Rewriting Kingdom software; by Peril John Alubbe

A predicament; am typing this message on a blackberry Z30 device and it has

amazing functionality. Many of my friends are of the opinion that blackberry belongs
to the past; I beg to differ. Its beauty and genius is hidden in its new blackberry 10
operating system. Yet if you mess up with this, the fluidity, and response and
functionality disappear. I once meddled with this great device, as is my custom with
all the devices I have owned. I was trying to upgrade its software and forgot one
essential vital instruction. Consequently, the device refused to boot. It just could not
come on fully. It would come on and get stuck at the logo stage. (Have you ever dealt
with stuck-up people?) The more I tried to sort it out, the more frustrated I became
(sounds familiar? Is this the story of your life?). The operating system had been
fatally mismanaged robbing the great device of its functionality and genius.
Beware of Home solutions; then my search-my education- began. I went online and
read of all manner of solutions which I tried. This just made it worse and I almost
bricked my device. Since I am not a novice when it comes to phones and software, I
was determined. I have sorted out many clients when it comes to phones. I have also
made a ton of money from phone and software related business for the last 10 years.
Many seek my counsel before crucial device decisions. Yet this present scenario
frustrated me. I had owned blackberry phones right from the very basic 8700 series.
Yet I was stuck...Stuck just like the device stuck at the boot logo phase.
Suddenly I realized that though I was good, there was expertise I didnt haveI
needed help. I needed a technician who was not second guessing or trouble shooting
but knew exactly what they were doing. The words of a famous author pried into my
mind - The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." - Alvin Toffler. Multiple lessons
tumbled through my mind; continuously improve. Increase your capabilities. Be a
constant learner. Develop feedback systems - both formal and informal. Act upon the
feedback you receive. Thank people for feedback. Dont consider yourself above
feedback. Dont assume your knowledge and skills will be sufficient for tomorrows
challenges.
Diagnosis; Well, I finally had to make my way to my good technician friend and
presented my case. After a time of great silence, concentration and intense diagnosis,
he stated the problem, which to me was the obvious. I was more interested in the
magical solution. Well, the device had been severely abused and traumatized at the
hands and whims of a novice who thought he was an expert; it had frozen on the

boot window because of an unexplained error. Could it be that the boot function of
the phone was corrupted, he mused. It therefore could not even update the software.
As a matter of fact, he stated, it needed specific special and costly software which
would deal with and rectify the error and then, and only then, the required normal
autoloader software would update the device. The technician informed me that the
corrective software would take more time to download than even the required
updating software. In his words, he said, "it will take more time and money to restore
the device to a state where it can know receive the required software then we
update ".
Back steps before progress; this was stunning and revolutionary to my active
inquisitive mind that is always looking out for solutions to lifes myriad problems. It
was going to take more to correct that to update. Wow. Updating is simple but to do
it, there had to be a few back steps; corrective steps. We could not update till we
corrected and sorted out the error on the device. We COULD not restore the device
till we dealt with the error. The issue here was not WOULD NOT, but COULD NOT. It
was not a matter of the technician, but the device. The technician was willing, able,
skilled and ready. But he COULD NOT update till he corrected the error. And in doing
this, there would be a commensurate cost in terms of more time, expertise and price
or expense.
Professional advice; my friend then went ahead and gave me a piece of his mind. In
no uncertain words he asked me to relegate my skills, energies, interests, pursuits
and endeavors to matters preaching and pulpit and desist from abusing technology
on feigned mediocre knowledge of what I was doing. This hurt deeply, but also
amused. It hurt because he is a much younger man and I felt disrespected. It was
amusing because I needed the restorative speech. In the midst of my wounded pride
and ego, I started to laugh and agree. And so I set myself up to unlearn and relearn.
Aha! In that moment, I suddenly saw why my work and calling as a minister is so
difficult and challenging. There are so many devices which walk through the doors
of the house of God and they are in need of expensive software that first deals with
errors before we can even get started on the updating or in more spiritual terms,
maturity. The sad fact is that they do not even know this. Many of such minds are
fried, abused, traumatized and skewed; insult is added to injury when arrogance,
pride and pompousness are their trade mark. The irony is that they get angry and
very emotional when you try to let them into these facts. Many feel disrespected,
while others feel ambushed. All they need is to be fixed and not to be educated.
Learn, unlearn and relearn; The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who

cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." - Alvin
Toffler. Well, my little episode taught me a couple of things; a new kind of education
is here with us. Nothing in life is certain any more. I have kept having that nagging
sense of feeling that life is at a standstill and that I should be farther along the road
to my destiny. I have discovered that the real distance between where I am now and
the place i intend to be is not calculated in feet, days or miles, or even decades; it is
measured in the arrangement of my mentality, my thoughts and how willing I am to
learn. The future is hinged on learning; learning is predetermined by unlearning and
relearning. As we exegesis lust, you will see what I mean. Lust is that error that must
go before I update my life, my device.
The learning however is extremely unorthodox and abstract, and is mostly preceded
with crisis seasons that force me to unlearn and relearn, and only then can I learn. Of
necessity, there must be an emptying first before there is a filling; a dying followed by
a resurrection. All these processes, though deep, are profitable because they keep
addressing my illiteracy. In the pursuit of my lifes purpose, there has strategically
occurred defining moments in the form of refining crisis. These refining crises have
continually set me free from confining limitations, empowering me to soar and excel.
However, I have to make the call.
Choices have consequences;
There are only two kingdoms in the world; love and lust; light and darkness. There
are only two men on the earth- First Adam and Last Adam. The Garden of Eden had
only two trees, and Life can only be defined in terms of two paths- The narrow and
the wide road. Two is the number of choice; God will always give man an option
because Man is a free will spirit. We must always make up our mind on the one thing
that is needful. Once it has been identified, it has to be chosen; what is chosen then
takes on permanence with us and it cannot be taken away...any way, more on this
later. Just remember that what is chosen, takes on permanence. Lets begin by having
a basic functional understanding of what operating systems are, since this will be the
core of our learning.
Hit delete but; for there to be change in my life, there has to be a radical (from
radix-root) shift in my thinking; my perspective; my perception my OS. My life does
not just turn out different because I pressed delete. FYI, I discovered that deleting
a file does not really actually erase that data from the computers storage device.
Rather, it simply finds the datas entry in the disk directory and changes it to a not
used status-thus permitting the computer to write over the deleted data. Until the
computer over-writes over the deleted data, however, the deleted data may still be

recovered. Many have assumed that they have moved on, only to realize that the
habit is still there; the feelings are still present and can surface given the right
conditions. Unless there is a complete thorough writing over the past, there is no
change.
Operating systems and their functions; an operating system (OS), provides the
software platform that directs the overall activity of a computer, be it the network or
system, on which all other software programs and application can run. An operating
system is therefore essentially a foundation. In many ways, choice of an operating
system will effect and affect which applications can run. This is very important; the
operating system or foundation one chooses, determines the kind of structure one
will build on top of it. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing
input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files
and directories on the disc and controlling peripheral devices such as hard disc drives
and printers. For large systems, the OS has even greater responsibilities and
powers...i.e. Becoming a traffic cop to make sure different programs and users
running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is
also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the
system. Examples of operating systems are UNIX; DOS windows, LINUX, Macintosh,
android etc.
Here then is a brief summary of what an operating system is; It is the overall director
of activity; It is a foundation; it decides which inputs and outputs will be allowed;
Keeps track of files and directories; Acts as a traffic policeman; it is also responsible
for security, ensuring no infiltrations or unauthorized users have no access.
The origins of Lust;
Numbers 11:4; And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the
children of Israel also wept again, and said, who shall give us flesh to eat?
More than any other two words, love and lust rule the world; the latter explaining
why things never change. The above text reveals that association with the mixt
multitude birthed the lust reality, the word mixt here meaning promiscuous and
loose. Now, both love and lust are operating systems. They are the drivers of all
behaviors on the face of the earth; and both of them are active, the latter being
lethal and the former working as a redemptive agent. The redemptive is powerful
and realized when all one does is to benefit others at the expense of self. Love is
always sacrificial. However, in this seating, we can only address lust; Lust shares with
sins like envy and pride the distinction of being invisible, slippery, and hard to pin

