

Inspire Your World

B. D. Phillips

**************

Inspire Your World

Copyright © 2019 B. D. Phillips

Inspire Your World

By B. D. Phillips.

ISBN:

Smashwords Edition

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Web: https://www.

E-mail: bdinspiredphillipsblog@gmail.com

Tel: +234-810-3910-085

First Published 2019

All Right Reserved

This book may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the author and publisher, the use of short quotations for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982, by Thomas, Inc.

Published to Smashwords.com by B. D. Phillips.

**************

# DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all Nigerian youths raised as orphans like me, without a father or mother started the journey of life with just a dream and through all odds became an agent of inspiration and charting a new course in their generation. I love you all!

**************

# TABLE OF CONTENT

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter One

It All Begins In the Dark

Explicating Darkness

Divine Principles of Darkness

Chapter two

The Benefits of Darkness

The Way through the Wilderness

The Making of Diamond

Personal Application

Chapter Three

Growing In The Dark

Purpose And Vision

The 50 Famous Persons

Opportunities within the Storm

Chapter Four

The Champion's Concept

The Story of Esau

Features of the Open Field

The Man Jacob

Features of the Tent

Chapter Five

The Emergence Theory

The Seed Theory

The Environment Theory

The Root Theory

The Fruiting Theory

Chapter Six

The Value Added Life

Why Do People Have Low Self-Esteem?

How to Develop High Self-Esteem

Chapter Seven

Self-Actualization

The Big Differences

Finding Your Relevance

Fulfilling Your Purpose

Chapter Eight

You Are the Inspiration

Inspiration Defined

The Inspired Word

Mode and Degrees of Inspiration

Victory over Darkness

Go!

About the Author

Other Book by the Same Author

Author's Connects

**************

# FOREWORD

Growing up as child in the family of Phillips Arigbeta my father of blessed memory taught me the foundational principle of my life, he will always say 'My son, you have to be strong and depend on knowing one ''. My father was my first teacher and mentor. He taught me the dynamics of personal discipline and when death took him at a crucial stage of my development as a teenager all I could remember were his words of instruction 'be strong'. As I began the journey of life, it was tough living without knowing my mum and this further presented me options to move in any direction without immediate guardian. However, in the midst of all of these, myself actualization started in a branch of Foursquare Gospel in Lagos Nigeria and coming in contact with the knowledge of the word of Christ, my mind became a spiritual surge. I read and study the Bible than my academics book. My life took a new direction and from one developmental stage, challenges and different places of my life journey I personally realized that pain is a process for gain, obscurity leads to spotlight and darkness leads to emergence. The principles in this book are my revelation, discovery and instruction God taught me in the process of my making. I started writing this book in the year 2016 and in 2017 the Lord told me to stop, why? Because some of the principles I have not put in use. The Lord wanted me to write on principles that I have personally used and I have results to show. If it worked for me then it will work for others. Finally, after two years of putting all into use, I concluded this book in 2019 with results to show for the all principles in this book. I urge you to read this book with high spiritual sensitivity because it is not copy and paste, the writings are divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. This writings were spiritual directions given to me to navigate and come out thick darkness of my life. I know as soon as you are done reading this book, you will be inspired to inspire your world.

Remain Inspired!

B.D. PHILLIPS

**************

# INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this book is to inspire you to consider using your life experiences and challenges as a starting point and as the very inspirational tool to inspire peoples and nations. It unveils how you should see the challenges of life, and gives you practical tips on how to convert them to success steps.

The secrecy of the spirit-man in human form lies not just in staying alive, but in discovery purpose and something to live for while on earth. We are a product of a specific design, packaged for maximum impact. Thus, your stay here on earth is meant to inspire the creatures. There is a glory to be revealed in and through us as we express the glory of the Lord. Creation anticipates your expression to get inspired.

'For I reckoned that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God'. (Romans 8 vs 18-21)

We all have a measure of inspiration; unfortunately not all people express their inspiration. Some people are being chocked by their environment, challenges, pleasures and other kinds of distractions that swayed men off the purpose drive.

In this book, I used the concept of the word darkness to explain the challenges of life and how to employ each to inspire your world. Life is in stages and challenges don't last forever. So, we all must go through the stages of life, learning all we need to. The dark period of life is where life expects you to be developing in capacity, which is mostly done in obscurity. I am talking about periods when we are confronted with obstacles, those specific time when life itself demands that you emerge. It's high time we braced up developing capacity and graduating to the next stage, with God's approval.

Putting all of these together: no matter the pain of your dark period of life, light is destined to emerge at the end of it. Darkness is indeed useful to our development. Great inspiration and emergence usually comes out of thick darkness.

The raw materials you need to inspire your word are locked up in you and should be developed in the faces of challenges. I admonished you to go through this book and come out as the champion of champions. That is what you have been created for.

Let's go into revelation...

**************

# Chapter One

# IT ALL BEGINS IN THE DARK

The word 'darkness' is an ambiguous word that most people don't like associating with. Perhaps because it is often tied to devils, death, diabolism, wickedness, failure, backwardness, and all sort of evils that contrast light. The word darkness also refers to obscurity, insignificance, and the mysterious - words that apply to a state of condition. However, darkness is broad in perspectives.

God Almighty, the Supreme Being, created darkness: "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." Isaiah 45 vs. 7

It should come to mind that darkness isn't a thing or concept created by the devil, though it has been a tool which he constantly employed to manipulate and destroy man. Up till date, Satan has created nothing but had rather been twisting and compromising God's creations.

Anything God created is for a purpose; all that He made were to play significant roles in human existence. Wisdom demands that we learn from nature and creations to have a glimpse of God's plan and program for the mankind.

It was for a grand purpose that God separated the day from the night. He created the bigger light {sun} to govern the day, the lesser light {moon} to govern the night, and the stars to shine at night. Don't forget that both the moon and the stars carry out their God given mission in the presence of darkness. You should also note that at the dawning of each day, darkness disappears. This is a great message: that darkness is just a temporal state of condition.

Darkness is an interval and a prelude subject to change. When things appear to be dark in your life, when it looks like you can't further with your dreams in life, you've got to understand that it is temporal. The 'dark, storming' is a temporal state of condition in your life. It must soon give way to a new, dawning hour of radiant glory.

But, as you grope in the state of life's darkness, you must get right the divine purpose for allowing the darkness. You must come to the understanding that it has its own purpose and usage in life. How do I mean?

Life and success begins from the dark! '...I the Lord, do all these things'. Ansel Adam said 50% of creatives occurs in the dark room. I personally agree. In the development of photo images, the film is processed in the dark room. And this should inform us that our true image comes to limelight from our dark experiences. You'll find your true strengths in the hours of adversity.

## Explicating Darkness

Genesis chapter 1 vs1- 2 gave us some insights:

' _In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth' now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters'_

In verse 2, the word darkness is mentioned first before light. There is the need to really ponder on this verse. Darkness was over the deep. Let us examine the following from the passage:

### The Use of "Earth" Here Is Allegorical

It symbolizes the universe, following the creation. The Hebrew word being translated to earth is (er ets). This can mean 'earth' or 'land' or 'territory' - indicating an area or space.

In the context of God's creation of the universe, we must widen our vision beyond the planet earth. This understanding that the text refers to the physical universe is also appropriate since the text also says it was formless. Since it was formless, the object discussed must be the universe in general, rather than the earth, since the earth by default has form.

This verse explains that once the physical universe was created, it was vacant ("empty" or "void" Bohuw and without form ("formless" tohuw). From the previous verse we know that God had already created the foundation of the universe. So from this verse we can know that the Supreme Being had produced and brought together the atomic elements that would make up the universe, but they had yet to come into their molecular structures and eventual forms.

These, of course, include the elements as well as the galaxies, solar systems and planets. They are all essentially made of molecules. In order for molecules to have structure, atoms must come together in particular formations, and the molecules must also come together into molecular formations such as lattices. This requires, according to physics, electromagnetic forces termed the strong forces and weak forces.

The planets, solar systems and galaxies are also structured with similar forces. These include gravity and angular acceleration. Since the universe had composition but no form, we know that God had yet to provide these forces that supply structure and form to atomic matter.

We also know, according to this verse, that the universe was fluid prior to the structure and form. There are two mentions of fluidity here: first "the surface of the deep," and second, "the waters." So we know from these that prior to the formation of solid structures, the universe was fluid. This only makes sense, because when atoms are farther apart from each other, they have less structure, but they may retain fluidity if they are within the same container. Once outside forces are applied, this fluidity can change into structure. This infers that God had already supplied some forces - of fluidity among the atoms - but not the forces that provide solid structure.

### It Says "the Spirit of God Was Hovering Over the Waters"

What does this mean? It is quite clear that God was present, not in His Original Form, but in an expanded form. How do we know that? It is simple.

If God was present in His Original Form, then it would say "God was hovering over the waters." But it didn't. It clearly says, 'ruwach', which means 'spirit' or 'breathe.' Therefore, one could also accurately translate the phrase to the "breath of God." And what is the "breath" of someone? A person's breath emanates from the person. A person's breath is considered an outlying product of their person: an expansion of the person. Notice that the word God here is translated Elohim - the Supreme Being's Holy Name. God's Holy Name is also an emanation of God. The physical world is being managed by an emanation of God. We can know from this that God's Original Form must reside elsewhere - and not hovering over the waters of creation. Where is this place that God resides in His Personal Form?

This can only be the spiritual world. So, rather than envisioning some sort of a ghost hovering over the water, we are talking about a practical matter, of God being present during creation through an expansion of Himself through His facilities. This might be comparable to a chief executive of a multi-national corporation who decides to build a plant in a foreign country. Once he authorizes the building of the facility, he does not need to personally go out to the country and start stacking bricks. He can have others do that but through his directives and his oversight, the chief executive's orders are followed through, using various sub-contracting companies and builders. It is still his plant, and we can say he built it, because he authorized it, directed it and oversaw its building. But he didn't have to do everything himself. In the same way, the Supreme Being does not have to be present in His Personal Form to build the physical universe.

He authorized His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who was the intelligence behind all creation. Colossians 1:15-17 says is clearly: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things and in him all things hold together" NIV.

God the Father had all of the resources originated from Him. But He can still be attending to His personal matters while the universe is put together. This is because He is God, the Source of not only existence but of all living things. Therefore, God must also be alive. He must also be a Person, since nothing comes from nothing. We can see this in effect today, as the physical universe appeared to operate as though it is on automatic. It had a machine-like quality, with gears, power and motion. The original machine of the physical universe was designed and programmed by God.

God's facilities were put in place and it began to run like a big machine: "He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom" Job 12:22.

With the above understandings, we know that the perception of darkness differs from the mere absence of light. We see that God specializes on producing wonders from darkness, from unseen to seen, invisible to visible, from concealing to emergence, from obscurity to limelight. So, those who will lead in this generation and blaze a new trail must understand the gains of being in the dark room of life, at any period of time. This might sound absurd.

The Word darkness originated from the Hebrew word 'Chashak'. It means divers and interesting things such as the 'Secret place(s)' translated darkness in the Hebrew language as in Isaih 45:3 and Job 12: 22; 'Hiding-place' as in Job 34: 22; Psalm 139:11 - 12, and Ezekiel 8: 12.

Taking a clue from a deeper definition and aspect of darkness; secret place and hiding place lets read the following scripture verses:

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depts.," Psalm 139: 15

"Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place." Psalm 51:6

'And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself'. 1 Samuel 19:2.

'For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock'. Psalm 27:5.

From the above verses you will understand that darkness is part of God process of creation. The images you see as vision has to go through the dark room process. Creation began from the dark room, from within the strategic room of Jehovah, the Supreme Being. The drug addict that becomes a global preacher and the prostitute that becomes a United Nation ambassador taking the message of hope to young ladies all over the world are instances of what God can do with what is termed dark and forsaken. You may wonder why it works that way in most cases. When God wants to create a revolution, he shops for His candidate from the dunghill, and not from the palace.

I want you to understand something, that when you feel as if you are left alone in the desert of this world, even with all your great skills and ideas, you are actually undergoing the process of darkness meant to ultimately lead to the limelight. God, from your dark corridor, is processing you for a showing forth to the world.

What comes out of darkness is what I call the emergence of creation. Your affliction is a type of darkness which is expected to work in you and make you stronger. The darkness (challenges) is meant to frame and shape your life.

The experience of darkness in the context of this definition is something every champion must seek and deliberately enter. We must understand that before spotlight there is the secret place of training. David was tutored in the wilderness before he was ushered into the limelight.

## Divine Principle of Darkness

If you boycott the process of darkness in your life, you will abort the coming of the limelight. Pain must go before gain. That's God's principle that cannot be broken.

If you really must inspire your world, you must go within and develop capacity, inspiration, and ideas!

Inspire Your World is an instructional statement and a direct call to the acceptance of divine responsibility. It is time for this present generation of youths and young people to stand up and confront the demoralized status quo, and turn on the switch within to inspire communities and nations. The major problem this book wants to treat is the issue of lack of personal inspiration. The truth is this: challenges when viewed from the right perspective has the content that spur an unending desire for breakthrough. Ultimately, challenges of life are supposed to ignite a dead passion that settles for nothing; to kindle you to seeing possibilities.

We all must understand that creation itself is waiting and anticipating to see mankind perform. We were made a little lower than Elohim himself and angles marvel at the wondrous complexity that makes up man's spiritual entity.

A large number of youths who are supposed to be blazing a new trail and charting a new course are deeply depressed. Some are so overwhelmed by their present and prevailing circumstance that dwindles their self-discovery process. Yes, I know that there are so many problems across the nations, but it also depends on which point of view you see your predicaments.

Nevertheless, as far as the earth is concerned, problem will not stop. Life is all about perception. It is good you always have high-quality insights about all situations of life. This leads to the truth discovery. There is always something good and great out of the thick darkness of life, irrespective of whatever we may experience at different points of our lives. Therefore, see darkness as an experience, not a destination.

While darkness is the secret place of development, light is the showing forth of something that has been concealed. You don't rehearse at the spot of your showing forth (emergence); you display. When it comes to experiencing certain breakthroughs, the obvious is that some people are not ready to handle the problems that success brings. Do you think you are really ready to handle success?

####  Prayer Points

Lord Jesus Christ, grant me the grace to locate your divine will in the challenges of life.

Lord, open the eyes of my understanding and give me the knowledge to apply the winning wisdom in all situations of life.

#### Key Nuggets

\- Creation begins from the dark room.

- Life begins in the dark, success emerges out of obscurity.

\- Evil is not all that darkness represents. It also epitomizes a period of life's challenges and obscurity.

- We see that God specializes in producing wonders from our darkness.

