Genesis 45:4-11 Today, it is from the amazing story of Joseph that we get our final two keys for thriving in 2012.

1. VALUE ADD ALWAYS
If anybody throughout history has ever had a reason to believe life was unfair, it certainly would be Joseph. Life just seemed to go from bad to worse. He endured a nightmare took place over 17 years! It must have felt like his whole youth was wasted. Unfair!

What is your response when life is unfair? When you feel taken advantage of? When things don’t work out like you think they should? Our natural response is to feel powerless and helpless. And then our survival instincts kick in. For some, it’s attack. We angrily look for someone to blame and bile about. For others it’s withdrawal; we shrink into our shells and just feel sorry for ourselves. Some of us respond with bitterness and suspicion.

Joseph’s response to life’s unfairness was completely different. In whatever difficult situation he found himself, he decided to add value. As a slave, he could have done his work sullenly and half-heartedly. Instead he chose to add value in his position. He decided to become the best houseboy ever! As a result, Gen.39:6 tells us that this senior government ‘left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate’/ Later on in prison, he could have chosen to complain and survive. But instead he decided add value by becoming the MVP (Most Valuable Prisoner). Gen.39:22 says, ‘So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there’. No wonder then that when he left the prison and was introduced to the king, Gen.41:41 says, ‘So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt”’. And 41.44 says ‘Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all of Egypt”’.

Along the road of his misfortune, Joseph developed an attitude that caused him to add value wherever he was, and as a result he thrived. His situation did not affect his attitude. He threw away the victim mentality that plagues many people in difficult times. As a result, even when success came, it just confirmed who he already was. A thriver! I learn from Joseph that thriving is not about your gifting or your position or your salary or the car you drive. There are people who will get all these things and yet remain fear-driven survivors. Thriving has nothing to do with the circumstances or challenges around you. But it has everything to do with the condition of your heart. My big takeout from Joseph is this:

You’ve got to thrive on the inside before you can thrive on the outside.

In your job, are you a victim of a bad boss, poor pay, difficult conditions, negative workmates, or glass ceiling? Are you known as a victim who complains and blames others? You’ve got to thrive on the inside before you can thrive on the outside!

To add value means opening your eyes to see what could be good or useful in your present situation. Joseph put his skills in leadership/administration to make his boss’ job easier. He used his ability to interpret dreams to solve problems for his fellow prisoners. These are the actions that later opened doors for him. A bad attitude could easily blind you to the opportunities around you.

You’ve got to thrive on the inside before you can thrive on the outside!

Even in the midst of harsh times, there is something that you can contribute. To add value, all you need is what you have in your possession currently. It’s not about what you don’t have or what you hope to have. You value by being the best using what you have. God is calling us to be solution providers wherever He has planted us. He is calling us to use the gifts and resources he has given us to make the world around us better despite the circumstances. You may not have financial resources but you have talents, skills and ideas to solve problems for others.

The second key to thriving in difficult times that we can learn from Joseph is…
2. ENJOY THE JOURNEY
Joseph had every reason to feel sorry for himself. But not once did he develop a negative attitude, complain, become bitter or play the victim. Why is this? It’s evident that Joseph understood that even in the difficult times, even when life was unfair, God was still in control. He realized that the outcome of his life would not be determined by his brothers’ betrayal, or by Potiphar’s unfairness, or by Potiphar’s wife’s lust! The outcome of his life would only be determined by God. This realization freed him from being so worried about how things would turn out and to thrive in the moment regardless of the circumstances.

Joseph lived in the moment. His thriving was not determined by his placement. He did not say ‘one day when I have a real job, I’ll really show how well I can work!’ He didn’t wait to get out of prison before he could use his leadership gifts, start networking or interpret dreams. And amazingly, those same gifts are what later made him an exceptional prime minister. By learning to manage the meager prison resources, he became qualified to handle the vast national resources. Tell your neighbor, ‘your income does not determine your outcome!’

When things are thick, many of us put our lives on hold. We become so obsessed with the past and how things could have turned out, OR with the future and how we wish things will turn out, that we MISS OUT on the opportunities and the lessons we could be learning in the here and now. You see, your inner attitude is what will determine whether you will see opportunity in every difficulty, or difficulty in every opportunity!

Many are missing precious moments of fun NOW because they are living in the ‘what ifs’. But what are the lessons God has for you in your situation now? Those who know that God is in control can enjoy the journey and thrive. They know that the end of the day, God will have the final word on how things will turn out. The outcome is assured. It is not up to your situation. You don’t have to be a victim of circumstances. You can have a perspective that says even in tough times, ‘I don’t know how this will work out but man I can’t wait to tell the story one day about how God delivered me!’

If Joseph had understood that all his tough times were God’s preparation for him to lead the world’s most powerful country and save his people, do you think it have made things easier? Probably! If you knew that God will use any difficulties that you will encounter in 2012 to prepare you for greatness, would that make you enjoy the journey more? I suspect so! So listen to this… Romans 8:28 says, ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love Hi, who have been called according to His purpose’. The hardships you are facing today, those circumstances that you could be despising today, are your school of preparation for a great tomorrow. God allowed it for a great deliverance! So relax, enjoy the journey; God is in control!

Today we want to look at the next two keys to thriving in a difficult year. We want to learn from a Please turn in your bibles to 2 Kings 7:3-11. This is a story about a nation that was going through very difficult times. And about a group of the most unlikely people – who somehow found a way to thrive in the midst of great difficulty.

The context to our reading is that the people of Samaria were living through the toughest time in their history as a nation. They had been attacked by a powerful enemy who had blockaded their borders, nothing could come in or go out of the city walls. Local food production was at zero leading to serious inflation. Things got so bad that a donkey’s head sold for the equivalent of 4500Ksh, and a handful of seed pods (ndengu) sold for 250Ksh. The very poor even began to practice cannibalism. This was desperation at a level never before experienced.

