BELIEVERS DIGEST (SERIES 1)
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL
“FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS AND THE BUILDING UP OF
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL
“FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS AND THE BUILDING UP OF
THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied and use freely
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied and use freely
for dification of the body of Christ.
1.1 REVELATIONS ABOUT HELL AND HEAVEN
The special revelations of heavenly things to men by God through the ministering spirits (Angels) is to convince men of the truth of eternal things not by faith only but by sight also. We are to learn and be prepared, by our reading or hearing of these special revelations, for what is ahead where we would spend eternity.
JOHN BUNYAN in his revelation asked the ministering angel of a dark spot he saw getting less and less as they mounted higher and higher, when translated. The angel told him: “The little spot is the world. Here you may see how little all that world appears, for a small part of which so many do continually labour, and lay out all their strength and time to purchase it yea, this is that spot of earth, to obtain one small part thereof so many men have run the hazard of losing, nay, have actually lost their precious and immortal souls; so precious that the Prince of Peace has told us that though one man could gain the whole, it could not recompense so great a loss.”- (Matt. 16:26). John Bunyan was shown things happening in hell where he saw wretched souls being tormented continually in liquid fire and burning brimstone. He saw that those who are companions upon earth in sin shall be so too in hell in punishment. And though on earth they love each other’s company, they will not care for it in hell.
A woman who on earth had enough without satisfaction was seen in hell tormented by flaming sulphur forced down her throat by a tormenting spirit; which he did with horrid cruelty and insolence. “Since gold was her god in earth, is it not just that she should have her belly full in hell?”, said the tormenting spirit. But the woman in question answered, “were it but gold I never should complain. But he abuses me, and in the stead of gold he only gives the horrid, stinking sulphur.”
A wretched soul lie on a bed of burning coal, almost choked with brimstone; who cried out as one under dreadful anguish saying: “undone for ever, for ever! Will not these thousand years suffice to bear that pain¡ No, my misery will never have an end; after the thousand years it will be for ever still. Oh, helpless, hopeless state indeed! It is this forever that is the hell of hell. Cursed to all eternity! How willful have I undone myself? Oh, what stupendous folly am I guilty of to choose sin’s short and momentary pleasure (of fornication) at the dear price of everlasting pain! How oft have I been told it would be so! How often pressed to leave those paths of sin that would be sure to bring me to the chambers of eternal death! But I, like the deaf adder, lent no ear unto those charmers though they charmed so wisely. They told me often that my short-lived pleasure would quickly issue in eternal pain; and now too sad experience tells me so, it tells me so indeed, but it is too late to help it for my eternal state is fixed for ever”
One of the miseries of hell is the loss of the presence of God. That is what makes the dungeon hell. “Though we had lost a thousand worlds, it would not be so much as this one loss. Could but the least glimpse of His favour enter here, we might be happy; but we have lost it to our everlasting woe” says a lost soul in hell. But a tormenting devil shouted furiously at him and said, “How often were you told of this before, but would not then believe it? You laughed at them that told you of a hell¡ you know yourself, you had salvation offered you, and you refused it; with what face then can you complain of being damned?”
The awful thing is that those devils that tempts men on earth to do evil are the same that torments men that are lost forever in hell telling them they are paying them their reasonable wages of what they were tempted to do and which they did. “You spend your days in the pursuit of sin, and wallow in your filthiness, and you would go to heaven when you die! Would any but a madman think that would ever do? No, he that in good earnest does intent to go to heaven when he dies must walk in the ways of holiness and virtue while he lives.”
The truth is that men will not allow themselves to think what the effect of sin will be, nor what an evil it is while upon the earth. It is inconsideration that is the ruin of so many thousand, who think not what they are doing, nor where they are going until it is too late to help it.
AN ATHEIST CONFESSION IN HELL :- (An atheist is one who denies the existence of God). “ I am now changed in my principles, though changed too late to do me any good. For now I know there is a God. I do confess I was His foe on earth, but now He is mine in hell. It is that wretched confidence I had in my own wisdom that has thus betrayed me.”
THE FIRE OF HELL
All the fire in hell, are in utter darkness! The fire on earth is of a preying and devouring nature; for whatever it takes hold of, it consume to ashes; and when it meets with no more fuel it goes out. You can again kindle and quench it whenever you will. But the fire of hell is like a stream of brimstone that burns for ever. It burns with that tremendous fierceness which none but those that feel it know.
Yet it does not consume and it will never. Lost souls shall be burning in it and not burnt. It is a tormentingbut not a consuming fire. A liquid fire!
Not only will the souls of lost men and women be tormented eternally by literal fire, but they will also be tormented by the sins and vices that caused them to be lost. Over yonder I saw the greatest gambling games that could ever be imagine. There were great piles of gold, and silver and precious gems; and these lost souls were gambling with them. They gabled furiously. Every-time they touched the money, it burned and they drew back; yet some irresistible force drove them to gamble again. They hated it and wanted to get away from it, but they could not. They were held to the spot as by some magnetic force. In another section of hell, I saw an eternal dancing going on; these lost souls were so utterly, abjectly worm and tired. They pleaded, “Oh can’t we stop for just a moment?” - but there was no stopping. The eternal dance went on and on. The earthly modern dance hall is one of the devil’s biggest trap doors leading directly into hell.
In another place, an eternal drinking party was going on. I witnessed the wild drunken orgies that go on eternally in hell, and they can’t stop it. The sin that took them to hell, torments them continually throughout all eternity. The memory of those opportunities they had of being saved and how in vain they spent their precious time torments them. The thoughts that might be of service to you on earth if you had heeded them, would turn to torment you in hell at last more than all the torment by whips of burning steel.
I saw millions of people who were too fearful to publicly and openly confess Jesus Christ. Their fears of families, friends, parents, business colleagues, etc had taken them to hell. They were lost, filled with an abject fear that tantalized them, as the flames of hell burned endlessly on.
I witness a form of religion in hell. No worship of God, but a form of religion. Multitudes that once had a form of religion but who denied the power of the Gospel. Only the blood of Jesus, applied by faith to the heart, can save a man or woman from being eternally lost.
Oh, I wish I had power to make HELL as real to you as God made it to me. It is ten thousand times more horrible than I can describe. Are you saved and on your way to Heaven? Or are you bound for HELL?
