Focus: A Garden of Spices

Text: Songs of Sol.4:16

"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the SPICES thereof may FLOW OUT."

There is something God has put in you that needs to find expression in the world. You have the potential of a great achiever. You have capacity that you are unaware of - untapped power, a hidden treasure, unharnessed and unleashed strength. It is there locked up within you.

Who could have convinced Moses that at 80 years of age that he could become the deliverer and law-giver of Israel?

Who could have believed that Caleb at 85, was capable of possessing Mt. Hebron was still possible? The 'wind' that helped him to take possession of Hebron was his own nephew, Othniel.

Who could have imagined that at 90, that Sarah would hold in her hands a baby of her own? God's 'wind' empowered her for the impossible feat. The Scripture has it that she "received strength (dunamis) to conceive…"

At a very great age a baby could still leap in the womb of Elizabeth. Truly, wonders shall never cease!

Look at little David defeating giant Goliath and cutting off his head. He wasn't looking like a winner or a warrior. In fact, the odds were stacked against him. No one believed it was possible for him to triumph over the giant of Gath. But he did. The wind of God directed David's smooth stone to the right spot on Goliath's head.

You have something good inside you, but you need help to manifest it. You need God's wind from everywhere. You need the wind of the Spirit. You need some push, some assistance, some encouragement of a friend, a brother, a heavenly helper. Paul tells Timothy, "Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee…" (2Tim.1:6). Timothy, fan that flame. You've got something that the world around you needs. You have a gift. You have a kind heart. You have music in your soul. God has deposited destiny in the inner recesses of your being. You have a song inside you. You have books inside you. You have souls to win and lives to touch for Christ. Some great goods are locked up inside you, and it is time to let them out.

When Mary broke the alabaster of precious ointment, it is said that "the house was filled with the odour of the ointment" (Jh.12:3). The moment the alabaster was broken the wind of God spread the sweet fragrance of it all over the house.

Hear me: you are a garden of spices in need of the north and south wind to release your sweet scent. You need the right kind of people in your life to help you to unlock your potential and tap into your inner deposit of divine grace. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter