2021
Strategies For Contending For Your Faith – Femi Emmanuel
STRATEGIES FOR CONTENDING FOR YOUR FAITH.
Femi Emmanuel (Chacha9ja)
(Being a ministration during the Ministers’ Seed Conference 2021)
I like to share a story told by one of my protégé, Femi Adebusuyi.
Many years ago while he was on the compulsory one-year youth service, he was posted with the first set of Corp members to a community in Edo state. It was quite strange having lived almost all his life in Lagos. To make matters worse, he was the only male amidst three ladies and he was ruddy. Since they were the first set of Corp members, his employer didn’t know better, so the ladies travelled at will. And when their employer complained, they quickly threatened him saying they will report to the Liaison Officer.
This went on for a while and it didn’t sit well with him because at the end of the month, this man paid them. So, Femi remembered there was a particular document Corp members were to hand over at their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). Coincidentally, none of them had submitted to their employer. Knowing this will empower the employer to know his right, Femi quickly handed it to him. He read it. The following time the ladies were about to travel, he told them he was calling the LO to tell her they were about to travel without his permit and that if anything happened, he would be exempted and more so, he would deduct the monetary equivalent of the days they were absent if they chose to go. The ladies came for his throat but an ignorant man was delivered from cheaters. Evil prevails when good men keep quiet.
Genesis 6:5 (KJV)
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Like every true child of God, I really do pray the world would become a better place. However, going by scriptures, it is sad to know that the wickedness of man will keep evolving into more sinister ways in so much if I was God, I would be marveled. But God, in order to preserve humanity, in his wisdom, has always singled out individuals in each generation to stand for him – Abraham, Noah, Job, Isaiah, Jacob, David and once again, God is looking up to you.
Don’t be deceived – our world has now become so perverted that LGBT are now being empowered; pedophiles are now bold to ask for equality. Right here in Nigeria, if the kill isn’t up to 30 casualties or more, nothing is most likely to be done.
Individuals who stood for their faith in the Old Testament
1. Abraham
2. Noah
3. Elijah
4. David
5. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
6. Moses
Individual who contended for their Faith in the New Testament.
1. Peter
2. John the Baptist
3. Paul
4. The Apostle
5. Timothy
6. Stephen etc
WHY SHOULD YOU CONTEND FOR YOUR FAITH?
1. God demands it (1 Timothy 6:12)
2. It’s a sign of loyalty and 1 Tim 4:12
3. It ensures a generational transfer of blessings. (Gen 28:1)
4. It’s proof of right standing with. (God 2 Tim4:2)
5. To set a standard in the corrupt world (Rom12:1)
6. It puts the devil to flight. (James 4:7)
7. To seal your place as God’s representative on earth (1 Tim 6:12)
WHEN SHOULD YOU CONTEND FOR YOUR FAITH?
1. When negative thoughts dominate your heart (Romans 12:2)
2. When evil is around (James 4:7)
3. When you begin to notice negative trends (1 Cor. 4:9)
4. When your love for spiritual things wax cold (Matt 24:12)
5. When falsehood prevails (Isa 54:17; 2 Cor. 10:5)
6. When faced with temptation (2 Cor. 10:5)
7. When you have to choose God over (Josh 24:15)
8. When you have to choose eternity over vanity (1 Tim 6:12)
9. When you have to choose God’s will over your ego
10. When you have to choose what is particular over popular
HOW TO CONTEND FOR YOUR FAITH
Proverbs 12:24 KJV
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
The agenda of God is that being a person of faith gives us an advantage over the ordinary person via access to the supernatural. However, there in no way, eliminates the basic ingredients for success which include hard work, discipline, leadership.
Being a believer does not automatically mean you will be successful or be a high flyer in your career. You can pray, fast, worship and still remain a failure. In fact, you can sleep and wake with the anointing like the sons of the prophet and still amount to nothing.
When it comes to the success, God himself leaves it to principles. As such, when any of his children decides to play by the principles of success, God personally oversees he becomes exceptionally blessed and sorted after.
Few weeks ago, I connected with an amazing friend. Tuns (nickname) is one of the upcoming global IT gurus, having studied in one of the top universities in Europe. He is about 24 and already has a whole lot of top companies hunting for him. Currently, he works for Oracle, Classic big boy. He shared a profound story that made my heart tingle. He went for a contract defence with his boss. The discussion was quite long and the it wasn’t going in the desired directions. His boss was almost throwing in the trowel, so, he (Tuns) quickly excused himself and went straight to the rest room and I asked why. He said he knew the situation had to be won spiritually. He stepped out and prayed for 3 minutes in tongues. Stepped back in, he recounted that in less than 10mins, the contract was signed and case closed.
5 Things that ensure you Contend and win in your Career space
1. Exceptionality in Skill
A. Work skill
1 Samuel 16:16 KJV
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
An exceptionally skilled man regardless of his faith or beliefs will get the most opportunities.
Exodus 31:2-4 KJV
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: [3] And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, [4] To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Anointing can not substitute skill. Rather, it enhances it. Anointing without skill makes a man average and less desirable.
Not too long ago, I met the gentle man who handles the lighting of “Experience”, the popular gospel concert. He is one of those who know about mega lighting in Africa. We discussed and faintly talked about his charges and it was on 7 figures.
You can be so good, that not even the best of gossiping or rumor mongering can make your employer sack you.
Be so good you become indispensable.
B. Interpersonal skills
No man has succeeded by himself. I learnt early in life that when God wants to raise a man, he uses men. Elijah needed Elisha, Joseph needed the butler, even Jesus needed the 12. Men are extension of God’s hands and your success in life is tied to how you treat those whom God brings your way.
Treat people well, you might end of needing them.
C. Leadership Skill.
John Maxwell said in one of his leadership masterpiece: “The level of success we experience in our life his proportional to our individual leadership skill. For success to happen it is imperative that we take time and invest in our leadership growth.”
2. Integrity
Malachi 2:6 KJV; 1 Kings 9:4 KJV
Integrity is the greatest social capital a man can have. The world we live in has become so bad that it is now almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t have hidden agenda behind their actions. Having integrity is a social capital many companies and top organizations will pay for.
3. Spirituality
Understand life is deeply spiritual. Please, understand that regardless of how good a person you are in your career space, you have and will continue to have enemies.
Whether we believe it or not, life is spiritual. And the earlier we know nothing happen physically without being concluded in the spiritual, the better.
Ephesians 6:12 KJV
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
For a man to appear and last on the stage of relevance, he must be a man given to prayer, fasting, study of the word of God and a consistent walk with the Holy Spirit.
4. Diligence:
Diligence is doing what you have to do even when you don’t feel like doing it.
Prov. 12:24 KJV
Prov. 22:29 KJV
Diligence in the right direction is the fuel for success. God himself detest a slothful man.
5. Love
Matthew 22:39 KJV
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
One of the ways the devil or demons gain access to a man’s life is through offence. Offence in your heart is a gate pass to the devil. Love people genuinely in your career space is so doing you might win some to God.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
