Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

Favourite Bible Shopping lists for Christmas

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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

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

Top 7 most joyful experiences/narrations in The Bible

  1. 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.
  2. Jacob’s realisation that Joseph was still alive and well and prospering. Never say it is over.
  3. The transformation of the mocked and barren Hannah to a mother of many. Wait on God
  4. The marriage of Ruth – a hopeless Moabitess to the kinsman Boaz. Soon you will laugh.
  5. The welcome of the returning Prodigal Son. You can return to Christ and receive a rousing welcome.
  6. The woman at the tomb realises that Christ is risen … the tomb is empty. Jesus is alive
  7. 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

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

 

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The Story behind “Perfect Fall Wedding : The Coming of Christ”

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Get your copy at BN.com

A fourth book has typical challenges in the sense that one begins to feel somewhat jaded and must recover perspective as though indeed there is something else coming that is yet to be said as it should.  “Three” in the Bible is the number that denotes perfection …the revelation of God in the Trinity.  Four is three plus one … that which proceeds from His complete perfection and that must be His creative work.  “Four” is emphatically the number of Creation;

The fourth day saw the material creation finished (for on the fifth and sixth days it was only the furnishing and peopling of the earth with living creatures). The sun, moon, and stars completed the work, and they were to give light upon the earth which had been created, and to rule over the day and over the night (Genesis 1:14-19Genesis 1:14-19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: the day...: Heb. between the day and between the night 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. to rule the day...: Heb. for the rule of the day, etc. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. And the evening...: Heb. And the evening was, and the morning was etc.  

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Perfect Fall Wedding is therefore perhaps more creative than previous works.  It is not a book about true or false predictions. The metaphor of marriage and a love letter from the  groom to His bride was for me the very best canvas with which the creative agenda of the Godhead could be completely and thoroughly understood.  Indeed there are  snippets in the Bible to help us deal with every challenge and truly the Bible can be a prosperity book, a government manual, a guide for ethics, a cure for social maladies and even more…but this is like Peter being shown where to find the fish but after invited to come and dine only to discover prepared bread and fish was hot and ready waiting …his fish search  irrelevant.

In my few years of teaching, and I have taught extensively the contents of this book, I have not found a picture so familiar and easy to relate to and understand and yet so compelling to tie the plans of God together as the marriage of the Lamb does –from before time into Genesis to Revelation and the after-time.  I have not found imagery so vivid to explain heaven, hell, eternity and judgment as that of a wedding.  The joy of purification, having dominion and remaining apart is no more hard to appreciate or seen as drudgery when this is understood as part of preparations. Also I have not known any other ceremony with more prearrangements, colour and style.  God created us with a style and flourish that is uniquely His – through this metaphor we catch some glimpse of it.  The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is but nothing compared to what God has laid out.

Why the obsession with “Fall” … the season of the feast of Trumpets which I have said in the Book foreshadows the Rapture.  We know the significant events in the calendar of God did not merely occur they were announced by prophetic fulfilment of feasts as given to Moses in Leviticus.  But the Bible warns us not to relax in the winter, spring and summer and expect to be set for His coming in the Fall.  More importantly a saint unprepared for Him anytime will not be prepared even at a given set time…noting that preparation is given to the Bride – a grace she receives, but cannot originate. The chosen bride will without doubt be prepared.

The book is not about how to live a happily married life, but it does emphasise divine directions as it pertains to marriage ordained by God and not man.  Marriage is therefore always a spiritual and theological issue and not a civil construct. This book is not remotely new revelation – only that present day readers I suspect peep in the word nervously … finding right answers to trivial questions … rather than be given to diligent study and examine research, context and previous interpretations allowing the Holy Spirit to guide.  Also the great achievement of post-modernism  is to suggest to a world with itching ears that Biblical truths are nothing but plain fantasy. Only crazy people will believe in a millennium reign of Christ with His saints.  Existentialists will call this book – a mere piece of futurism and an escape from reality due to inability to cope with today’s challenges.