- Darkness has its own purpose in human existence.

\- Darkness will always precede light.

- Your affliction is another type of darkness which is expected to work in you and make you stronger.

· Darkness is only an experience, not a destination.

· It is in the darkness (challenges) that the frame and shape of our life is developed.

· Life is all about perception.

**************

# Chapter Two

# THE BENEFITS OF DARKNESS

Deep in the center of the earth, diamond is formed. Though many admire its beauty and usefulness when its formation is complete, none views the process by which it is formed. It is hidden, unseen, in darkness. So is the work of God in the heart of man. Difficulties certainly show us (and the world) what we're made of. God shields us, and only lets us see as much as he knows we can handle per time.

## The Way through the Wilderness

When we can't figure out what to do or where to go, He is here and He is there - and all the way between: "He knoweth the way that I take, and when He hath tried me I shall go forth as gold." (Job 23:10).

There is an eternal purpose to discover in whatever darkness beclouds. God showed me that in those places of darkness, where no one sees or knows what's going on, He was forming me into something beautiful by the Spirit; he was strengthening me for a place of usefulness in His kingdom - just like diamonds.

Diamonds have a unique place of usefulness in industry; they can cut through anything. This process is necessary and two conditions are necessary for the formation of diamond: heat and pressure. In fact, the only substance that can polish a diamond, because of its hardness, is another diamond. The unseen process. The most notable use of diamond is as gems, but diamonds don't start out that way. They must be subjected to the process that will develop their beauty and usefulness. Similarly, the work of God in the heart of man is hidden, unseen. Because of the brilliance, hardness, and rarity of diamond, it is the most famous gem. What brings about the formation of a diamonds is what they've gone through in the dark place of the earth. Diamonds are buried as carbon dioxide 100 miles into earth, must go through heat to about 2, 200 degree Fahrenheit, Squeezed under pressure of 725, 000 pounds per square inch, and quickly rush towards earth's surface to cool.

## The Making of Diamond

Let's go through the process for the making of diamond:

### #1 Principle: Buried In the Earth

Everyone one of us is a potential diamond, buried with the 'earth', raw and rough. Embedded within each person are diamond-like qualities which can only be produced in the darkness. Please bear in mind the definition of darkness I gave earlier. It's the secret and hiding place'; that dark, stormy, surreptitious, obscure corridor of life. Moses wrote about it in Psalm 91: "He that dwelleth in the secret of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." The Hebrew description of this text reads: "He that dwells in the midst of the dark cloud..." That should remind you of the event of Exodus 24 vs. 18 where Moses abode 40 days in a place of sacredness and holy concealment.

The place of obscurity should be considered the period of being buried in the earth to die to self – a place of death and burial where you are trained and equipped with the stamina for emergence. Jesus spoke of this death in John 12: 24: 'Very very I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abideth alone; but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit'. We all know that if a grain is dropped on the surface of the ground, nothing fruitful happens to it. But if it is buried (planted) in the earth, it dies only to germinate to life and abundant production. Jesus Christ our Lord was hidden for 30yrs for an emergence of a three years earthly ministry. He also died and rose to life to receive the honor of the eternal, mightily prevailing name – the name that is higher than other names on earth and in heaven. Divinity was needed to save humanity, and that required Christ's full obedience and humility. Why was he concealed for 30years? So that he can learn obedience and the humility needed to die on the cross. To create a desired future that will become an eternal legacy, you need to begin from obscurity, learning sustaining characters and developing the right personality that will sustain your purpose and vision for the next generations. A lasting legacy demands that you still live even after you are gone from the planet earth.

Diamond has to be concealed for millions of years for it to appear the most precious and expensive gemstone in the world. Are you talented, highly skilled, and gifted with special abilities? You don't have to be in a rush to emerge to fame. The truth is that there is no way a highly skilled person who is working hard will not be famous; a day for his showing forth (opportunity) will definitely come. Character and personality development must precede talents and skills display.

#### What Happened When The Diamond Is Buried In The Earth?

##### It Receives Receive Heat

The diamond received heat to about 2, 200 degree Fahrenheit to begin his process of purification. It must be cleansed from the earthly dirt. When the grain is buried in the earth, it loses its own temperature to receive the temperature of the earth. It is when heated that it beings to break.

##### What Does Heat Do?

###### It Changes the Temperature of an Object

If heat is transferred from an object to the surrounding, the object cools down. When heat is transferred to an object by its surroundings, the object can warm up and the surroundings can cool down. Heat, once absorbed as energy, contributes to the overall internal energy of the object. One form of this internal energy is kinetic energy. The energy that makes things move. Strength is supposed to be developed during obscurity. When you fail in the days of adversity, your strength is small. Nothing in life comes easy!

###### The Heat Changes the State of Matter

A substance doesn't always possesses a kinetic energy due to the motion of its particles. It possesses potential energy and as a result, the condition of the substance changes. It is the potential energy that makes it remain in a place to undergo the process of change in nature.

##### How Does This Apply To Us?

Earlier, I said character development must precede talents and skills display. Sure, I am not relinquishing the development of talents or abilities. God put them there. However, it is the exhibition of quality character that will determine how the most talented and skillful person will end up. It is a refined character that will leave a legacy for the next generation. You don't develop character at the spotlight, doing that will be catastrophic. We all need character modification before we appear, before a transforming opportunity comes knocking on our door. Unfortunately, some people are praying for opportunities they are not prepared for. Negative characters like arrogance, rebelliousness, laziness, strife, resentfulness, procrastination, unbelief, and others needs to be purged.

I can keep listing things we need to lose as we get heated in life. On the other hand, with a close look into life, many people who have refused to accept that problems, pains, challenges, and setbacks are supposed to be seen as temporary period of darkness failed to learn the positive virtues and undo the weakness that created the prevailing problems. It is expected that challenges and problems should improve our nature and trigger our mindset positively. Strength and confidence should be built after some hard experiences in life. They should make us better in achieving better results in the next attempt.

In the school of life and pursuit of success, timidity and fear are not permitted. Boldness is a required tool and it is only developed through the heat of life. It takes real heat to effect real changes in nature and condition.

### #2 Principle: Cut into Shape

Diamond cutting is the practice of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a faceted gem. It requires specialized knowledge, tools, equipment, and techniques because of its extreme difficulty. The first guild of diamond cutters and polishers (diamantaire) was formed in 1375 in Nuremberg, Germany, and led to the development of various types of "cut". This has two meanings in relation to diamonds. The first is the shape: square, oval, and so on. The second relates to the specific quality of cut within the shape, and the quality. And the price vary greatly based on the cut quality.

Since diamonds are one of the hardest materials, special diamond-coated surfaces are used to grind the diamond down. The first major development in diamond cutting came with the "Point Cut" during the latter half of the 14th century. The Point Cut follows the natural shape of an octahedral rough diamond crystal, eliminating some waste in the cutting process.

## Personal Application

And here is the personal application: after surrendering our lives to Jesus, a process must take place: we must be cut, shaped, and polished to shine for Him. We must learn to trust that He's in charge of our lives - even (especially!) when it looks like nothing's happening. His best work is taking place in us when it seems nothing is going on. Like the diamond, or gem, deep in the center of the earth - its "trouble" is its strength. The Greek word for "tribulation" is "pressure." Scripture says that "all those living godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer tribulation." It's a promise of God.

We seldom view tribulation as a promise. But it is when we see there's a purpose behind it, an eternal purpose the trials become easier to bear. It is pertinent that we realize that we are being formed into the image of His Son, to reflect his glory, to shine for him. If we submit to His work in our lives, we will be transformed. If we demand to be released from the pressure, sometimes the Lord provides a way of escape, that we can endure it \- but then we miss out.

Both sand and diamonds are made of carbon. One we walk on, the other we guard behind locked doors. The difference is what they've gone through. We can be common sand or we can be transformed into something greater, something more useful, something beautiful for him. Our value in God depends upon the choices we make daily: whether to trust Him and submit to His dealings in our lives, or pull away in mistrust.

The pressures and trials of life can either make or break us. We are all diamonds in the rough. The choice is ours. I encourage you to embrace the process God might be taking you through now. It is possible you are feeling overwhelmed, with your patience overstretched and at the point of breaking. But the goodness is that this period will pass away and your day will dawn.

We might feel as though things are out of control - but we must trust that God is on the throne. Everything that touches us, he knows and has approved of. "Even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice," Jesus said. He knows the very number of hairs on your head - even as they fall out, one by one, during chemo. He is Emmanuel: "God with us.

Diamond has long symbolized quality, purity, and strength. The process involved in its formation renders the substance virtually indomitable: the hardest surface known to man. The "processing" of diamond ore involves a separation. It must be sorted from the other materials surrounding it. This process relies primarily on its high density - by use of a pan or swirling motion. The cutting of diamond puts it into different shapes and the quality of the shape determines the value that will be placed on the diamond. Some pay in millions of dollars for a particular shape, in preference to another. They paid large sum as a result of the beauty of the shape. This is not a call to perfection but a call to an excellence mindset that makes the champion in us to appear.

When people go through challenges and refuse to take responsibility, it is an act of ignorance. It is lack of knowledge when you don't see trying time as a period to sit down and evaluate the process but would rather point accusing finger to a third party or engage in 'bind and lose' praying. Ascending the ladder in life requires taking deliberate and adequate responsibility for our decisions and actions.

Sometimes, when problem arises in life, it is not always the case that divinity is no longer present with us or that He is angry at us. It might be a wakeup call to cut off complacency, arrogant display, laziness, and other default in character. It may also be a period to cut off fear, unbelief, and low self-esteem so as to pursue the idea God has given you. Personally, God has used challenges of life to take away fear, unbelief and low self-esteem from my life. In the midst of the darkness, I was left alone and, having no option, I casted all my focus and attention on God for in Him to do His work. Then, all of sudden, he showed up.

Psalm 139:13 reads 'for you created my in most being; you knit me together in my mother's womb'. - NIV

God is the person cutting our lives into the very shapes he wanted. The better we surrender our will to Him the best for us. The solemn truth is that God's will is the best for our lives, because He does not just have plans for our lives, He also have strategies for the fulfillment of His purpose. All we need to do is to ask for the grace and intelligence to understand the time. We must seek the knowledge needed to develop capacity, receive idea to deploy in any given situation, and pray for the wisdom needed to apply knowledge and understanding in all situations.

#### Prayer Points

Holy Spirit, quicken me

I surrender myself to you, Lord; more of you in my life and less of me.

#### Key Nuggets

There is an eternal purpose for all things.

God forms and puts us into shape through the obscure moments of our lives.

Two conditions are necessary for the formation of diamond: heat and pressure. This is the process God uses in making us.

Diamonds must be subjected to the process that will develop their beauty and usefulness. Similarly, the work of God in the heart of man is hidden and unseen; this is what makes our life beautiful and useful in God's hand.

Everyone one of us is a potential diamond in the rough: Embedded within each person are diamond-like qualities.

The place of obscurity should be considered the period of being buried in the soil to die to self and to emerge to life in order to produce.

Necessary energy (virtues) required for life is being transferred to us in the obscurity of life.

It is expected that challenges and problems should change our nature and condition of our mind positively.

After we surrender our lives to Jesus, a process must take place: we must be cut, shaped and polished to shine for Him.

God will use challenges to take away fear, unbelief and low self-esteem from our lives.

***************

# Chapter Three

# GROWING IN THE DARK

Every human on this planet earth is duty-bound to pursue and fulfill purpose within the time allotted. Purpose existed in the consciousness of divinity before you were created. Therefore, it is necessary that purpose be discovered early in the journey of life.

## Purpose and Vision

Vision is the direction given to your purpose. That is why you can't receive vision without discovering purpose. As you begin to fulfill your purpose, you understand how to create your vision. Purpose will terminate while you are departing the earth, but the vision given to you or created by you must live after you to generations unborn. When vision dies, after the demise of the convener, then it wasn't well communicated. Purpose is individual driven, but vision must be people driven.

With precision, mankind is a product of purpose, for he was created to have dominion on earth. Therefore, no matter the peril confronting man, provision and fulfillment lies in the place of assignment.

Another expression for the word darkness is obscurity. The word value means importance. So, what I am saying is that, there is an important role challenges plays in the discovery of life's purpose. At a certain point, while in the obscurity and gloominess of life, you should respond positively to finding your purpose and creating a vision. While in problem and still bleeding, it is purpose that drives you and vision keeps you. I know this might sound odd out of your depth, but it is the truth. Jesus Christ our Lord, while in the profundity of grief and ignominy, still chose to die for the sins of the world. Purpose was His necessity and vision the cause that made Him our eternal Mediator.

Fulfilling purpose is pleasing to our creator. When purpose is undiscovered, that person is out of place in the context of existence. But thank God for His mercy, for His eternal purpose that keeps pulling us to Himself, for His eternal will that keeps drawing us from the future out of our present comfort zone.

There is a pull from the future we must all respond to, if we are going to become achievers. You are being pulled by your present challenges that keep whispering to your inner ear that you are more than the present situation. While some people respond positively to this pull, others don't. The voice of vision is the pull that calls and drags us from the future.

Checking the list of foremost living and dead scientists, inventors, and business executives, you will see how they used the darkest period of their life to create a vision (direction) for their purpose. And have thus, in turn, shaped human existence positively. It is very important that we learn from their patterns. Not everyone who's on top today got there with success after success. More often than not, those who history best remembers were faced with numerous obstacles that forced them to work harder and show more determination than others. In hour of difficulties, they developed vision and pursued their vision.

## The 50 Famous People

Next time you're feeling down about your failures in college or in a career, keep these fifty famous people in mind and remind yourself that sometimes failure is just the first step towards success. Read the following life experienced stories and see what vision can make you become.

### A. Business Gurus

These businessmen and the companies they founded are today known around the world, but as these stories show, their beginnings weren't always smooth.

#### Henry Ford

While Ford is today known for his innovative assembly line and American-made cars, he wasn't an instant success. In fact, his early businesses failed and left him broke. He failed five times before he finally founded the successful Ford Motor Company.

#### R. H. Macy

Most people are familiar with this large department store chain, but Macy didn't always have it easy. Macy started seven failed business before finally hitting big with his store in New York City.

#### F. W. Woolworth

Some may not know this name today, but Woolworth was one of the biggest names in departmental stores in the U.S. Before starting his own business, young Woolworth worked at a dry goods store and was not allowed to wait on customers because his boss said he lacked the sense needed to do so.

#### Soichiro Honda

The billion-dollar business that is Honda began with a series of failures and fortunate turns of luck. Honda was turned down by Toyota Motor Corporation for a job after an interview for a job as an engineer, leaving him jobless for quite some time. He started making scooters of his own at home, and spurred on by his neighbors, finally started his own business.

