Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

The power of association  "Finally, the day came when the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I consider you alone to be righteous. (Gen.7.1 NLT) There is so much power in association. When you get your alliances right, your life will go right. We see examples in scripture. Take Abraham and Lot for instance. Lot's life changed because he was associated with Abraham.  Little wonder, the Bible says when you walk with the wise, you too will become wise.  "Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm. (Prov.13.20 NLT) Who are you associating with? For some people the only reason they are where they are - good or bad - is due to their association.  Our text says the whole family of Noah was saved not based on their righteousness but because of Noah's. God says to Noah: "I consider you alone to be righteous."  If God considers Noah alone to be righteous, b...

Noah did everything God commanded him to do "Noah did everything God commanded him to do." (Gen.6.22)  Could you please look at that testimonial about Noah. This was written about a man.  He did everything God commanded him to do! Think of that for a moment. Everything... Not most things, but everything God commanded. In today's parlance, we would say, he never missed God. He was right at the center of God's will.  I know I love the Lord but this right here, I still aspire to. That place where I can do everything the Lord commands me to do.  This is what the Bible mean when it says that Noah walked with God. We, like Noah, must come to the place where we can do everything God commands us to do.  This should not only be our desire and aspiration but our reality. Where it can be said of us, that we did everything that the Lord commanded us to do. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phil.4.13 KJV) So can you... As long as the Lord commands ...

Noah walked with God  "This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God." (Gen.6.9)  A portrait of a man that walked with God would look like what was painted for us when God gave Noah instructions to build the ark that saved his family. These instructions were not vague, they were very specific. This show how close Noah's walk was  with God  "Make it 450 feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high. Build a roof for it and put in a window eighteen inches from the top; put in a door on the side of the ship; and make three decks, lower, middle, and upper." (Gen.6.15-16)  What use is your walk with God if it does not reflect in your daily living. This is not about just succeeding at the work place, driving big and expensive cars, flying private jets etc - these are good but if they do not have bearing with eternal realities, then they are not good enough.  Note that there was nothing like...

Man of integrity  "This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God."(Gen.6.9)  The world is in dire need of men and women of integrity. People who are not two-faced, who do not double speak and are not trying to be politically correct but say what they mean and mean what they say.  Where are the men and women of integrity?  Being a person of your word is one way we can ascertain whether or not you are a person of integrity. A person of integrity is integrated - that is, whole, not fragmented, but in tact. He is not one person in private and another in public. Noah was a man of integrity in his community.  Reputation is whare others think of you but character is who we are. A lot of us have a reputation - what others think of us but no character to support that thinking. But that was not Noah - his community knew him to a man of integrity.  Good day, Have a great day today,  Emmanuel Okoro, ...

GOD liked what He saw in Noah "But Noah was different. GOD liked what he saw in Noah. (Gen.6.8 MSB) This passage reminds me of what Jesus said to the good and faithful servant. "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matt.25.21 KJV) But first, let's talk about the fact that Noah dared to be different in his generation. In a generation where everyone was thinking and imagining evil from morning to night, God looked and liked what He saw in Noah.  "GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil--evil, evil, evil from morning to night. (Gen.6.5 MSB) If God looks at you, will He like what He sees?  Remember that God does not look as men look. The Prophet Samuel tells us that much. Men look at the outward but God looks at the heart.  "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his c...

People thought evil  "GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil--evil, evil, evil from morning to night. (Gen.6.5 MSB) The mind is the center of human existence. Wherever goes the mind, so goes the man. The mind controls the man. That's why your thought life is a critical component to your success or failure in life in general, particularly your Christian walk.  With the mind we serve the Lord. The Apostle Paul tells us that much.  "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Rom.7.25)  The psalmist describes the wicked as one who does not think of God. He is wicked because God is not in all his thoughts.  "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Ps.10.4 KJV) And this is what our text boils down to. Our text says that human evil was out of control. Why is this? He says be...

What's in a name?  "He named him Noah, saying, "This one will give us a break from the hard work of farming the ground that GOD cursed." (Gen.5.29)  Names have prophetic attributes in them. When a thing is named, the name defines what it does and what it cannot do. When a person is named, his future is foretold, especially when the persons parents are in tune with the agenda of God. But that person has to work to bring that prophecy to reality.  John the baptist was a case in point when the wrong name would have been given. If the parent had not listened and obeyed God's instruction but instead bow to family and societal pressure.  "And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John." (Luke.1.60)  Another example is Benjamin, the second son from the loved-wife of Jacob. As the mother was dying from the pain of childbirth, he called the child Benoni but his father says not so, he shall be called Benjamin  "With her las...