The key aim of Perfect Fall Wedding is to help the preparation of the bride – the Church – chosen from the foundations of the world.  The bride will glow with joy browsing through the chapters and will keep her letter.  Many others, atheists, non Christians will feel a tug in their heart – a call to return to what has always been there – back to your husband , your maker.  But some will read and feel excitement, entertainment, annoyance, a thrill, a sense of fantasy, amusement, outright disgust, unbelief and anger –like someone devouring the contents of a letter written to another and wondering …what utter nonsense.

Isaiah 54 [5]  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Interested readers can find more details in the online information kit download.  Also Two free e-books of the author are being offered  with purchase of a copy. (To obtain the bonus e-books you will need to enter details of purchase on the online form and you will be auto-responded with download password/instructions).

(See PRWeb.com press release)

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THE COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIAN by Onuzo

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The first question you ask yourself is this: Is there any such thing as a counterfeit Christian in church and in the world? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said there is, and right there in church. Here is the story He told His disciples:

It is not for me to go round looking for the counterfeit Christians in church but to look inwardly and ask myself: “Am I a counterfeit Christian? Have I truly experienced Christ? Is He alive in me at home, at work and in church? It is not my neighbours that make me a true Christian. They are there to test whether I am really what I profess to be. My life as a Christian is to reveal the life of Christ to my world beginning with the people I live with at home each day from my spouse to the rest of my family and moving outwards to the place where I work and then to the church where I visit less frequently each week.

We must recognize that a lot of good can come from religious observance, without the knowledge of the true God and His Christ. Take the life journey of a fake currency. A fake $500 note may be used to buy bread to feed the hungry. The bread seller may then pass it to the rice seller and then to the meat seller and after a journey of twelve years it would finally arrive at the bank to be lodged by a car dealer. Then the bank subjects it to scrutiny and detects that it is a fake currency. Now the fact that it was and had always been a fake currency did not stop it from doing some good along the way. It might even have visited churches and done some good there too. But all that good could not change the fact that it is a fake currency posing to be what it is not. This is why supposed Christians could go far but never far enough to prove the reality of Christ. Only the grace of God in Christ Jesus driven by the Spirit of God can empower us to stand up to the pressures of compromise with evil.  Counterfeit Christians may be hard to detect in church. We say here in Nigeria that every toad is squatting so it is difficult to say the one that has diarrhoea. In church we all put on our very best behaviours and try to say the nicest things to the most difficult people.  At work, we lose some of the constraints of church. At home where we may be king and queen, we tend to lose even more restraint. How often do very nice people at church and at work turn monsters at home? How often do very nice people at church turn monsters at work? Monsters are generally uncommon in church but not altogether rare.

Part of our self-examination as Christians must hinge on the word conversion or change. The truth of our faith is that God put on human nature so that through faith the nature of God can be experienced by man. It is not just that we become children of God by faith. It is that through faith we begin to reveal the nature and character of God in our dealings with others in the world. Faith draws down the spiritual inner strength that drives the change. And this is the change that must be for us to be sure that we are no counterfeits.  A young Christian asked me the other day how one could change his way of life. My response was straight forward: The first step is a very strong desire to change. The Holy Spirit always works effectively where He can see very strong desire. When we study the Word of God with this quality desire, the life of Christ will stare us in the face as we study and the Spirit of God will empower us to effect the necessary changes like – unyielding love, humility, integrity, kindness, compassion, willingness to forgive others as well as ourselves, self-control, self-denial in the pursuit of righteousness, consistent rejection of compromises with evil, seasoned speech that edify the hearers at home, at work and in church, suffering for what is right and much more. Nobody can work these works of righteousness in their own strength. We all need daily, nay moment by moment inner strengthening by the Spirit of God to stand up for Christ in this world.  The truth we must grasp is that Almighty God gave us eternal life in the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Through the knowledge of Christ, this eternal life is expressed in this world through our lives. This is that eternal life which our Lord Jesus Christ described in these words:

John 17[3]  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It is when my life reveals that I know God: when my dealings with others show forth the character of Christ, then I can be assured that I am no counterfeit.   It is for this reason that we must make a difference wherever we are as Christians because we are expected to reveal the character of Christ no matter the cost.  This is a daily challenge and that is why those who had gone before us admonished us in this way:

Genuine Christians know the daily struggle to keep on the straight and narrow road at home, at work and in church. Counterfeits tend to struggle in church to stay godly but lose all restraint at work and at home.  If a nation that boasts that 50% of her population are Christians is not being transformed, then the churches in that nation must be full of counterfeits. This calls for deep self-examination. It poses a challenge to each Christian. We must know that God has called us into Christ so that the world around us can see Christ in us and through us. Every nation will change when a good percentage of its people are changed. I cannot control change outside of myself. My greatest challenge as a Christian is to be a changed person so that the world can see the nature of Christ in me and through me. If the world around me is not full of light, then it is either that I bear no light at all or that the light I carry is weak and faint and so cannot dispel the darkness around me. As Children of Light, let us rise and shine ever so brightly in every corner of our world – church, work or home, to the glory of our God. He who has called is very faithful and is a true and consistent rewarder of all those who love and serve Him. Our labours can never be in vain either in this world or in the world to come.

May the Holy Spirit empower you to take your place in the frontline of the struggle for righteousness in the very place where you are now, to the glory of God and His Christ, Amen.

Here is the true test of counterfeit Christianity for each and every professing Christian, myself included…

Dr. Onuzo is an acknowledged conference and seminar speaker in different parts of the world. He continues to be available for the work of the ministry despite his busy clinical work. He is also the Associate Pastor of the National Headquarter’s Church of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria. He is married to Mariam, a medical doctor and they have four children: Dilichi, Chinaza, Dinachi and Chibundu

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The Greatest and Wealthiest place ever – Heaven.

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There is a place of greatest wealth and unimaginable luxury and abundance with beautiful mansions that are yours forever.  I speak of mansions built of precious stones that never depreciate or need repairs. I do pray to see you there – someday.

John 14 [1] “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] “In My Father’s house are many mansions;  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

For Paul, to live was to abide in Christ, knowing Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering – but to die was great gain, for through death – crowns, mansions and glory in Heaven will settle all reproach and accounts in His favour, even as he enters to unsurpassable beauty and wealth.  Perhaps you imagine, you are already a good Church going man, living in wealth with trillions and will live till 150years, having managed every crisis and come up even stronger, healthier – the Bible has a different perspective. Your long period of bliss on earth is described as just a few days full of trouble compared to His eternal wealthy place.

Job 14[1] “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. [2] He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

Indeed, not all will die, but the dead will rise first – and the early saints believed so much in this superior resurrection that many of faith refused deliverance.

Hebrews 11 [35] Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

There is no space ship that will take anyone in this body to this place of greatest wealth.  Even if there were, a body suited for eternity is needed to enjoy the wealth forever. A second in God’s wealthiest place will cause all who enter to wish they had given Him even more, loved Him even more, trusted and believed Him more, sacrificed even more, and been more obedient.  They would all wish they had been martyred and wish they had dedicated their careers, time and talents – for how could we possibly have doubted a God so good and faithful?

All these are for those with salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and who live a life surrendered to and controlled by Him – not just Church goers. If you have all wealth, assets, health, success, acclaim, happiness, greatness and other things this world offers and Jesus is not Lord and Saviour in your life, then you will be as a fool who conquered most things but got the most important wrong.

Luke 12 [16] Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. [17] “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ [18] “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. [19] ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ [20] “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ [21] “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

You did not heed to a most important teaching of Jesus who said;

Luke 12[29] “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. [30] “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. [31] “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Can you not see that the natural life, the corruptible body and the best this world offers is already destined to ashes - for all one day perish and the earth will be “burnt up”?

2Peter 3[7] But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8]  But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [10]  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Hebrews 9[27]  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Will this final crisis be only a chariot to usher you into the greatest wealthiest place of all where pain is completely conquered? It could be something to look forward to with earnest expectation…a place of no tensions.

Revelation 21[4] “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

However, without a life surrendered to Jesus Christ, you cannot see the wealthiest place and death begins the greatest negative crisis that continues forever.  If you find you can ignore the invitation Christ gives to you, consider again how this other great crisis was described and the journey down the bottomless valley of hopelessness never to come up again. Is this where you are destined to end up? You do not believe all this of course. But supposing you are wrong…is it worth the risk?