READ 2 Kings 7:3-11

Our reading tells introduces us to a group of 4 men who were in even worse situation than the other citizens. Because they suffered from a feared disease, they were not allowed into the city, even with the surrounding enemy. So they lived outside the city wall, huddling next to the city gates. Normally, they made a living by begging and scavenging through the garbage for food. But at a time when a donkey’s head was selling for 4500Sh, you can imagine that there was very little left over in the garbage for beggars! They came to the conclusion that for them to remain where they were was certain death. And they decided to take a risk together. It is from these unlikely people that we can learn two more keys to thriving in 2012

1. RELATE WISELY
It seems quite reasonable that in the face of the enemy attack, the city of Samaria was shut up. People in the city kept to themselves. They withdrew behind their strong stone walls and big wooden city gates. To the naked eye, it seemed as though their tough wall was doing a great job of protecting them. But the reality is that those walls only concealed the fact that they were dying slowly on the inside.

As I think about human nature, this seems like a very reasonable response. When people are going through tough times, many people’s natural response is to put up walls and shut others out. Let’s face it; when you’ve been fired from your job, or your business has fallen apart, or you’ve been ditched by your girlfriend, or you’re going through serious ‘issues’ in your marriage, or you’ve experienced a divorce or auctioneers are looking for you, the last thing you want is for people to know what you’re going through. So what do you do? Most people keep away from any social interaction. They are no longer seen in church and certainly not in Life-group.

Other people cover it up by dressing well. They pretend all is going well. ‘fake it till you make it’. Let me invite you to look cautiously around; is the person sitting next to looking VERY smart?

My point is that when times become difficult, people hide. We put up the walls & shut the gates: We’d rather die alone on the inside. But the interesting thing about these lepers is that they chose to do the exact opposite. They encouraged each other and they ventured out as a team. And as a result of their unity, they discovered a treasure that eventually saved their entire nation. And here’s our main point from this passage; no risk, no treasure!

These lepers teach us an important lesson; that we should never fly solo during times of hardship. Isolating ourselves in difficult times is a survival decision. But if you want to thrive in 2012, you cannot be like everyone else. You need to relate with others. From our passage, I can see at least two characteristics…

a. Friends That Stick With You – v.3 ‘They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die?”’ In these days of so called ‘social media’, many of us don’t have real friends; instead we have ‘Facebook friends’ and ‘Twitter followers’. In life as in virtual reality, it’s easy to be surrounded by a bunch of strangers: These are the friends who give you a lot of airtime when you’re doing well. But when things are not going well, you would never dare share it with them because you have to keep up that façade. So here’s a verse for those of you who have many friends on FB

Prov.18:24 says ‘A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother’. Who are the people in your life who you can share with when things are difficult? Those who will stick closer than a brother? In 2012, resolve to surround yourself with people who will look out for you and who you will look out for. Resolve to relate wisely.

b. Friends that Challenge You – v. 9 ‘We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.’ I wonder if one of the lepers argued and said, ‘why would we want to help them? When we were starving, they wouldn’t even share what they had!’ But then perhaps another one interjected and said, ‘even though they wouldn’t help us, we can’t just leave them to die. That’s not right. We’re better than that!’ I propose to you that everyone here needs someone in their lives who will say to them, “What you are doing may feel right to you, but that doesn’t make it right. You’re better than that!”

In difficult times we need friends who are not impressed with our reputation. These are the friends who share your values, who believe the same things about reality that you do. For example, if you believe that time with your wife and family comes before career advancement or personal entertainment, it’s difficult to succeed if you’re surrounded by friends with opposite values. This is what happens to many men. Your ‘boys’ start making fun of you at the office; ‘this guy is always running home after work. He must have a curfew!’ Next thing you know, it’s after work and there you are, going for a drink with the guys. Amos 3:3 asks the question ‘Can two people walk together unless they’re agreed?’ (KJV). It’s hard to thrive when you’re surrounded by people who are indifferent about the things that are important to you!

There are many in church today that are dying alone. But you need not to. In 2012, commit to surround yourself with real friends and be what the lepers were to each other. They cared for, advised and kept each other accountable. If you want to thrive in 2012, you need to Relate Wisely.

The second thing we learn from the lepers if we want to thrive in difficult times is that we need to:

2. INVEST STRATEGICALLY
Back to the people in Samaria: They were dying a slow and certain death. And yet they remained locked up in their stone cage, unwilling to take a risk. As a result, there was no way they could know that there was not a single soldier enemy for miles around, and that all the supplies and treasures that the Aramean army had gathered from their previous conquests lay unguarded, less than a kilometer away. But the lepers were different. They had the option to remain where they were and never look beyond, like the people in the city. But they chose to take a risk. They assessed their situation and saw where there best options were and made the move. And in the process, they discovered a treasure that would make them rich for the rest of their lives.

The greatest risk during times of hardship is not to take any risks; to play it safe. But for those who will thrive in difficult times, they must raise their heads and venture out. This is probably the most difficult to apply of all the keys to thriving in difficult times. When times are difficult, everything in you screams ‘HOARD!’ You want to preserve whatever little you have and to hold it to yourself. And yet, savvy investors will tell you that the best time to invest is when everyone else is afraid, because as a wise investor said, ‘the fear of many creates the opportunity for the few’ . In other words, a wise investor is one who has a long term view and who swims against the current and buys while prices are low. Wealth is actually made in the difficult economic times. Remember, no risk, no treasure!

What am I saying? 2012 is not your year to hide and play safe. 2012 is your year to venture out! I believe this is a year when God will position many of His people for influence, as we invest strategically. What risks are you planning to take in 2012? This year, I’m determined to take risks in my faith. I want to see God do greater things in my life and in Mavuno. I’m determined to take risks in my family to grow our intimacy and to grow fearless children. And I’m determined to take risks in investments – asking God to multiply resources and allow me to invest in certain things in this tough year that will bring maximum glory to Him.