#### Akio Morita

You may not have heard of Morita but you've undoubtedly heard of his company, Sony. Sony's first product was a rice cooker that unfortunately didn't cook rice so much as burns it, selling less than 100 units. This first setback didn't stop Morita and his partners as they pushed forward to create a multi-billion dollar company.

#### Bill Gates

Gates didn't seem like a shoe-in for success after dropping out of Harvard and starting a failed first business with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen called Traf-O-Data. While this early idea didn't work, Gates' later work did, creating the global empire that is Microsoft.

#### Harland David Sanders

Perhaps better known as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, Sanders had a hard time selling his chicken at first. In fact, his famous secret chicken recipe was rejected 1,009 times before a restaurant accepted it.

#### Walt Disney

Today Disney rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

### B. Scientists and Thinkers

These people are often regarded as some of the greatest minds of our century, but they often had to face great obstacles, the ridicule of their peers and the animosity of society.

#### Albert Einstein

Most of us take Einstein's name as synonymous with geniusity, but he didn't always show such promise. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. It might have taken him a bit longer, but most people would agree that he caught on pretty well in the end, winning the Nobel Prize and changing the face of modern physics.

#### Charles Darwin

In his early years, Darwin gave up on having a medical career and was often chastised by his father for being lazy and too dreamy. Darwin himself wrote, "I was considered by all my masters and my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard of intellect." Perhaps they judged too soon, as Darwin today is well-known for his scientific studies.

#### Robert Goddard

Goddard today is hailed for his research and experimentation with liquid-fueled rockets, but during his lifetime his ideas were often rejected and mocked by his scientific peers who thought they were outrageous and impossible. Today rockets and space travel don't seem far-fetched at all, due largely to the work of this scientist who worked against the feelings of the time.

#### Isaac Newton

Newton was undoubtedly a genius when it came to math. But also he had some failings in the early years. He never did particularly well in school and when put in charge of running the family farm, he failed miserably to the point that an uncle took charge and sent him off to Cambridge where he finally blossomed into the scholar we know today.

#### Socrates

Despite leaving no written records behind, Socrates is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of the Classical era. Because of his new ideas, in his own time he was called "an immoral corrupter of youth" and was sentenced to death. Socrates didn't let this stop him and kept right on, teaching up until he was forced to poison himself.

#### Robert Sternberg

This big name in psychology received a C in his first college introductory psychology class with his teacher telling him that, "there was already a famous Sternberg in psychology and it was obvious there would not be another." Sternberg showed him, however, graduating from Stanford with exceptional distinction in psychology, summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa and eventually becoming the President of the American Psychological Association.

### C. Inventors

These inventors changed the face of the modern world, but not without a few failed prototypes along the way.

#### Thomas Edison

In his early years, teachers told Edison he was "too stupid to learn anything." Work was no better, as he was fired from his first two jobs for not being productive enough. Even as an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. Of course, all those unsuccessful attempts finally resulted in the design that worked.

#### Orville and Wilbur Wright

These brothers' battled depression and family illness before starting the bicycle shop that would lead them to experimenting with flight. After numerous attempts at creating flying machines, several years of hard work, and tons of failed prototypes, the brothers finally created a plane that could get airborne and stay there.

### D. Public Figures

#### Winston Churchill

This Nobel Prize-winning, twice-elected Prime Minster of the United Kingdom wasn't always as well regarded as he is today. Churchill struggled in school and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced many years of political failures, as he was defeated in every election for public office until he finally became the Prime Minister at the ripe old age of 62.

####  Abraham Lincoln

While today he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of the United States, Lincoln's life wasn't so easy. In his youth he went to war as captain and returned as private (if you're not familiar with military ranks, just know that private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn't stop failing there, however. He started numerous failed businesses and was defeated in numerous runs he made for public office.

#### Oprah Winfrey

Most people know Oprah as one of the most iconic faces on TV as well as one of the richest and most successful women in the world. Oprah faced a hard road to get to that position, however, enduring a rough and often abusive childhood as well as numerous career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television reporter because she was "unfit for TV."

### E. Hollywood Celebrities

These faces ought to be familiar from the big screen, but these actors, actresses and directors saw their fair share of rejection and failure before they made it big.

#### Jerry Seinfeld

Just about everybody knows who Seinfeld is, but the first time the young comedian walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze and was eventually jeered and booed off of the stage. Seinfeld knew he could do it, so he went back the next night, completed his set to laughter and applause, and the rest is history.

#### Fred Astaire

In his first screen test, the testing director of MGM noted that Astaire "Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can't dance a little." Astaire went on to become an incredibly successful actor, singer and dancer and kept that note in his Beverly Hills home to remind him of where he came from.

#### Sidney Poitier

After his first audition, Poitier was told by the casting director, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?" Poitier vowed to show him that he could make it, going on to win an Oscar and became one of the well-regarded actors in the business.

#### Jeanne Moreau

As a young actress just starting out, this French actress was told by a casting director that she was simply not pretty enough to make it in films. He couldn't have been more wrong as Moreau went on to star in nearly 100 films and won numerous awards for her performances.

#### Charlie Chaplin

It's hard to a imagine film without the iconic Charlie Chaplin, but his act was initially rejected by Hollywood studio chiefs because they felt it was a little too nonsensical to ever sell.

#### Lucille Ball

During her career, Ball had thirteen Emmy nominations and four wins, also earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors. Before starring in I Love Lucy, Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn't feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. She, of course, proved them all wrong.

#### Harrison Ford

In his first film, Ford was told by the movie execs that he simply didn't have what it takes to be a star. Today, with numerous hits under his belt, iconic portrayals of characters like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and a career that stretches decades, Ford can proudly show that he does, in fact, have what it takes.

#### Marilyn Monroe

While Monroe's star burned out early, she did have a period of great success in her life. Despite a rough upbringing and being told by modeling agents that she should instead consider being a secretary, Monroe became a pin-up, model and actress that still strikes a chord with people today.

#### Oliver Stone

This Oscar-winning filmmaker began his first novel while at Yale, a project that eventually caused him to fail out of school. This would turn out to be a poor decision as the text was rejected by publishers and was not published until 1998, at which time it was not well-received. After dropping out of school, Stone moved to Vietnam to teach English, later enlisting in the army and fighting in the war, a battle that earned him two Purple Hearts and helped him find the inspiration for his later works that often centered around war.

### F. Writers and Artists

We've all heard about starving artists and struggling writers, but these stories show that sometimes all that work really does pay off with success in the long run.

#### Vincent Van Gogh

During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting, and this was to a friend and only for a very small amount of money. While Van Gogh was never a success during his life, he plugged on with painting, sometimes starving to complete his over 800 known works. Today, they bring in hundreds of millions.

#### Emily Dickinson

Recluse and poet Emily Dickinson is a commonly read and loved writer. Yet in her lifetime she was all but ignored, having fewer than a dozen poems published out of her almost 1,800 completed works.

#### Theodor Seuss Giesel

Today nearly every child has read The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham, yet 27 different publishers rejected Dr. Seuss's first book To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

#### Charles Schultz

Schultz's Peanuts comic strip has had enduring fame, yet this cartoonist had every cartoon he submitted rejected by his high school yearbook staff. Even after high school, Schultz didn't have it easy, applying and being rejected for a position working with Walt Disney.

#### Steven Spielberg

While today Spielberg's name is synonymous with big budget, he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. He eventually attended school at another location, only to drop out to become a director before finishing. Thirty-five years after starting his degree, Spielberg returned to school in 2002 to finally complete his work and earn his BA.

#### Stephen King

The first book by this author, the iconic thriller Carrie, received 30 rejections, finally causing King to give up and throw it in the trash. His wife fished it out and encouraged him to resubmit it, and the rest is history, with King now having hundreds of books published the distinction of being one of the best-selling authors of all time.

#### Zane Grey

Incredibly popular in the early 20th century, this adventure book writer began his career as a dentist, something he quickly began to hate. So, he began to write, only to see rejection after rejection for his works, being told eventually that he had no business being a writer and should give up. It took him years, but at 40, Zane finally got his first work published, leaving him with almost 90 books to his name and selling over 50 million copies worldwide.

#### J. K. Rowling

Rowling may be rolling in a lot of Harry Potter dough today, but before she published the series of novels she was nearly penniless, severely depressed, divorced, trying to raise a child on her own while attending school and writing a novel. Rowling went from depending on welfare to survive to being one of the richest women in the world in a span of only five years through her hard work and determination.

#### Monet

Today Monet's work sells for millions of dollars and hangs in some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Yet during his own time, it was mocked and rejected by the artistic elite, the Paris Salon. Monet kept at his impressionist style, which caught on and in many ways was a starting point for some major changes to art that ushered in the modern era.

#### Jack London

This well-known American author wasn't always such a success. While he would go on to publish popular novels like White Fang and The Call of the Wild, his first story received six hundred rejection slips before finally being accepted.

#### Louisa May Alcott

Most people are familiar with Alcott's most famous work, Little Women. Yet Alcott faced a bit of a battle to get her work out there and was encouraged to find work as a servant by her family to make ends meet. It was her letters back home during her experience as a nurse in the Civil War that gave her the first big break she needed.

### G. Musicians

While their music is some of the bestselling, best loved and most popular around the world today, these musicians show that it takes a whole lot of determination to achieve success.

#### Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart began composing at the age of five, writing over 600 pieces of music that today are lauded as some of the best ever created. Yet during his lifetime, Mozart didn't have such an easy time, and was often restless, leading to his dismissal from a position as a court musician in Salzberg. He struggled to keep the support of the aristocracy and died with little to his name.

####  Elvis Presley

As one of the best-selling artists of all time, Elvis has become a household name even years after his death. But back in 1954, Elvis was still a nobody, and Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance telling him, "You aren't going nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck."

#### Igor Stravinsky

In 1913 when Stravinsky debuted his now famous Rite of Spring, audiences rioted, running the composer out of town. Yet it was this very work that changed the way composers in the 19th century thought about music and cemented his place in musical history.

#### The Beatles

Few people can deny the lasting power of this super group, still popular with listeners around the world today. Yet when they were just starting out, a recording company told them no. They were told "we don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out," two things the rest of the world couldn't have disagreed with more.

#### Ludwig van Beethoven

In his formative years, young Beethoven was incredibly awkward on the violin and was often so busy working on his own compositions that he neglected to practice. Despite his love of composing, his teachers felt he was hopeless at it and would never succeed with the violin or in composing. Beethoven kept plugging along, however, and composed some of the best-loved symphonies of all time–five of them while he was completely deaf.

### H. Athletes

While some athletes rocket to fame, others endure a path fraught with a little more adversity, like those listed here.

#### Michael Jordan

Most people wouldn't believe that a man often lauded as the best basketball player of all time was actually cut from his high school basketball team. Luckily, Jordan didn't let this setback stop him from playing the game and he has stated, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

#### Stan Smith

This tennis player was rejected from even being a lowly ball boy for a Davis Cup tennis match because event organizers felt he was too clumsy and uncoordinated. Smith went on to prove them wrong, showcasing his not-so-clumsy skills by winning Wimbledon, U. S. Open and eight Davis Cups.

'For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison...' II Cor 4:15-16)

The above passage reveals the characters of the famous people mentioned above. Their affliction was the very tool that produced an eternal 'weight of glory', far beyond what they could think or imagined. None of these men were isolated from initial struggles and failures. But they moved from the point of failing, from several failing rate and turned around their great failures to gigantic success story. This is indeed incredible! Failure is the first step to success.

It is amazing to know that each challenge carries the raw material for the solution. On the other hand, I have come to understand that some don't know how to discover the raw material needed to create solution to their predicament.

## Opportunities within the Storm

To explain this section clearly, I will be using the principle of the eagle; how it uses the storm to soar higher.

### Eagle knows when a storm approaches, long before it breaks

This is the pre-challenge, pre-problem period. In life there are stages of life and each stage has its own peculiar challenges. We must anticipate such as we approach each stage and also be at peace to plan ahead so as to overcome. Understanding this time helps to prepare you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This knowing has a lot to do with sensitivity, intuition and discernment. While other birds are busy chit-chatting, the eagle is reading the weather report to get signal for the storm. Other birds stumble into the storm, but the eagle plans into the storm.

Challenges and problems erect their sign posts before they happen. Only those who can perceive spiritually can see and read it. What this teaches us all is that we should learn to be proactive with our lives. Proactive means 'taking action to cause a change'. It's an offensive strategy to just wait to react to change – we must act to cause the needed change. Growing in the midst of challenges requires taking proactive measures that will cause a change, and to be proactive, you must be deliberate with your thought and actions. When it seems an opportunity is not forth coming, don't just wait. Brace up your mind to get going. You can always create your own platform that will give you needed opportunities.

### When the storm hits, eagle sets its wings to wing the wind

When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings so that the wind picks it up and lifts it above the storm. As the eagle locates the thermal current in the storm and flies towards it, the current lifts it higher above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. It knows the truth that there is a higher life above the storms and, that the only path to get there is to ride on the thermal current. The thermal current is in the wind that brings the storm. So the eagle does not see the storm, rather positions itself in an angle that enables it to see the thermal current in the stormy wind. To the eagle, the storm is not the issue but the wind that brings the storm. It knows that if it can locate the current the storm will be under its feet. And that is the exact thing that happens - the eagle doesn't escape the storm; it simply uses it to soar higher. You also can rise above the winds that bring the storm and soar higher in life.

### Perception of the thermal current symbolizes your ability to recognize opportunities in trials

In Genesis chapter 18 we see how such perception helped Abraham to receive the performance of the promise that God made him as regard having a son.

Adonai appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. 2 He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, 3 and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don't leave your servant. 4 Please let me send for some water, so that you can wash your feet; then rest under the tree, 5 and I will bring a piece of bread. Now that you have come to your servant, refresh yourselves before going on." "Very well," they replied, "do what you have said." 6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, three measures of the best flour! Knead it and make cakes." 7 Abraham ran to the herd took a good, tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds, milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it all before the men; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 9 They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He said, "There, in the tent." 10 He said, "I will certainly return to you around this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah heard him from the entrance of the tent, behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "I am old, and so is my lord; am I to have pleasure again?" 13 Adonai said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and ask, 'Am I really going to bear a child when I am so old?' 14 Is anything too hard for Adonai? At the time set for it, at this season next year, I will return to you; and Sarah will have a son." (Gen. 18:1-14, CJB Version)

Abraham perceived that these three men walking where not just ordinary men but angels. And the third person was Adonai himself. Let's look at how this apply:

#### He Sat Down under an Oak Tree during the Heat of Day

We must always learn to sit down and remain calm during pressure. To sit down means engaging in meditation. When you meditate on God's word as regard your life, you will perceive things in the realm of the Spirit then ask for the grace to apply them.