“Heaven is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark”  says Stephen Hawking but whose report will you believe?

Isaiah 53 [1]  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? [2]  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3]  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Come to Jesus, today….article largely culled from the book Wealth Out of Ashes by Bode Ososami

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The Recession was Good for You

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Having the right attitudes to money and a stewardship mindset is important for financial success.  The Bible contains a lot of wisdom related to this.  Recently it was reported in Time (Moneyland) that the Charles Schwab 2011 Teens & Money Survey (Please download survey PDF report) suggested, if only in some small way, the recession may have changed attitudes and knowledge about money management in young people who experienced recession in one way or another. Attitudes are more positive and constructive than it was prior to the Recession.

Highlights from the data, from the online survey of 1,132 American teens between ages of 16-18:

  • “93% say their family was impacted by the recession
  • “64% say they are more grateful now for what they have.”
  • “58% say they are less likely to ask for things they want.”
  • “73% say it’s important to have enough emergency savings in case times get tough.”
  • “77% describe themselves as “super savers,” and only 23% say they’re “big spenders.”

Psalm 119[67]  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

There are consequences for doing things our way, this includes entering cycles of loss and ultimately the demise of all hope as crashes produce anger and more rebellion – even while grace still cries out that there is a way back.   We can still find our path back to God, the Owner, who is ever seeking good stewards.  A few more words to reiterate on stewardship.

1.God supplies our needs and will not have us hungry.  He does not supply our carnal wants or wasteful excesses.

2.Covetousness is trying to be someone God has not gifted us to be and without the grace and abilities.  This produces bitterness and anguish of spirit and much zeal without knowledge.

3.Remember, we do not own the gifts and wealth but we can have power with God to make wealth.  God does not seek our permission to give or take that which belongs to Him.  There are direct unfortunate consequences for seeking independence from God in managing His resources rather than depending on Him.

I will have you attempt solving the following puzzle.  Three frogs were lounging on a fence facing a pond. Then suddenly there appeared a big fat insect. As the three frogs watched it strut towards the pond, one of them decided to jump down and go after it. Now, how many frogs were left on the fence?

Was your answer 2, 3, 1r 2, 3, 1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?  

WP-Bible plugin or none? The correct answer is three.  There were three left. One only decided to jump but he did not. It is not enough for you to decide to be blessed you need to act.

It is our doing and obedience that saves us and not our decisions. Doing is always costly and often painful. Perhaps the lessons from this Recession will lead to more than decisions.

Count yourself blessed O stricken and afflicted.  I have encountered few who justified continued sin in their lives even with scriptures (as is common today) until mercifully struck down with financial or moral crisis and they found grace to cry and return to God for help.  It was easier to appreciate the gravity of misdeeds before God and seek repentance. Today, they have corrected many ethical situations that previously plagued their finances, marriage and life in general. Crisis (though not the preferred instructor we wish God to appoint) also teaches vital disciplines of prayer, humility and obedience that are not as well assimilated in today’s user-driven word environment.  Perhaps if we surveyed this aspect of the impact of the Recession, we may be able to establish improvements in our devotional life and like David also say…

Psalm 119 [71]  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

The Recession that did the most good was the affliction of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary that we might be saved and receive eternal life… Surrender your life to Him.

Now you are better armed to manage the windfall soon coming your way.

(Originally published in The Christian Post)

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Christ With You

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“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:8Jeremiah 1:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.  

WP-Bible plugin).

The phrase Christ ‘with’ you bespeaks divine partnership. When God sent Moses to liberate the children of Israel, he wondered how he could do that. So, the Lord assured him that He was going to be with him (Exodus 3:11-12Exodus 3:11-12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.  

WP-Bible plugin). If God is with you, there will be no limitation to your achievements. Some people work ‘for’ God but not ‘with’ God. When you work for God, there maybe some sense of detachment from the work, maybe with just profit and reward in mind.