The idea here is not to gamble or take foolish risks. Proverbs 24:6 says ‘for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisors’. If you want to have victory, if you want to thrive in difficult times, you need advisers. You need a team you can share your ideas with and who can bring in different perspectives to the table and most importantly stand with you in prayer. With such a team behind you, you will be able to venture out when others are playing it safe. Because no risk, no treasure!

You should never walk alone in uncertain times. This is a great time to ensure that you are part of a good, loving community. If you’re in a Life Group, I encourage you to recommit to be faithful to your meetings this year and to invest in the friendships there. I encourage you to stand together and commit to providing opportunities for one another throughout 2012. Many groups formed investment clubs last year and I encourage you to keep at it! Pray together that God will guide you into specific areas for investment. Pray for each other’s investments. And if you’re not in a Life group, the best way to connect to one is through Mizizi. Mizizi is a ten week experience that will help you connect with God and your purpose, but it will also introduce you to some great people that you can establish meaningful relationships with. I encourage you to come to the launch this Tuesday. Remember, no risk, no treasure!

So how are people responding to all this? Of course the biggest response to these uncertain times is fear. When life gets hard, fear checks in! Many are digging in, and locking into survivor mode. Many are cutting costs and crossing their fingers and lying low. The truth is that many of us have low expectations for the New Year. If we can just get by, that would be fine. We will be happy to simply survive this year.

This is what THRIVE, our first series in 2012 is about. We’ll be looking at the acronym THRIVE to get practical handle on God’s secrets for thriving in difficult times.

T Trust In God
H Hold On To The Dream
R Relate Wisely
I Invest Strategically
V Value Add Always
E Enjoy The Journey

Read Genesis 26:1-17

This was a harsh season for Isaac and his family. Since he was a farmer and rancher by occupation, a year of drought meant back-breaking work with the high probability of low or no returns. It meant that despite all his previous investments, there were high chances that he could face financial failure. It was at that point that made a survival decision. He would move to a foreign country where the economy was not affected by droughts. Like his father Abraham before him, he decided to abandon it all, and get a visa to Egypt. He even began the journey south and made it to a Philistine town called Gerar.

But at that point, God checked in and revealed that He had a different plan. If you would like to thrive in 2012, then the two principles we learn from this story are essential for you, in the face of a year that makes many want to check into survival mode. The first principle is:

1. Trust In God
I suspect many of us can identify with Isaac. Do you trust in God? Of course! But it’s January and all the money was spent over Christmas. School fees still needs to be paid and uniforms still need to be bought: All this in a year of inflation. Of course I want to pay my tithe, and I want to attend church and not miss Life Group. I want to serve in ministry and I want to step out in faith to obey God. But let’s get practical. Surely, even God must understand!

God’s promises can easily pale in the light of harsh and uncertain times. When life becomes hard, fear checks in. We rationalize to ourselves that we just need to sort out stuff first, get a grip of things then we can go back to God. But God commanded Isaac not to hold back or to flee but instead to stay put in that land of hardship, and to obey everything He said.

God’s word for us in 2012: “Put your trust in me! Where the world says chukua control, God is saying wachilia control! Do what I tell you, and trust Me. I can bless you even in that place and time of difficulty.”

God’s blessings are not dependent on the economy!

In 2012, there are many things that will seek to derail you from your path. To make you panic and give up on the best that God has for you. But God says, “Trust in me, don’t make your decisions based on your own wisdom, or on your feelings or on what the experts are saying. Let go and trust me to direct your paths”.
2. Hold On To The Dream
See v.4-6. The second thing Isaac did was to hold on to God’s Promise and to the purpose God had for him. God’s promise was that Abraham’s children would become a blessing to the nations. And here was Isaac running to another nation to be blessed by it. When times are tough it is easy to lose sight of God’s Promise. But it’s in exactly such times that we must hold on to the dream.

God’s promise is the only stable and permanent thing that can anchor us in uncertain times. Hold on to the dream! Do not be like many people who will abandon God’s Dream for their life in seasons of difficulty. A survivor mindset always obscures God’s dream for us. The passion for purpose will be lost; the flame of the dream will die off. Many will say that life happened and the Dream was overtaken by reality. You need to hold on to the Promise even if the prevailing circumstances contradict it.
Remember God’s blessings are not dependent on the economy!

Many times when people encounter opposition, they give up on the vision. They despair and wonder if they heard God in the first place. This is because we don’t understand scripture! Difficulties are not punishment; indeed they are a setup for a Divine Showdown! Sometimes God allows things to become impossible so that when the miracle happens, it will be clear who made it happen! So don’t give up your dream simply because the going got tough!

God’s blessings are not dependent on the economy!

And that’s exactly what happens in Isaac’s case. V.12 tells us, “When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.”
Isaac’s return was not 2x or 5x or even 10x but 100 times what he had planted! That’s 1000% profit! He planted crops and reaped a hundredfold “because the LORD blessed him”. Later on in the chapter the king of Gerar came looking for him accompanied by his royal advisor and army commander. The reason for this high level delegation is that the Philistines wanted to make a treaty with Isaac so that he would never attack them in the future! Even the Philistines could see that God’s hand was upon this man.

God’s blessings are not dependent on the economy!

We have come to the end of the year. Most of us are asking questions about the year’s achievements. “What do I take away from the year?” The answer to this question lies in what you set out to pursue at the start of the year.

There are two pursuits that drive most of our goals. Wisdom or more accurately knowledge, and wealth. True? Let me show you why that statement is true.

The search for knowledge has taken us to college. Many of us are doing MBA, right? Others CPA, CPS and ACCA. We are looking for more papers. Many Kenyans are now proud owners of iPads and iPhones. Information is readily available. The cable has brought loads of info to us, and the gadgets are bringing it home. A few days ago I saw an advert of internet TV, I think am a little behind. We love 411 – breaking news, the latest news from around the world. We want to be in the know and to contribute intelligently to debates around us.

