Ten Hodos Ministries

25/12/2022

07/11/2022

The word "meek" in Matt 5:5, when you look at the Greek word, portrays a picture of a horse that has been broken in to be ridden. This I found very intriguing and with me not knowing much about this process I researched this process. I came to find out that this was not a very fast process but it was a drawn out process of many repetitive trust building drills.
Training would start with a foal being very young and the first thing that needed to be trained was the halter, which goes over the face of the horse, as well as being lead trained (by a rope). This process is very intimate between the trainer and the horse, where throughout the training process the trainer would constantly touch and pet the horse to strengthen the bond in trust between them. Lunge training now begins where the horse walks in a circle, being lead by a rope, and this trains the horse to not shy at everything. The last thing trained before the horse can start the full riding process is the bridle. This at first is uncomfortable but through the diligent and gentle talk of the trainer and rewards now and again the horse will get accustomed to it. Now real riding training can start.

There are so many spiritual values that can be drawn out of this process that the horse goes through. When we give out hearts to the Lord, we are born again (as babes in the Lord 1 Corin 7). The halter I would like to liken to the new nature that we now have received (2 Corin.5:17) and the rope is the Christ and the trainer is the Holy Spirit. Throughout this process the Holy Spirit constantly comforts and touched our lives to reassure us that He is there. Lunge training to me really depicts us in the circumstances in life where sometimes it might feel like we going in circles but in this season the Holy Spirit is training us to fully trust in Christ and the Holy Spirits leading. Then it's the bridle. This is where the Holy Spirit helps us to control our tongues as well as the desires of the flesh. It's where we walk in the righteousness of Christ. We are fully submitted to His leading and it goes against our normal (lower nature) but because of Him we now live in our new nature (higher).
After this process the saddle gets placed on the horse, where it is ready for the "burden". Jesus Himself said that He will give us His burden which is easy and light (Matt.11:28). We now become the vehicle or vessel for use by the Holy Spirit.

In which process or stage do you find yourself today? Know that with Christ and the Holy Spirits help you will get to the place where you will be the vehicle for God's glory. Just don't give up.

04/11/2022

Isn't it just amazing that David says that even if I make my bed in the pits of hell, that God is still there. This in my mind has two meanings:
1. If you decide to do your own thing and you find yourself in hot water, you find yourself in the consequences of your actions, He is still there.
2. That it doesn't matter how thick the demonic atmosphere can be around you, because you are doing what God has called you to do and satan is retaliating because you are destroying his kingdom, God is there and darkness has to dissipate.

I don't know about you but my God is Awesome!!

02/11/2022

We have all been called to fulfill the Great commission, if you are in Christ(Matt. 28:19-20). Many times this would have to be done under or facing great opposition. If we look at what the apostles went through in 1 Thes. 2:1-15 we would see one of many examples. I believe that the reason why God allows us (for a season) to face opposition, when we are doing what we are supposed to or living a life worth of the calling He has given us (Eph. 4:1), is actually for our benefit. It is always an opportunity for our faith to be tested, the motives of our hearts as well as patience and trust in God is continuously made perfect (James 1:2-4). The fruit that is the result from patiently and consistently pushing towards the goal set out by God is always good. I love the way the Paul says it in Verse 2 "in the strength of our God we summoned courage....". This is so amazing to me. This statement just shows how reliant they were on God for everything (Prov. 3:5-6). The reason why the apostles could endure so much, for the sake of the Gospel, is not only because of there complete reliance on God but also e cause the Gospel was a personal conviction for all of them (Verse 3-4). It was a part and parcel of who they were, their hearts were filled with love and the things of God and so it overflowed out of their mouths (Luke 6:45). This conviction was so strong that they couldn't keep it, the same way that Jeremaih experienced in Jer. 20:9. The Gospel is based on this truth that Christ was crucified for our sin and resurrected in the third day. And whoever believes in Him and confesses with his or her mouth that He is Lord will have eternal life(Rom. 10:9 & John 3:16)

Preaching the Gospel can never be about you. How you feel, how much glory you get or how much you get paid. The Gospel is about someone, Christ Jesus, that you have a personal relationship with. This is freely given to you as a gift and so in like manner you freely give it to those that you ministry to. It's about His ultimate sacrifice that he made (Heb. 10:18) that was a result to His great love for us and we cannot dare make it about how flattering or wise our words sound. We as believers should continuously live the words of Verse 13, that we would allow the Word of God continuously effectively work within us but it will only happen if we adhere, trust in and wholeheartedly trust in it.