That is the situation of the hireling. If you are in the ministry because of what you can make out of it for yourself, you are simply working ‘for’ God. According to John 10:12-13John 10:12-13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  

WP-Bible plugin, the hireling cannot afford to stake his life for the sheep. Working with God on the other hand talks of mutual commitment between you and God. In such a case, the Kingdom assignments gets done gloriously.

When the Lord told Joshua, Moses’ servant, that he was to step into Moses’ shoes, fear gripped him. His only comfort was God’s assurance that he will be with him just like He was with Moses (Joshua 1:1-8Joshua 1:1-8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
The Book of Joshua 1 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. unto this...: or, thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land, etc 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. prosper: or, do wisely 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. have...: or, do wisely  

WP-Bible plugin). When Christ is with you, there will be nothing to fear—not even the unfriendly faces of your opponents. In Jeremiah 1:8Jeremiah 1:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.  

WP-Bible plugin, God asked young Jeremiah not to be afraid of the faces of people He would send him to because He was going to be with Him.

Christ with you suggests a very strong abiding presence of the Most High. It was the presence of God with David that saw him through his battles with the bear, and with the lion. When King Saul expressed doubts about David’s ability to fight Goliath, the young lad’s only assurance was that the presence of God had delivered him in the past. If God is with you, you can confront any Goliath; you can take on any impossible assignment and come out victorious.

With God’s presence, you will be fighting not in your limited strength or devices but in His unlimited might and resources. Is Christ with you? Whatever happens in your life, ensure you never lose His presence. That is the only thing that makes the difference.

The name Emmanuel means ‘God with us’. When Christ is with you, God is in your midst. Ensure He is always with you.

Open Heavens Devotional

Pastor E. A.  Adeboye

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Prayers for Unstoppable Resurrection Triumphs in Christ

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There are many lessons yet to be revealed and great mysteries locked in the powerful narration of the death and resurrection of Christ.  Old and New Testament scriptures point to the awesome resurrection power in Christ Jesus and unstoppable triumphs available in Christ for the saints.

For instance a shadow of the merciful restoration that defies death and the grave occurred when a  dead man is revived as his corpse is tossed into a tomb and touches a dead prophet as wicked invading Moabites passed. Indeed all glory must go to God and God alone who is in perfect and complete control always… as we pray.

2Kings 13 [20]  And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. [21]  And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men ; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

I pray not to be as the two disciples on the way of Emmaus with no understanding of the reality of Christ’s resurrection and the implications for glorious victory – also called doubting fools by Jesus Christ.

Luke 24[25]  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [26]  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

There are 3 sets of points for prayers we can take to the throne of grace and mercy to obtain our victories in His will – based on meditation on scriptures describing the events following His death. As we die to the world and the world dies to us we can equally experience the inheritance of glory reserved for the saints crucified in Christ.

Matthew 27 [52]  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53]  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

1.The closed graves opening (v.52)…represent huge and massive stones that seal unfortunate circumstances (corpses) from public access.  The grave is the place where dead situations are firmly sealed up as unpleasant decomposition progresses – soon to be forgotten as others get on with their lives.

Prayer: Father, where there is no way out in my situation…let your resurrection power make a way.  Unseal what men have sealed. Remove all spiritual and physical obstacles to the miracle needed for my restoration.  Let every stench of reproach receive a fresh reviving breeze of the Holy Ghost and be changed to an aroma of beautiful testimony. Amen.

2.The bodies of the saints include the body of Joseph (v.52)…who wisely begged that his bones be not allowed to remain in the beautiful and luxurious crypts of Egypt centuries before. Exodus 13 [19]  And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Prayer: Father, in your mercy…give me grace to be repositioned in the right location (released from the doubts and deceptions of worldliness ) that your resurrection power may reach and touch all my dead situations … Let me arise from slumber and all forms of paralysis and begin to soar again like an eagle on the wings of the Holy Spirit. Amen