down. To conquer it, one must know its source and root; its origin. Clearly lust is
Egyptian or of worldly origin.
What is lust? Ideally lust is when all you DO is to benefit self at the expense of others.
The root of lust is self. When dealing with the anatomy of lust, for example,
promiscuous men never see women as multi-faceted, amazing, one of a kind creation
by God, with eternal souls, who have feelings, strengths and abilities, coupled with
talents and skills not forgetting their exceptional competences; plenty of life giving
thoughts, ideas and memories. Lust has a way of pushing all these qualities aside and
reducing the multi-faceted individual to a piece of meat or a skirt. All these men see
is what they can consume and gratify their foul desires. Ideally lust is when all you
DO is to benefit self at the expense of others. Lust has no exceptions or grey areas.
All it does is for self. Others will pick up the bill but self must be gratified because self
is an idol. Unless one embraces servant leadership and selflessness, there can be no
progress.
Lust and self; One must say a hard uncompromising unceasing NO! to self or it will
rear its ugly head and character. Self is like an inerrant dog which has to be reminded
at all times, who is master. To be selfish is to be absorbed only in ones own self and
needs. It is to have a false sense of importance ever gravitating in an orbit of
self-centeredness, self-wiliness and self-seeking. It may come across as polished,
scholarly, cultured or coarse, ignorant and ill-mannered; yet it is all selfishness (Does
this remind you of some of our politicians?) A major identification of self is that it
covets praise and adulation. It feeds highly on commendation and always seeks to be
noticed. It is immensely impressed with its own importance and is eternally fond of a
mirror especially one made to magnify. Secondly, self also shrinks from criticism,
however constructive this may be. It does not like being corrected and is always on
the defensive. It is so touchy and immature! It is like a spoilt brat of a child that is so
assertive and must have its own way at all times. Its favorite pronoun is I, capitalized,
with variations of MY, MINE and ME. This element called self also has an insatiable
appetite and grows hungrier by that on which it feeds. Given free rein, it will debase,
degrade, defile, disgrace and bastardize. Simply put, self dies hard! It never goes
quietly or easily! Self is a skilled strategist and never goes down quietly or alone! It
goes to the gallows screaming, raising dust, pulling out shrubs pointing out to others
who must share its fate on the gallows.
How lust works;
James 1:13-15; Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted,

when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived,
it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. (KJV)
Lust draws one away. It uses enticement, deception and attraction. It appeals to the
emotions. It then conceives after the soul has copulated with the world. Its child is
called sin. The basic general word which refers to sin in the New Testament is
harmartia. In early Greek writings, the word meant, to miss the mark. It connotes
an archer who releases an arrow from his bow and always misses the mark or his
target. It is to come short of some requirement and to miss the standard of behavior.
It is no wonder Charles Spurgeon lamented that sin is sovereign until sovereign grace
dethrones it! Lust never restsit stays focused till it has brought forth death.
Lust, the parent of corruption;
2 Pet 1:2-8; by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust... (NKJ)
The only antidote to lust is the divine nature. The divine nature feeds off the great
and precious promises of God. The corruption that is in the world is there through
lust. This clearly shows us that there would be no corruption in the world is there
was no lust. If we are ever to fight and win over corruption, (Kenyan government
included), we must first kill its source lust. Rick Renner, in his amazing book,
sparkling gems from the Greek, offers us strong guidance on how to do this. So, then,
what is the antidote to this insidious poison?
The antidote to lust;
Gal 5:16; This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(KJV)
The word walk is the Greek word peripateo. It appears in the New Testament
ninety-five times and has a very clear meaning. The word peripateo is a compound of
the words peri and pateo. The word peri means around and suggests the idea of
something that is encircling. The word pateo means to walk. It denotes the
movement of the feet, and it can be translated to walk, to step, to stride, to tread, or
even to trample. When these two words are compounded into one as they are in
Galatians 5:16, it means to habitually walk around in general vicinity. Thus, this word
peripateo was often translated as the word live. This means that instead of being
translated walk in the Spirit, the phrase in Galatians 5:16 could be translated live
in the Spirit. This is a good rendering of the word peripateo, for indeed it suggests a
person who has walked in one region for so long that it has now become his

