Favourite Bible Shopping lists for Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Bode Ososami

It is the period for lists … more exactly I mean shopping and gift lists, as malls are crowded with people. Lists are necessary so we do not rely only on our memory for things that are important. Every item on a shopping list has a price, be it a mink coat, Ipad or a Christmas card – and may often require that we forgo something else to acquire that listed as important.

I have compiled my lists …these are thoughts, experiences and principles I would wish to be real in my life and never forget. I look at each list and items as having tagged prices all pleading for a different sacrifice from me … as I remember that Christmas is about Christ who paid for my salvation.

Romans 12 [12:1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Top Ten most Comforting Thoughts in the Bible

We are saved by faith in Christ and not by our works of righteousness
The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sins confessed to Him from which we repent
Death has no sting nor the grave any victory for the saint
God is faithful to supply all our needs according to His limitless riches
The mercy and love of God reaches to the heavens and unfathomable depths … none has ever stretched it to its limit.
Saints are safely kept in the palm of God’s hands … God looks after us.
Christ who has gone to prepare a home for His bride is soon coming back for His own.
God lays a table before us in the presence of our enemies …our cup overflows.
By the stripes on Jesus at the cross we already are healed … Divine health is already our portion
None of God’s children will be forsaken or have cause to beg

Top 7 most joyful experiences/narrations in The Bible

The conception of Sarah when the odds were completely against her bearing a heir for Abraham. God is faithful to do as He has promised you.
Jacob’s realisation that Joseph was still alive and well and prospering. Never say it is over.
The transformation of the mocked and barren Hannah to a mother of many. Wait on God
The marriage of Ruth – a hopeless Moabitess to the kinsman Boaz. Soon you will laugh.
The welcome of the returning Prodigal Son. You can return to Christ and receive a rousing welcome.
The woman at the tomb realises that Christ is risen … the tomb is empty. Jesus is alive
The rescue of Rahab the Prostitute from the annihilation of Jericho and admission into honour. Do not say God cannot use or rescue you.

Top 10 most attacked Principles in the Bible

God wants us to prosper only as our soul prospers … spiritual prosperity – a righteous walk comes first
The debtor is a servant to the lender. Escape the bondage of debt.
Many will profess doing great things in the name of Jesus … yet He will say I never knew you.
There is no greater virtue than knowing God … no higher calling or assignment than worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth
We cannot serve both God and Mammon – we all love one and hate the other.
Without holiness … no man can see God.
God created us for His pleasure and not the other way round
The wages of sin is death
The best and worst are yet to come in God’s Eternity. Heaven and Hell are real.
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. God does not change.

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Christmas Season Fanfare on Sunday et al.

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Bode Ososami

Another jolly season is here and many are making preparations to spread tidings of joy in remembrance of the Saviour that was born. Even those who do not see Him as the only way to salvation can revel in social activities and attend services – to embrace the positive merry mood, applaud theatre and music production performance, hear the very best choral and poetic renditions, exchange gifts, light trees etc. Some will of course add the usual humanitarian touch for flavour as they share food boxes and presents to the poor orphan.

The climax is the 25^th. … this year, a Sunday … except that some are concerned that our reunions, feasts, outings and get-togethers conflict with normal humdrum morning and evening devotion – even as churches outdo themselves to make the Christmas Sunday a day not easily forgotten. Many on that day will say our worship is in Spirit and not bound by days, location and venues – and perhaps rightly so, elect to enjoy the company of family and loved ones. Those who sacrifice minutes of kin camaraderie for devotion will not expect to be confronted by anything of much gravity and will instead be compensated with the Pastor’s very best performance. If there is a day that happiness of members count – it is this day.

Granted, it spoils the mood to bring to fore that our appointed modern holiday seasons and worship rituals have mostly pagan origins. These are like consistent and regular “lite” viral inoculations to confer immunity against any invading deeper truths. The challenge therefore is always to restore truths and leverage evangelism to achieve the opposite of what the god of this world planned i.e. be religious as you shop, browse, eat, dance and be merry for this is the season of joy.