27/10/2022

Eph. 2:3-10

In the light of this scripture we need to always remember and realise where we came from and from what we have been saved(verse 3). And due 5 this fact we were destined for eternal damnation and destruction., we therefore have no right to boast about anything we do because it's not through what we have done that we have received salvation but solely because of the love and grace that was extended to us and can only be received by faith(verse 4 -5). You see without salvation we were dead in our transgressions but because of salvation we are now dead to our natural nature, which is sin. When you receive this salvation given through the grace of God and accepted through faith, you are in turn seated in Christ where He is found (in heavenly realms)(verse 6). This means that you have a union, constant fellowship, belonging, being a part of of Him and this makes us able to share in His nature through the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit and no longer be slaves to the sinful natural nature. As I said previously no one can boast in salvation because it is only by grace and through faith (Verse 8), because our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). That now doesn't exclude us from doing good works (verse 10), the only difference would be that our motives for doing good works would be to glorify Him and not ourselves or our egos.

No one can claim to be worthy of salvation because we all have the sinful nature that loves to control us, even though there is a better way (the life lived through and by the salvation given by Jesus Christ). It's due to the fact that you realise or understand the great measure of Grace received from Him to save you, that you would or should be able to extend the same kind of Grace to others because through that you show the nature of your King and Saviour.

Eph. 4:3-6

It's in the light of the first portion of Scripture that we are able to "comply" with Verse 3 of the next verse. We would only be able to stay in unity and peace as believers if we truly realise that grace extended to us and so doing not act out of religion (thinking you are better than someone because let's face it we all were stuck and dead I our transgressions when God saved us) but act out of the love and grace that we have received. So in every situation we are supposed to strive to keep peace and uni amongst the brethren (verse 4) because after all we were all adopted into this family (Rom. 9:4) by one Father, one hope, one Spirit (Verse 5). Due to this we should be able to live differently because the Father is over all and in all (Verse 6).

I believe if we catch this revelation that was given by the Apostle Paul the church, the Body of Christ, will not only be more influential (because of the unity) but they will be far happier looking people. They wouldn't be able to look down on anyone because firstly we all come from the same place (dead in our transgressions) and secondly we all have been saved by the same Grace and love. So salvation doesn't come from us or what we do but it is a gift extended to us by the Father through His love and grace that is towards us. Receipt of this Is up to you but only by faith and not by works.

26/10/2022

Our relationship with Christ can longer be about us. It can no longer be self seeking or self centred. You dont, or atleast you shouldn't, enter a relationship in the natural for what you can get out of it but for what you can give. If you enter a relationship for selfish motives it won't be long until that relationship will be poison for both parties in the relationship. It won't last long due to the unrealistic expectation put on one another. In the same way we can no longer just be in it for what we can get out. We were not created to only received but to give as well. Its time that the stagnant wayers of our hearts to be stirred by God and we return to our first love......

23/10/2022

If we look at Galatians 3, Paul addressed the Galatians and ask them who has bewitched them. This is pretty much where a lot of believers would find themselves, yes in this passage he was addressing believers. The reason why he asked them the question was because they had come to a place of religion and not relationship. They have gone back to the principles of the Law and they had come to believe that their efforts would bring them salvation and not through the faith in what Christ had done on the cross and in the process becoming a curse for us(verse 12-14). Justification can never come through the Law (verse 11&24) because the law only revealed our sin or wickedness and we all understand that the wages of sin is death (Rom.6:23), so if we think of following the principles of the law we will be stuck in death because righteousness doesn't come through the Law (verse 21). Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (Heb. 10:14 & 1John2:2).