Back at home, we are glued to talk shows. We want to know how to attract the jamaa and how to fix our relationships and how to lose weight (slim possible is answered prayer for most husbands, and their so-eager-to-loose-weight wives am told). How many of you watch Dr Phil? Or cheaters? Or the local sexologist? Magazines and dailies tell us 10 secrets to wealth and great sex. We love knowledge. In fact, any high sounding preacher in town will get a great following because Kenyans love new info.

That is search for wisdom. What about wealth? Most Kenyans go for an MBA so as to earn more. Chamas are no longer the preserve of a few. They are a national outfit. Pyramid schemes made their money, now promotions are standing in to harvest from the get-rich-quick Kenyans. Kwachua, Tazama Chapa, and others. Many are relocating to Dubai or Qatar or South Sudan, in search of money. Am told most relationships these days are money motivated. When a jamaa says to a woman Sasa, they answer, Vitz or Flat! Most people relate to the money of the man or woman, not the person. It’s pretty messed up, isn’t it?

These are two major pursuits in life: knowledge and riches. People will sacrifice family, neglect pleasure, burn the midnight oil, risk going into prison and go into debt in pursuit of these two. Many of us are happier that we are so much richer. Others are disappointed that we lost out on wealth. A few more celebrate their diplomas and degrees – how many of you graduated this year? But the real question we are asking is this: What is the meaning of life? What does it matter that I am rich or I have knowledge? We are searching for significance!

I found some characters in the Christmas story who seem to have had the same goal in life: to get rich and acquire wisdom. They did… but they went beyond it!

Read Mattew 2:1-12

A few things to note here:

• A star led the royal astrologers to the newborn king (God spoke their language) – every profession is meant to point us to God. The study of the stars shows us the greatness of our God.

• The truth of scripture confirmed their claims – The word of God is the manual of life. “In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God… The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14) The word of God gives us divine wisdom for life. The wise man said the fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom.

• When they found the king, they worshipped him with their riches – The duty of man is to worship God. To honor him and to bow before him with all we are and all we have. Wealth cannot be an end in itself. The search of knowledge as well. These pursuits will turn futile if they do not end up at the feet of the newborn king.

Without Jesus, Life is meaningless.

Solomon asked God for wisdom, and got riches as well. He wrote hundreds of proverbs. He ran a kingdom that the richest of the earth in the 21^st century would only dream about. He studied plants, could name different kinds of birds and had an amazing palace. He was all that. But listen to what he says: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 12:8)

Without Jesus, Life is meaningless.

Go ahead and make money. Lots of it. In fact pray about it. But remember, it all takes up meaning at the feet of the Christmas baby. Seek knowledge, and find as much wisdom as you can. But remember, wisdom without God is futility. Jesus said, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added unto you.

You have made money this year, or it avoided your address. Money or no money, meaning comes when we bow down at his feet. Do not make 2012 a year of chasing after the wind. We were made for worship. The vacuum inside of you can only be filled by God. Bow down at his feet.

Without Jesus, Life is meaningless.

What does it really mean to bow down at the feet of Jesus?

• Use your wisdom and riches in a godly way
• Reject wrong ways of acquiring wealth and gaining wisdom
• Surrender your life to God is salvation and obedience

So what do we do?

A – Acknowledge the areas where you have not worshipped God with your wisdom and wealth, and ask for forgiveness (corruption, arrogance, self-sufficiency, meanness)

B – Bow before God with all you have. Surrender it all to him.

C – Commit to walk with others in this life of worship. Friends who can tell you and truth in love, encourage you and walk with you.

It has been a long year. Pretty much could happen in more than 11 months. We have had our low moments. There are times when we feel God should have showed up earlier or differently. There times we feet like He was far way, and that He does not understand us.

Nationally, a lot has happened. The Hague issue got politicians and others shaking in their boots. We have had road accidents, fires and disasters that have stolen loved ones from many across the land. The misbehavior of the shilling, the climbing of interest rates and fuel prices has affected many of us financially. Inflation has not helped either. Terrorism in town and war abroad is far from what we had hoped for in the beginning of the year. It has been a difficult year for many Kenyans.

Let’s get down to you. Let us get personal.

Sam, 37 and Wairimu, 35 had hoped that this would be the year that God would reveal their spouses to be. Facebook, lots of coffee and prayers are yet to deliver the woman for Sam and the man for Wairimu. Anyone feeling these Mavunites?

Someone here had a difficult year. May be in business, in your finances or health wise. Kairo told me that he felt God stayed away from him much of the year. He prayed, served as an usher, but no job showed up. In fact, he felt betrayed by the Lord. A friend of mine has been through hell this year. Her marriage and her dreams came crushing. The man has inflicted enough pain on her in the last few months. Desertion, unfaithfulness and hostility have been the order of the day. “Why Lord”, she has asked countless times.

Life is unfair. Mike lost a dad at a time he needed him most. Makenna had her house and her life’s savings gone in a day in the recent Syokimau saga. Musyoka lost a huge contract because he wouldn’t bribe, and now he is in a suffocating debt. Rose’s life was in danger not once or twice. She was carjacked in February, had an accident in May, was hospitalized in October and is still awaiting medical results to ascertain what exactly is happening in her body.

One day I identified with the psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet another day I cried out with the suffering Job, “I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.” (Job 30:20)

Many of us have been through hell and high water. Things have been thick at home, financially, or relationally. Loneliness has been your portion every so often. Where is God in all these experiences? When pain hits you, and lack invades, and difficulties refuse to let go, where is God?

There is a Christmas story that answers us at our low moments.

Read Luke 1:8-20

Angels come down to celebrate the big event. The angels announce the good news to the shepherds. Why the shepherds? The shepherds rush to go and see the Savior. They God is among men; He is one of us. They are so excited they can’t keep quiet; they spread the word everywhere. Then they go back to their sheep, rejoicing and praising God. That’s Christmas!