"O how I love you law! It is my meditation all the day. I have more understanding that all my teachers: for your testimonies are my meditations. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts." Psalm 119 vs 97—100.

Meditation is giving your thought only to one thing in your subconscious state. It is like leaving your body to go into God's secret chamber for a private meeting. Abraham separated himself during the heat of the day. You must learn to separate yourself from the unnecessary pressure and busyness. The reason why some people cannot get quality result from their meditation is because they do it amidst distraction. Learning to separate yourself from all forms of disturbances while giving yourself to meditation helps your spirit to connect the Adonai. Meditation helps you to perceive and discern the place, career and the set time for your miracle.

#### He Raised His Eyes, Looked

A lot of people have missed their miracles because they lack discernment. Good perception is connected to the ability to discern people and situations rightly. It is dangerous to judge people by their outward appearance; things might not always be the way they appear. Outlook can be very deceptive. A second look with the eye of the spirit is required to be able to perceive and judge accurately in life. A divine helper can appear on foot. An ideal husband can appear disguised. In fact, your king can come to you as a beggar. Esther who came to Mordecai as a cousin orphan, but little did Mordecai know that he was feeding a great Queen and deliverer of the Jews.

#### He Saw

Two young guys visited India from U.S. They got to a town and discovered that everyone in that town walk barefooted - with no footwear on. One of the guys was disenchanted, disgusted, and stunned. He could not relate with them because he felt they were primitive and uncivilized. But the other guy raised up his eyes, looked, and saw the issue from another light. He thought within himself; 'since they are not wearing shoes or footwear, it implies that they lack the knowledge of shoe and footwear.' He saw a business opportunity while the other guy saw a repulsive situation. After few weeks in India, both returned to the U.S. The guy who had a different perception went into conceptualization, and created designs for footwear and shoe. Six months later, he went back to India with samples of shoes and footwear he produced and presented them to the community leaders of the particular town. And for the first time, they had the knowledge of shoe and footwear. This is how this guy started shipping foot wears and shoes to this community. After a while, demand increased and time of delivery became an issue as a result of traveling back to U.S for production. The community leaders approached him on the need for a shoe factory to be established in their community and this was how an investor from the U.S was brought into that Indian town.

Don't forget: two people went to the same place but saw differently. One saw problem, while the other saw an opportunity. How you see things and issues of life matters.

#### Prayer Points

Lord Jesus help my perception and discernment to know how to understand and use the challenges of life as a springboard for my lifting in life.

Help me, Lord, to perceive beyond the natural people and places to that which carries my set time miracle in the season you have allocated for me.

#### Key Nuggets

To perceive is to identify and see what other people cannot see in the situation or storm.

God is the one who sets the seasons. Our duty is to perceive the messenger with the message in the set time.

We must learn to perceive opportunity, person and place that carries our miracle.

**************

# Chapter Four

# THE CHAMPION'S CONCEPT

The making of champions and world changers is not done in the open field, but in the closet. We become great first in obscurity before appearing on the spotlight. A music entertainer doesn't rehearse on the stage at the moment of his performance when all eyes are expecting a show from him. He rehearsed alone in the secret for days, and months for a performance of 5mins or more. Those who are willingly to sacrifice the now will receive the rewards of the future.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples in John 12:22-26

"23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. NIV.

From the above reading, we came to see a certain dimension of glory that man cannot attain until carnality is tamed. Jesus said, the hour has come for glorification of the son of man, but the next sentence shows us the mechanism that will produce this glorification is His death. He will need to die before the father will give him the name that is higher than any other name. This is the emergence theory; death leads to productivity. Please note, I am not referring to death as a result of loss of life, but dying to self; removing things that are harmful to your life pursuit. The termination of bad habits and negative characters that is detrimental to success. To some, certain relationship has to die. To others, pride has to be terminated before it destroys them. Jesus conquered death and made life in the spirit available to those who will believe in him.

## The Story of Esau

The story of Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25:19-34 has so much to teach us about the emergency theory.

"This is the account of the family line of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord.

The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob.[c] Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."

" _Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright"._

Fantastic story with a new dimension to life placement. The creator of life, who sees the end from the beginning saw that two nations will emerge and what will determine their future and dynasty will be the choice they will make as they grow in life. Their story wasn't a prophecy. The text said Rachael inquired of the Lord as a result of the babies' struggled in her womb and she found out something strange that also shaped her decision as regard the boys.

Isaac is the second patriarch in the covenant and he must transfer directly to one person as the next patriarch. God is not an author of confusion and neither did he create Esau to ridicule him in life. God's plan for our lives is of good and to give us an expected end. The truth is that both of them are blessed, but one person will be the next patriarch of the covenant. However, while the birthright will be the qualification to become the patriarch role, the person's role in making this promise come to pass is the most crucial. Why?, God has finished His wok therefore speaks the end from the beginning when dealing with mankind. On the other hand, Esau receiving the covenant is still subjected to his personal will and decision.

Let's see how both of them directly and indirectly made the choices that affects their placement in the future.

### Who Exactly Was Esau?

#### Esau Was A Man of the Open Field.

Let's look at the features of the open field:

Wild life

Wild Hunting, lust of the flesh

Different kinds of cultures

Hostility, competition, lust of the eyes, temptation,

Interaction with different cultures

Busyness, lack of focus, untamed ambition,

No organized learning

Taking a close look at these features, we will understand why Esau had no respect for his birthright.

From the instruction God gave Abraham, Esau had no business with the open field, because He forbade them from associating with the heathens. Esau didn't realize early that the birthright is what qualifies a person to be a carrier of blessings. He was aware of the blessings but didn't take time to ask his father in details. He thought being the first born is all that is required. No! Rather, it is the person with the birthright that owns the blessing.

Birthright is a spiritual cognizance and the assertion of blessing is the physical reality. Jacob discovered the spiritual consciousness of inheritance by the revelation of his mother. Esau had physical consciousness of the blessing but didn't understand the place of spiritual consciousness (birthright). As believers, being spiritually conscious of our inheritance is not enough. Seeking and doing all it demands to receive is the vital. The assumption that being part of the covenant is enough to possess and deliver the blessing ruined Esau's expectation. Pentecostalism should not permit stupid complacency and radicalism. At all times, we need to place a demand on it; ask, seek, and knock.

#### Esau Was a Self-Cantered Man

He was the type of people who live for the moment, and the godless. Being the firstborn has no meaning to him. He preferred to be out in the field, hunting rather than tending to his inheritance and learning the ways of Adonai from his father and grandfather. His grandfather? Yes, if Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born, and died at 175, then he was alive for the first 15 years of the Esau's life.

Esau would have heard the story of creation and the story of the flood from Abraham. He would have heard how the Creator called Abraham from the land of Ur and promised to give him a land and a family so large that no one could count them. He would have heard first-hand how his grandmother, Sarah, was barren and by miracle of God gave birth to his father when she was 90. He would also have heard how his parents had prayed for 20 years before he was conceived and born. Or maybe all those stories bored him. Maybe, like so many teenagers of today, he headed out of the door to do his own thing, rather than listen to a long, boring story.

Apparently, it all meant nothing to Esau because he sold his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew. Why? He was "about to die" from hunger. Seriously? This man was a prince. His grandfather, Abraham, had accumulated so much wealth that he had to split off from Lot. His father Isaac added more to that, and had so much that the Philistines asked him to leave their area, yet here he was, starving to death and ready to give up the right of firstborn just for a bowl of vegetable soup! There wasn't even meat in it!

### So what exactly did Esau sell? What was the right of the firstborn?

When it comes to inheritance, the firstborn is entitled to a double portion. That means if there are two children, the firstborn gets two-thirds of the estate, and the second child gets one-third. Likewise, if there are three children, the estate is divided into four, the firstborn getting half, and the remaining two children one-quarter each. Esau must have been thinking that one-third of the estate was plenty. But there's more to it. The firstborn becomes the head of the family, and as the head, performs the role of the priest in the family. In this case, he would be the one to lead the family in the worship of Adonai, teaching the family His statutes, laws, and ordinances. But wait! What laws? The giving of the law didn't happen until Sinai.

When we look at Genesis 26, where God met with Isaac, God explained why He was going to bless Isaac: "because Abraham heeded what I said and did what I told him to do – he followed my instructions, my regulations, and my teachings." So there was something that Abraham knew about God, and he passed that on to Isaac, who in turn passed it on to the twins. Or did he? Remember, Genesis 25 tells us that Esau became a skillful hunter while Jacob stayed in the tents. It was in the tents that Jacob learned from his parents the ways of Adonai. It was in the tents that he would observe his father leading the family, worshiping God, and running the family business. Jacob would have known the value of the covenant promise God gave to Abraham and confirmed it with Isaac. He would have known that the greatest inheritance for the firstborn is the covenant promise.

But Esau spent his time doing what he wanted; all he wanted was to hunt and be outside. And when he came in, he wanted to eat. It reminds me of how we are today, with a need for instant gratification. Think about it. Jacob was cutting a deal. He offered Esau instant gratification – a bowl of vegetable stew – in exchange for the covenant blessing from God.

At the snap of Esau's finger, he could have had a team of servants prepare a feast for him. But he couldn't wait. He didn't want to wait. He didn't want to think about the consequences, because he wanted instant gratification. Whatever God had to offer him, he wasn't interested. So when Jacob offered him a trade, he took it.

#### What Can We Learn From This?

*We should set our priorities in order, keeping God and family in the forefront of our minds.

*We should hold on to the promises of God, even when they seem slow in coming.

*We should always think before making life choices.

## Features of the Open Field

The features of the open field includes: wild animals, hunters, hunting competition, physical energy display, fun making, lust of the eyes and divers dangers. The open field and the wild are a typology of the world system and her programs. It depicts distractions, love of money, fame, power, materialism, religion, and anything that exalts itself beyond the counsel of the Lord. If you are caught up in the deception of busyness of this time, you will end up not coming into impactful spotlight. Those who permit the things of this world to overwhelm them misplace their priority, and those who misplace priority can never take the lead in their generation. That was what happened to Esau.

### The World We Live In

For clarity and balance, the open field can be likened to the world we live in. For in as much as we are in the world as believers of Christ, we are not of the world. Defiantly, we must be earthly relevant, impacting in all capacity and exercising dominion. However, our association with the world has limits. From the foregoing, Esau as a prince to the Abrahamic covenant has no reason to mingle with the people of the open field. Why? He is a seed of Abraham and had been called by Elohim to be a new model of nation with a specific covenant and mandate. The concept of the culture of mankind is built on the corrupt nature, which all the time produces death.

### Instant Gratification Isn't It

So, in the school of success you don't mistake foolishness for simplicity. One of the reasons why Esau lost his birthright was because he was after quick gratification. Let me have it now or never. This is the world system of getting things. Quite a lot of youths seek for quick fame and wealth not after true emergence and that is why they are so busy in the open field and are wild selling their birthrights to the devil. There is something greater than getting, it is called becoming. Full self-actualization must precede manifestation. When you discover your true identity in Christ and, through the renewal of your mind, become what you are destined to become, your manifestation will be sure.

But when you have a 'get it now mindset', then you will miss the joy of seeing yourself grow into a monument. If you have a baby today and six months from now he is already running and talking, that child will have a misplaced growth later in life. It will affect his life and retard his performance when the actual time to talk and run shows up. Esau did not get knowledge because he was always out there in the open field. He didn't grab the opportunity of the teachers of the law around him - his grandfather, father, mother and servants. These men would have taught him to know that the birthright is the access to the covenant blessing. He was distracted from knowledge.

### Thrust Sets the Motion

One of the forces the airplane requires to fly is called thrust. It is this force that acts on the airplane from behind and sets it in motion before the force to drag acts on it. Thrust sets the motion. What sets us in motion in life is knowledge, because knowledge is power. It is the ability or force to do work. Knowledge is what gives us power to do. When you have a specific knowledge about a thing, what you have done is to acquire the power to do that thing, and this will cause you to move. Jacob got power through learning in the tent; the power that sets his life in motion towards becoming.

Esau had no knowledge and when there is no knowledge there is no power to become. Thus, Esau was stranded, bitter and stagnant. When there is power, there are activities. But when there is no power there are no activities. You generate power from within, and not from without. Power-dams are built down in heart of massive rivers and lagoons. It is time to step out of the open field and move into the tent to seek knowledge. Life's dynamic revelations that will shake the world are not caught in the open field of distractions, but in the tent where there is learning.

The secrets and mysteries of the universe is deliberately concealed and hidden by God and only those who can shut the door to distractions can unlock it. 'It is the glory of God to conceal a matter (hide a secret), But the glory of kings is to search out a matter'. {Proverb 25 vs. 2}

You can't uncover secrets that produces ideas that will change the world while wasting time in the open filed. It's high time you did away with unnecessary issues that doesn't add up value to your life. The youths are no more the leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today. It is thus obligatory and indispensable that we stop inappropriate life style and redundant value system that has been making lots of youths to be unessential in the now.

##  The Man Jacob?

### Jacob, Man of the Tent

There are three founding fathers of the Jews nation: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the reason why the Jews always pray with the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God Jacob. In this context, these three patriarchs were a type of God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit residing in that tent. By birth placement, Jacob was not supposed to be the carrier of the covenant; by his positioning, he was not supposed to receive the blessings. But he nevertheless got it as a result of the transfer made to him by Esau.

How did Jacob recognize that the birthright is the key to the blessing? His discovery of it can only be found in the tent and not in the open filed. The features of the tent includes:

*Abode

*Spiritual coverage

*Affection and relationship

*Mentorship

*Peace, Knowledge

*Information

*Fellowship

*Inspiration

*Revelation

*Encounter

*Instruction

*Idea creation.

From the list you will understand where Jacob developed his capacity. I can't rule out the place of God's sovereignty, He chose whoever He wants for His purpose. However, Jacob chose the good part of loving the tent, which is the pathway to emergence. The Psalmist said, "I know more than my teacher... I know more than ancient, because I meditate on your testimony." (Psalm 119)

There are so much revelations God wants to release to the earth and He has made them available already, but only those who abide in the secret place of the Almighty will access it.

## The Features of the Tent

### Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived together for 15 years in tents:

" _By faith Abraham obeyed_

When he was called to go out to the place

Which he would receive as an inheritance.