environment, his place of daily activity, and the sphere that encircles his existence.
The word could be best explained by thinking of a person who has walked one path
so habitually that he would be able to walk that path blindfolded because it is his
path, his sphere, and the place where he has habitually lived and functioned.
In the secular literature of New Testament times, the word peripateo often meant to
stroll. In fact, many Greek scholars suggest that the best way to translate Galatians
5:16 is stroll in the Spirit. To stroll is to leisurely walk. A person who strolls is not an
anxious, frustrated person who is fighting to do something or to get somewhere;
rather, he is restful, relaxed, unhurried, peaceful, and calm. This wonderfully
describes what it is like to walk in the Spirit. You see, when a person walks in the
Spirit, the stress and anxieties of life are removed, and he moves over into a realm
where he can stroll along in continual rest, peace, and calmness. Paul goes on to say
that if you walk in the Spirit, ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The word
lust is from the Greek word epithumia. The second part of the word is the Greek
word thumos, which describes an urge, a longing, a craving, a passion, or something
that is excited. The word epi usually means over, but when combined with the word
thumos, it means to get extremely excited for or over something. In fact, this
excitement is so vigorous that it becomes a fervent passion, almost like an obsession,
a mania, or a very strong desire.
Galatians 5:16 provides the answer to the flesh. It says if you walk in the Spirit, ye
shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. The word fulfill is from the Greek work teleo,
which means to fulfill, to complete, or to reach ones goal. But because of the tense
and the strong negative that are used in the Greek phrase, Paul is telling us that if we
walk in the Spirit, we have basically pulled the plug on the flesh! As a result, we have
nullified the yearnings of the flesh so that they will never be fulfilled.
Winning the warfare of lust;
1 Pet 2:11; Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (KJV)
Notice that Peter calls us strangers and pilgrims. The word stranger is the
Greek word paroikos, a word that describes an individual who lives among the
citizens of a nation but is not a citizen himself. He is a foreigner or an alien in that
nation. Even though he may have received the legal right to live there, he doesnt
have the same right to participate in society as does a legal citizen. By using this word,
Peter reminds his readers (and us) that they are no longer citizens of the world. Even
though they live in the midst of the world, they are now heavenly citizens and
therefore cannot participate in the activities of a lost world as they once did. They
must learn to live among those in the world without being like them. To drive this
point even deeper into the hearts of his readers, Peter also urges them to live as
pilgrims. The word pilgrims is the Greek word parepidemos. It describes a
temporary traveler who is merely passing through a certain territory on the way to

his final destination. Because this person is simply passing through, he doesnt allow
himself to become attached but rather stays disconnected. Because he will soon
break camp and move onward, he knows that it would be foolish for him to become
entrenched in an environment where he cannot remain. Now Peter uses this word to
urge believers. To help them stay free of the sinful environment that is in the world
all around them, he implores them to abstain from fleshly lusts. The word
abstain is the Greek word apechomai, which means to deliberately withdraw from;
to stay away from; to put distance between oneself and something else; or to
intentionally abstain. The word apechomai was a well-known word, so every person
who read this word understood that Peter was telling them to put distance between
themselves and the fleshly lusts that were raging all about them. When Peter
speaks of fleshly lusts, he uses the word sarkikos for fleshly. This word describes
the impulses, cravings, and desires of the carnal flesh those things that appeal to
our lower side. The word lusts is the word epithumia, a compound of the words epi
and thumos. The word epi means over, and the word thumos depicts passion. When
compounded into the word epithumia, it pictures a person so overcome by some
passionate desire that he completely gives himself over to it. Let me stress something
here that is imperative for you to understand: Your flesh is never content until it has
completely taken you over and consumed you. Once you have given your flesh
permission to have its way and to exercise even a small amount of power in your life,
it will try to latch hold of you and eventually it will wage war for total control of
your life. Please dont think you can participate in only a little taste of sin and then
walk free of it. Once the flesh has been allowed to indulge in sin, the cry of the carnal
nature to indulge in sin once more will become stronger and stronger, ferociously
working against you in its attempt to pull you deeper and deeper into sin until you
are completely conquered by it. That is why Peter so firmly tells us to abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. The word war is the Greek word
strateuomai. This word is derived from the word stratos, from which we get the word
strategy. But when it becomes the word strateuomai as used in this context, it
pictures a fiercely committed soldier who possesses a warring mentality. Because he
is so committed to waging war and destroying his resistance, he fights tactically,
strategically, and aggressively. Furthermore, the Greek tense accentuates the fact
that once the flesh has been allowed to express itself, it will wage continual warfare
and its assault will be unending. Peters chief concern is that the flesh will wage
continual warfare against the soul. The word soul is the Greek word psyche,
which describes a persons mind, will, and emotions. The New Testament writers
clearly understood that the mind, will, and emotions are where Satan wages his
greatest warfare against the saints. Therefore, Peter urges his readers not to open
the door and invite this warfare to begin by deliberately participating in sinful
activities. Instead, he tells them to abstain from fleshly lusts, thus keeping their mind,
will, and emotions free of unnecessary battles.
Are you ready to let illiteracy go? Are you ready to learn? Learn by unlearning and
relearning? Well, the choice is yours!