A Wesleyan lady went into a trance and was conducted by an Angel to have a view of Hell. She recognized many in the place of torment whom she had known on earth¡ Princesses and Peasants, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, wailing together in a dreadful and unquenchable fire; where all earthly distinction and titles were forever at an end. The punishment of lost souls is directly related to the respective sins which had occasioned their condemnation. She saw a woman who was condemned for her love of money, robed in a garment of gold, all of fire. She saw many others who had cups of fire, out of which they were drinking down flames, and others who held cards of fire in their hands, and seemed to be playing with them, proving that the sins they delighted in once, now torment them.
“Oh, that mortals were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end”- Deut. 32:29.
Reader, to which place does the road that you are traveling lead? Many believe the Bible to be the word of God but few really believe it enough to fear God. Whatever God said in His word will take place, and judgment will begin in the house of God! “If it begins with us what shall the end be for those that obey not the Gospel?” The wages of sin is death - eternal separation from God in a place that God prepared for the devil and his angels and for all that follow the devil. Sin will be judged by eternal fire and torment.
All these visions of different people confirm that in whatever state you are in when you die, you will be forever in that condition. The Bible clearly teaches that Hell and the Lake of fire are real and will be the eternal abode of the damned souls who refused to obey the Gospel and live holy and righteously in this present world. Jesus can be your saviour now. But if you don’t live for Him now, you will face His wrath forever. Repent of your sins now for the next hour may be too late! “Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart”- Heb. 4:7.
Pastor Renus Olson gave a report of an heavenly revelation to him at the time of burial of a woman in his church. He saw the woman first taking to the bookkeeping department: one of the departments in heaven whose walls and shelves were made of transparent steel that one could see through them. The woman had gotten an indescribable beauty in heaven. An angel checked a big book on the shelf and saw the woman’s name written there in. This woman could still not realized that she is in a different world as she tried to pay the angel for helping her. But she could found no pocket in the spotless white robe she was wearing. The angel said to her “you need no pocket up here, not even for you handkerchief, for God has wiped the last tear from your eyes.”
This woman was led to the coronation room with transparent shelves full of gorgeous crowns: some with more jewels than others and some no jewel at all. However they were very beautiful. The angel said to her, “Gem are souls that you win for Christ. A crown was placed on the woman’s head and it fit perfectly.
From there the angel led the woman to her mansion along the most beautiful street any eye could ever see. The street was decorated with all kinds of palm shrubs and flowers. Beautiful homes abounds, and no two were alike, all inviting as the other. The angel said to the woman, “don’t you remember that Jesus said, ‘In my father’s house are many mansions?’ These are all the free gift of God. You did not even help to pay for them, no one can.” This woman asked the angel why some mansions were much better furnished than others. The angel answered, “you remember that Jesus told you, Lay up for yourself treasurers in heaven. These furnishing are the treasures that each have sent up from year to year, remember? Remember, even a cup of cold water in my name?”
This woman saw large beautiful painting in some other mansions and she requested to have one of such in hers. The angel said to her: “Those are only created by much sacrifice, too late now; your opportunity is passed.” Then she requested the angel to let her go back to the earth to tell her friends about all these. “No” said the angel, “that is impossible, there is a great gulf between heaven and earth.” The woman answering said, “well then, tell that preacher down there to be more urgent in his message to the people. Tell them not to neglect these vital things.”
Later on there was singing “like the voice of many waters.” The singing became louder and louder as she was getting closer. The Great White Throne was seen: “dazzling white and sparkled like diamonds.” Even from a great distance, this throne could not be looked upon for its brightness. Great throng was singing around the throne and this woman was gathered with the multitude, and she sang beautifully as them even though she could not sing a single note on earth. The most beautiful sound of bells were heard in heaven as soon as the woman was lost in the great multitude. The angel concluded, “There is joy in heaven when a pilgrim makes it home.”
CONCLUSION:
The last tear was wiped away from that woman¡’s eye because her name was found written in the book of life. “And I saw the dead great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. If anyone¡’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”- Revelation 20:12-15.
Now is never too late for you to repent and flee from the wrath to come. Bring forth fruit meet for Repentance. Eternity is ahead of you, get prepare to meet God before it is too late. “Who has ears to hear, let him / her hear.”
(¡Extract from compilations of Evang. M.A. DAOUD)
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1.2 THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Jesus gave us the assurance of His second coming when he said “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. I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also.” - John 14:2-3. He said He will come again to take the believers to heaven.
Two Angels gave us the assurance of Christ’s second coming as well. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”- Acts 1:10-11. Two men dressed in white apparel is a common description of angels. They gave us assurance that as Christ was taken up into heaven so shall He come down from heaven.
The third assurance was given by one of the Apostles (Paul) in the book of I Thess. 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Apostle Paul wrote elaborating on how Christ’s second coming would be, with the shout of trumpet of the Archangel. Then the believers that are alive shall meet the Lord in the air and to be with him forever. This is what is called the Rapture: the taking away of the believers from the earth, at the second coming of Christ into the clouds.
When will the Rapture take place? Jesus declared, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”- Matt. 24:36. But Jesus spoke further of the signs that will accompany his second coming. He said it would be as in the time of Noah when people did not give attention to the Gospel of salvation until the flood came upon them. Remember that the people were warned and invited to come into the Noah’s Ark. Were they caught by the flood unnoticed? No. They heard about it and probably read about it, but the concern for the things of this world took hold of their lives and prevented them from getting into the Ark of Salvation. They were to be blamed for their destruction.
All the signs that Jesus gave are coming to pass. The Electronic gadget are taking hold of men’s heart and gives men pleasure in the things of the world. Men’s hearts no longer sets on things of heaven but on things of this world. If you are really a Christian “What manner of person ought you to be” in this present world?
The second book of Peter admonishes us to “live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” For “that day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in heat.”- II Pet. 3:11-12(NIV). The second coming of Christ will bring about the destruction of those things that now take the hold of men’s hearts.
God that planted men in the earth, will one day harvest men out of it: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”- Rev. 14:14-15. The Earth is ripe for harvest. Men’s attitude of rebellion towards God by way of various acts off sin, is daily hastening the ripening of the world. Sin is always the event that leads to the ripening of the earth for judgment. Remember the time of Noah and of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”- II Pet. 3:9. God is still expecting men’s repentance from evil works. But if men refuse, the harvest of the earth would take place. And that would soon come to pass. What kind of person ought you to be?
After the taken away of the believers with Christ, the time will set for the antichrist to rule the earth. All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the antichrist -those whose names have not been written in the book of life (the unconverted) - Rev. 13:8. He, who has mind to understand, let him understand.
