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Seize Your Moment
©2012 James K. Saah
Smashwords Edition
ISBN: 978-1-4658-7739-0
Published by Digital iNQ (+ 233 243 652 700)
All rights reserved. Excerpts may be quoted in reviews.
All scriptural quotations are from King James Version of the Bible unless stated otherwise.
Other books by Same Author
1. The Finger of God
2. Breaking the Power of Offences
3. Give Me Back My Baby
4. Understanding The Issue of Life
5. The Mystery of Success
6. Road to the Double Portion
Dedication
This book is dedicated without reservation to the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a mentor who gave me the foundational opportunity of ministry.
Acknowledgement
The LORD God be glorified for his wisdom within us to fulfil every mandate and assignment to our generation.
I am eternally grateful to God for all the brethren who fired my imagination to transform the initial sermon series into a book. That encouragement is what has been translated from a dream to the reality of this book, SEIZE YOUR MOMENT!
To Mrs. Abigail Ocansey who constantly said to me, “I cannot wait to launch this book,” your dream has come true. I deeply appreciate the academic input of Mrs Pat Sappor of Ecobank.
Mrs. Joyce Danso’s willing support in typing the initial manuscript is registered in the records of heaven. To my family and brethren, who have always believed in the grace of God upon my life, I share the overflowing joy of another landmark.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
Foreword
Life, it seems, is a paradox. While some people come across great opportunities and are unable to even notice the potential they present, others are easily able to identify life changing opportunities and take the requisite action to ensure promotion and success. Over the year, this situation has replicated itself in various areas of endeavour – politics, business, sports, religion, showbiz and what have you.
In the life of each individual, it is easy to reflect on the past and identify opportunities that may have been missed in life as well as those that were taken, which brought about instant transformation in one’s career, finances, relationships, ministry and health. Depending on the choices that one has made in over the years, one may look back with a sense of fulfilment or a feeling of disappointment. The key question in today’s fast-paced world is, “Do you have the capacity to identify the opportunities life offers and seize destiny transforming moments as they come?”
In this most enjoyable and easily-readable book, Bishop James K. Saah transforms the well-rehearsed Bible encounter between David and Goliath into a corporate battle of varied dimensions. He re-models the various characters in an interesting expose that introduces Goliath as the monopolist with competitive advantage; King Saul, the dysfunctional leader who has lost his shine; and, most importantly, David, the Christian who confronts his challenges and takes advantage of defining opportunities. He traces parallels between David’s performance and that of corporate turnaround heroes like Jack Welch, Mel Gibson, Lou Gerstner and Rudolf Guliani.
The author does what few are able to do; combine deep insights gained from years of ministry with sharp business acumen, obviously a product of his diverse training and experiences. As you browse through the pages of this book, you will travel a bitter-sweet journey in which you will easily notice opportunities from afar, but also to Seize Your Moment and turn your challenges into opportunities. You will come to the realisation that what you call a problem could be the biggest opportunity of your entire life! You would also be reminded that preparation for the opportunity precedes the identification of the opportunity.
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams
Founder & Visioneer, Christian Action Faith Ministries (CAFM).
Chapter One
THE QUESTION OF LIFE
“The world has the habit of making a way for the man whose words and actions shows that he knows where is going.” – Napoleon Hill
In my formative years, I was always fascinated by stories. There were two favourite sources for the most interesting ones; Bible stories and fairy tales. The most popular ones were that that involved a challenge far bigger than the hero or heroine but which was bravely surmounted, resulting in victory. And in most cases, they lived happily ever after. As far as one can tell, the story of David and Goliath is one of the most popular early lessons in a regular Sunday School class. Sunday School teachers spare no effort in painting graphic images of David carrying the coveted trophy of Goliath’s head across the field in the presence of applauding soldiers.
Probably born out of the standard definition of teaching, many people in the church have come to see Goliath as a representation of Satan. This confines Goliath only to the realm of spiritual warfare, as an enemy we must take down in prayer. As a pastor with considerable knowledge of spiritual warfare in a frontal role, I subscribe to the above position. And so what next after Goliath has been eliminated? Live happily ever after?
What I am about to share with you in this book, is what the LORD taught me as a contemporary definition of the David and Goliath scenario, after I had studied Strategic Management at the GIMPA Graduate Management and Leadership School. I can understand now why folks outside the ambit of the church sometimes consider the Bible irrelevant or inapplicable to their lives. This is because it is often not presented within a contemporary context.