3.The saints came out of the grave walking to the Holy City and seen by many (v.53)… Even if the saints were now arisen, they still needed to come out of the grave to a destined unlimited space above principalities, powers … to be seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Prayer: Father, let the power of resurrection bring me out of all earth bound limitations placed on my life.  Let me arise above all wicked principalities and oppression of all earthly powers…to be seated with Christ and reigning with Him in heavenly places.  Lord let me begin to shun other journeys and to rediscover and walk the narrow path leading to Heaven.  Lord, do not let me be restored unto a path that will lead me to perdition.  There is no wealth, popularity, honour or restoration that is worth ending up eventually in hell fire and leading others astray.  Help me O Lord to be a true witness to millions of your unstoppable power that reverses the irreversible that many souls all over the world may come to know you by the testimony of your work of restoration in my life.  Amen

May the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, our strength, helper and our redeemer … O Lord, we need your divine assistance. Help us. Amen

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Recession proof Love – Remembering 911

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In the times of abundant iniquity, the love of many – Jesus Christ said would grow cold. In the bid to survive, as fires of fears spread on media networks for fiendish gain …as increased competitiveness for scarce resources and harsh economic climate persists – many must find themselves vulnerable to a hardening that always comes surreptitiously to the unguarded.

Matthew 24[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

I ask myself – how can I make the love of God in my life that manifests in practical acts of charity for others especially those I perceive as unlovable … recession proof? I also ask myself some questions…

  1. Would I still love God if suddenly sent to the back of a lonesome desert? Or suddenly denied of a much desired breakthrough? How warm would my love be if suddenly exposed to very different cultures and peoples?
  2. When faced with opposition and strong resistance that cause me to buckle – can I still be thankful? Am I happier when I have my way and miserable and fretful when I can not?
  3. Do I (in subtle ways) take credit for the good things God is doing – forgetting to thank Him? Do I despise His chastening not thanking Him for the things I do not understand or like?

What separates children of God in the Bible, with recession proof love for God and His creation, from the others who struggle?

I discern three principal things worth noting …

  1. They trusted completely in the work of God in their life and others and in all the events impacting them…knowing that all things must work out for their good as they obeyed Him.
  2. They relied more on spiritual weapons – principally prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit, leaning always on the mercy of God.
  3. They never saw themselves in any way disadvantaged or at a loss – when events appeared contrary to their expectations – knowing God has limitless avenues to work out and fulfil destiny.

I recall a scene in a Christian film I watched of a blind man offered his eyesight but only if he accepted to serve the devil and bear his mark forever… He received sight for a few minutes and was asked to make a decision…would he rather remain blind and be saved?

If riches, enlightenment and great influence would cost me my salvation would I agree to let these go? Would I turn my back to Jesus If I risked losing all the comforts, social safety nets and wealth as a result of obeying Him completely…

Luke 18[23] And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. [24] And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Jesus – the best preacher ever – the living word … could not convince this rich man. How come we have so easily convinced Him? Perhaps we have presented to him a more practical perspective.

As we remember 911…and the painful lingering memories… let us also remember what the Bible says about love…

I John 4[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. [17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [19] We love him, because he first loved us. [20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

I John 3 [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

The real plan of September 11 to defeat a nation may have worked far more effectively than many would think if it has lured many out of dwelling in love…even love for the unlovable.

Lord, help me that in these unusual times my love may be found recession proof…never waxing cold.

Amen

(Originally published in the ChristianPost)

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Much Ado about Evangelicals Partnering with Mormons – Wars of Faith.

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How do you respond to issues related to partnering either in ministry, marriage, business, politics and cooperation for good causes? Especially in business and social causes, alliances are almost inevitable and the modus and value of additional spiritual due diligence remains questionable till you consider some thoughts.

“A handful of prominent evangelical activists are defending their decision to attend television host Glenn Beck’s conservative rally in Washington this weekend after some Christians complained that evangelicals shouldn’t be partnering with Beck because of his Mormon faith …” CNN Blog

We are in a vicious spiritual battle – no prisoners are to be taken. Instructions are to kill, steal and destroy at sight. However tactics are more refined to wait patiently for unguarded moments and strike to wreak utmost damage at the time of greatest weakness.

