The Importance of Understanding

Do you understand?

How often have you heard this question or one of its variants? I have been asked this question in different circumstances for as long as I can remember. In school, after a teacher has dished out some complex equation. At work, when my manager wanted a task carried out and wanted to check that I understood what was expected. Over time, you get to learn that when you act without understanding, more often than not, you will get it wrong because it is through understanding that you know what steps to take, and when you are no longer in alignment with what was asked of you.

Wisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

Prov. 4:7 (NKJV), tells us that as important as it is to be considered wise, you must also get understanding. The above examples talk about the role understanding plays in the physical realm, but it is also important in the spiritual realm because it controls the physical. In Dan. 9:2, the Bible says: “….I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years”. In I Chr. 12:32, the Bible tells us of the sons of Issachar who were in leadership roles, because they had the power of understanding, and through it, they could guide the Israelites. In Prov. 3:19 and Prov. 24:3, we see that wisdom and understanding go hand in hand. With wisdom, you can build, but for it to grow and thrive, you need understanding.

To get understanding, you must study, and be observant. As my pastor said, you can stay too long in one spot beyond what God intended because we don’t read, which is critical to get understanding. It is in the place of study that Daniel was able to engage the power of understanding, and once he did, he started to intercede for the Israelites. When you have understanding, it becomes easier for you to be given the mantle of leadership. You will also be able to come up with the right strategies for whatever situation you find yourself in. In Gen. 41:14 – 36, Joseph was able to utilize this in his interpretation of Pharoah’s dream and that earned him the role of Prime Minister in Egypt.

You may be wondering why you are experiencing issues in certain areas of your life. Take a step back to assess them and study, only then will you be able to engage the power of understanding to come up with the strategies required to transform things.

 

P.S. If you would like to listen to my Pastor’s message, you can access it here: Sunday Service - July 14 2024

Who are you #Identity

While getting ready for service, I felt led to listen to Lakewood’s service. During the service, they brought up Pst. Ben Priest to share his testimony on how he found God. As he spoke, one of the things he mentioned was not knowing who he was at a point because of all the things he was into (drugs, etc). I hope you take some time to listen to it, it was such a beautiful testimony. What are the odds that on Mother’s Day, his mom was the one who told him that “Jesus loved him"? This reminds me of Paul’s letter to Timothy in II Tim. 1:5; mothers are so important!

As I listened to his testimony, I got thinking of the scene in Lion’s King, in which Rafiki told Simba that his problem was he didn’t know who he was! Here was Simba, not just a lion but a King, living in the jungle as a meerkat/warthog, maybe a hybrid of them. The moment Simba realized who he was, he stepped into the fullness of his destiny. The King was always in him just waiting for him to know who he was. The same can be said for Adam and Eve, they were already like God but they didn’t know. In Gen. 3:5 (NKJV), the serpent told Eve “…and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”. They wouldn’t have fallen for the temptation and sinned if they knew who they were.

The devil tried the same trick on Jesus, just as he had completed a forty-day fast (there’s a reason the devil waited for Jesus to end his fast). Knowing fully well that Jesus was hungry, he first tried to seduce him with food- then pride and wealth -(Matt. 4:1-11). The result this time was different because Jesus knew who He was and didn’t have to prove it.

32. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?” 33. They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” 34. Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35. And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36. why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37. Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

In John 10:32-38 (NLT), when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, they tried to kill Him because they had forgotten who they were. When you know who you are, you can stand in the face of adversity, and He did just that. He went on to remind them of Ps. 82:6 (NLT) which says “You are gods; you are all children of the Most High”. If only they knew their identity in God.

Today, we see a lot of people who don’t know who they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Imagine a baboon telling a lion he’s a baboon. When you don’t know who you are, you become whatever the world makes you think you are. We see it manifesting in the rise in crime, identity crisis, mental health issues, drug addiction, broken homes, and a society that is constantly losing its moral values. The identity crisis didn’t start in the 21^st Century, it started back in the Garden of Eden and the devil has not stopped using that trick to keep people out of the fullness of their destiny in God. The trick that worked for Adam and Eve failed with Jesus because He knew who He was. Scar’s trick on Simba stopped working the moment he knew who he was (thank you Rafiki!). To all parents (adults) out there, you have a duty to share God’s word with (your) children, failure to do so will make them ill-equipped when the devil comes after them (Prov. 22:6).

Do you know who you are? Let me tell you that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special person (I Pet. 2:9). If Jesus tarries, the devil will continue attacking people’s identity but we are not ignorant of his devices (II Cor. 2:11). To step into the fullness of your destiny, you must know who you are. The only way to do so is to accept Jesus into your heart and spend time studying His word and knowing Him (Rev. 3:20, II Tim. 2:15). I charge you to be like the Berean Christians who spent time searching God’s word, that’s the only way you can stand (Acts 17:11, Eph. 6:13). Like Rafiki told Simba, look hard and see, “he lives in you”. When you spend time studying God’s word, when the devil comes after you, you’ll remember who you are, that God lives in you and you can put on His armor! As long as God is your Lord and Saviour, you are a child of God and the devil can’t change that.

 

This week, I want you to sing this song every day- I know who I am (Sinach), let it speak to you.

God is asking you to Come Alive (Charity Gayle)

 

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to all the (would-be) mothers!

P.P.S. Yes, I love the Lion King 😊, so enjoy this clip. A great lesson on the importance of identity.

Photo cred: Rafiki