The Antichrist will force everyone to “receive a mark on the right hand or on the forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he has the mark”- Rev. 13:16-17: This is also called the mark of the beast. Whosoever that refuses the Gospel message that is now being offered freely by grace, and receives that mark (666) on the hand of forehead, “will surely drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the lamb.”- Rev. 14:10 (NIV).
If you neglect salvation now, and you are alive at the time of antichrist, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. It you refuse the mark by all means, you can still be saved but by shedding your own blood for your salvation. “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands”- Rev. 20:4 (NIV). The question now is, if you refuse salvation now at this time of grace, how can you receive salvation then at the time of tribulation, the time of antichrist?
The world system of numbering man in Schools, Hospital, Banks etc. is preparing man ahead of time to easily receive the number of the beast. Man is already made used to numbering system. This calls for understanding of the events of the last days “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.” Christ’s second coming is bringing along the judgment of man according to his deeds. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”- Rev. 20:15. Where would your portion be? If you are preparing for the second coming of Christ, live everyday of your life in expectation of his coming “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”- Mt. 24:44. Therefore watch!.
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1.3 EVANGELISM: BRINGING BACK THE LOST SOULS (GLIMPSE FROM THE BOOK “SOUL WINNING” BY T.L. OSBORN)
If we don’t do more than pray, if we never visit the lost and witness to sinners, they will never hear Christ invitation to be saved. We must pray, but then we must Rise and Go out after souls. Sinners will go to hell if we keep praying for them in our churches, without our going to them. The Gospel must be taken to them personally. We are only making God an errand-boy when we keep telling Him to do all that we suppose to do - Going out to meet sinner.
You are the church. The church is the body of Christ. You are Christ’s body today in your community. The Holy Spirit wants to speak to souls about Salvation, to convict them of their sins and convince them of the Gospel. But the Holy Spirit is in you. He would work through your lips, your body. If you don’t go and witness or speak the message, your community will be lost. Christ can no longer stand in the public and preach the Gospel; he needs you to do that. Christ’s love can only be manifested through your life. His compassion and concern for lost souls can only be exhibited through you. Jesus Christ visits your community every time you do. Are you confining Him to your house? Are you selfish? Have you ever let Him speak to your neighbors? Have you ever allowed Him to tell them the way of salvation? Have you ever permitted Him to offer your neighbors His life? Do you accuse them of living in sin while you never let Jesus Christ tell them the truth?
It is not the church or congregation that Christ will use to get to the lost souls. It is you, if you are a real Christian. As far as God is concerned, you are the church, the body of Christ because Christ is in you. You will stand personally to give an account of your deeds and all you have done or failed to do. You will not be judged in the light of what your church did or what your congregation has done or failed to do. The ministry is not for a particular group of believers - the youth movement, Men’s Fellowship, Evangelism group, etc. It is your personal ministry. Christianity is a personal thing.
Evangelism is seeking for the lost sheep. “For the son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine; and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which Is gone astray?”- Matt. 18:11-12.
Christianity is letting Christ seek out the lost through you. Witnessing makes you grow deeper in Christ. Christ will become more real to you than ever as he ministers through you. This is the heart of true Christian living and of soul winning.
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1.4 PREACH THE WORD OF GOD
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget
thy children” - Hosea 4:6.
The priests who should have been their teachers had rejected knowledge and forgotten the law of God. Lack of knowledge among the people of God meant a lack of teaching by the servants of God. Are we preaching the word of God? Yet our people are famished-famine of hearing the word of God (Amos 8:11-12). Preaching is plenty but little consecutive teaching, and not too much result in changed lives.
Why do our people starve in the midst of plenty? We indulge too much in “blessed thoughts” and too infrequently teach the word of God in all its fullness. We take our thoughts and hang them on the scripture to control our thoughts. We use a text as a kind of launching platform to be left behind after taking off and we never return to it. Then we say what is in our own mind, which may have no foundation at all in the text itself.
We preach and yet convert nobody. This is because our motives are not salvation but being acceptable by the congregation - pleasing the congregation rather than God. We preach popular themes and avoid essential doctrines of salvation, sanctification and holiness. We denounce sin in the abstract but pass lightly over sin that prevail in our congregation. We even reprove the sins of the absent but make those present please with themselves so that they will enjoy the sermon and not go away with their feeling hurt. We like to preach on the virtue and glory of heaven but not on the sinfulness of sin. We preach on universal fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man and neglect so much the need for the second birth.
Sincere exhortation and a fund of good stories are no substitute for the convincing power and authority of the word of God. Very little of our preaching is exposition of what God’s word says and we may think we are expounding. Do our hearers feel compelled to open their Bibles and do they refer to them when we are speaking? Or have they become accustomed to our “blessed thoughts” that their Bibles sit closed in front of them or worse still, lie neglected at home? The number of those who truly expound the word of God still seems to be pitifully small. Time of our preaching has drastically fallen by allowing time for some other unspiritual events.
Poor preaching invites poor congregation, and poor congregation invites slack preparation. If God’s word is expounded in the power of the Spirit, people take notice and ask for more. The challenge is for those who believe that God still honours his word to commit themselves afresh to excellence in preparation and power in delivery.
As Revival is the work of God to do, we also must Preach and Teach the word of God because it is Bible truth (truth taken into the mind and heart) that God blesses. Repentance and prayer must take place too, but the Lord has promised to honour with His blessing the preaching of His word.
God has sworn not to share his glory with any man. He has no respect for any man no matter how highly placed. He wants the bearers of his word to follow His directives to the letter. (No addition, no subtraction).
The Bible gave a record of Moses as the most humble man on the face of the earth (Numb. 12:3). In spite of his humility, the grumbling of the Israelite made him loose control and acted contrarily to God’s directives at one time. This brought an end to his ministry.
God instructed Moses at one time to “strike the rock and water will come out of it for the people to drink” - Exodus 17:6. The command was that Moses should strike the rock for water. At another occasion God said “Take the staff, speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water”- Num. 20:8. Even though Moses was to hold the staff in his hand, he was commanded to speak to the rock. Would Moses say that the people provoke him to act against God’s instruction? He struck the rock twice and water came out. The miracle came about but God said Moses “did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites” - Num. 20:12. The repercussion was that Moses no longer brought the Israelite into the land of Promise because he rebelled against God’s command at the water of Meribah. Moses entreated God as he used to do for the children of Israel when they sin against Him, but this time God said to Moses “That is enough, Do not speak to me anymore about this matter” - Deut. 3:26. God refused to grant Moses forgiveness because he did not act on God’s message according to the will of God.