The covenant promise was made to Abraham 430 years before the Law was instituted and that promise was salvation through Christ by faith (verse16-18). Through the acceptance of Christ we can now tap into the blessings that is available to us (verse 22 & John10:10b). Our inheritance does not depend on the Law (religious practices of the Law and man made structures, meaning our efforts and good deeds) but it depends on the promise( of salvation through Christ & entering into a relationship with Him). We are no longer moved by religion but we are moved out of the love that we have for our Saviour and King. The Law can't impart life (verse21)

Many of us would find ourselves in some sort of place when it comes to this. We're we would think that it is up to or through our efforts that we are saved and that is incorrect. Therefore do not be bewitched by the suggestions of the devil today. It is only by faith in what Christ had done for you on the cross that salvation was bought for you and the price for your sin was paid off in full. Therefore our motive in loving Him should be because of His goodness and everlasting love towards us. Because we will still sinners when He died for us (Rom. 5:8). Don't allow satan to put you back under the Law, when you now have been given the opportunity and ability to be under grace.

22/10/2022

Early this morning I was lying in my bed and because of the wind I could hear the crashing or breaking of the waves. I was amazed at this because where I was staying was about 10 km from the ocean but that didn't stop me from hearing the breaking of the waves. As I pondered at the beauty of the sound I got to thinking. Every time something significant happened in the Bible a certain sound came before it for that to manifest. I believe we have entered a season where the spirit of God, the wind of His Spirit, is blowing and carrying the Word of God upon it (or armed with the uttered word of God). This will bring change, transformation and a change of mindset to many. Many will be set free from bo***ge, ideologies and incorrect doctrines that have been installed in them. It's the greatest time to be alive because it's going to get very interesting very fast. It's time for us to open our spiritual eyes and perceive the times and the seasons or else we will take ourselves out of the possibility of being a part of it. Arise children of the Most High God, once again I say arise!

16/10/2022

When are we going to become serious with God and realise this is not a game. It's not just a label to be called a Christian. It's not just a go-to-church-on-Sunday-and-Tuesday kinda thing. Instead it's a daily lifestyle of holiness to Him. When are we going to realise that this isn't a thing that we can be flippant with.

Where is the fear of the Lord? When you realise that the Bible itself says in Heb. 10:31 "that it's a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God" (David knew this fact by the way because he knew the state of his heart, he was honest with God and himself). Where has the sensitivity to the Holy Spirit gone to in the believers life, where they don't care whether He is grieved or not. Why is it when you put the world next to some Christians that you won't see the difference?

We need to realise that yes He is a God of unconditional and abounding love (which keeps us away from becoming legalistic or religious) but we have thrown the fear of the Lord out of our lives, completely forhetting about this (that keeps away from laxiviousness and lawlessness). Remember that those who love Him follow his commandments (John 14:15) and friendship is reserved for those who fear Him (Ps.25:14 ESV).

12/10/2022

We, as born again believers, need to live lives that invite the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit into our lives. (The Holy Spirit within is for the constant and ongoing process of sanctification but the Spirit upon is for ministry, it's for others benefit not your own). Like Jesus after the Spirit rested upon Him like a dove (Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22; John 1:32), He lived a life sensitive to His (Holy Spirit) leading. A dove is a very sensitive or anxious creature, at the slightest wrong move it will fly away. That is how sensitive the Holy Spirit is, hence we need to live lives in the light of this fact.

Let us choose today to live lives that are mindful of the Spirit and not of the flesh.

(The Spirit within can be severely grieved, surpressed by following the flesh but will not leave. But in extreme cases, where salvation is given up by that person, he will leave. But this is only because God respects the choices you make. He will not infringe on your free will)

08/10/2022

Salvation received but not acted upon is meaningless (Phil.2:12) just like knowledge not applied is dead (religion).

26/09/2022

This morning I was hit by God with a ton of bricks. After reading Ps. 24:3-6 and seeing the "requirements" (for the lack of a better word to use so pls dont get religious here😶), now all 4 things mentioned in that piece of scripture comes from seeking God truthfully and honestly. Then it dawned on me, how often do we seek God for His blessings and not Him. I needed to repent right there because many times in my life I was seeking God for my own benefit (the blessing) and not necessarily out of my love and honour for Him.

We need to get to a place where we seek God not for what we can get out, His blessings for our lives, but rather for who He is, what He has done and because we truly love Him. The blessings will come as a by-product of this kind of seeking.