values and philosophies.

Deborah: Judges 4:6-16 reveals the principle of courage and example. Deborah led by example and courage. She led Israel into battle even-though she was a woman and judge. Barak was too afraid to lead the people into battle but God gave Deborah courage to lead by example. She wasn’t passive in her leadership but she was courageous and she showed a great example to her followers. At our jobs we should also lead by example. The world needs people that can lead with courage. Ultimately people only do what they see us do and not just what we say.

-Seyi Ola

It’s amazing how God’s word can guide us in all issues of life. Scripture says that all we need for life and godliness is in him. So, in this blog there will be an express focus on the principle of vows,promises and covenants

Vows, Promises & Covenants

Deuteronomy 23:23, 1 Kings 5:6-12 and Ecclesiastes 5:5 reveals’ the basic principles of covenants and vows in the context of life and business. The scriptures listed above, reveals what God expects from us when dealing with covenants and vows as we interact with others. God takes covenants and vows seriously because He is a covenant keeping God. Having a covenant keeping God definitely set the ancient Israelites apart because the people around them saw a God that always came through for the people. That same God is still the God of the New Testament church and He expects the Church to also proclaim him as a covenant keeping. We declare and proclaim God has a covenant keeping God, when we also keep our covenants, vows and promises to others. Moses tells us in Deuteronomy 23:23 says we should be careful to do what we have promised or vowed out of our mouth to do. When we make an agreement/commitment, it’s always before the Lord and He wants us to hold down up our end of the bargain. Whether it’s verbal or written, we must perform what we promised to do. Many businesses default on their loans in the name bankruptcy because tax laws permit it, but God still requires us to keep our word. Some business owners or persons think they can easily default on verbal agreements because it is not written contract but God still wants us to honor verbal agreements (this doesn’t mean written agreements shouldn’t be used. Actually it’s always wise to have written contract to avoid any confusions or ambiguity).

When King Solomon had to build the Temple to the Lord he entered into a working and economic agreement with King Hiram. I kings 5:6-12 reveal that these two kings entered into a fair-trade agreement with each other. King Solomon needed materials (cedars) and skilled laborers to build the Temple. In exchange for the labor and material, King Solomon had to provide food/agricultural produce for King Hiram. These two kings made these agreements and they kept their words even-though there weren’t any high powered lawyers present. Scripture even said that “there was peace between Hiram and Solomon and the two of them made a covenant” (1 Kings 5:12b, New American Standard Bible). The two kings saw the verbal agreement they made as a covenant and not just a mere promise. A lot of nations and companies that have trade agreements can learn a lot from Hiram and Solomon. They never defaulted or defrauded each other. When we are honest and fair with others there will be more blessings at jobs and businesses.

-Seyi Ola

It’s amazing how God’s word can guide us in all issues of life. Scripture says that all we need for life and godliness is in him. In the next few paragraphs their will be an express focus on principle of biblical stewardship 

Biblical Stewardship

Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 12:42 and Luke 16:1-2, reveals the basic principles of biblical stewardship. Biblical stewardship reveals that accountability and responsibility are essential to managing or owning a business. On a personal level, I believe all I own belongs to the Lord. Every successfully career or business has to be anchored on the principle of stewardship. Beyond profit or gain all business or job must be treated as a calling from God. If God has called us, we must be ready to answer to his will.

When I was in campus ministry, my wife and I managed two university ministries. There were a lot of responsibilities but through it all we maintained an attitude of stewardship. Even though we had a great level of autonomy, we still made our self’s accountable to God and our pastor. My wife and I always endeavored to go above the call of duty. Our ministry didn’t have much finance or students, but through the grace of God we were able to grow spiritually, numerically and financially within two years of our leadership. As we reflect back on this time, none of these things would have been accomplished without God’s grace and stewardship. Part of stewardship is also minimizing wastefulness. The things entrusted into our care can only operate efficiently when we minimize wastefulness (skills/talents, time, and money).

Now, Psalm 50:10-12 and Haggai 2:8 reaffirms’ the belief that God owns every that is present in nature and our environment. There is nothing that we that possess that doesn’t belong to God, even the money that we have earned (from our jobs and businesses) belong to him. The prophet Haggai writes thousands of years ago “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:8, New International Version). Whatever money that is earned from our business ventures needs to be handled properly.

One of the areas we typically struggle to display stewardship is in the area of finances. If we don’t appropriate our businesses and jobs as part of God’s creation, it will be almost impossible to envision God as the proprietor of the money earned from our ventures.

-Seyi Ola

In the wake of the lives that were lost in Newtown, Connecticut. America is really hurting right now. It has to be one of the worst news that we have ever heard as a nation since September 11th, 2001. As we watched on our T.V's and listen to the radio our hearts became weighted down with sorrow. Many of us were asking why? But we can't seem to find an answer to this tragedy.

It is incredibly difficult to know what entered into Adam Lanza mind before committing this heinous crime but one thing is clear the enemy was at work. Its extremely sad that so many people lost their lives, especially those precious little children.

The saddest thing about this tragedy is the loss of potential and the loss of innocence. For the little kids that were murdered by Adam Lanza they will never fulfill the potential for which they were created. These kids could have been Pastors, Lawyers, Doctors, Parents, Inventors.......but now the world will never know what they could have contributed to the universe. Just as aborted babies are stripped of there chance at life, so the kids at Sandy Hook Elementary School are forever stripped from the chance of fully experiencing life.