The Ministry of John the Baptist was to preach “the Baptist of repentance for the remission of sins” - Luke 3:7. There were many noble people coming to him to hear his message. John did not soften his message at the sight of big men, but rather his messages became harder. He challenged men to “bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance” after calling them “generation of vipers.” John performed no miracle (John 10:41), but his message pierced the hearts of his hearers unto repentance just because he delivered it according to the standard of God.
As a minister or teacher of God’s word you don’t have to be carried away by trying to respect the opinions of the congregation to the detriment of preaching the word of God. Even though miracles may be happening, and people may be giving God the glory as they see God using you, as long as there is diversion from the proclamation of God’s message as sent, the result would be your rejection from entering God’s rest. Not all that proclaim Christ as Lord shall enter into the kingdom of God but only those that do the will of the father (matt. 7:21): He that delivers God’s message as it is given unto him yea according to God’s standard.
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1.5 THE COLT TIED AT A CROSS ROAD
“And saith unto them, go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him and bring him. And they went their way, and found the Colt
tied by the door without in a place where two ways met and they loose
him” - Mark 11:2 & 4.
A crossroad is where two ways intersect resulting in four (4) outlets. This is not a single road turning or a “T” junction, but a cross (┼) road. The Colt in our text was said to be tied; yet at the crossroad. At first the Colt could not decide where to turn, and then the tying down at the prime age of his life: “which no one has ever ridden”- NIV. A divine intervention is needed to make the Colt useful to God, to people and to himself.
Many of us found ourselves at the crossroad of life and at the prime age. A point of making decisions. If making a decision had been the only matter, it would have been better. What of the tying down? Even if the right decision had been made, there would have been no movement: no progress because of the tying down. Divine intervention through earnest prayers is needed to set you free.
Jesus knew about the situation of the Colt from a far distance and sent men to untie and bring it: Our solution lies in Christ who has passed through the cross before. It is at the cross of Christ that we can find solution. That is, when at a crossroad of life, you have to look at the cross of Christ for a solution. At the cross of Christ, whatever bondages that hold men captive are already broken: “Having cancelled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross”- Col. 2:14 RSV. You only have to identify yourself with the cross and pray through your deliverance. Except that happens, there would be no progress. The bondage must first be broken.
The Colt was untied and brought to Jesus who sat upon him. It was then the people knew the value of that Colt. As they cleared the road for Christ, the Colt under Christ also had a clear way to tread. Not even on bare ground, but upon garments of men. There was progress, usefulness and glory of God in the life of the Colt as Jesus also was moving on and receiving applaud from the people. This confirms that until Jesus liberates you by the blood He shed on the cross, you cannot make any progress when you arrive the crossroad of life. It is only after this that you can have clearness for direction, and live a life of purpose that would glorify God.
I Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez (sorrow maker) found himself at a crossroad of life. All conditions were against him and he could not progress. He was cursed to be sorrowful from birth. He had no honour. He was not to be reckoned with among friends. He was not known; no one expected him to attend any meeting. No matter how good, his contributions will be ignored. He was living in sorrow, in isolation simply because he was poor: “A poor man is shunned by all his relatives; how much more do his friends avoid him” - Pro. 19:7. Jabez realized his condition and prayed earnestly to the God of Israel for blessing, enlargement of coast, protection and deliverance from evil. God answered him and he became more honourable than his brethren.
The GIBEONITES deceived Joshua in order to escape from death and became part of the Israelite generation. At the discovery of truth, they were cursed as “hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord” instead of becoming blessed people for life. (Joshua 9:27). Suppose any one of the subsequent generation of Gibeonite can sit and think of the calamities caused by their slavery under Israel and he begins to pray earnestly unto God for deliverance from this deplorable crossroad of life, how do you think God will answer him? I think he will let him realize the cause of the curse by means of historical account or by revelation. His knowledge of the curse will help him entreat God more earnestly first for his own deliverance and then for that of his brethren. Unfortunately, there is no biblical account of the Gibeonite deliverance. They were poor for life serving at the altar in the house of the Lord. Are you serving in the house of God as a priest? What is the condition of your life? Are you at a financial crossroad even though serving at the altar of God? There is a curse somewhere. Seek for the root of your setback in life from God through prayers, and then pray for your deliverance clinging unto the cross of Christ.
ACHAN was cursed to death and his household suffered with him. The whole of Israel was also affected by the repercussion of Achan’s sin. His covetousness (of accursed silver and garments) brought the nation to a crossroad. This shows that the sin of a leader can bring down curses upon the followers. In order to get out of the crossroad caused by other men’s sin, you have to pray earnestly for your deliverance.
PRAY THESE PRAYER POINTS FERVENTLY AND CONTINUOUSLY
1. Identify you position in line with this message and thank God for bringing you into the light of His word.
2. Lord break any curses (from parental linage or through self indulgence in sin) that ties me down at a crossroad in Jesus name.
3. Pick me oh God from the crossroad of life and set me on for progress to the glory of your name in Jesus name.
4. God bless me, enlarge my coast, and let thy hand be upon me for good, keep me from evil and let not life grieve me in Jesus name.
5. Lord, let me be more honorable among my family members in Jesus name.
6. Lord, uncover any secret of success over my life and wash away any evil covering by the blood of the lamb in Jesus name.
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1.6 ANOINTED FROM THE WOMB
John the Baptist was anointed from the womb, “he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb” - Luke 1:15 AMP. He was a Nazirite like Samson of old. But Samson messed up his Nazirite anointing by eating honey from dead carcass, polluted his life through lust for women and by allowing razor upon his head. That was not the case with John. John fulfilled the Nazirite laws: and even though he performed no miracle (like Samson), he was spoken of by Christ as the greatest of all those born of women (Matthew 11:11) because he was able to live up to the expected life.
Anyone born through the union of a true marriage is a godly offspring and is anointed for good from the womb. Parents are to take caution! Children that are born out of wedlock must definitely have a mark of a curse from the womb that will be upon them for life. How can they succeed? You that were born of a true wedlock, how do you keep your Nazirite laws? Do you mess up in the beer parlour or with women? Let not God¡¯s anointing upon your life be messed up.