Think about the shepherds. They were not the highest paid workers in town, they would have gone on strike in today’s Kenya. They had several challenges at work:

• Loneliness – they spend huge amounts of time out in the fields by themselves.
• Hardships – it was hard being a shepherd. In the cold of night and the heat of the day, you had to hang on to the flock. They traveled far and wide, looking for pastures and water. They persevered days without comfort and hygiene. They would have qualified for hardship allowance.
• Dangers – They had to defend the sheep from wild beasts and predators. They had to watch against cattle rustlers – robbers who had the flock as their target. Someone could get hurt. And all that without medical or life cover.

Would you support their leaders if they called a strike? God brought the message to the shepherds because they were lowly and so ready to receive a shepherd. He came to tell them that the True shepherd has come down to be one of us. They needed a message of hope. Often we reject the Shepherd because we are blind to our need of him. We are too proud to run to him. But not the shepherds of Bethlehem.

Have you been lonely this year? God is one of us and he feels you. He says I will never leave you nor forsake you. In fact, he has written your name on the palm of his hand. He came down to walk with you through the moments of aloneness. God came down here seeking for you. He took on flesh so that you can feel him and you can know he feels you! He talks your language. He is not untouched by what you go through!

This is the message of Christmas: God is one of us, He feels you!

Have you gone through hardships this year? A difficult marriage, financial challenges, business troubles, job issues or even bereavement? Whatever the difficulty, you have a God who came down here to you. He feels you. The psalmist said of this shepherd:

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore. (Psalm 121:1-8) 

You have a shepherd.

God is one of us, He feels you!

Are you in danger or have you been through danger? Do you feel threatened? Has someone threatened to sue you, or harm you, or kick you out a job, or a family? David, a shepherd himself had this to say about the God of Christmas in the most famous psalm of all time:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

What a shepherd! He is the provider, the protector, your guide and your comfort. He corrects you when you need it, and he blesses you with good things. He is committed to your prosperity. Goodness and mercy will follow you all your life – because of Christmas.

God is one of us, He feels you!

The Shepherd stuck with Daniel in the lion’s den. He walked with the Hebrew boys in the fire. He cares about you. The Shepherd walked around healing the sick, forgiving the condemned, giving hope to the hopeless and proclaiming a new beginning. This is the message of Christmas. The shepherds heard it, and received it with joy. How will you receive it today? Are you ready for the good news about God being one of us?

A – Acknowledge that you need the shepherd in different areas of your life. (sick, brokenhearted, lonely, bound by sin or habit, etc)

B – Believe that he is there for you. That’s why he came!

C – Continue in prayer and community to experience the shepherds love. Embrace the one who came to you and receive his help.

What’s the worst drama that you have ever experienced?

Life is full of drama: drama at work, drama in a relationship, your body acting up due to disease, work transfer inspired by jealousy, political drama, and multiple accidents within a week. Afro Sinema and Mexican soaps lead in drama. How you respond to these irritations of life is what determines how life turns out for you.

On a good day, I love to see things go my way. I love to give me what I want, peacefully. I don’t like sudden interruptions. I am sure am not alone. We do not like our plans being messed with. We love to be in charge. To determine our tomorrow and to choose our destiny. Don’t we? But life is never a straight line. Even in our walk of faith. God does interrupt. He invades our normalcy every so often, brings some semblance of drama and causes inconvenience.

Let us look at one of characters around the Christmas story. She was living a quiet life until … Read Luke 1:26-38

Heaven inconvenienced itself by deciding that God needed to come down here. That in itself was drama. The Angel brings a disturbing message to a lowly teenage virgin. She is engaged to a good man, Joe. But now her Lord wants her to carry a miracle baby. What will be her response? Two teenagers are thrown into confusion. What an entrance for the king of the universe!

Mary knows this baby drama will not be easy by any standards. It took lots of courage to play ball. Mary must have considered 3 ways in which her life would be radically affected:

• Scandal – Mary, who is engaged to Joseph, is about to get an unnatural pregnancy. Think about her going to explain that to Joe: “Am pregnant, but it’s not what you think. It’s from heaven!” What do you think will be Joe’s response? The story will be on facebook, twitter and the Jerusalem Post. It might make a story for Busted as well: busted with an angel. Speculation will be in the air – all over the place. The angel is announcing a scandal!

• Risk – Joe might walk. He will definitely get hurt. There is a great likelihood that the wedding will have to be called off. It will be a big shame and disappointment especially for family. She is risking a life of ridicule, a broken relationship and gross guilt and self-blame. It is a huge leap in the dark. The law regarded a betrothed woman who became pregnant as an adulteress, subject to death by stoning. She was risking her very life!

• Interruption – Think about the service providers who have to be called off, the privacy that has been invaded, and the life plans that will have to change. No honeymoon, a pre-wedding child on the way… lots of inconvenience. Gross interruption. Mary’s life will never be the same again. Mary had to bear the inconveniences of a child without an act of passion.

With all this, look at what the humble Mary says: “I am the Lord’s servant. Let’s do it!” She submitted herself to the Lord’s will and plan. This son, the reason for the season, is an inconvenient Lord. But it’s all about prespective. Instead of considering the scandal and the consequences thereof, she looked at the opportunity to birth something of impact. To write a story bigger than her. That is what God is calling each one of us to. My response to Jesus determines my destiny for all eternity!

Is Christ Lord in your life? Would you say yes to what he asks you to do?

Mary got an angel stating God’s will. Who is your angel? How do you get to know what God wants with your life? God’s word in the Bible speaks to us clearly about what God wants us to do. Sometimes it’s a still small voice, an inner conviction that God is saying something to you. For others their angel is Mama saying you should quit alcohol addiction or the voice of your dad asking you to quit a wrong relationship. Or even a friend pushing you to say no to corruption. God speaks daily to us. The question is, what will your response be especially when it is not easy to obey?

Say Yes to Christ, Connect with Destiny!

I have come to learn that there is only one Lord. Life does not revolve around me. I am not the center of the universe, the Son is. I cannot ignore Him and live well. The question every one must answer in this life is this: Who do I report to? Who is the ultimate authority in my life? Who is my Lord? In relationships, in finances, in my decisions, and in all my life. I’d rather have God drama than other drama!

