Chapter 4 The Chances & Choices for Significanceall things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I havesaid unto you]. Your most needed faithful and inexhaustible companion forthe journey: The Holy Spirit. Practical and Dynamic Christian Life is sterile,unproductive and unprofitable without Him.PurposeYour true purpose is in Christ as given in Ephesians 2:10 – For we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hathbefore ordained that we should walk in them. Settle this scripture for yourlife and imbibe it conscientiously. When true life purposes are not knownabuse is inevitable; it is purpose that brings focus. Seek God through theHoly Spirit so that you can remain on the track of ultimate significance andinfluence. [For more indepth discussion on the topic of Purpose; you canget the other series by the same author “The Call to Significance”].RelationshipsOne of the factors that will determine where you will be in 5, 10, 20 or25 years is Relationships. Relationship can make or break a person. Ichallenge you to wisely choose the right relationships particularly thosewho are going to input and influence your lives. Relationship comes toyour life for a reason, season or for a lifetime. Such relationships could beCasual, Covenant, Complimenting, Competitive or Catastrophic. However,the Covenant & Complimenting are crucial to you as they will add value toyour life and facilitate you for significance and influence.CharacterCalling without character carries you nowhere and it is capable of destroyingdestiny. To fulfil your ultimate call in life, character is crucial; moreover theHoly Spirit will assist you as you yield to him in developing the fruits of theSpirit needed to maintain tangible progress. He will also assist you withstrength to make the needed changes and adjustments. 27
The Altar of SignificanceWisdomWisdom is profitable to direct you and it will help you in navigating the stops,the storms, the setbacks and the situations of life. It is a principal thing andGod is the giver of true wisdom via the inspiring help of the Holy Spirit.Noble decision and choices must be taken with divine assistance. Refrainfrom leaning on your own understanding; because mans’ understandingand evaluation of strategic divine issues, events, twist and turns of life canmost times be shallow, myopic and misleading. His wisdom is always fruitfuland fulfilling.PeaceThe Peace of God and the peace with God are what guarantees safeand secure achievement and attainment of life goals. This is what fortifiesyou with “peace within you” and “peace around you”. Opportunities,Opposition and Oppression come as part of life’s package, and you needthis to triumphantly handle and deal with difficult people with conflicting,controversial and challenging behaviours as much as possible. MakeRomans 12:18 and 1Peter2:18 your watch word. Hence, your choice ofrelationships, fellowship and partnerships are strategically crucial andimportant.Checks & Correction for Next LevelRemember that God is interested in godly legacy and influence, and if bychance you find yourself to have erred or wandered off the chosen trackof ultimate influence: return to your Maker at your Altar and make neededcourse correction and restitution. Divine Checks are wonderfully woveninto our journey of significance so that we can retrace our steps back toGod. He does the Checks, you do the Corrections. Read Psalms 50:21 andProverbs 1:10. Remember that salvation happens in an instant; howevermaturity is a lifetime pursuit. Solid, Stable & Sensitive character is what God28
Chapter 4 The Chances & Choices for Significanceseeks to build in you, and as this happens, the checks and the correctionsyou make, strengthen your character, facilitates your progress and propelsyou to higher dimensions of achievement and attainment. Bear in mindthat the steps and the stops in the journey of a bona fide child of Godare ordained and ordered of God. You can be sure, these divine chancesand constraints are strategically needed for you; in becoming a person ofsignificance and influence. 29
The Altar of Significance SUMMARY & CLOSE zzThe Lord will present the chance, you must make the spirit filled timely choice to take the opportunity; by this you maximise your divine moments and encounter for progressive and prompt ultimate influence. zzDivine Speed is determined by the prompt Chances you take and the Choices you make. zzStrategic Chances and Constraints are with God, Choices are with you.30
CHAPTER 5 The Well & Wheel of SignificanceSo Far! So Good! Let’s briefly recapzzChapter 1: Who you are In Christ? - The Unique, Significant & Chosen Man with an Ultimate Assignment to pursue.zzChapter 2: Who do you need to assist you? - The Ever Faithful Agent & Counsellor: Our Multidimensional & Multivariate Holy SpiritzzChapter 3: Where will it happen for you? - The Solitary Influential Place of your Private Altar of SignificancezzChapter 4: How will Success & Significance happen for you? - By the Right Choices you make and the Divine Chances that are programmed along your way.zzChapter 5: When Significance becomes evident, what do I do & how do I sustain it? - Read on! 31