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1.7 TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS
This is a prayer of the Psalmist which we ought to make our daily prayer. That God should “teach us to number our day aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
- Psalm 90:12 NIV.
Everyone should know that the number of his days here on earth is few and can suddenly pass away like smoke. Man must not live without the thought of his accountability to God. Constant self-reminder about going back to God one day is wisdom. How are you preparing? Are you living in pleasure or living for God? You may not live to be seventy or eighty and yet live a life of trouble and sorrow, or of pleasure. Which every way, ‘they quickly pass, and we fly away.” In the next 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, they will say of many now living “he once lived”. Where will you be then? In eternity with Christ or in eternal hell?
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1.8 THROW DOWN YOUR FATHER’S ALTAR OF BAAL
“Throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock”
- Judges 6:25-26.
When a man or woman is born again, the Bible says, “Old things are passed away”. The adamic (sinful) nature in man (inherited from the parents), which do manifest in anger, wrath, malice, fornication, covetousness, inordinate affection, filthy communications, etc., are to be put to death in the believer’s life. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit” - John 3:6. How can you say you are born of the Spirit and still live a life of the flesh: the sinful nature still in control? The nature of sin which was inherited from the parents must be dealt with for
“our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”- Romans 6:6. You are to pull down that “altar of Baal” of anger, malice, etc., that was inherited from your father or mother and build an altar to God in your heart upon the rock that is Christ. Destroy the altar of sinful nature and build an altar of love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, meekness, temperance, faith, longsuffering that are of great price. These will make you fruitful in the knowledge and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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1.9 WHEN MEN SLEPT
An account was given in I Kings 3:16-28 of two prostitutes that lived in the same house and lost their blessings through much sleep: the first lay on her son and the boy died while the second overslept and had her living son exchanged for a dead one. There was war in the following morning. Both of them should have lost their children but because the owner of the living child had compassion for her son at the time of judgment, she was able to retain the ownership of her child.
There is time for everything under heaven (Eccl. Chap. 3). If men are unaware of “the time” of a particular blessing to come in their lives, that becomes a sleeping over the blessing or getting the blessing exchanged by the devil. This is not the normal over-night sleep during which we regain strength for the new day’s business, but a spiritual lethargy: not awakening to, or not “sensing” your blessing at the right time.
Jesus gave the parable of “a man that sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way” (Matt. 13:25). The surprising thing is that, the servants were instructed to delay the wedding of the tares until the time of harvest. Allowing weeds to grow together with your crops results in very low and poor yield. The good plants are prevented from enjoying maximum potentials that aid growth. Why should weeds be allowed to grow together with crops? Christ’s answer was: so as not to uproot the good plants along with the weeds.
It is always difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve one’s blessing if it has, at one time or the other, been overlaid through spiritual sleep or exchange for a counterfeit by the devil. The devil is the enemy that often prevents us from having God’s blessings. Blind Bartimaeus cried out at the time when Jesus the healer was passing by. Imagine what could have happened if he had adopted an attitude of mute indifference at that time. I think his song that day was “Pass me not O Gentle Saviour.”
“He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son”- Prov 10.5. He who sleeps at a time when he should lay hold of his blessing or refuse to understand “the time” a particular blessing of his life is to be grabbed, and neglect or plays off the time, is a son (or daughter) of God that would bring discomfort to himself when he is supposed to be enjoying the blessing. Among the children of Israel, it was the tribe of Issachar “that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”- (Chr. 12:32) at the time David was king in Hebron.
Have a fervent concern for your needs when putting them before God in prayers. While petitioning to the Almighty King, clearly give your reasons. “Present your case, says the LORD; set forth your arguments, says Jacob’s King” - Isaiah 41:21. Put God in remembrance of His promises; plead together with Him so that you will be justified (Isaiah 43:26). Even if you have allowed the devil to exchange or steal away your blessing, you can wake up to have them back through prayers. “It is better late than never”, they say. It was prior to the departure of the Angel that Jacob got his blessing when he refused to let the Angel go. Awake to the time of your blessing (harvest) and be not “a disgraceful son (or daughter)”.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, let all the blessing I suppose to have at this prime age of mine come my way in Jesus name.
2. Let nothing disturb your plan from coming to stand in its appointed time for my life in Jesus name.
3. Let all coverings over the blessing of my life be scattered in Jesus name Amen Thanks God for granting you grace to come to this realization about His blessings.
Pray God to retrieve for you all that the enemy has stolen and pray God to exchange for you devil’s counterfeit of blessing: Gold in place of Brass, Silver for Iron (Isaiah 60:17).
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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1.10 THE WATER THAT WAS MADE WINE
The first miracle of Jesus as recorded in the second chapter of the book of John can be seen as an allegory: an analogy of the life of man. It is a miracle where he turned water into wine. Human life is like water: unsettled and can be easily disturbed by circumstances just like the face of water can be disturbed by the wind. Man Complies to different doctrinal believes just like water that takes up any colour. Man can persevere and fit into circumstances of life like water that takes the shape of its container. The life of man is a natural gift of God just like water, which is a natural resource.
Jesus came to change the life of man: to give man a new life. The new life in Christ is better than the natural life of man. “Therefore if any person is (in grafted) in Christ, the Messiah, he is (a new Creature altogether) a new creation: the old (Previous Moral and Spiritual Condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come” - II Cor. 5:17 Amp. The old unsettled life that accepts any form of doctrine, and fits into just any worldly circumstances would be changed to a better life altogether. The person involved will surely know and conclude: but God has kept back the good life (wine) until now (John 2:10). The thoughts of the former lifestyle would be a thing of regret considering the joy and bright hopes that fills the heart of a believer.
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1.11 THE MAN WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT
“The wedding banquet is ready; but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find; But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was
not wearing wedding clothes” - Matt. 22:8-14.
People that were invited to the wedding banquet refused to come: individual gave selfish reasons why the banquet could not be attended even when the king had spent to make things ready. The king ordered his servants to bring in as many people as they can get on the street for the occasion. At last the banquet hall was filled up. But alas, the king himself noticed a man who had no wedding garment, and ordered him to be thrown “outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.
The original guests are the Israelites but when they rejected Christ, we (Gentiles) were brought in by faith from all spheres of life: adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, 419ers, etc. No one was good: we were all bad. But our King wants us to appear the same after we have entered into Christ. He wants us to put on His own righteousness that is in Christ. Without such righteousness, no man will reign with Christ no matter the number of years spent in the Church. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS” - Matt. 6:33. Righteousness is a garment: “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God)”- Psalm 132: 9 AMP. Do not only seek to enter the kingdom of God, but also seek to live righteously for that will be your garment at the heavenly banquet.