And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise

As in a foreign country,

Dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,

The heirs with him of the same promise;

For he waited for the city which has foundations,

Whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10)

### What Is So Special About Living In Tents?

Tent is the place where God reveals Himself and His plans to people. A good way to imagine this is that of God and His people sitting down together on adjacent cushions in a nomad's tent to discuss matters, in intimacy, not having the need to shout. Lying side-by-side, the still, quiet intimate voice of God can be heard.

#### Craving for it: David

The psalmist David had only one desire. Before his son Solomon built the First Temple, the temple of God was just a tent. He desired to dwell in the tent with God all the days of his life:

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

#### Craving for it: Job

In the book of Job, there was a beautiful passage describing Job longing for the days of his youth when God's presence was in his tent:

Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was yet with me, When my children were around me; When my steps were bathed with cream, And the rock poured out rivers of oil for me! (Job 29:4-6)

This is a great example of the tent. Job described God's presence with him in the tent where his steps were bathed with cream. Even the rock poured out rivers of oil for him! His children were also with him. There was this intimate friendship of God visiting his tent.

#### Partaking of It: Abraham

God visited Abraham in his tent too:

"The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way; now that you have come to your servant... "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." (Genesis 18:1-5)

Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?   
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him." (Genesis 18:17-19)

Furthermore, the significance of the above passage is this: God does not hide His plans from His friends: "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

#### Partaking of It: Isaac and Jacob

God is interested in both Abraham and the generations after him. He is vitally concerned that Abraham would prepare the next generation to love and serve Him. He called Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He made His covenant not only with Abraham but also with Isaac and Jacob. The promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) were renewed with his son Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5), and with his grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:12-15).

From the very outset, just as soon as the contrasting characters of Isaac's twin sons, Jacob and Esau started to become apparent, it was clear that Jacob's preference was to be inside. "Esau was a man who understood hunting; a man of the field, but Jacob was a sincere man sitting in tents" (Genesis 25:27).

### The Canopies of Light

There were two tents in particular in which the young Jacob used to sit: those of his two august teachers, his grandfather Abraham (who lived until Jacob was aged 15), and his father Isaac. Abraham and Isaac were polar opposites.

Abraham, the breakaway, the originator, founder of the tradition, was all Chessed , expansive outreach, love and kindness. Isaac was an assiduous student, follower and receiver of the tradition. Thus, he was a model of Gevurah, submission, strict discipline, and judgment. Jacob's task was to show how to bring the polar opposites of Chessed and Gevurah into balance in order to make a perfect whole. This was an integral part of Jacob's.

For this reason Jacob sat in the tents of each of his masters, learning from both. The Hebrew word for tent, Ohel, has the connotation of shining light (see Job 31:26). A tent or canopy "shines down" in the sense of giving definition to the space beneath it. The contrasting ways and teachings of the two founding fathers, Abraham and Isaac, were two canopies of light shining down upon the young Jacob. To put it in terms of dialectics, Jacob took Abraham's thesis and Isaac's antithesis and fused them into synthesis that became his heritage to all his descendants, the Children of Israel.

Whereas the twin lights of Abraham and Isaac shone down from above to below, Jacob's light was to be a pillar of ascent from below upwards. Jacob's synthesis enables the spiritual seeker to return to God's original unity, which could begin to be revealed initially only through first revealing plurality in the form of the two apparent opposites: Chessed and Gevurah, the two fundamental poles of creation as embodied in Abraham and Isaac. Jacob completed the holy triad by revealing the unifying quality of Tiferet, synthesis, harmony and beauty, forging a dynamic unity out of the contrasting aspects revealed in Chessed and Gevurah.

Tiferet strives upwards, transcending the two counterpoised poles to their source in the unifying root quality of Daat, "Knowledge", and then rising yet higher, beyond the counterpoised aspects of Chokhmah (holistic "Wisdom") and Binah (analytic "Understanding"), right up to Keter, the Crown, the Will of Wills, the Supreme Source: ultimate unity.

Abraham and Isaac's nomadic life in tents, on the mountain, and in the field, suggests a certain lack of permanence. For the Godly revelations they each embodied were stages in the unfolding of a greater whole that was still to be completed and perfected. It was Jacob who was to give the holy tradition the permanence of a House, a fixed and enduring structure. Abraham, the man of the Mountain, and Isaac, man of the Field, are both associated with the outdoors. But that Jacob was the builder of House is not to say that he only knew about life indoors.

On the contrary, at the end of twenty years of exile from his parental home and land, Jacob, defending himself against the accusations of his father-in-law Laban, reminds him: "These twenty years that I've been with you [shepherding your sheep in the outdoors] ... scorching heat ravaged me by day and frost by night..." (Genesis 31:38-40). Jacob was just as much an outdoors person - a profound student and lover of nature and a watcher of the heavens - as his fathers and teachers, Abraham and Isaac.

###  The Right Balance

Harmony is forged out of the raw materials provided by chaos. True harmony comes from dealing successfully with the opposing forces and, wherever possible, finding a way to integrate each so as to make it work as part of the whole.

For Jacob to build his House, it was necessary for him to confront whatever kind of hardship and deal successfully with challenges, transforming them into something that would actually contribute to the overall structure he sought to achieve. With consummate skill, Jacob applied Chessed or Gevurah traits according to the specific needs of the different situations he faced.

The right balance in any given situation is called Mishpat: correct, fair judgment taking all factors into consideration. This is an aspect of Emet, (truth). "You gave truth to Jacob" (Michah 7: 20). Nothing is more precious than knowing the truth, just course to take in all situations, especially when dealing with conflicting aspects of one's self.

For someone trying to build his House, it is striking how much of Jacob's life was spent in bitter exile from home. According to tradition, after he received the blessings from Isaac, Jacob spent fourteen years in unremitting study with Shem and Eiver. This was followed by Jacob's twenty year stint with Laban. He then spent another two years on the road before finally coming home to Isaac. At the end of his life, Jacob again went into exile, this time in Egypt, where he was reunited with his long-lost son Joseph. Only after Jacob's death was he carried back to the Land of Israel by his sons and finally brought to rest in his eternal home in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.

Jacob's years in exile from home were themselves years of building. He started off studying with Shem and Eiver - because the House he had to construct could only be built by going to the very roots of the Torah tradition, namely the wisdom that had been passed down from Adam to Noah, which Noah in turn handed on to his son Shem, and on to Shem's great grandson Eiver. It was to Laban that Jacob headed immediately after his fourteen years with Shem and Eiver.

It was to build his own family that Jacob went into exile from his parental home. For the first step in building his House was to gather together the souls who would be living in it. Building his House was to turn into a protracted, hard and at times tormenting labor. To inspire himself, as he first set off for Padan Aram, Jacob stopped at the holy spot where Abraham had built the altar to sacrifice Isaac. There was Jacob alone out on this Mountain-Field as the sun went down, leaving the world to darkness. Before bedding down for the night at this exposed spot, Jacob took stones to make a rough structure where he could lie down more safely, a first primitive "house". It was on that spot that he had his dream of the ladder with angels going up and down. And when he awoke, he said: "This is none other than the House of God" (Genesis 28:17). This dream was Jacob's guiding vision until he completed his task (see next segment).

### Jacob, the Man of the Tent

Jacob was referred to as the man of the tent. This means that:

#### 1. He loved being in the presence of his Grandfather, father and mother

There are believers who think God's presence is only limited to Sunday service. God's presence is everywhere. Therefore, we must always carry that consciousness in our mind, love and respect it. What do you get in the presence of God the Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit? Divine fellowship. This is what Jacob enjoyed. He had fellowship with the carriers of the covenant. Rebecca loved him more because of this. When we fellowship more in the presence of the Holy Spirit, he pours into our heart more grace to further love the father and Jesus Christ. Esau never had fellowship with the covenant. Isaac loved him because he was trying to prove to Isaac that he is a man by bringing the hunt, but Rebecca wants fellowship. Here we see a type of Jesus and Holy Spirit. When we keep running to Jesus, He keeps receiving us and that is why He is our Saviour, Lord, and High Priest.

#### 2. He Loved the Pleasures of Their Presence

Psalm 16 vs 11 says: 'You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore'. This exactly was what happened to Jacob. He received the path of life as a result of taking pleasures in the presence of the founding patriarch, the succeeding patriarch (his father), and the second covenanted womb (his mother). How come Jacob was interested in the birthright? How come he knew what to do to get it? How come the operation was smooth in the taking of the birthright? All to the benefit of staying in the presence. Jacob was 15years old when Abraham died. Definitely, Jacob was taught by Abraham his grandfather in his own tent, taught by his father in his own tent and was instructed by his mother in her own tent. Three tents and three presence playing different roles in Jacob's life.

### What Did Jacob Learn In These Tents?

#### Abraham's Tent Contains:

i. The covenant - God made His covenant with Abraham. (Gen 12 vs 1)

ii. The blessing - God said to Abraham 'I will make you a blessing'

iii. The seed of the blessing - Through him all people on the earth would be blessed.

iv. The covenant knowledge - God trusted that Abraham will teach his household the way of the Lord as concerning the covenant of the Lord with Him.

v. The knowledge and the ways of Adonai.

vi. God's plan and will - God's plan was for all nations to be blessed through his seed, Jesus Christ. God's will was to give His only begotten son to die for mankind and tested Abraham on this concept. So, God's plan, will and direction for the world (vision) were residing in the tent.

#### Isaac's Tent Contains:

i. The expression of the blessing.

ii. The renewal of the covenant.

iii. The transfer of the blessing.

iv. The conferment of the spiritual ruler of the dynasty.

v. The knowledge of the birthright.

#### Rebecca's Tent Contains:

i. The prophecy regarding the two nations.

ii. The knowledge of the birthright.

iii. The strategy of how to claim the birthright.

All of these are the information Jacob acquired. Knowledge is power. Jacob received the path to succeed in life by interacting with these tents. Young people must not despise the capacity building that comes from acquiring knowledge. The tent which is symbolic as the place of spiritual inspiration, knowledge and encounter with divinity must be desired by all young people who want to soar high.

Ex 33:7-11 says:

(7) Moses used to take a tent a short way outside the camp. He called it "the meeting tent." Anyone who wanted to ask something from the Lord would go to the meeting tent outside the camp. (8) Any time Moses went out to the tent, all the people watched him. They stood at the entrance of their tents and watched Moses until he entered the meeting tent. (9) Whenever Moses went into the tent, the tall cloud would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent. And the Lord would speak with Moses. (10) So when the people saw the cloud at the entrance of the tent, they would go to the entrance of their own tents and bow down to worship God. (11) In this way the Lord spoke to Moses face to face like a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would go back to the camp, but his helper, Joshua son of Nun, always stayed in the tent. (ERV)

From the above narrative, we understand that God is not a respecter of person. That Joshua was Moses helper did not automatically qualifies him to be the next leader of the new nation. After all, Joshua was not Moses' only a helper. Gehazi was Elisha's helper yet he didn't succeed him. So what more did Joshua do?

1. The tent was made by Moses for exclusive seeking: To find, we must seek and seeking requires being personal. It also requires complete concentration. It is through meditation you can enter the realm of revelation and knowing.

2. Desires and cravings are not enough. Seeking the mind of God as regard His will must precede the desire.

3. In life, there are on spectators and there are performers. Actors are those who enter fully into participation. The cloud is in the tent. The glory is in the participation and received by those who gets in. Onlookers don't get celebrated, they are only spectators and crowds that cheers up those in the arena. To win, you must fight. To discover, you must seek. Don't be a spectator, rather be a participant.

4. Moses picked Joshua to come along with him. Jesus picked Peter, John and James to go pray with Him. When they got there, they began to sleep. When Moses entered into the tent, and began talking to God face to face (allegoric), Joshua observed him with deep admiration. When Moses left the tent, Joshua remained in the tent. That was an infrequent hunger in the young man, while other of his young generation were concerned about experiencing the milk and honey of the Promised Land. Joshua was seeking God's desire; divine fellowship. The truth is that, leaders are made in the presence of God while experiencing celestial encounters.

While Moses had the dream of the promises land, he was already getting old for the next generation that will carry on with the vision; God was already connecting with the young Joshua who will be the custodian of the next direction: Your old men will dream dreams; have the image, but your young men will see the vision; they will have the next revival and direction. (Joel 2: 28)

When we seek Christ, we encounter divinity. Divinity will birth a revelation in our own spirit and instruct our soul. When there is a revelation, there will be vision which will make you the custodian of the next revival and direction for mankind. It is very important we all underline this statement in our heart, even seven times.

####  Prayer Point

Holy Spirit, quicken me and let your life-giving spirit bring me out of every stronghold that has held me bound. In Jesus name.

#### Key Nuggets

*It is the birthright that qualifies for the blessing. We have a spiritual birthright.

*Our spiritual birthright gives us access to our inheritance in Christ Jesus.

*Jacob had a spiritual consciousness of the inheritance, but Esau had physical consciousness of the blessing.

*Jacob sought the place of knowledge (tent) but Esau sought the place of fame (open field).

*Having right priority matters in life.

*Jacob loved the tent: the abode of revelation, but Esau loved the open field: the place of activities.

*We become first before getting. Capacity building must precede getting.

*Knowledge is power and the tent is the source (the place of knowing)

*The open field is symbolic to misguided ambitions. Esau's ambition was just getting the blessing, but he already despised his birthright.

*Jacob did not deceive him, he acted on Esau's ignorance. To be ignorant is not an excuse. Be informed.

*There are three symbolic characters in the tents: Abraham, Isaac and Rebecca. This a typology type of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. To become what we are made to be, we must fellowship with the three dimension of the Eternal God-Head.

**************

# CHAPTER FIVE

# THE EMERGENCE THEORY

The world needs another stirring, for the earth 'groans for the manifestation of the sons of God'. People are becoming more hopeless day by day. Many are seeking avenues and concepts to brighten their hopes. The only people who can initiate the needed inspiration are those who have been able to see the light at the end of tunnel and break the strongholds.

The call to inspire the world is a call to courage; the courage to stand again. It is call to a purpose; living a purpose driven life. It is a call to vision; charting a new direction for this generation and the next.

The emergence theory is the act of moving from the unknown to the known. I like to paraphrase what our Lord Jesus said: "to bear much fruits, you have to be buried into the ground (planted in the soil), then upon your emergence you will bear fruits." Those who intend to inspire their generation must understand that dying to self is vital to making much impact. You can only become visible after you have been concealed. Death is the grand pathway to your emergence!

## The Seed Theory

To understand the concept of emergence, I will like to use the illustration of seed planting. Quite a lot of good things happen in the ground when the seed is in the ground:

### A seed contains all the commands necessary to sprout to life and become what it is programmed for

A seed looks tiny and small, but that is the future tree. Mind you, trees make the future forest but it all begins with the seed and its input ability to produce. The forest comes from within one seed. One thing you must understand is this: 'there is a seed of greatness in you.' And it has one divine instruction: produce and be great! Both the trees and the fruits are in the seed. No seed looks big before ordinary eyes, but it contains abundant harvest.