Enoch walked steadily with God  "Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him." (Gen.5.24)  Consistency is the hallmark of champions. They do repeatedly what mediocre do seldomly. Enoch walked steadily with God. And the word steadily evokes the picture of unwavering consistency, in season and out of season. He walked with God when he was happy and when he was not. He walked with God in the good times and also in the not so good times. He was steady walking with God.  The other picture of unwavering relationship I can think of in scripture is that of Abraham's faith. Paul tells us in Roman that Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise.  "Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God." (Rom.4.20 NLT) The faith of the father who brought his possessed young son to the disciples but they couldn't cure the boy shows how most people's f...

A year for each day  "So all the days of Enoch were 365 years." (Gen.5.23 AMP) The story is told of how Israel sinned in the wilderness murmuring and complaining against God. They complained that God had brought them into the wilderness to die. And for this God punished them with a year for each day they scouted out the land. He intended for them all, 20 years and above to die in the wilderness.  "You scouted out the land for forty days; your punishment will be a year for each day, a forty-year sentence to serve for your sins--a long schooling in my displeasure." (Num.14.34)  For sin God punished but for righteousness He blesses. This is why in our text, God gave Enoch a year for each day of his life. All the days of Enoch were 365 years.  This was the only individual who had a testimony that he waked steadily with God. So for each day, God gave him a year's worth of life. God packed so much fulfillment into his days. In an era where 900 years were predominantly...

Men and women began worshiping God  "And then Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. That's when men and women began praying and worshiping in the name of God" (Gen.4.26)  If Adam and Eve had refused to try again (see Gen:4:25), we probably would not know what it means to pray and worship in the name of God. The Bible says it was after their son Seth, whom most people do not know by the way, had a son, that men and women began to pray and worship in the name of God.  I do not know what that means for you but one thing is certain and that is, for some things to happen, other things must first happen. It is more like a chain reaction. People say everything happen for a reason, some times, we attach the reasons we want to things that happen. But in life, there is a God reason, a good reason and a self reason. God reason is the primary purpose why that thing should happen and it is most times good but self reason is the  reason we attach to the things that happened.  T...

Do it again "Adam slept with his wife again. She had a son whom she named Seth. She said, "God has given me another child in place of Abel whom Cain killed." (Gen.4.25l Worse than giving up is never trying. A lot people end up as failures not because they tried and failed but from the fear of failure. Some people do not even have the courage to try. How does one win in a game one never plays? Others are where they are because they tried once and failed and they told themselves, "never again". Sometimes, success will require you to do it more than once.  The story is told of how the Master laid hands on a blind man but the man reported that he saw men as trees and the Master had to lay hands on him the second time.  "And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he...

Come let us reason together  "Cain said to GOD, "My punishment is too much. I can't take it! You've thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I'm a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me." GOD told him, "No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over." GOD put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him." (Gen.4.13 - 15) The considerate nature of God cannot be overemphasized. Scripture is replete with cases of how considerate our God is. Isaiah the prophet tells us that our God is always willing to listen and to hear. He calls us to reason together.  "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isa.1.18 KJV) Job said it this way : "Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. (Job.13.3 KJV) It has always be...

Absentee parents "GOD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?" (Gen.4.9)  Why was it God that was interrogating Cain? Where were his parents? Where was Adam, the father? And Eve, the mother? The absence of parental control over these two boys led to the first fratricide - killing of one's brother.  We can see the effect of absentee parents in the life of Cain . In many quarters it is believed that the father should be the one who is responsible for the discipline of the children. It is true that God speaking of Abraham said that He knows Abraham would train his children to observe God's way of life but does this excuse the mothers? I think it is collaborative effort.  "Yes, I've settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe GOD's way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that GOD can complete in Abraham what he promised him." (Gen.18.19)  ...

What's the basis for acceptance  "If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it." (Gen.4.7)  What is the basis for acceptance? What does one have to do to be accepted? From our text, we get the notion that to be accepted, you have to do well. God asked Cain the question," If you do well, won't you be accepted?  While in the Old Testament, acceptance with God was based on how well one does as we can see from our text; it is not the same in the New Testament. In the New Testament, acceptance is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph.1.6 KJV) We are accepted in the beloved. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. And anyone who believes in His Lordship becomes accepted in him. God sees us as God sees Jesus. John tells us that as He...