The Altar of SignificanceThe Well of SignificanceTo achieve our objective here, it is important that we understand what thejourney of life is all about. To do this, I will want to expound a bit on the wordSalvation: as it is key to addressing the question and heading at hand;however first and foremost, I want to state here and now that the UphillJourney mentioned before is a primarily a “Journey of Salvation in Christ”;which secondarily culminates in us fulfilling destinies and achieving God’spurpose. Salvation was introduced by God in Scripture to humanity, andwithin the Bible we can gleam three biblical notional concepts from boththe Old & New Testament in all the various ways it was used; which I havetagged namely: Physical Salvation; Spiritual Salvation & Relational [Social]Salvation.zzPhysical Salvation: This is type that rescues a person, group or nation from danger, harm or even death. The Old Testament depicts so much of this namely: Noah and his family, Lot and his family, Jacob and his family and nationally, we recall the salvation of the Jews from Egyptian bondage; and in Moses’ precise words in Exodus 14:13a [And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation which He will shew to you today], Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 1Chronicles 16:23 Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.zzRelational [Social] Salvation: This concept best describes that which I referred to in this book as Instant Salvation: the restoration of right relationship with God and it is salvation by grace through faith in the person of Jesus Christ. [Ephesians 1:3-16] This marks the commencement of dynamic and inspiring social interaction and fellowship with God. Psalms 118:14 [The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation]. Also in Habakkuk 3:18 [Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Other references are Psalms 3:8, & 27:1]32
Chapter 5 The Well & Wheel of SignificancezzSpiritual Salvation: This concept is borne out of the fall of humanity from the original condition of moral purity, purpose and promises to sin, death and failure. However, this salvation offers a daily transforming renewal and refreshing from the presence of the Lord after restoration from Instant Salvation. This is the one that I tagged Progressive Salvation in my earlier discussion. Paul in Romans 1:16 [For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation]. This concept is the one that play a key part in our ongoing discussion. We need power to progress and sustain the ongoing salvation process in the journey of life. Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye haveobeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,workout your own salvation with fear and trembling.Isaiah 12: 2-3 [Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid,for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become mysalvation [3] Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells ofsalvation]. Note the key underlined words: The process of working it out requirespower, strength, fervour, determination, discipline and diligence; hencewe can turn to God in Christ via the Holy Spirit to obtain nourishment andsustenance for the life’s journey. Strength is required to work out and thewells are available in Christ to constantly and consistently provide us withall we need to fight the good fight of faith, thus overcoming all setbacksand roadblocks. So, to progress your personal Salvation to the point ofSignificance and Influence: simply “Go to the Well”. Prophet Isaiah in thesame text renders the two verses on how God satisfies the physical thirst oftheir ancestors in the wilderness [Exodus 17:1-7], and the same provision isfully available in Christ as we come to him. New Testament further amplifiesthis provision to include the supply of water for the thirsty soul. [John 4:10,14, 7:37] 33
The Altar of Significance Beloved reader, every man dies, however not everyman lives; everyman Survives, however not everyman Thrives, and the key to living welland thriving consistently is by going to the Well of Significant Life. Help fromAbove is accessed through the divine agent who draws from the spiritualwell of God. Wells used in its plural form in the verse, imply inexhaustibleforms and dimensions of assistance and supports that are available. The spiritual wells facilitate the journey of your life by giving life truemeaning, adding value and substance to life; stabilising and solidifying yourfeet during challenging, turbulent and trial, times; and also the wells arethere to strengthen and support you all through life. So to the depressed,discouraged, downcast, despondent, fearful, frustrated, hopeless andhelpless; go to the Well at your Altar and find daily spiritual sustenanceand nourishment. Anytime you feel like giving up, go to the well andGod will show himself strong to carry you through. Nearly there, Almostthere but never get there are symptoms of those who abort testimonies,breakthroughs, purposes and destinies because they do not go to the wellof God for regular nourishing of spirit, body and soul. Beloved, the more you draw on the spiritual well of God via the HolySpirit, the more you will see your life shinning as light according to Matthew5:16; the more you become significant and influential. I challenge you thatif you work out your salvation as admonished, it is inevitable that you willbe dynamic, relevant and above all significant in life; so I submit to you atthis point that the well of salvation is indirectly your well of significance.Rephrasing John 10:10 in our present context: “He came that you mayhave life and have it more significantly.” The original word abundancemeans you are overflowing in significance and influence such that youcan graciously, willingly and conveniently overflow, touching the life ofothers and also positively affecting humanity. In Genesis 12:1-3, the first sixpromises of blessing primarily are concerned with you becoming great andsignificant, whilst the seventh promise is about you becoming an Influenceas your life touches the life of others in the family, community and nationat large.34