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1.12 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GARMENT
The garment of the Almighty is light: “He wraps himself in light as with a garment”
-Psalm 104:2 NIV.
There is no darkness in God because He wraps himself with light. No darkness can come near Him. So, if we also walk in the light, we shall have fellowship with Him.
The wicked clothed themselves with cursing. “As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment”- Psalm 109:18. That is why blessing is far from the wicked! “As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him, as he delighted not in blessing so let it be far from him”- vs. 17. Whosoever that loves to curse or does not take delight in blessing others is the wicked that clothed himself (or herself) with cursing.
But the Lord enjoins us to be clothed with righteousness as with a garment: “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God” - Psalm 132:9 AMP. Who is a Priest? Whosoever that has been regenerated is “being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” - I Peter 2:5.
God wants every believer to be clothed with righteousness as with a garment. “Let thy garments be always white”- Eccl. 9:8. Your garment as a believer must be “without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” - Eph. 5:27. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave this command: “Beloved, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed” - Rev. 16:15.
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1.13 THE MINISTER AND HIS PEOPLE
Thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people”- II Sam. 17:8.
These words were spoken to Absalom about King David, his father. David always enquire form God what step to take. He is not only a warrior in battle with men, but also a warrior in prayer to God. A life of separation of the leader from the people. A life of consecration to pray.
“Thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men” (vs. 10). If a minister is prayerful, the church members will be known as men and women of prayer. But if the minister of God’s word is weak in prayers (one who cannot wrestle in prayer to God), the church “Is dead while she liveth”.
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1.14 THE SALT OF THE EARTH
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” - Mattew. 5:13 NIV.
Christians are called salt of the earth. Salt is used for savouring, preservation and sterilization, etc. Christians whenever they are are to give savour (Taste) to the world system and to preserve it from decaying. The savour to the world system implies introducing Christ into areas or lives where his impact is not yet felt. Christ is the savour in the life of a man. A person without Christ has no savour of life. A soup without savour is a reject. Any person without Christ is a reject.
As a preservative, the Christian should preserve his surrounding - office, school, home, business area, relatives etc. from decaying. The world is decaying daily: Bribery and corruption everywhere, prevention of peoples’ right in working places, looting of Government treasury through contracts and forged documents, seeking political posts for wealth accumulation, security agents becoming Armed robbers and even Church leaders embezzling Church funds, etc. “Have nothing to do with fruitless deed of darkness, but rather expose them” - Eph. 5:11. Expose the fruitless work of darkness around you; be not partaker in them; preserve their lives from decaying. That is your role in the midst of this wicked and perverse generation. Instead of your sterilizing the world (i.e. freeing the people of the world from deadly germs), you become corrupted though them! A sterilizer that loses its ability to sterilize shall become infected. So it is with you.
“But if the salt loses its saltiness.” If you as a Christian lose your stand with the world, it will be terrible! You are now in the same rank with those you are supposed to sterilize, preserve and savour. They will know actually that you are not as you were before. What else can you tell them to make them tremble when you are partaking in their errors? You are sharing the unjust gain together? You approve corruption to be carried out through your non-challant attitude (you may not be a partaker any way). You only rebuke the national leaders instead of the very person(s) in your presence committing crimes? Your cold complicity and mute indifference imply your approval of those unfruitful deeds. How can you be made salty again? You are no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and be trampled upon by men. Insults from your non-Christian mates would be your share: “and he calls himself a Christian.” You become of no value because they known you now to be a hypocrite.
You have dropped the flag of living a life worthy of emulation. Some of the unbelievers would even say, “I am better than him /her”. You have lost your saltiness. Now you have become something to be trampled upon by people including the unbeliever. Believers again will throw you out because you no longer conform to their norms. “Although he is from us, he is not a part of us”.
Or do you say you are the only one among so many unsaved people to affect them in anyway? Or together with other believers around you, still so few? Can you compare the quantity of salt used in cooking to the entire food cooked? Very small indeed. Your small number or your being alone does not mean Christ’s impact can not be felt “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”. Only do your part in salting your environment and allow God to complete the work of changing their hearts by the Holy Ghost. Do you think you are occupying that position of yours for selfish and worldly gain? If you refuse to fulfill the ministry of savouring the earth and to preserve or sterilize it, your saltiness shall be lost”.
HOW TO SALT THE EARTH:
Have salt in yourself (Mrk. 9:50) by getting your heart constantly renewed through the word of God (Rom. 12:2). The word of God is the salt of grace. Be seasoned with the knowledge and grace of the gospel. So that you will be able to render acceptable to God, those that are living in ignorance and wickedness (ready to putrefy).
Be an example of Christ Every where and at any time - I Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7.
Let no corrupt communication be found in you - Eph. 3:29; Col. 4:6.
Put off corruption from your life first (Eph. 4:22 - 24). You have to remove the beam from your own eyes before removing the speck from the eyes of your neighbour.
Watch your life first. Do not join, but reprove cheating and corruption.
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1.15 CHURCH OR APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE?
And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ Doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostle” - Acts 2:42-43.
The disciples left behind by Christ (Peter & Co.) were called the Apostles: They that were taught directly (physically) by Christ, they that moved in and out with Jesus on this planet earth. They walked everywhere with Christ. They were the Apostles. Paul, who was later added to that number by Christ himself, could not boldly fix himself into that class: he simply said, ¡°unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given” - Eph 3:8.
Paul puts himself behind the other Apostles even though through him, signs of an Apostle were manifested “in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds” - II Cor. 12:1. Apostles were not appointed by men, but by Christ himself. The post of an Apostle is not man made. The Apostles followed the doctrines given to them by Christ. That is the Apostles’ Doctrine: the doctrine of Christ given to the Apostles.
Their holding unto Christ’s doctrine steadfastly in fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayers resulted in “many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles”. Then fear came upon every soul and many were added unto the church on daily basis. The church grew daily. The Apostles followed the teachings of Christ, and Christ confirmed his words with signs and wonders - miracles.