When we make a paradigm shift from merely identifying Goliath as a symbolic representation of Satan, to re-classifying him as the modern day major competitor or challenge we confront in the market place of life, the story introduces incredible insights to launch you into a deeper walk of faith. I believe that, all said and done, the story of 1 Samuel 17:1-58 is all about the boy, David. All the various characters identified in the chapter were there to witness, in a certain sense, the outdooring of a new man for the future and to demonstrate a certain new dimensions of faith.
Note that the battle between Israel and the Philistines in the Valley of Elah was not fought in Israel, but on neutral ground, or what we may call the marketplace of the world. The battle bore implications beyond who would serve which deity? It was about who would gain control of events, and mind you, up till today, that is what life is all about. Take a look at what Goliath said; “if he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill hm, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” (1 Samuel 17:9)
If you have only read the story of David and Goliath as Sunday School stuff for your starry-eyed children, you may be missing on something extraordinary and exciting.
Goliath’s statement introduces a certain subtle contemporary dimension of both spiritual and secular proportions.
Who would rule here? It is a power struggle of political, economic, social, psychological and financial dimensions. Defeat would mean an imposition of the victor’s religion, culture, traditions, norms, values and belief systems on the vanquished.
In the days of the Bible, the impositions of all that has been enumerated by victor on the vanquished could be expected, but now, I want to open a contemporary angle to this titanic battle of the age.
Now, let’s take a look at the character presentation of all the distinct personalities and groupings that assembled for the battle and what each one could represent in today’s context:
Who are the philistines today in the marketplace of life? Like King Saul and David, what do I do when an unexpected competitor sets new rules for the game? Whether it is a home-bred competitor or one from as far away as China, do I become a sitting duck? Where did King Saul go wrong? When you cannot wear the old armour to take on a new Goliath, do you just pray and wait for Goliath to die? How can modern leaders avoid the tragedy King Saul got himself into? Is leadership everything? What are the tell tale signs that a leader has reached his or her peak or plateau? What happens to the troop when King Saul transmits panic throughout the camp? Could someone turn things around after forty days and nights of running away from Goliath’s challenge? How dangerous is household wickedness? What happens when your kinsfolk cannot stand your promotion and rise to fame? Do you listen to them? Opportunities are rear in life. Like David, can you seize your moment? Welcome to a life-changing encounter in God’s Word!
Chapter Two
GOLIATH THE CHAMPION
“He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.” - Nahum 2:1
My first profile presentation from the valley of Elah is on Goliath, the champion of the Philistines.
Before we take a contemporary critique of the character of Goliath, let’s throw our searchlight on what the Bible says about him. Don’t be tempted to think that all the statistics presented about Goliath are just for academic purposes. They all add up to his clout, leverage and profile as champion. From 1 Samuel 17:4-7 we read: “And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was aimed with a coat of nail, and the weight of the cast was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armour on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.”
Now, you can probably understand why King Saul and all Israel hid from Goliath; he was simply monstrous. This was the enormous obstacle and challenge that confronted King Saul and all Israel in the open hills of Sochoh. Goliath had a lot going for him; his track record was almost impeccable. He had earned many scoops, had several hit products and was a household name. For now, Goliath is a definition of success in the contemporary setting. Wherever he goes the ‘paparazzi’ hound him. Journalists seek his position or view on major current issues. There is no lack of attendants and aides for Goliath. Goliath knew the name of the game. King Saul had intimated to David that Goliath had been a man of war from his youth (1 Samuel 17:33). The Scripture says, for forty days, morning and evening, Goliath presented himself to the crowd and no challenger from Israel took him on, until young David appeared on the scene. Goliath is a monopoly. In modern terms, he represents a monopolistic entity, institution or company. He is the one who controls the turf, and is engulfed by so much success, endorsement, and achievement that you think is not is not worth fighting him or entering the same field he is in.
But that is not true; wait until David comes. Goliath is a clear and present danger who would kill your potential and make you live an unfulfilled and uncelebrated life. When you come across a Goliath in business, you feel like relocating or simply changing your career because you don’t think you stand a dog’s chance. But that shouldn’t be! Rise up to the challenge!
As Goliath paraded in the valley of Elah (1Samuel 17:8) everyone else cowered before him. He was the monarch of all he surveyed. Goliath called the shots. His word ruled the field, the market, the terrain and both sides of the divide. In dealing with Goliath as your modern day competitor in any field of your choice, you must understand one major fact which could save your life, business and career. Let me refresh your mind with 1 Samuel 17:8:
“Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line for battle? Am I not a Philistine and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man of yourselves, and let him come down to me.”