### Lessons:

As humans, the seed would come to inform of ideas. Don't neglect that small ideas in your head, though it may well look intangible. It has the capacity to transform you and the world at large. Personally, I don't think people lack ideas, but a lot of people don't give attention to ideas that come into their mind.

If we all work on the seeds of ideas, this world would be more progressive than it is. Giving attention and retain idea is a key factor in the school of success. This is an illustration of how an idea is processed.

Elohim don't release ideas every day, He has already created a spiritual realm where ideas exist, and He did this in the eternal past. When mankind gets an idea, someone through meditation has successfully interacted with that realm to pick one to work on. God's given ideas cover the past, the present, and the future of the universe. His idea realm is open to all and that which you are presently thinking might be a great, novel idea, especially in your domain.

Often, the idea you have may be given to someone else when you don't run with it. The realm of ideas is open to all who can care to access it through deep meditation.

"His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3, NKJV).

### Every Good Seed Needs Good Soil to Germinate, Grow and Flourish

After a seed has found its good location and it is well covered in the soil that it begins germination. Germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants. This process responds to the nature of the soil and other external factors like, watering, sunlight, and clearing off weeds round the plant. Some seeds don't do well in all kinds of soil. Some grow faster in loamy, while others do so in clay soil.

### Lessons:

The seed carries specific fruits. Thus, it requires a specific environment to enhance the growth process. So it is in life. For each of us is to produce a specific result in life; making positive impacts requires a specific environment for your idea to mature and develop. The quality of the environment you find yourself matters because it will certainly affect your personality, positively or negatively. Your environment will shape you into what you finally become.

In agriculture, there are different kinds of soil. The soil is the environment the seed needs. You don't plant a grain seed in a clay soil.

### Why Is The Soil Type Important?

*The soil functions as the germination platform for a corn of seed.

*It gives it the transmitting heat and moisture needed before it emerges from the soil.

*It also stores and delivers a steady source of water and plant nutrients.

*It provides the structure and anchor needed to keep the plant upright and the leaves oriented toward sunlight.

However, the key soil factor to be considered when placing a hybrid is the varying amounts of water held by the different oil textures. Soil on the sandy side of the textural triangle hold less water per foot of soil. Thus, corn grown in sandy soil may be prone to drought stress without regular rainfall or irrigation.

Clay soil holds more total moisture than soil from the other textural classes, but clay soil particles are so small that plant roots are not able to effectively extract water from between the clay particles. The water is trapped and held so tightly in the clay that plant roots can't get at it during rain-free periods. During wet periods, clay soil can become saturated with water, displacing oxygen needed by the roots for respiration. Waterlogged soil inhibit normal root growth and can slow development of the corn plant or even kill the crop under prolonged saturated conditions.

Loamy soil located in the center of the soil, textural triangle are able to provide the greatest amount of stored soil moisture to plants during extended dry periods. That's because the amount of plant-available water per foot of loamy soil is greater than in soils made up of larger (sand) or smaller (clay) particles.

The fibrous root system on the left includes more surface area for stronger moisture absorption on well-drained silt loams and sandy loams. But it leaves them susceptible to "pancaking" on heavy soil when compaction occurs. The thick, penetrating roots on the right can grow through heavy, tight clay soils, but have a narrow base, making them susceptible to root lodging.

The corn seed will not do well in certain soil, so we must find the right environment for the seed of greatness in us. Some environment empowers you while some will drain your strength. Some will motivate you while some will dishearten you. Some will inspire you towards capacity growth while others will lead you into ignorance. Our environment which means our exposure matters a lot in our formation.

## The Environment Theory

### How Do You Find A Good Environment For What You Carry?

The following tips below will help you:

#### Understand the Type of Seed You Are Carrying

If a person with the seed of an inventor is learning in the fisherman environment, he or she can't be productive. Mary understood she was carrying the Savior of the world and thus moved towards Elizabeth. This is where a lot of youths miss the road. You must take time to understand what you carry and what you see yourself becoming in order to rightly choose your company of friends and domain. Though we cannot chose the immediate family we were born into, we can chose who, what and where we associate with.

As an inspired person you don't get motivated by an expired person. Who is someone who has expired? He is one who sees you in the light of his own mistakes and gives you reasons why that thing will not work for you, just because it didn't work for him. On the contrary, an inspired person will guide you through to succeed in that very thing he failed because of his experienced mistakes. You must understand what you are carrying in order to help know who to submit it to. You must know the frequency you are operating on, before calling anyone your mentor. If you are seeing the world and your leader is seeing a city, then you are going to end up in a city. You see life big or small through the eyes of your leaders.

#### Find the Environment (Soil) That Suite Your Seed

The major function of the soil is that it transfers heat and moisture to the seed before it emerges from the soil. That means empowerment. Environment has a major role in the empowerment of your potentials. If where you are is not empowering you mentally, socially, spiritually, and physically, then you need to get a transfer to another environment. You need empowerment for the fulfillment of your purpose. Stay clear of whoever and whatever isn't giving you vision and direction,

To determine your speed, you also have to determine the quality of your environment. All places may not suit your kind of concept; you don't need everyone to celebrate you to become. All you need is getting along with the right people meant for you.

What constitute a given environment? Family, people, values, cultures, and resources. The major determinant of an environment is the mind of the people therein and their thinking pattern decides how their minds function in that environment.

The thinking pattern of a people directs every other thing that goes on - what will be accepted or not accepted in a specific environment. The quality of their thought will influence the condition of that environment. How they think will be the outlook of the environment. If you mingle with quality thinkers, you eventually become one.

You need to pay attention to the kind of vibes (feelings) that is predominant in your environment because it would rob on you, unconsciously. Feelings release sensational energy that creates homogenous thought and, as a result of association, you begin to release such energy. Some environment carries the impossibility vibes and, no matter how you try to breakthrough with fresh ideas, you will be blocked.

The values and cultures of an environment are crated through a thought pattern that has become an abstract institution. And through connection and association it is being transferred from generation to generation. Thus, it is important that you consider critically the kind of environment you embrace.

### The Seed Takes Condition of the Ground

At first when the seed is buried into the ground, it becomes dormant and sleeps a while after taking the temperature of the ground. The environmental conditions in the ground then trigger the seed to wake up. Usually, this is determined by how deep the seed is planted, water availability, and the temperature. When water is plentiful, the seed fills with water in a process called imbibition. The water activates special proteins called enzymes that begin the process of seed growth.

Lessons:

When you find the right environment for your personality type it will wake up the dead potentials in you. This is major way to know if you are in the right place. When the seed takes the condition of the ground, what happens is a transfer of temperature, and when the seed finally exhaust all its temperature then it takes that of the soil.

Your environment directs the condition of your growth. Another expression for the word condition is, state, form, order, situation, and circumstance. This means you environment form how you think, talk and see yourself. Your environment forms you; put you in a particular state, which in turn gives you an order of situations and circumstances. Life is about perception. Strongholds are not just demons but also mindset locked up in the mind of people. That is why when the devil wants to alter a person's life, he corrupts his mind, and when your mind is corrupted, it affects the internal environment (heart) negatively. Your internal environment consists of your heart, mind, beliefs, and values. While external environment consists of your family beliefs, family values, cultural norms, societal pressure, peers pressures, friends' belief, role models, and environment settings. All these shape our perception in life.

To have the right condition I will recommend you to be an ardent student of the Bible. It is the word that renews our mind, and it is by the workings of the Holy Spirit that we develop the right condition of heart.

## The Root Theory

### The Seed Grows Root to Access Water Underground

We know the benefits of water to every living thing. The most abundant material in human body is water. It can't be overemphasized the importance of water to life. About 55-75% of an adult body weight is water. The amount of water in the body can change according to individual properties, age, activities and many other factors. Since before the Ages, settlements are built around water sources. There are still wars and fights over reaching clean drinking water in many countries. Being the smallest unit of human body, cell contains water in its structure. Organs and tissues formed by these cells can operate depending on the health of the cells. Water is a simple form composed of the combination of one oxygen and two hydrogen molecules.

Even though it is such a simple form, life of each cell, each tissue and each organism depends on water. Water is the most important nutrient the human body needs. Water provides the necessary environment for metabolic activities by keeping the body temperature at 36.5-37°C. Firstly, preservation of the ideal body temperature depends on taking enough water into the body. Metabolism without water cannot preserve the body temperature. Rising of body temperature is known as high fever which is a sign OF important health issues.

Water is the most important carrier substance. Transportation of oxygen and nutrients to cells in the body and removal of the toxic and waste materials carried out from the body are other signs indicating the importance of water to health. Water provides the ideal moisture balance of the body; moisturizing skin, mouth, eyes and nose on an ideal basis. Dryness of mouth or eyes might be the sign of important health issues.

That is to say that not having enough water in the body, eyes, mouth, nose and skin would affect it negatively. Water has an important place at the base of all the body fluids. Water, the most important vital fluid, providing excretion, sweat, important for removal of the toxins, gastric liquid, required for food digestion, synovial fluid, easing the joint movement, saliva in the mouth are formed mostly from water. Metabolism without water bodily fluids would decrease and depending on the uses of these fluids, there might occur some health issues.

Water is very important in digestion and absorption of the food. Especially breaking of the solid nutrients (in a way that it would pass into the blood) needs water. In addition, water softens the stool to help prevent constipation. Water also plays an important role in keeping the ideal weight. Having 1-2 glasses of water before meals would create the feeling of fullness. Ensuring smaller portions this way prevents taking of extra calories.

Also, water's effect of accelerating metabolism is the most powerful weapon of individuals wanting to lose weight. People who increase the water consumption; lose weight without losing muscle and lean tissue but burning fat. If water, the most abundant in the cell structure, lessens, cells cannot function and die. If these deaths occur in many cells, tissues and organs cannot work and a life-threatening situation would be at stake. In summary, life can last only three days without water but weeks without food.

### Lessons:

The only thing we can liken water to in our life is the word of God in our spirit. You are essentially spirit and not human. Your first and only abode is the presence of Elohim. Therefore, your quest for spiritual knowledge must be right and accurate in order to empower the seed you are carrying to produce the right fruits. What you feed your spirit with matters a lot to forming right thought pattern. World changers are those who have a strong spiritual will and have committed their spiritual and physical senses to eternal values.

## The Fruiting Theory

### The Seed Shoots and Grows Above Ground, Begins To Appear

The seed sends a shoot towards the surface, where it will grow leaves to harvest energy from the sun. The leaves continue to grow towards the light source in a process called photo-morphogenesis.

#### Lessons:

In life, you must understand that capacity is being developed in obscurity (darkness) which enables you glow in the light of your appearance. In life, the more your self-actualization continues to increase, the more you respond to your calling. This is the time to develop your capacity and make sure you develop very well, because your great opportunity is about to appear.

#### Prayer Point

Holy Spirit, help me to increase in my self-actualization, in my capacity and cause me to become...

#### Key Nuggets

*Capacity is being developed in obscurity.

*The seed looks tiny and small, but that is the future tree and the tree is the future forest.

*There is a seed of greatness in you and it has one divine instruction: produce and be great!

*The seed in you does not require all kinds of environment, but specific environment for it to grow.

*To grow well, we must find the right environment for what we carry.

*As an inspired person, don't get motivated by someone that has expired.

*Your environment determines the state of your mind and it creates the situations and circumstances around your life.

*The seed grows root to access water underground; you must learn to spread, acquire knowledge and grow in capacity.

* The only thing we can liken water to in our life is the word of God in our spirit.

**************

# CHAPTER SIX

# THE VALUE ADDED LIFE

There is no way we can talk about the subject 'Inspire your world' without dealing with low self-esteem. In the journey of emergence, and in the school of success, having a high self-esteem is needed for good performance. A good self-carriage is a requisite for confidence. Having low self-esteem is like a cancer; it eats up confidence gradually.

The lack of boldness in your life will deny you success. Those who don't belief in themselves will roam about in life aimlessly. You can't afford to live such a life; short-changed and void of milestone achievements. Nobody is better than you! They might be more prepared than you!

There is an eternal truth that should be in your subconscious mind and deeply rooted in your heart: 'you are in a class of the only best; the class of Elohim. It may appear that some people may have an advantage over you in some areas, but that does not make you less superior to them, it is just a matter of placement.

## Why Do People Have Low Self-Esteem?

Some people suffer from low-esteem syndrome because they think they are poor, because they are from a poor family. Many suffer from it because they are not educated. And there are diverse others who bore about the yokes of self-esteem just because of their past mistakes, past failures, not being appreciated, a lack of exposure, or not good looking. The list can keep going. Yet, the fact remains that none of the above should weaken our confidence.

In the beginning of creation, man was created by Elohim not with inferiority complex. It is the devil's concept, a yoke to dominate mankind. The devil has built a world system that is governed by the concept of low-esteem syndrome. It makes you to think that some are better than others. Don't fall for and subject to it. I agree that we live in a dynamic, fast moving society. However, don't ever subscribe to the liar that you are lesser to any race because you are African.

Most people inherited low self-esteem from their parent, and as a result of their poor thought pattern. Financial riches are not the cure to poverty, but an enhanced quality thought pattern is the solution. When you recreate and reinvent yourself, you will be able to rewrite your history.

Education is best defined as a continuous developmental process of a person's mental, social and spiritual capacity. Here is my description of someone without an education, someone who refuses self-development and self-growth.

A university degree does not qualify you to be referred to as an educated person. I have met quite a number of degree holders that sound uneducated. However, in the real sense of it, those who actually feel inferior as a result of lack of university education are people who have refused to pursue total personal development. I have read autobiographies of great men living or dead and their stories pointed to personal and life-long self-growth initiative. I have come across people with great intelligence, which I thought they will put as strength to use.

The things that make people doubt themselves were created by choices and decision. And they can also be corrected by right choices and instructional decision.

## How to Develop High Self Esteem

Feeling good about yourself is the cure to low self-esteem. Having high esteem means having self-approval, self-worth, self-regard, self-assurance, good self-image, self-confidence, and self-believes. It has to begin with you first before others will place it on you. You are in the class of Elohim as a result of your creation. You are God's best and favorite creature. You are a product of God's eternal purpose to solve a specific human problem.

You are UNIQUE! Therefore, put an amount of value on your head. Determine the price tag on your ideas, and the level of quality of people that comes to you. Your value should be calculated based on the level of positive impact you want to have on humanity and the quantity of inspiration you want to give to the world. You cannot have a high esteem without knowing how to place value on your head.

Determine your worth and how you want people to see you. When people perceive you, you must believe in yourself that they may see you in that light. This specific price tag can only be placed by the manufacturer. Whatever it is called from the factory will be viewed in the market. If I say the value of my product is N10, 000, then that is the value. However, the buyer might not be willing to pay N10, 000, but I just made it clear that the value of the product is N10, 000. This same product can be taken to another location with a price tag of N100, 000. It is a matter of perception and of what value the manufacturer has decided to place on it.

In same regard, you must understand that everyone on earth is a product of God Almighty. This is the simple truth! You are a product of God and He has placed the highest tag on your head, which is the blood of Jesus Christ. If we are products of God Almighty, He alone has put the price value on our heads. And it will be an under-statement to see and project ourselves less than how He sees us.

Therefore, seeing yourself as a product helps shape your perspective of whom and what you are. In life, you must understand that you are selling the Elohim's eternal program. You're selling his purpose and vision for you, and your personality, intellectual works, ideas and ideologies.

You are more than what you think!

####  Prayer Point

Lord Almighty, Father of all things and the Supreme Being of all existence, I thank thee for making me in your image and giving me your divine nature through Jesus Christ your son. Thank you for the precious worth and value you have placed on me to be lower than angels, yet more loved and privileged in the divine program. Therefore, I work in the same mindset, I place value on me because I know who I am; partaker of divine and eternal inheritance in the heavens and on earth through Christ Jesus, Amen.

####  Key Nuggets

* It is destructive to wait for people's approval before you believe in yourself.

* Believe in yourself and people will see you like that.

*Having low self-esteem is like a cancer, it eats up your confidence.

*The things that make people doubt themselves were created by choices and decision and they can also be corrected by right choices and instructional decisions.

*Placing the quality of your life on worldly expectations is not healthy.

*Life is all about perception.

*You are in the class of God almighty as a result of your creation.

*You are God's best and favorite creature.

*You are a product of divine and eternal purpose to solve a specific human problem.

**************

# CHAPTER SEVEN

# SELF-ACTUALIZATION

In any normal corporate organizational management, it is expected that the issue of purpose, vision, and mission statement be settled if they are going to make impact. It will determine the brand packaging, management, and development in order to be relevant in the market place.

As a product of Elohim you must also see the need to develop your personality as a brand. Your personality must have a trademark that is attractive and influential. People will only buy into what they like. Thus, to build a quality brand personality, you must create a direction for your personality. How do you want people to view your personality? It is a question only you can answer. Mind you, to find the right answer to it, you must find real your purpose.

Purpose is the intent of God's heart that determines your designed, talents and abilities. It existed before you were born on earth. Vision is the course and direction which your purpose follows here on earth. You need it to be relevant for a never-ending time and in the future that awaits mankind from generation to generation. Mission is the how to undertake and keep up with the vision.

## The Big Differences

There are big differences between Purpose, Vision, and Mission. Let me briefly give you a list of their distinctions:

### Purpose

* Purpose is the original divine intent for your life while you were in eternity past before creation.

*Purpose existed before birth.

*Purpose is what you must discover and express daily. Purpose is now!

*Purpose can't be altered nor changed except by the manufacturer.

*The elements of your purpose are innate talents and abilities.

*Purpose makes your existence relevant in the now.

*Purpose is for the consumption of people within your reach.

*Purpose is not transferable; it is terminated after death of the carrier. You don't transfer your purpose to someone, you only transfer your vision to the next generation.

### Vision

Vision is given by God here on earth.

*Vision can only be received or created after discovering and expressing purpose.

*Vision needs time and diligence to develop and to work it out.

*Vision is the direction for purpose in life.

*Vision keeps you relevant in the future.

*Vision continues after the death of the convener.

Vision is for God's use. It's used to extend the frontier of God's program for the universe from decades to decades.

*Vision will always be carried on by the next generation and protégé of the convener to next generation.

*Vision is transferable after the death of the convener.

### Mission

It is the full of understanding and display of your vision.

* It is the engraved clearness of your life purpose and vision.

* It is the declaration of your purpose and vision in life to people.

*Mission is how to achieve the vision.

* Mission is the daily habits and work schedule that makes the vision a reality.

## Finding Your Relevance in Life

To accomplish real existence, you and I must find our spot of relevance in God's program for the universe. Being here on earth requires knowing the sphere of life that calls for direct influence. I have divided the areas of human life into ten spheres areas through which God relates with us when dealing with the purpose of humanity on earth. They are: Art, Science, Food, Fashion, Media, Manufacturing/Production, Religion, information Technology, military and Defense, Climate, Education and Politics.

Your life purpose will fall under any of these and through your vision you will create an institution for the next generation. However, bear in mind that what we study in the university is to enhance the quality of expressing our purpose on earth. Your primary, secondary and tertiary education is to enable you read, write and position you with advantage to know how to harness information for growth for your next pursuit. God gives purpose to each of us according to the available needs and problems so that we can be a solution.

So, how do you know where you belong? Does God give and leave us with a clue on earth concerning how to locate it? Yes He does. God has put in every human talents, gifts, abilities and intuitions that relates to any sphere.

If you have not discovered where you belong, it might because you have not taken time to seek for it. If you don't know your purpose on earth, you will live as wanderer and fugitive on earth. To inspire your generation, you have to know where your relevance is needed. When you are in your place in God's program in life, things will not be out of place, even in the midst of thick challenges.

## Fulfilling Your Purpose

Purpose discovered, properly developed, and rightly deployed will solve human problems. The evolution that takes place in the development of your purpose requires that you master and turn it into an enterprise and solve problems with it. The development cycle of a purpose is likened to the human life cycle.

*Age 1yr to 5yr: The child forms tone of voice, creates life opinion and learns values.

*Age 6yr to 11yr: The child begins to discover, develop and express talents, gifts, abilities and distinctive characters.

*Age 12yr to 17yr: The teenager begins self-actualization and manifestation of purpose.

*Age 18yrs to 24yrs: As an adult, begins advance learning and progress in self-actualization.

*Age 25yrs to 50yrs: Becomes an enterprising human resources, and reaping the returns of life development and investment.

*Age 51yrs and above: Planning for succession.

There is a time allocated for each stage of our lives. It must not be wasted. To permit a carry over to the next stage is detrimental to success in life. The successful development in a particular stage enhances progress to the next stage. So, when there is a default from the previous stage of life, it becomes a carry over to the next, which will in turn affect the totality of life's success. It is therefore necessary that your life is purpose driven. How? Find out what your life is designed for, be occupied and run with it.

###  Receiving a Life Vision

A purpose driven life is what qualifies a person to receive a life vision, and a vision driven life is what guarantees life success. Vision is not what comes easily and is not receive by all, it requires hard work and sacrifice. It comes only to those who have decided to lead in their generation. Vision is what separates leaders from followers.

I personally define 'Vision as the direction which the fulfillments of your life's purpose follows, in order to create an institution that will stand as a headstone that will preserve the generation of mankind for the purpose of God's program.'

From the definition, you will understand that vision is key to life's pursuit. It gives life's purpose a specific direction. Visionary people are part of those who plans the destiny and future of the world, directly and indirectly.

What some people don't understand is that their life is being planned by people they don't know or have not seen. There are top bloodline families in the world who directs the affairs of the global bank, oil, automobile, etc. This rich bloodline family decides when to alter the price of commodities nationally and globally. It is only the power of vision that can do such. Those who are visionary are God's partners in the affairs of the universe. God solves human problems through men of purpose. He extends His program through men of vision. Therefore, it is important we desire to be among those who will shape the destiny of the world, positively through a God given vision.

####  Steps to Receiving and Creating A Vision

##### 1st Stage

To discover the purpose of your individual existence here on earth, ask the question: 'why am I here on earth? You will get your anticipated answer by looking out for your natural skills, talents, gifts and strengths. This will give clue to your life purpose.

Embrace your purpose and keep developing capacity.

Get busy fulfilling your purpose and stay focused

##### 2nd Stage

Have a sense of responsibility for humanity.

Inquire in prayer your role in God's program for the universe.

Develop a global perspective.

##### 3rd Stage

Write down the ideas, concepts and imaginations that comes to your mind.

Gather your thoughts and put them into perspective. Ensure there is clarity.

Name the concept.

Get understanding and clarity.

Run with the vision.

####  Prayer Point

Lord Jesus Christ, I ask that you strengthen my self-actualization to its full capacity

Cause me to fully identify, discover and live my purpose.

Lord, give me perception towards my life vision and cause me to walk worthy of it. Amen!

####  Key Nuggets

*Purpose is the intent of God Almighty, that which was in His heart when He designed your talents and abilities.

*You don't earn a purpose, you discover it.

*It is your purpose that makes your existence relevant in the now.

*Vision is the course and direction which your purpose follows to be relevant in the future.

*God given vision is the reward for a purpose driven life.

*It takes time and diligence to develop vision.

*Mission is how to achieve the vision

*Mission is the daily habits and work schedule that makes the vision a reality.

*Having a God given vision makes you a partner with God here on earth.

**************

# CHAPTER EIGHT

# YOU ARE THE INSPIRATION

The word inspiration means someone or something that gives you the idea, courage, motivation, strength, and passion to pursue life's purpose. Life becomes beautiful when you are an inspiration for people to live. You were packaged to inspire lives. Your life challenges are expected to equip you to inspire other people becoming the great personalities they are destined to be.

## Inspiration Defined

### Latin

In LATIN, the word inspiration means: 'Breathing into', a term employed to designate the divine origin of Holy Scripture. Also, the word "inspiration" "is sometimes used to denote the excitement and action of a fervent imagination in the poet or orator. But even in this case, there is generally a reference to some supposed divine influence, to which the excited action owes. It is once used in the Scripture to denote that divine agency by which man is endued with the faculties of an intelligent being, when it is said 'the inspiration'.

### Hebrew

In HEBREW the word inspiration means: 'Breath', as in Gen 2:7; Job 32: 8. 'Breath' has to do with the Divine Breath of the Almighty God, of God giving man revelation understanding.

### Greek

The GREEK word Puema is used to express the breath of the Almighty God. Peuma is defined as the Spirit of God.

#### As a Noun.

1. Pnoe "to blow," lit., "a blowing," signifies (a) "breath, the breath of life," Acts 17:25; (b) "wind," Acts 2:2.

2. Pneuma (pneu=ma) "spirit," also denotes "breath," Rev 11:11 and 13:15, RV. In 2 Thess 2:8, the KJV has "spirit" for RV, breath. See GHOST, LIFE, SPIRIT, WIND.

#### As a Verb

1. Empneo "to breathe in, or on," is used in Acts 9:1, indicating that threatening and slaughter were, so to speak, the elements from which Saul drew and expelled his breath.

2. Emphusao "to breathe upon," is used of the symbolic act of the Lord Jesus in breathing upon His apostles the communication of the Holy Spirit, John 20:22.

What peuma reveals to us is that, the breath of the Lord Almighty is not just a moving air from God, but also the personality called the Holy Spirit, which can be related to during the dark moment of life, to comfort, and to give direction. At the beginning of creation, when darkness covers the deep of the earth, the spirit of the Lord was hovered over the surface of the deep, which means the spirit of God was checking the current situation with His original plan with the knowing that this is not actually the real thing I want to create. However, this darkness is a platform to display the beauty of my creation.

#### In Sum

There are ten expressions that define inspiration and they are:

*Divine breath of the Almighty God

*Full or Complete Intelligence

*Divine Influence

*Divine Perceptions

*Divine Speech

*Fervent Imagination

*Absolute motivation

*Encouragement

*Creativity

*Enthusiasm

*Passion

## The Inspired Word

The inspiration now to be considered is that which belonged to those who wrote the Scriptures. For the word inspiration does not just have a physical meaning but also spiritual angles that is purely related to the Holy Spirit. This is expressed as a technical term for the Spirit's supernatural guidance for those who wrote the Scriptures, as they received special revelation from God.

Inspiration is particularly spoken of in 2 Tim 3:16, and in 2 Peter 1:21: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God..."; "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost..." These passages relate specially to the Old Testament, but there is at least equal reason to predicate divine inspiration of the New Testament GREEK

The end result of this inspiration is that the Bible conveys the truths which God wanted His people to know and to communicate to the world. Two terms often used in any discussion of the inspiration of the Bible are plenary and verbal. 'Plenary' is a term meaning "full" or "complete," It implies that each book, chapter, and paragraph of the Bible is equally derived from God. Verbal inspiration emphasizes the truth that the wording of the text, as well as the ideas conveyed are supernaturally inspired by God through the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is not a useful body of human ideas but rather a container of the clear mind of God Himself. Inspiration, then, is a statement about God's greatness and His divine intelligence communicated to man, whom He created in His image.

## Mode and Degrees of Inspiration

Some writers speak of different modes and different kinds, and even different degrees of inspiration. If their meaning is that God influenced the minds of inspired men in different ways; that he adopted a variety of modes in revealing divine things to their minds; that he guided them to give instruction in prose and in poetry, and in all the different forms of composition; that he moved and guided them to write history, prophecy doctrines, commands, promises, reproofs, and exhortations, and that he adapted his mode of operation to each of these cases - against this no objection can be made.

The Scriptures do exhibit these different kinds of writing and modes of divine instruction. Still every part of what was written was divinely inspired, and equally so. It is all the word of God, and clothed with divine authority, as much as if it had all been made known and written in one way. While this is true of the word as written or as originally uttered, it is not true that all the subject matter is equally revealed; for some of the facts, doctrines, and views were known to the writers in their ordinary intelligence, while others were specially communicated by immediate divine afflatus. In other words, all is inspired, but not all revealed.

Inspiration was concerned not only in making known the will of God to prophets and apostles, but also in giving them direction in writing the sacred books. In this, also, there was diversity in the mode of divine influence. Sometimes, the Spirit of God moved and guided his servants to write things which they could not know by natural means, such as new doctrines or precepts, or predictions of future events. Sometimes he moved and guided them to write the history of events, which were wholly or partly known to them by tradition, or by the testimony of their contemporaries, or by their own observation or experience. In all these cases, the divine Spirit effectually preserved them from all errors, and influenced them to write just so much and in such a manner as God saw to be best.

Sometimes He moved and guided them to write a summary record of larger histories, containing what his infinite wisdom saw to be adapted to the end in view, that is, the benefit of his people in all ages. Other times He influenced them to make a record of important maxims in common use, or to write new ones, derived either from their own reason or experience, or from special divine teaching. He influenced them to write parables or allegories, particularly suited to make a salutary impression of divine things on the minds of men; and sometimes to record supernatural visions. In all these and all other kinds of writing, the sacred penmen needed special divine guidance, as no man could of himself attain to infallibility, and no wisdom, except that of God, was sufficient to determine what things ought to be written for permanent use by the Church, and what manner of writing would be best fitted to promote the great ends of revelation.