Proverbs 23 advises on what to do with the turkey knife at high-status events.

Proverbs 23[1] When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: [2] And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. [3] Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Our ways are deceived because our measures are often wrong. Indeed our worship is in Spirit but it is also in truth. Our scorecard is God’s commendation.

2 Corinthians 10[18] For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

For example, Jesus said of the church in Sardis – they were reputed for being alive whereas they were dead. Everyone knew of their church meetings … the excited crowds singing unto the Lord at a fourth jam-packed service … all this, while Jesus holds His nose. The stench of decay is not completely deodorized by the hype of the jamboree. The few at the Sardis Christmas service who receive spiritual life from the shortest message preached on any Sunday only wait for that growing word to be choked at the banquet planned later in the evening. The error of the church in Sardis is still with some today … please read the Open Heavens Devotional “Wrong Measures, False Results”. Traditions ossified by literature like the “Christmas Carol” have embedded the thinking that spending, consumption and mirth is the model of the “generous “spirit.

Some financial advice – do not spend to impress. This is hedonism if not plain waste. Christianity is typified by moderation … and really you do not need another gadget even if Apple thinks so … stick to your budget … the borrower is servant to the lender.

Let the occasion be one for evangelism, focusing on God, giving and spiritual uplifting. Go against the grain … seek God in a different way – let it be a time for urgent restitutions. Know that careful and elaborate preparations have been made by the enemy of our soul to see that once again, the god of this world ravages the souls of men. I recently read ( I recommend you read the linked essay ) of a new evangelical spectrum – from “hyperfundamentalist” to “indifferentists” which I suspected to be recasting what in the book of Revelation Christ termed “Hot – Lukewarm – Cold”. Perhaps what many call a balanced conservative middle-ground positioning was what was commanded to be spewed out. We can determine to be “scalding” in showing the love of Christ and in our giving in the season. It is a wonderful opportunity for many to know Christ as Lord and Saviour. Christ waits to welcome the sinner home.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God – Annual Holy Ghost Congress – themed “A New Thing” will hold Dec. 12th- 17^th 2011. As part of the yuletide events try something different to set the tone for the holiday season by attending. You can join online to be strengthened in your spirit. See Trailer below for details.

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

A Christmas Carol – Will you let Jesus go?

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Bode Ososami

A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens about miserly, cold, unfeeling, old and curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge and his holiday conversion and redemption after being visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. The book was first published on 19 December 1843 and quickly met with commercial success and critical acclaim. The tale is viewed as an indictment of 19th century industrial capitalism and has been credited with returning the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of Puritan sobriety and sombreness. Till today it remains perhaps one of the most popular themes for family entertainment in the season and is noted for having secularized the season - making it a holiday that all may enjoy. The best thing about Carol is its significant role in reinventing Christmas with an emphasis on family, goodwill, and compassion.

In this clip, also seen on Christian post movie centre , a young Scrooge chooses his love of money over love for his fiancée.

I do not like this film not just because of its strong links to occultic deception(ghosts) - but its success in rekindling traditions of extravagant holiday consumption which effaced sober reflections eventually easing Jesus Christ completely out . It achieved this in a clever way – rightly denouncing capitalist exploitation and expounding the virtues of joy, generousity and care for the poor and less privileged – but also employing strong negative themes and images that severely caricatured and discredited Ebenezer Scrooge.

Ebenezer actually means “The stone of help” and Scrooge means ” a miserly mean-spirited person”. This combined nomenclature vaguely suggests the “stone of help” is miserly and mean. The plot unfolding here was to kill and bury Christian puritanism at the time of Charles Dickens and you be the judge on its effectiveness.

However, I want to focus on the clip above (pls. watch it again) and the frustration of Ebenezer’s fiancee which reminds me of the appeal of Christ in His words to Peter.