Find your temper and don't lose it "But Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk." (Gen.4.5)  We should learn to not loose our temper.  It can serve as a tool in the hands of God if properly channeled and in the hands of the devil if lost.  When something is not working in our favour, most will react the same way Cain reacted in our text. He lost his temper  and went into a sulk. When this happened God asked him the question, 'Why this tantrum?  "GOD spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking?" (Gen.4.6)  This makes us understand that Cain's response isn't the correct response because that was not what God exected. He lost his temper and the end result was that he killed his brother. Do not lose your temper. Find it, keep it calmly and take the correction that is offered.  Jesus Christ admonished us to possess our soul when things are not working the way we think they should.  "In y...

Choice cuts of meat "Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. GOD liked Abel and his offering," (Gen.4.4)  I grew thinking that Cain's offering wasn't accepted because his offering did not contain blood; as God could not accept him without the shedding of blood to atone for his sins. And if God could not accept him, then God could not also accept his offering.  But I now know that this position is supported only because of the sin consciousness. The belief that we have sinned and must come to God with morose attitude that looked repented before God. But Cain's Offering was not accepted because he did not give of his best unto God.  Cain was a farmer and could only give of his produce. If God expected him to give livestock that he did not have in order to accept him, then God would be unfair. Abel gave of his livestock but more so, of the best of his livestock. Our text says Abel gave the choice cuts of meat fr...

Where are you?  "GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" (Gen.3.9)  When God asked the man this question in our text, it was to verify man's whereabout as it relates to his position and not just his location. Because we know that man could really not hide from God's all-seeing eyes. God is asking you same question and most people like Adam will miss the point.  One cannot be said to be lost except he does not know his location as well as his destination. Little wonder, when you want to give a description, you first ascertain the person's location. Ad from the location you can then identify and landmarks that will hep them get to their destination.  The Bible helps us identify our position. It says we are "In Christ..." God put in Christ everything He wanted us to be, have and do. That is the position from which you must see yourself because that's how God sees you. Never let your struggle become your identity - which was what Adam did when God a...

Stop the blame game "The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it. GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." (Gen.3.12-13)  We always find something or someone to blame. And when we find none else, we blame God. The blame game is the oldest in the world. Who or what is the object of your blame?  For some, it is their spouse; for others, it is their parents who did not send them to school. For others yet, they did not come out with good enough grade, hence they are stock in the shitty job they fine themselves. Not until you stop the blame game, you are not ready to win in the game of life.  Imagine if Adam had taken responsibility for his actions. Or Eve had owned up to her responsibility. I dare say the world would be a better place.  No one else is responsible for you. You are responsible for yourself.  What ever you decide, own your...

Who told you you were naked?  "He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" (Gen.3.10-11) Sin did not stop Adam from hearing God. In his state of sin, he still heard God in the garden, became afraid and hid himself. This was the first mention of fear in the Bible and it was as a result of sin. There is a connection between boldness and righteousness. The righteous are as bold as a Lion (see Proverbs :28:1) Sin's attempt is to rob man of this boldness toward God. Little wonder the man was afraid and hid himself.  But the interesting part for me was the question that God asked him. Pay attention when God asks a question because He is not seeking knowledge but about to reveal truth. God says to him, "Who told you you were naked?"  Most of the things people know or opinions that they hold about themselves, they were t...

Do not hide from God  "When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD." (Gen.3.8) The Psalmist asked where he could go from God's presence. The truth is that we cannot hide from the all-seeing-eyes of the all-knowing God but we like to try.  "Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute--you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you."(Ps.139.7-12)  As far away as Jonah thought he was running away from God, the closer he got to where God wanted him to be.  David...

You will not die "The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die." (Gen.3.4)  Jesus told us that the devil is the father of lies and that when the devil speaks he makes up the lie from his lying nature. So he does not have the capacity for the truth as there is no shred of truth in him.  "You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies." (John.8.44)  So you can imagine when the devil told the woman that she would not die, you know that is a lie. Of corse, when the woman ate the fruit she die a spiritual death which over time resulted in her physical death.  Death is not cessation but separation from God. What the devil attempted to do was to cause a seperation from God. And make God look like the liar before the eyes of the w...