1. Some report to self.

They will do what self wants, regardless. Self is an idol for this generation. We do things because they feel right or feel good. We will sleep around because self wants. We will abort because self will be inconvenienced. We will bribe because our plans for cash might be unrealized. We live to bless us. Our mantra is ‘what’s in it for me!’ We have become our own gods, only turning to God when it is convenient for us.

Mary had at least 3 fears that she had to master to say Yes. One, fear of man. What will people say? Relatives, friends, and the public. How will people see me? I will loose reputation. I will be ashamed and ridiculed. What if the religious leaders sanction my stoning?

We are no different. Someone will join the corrupt for fear of being different. Another will compromise sexually in a relationship for fear of being seen as naïve or judgmental. A man will not obey God’s clear word to do internship at church because he fears what people will say. What is keeping you back from saying yes?

2. Fear of the unknown.

What will tomorrow look like? What if things turn out pretty bad? Joe might walk, and this angel thing might not work. This project might fail. This divine child might kill me.

3. Fear of loss.

Mary must have feared loss of relationship, reputation and life. We disobey God for the fear that we will loose our jobs, and our friends.

Fear has held many of us from saying yes to the Lord. Break free and say yes. Do not let the fear of the unknown hold you back. This is the message of this sermon: Say Yes to Christ, Connect with Destiny! Mary decided to bite the bullet. She said Yes to the Lord in spite of the possible and certain consequences. She braved God’s drama for a fearless life! When God asks you to serve in church, what will be your response? Suppose he wants you to start a kingdom business, or relocate to Sudan, or take internship next year, or move out of your girlfriend’s house, or challenge corruption in your office – will you say yes?

Mary would have said no, and lived an ordinary life as one of the ladies in Jerusalem. But she made a painful decision by saying Yes. Her story became a God story. She brought forth a child who was the savior of the world. His birth split history into 2; before and after Christ. His birth has been celebrated for decades annually. Many songs have been written about this event. We are all here today because of that child. Mary chose the harder but better option. And salvation, forgiveness, transformation and God’s love has lived with us since.

Do you want to live for you or live for something greater? The secret is surrender to Him. Say Yes to the Lord. Say Yes to Christ, Connect with Destiny!

Think about it differently. What if Mary had said no, what was at stake? What’s at stake if you do not say yes? A child may be born outside of wedlock, if you do not say to the call to live right. Corruption will deny someone school fees, because you did not have the courage to obey. If you don’t say yes to forgiveness, bitterness and hate will continue to lock your family or friend in prison. What is at stake?

Is there an area in your life where you need to obey God? We miss God’s blessing when we hold back. You might say yes and lose a promotion. Or say yes and be taken advantage of. Or say yes and lose a Job. Or say yes and live in a smaller house. Saying yes does not always in the eyes of the world lead to success. But in the eyes of heaven it is blessed to say yes!

Say Yes to Christ, Connect with Destiny!

Mizizi is not just a funky course, it calls you to die to self and live for Christ. Ombi calls you to connect with that Christ and serve him. Hatua kicks you out of your comfort zone to live for Christ as you impact community. You cannot continue to be ordinary. It is time for you to become a fearless influencer by finding and submitting to God’s will. Say Yes to Christ, Connect with Destiny!

Altar Call:

• Say yes to Jesus, give your life to him.
• Is there an area in your personal life you need to say Yes to Jesus! And in your marriage? Relationships? Work?
• I sense some people need to walk out of the boat and walk on water. God is calling you to something radically different from what you are doing now.

Verses 1-10 Throughout the bible, whenever God’s people face a crisis, whenever they called out to God for help, God raised a leader. God-raised leaders never accomplished the task by themselves. They presented the vision and then they led God’s people into accomplishing it. But it’s safe to say that when God needs to get a job done, he doesn’t appoint a committee; He doesn’t hold an election; He doesn’t conduct an opinion poll to see who’s the most popular: He raises up a leader!

Verses 12-16 Warriors, sword-makers and all the supplies to defeat the enemy was present in Israel. But without a God-appointed leader, it was not enough. This is the critical thing about leadership. The gift of leadership gives the context to activate the other gifts. It sets out the course within which all the other gifts reach their full expression.

The interesting thing is that leadership is just one of the gifts, the person with that gift is neither greater nor lesser than any of the others in the church. But when those with the gift of leadership fail to exercise it well, the other gifts are expressed without focus or effectiveness.  What am I saying? God has gifted each of us for a calling and a purpose and that calling is meant to be activated in the spiritual community/church where He has placed you.

Those gifted to lead that church have the awesome responsibility of setting out the parameters within which the rest of the congregation will exercise their spiritual gifts & calling. We all need God-appointed whole hearted spiritual leaders in our lives, else we will move around in circles. God is gloried by wholehearted leaders! But that is only half the equation.

Verses 23- 5:2 It was not enough to have God appointed leadership. For Israel to be successful, the people had to willingly offer themselves. And when they did, things began to happen!

The complete equation is therefore:

Wholehearted leaders + willing followers = bless the LORD!

John the Baptist was a great leader because he had first learnt to follow. Oswald Sanders has this to say about following, ‘Many who aspire to leadership fail because they have never learned to follow. They are like boys playing war in the street, but all is quiet. When you ask, ‘is there a truce?’ they respond, ‘no, we are all generals. No one will obey the command to charge’

We are a cynical generation. Because of our past experiences, we no longer trust leadership. Each of us is determined to lead themselves and to be suspicious of all others in leadership. Our culture looks down on those who follow willingly and exalts those who do it their own way, the renegades among us.

We are all spiritual ‘Jack Bauers’ whose preferred model of operation is ‘defy all authority, do it your own way, its easier to apologize than to ask permission’. We are rebels without a cause.

However, the spiritual lesson here is that if you don’t follow, you will never realize your potential or effectiveness, no matter how gifted you are. Following is for you! It doesn’t diminish you.