Chapter 5 The Well & Wheel of SignificanceThe Wheel of Significance & InfluenceObjective: To introduce, discuss, establish, and reinforce the crucial needand importance of keeping the wheel moving and in what key aspects of life.Every captain of a large ship knows this: to keep the Liner in motion; heneeds the ocean. Similarly, to retain relevance and influence in life youhave to keep progressing the wheel of significance in the forward direction.So far, I believe the reader has appreciated that life is a journey and certainparameters are crucial and they are reiterated once again for convenience.MM Purpose MM PeaceMM Relationship MM InfuenceMM Chararcter MM Divine AgentMM WisdomThe above parameters are necessary for tangible progress in life’s pursuit.You need a steady influx, input and contribution of all these physicalparameters [purpose to peace]; and a constant never ceasing counseland contribution of the divine agent. You will recall that I mentioned thatjust like success, progress is a process and must be ongoing for life to bedynamic and influential. Lack of Focus and Integrity, Anti-social disposition,Ignorance, Laziness, Procrastination, Complacency & Destination Mentalitycan abort destiny prematurely, terminate purpose, abuse relationships,erode character, despise/ undercut wisdom, rob you of peace and grievethe Holy Spirit. It will eventually stagnate life, bringing about shallowsignificance and no influence at all. So Our Question for Chapter 5: Howcan I achieve Significance? What do I do? How can I sustain it? : – Keepspinning the Wheel for forward motion by drawing power of the divineagent that supplies the spiritual ingredient for the uphill journey of salvationand purpose; or contextually should I rephrase by saying “uphill journeyof significance and influence? Remember, a person is either heading for aDead-End Insignificance or Destiny of Significance. 35
The Altar of SignificanceThe Final ChargezzReaching the Ultimate Mark in the Life of Significance & Influence! My final charge to the reader is to keep succeeding significantly and keep influencing globally until rapture or departure. You don’t stop making progress, because just like success; progress is not a destination, it is a process. Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:14 – “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”This is my charge to you the reader, keep pressing on to the ultimate mark. You are divinely chosen according to Deut 7:6 “For thou art an holy people unto God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Don’t settle for less than the mark, and remember the words of Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen” Join or Enlist amongst the rank and file of the Chosen and press relentlessly to the Ultimate mark. The power to make the lifestyle choices, decisions, changes and adjustment, are available as you draw from the spiritual wells of salvation. I see you emerging from the old average lifestyle of survival into the new lifestyle of ultimate living and thriving. Receive More Grace and Great Grace. You shall be appreciated and celebrated in due course. SUMMARY & CLOSE zzTo progress, go to the Well. To propel the Wheel of Significance, Prominence & Influence constantly you need to draw strength from the Wells of Salvation.36
EpilogueThank you for coming this far, and as you would have fully realised that to maximise your goals, achievement and accomplishment in life forsubstance, support, safety, security, solution, speed and significance; youwould have to be deliberate, determined and intentional in maximising yourtime at the Altar of the Most High with your life Author & Tutor. Take up theFinal Charge and follow strictly all the contents of this book: you can be sureto operate continually under Open Heavens that facilitates OverflowingGrace; duly enhanced and fuelled by the Limitless Power of the Holy Spiritwhich empowers you to keep moving the Wheel of Significance in theforward direction; whilst also helping you to strategically, simultaneouslyand wittingly balance all the challenging variables of life mentioned inthe previous chapters namely; Purpose, Character, Relationship, Wisdom,Peace and all the choices and chances that goes with it. This is whatkeeps you Thriving in Life, rather than merely Surviving. So come to Christ:“the Dean of Significance” and start living if you have not or should I say:Resume Living; if you once had. I pray that any area or aspect of your life inthe survival mode will emerge into the thriving mode in Jesus’ name. Amen.Bon Significance 37
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