Making Sound Financial Decisions: Open A Bank Account. Part 5 by Dr Strive Masiyiwa.

Now here is a mystery: studies recently undertaken on small holder farmers, showed that a farmer who opens a bank account, is more likely to have money to buy seeds for the next planting season, than one has no bank account. Surprised? This is part of the mystery of wealth.

The new Prime Minister of India; a man respected for his ability to bring millions of people out of poverty, has just embarked on a campaign to get millions of their poorest citizens, to open bank accounts. Surprised? This is part of the mystery of wealth.
The Chinese have long understood, the importance of SAVING. It is the savings of millions of Chinese people that has driven their economic miracle.

The Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria, Dr Akin Adesina, a close friend and colleague, has embarked on a major campaign to get small scale farmers in that country to open, mobile bank accounts. Experts, including myself, believe that it will bring millions out of poverty. Surprised? This is part of the mystery of wealth.

Not Subject To the Elements!

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (Colossians 2:20). 

When you were born again, you were delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). You’re therefore no longer subject to the elements of this world. This means that you must refuse to be snowed-under by infirmities and harsh elements of this world that make life unbearable for the ordinary man.

From our opening scripture, it’s clear that it’s the babe in Christ—the spiritually immature—that can be subject to the elements of this world. This is why you must keep growing in the Lord—unto a mature man in Christ. Then you’ll be knowledgeable enough to walk in the consciousness of your inheritance in Him.

In John 8:32 the Lord Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the

Believe In Perfection

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

There’re many who don’t believe that perfection is possible. When you try to talk to them about perfection, they don’t want to hear it. With a sneer, they accuse you of being a "perfectionist," because in their erroneous belief, "nobody can be perfect." Yet, when you study the Word, there’s no place that suggests to us the impossibility of perfection. God doesn’t give us a chance not to be perfect. Everything about Him calls for perfection; He requires us to be perfect, not when we get to heaven, but here and now—in the earth!

The reason most people don’t think perfection is possible, which is why they’re not perfect, is that they don’t know what perfection is. Perfection is like success, which can be measured at different stages of your life, according to the set-out objectives, purpose, and goal. Perfection is measured according to the light, instruction, or information that you have with respect to the underlying objectives.

Revealing Christ

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4:11).

Christianity is the revelation of Christ in you, the manifestation of the Christ-life in you. It’s so important that you understand this. For example, as a Christian, when you act humbly, it isn’t just because you made an effort to be humble. When you show love, care, and kindness to people, it’s much more than you trying to be nice or uphold good moral standards; rather, it’s the manifestation of the life of Christ in you. It’s because the humility of Christ is in your spirit.

That outward show of love, kindness, humility, etc., that others experience from you is the manifestation of the life of Christ in your spirit. All that God wants to be manifested in you is Christ; Christ alive in you: working through you, touching and changing lives through you.

Understanding this reality will change your thinking and your communication,

HE'S YOUR SALVATION, HEALING...AND STRENGTH

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

Most Christians know Jesus Christ as their SAVIOUR, which is wonderful, but knowing Him as your SALVATION will completely revolutionize your life and take your walk with Him to a whole new level. Observe the words of David in our opening verse; he said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” As your saviour, you’re hoping that He will “deliver” you from something, perhaps, your enemies; but as your salvation, you transcend that arena where he rescues you from danger or difficulty; you lose your fears, because you’re in Him.

Psalm 27:2 further shows the result of the Lord being your salvation. It says, “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” The Christian isn’t one who needs to be delivered from anything; you don’t need to be bothered about your adversaries.

We Imitate The Father Through The Spirit!

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children (Ephesians 5:1).

We made a very vital point in our previous study that in Christianity, we don’t try to imitate Christ. What we’re called to do is to “live” Christ. We’re, however, admonished to be followers or imitators of our heavenly Father. Now, is this possible? Can we imitate the Father in our daily life? Yes, we can and should: but how? First, understand that Christ lives in you; He’s your life; therefore, all you have to do is live out the Christ-life.

However, we don’t see the Father. The Father never really lived here in the earth, per se. When Jesus was physically present in the earth, He said, “I do what I see my Father do” (John 5:19). Jesus healed the sick because that was what He saw the Father do. He emulated the Father. Now, where was the Father? And who’s this Father He was referring to? It’s the Holy Spirit!

Christ Revealed In You

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

There’re those who argue that Christianity is the imitation of Christ, but they’re wrong. Christianity isn’t the imitation of Christ. Those who are trying to imitate Christ are working from the outside.

In Colossians 1:26-27, the Bible tells us, "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Christianity is the revelation of Christ in you. That’s God’s dream; that’s His plan and desire: Christ revealed in you!

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"; this was due to Adam’s transgression. Now that salvation has been consummated, we’re no longer short of the glory; we’ve been given the glory of the Second Adam, Christ Jesus. Christ in you is the hope of glory.

Making Sound Financial Decisions: How To Hold Onto Money. (Part 4) by Dr. Strive Masiyiwa.

As a young business person, it took me about 10 years to realise that it is harder to hold on to money, than to make money. Sadly many people never actually realise it, throughout their business life or even career.

I recently read a report which showed that many working professionals in a major European country, have enough savings to last 18 days, if they ever lost their jobs! The squirrel, a small animal that collects nuts during the summer, for the long winter, would no doubt be quite amused.

A business associate, who ran a construction company, came to me once complaining bitterly that people were stealing from him. He pointed out that he had done huge projects, in the past, and yet he was now totally broke. "How could this be"?!

" The problem, is if I tell you, the truth, I will lose you as a friend." I told him.

"Please, please tell me!" He begged.

Two Ways To Give Him Glory

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20).

There’re two major ways of giving glory to God. The first one is to testify. And how do you testify? There’re three ways to testify; the first is by declaring what God did for you before the Lord Himself.

Secondly, you testify with your offering. Many don’t understand the power of the offering; it’s a testimony. When you give God your offering, it’s not a collection; it’s a sacred thing, holy unto the Lord. As you give it, you’re testifying and giving glory to Him in your life. Read about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and his son Solomon; they all gave offerings upon offerings in worship to God. From time to time, these patriarchs would worship with offerings.

The third way to testify is to tell others; make known to others that which the Lord has done in, with, and for you. Thus, you live your life before others every day, in faith,

Testify!

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11).

As a Christian, it’s important you testify of God’s goodness and the victories He has wrought through you. Our opening verse says, "… they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Learn to testify always! Let your environment feel the impact of your testimonies. Testify of the power of God’s Word. Testify of the miracles of God that you’ve witnessed and experienced in your personal life.

One important reason you must always testify is because not all the demons of darkness know you. Of course, they know you’re a believer in Christ Jesus, but they don’t know your personality. Therefore, they’ll test you to know whether you’re full of fear or not; they’ll want to test you to know whether or not you’re