Like the soldiers of Naphtali and Zebulun, we will achieve God’s great purpose and plan for our lives as we gladly connect our ambitions and our aspirations to the spiritual leaders in our lives and help them achieve the greater kingdom purpose God has called you together to.

Let me put what I’m saying into more radical language. You were created for a God-given purpose. But that purpose is a small part of the greater purpose that God has called your spiritual community to. In other words, it is as you plug your personal vision into the greater vision that God has given Mavuno that you will plug into God’s purpose for you. That’s why your spiritual leaders are so important. You see you were not created to lead yourself. Many young people today are operating at well below effectiveness, because we are busy trying to clear our own path as well as to walk in it – we’re trying to lead ourselves and then to follow.

Wholehearted leaders + willing followers = bless the LORD!

And that’s why you have so many Christians today who are extremely gifted and yet extremely unfocussed, doing many activities and yet having little Kingdom effectiveness… living outside their purpose. If we want to see our lives having a victorious Kingdom impact, if we want to move beyond Christian activities to Kingdom effectiveness, then we need to gladly follow Godly men and women of character and passion who give themselves fully to the task of leading God’s people.

So here’s the complete equation: wholehearted leaders + willing followers = bless the LORD!

Very matter-of-factly, the passage describes a daring military operation, where three warriors ‘broke through’ the enemy ranks (note: they didn’t ‘steal through’) and broke back on the way back to bring the coveted water to David, their commander-in-chief. They risked their lives for him!

Now, the focus of this passage is not David’s honorable response, which was to refuse to drink water that could have cost his men their lives, but the action of the mighty men. It’s easy to know you should honor your God-given authorities. But honor is not just words; it’s positive action!

Today I want to share three important actions we can engage in to honor those who God has called to lead us.

1. PRAY FOR YOUR LEADERS – 1 Tim.2:1-2 ‘I urge then, that requests, prayers and intercession & thanksgiving be made for everyone in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness’. Continued prayer is the greatest form of loyalty and support you can give to your leaders. In doing so you remember that they are human and no leader can make it on their own without God’s help and the good will of those that follow them.

When was the last time you prayed for our president/parliament? When was the last time you prayed for your boss/pastors? Don’t you realize that when they succeed, you succeed?

Often times, many leaders, including pastors, are often lonely and isolated. They are cheered or jeered according to their performance and are vulnerable to attacks from the enemy. Many pastors pray for and agonize before God for their people but who prays for and agonizes before God for them? It’s like the disciples, led and loved by Jesus for three years and yet could not even stay up one hour to pray with him before his death!’ Honor is not just words; it’s positive action!

2. AFFIRM YOUR LEADERS Last week we saw how Moses was dishonored by Aaron & Miriam even though he was the humblest person on earth. But he was in good company here. Jesus himself in Mk.6:1-6 was honored everywhere else but his own hometown! He could not even do miracles among them because of their unbelief! It is sad to see the greatest leader of all time reduced to having to prove himself to those who should’ve appreciated him the most.

Don’t leave it to the world to talk about your leaders! Don’t let them be appreciated whenever they travel but be unrecognized at home. Be known as a people that is proud of your leaders and expresses it! And speak well not just of your leaders (in their absence) but also to them. I’m sure if any of your pastors died, you would want to say great things about the impact they have had on your life. Why wait till the funeral? (Isn’t that what we did for Prof. Wangari Maathai?) Tell them now! I still keep cards/encouraging notes that people sent me a long time back. And don’t just do it once; tell them regularly! Honor is not just words; it’s positive action!

3. BLESS YOUR LEADERS Mat.10:41 ‘Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.’ There is a blessing promised for those who go an extra mile for those who are their spiritual authorities; a prophet’s reward that comes from joyfully blessing your leaders.

David’s mighty men were not sycophants but heroes in their own right. But they risked their own lives to bless their leader. Like David’s mighty men, I believe God is calling us to begin a lifestyle of blessing those who lead us. Gal.6:6 ‘Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor’ 1 Cor.9:1-2 ‘Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord… v.11 if we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?’ Strong words from Paul! Many receive great blessings each week but few return to bless the bless-er.

CHALLENGE: Let me end with a challenge: What if we could each commit to a 30 days #HatersNoMore challenge? Even though it doesn’t come naturally, plan to practice these actions of honor on those who lead you. Your boss, your national leaders, your pastor, your husband etc [Perhaps some of you need to commit to honor your parents by saying something to them or writing a letter; not even because of how they’ve treated you but because they are your parents and thus worthy of your honor; some of you need to bless them financially - maybe you’ve been supporting them out of obligation but this will be different…]

Would you commit to this? Please write your experiences as you do this on the blog!

But when most of our leaders are corrupt, unjust, selfish and sometimes downright evil, then isn’t honoring them in some way supporting what they are doing? This is not an easy question for me to answer because in many ways I identify with the person whose asking it. And that’s why we must turn to Scripture and see what it says.

1 Samuel 24: David was a young, ambitious man who had the misfortune of working for a terrible boss, King Saul! Nothing David did ever seemed to be good enough for him. Three times in rapid succession, Saul tried to kill him but each time David narrowly escaped.

On almost every score, David was a far better leader than Saul: braver, more successful in battle, and more popular. In this passage, he comes across Saul in a cave doing some big business and David has the chance with one thrust of a sword to end the harassment forever. His own men were whispering, ‘surely, this must be a God given opportunity! ’What would you have done?

Or let me ask the question differently: How many of you have been in a situation where you knew much more than your boss or your team leader at work? What would keep you from using your superior skill and intellect to show them up and undermine them? How many of you have parents who have made foolish decisions that have brought pain and shame to your family? What would cause you to treat them with respect even if those decisions have resulted in great hurt to ourselves. How many of you know wives who are far brighter than their husbands and earn a lot more money? What would keep her from cutting him down and instead to defer to him & support him as her leader?

