Climb up!

There is a cry in this season! Can you hear it? It's a cry from heaven. It's a burden in God's heart: Men of stature wanted! I am not talking about physical stature or height. I am talking about spiritual stature. 

In Luke 19:1-3, A man named Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus but could not see him because Zacchaeus was of small stature. No matter how much Zacchaeus stretched himself, he still could not see Jesus. There was a form (likeness) that he needed to have to be able to see Jesus. In the case of Zacchaeus, it wasn't about his doing but he is being that limited him. Most times, our hindrance is in who we are. God is more interested in who we are and who we are becoming. God desires that we become men and women of stature with great capacity. If you read Hebrews 11, you will find the exploits of great generals in the scripture. If you look closely at verse 34 of Hebrews 11, you will discover how they did all those exploits. The Bible said, that they were mighty in war and chased foreign armies to flight. Why? because they were made strong out of weakness. 

Hebrews 11:34:

extinguished the power of (raging) fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty and unbeatable in battle, putting enemy forces to flight.

God wants to make us; it is the making that brings the exploits. If we can be patient with the Lord to sit on us to make us strong men, there is no telling what God will do with us. 

There are many lessons to learn from Zacchaeus. Looking at that scripture in Luke 19:1-3, you will see vital lessons from Zacchaeus' small stature.

Lessons to learn from Zacchaeus:

1. Climb up: Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus, but as long as he was on low ground with short stature, he couldn't see Jesus. Zacchaeus had to climb up a sycamore tree to see Jesus! You will never see certain things, no matter how much you desire it, until you increase in stature and rise higher! You cannot be on the low ground asking for things at the top of the mountain. To get the benefits at the top of the mountain, you have to climb up the mountain. God instructed Moses, come up to the mountain, and I will give you the instructions (Exodus 24:12). Only men of stature can see things at a distance; they have the advantage of height. You must climb up to see more and see deeper. When God wanted to show John some revelations in Rev 4:1, He said, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." In this season, you must climb up spiritually!

2. The possibilities in your life and experiences are a report card of the measure of your stature in God! Do you know that the problem of Zaccheus was not a crowd problem? His ability not to see Jesus was not because many people wanted to see Jesus! After all, other people saw Jesus amid the crowd. His problem was a stature problem. The crowd was only a minor part of the problem. If Zaccheus was tall, he could have seen Jesus. In the equation of life, there will always be a crowd problem. The crowd represents the many excuses we give not to seek Jesus, not to press for more of God. Legitimate reasons! I work 9-5, Mon to Friday, I am a nursing mother, and I have a lot of responsibilities! These are legitimate reasons but not sufficient! You will always have the crowd problem; as you go up in life, your crowd problem will increase. You must determine that despite the crowd, I must see Jesus! I must grow up to the stature of Christ. Despite my busy schedule, I must become a man/woman of stature.

3. A man of stature is a man who has risen above his struggles and challenging limitations. If sleep still controls you, your stomach still rules you and limits you, your flesh still dictates what you do, and your work/money still leads you, you are a man/woman of small stature! Men of stature are subject to passions but are not under their passions. They have the same crowd problem yet are not limited by it. The crowd becomes inconsequential to a man of stature. The bible talked about a man named Elijah, a man of like passions, subject to the exact situations we face today, yet prayed that there would be no rain and the heavens closed (James 5:17). 

4. Results answers to men of stature. It is pointless to pray for certain results without stature. Being a good Christian is not enough; you must become a man/woman of stature. If not, life will make a mockery of you. Zaccheaus probably had been praying to see Jesus; he may have cried to see Jesus and fasted to see Jesus. He wanted some things in his life to be settled, but he could not because he was of small stature. He was making a continuous effort but was unsuccessful for a while. Please note that no man will ever do anything meaningful and great in the kingdom without stature. Greater works are for men of stature.

It's time to gain height; it's time to mount/climb up! It's time to become and grow into your full potential in Christ Jesus; No meddling on the low ground anymore. Will you join me on this journey in this season? Let's climb up! 

Love N.