For the kids that were lucky enough to survive this vicious attack, their innocence is for ever lost. Many of these kids are so scared and they don't even know how to process death. It is so unfair to this young kids to be stripped of their innocence but this is the reality they must face. My prayer is that the Lord will guide the parents to know what to say to their children

In the midst of all the loss of potential and innocence, Isaiah 61:1-4 , is the best description that defines the proper role and response of the church in the aftermath of this tragedy.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,a]"

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

-Seyi Ola

Wow I can't believe that it is only 30 minutes to the New Year(2012) on the East Coast. God has seen NWM through a lot of fablous things. We started the year with Big Dreams in missions and missions training. By the grace of God we were able to send 2 disciples to the Nations, a success missions training and we even organized a success local missions trip to Chicago, Illinois. 

This is year also brought about the inception of our church plant/missions center plant. God also gave tremendous access to some universities in Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Over all we can say that NWM went through a great moment of clarity this year.  As we travelling back to Washington DC from our Chicago Missions trip we had a defining vistation from the Lord. 

This vistation affirmed our priority and focus as a ministry. We believe this divine vistation has set our path for 2012 and beyond. We know that 2012 will have many challenges but we know that Lord will see his people through. 

-Seyi Ola

Peace-making Vs. Peace-Keeping

Over the last few months, I have been looking at the state of the world. There is just a lot of turmoil around the world-Wars, Disasters, Protests, Shootings, Revolutions etc. So, I asked the question, where is the peace?

This question drives me to consider and ponder what my biblical response should be. So, I am led to one central response as it relates to Peace. God is calling us to make peace and not just keep peace. There are so many peace-keeping forces around the world, whether it is the UN or NATO but true peace can only come through the person of Christ. As I have travelled through parts of the Middle-East , there is one common tread in people minds, that is peace.

Peace can't be produced through human efforts. If the prince of peace(Jesus Christ-Isaiah 9:6) doesn't live in our hearts we can never have peace nor make peace. If we have Christ in our hearts we are to enter every arena of society and bring the peace of God through a "Gospel Lifestyle". Christians(True Followers of Christ) should be the one to make peace in society. InMatthew 5:9 Jesus proclaims on the sermon on the mount "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." When the peace of God has invaded every aspect of our being then whatever we touch we will bring the peace of God that surpasses all understand. It is important to note that when God talks about peace, it doesn't mean that all conflicts will vanish from the earth but the promise is that in the middle of chaos there will peace that invades us and surrounds us(John 14:27).

As I close out this blog entry, there are 2 important points we have to remember if we are to be conduits of peace:

1. True Peace comes from God(Job 22:21, 2 Thess. 3:16, Psalm 85:8, Romans 15:13)

2. We have to purse peace; peace is not a given(Hebrews 12:14)

-seyi ola

This blog entry comes from one of my old diary entry from 2 years ago.  As I was reading the book of Amos, I was reminded of a conversation I had with my friend a few years back. Our conversation was about how sometimes people operate in the spiritual  gifts listed in Ephesians 4 (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher) in an unconventional manner.For instance, I have met Apostles operating in the government sector, Evangelists in sales/ in the music industry, Pastors in counseling  & Teachers in educational sector.  

In Amos chapter 7, Amaziah the priest of  Bethel was sent by king Jeroboam to threaten Amos to keep is mouth shut. Amos responses to the threat by saying " I am not a prophet, neither am I the son of a prophet. I am just to a herdsman and farmer whio was sent to prophesy to the house of Isreal(paraphrased words)".

Eventhough Amos is regarded as one of the prophets in Isreal's history.  Amos just saw himself as a simple herdsmen been used by God. He operated in his prophetic gifting/office from an unconventional position. This is so refreshing to see people like Amos in scripture.

 Amos exemplifies 2 things :

1. First,  God can use anyone inspite of their past or background
2. Second,  you can operate in your God given spiritual gifts without any classical training(extensive theological training) or conventional religious  practices/mechanics (orthopraxy)

My prayer is that we all become herdsmen-prophets in our generation. No matter what our day-jobs are we can still be used in our giftings for the Lord.

.

-Seyi Ola

Day 21:  Release Revival :Part 3

Qoute of the Day-" The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him." (D.L. Moody,upon hearing this challenge said, "I will try my utmost to be that man.") "

As we conclude this 21 days of prayer and fasting, the quote above really inspires me. Throughout this 21 days we have been consecrating ourselves to the Lord and I believe that God will use us mightily amongst the young people of Chicago.

So, pray for another revival to sweep through the churches of Chicago. We pray that revival will be sparked in southside Chicago through the hip hope outreach. Pray for revival to break out among young people, in elementary, middle school, high school & colleges etc. Ask the Lord to raise up dedicated young Christians who will become a voice to reform their various sphere of influence. Lets pray that God will help us raise up more churches in Chicago that will keep the the fire of revival burning through prayer~ Ps 85:6; Psalm 145:4-6, 11-13

Day 20:  Release Revival-part2 

Qoute of the Day-" Christ showing up in an extraordinarily powerful new way, to significantly overthrow the status quo and establish the claims of His kingdom afresh" - Steve Hawthorne

Pray for another revival to sweep through the churches of Chicago. We pray that revival will be sparked in southside Chicago through the hip hope outreach. Pray for revival to break out among young people, in elementary, middle school, high school & colleges etc. Ask the Lord to raise up dedicated young Christians who will become a voice to reform their various sphere of influence. Lets pray that God will help us raise up more churches in Chicago that will keep the the fire of revival burning through prayer~ Isaiah 57:15 , Psalm 138:7, Habakkuk 3:2