David regrets an act of stupid carelessness that costs the life of 85 priests. I Samuel 22[22] David said to Abiathar, I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all your father’s house. (Amp)

David felt responsible for ignoring the presence of Doeg the Edomite at a time of weakness and sensitive exposure. The Edomite tribe are the descendants of Esau the brother of Jacob. Holy Scriptures describe this tribe as hated by God from the womb even before they fulfil a destiny of resisting and tormenting the children of Israel.

Recall the final meeting of Jacob with Esau. Examine this meeting a little closer if you will.

Genesis 33[12] Then [Esau] said, Let us get started on our journey, and I will go before you. [13] But Jacob replied, You know, my lord, that the children are tender and delicate and need gentle care, and the flocks and herds with young are of concern to me; for if the men should overdrive them for a single day, the whole of the flocks would die. [14] Let my lord, I pray you, pass over before his servant; and I will lead on slowly, governed by [consideration for] the livestock that set the pace before me and the endurance of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir. [15] Then Esau said, Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me. But [Jacob] said, What need is there for it? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord. (Amp)

Esau offered to unite with Jacob in direction and Jacob, as tactfully as he could, responded negatively with very polite and acceptable excuses not seeking to create offence. Even when generous manpower was offered – Jacob declined in very kind language. Jacob knew that cooperation or any alignment or gift from Esau – the enemy of God will pollute his covenant and ultimately lead to his destruction.

Many generations later we see Edom unveiling their true colours in examples of future recorded incidents of hatred against Israel…The first – the Edomites resist the passage of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Second, Edom cheered happily as Israel was carried into Babylonian captivity and brutally massacred. Third, Doeg the Edomite engineered the massacre of scores of priests as Saul hunted for David.

Numbers 20[14] And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying, Thus says your kinsman Israel: You know all the adversity and birth pangs that have come upon us [as a nation]: [15] How our fathers went down to Egypt; we dwelt there a long time, and the Egyptians dealt evilly with us and our fathers. [16] But when we cried to the Lord, He heard us and sent an angel and brought us forth out of Egypt. Now behold, we are in Kadesh, a city on your country’s edge. [17] Let us pass, I pray you, through your country. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink of the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed your borders. [18] But Edom said to him, You shall not go through, lest I come out against you with the sword. … .[21] Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him. (Amp)

Psalm 137[7] Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites, that they said in the day of Jerusalem’s fall, Down, down to the ground with her! (Amp)

In another scenario, Samuel violently disagrees with Saul (genteel but fearful, stupid and disobedient) in his decision to preserve Agag – the Amalekite King against the instructions of God to wipe out the entire ruling dynasty. Samuel executes instant correction – but too late. Haman the Agagite (a descendant) emerges generations later with the agenda to completely exterminate the Jews in the days of Esther. God dwells in eternity and gives battle instructions not just meant for our immediate context (I Samuel 15; Esther 8:3Esther 8:3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. and besought...: Heb. and she wept, and besought him  

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In the New Testament the Church was warned 2 Cor. 6 [14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?KJV

The Bible perspective on warfare suggests some uncomfortable painful realities…

  1. The enemy of God can emerge even from the same womb that delivers a friend of God. Close family (not people from far lands) can provide the best terrain to unleash resistance against divine purpose in our lives (Jacob and Esau were twins).
  2. If you make friends or forge any alliance with the enemy of God ( in marriage, business, politics)– his ultimate plan will be to destroy you and terminate your destiny – perhaps not immediately but a patient agenda of destruction is strategically executed.
  3. Patience is a weapon that the enemy has well mastered in a world programmed to seek instant gratification...the devil can wait for decades before he strikes – understanding well that the carnal believer has been nurtured to want everything now. Biblical battles sometimes run through centuries and war strategies and tactics can span generations.

Back to Evangelicals, Mormons and Catholics, Rabbis, Moslems etc. Perhaps another blog will dare to draw the spiritual battle lines…and I admit lack of boldness and astuteness to tackle this only in a few paragraphs …but the Bible is bold to declare in James 4[4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. The enemy of God is the friend of the world

Acts 13[8] But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. [9] Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, [10] And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? The enemy of God perverts the right ways of the Lord

But we are to love our enemies … Indeed, this does not mean to act in stupidity. In the same way we love animals but do not sleep with pythons…nor permit a mad dog to run loose on our children’s play field. Is it still difficult to see that every alliance, agreement and accommodation with the enemy of God can have damaging future consequence ?