Why are we not getting results today in our churches? Do we continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine or we have our Church doctrine? As soon as a church formulates her own doctrine which normally puts off some part of the Apostles’ doctrines, the results that followed the ministry of the Apostles shall be lacking. The Apostles’ doctrine is the Biblical doctrine, the doctrine of Christ. Church doctrine can be said to be derived from the Apostles’ doctrine plus or minus some elements according to the desire of men that formulated it. That is why the church is not getting results even in Evangelism as in the days of the Apostles when the Lord Himself “added to the Church daily such as should be saved”. When the Apostles wanted to replace Judas, prayers were made before their casting of lots. The Bible recorded concerning the Apostles that “As they Ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabar and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” – Acts 13:2-3.
How do we appoint men and women in the church today? Through prayer and fasting, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead? How do we send men forth for the work of the ministry: as we saw in them in line with our Church doctrine or as God chooses them? Why are we not getting results from the work of our Evangelists, Pastors and Church Leaders? How were they chosen? What of the teachings in our churches: how do we do it? Do we refer to the Scriptures on every items we teach? The Apostles always make references to the scriptures: “For it is written.” What of in times of Crisis or dispute? It happened at the time of the Apostles too but they always made references to the scriptures and gave the Holy Ghost a chance. They never parted in disagreement. God was always allowed to step in. They were getting results in church planting and Evangelism on daily basis because they continued steadfastly in the doctrines delivered to them by Christ. They did not formulate a “Church Doctrine”.
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1.16 LOOKING FOR MIRACLES?
Labour not for meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the father sealed” - John 6:27.
Great multitudes followed Jesus in the gospel of John Chapter 6. They followed him, because they saw his miracles of healing the sick that were diseased. The multitudes were later fed with five barley loaves and two small fishes and at the end there was a remnant of twelve baskets of food. What a mighty miracle! The miracle of healing that they regarded as great at first became less surprising compared to that of feeding thousands of people with such a remarkably small quantity of food. The Bible gave the number of the men fed at the occasion as five thousand. It does not say anything about the number of woman and children that usually outnumbers that of men in such occasion. I am of the opinion that in order to have a correct idea of the greatness of the multitude that Jesus fed, the number of men given in the Bible should be multiplied by four or five. This is the only way by which we can have the correct picture of the “great company.” that came to Jesus. The miracle of feeding them free of charge made the multitude wonder: “Why don’t we make this man (Jesus) our king? By doing so, we will no longer have the problem of feeding the masses and healing the sick?” So they summoned courage to look for him and enthrone him as the king that would always supply them daily with miraculous food. Jesus made it plain unto them: “ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” – vs 26. Why are you serving Christ? What were you looking for or your expectations as you attend Gospel Programmes: miracles of Contracts, of Business, of Car, Husband / wife, of Children, of Good Jobs, etc.? All these are meat that can perish one day. But that which can never perish is the miracle of your salvation that is the meat, which endures unto ever lasting life, which the son of man gives. Jesus spoke of Mary as having chosen that which shall not be taken away from her (Luke. 10:42). Other miracles can be taken away: business can collapse, money can be spent, body can become sick again but salvation that is gotten through Christ shall abide unto eternal life. That is why Jesus proclaimed that we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and that all other miracles shall be added unto us. If you are seeking for the miracles first, you will miss eternity at last for miracles are “the meat which parishes” and which can not endure unto everlasting life.
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
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1.17 CONFIDENCE
“And Jesus said to them, you will all fall away this night (that is,) you will be caused to stumble and will begin to distrust and desert me: for its stands written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But Peter said to Him, Even if they all fall away and are caused to stumble and distrust and desert you, yet I will not (do so)! And Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very night, before a cock crows trice, you will utterly deny me-discharging all connection with me-three times. But (peter) said more vehemently and repeatedly, (Even) if it should be necessary for me to die with you, I will not deny or disown you. - Mark 14: 27 - 31 AMP.
Peter trusted himself so much that he could not believe he would ever deny Christ. He saw himself as bold, outspoken and a “Leader” of the disciples. He saw himself closer to Jesus than others. He so much loved Jesus, and trusted so much in himself. He was self -confident. Jesus saw in Peter a self-glorification and wanted to teach us a lesson so that we do not boast in ourselves. Then Jesus prophesied unto him that peter would deny him three times that same night before the cockcrows twice. Since the Word of Christ must be fulfilled, it came to pass exactly as the master said in less than eight hours after the dialogue. Originally God did not intend that Peter should deny Christ; but because of Peter’s self-confidence (seeing himself as one that can stand all situations) the Master had to pass him through a lesson to abase him and thereby teach us the same lesson.
“Therefore let any one who thinks he stand- who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm - take head lest he fall (into sin)” - I Cor. 10: 12 AMP.
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1.18 RUNNING A RACE
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” - I CORINTHIANS 9:24 NIV.
Christianity is a race. The race starts in earnest on the day a man gets into Christ: on the day salvation becomes real in a man’s life. No matter how long you’ve been going to church, if you are not regenerated or converted, you have not yet enlisted for the race. You are still not “in the number.” But as soon as you become born-again, turning from sinful life to Christ by faith and abiding therein, then you are enlisted in heaven as a runner, yea, as a pilgrim. Many get into the track but not all may finish the race. Like the worldly athletic described in the scriptures, many run the race but only one gets the prize. But we are all admonished to run in such a way as to get the prize. An athlete goes into strict training so as to get a prize: a prize that does not last. Another athlete in the next event can win this same prize, yet every one of them goes into strict training. Training to shape the physical body and make it fit for the race. They discipline the body, refusing it some essentials of life. Some become slimmer and get light to be able to move swiftly in the race and so get the prize. If man can do all those to get prizes that do not last, how much more shall we not do even more training for our body and soul as to get a crown that will last forever?
“ Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"- Heb. 12:1. Putting aside all inordinate affection and concern for the body, the present life and the world. To run the race swiftly, each runner has to put aside any sin that has the greatest advantage against the body by the circumstances we live in. There must also be a focus on Jesus, our perfect example who won that kind of race we are in. He endured dying on the cross, he did not take the shame of dying for sinful men to mean anything and he endured oppositions from sinful men. At the end of the race, he won a place at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven: an everlasting position.
Care must be taken as not to run the Christian race in vain. One may run and not get a prize. We are not to run this race without definite aim.
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1.19 SUFFERING FOR CHRIST
1.1 REVELATIONS ABOUT HELL AND HEAVEN
The special revelations of heavenly things to men by God through the ministering spirits (Angels) is to convince men of the truth of eternal things not by faith only but by sight also. We are to learn and be prepared, by our reading or hearing of these special revelations, for what is ahead where we would spend eternity.