## Victory over Darkness

Matt 5:13-16 says:

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". NIV

I have explained earlier, that everything begins from the dark. Success begins from within out. The pains we go through, the period of darkness we face, produces experiences that make us wiser and builds us into inspiring personalities who inspire the world. This is the essence of this book.

Let's have a close look at Genesis 1 vs 1:

"At the first God made the heaven and the earth.2 and the earth was waste and without form; and it was dark on the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light". BBB Version.

In the above verse, we see that light came out of the thick darkness. This is figurative of gain coming out of pain.

Pain will always precede gain. The grass story must come before the glory story. As Apostle Paul said, 'your light affliction is expected to produce an eternal weight of glory'. Your challenges in life are expected to produce the inspiration needed to inspire people to reach for their greatness.

The Holy Spirit was going through the intelligence detail He received from Christ when He was moving over the darkness and putting structures in place that will carry what was about to happen. Similarly, our challenges are supposed to act as a period for check in conformity to God's will and where to access this from is when we switch to the Spirit mode. It is while in the Spirit mode that you receive a higher revelation that births the inspiration you need to stay, go through, and become better. The only way to handle difficult times of our lives is learning to switch to the Spirit mode. That is the realm that makes you go through the wilderness and desert experience with joy, understanding and patience. At this point, inspiration is walking in you.

Indeed, the person of the Holy Spirit is all we need if we are ever going to make impact that will inspire the world.

###  Full or Complete Intelligence

Inspiration is also referred to as a full or complete intelligence. Another expression of the word intelligence is brainpower: "There is a spirit in man, but the inspiration of the almighty giveth him understanding."

This quotation talks about the brainpower that comes from the person of the Holy Spirit. This brainpower is what I call the capacity to do. This capacity to do is full, absolute and complete. When people give up during the challenging periods of their lives, it means their strength is small.

The full intelligence of the Holy Spirit is what gives the idea of what to do to come out of challenges of life. This is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives understanding. To inspire the world, we need a complete intelligence that will solve the King's vision and matter; resolving the matter of the state.

It's time for those who are being led by the Spirit of the Lord to appear in all spheres of human life and begin to declare the kingdom of God in the measures of the grace that has be given to them. Daniel said 'God is the revealer of all things.' Daniel had the brainpower, the capacity, the I.Q that provided solution to national issues. The king's matter does not condole guessing or trial by error. Why? It is a matter of the future of the kingdom.

We are now in the period where God is raising princes that will be in the secular world making policies that will save the lives of hundreds of thousands. It's time for you to be among the community of the inspired people.

### The Divine Influence

The concept of the kingdom of God is an idea built on divine influence, rather than on religious activities. The effect of what we carry must be felt beyond mere words. Jesus, speaking in Mathew 5 v13-14 13 says: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Quite a lot of people quote this saying by claiming they are the light of the world. Just like that? Quite unfortunate, they are not even making a scrap of impact within their smallest unit of circle. Why? Because they don't understand the angle Jesus was speaking from. Light is a great expression of influence. But you can't be a light without first being a salt. Let's look closer again at the quotation:

#### You Are the Salt of the Earth

Let us have a quick study on the word salt"

It is used to season food (Job 6:6),

It is mixed with the fodder of cattles (Isa 30:24}

All meat-offerings were seasoned with salt (Lev 2:13).

To eat salt with one is to partake of his hospitality, to derive subsistence from him; and hence he who did so was bound to look after his host's interests (Ezra 4:14,

"We have maintenance from the king's palace - a "covenant of salt" (Num 18:19; 2 Chron 13:5) It was a covenant of perpetual obligation.

New-born children were rubbed with salt (Ezek 16:4).

Disciples are likened unto salt, with reference to its cleansing and preserving uses (Matt 5:13).

When Abimelech took the city of Shechem, he sowed the place with salt that it might always not be re-inhabited - a curse. {Judges 9: 45}.

Salt is an appetizing seasoning for food both to man and beast. In the East, the vegetable food especially needs salt (Job 6:6; Isa 30:24, margin). An antidote to the effects of heat on animal food.

It is a necessary accompaniment of the various altar offerings, bloody and unbloodied (Lev 2:13, "the salt of the covenant of thy God"; Ezek 43:24; Mark 9:49-50).

It signifies the imperishableness of Jehovah's love for His people; as an antiseptic salt implies durability, fidelity, purity. Salt is the opposite of leaven, the symbol of corruption. Covenants were cemented by feasts and hospitality, the viands of which were seasoned, as all foods, with salt. Hence, "a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord" is an indissoluble covenant (Num 18:19; 2 Chron 13:5; Ezra 4:14, margin).

An Arab who just before would have robbed and murdered you, once you taste his salt, would die to save you; "faithless to salt" is the Persian term for a traitor.

Jesus said: "have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another". No sacrifice to God, and no food to man, is acceptable without salt. So prayers offered without "peace" of heart toward fellow men are savorless. It was a warning to the disciples who had just disputed with one another, and judging fellow men who used Jesus' name though not following the disciples (Mark 9:33-50).

Being "salted with the salt of the (heavenly King) palace," is a bound to fidelity to Him, for it brings you into a covenant of salt with Him. We are called to have a loving, imperishable savor toward one another and to all men. Colossians 4:6 says it clear: "let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt," i.e. the savor of fresh spiritual wisdom excluding all "corrupt communication," and tasteless un-profitableness or insipidity (Matt 5:13; Eph 4:29).

There is an idea in Mark 9:49: "for every one shall be salted with fire." The reason why it is better for us to cut off offending members is that the work of every one, believer and unbeliever, shall be tried with fire.

Salt symbolizes preservation from decay, but also the purging out of the dross from His people. (1 Cor 3:13; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:12). The righteous can withstand the fire, for it is part of their present salting as "a living sacrifice" (Isa 33:14-15; Rom 12:1). Every offending member and offense must be removed, to enable us to withstand that testing fire and be found without dross unto glory and honour. To the believer, "the Refiner's fire" shall do the cleansing. (Mal 3:3; Matt 3:11). Refiner's fire symbolizes God's searching purity. To the unbeliever, it shall be a consuming fire - who nevertheless shall be imperishable in their doom.

With the analysis of the salt, we now understand what Jesus was saying about us being the salt of the earth. We must first have the element of purification and preservation in us before we can apply it in the earth. We must have the culture of the kingdom of God in us before thinking of preserving a decayed society. If you lose the culture (savour) of the kingdom, you cannot salt the earth. So, to operate in the realm of influence is to walk in the salt dimension, and as you keep salting the earth, you soon become a light of the world – a sunlit spectacle!

### The Divine Perception

Life is all about perception. How you see what you see matters a lot. Quite a lot of people see things wrongly. So, to be an agent of inspiration you must see life with clarity. You need clarity to lead others.

It's perception that develops your awareness to the things God has made available for your profiting. Do you see the problems and challenges as a passage to your destination; a means to the higher point in life?

Your perception determines how you respond to things that happen to you in life, shapes how you read and interprets issues of life, and form your opinion. It surely influences how you make decisions in life.

However, the perception of those who have the mind of Christ should be divinely controlled. They must strive to see with the eyes of the Spirit and be spiritually minded. The Spirit should lead them to life. Why? To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life. Having divine perception means seeing everything in the light of the Spirit of life and power.

### The Divine Speech

Communication is a vital aspect of man's success, both in the physical and spiritual realms. We are created by a speaking spirit, thus we are a speaking spirit too. Those who seek to chart a new course for their generation.

Saying the right thing is as important as influencing people. In the realm of Elohim, His word is synonymous to His name. You cannot separate His word apart from His name. Infarct, to understand Elohim, you must learn to understand His word. Therefore, saying the right words is a function of divine intuition and expression. The words we speak are spirit and life.

When we speak the word, it comes like a sound wave to take effect. If your speech can be divinely guarded, it is most likely that you will save yourself from a lot of life problems.

The words we say either makes or mars our desires and expectations. So, how do you operate with the divine speech?

1. Seek and keep seeking the knowledge of God's word, which is the foundation and source of life.

2. Seek to understand first before speaking.

3. Think before you speak.

4. Learn quick and analyze objectively.

5. Sink your thought to deep reasoning.

6. Seek for insight, intuition, and discernment.

7. Seek for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

### Fervent Imagination

Every invention was first an idea wrapped up in imagination. To execute spiritual instruction, it has to move from revelation to imagination then creation. Imagination must precede creation, if it must be fervent and become a reality. The issue here is that quite a lot of people don't remain fervent with their imagination, because they think it is just a mere thought. Really, it doesn't just work like that. Every thought is a potential product. So, imagination is a product of inspiration. Therefore, learn to fill your life with good imagination.

### The Place of Passion

The writer concluded on David's case with this expression: "and David encouraged himself in the Lord his God'. To understand this saying, let's check out another expression for the word encouragement.

The word encouragement means reinforcement, reassurance, and tenacious boost. So, when the walls were crumbling down on David, he inquired of the Lord to reinforce his focus, passion, and quest towards attaining his goal.

In life, as we journey on this quest to inspire the world, we must learn to reinforce in the Lord Almighty. He gives strength to those that are weary and whose life is draining. When the course you are pursuing is not yielding dividends, it takes passion to encourage yourself to continue. The hunger to see your desire come true is very crucial to the fulfillments of your dreams. Passion is the thirst and huge appetite to see your desire achieved. Emotion is what drives passion, and the power that drives emotion with burning flame. Emotion rightly used is a strong intense power that fuels passion. So, it is important that we become emotionally attached to our life's purpose and vision.

However, passion can be negatively used when it is detrimental to human's survival, and when it is driven towards lust and immoral desires. Consequently, if passion is deployed to your life's purpose and vision, you will not look back until you see fulfillment.

### Absolute Motivation

Motivation is an internal drive; the energetic drive to do something. It works in partnership with passion, just like vision and mission work together. It drives passion to work, just as mission does the vision.

While passion keeps the fire of your dream burning, motivation helps you to move on even if you are the only one available. Great leadership thrives on vision and motivation.

A carefull look at some leaders will make us to see that what drives them is nothing but a poverty mindset. That is what empowers them with the nature of greed.

A lot of people lead life by partial motivation instead of absolute motivation. But partial motivation is subjected to copy carting; 'when other people move, I move' mentality. What drives great leaders is absolute motivation, not partial. The absolute is the 'I move first' mentality. To be absolutely motivated will strengthen you to take personal initiatives. When you meet people who lack personal initiatives, those are folks who lack absolute motivation. They depend on the feelings of others to do things. If you must be an agent of inspiration, you must lead your life by personal and absolute motivation. We all need this towards executing and fulfilling our purpose and vision in life.

### The Divine Creativity

Creativity is the mother of originality and inspiration is the father of creativity. It is births inventions.

As I draw close to the end of this writing, I like to emphasize on this subject. As the tune of people in the world changes rapidly in relative to expectations, desires, styles, luxury, needs, and leadership, there is the need for a dynamic mind to catch up with the pace of innovations. To catch up with trends is needy if we truly aim to inspire the globe. The refusal of this will make the obsolete.

When you are not creative with your acts, you can't be relevant with your purpose. Vision will definitely make you access the future, but if you choose not to be creative with the methodology of implementing the vision, you will not be relevant when you get to the future. To be relevant, you must be able to communicate with the young generation. Hence, the significant need for creativity.

#### How to Be Creative

*Always think of improved methods to issues and solving problems.

*Check and update yourself with current trends and learn to innovate; do old things in a new way.

*Benchmark your life with current and global exceptional minds

*Don't lose touch with the younger generation as you advance in age.

*Look for something that will always make you stand out in the crowd.

*Review your methods and approaches frequently.

*Maximize your strengths and sell it.

*Look out for ways to deliver excellence with what you have.

*Go for knowledge and information frequently.

*Stay connected with the Holy Spirit to remain plugged in to the ultimate source of inspiration.

*Try to create something every day.

*Instead of discipline only, think of devotion too.

*Taking a break and find creative inspirations.

*Make a list and select your ideas.

*Ask the right questions.

## GO!

There is an ideal situation where your spirit belongs. Your spirit man belongs to the spiritual realm. Man is essentially a spirit and God only gave man a soul and body in order to function here on earth. The reality of the universe, which is an exposition of the truth of word of God, is clearly shown that we were created for a life of dominion. Anything less is an aberration and abnormality.

So, what does this infer?

It infers that you manage your challenges with a purpose driven mind. Be wise, deliberate and intentional in any crisis management in line with the principles postulated in this book are objective and spiritual dynamics, well coded with the potency that enhances the light, even in the darkest period of life.

It surmises that dominion and influence is your spiritual directive and commandment. To inspire your world, you must move in the direction of this directive. You must convert your life occurrence into an inspirational tool able to inspire your world. Make every challenge a trophy of victory.

In summary, I counsel you to embrace the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; the grace that enables a victorious life of the Spirit. I don't know what you are going through or the present situation confronting you. I can assure you that they are not meant to destroy you but rather to make you better and stronger.

Power resides in you and you must unlock it with knowledge. You are the inspiration that humanity is waiting for. It is your time to inspire your world with your life. It's your time to Go!

Remain Inspired!

**************

# ABOUT THE AUTHOR

B.D. Phillips is an inspirational, revelational and motivational speaker. He teaches the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit to instruct and inspire his audience to become their divine mandate. He is the President of Horama Ministry and the Lead Pastor of Horama Worship Center in Lagos. Also, he serves as the CEO OF Accent Consulting, a Strategic Management outfit, which Educational Development, Capacity training, and Programs to Private Schools in Nigeria. He is also the President of the Bridge Council and CEO of the Inspired Community Music. He is married to Adaeze B.D. Phillips, a Psychologist, Behavioral Therapist, CEO of MY SHRINK.COM and Co-Minister in Horama. They both live In Lagos, Nigeria...

**********

# OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR

**********

# AUTHOR'S CONNECTS

If you have been blessed by this message, kindly leave a note @ Smashwords. You can also contact Pastor B.D. Phillips

@

Address: Inspiration Center, 21, Anuoluwa Po Close Omikunle Estate, Nurenu Yusuf Drive, Kollington Bus Stop, Alagbado, Lagos, Nigeria

Phone: +234-810-3910-085

E-mail: bdinspiredphillipsblog@gmail.com

Web: http://www.mytechnig.com/accent

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BDinspired

Friend me on Facebook: <http://facebook.com/Bdinspired> Phillips

Message me on: https:/www.smashwords.com/profile/view/