Many of us would rather not show honor to such people. But there is an amazing lesson about honor that I believe God wants to teach us today… READ verses 5-13

Notice several things about David. First of all, he didn’t just choose not to kill Saul but he rebuked his men for urging him to do so! Second, even though he could have remained silent, he choose to make himself known to Saul – deliberately making himself vulnerable as a result. And lastly, he prostrated himself and honored Saul as the rightful king. In all these things, David moved beyond what was merely acceptable and went the extra mile to honor. He moved beyond sullen cooperation to active and full-hearted, obedience.

If David teaches us how to honor, then there’s another story that teaches us how not to honor. In Numbers 12:1-3, we are told ‘Miriam & Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. Numbers 12 tells us that Aaron & Miriam dishonored Moses, even though he was ‘a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth’. I hope you catch the contrast between the two stories; David honored, even when his leader was not honorable. Miriam & Aaron dishonored, even when they were led by the most humble leader the world had ever seen! You see, being a person of honor does not depend on who your leader is; it depends on who you are! Honor is not about your leaders; it’s about you! Failure to honor says much more about you than it does about your leaders.

The fact that we are hard to lead points to our deep insecurities; you see, insecure people cannot show honor. They are too busy fighting to prove to everyone their worth, proving that they are somebody. But you see if you have to prove that you are somebody, then it means that deep inside, you fear that you are not!

A person of honor is secure in their identity. This is because they realize that honor is a factor of role, not worth. Your role is temporary but your worth is eternal. If you knew your worth, then you would gladly fulfill your role.

Honor is not just something we do; it’s something that reveals who we are on the inside. This was not the only time David spared Saul’s life. After his deed of kindness, Saul left him alone, only to come hunting him again in 1 Samuel 26! This time, David crept into the camp at night with his general Abishai and they made their way up to where Saul is sleeping. Once more, David choose not to hit out against person God had appointed as king. And if you follow the story of David in 1st & 2nd Samuel, you will find that he consistently honored those in authority over him. Even as king, he treated Saul’s descendants with great respect, and he even allowed the prophet Nathan to rebuke him when he sinned. For David, honor was not just something he did; it revealed who he really was on the inside.

Honor is not about your leaders; it’s about you!

We’d like your honest opinion! Please complete this sentence: “Kenyan leaders are…”FB responses (over 50)…

• Ezekiel – a bunch of self centered individuals only interested in fattening their pockets and networking to either protect or outdo each other
• Joy -  Greedy, corrupt and selfish
• Doris – Lacking in vision, greedy, self centered
• Nakhayo – Selfish, celf centered, hypocrites, hateful, vengeful, power hungry, opinionated, unreasonable
• Giovanna – what Kenyan leaders? Do we have any?
• Shiru – ignorant, selfish, lack integrity, self serving, annoying, vision-less
• Kenyatta – like a bunch of bananas – curved (lack integrity), hang out in bunches (coalitions that don’t last) and lack a spine

A large number also said that Kenyan leaders are simply a reflection of who we are; if they are corrupt, it’s because they were elected by a corrupt populate. These are depressing sentiments! Out of 52 comments, only around 2 were positive about Kenyan leaders. And one of those was from an Australian! Clearly, many of us are frustrated by our leadership and have little positive to say about them. Why are we so suspicious of those in leadership?

1. Past Experience – We are a generation that has grown up experiencing the betrayal and abuse of power from the institutions and individuals that are in authority. Our newspapers & news stations daily assault us with stories of government corruption, political self-centeredness, spousal betrayal, parental abuse, corporate greed or hypocritical spiritual leadership; the result is a greater level of suspicion & mistrust of authority figures today than at any time in our nation’s history. We know that they’re only in it for what they can get. And it’s not just in Kenya… this is the year of the Arab Spring where demonstrations and protests against state repression have taken place in 17 countries in the Arab World, resulting to date in governments being overthrown in Tunisia and Egypt and a civil war in Libya that ended with the graphic execution of the world’s 4^th longest ruling president. It’s also the year of the Occupy Wall Street protests, which began this September in New York to protest corporate greed and corruption as well as the economic disparities between the rich and the poor. To date these protests have spread to over 1000 cities in 82 countries in America, Asia, Europe and Australia! All over the world, people are saying ‘enough’ to the oppression of authority figures. As a generation, we have lost patience with those in leadership.
2. People Power – Technological advances like mobile phones and the internet have put information and knowledge into our hands and reduced the power gap between leaders and the led. I remember being very impressed as a young boy with my dad’s knowledge of our city, and how to get to different streets and areas. But today the existence of cheap android phones with internet access and Google maps means my son will probably never be as impressed by my knowledge! Doctors, lawyers, teachers and political leaders are finding out that their specialized knowledge is constantly questioned by a very enlightened populace. Leaders are no longer as impressive as they used to be… today, we all have the power! I was invited to a FB gp this week that was started by a guy whose wife’s car was hit by a 4WD with diplomatic plates, which simply took off. He was so enraged he put the email of the embassy concerned on fb and asked people to write and protest. He also wrote that nation’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, The Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kenya Police Commissioner and called radio stations with the car’s registration number! In a few days after it happened, he had been called by the embassy for an investigation and also received an offer to repair his car, which he accepted, but has continued to demand an apology. Kenya is different! Unlike in the past, people are more aware of their rights and we’re less accepting of mistreatment by those in authority.
3. Political Correctness – Here’s an experiment to try: say something this week on your FB status or tweet about the problems with leadership. I can almost guarantee you you’ll get a lot of ‘likes’, ‘retweets’ & comments! But if you say something positive, I bet you’ll get practically no responses. People will just move right along! Although we don’t often admit it, it’s politically incorrect today to be positive towards leadership and the status quo. Many of our local comedians gained their reputation by making fun of and ridiculing political leaders. Saying positive things about leaders can be interpreted by others as supporting all that they do – and people might think you’re a ‘conformist’ or government spokesman! Some may even see you as contributing to making their heads swell bigger with pride. How can they be humble if we keep praising them? Being positive about our leadership is not cool!