John 12[15] So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

How long will Jesus Christ continue to beg to be loved as He observes His lambs (souls) starved of salvation by His word, true comfort and provision. Like Ebenezer told Emily, we have told Jesus – all the merriment is for Him, we are really doing it all for Him, working for Him, giving for Him, earning more to tithe to Him and our joyful singing and dancing is unto Him… all the things we do that keep us busy, we say we do it for Him….but we lie like Scrooge – we do it all for our self..to please our flesh. Jesus replies that He never cared for our activities but just wants our love, which we should show by spreading His gospel and discipling and comforting the nations to live as pilgrims in a strange world.

Eventually Jesus gives back all the gold we say we have given Him…and whatever else we want …money, position, mega-churches, power and our dreams…only that He be left alone. Some do quickly accept this offer and return to business-as-usual and will indeed end up becoming very wealthy but secretly grow in misery. The wise find the grace to say no. Instead they release the frenzied occupation that allows no time for God but comes with generous bonuses, they shut down the many religious activities that are cold and empty and come apart to rediscover a new relationship with Christ - chasing after Him with a fresh zeal … abandoning all like a young man with his first love. Jesus is our Ebenezer and He is neither miserly nor mean-spirited … He is love. When we truly find Him – we will love through Him in a way the world has never known.

Go after Jesus like never before this season and let everything else go. When we have gone after Him and encountered His mercy, love and embrace we then discover that we have found everything.

Isaiah 55[6] Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful new year.

God bless you

Bode

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

A Recession-proof Christmas

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Bode Ososami

Philippians 4[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

3John [7]Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

Psalm 62 [5] My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

We are entering the season perhaps few dread because of the traditions and pressures to show love through giving and the hard-to-resist marketing of items and offers for consideration. Indeed, this is the month that cries spend; spend more and a little bit more. Give… give more …give a little more.

Christmas celebrations I often wonder the perspective of Jesus … who as a baby received gifts from wise men…only to become as He grew the ultimate gift poured out to and for all of mankind. God also said the silver and gold is already His and so cannot need what He already has. I do not want to speculate where the tradition of gifts and seasons celebrations really began as there are hardly scriptural references of saints celebrating birthdays. Rather ominously – in the Bible, birthday celebrations were mentioned only twice. Pharaoh’s birthday (Gen. 40:20Gen. 40:20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. lifted...: or, reckoned

WP-Bible plugin) at which his chief baker was hung and Herod’s feast (Matthew 14:6Matthew 14:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. before...: Gr. in the midst

WP-Bible plugin & Mark 6:21Mark 6:21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

WP-Bible plugin) at which John was beheaded. I plead to someone reading…do not sabotage your finances or decapitate your future in this period as you seek to make an impression. Inappropriate collections to ministry can also lead to early termination … spiritually initially. Let God finance His work.

It is however a good time to tell people about Jesus and reflect on the approach of Jesus Christ to giving and Bible directions to inform financial decisions. It is a time to model His ways for the world to see. What would Christ have done differently in this season as He lived the recession-proof life? For all He needed was indeed provided. Consider the following seven areas for examples.

God does not need your money but needs more of you and your repentant heart.

pay all your debts

God is your source, therefore make your financial needs known to Him

Be cautious of gifts you receive

Gen. 14 [22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, [23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich

Never be elated or excited at receiving money /gifts

Never

purchase impulsively.

cautious

7.There are many inexpensive things that are valued and leave far more endearing memories … your time spent with family and loved ones, an apology in a thoughtful note, a five minute call just to show you remember and truly care, rekindling of neglected relationships e.g. with your teenage daughter, a word of appreciation to your pastor etc…these may cost almost nothing.

Enjoy the season…remember after all they call it Christmas…should we not be most like Christ at this time ? And one most important thing…when we give as we must – remember we are to be generous to others especially the less privileged and not over-indulge ourselves…

Also, reflect on the following scriptures…

Proverbs 11[25] The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Proverbs 22: [9] He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

I Timothy 6[8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Have a blessed day. Amen.

Bode