I Peter 5[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Surrender fully to Christ – All that are truly His and believe He is the only way to the Father are on His side of the battle. The enemy of God in this battle of faith is not necessarily always the person who disagrees with our favourite social, cultural, and church positions or counters our progressive thoughts and values … and may well be. Also consider the polite language and civility of Jacob in managing the separation from Esau . We do well to always avoid strife.

Phil 2 [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Also, we see the paradox that there was fear to join the early Church even as multitudes came.

Acts 5 [13] And none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them. [14] More and more there were being added to the Lord those who believed [those who acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him joined and gathered with them], crowds both of men and of women, (amp)

May God give us the wisdom to be set apart for Him yet shine in a dark world … always acting without strife and in love…and that many come to know Jesus.

Lord as you guided the wise men not to return to Herod…show us the enemy we must simply avoid … Let your word also teach us how to love in a dangerous war. May our carelessness not hurt our destinies or the destiny of others.

Amen

(Originally posted in The Christian post)

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Dare to be a Daniel

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Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:32
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. corrupt: or, cause to dissemble  

WP-Bible plugin “The people that do know their God shall be strong”

(Zac Poonen originally published this post under the title “Don’t be afraid of being Slandered.“)

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (Rev. 2:8-11Rev. 2:8-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.  

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The church in Smyrna faced the “blasphemy of those who say they are Jews” (Rev. 2:9Rev. 2:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  

WP-Bible plugin). Slander is something that all of God’s faithful children have to face. Notice here that the slander and opposition that this church was facing was from those who called themselves God’s people – “those who say they are Jews, but are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9Rev. 2:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  

WP-Bible plugin).

Those Jews were religious people, who studied their Bibles (Genesis to Malachi). Yet the Lord called them “a synagogue of Satan”, because they were hypocrites. That is why they persecuted the true disciples of Jesus.

Many a synagogue that was started by God-fearing Jews degenerated into a synagogue of Satan over a period of time. In the same way, many churches that were started by God-fearing believers, have also degenerated into “churches of Satan”, in God’s eyes, today.

Opposition for the true disciples of Jesus today, comes not just from heathen religions (which is understandable), but also from “those who say they are Christians, but who are not, but are a church of Satan”.

Today, if we said that a so-called Christian “church” was “a church of Satan”, many would accuse us of being un-Christlike. But they forget that it was Jesus Himself Who rebuked Peter saying “Get behind Me, Satan” (Mt.16:23), and that it was Jesus Who called this group of religious people “a synagogue of Satan”. He would use exactly the same strong language today to rebuke “churches” that have drifted from their calling.

Jesus warned His disciples, “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue; but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me.” (Jn.16:2,3).

What He said then that the people in a synagogue would do to His disciples, was in later centuries done by “churches” too. In the middle ages, God fearing disciples of Jesus were killed by “Christian” inquisitionists.

This hatred of the disciples of Jesus will reach its peak during the time of the Antichrist and the Babylonian “world church”. We must be prepared to face it when it comes. That is why we must not be afraid of the little slander and opposition that we face from so-called Christians these days.

We must never be afraid of being slandered – for Jesus Himself was maligned. He was called a gluttonous man, a false teacher, a blasphemer, an insane man, a demon-possessed man, a half-breed and one who had Satanic power (Lk.7:34; Jn.7:12; Mt.26:65; Mk.3:21,22; Mt.12:24; Jn.8:48).

He told His disciples, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (a Jewish title for Satan, the prince of demons), how much more the members of his household!” (Mt.10:24,25).

Peter exhorts us saying, “Keep your behaviour excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Pet.2:12).

God’s promise to us is, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. And their vindication is from Me.” (Isa.54:17). So we need not fear slander. The Lord Himself will vindicate us at the right time. Until then we can afford to keep quiet and ignore what ungodly people say about us.

Daniel went to the Lion’s Den in disgrace but emerged to be honoured.

God bless you

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