JOHN BUNYAN in his revelation asked the ministering angel of a dark spot he saw getting less and less as they mounted higher and higher, when translated. The angel told him: “The little spot is the world. Here you may see how little all that world appears, for a small part of which so many do continually labour, and lay out all their strength and time to purchase it yea, this is that spot of earth, to obtain one small part thereof so many men have run the hazard of losing, nay, have actually lost their precious and immortal souls; so precious that the Prince of Peace has told us that though one man could gain the whole, it could not recompense so great a loss.”- (Matt. 16:26). John Bunyan was shown things happening in hell where he saw wretched souls being tormented continually in liquid fire and burning brimstone. He saw that those who are companions upon earth in sin shall be so too in hell in punishment. And though on earth they love each other’s company, they will not care for it in hell.
A woman who on earth had enough without satisfaction was seen in hell tormented by flaming sulphur forced down her throat by a tormenting spirit; which he did with horrid cruelty and insolence. “Since gold was her god in earth, is it not just that she should have her belly full in hell?”, said the tormenting spirit. But the woman in question answered, “were it but gold I never should complain. But he abuses me, and in the stead of gold he only gives the horrid, stinking sulphur.”
A wretched soul lie on a bed of burning coal, almost choked with brimstone; who cried out as one under dreadful anguish saying: “undone for ever, for ever! Will not these thousand years suffice to bear that pain¡ No, my misery will never have an end; after the thousand years it will be for ever still. Oh, helpless, hopeless state indeed! It is this forever that is the hell of hell. Cursed to all eternity! How willful have I undone myself? Oh, what stupendous folly am I guilty of to choose sin’s short and momentary pleasure (of fornication) at the dear price of everlasting pain! How oft have I been told it would be so! How often pressed to leave those paths of sin that would be sure to bring me to the chambers of eternal death! But I, like the deaf adder, lent no ear unto those charmers though they charmed so wisely. They told me often that my short-lived pleasure would quickly issue in eternal pain; and now too sad experience tells me so, it tells me so indeed, but it is too late to help it for my eternal state is fixed for ever”
One of the miseries of hell is the loss of the presence of God. That is what makes the dungeon hell. “Though we had lost a thousand worlds, it would not be so much as this one loss. Could but the least glimpse of His favour enter here, we might be happy; but we have lost it to our everlasting woe” says a lost soul in hell. But a tormenting devil shouted furiously at him and said, “How often were you told of this before, but would not then believe it? You laughed at them that told you of a hell¡ you know yourself, you had salvation offered you, and you refused it; with what face then can you complain of being damned?”
The awful thing is that those devils that tempts men on earth to do evil are the same that torments men that are lost forever in hell telling them they are paying them their reasonable wages of what they were tempted to do and which they did. “You spend your days in the pursuit of sin, and wallow in your filthiness, and you would go to heaven when you die! Would any but a madman think that would ever do? No, he that in good earnest does intent to go to heaven when he dies must walk in the ways of holiness and virtue while he lives.”
The truth is that men will not allow themselves to think what the effect of sin will be, nor what an evil it is while upon the earth. It is inconsideration that is the ruin of so many thousand, who think not what they are doing, nor where they are going until it is too late to help it.
AN ATHEIST CONFESSION IN HELL :- (An atheist is one who denies the existence of God). “ I am now changed in my principles, though changed too late to do me any good. For now I know there is a God. I do confess I was His foe on earth, but now He is mine in hell. It is that wretched confidence I had in my own wisdom that has thus betrayed me.”
THE FIRE OF HELL
All the fire in hell, are in utter darkness! The fire on earth is of a preying and devouring nature; for whatever it takes hold of, it consume to ashes; and when it meets with no more fuel it goes out. You can again kindle and quench it whenever you will. But the fire of hell is like a stream of brimstone that burns for ever. It burns with that tremendous fierceness which none but those that feel it know.
Yet it does not consume and it will never. Lost souls shall be burning in it and not burnt. It is a tormentingbut not a consuming fire. A liquid fire!
Not only will the souls of lost men and women be tormented eternally by literal fire, but they will also be tormented by the sins and vices that caused them to be lost. Over yonder I saw the greatest gambling games that could ever be imagine. There were great piles of gold, and silver and precious gems; and these lost souls were gambling with them. They gabled furiously. Every-time they touched the money, it burned and they drew back; yet some irresistible force drove them to gamble again. They hated it and wanted to get away from it, but they could not. They were held to the spot as by some magnetic force. In another section of hell, I saw an eternal dancing going on; these lost souls were so utterly, abjectly worm and tired. They pleaded, “Oh can’t we stop for just a moment?” - but there was no stopping. The eternal dance went on and on. The earthly modern dance hall is one of the devil’s biggest trap doors leading directly into hell.
In another place, an eternal drinking party was going on. I witnessed the wild drunken orgies that go on eternally in hell, and they can’t stop it. The sin that took them to hell, torments them continually throughout all eternity. The memory of those opportunities they had of being saved and how in vain they spent their precious time torments them. The thoughts that might be of service to you on earth if you had heeded them, would turn to torment you in hell at last more than all the torment by whips of burning steel.
I saw millions of people who were too fearful to publicly and openly confess Jesus Christ. Their fears of families, friends, parents, business colleagues, etc had taken them to hell. They were lost, filled with an abject fear that tantalized them, as the flames of hell burned endlessly on.
I witness a form of religion in hell. No worship of God, but a form of religion. Multitudes that once had a form of religion but who denied the power of the Gospel. Only the blood of Jesus, applied by faith to the heart, can save a man or woman from being eternally lost.
Oh, I wish I had power to make HELL as real to you as God made it to me. It is ten thousand times more horrible than I can describe. Are you saved and on your way to Heaven? Or are you bound for HELL?
A Wesleyan lady went into a trance and was conducted by an Angel to have a view of Hell. She recognized many in the place of torment whom she had known on earth¡ Princesses and Peasants, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, wailing together in a dreadful and unquenchable fire; where all earthly distinction and titles were forever at an end. The punishment of lost souls is directly related to the respective sins which had occasioned their condemnation. She saw a woman who was condemned for her love of money, robed in a garment of gold, all of fire. She saw many others who had cups of fire, out of which they were drinking down flames, and others who held cards of fire in their hands, and seemed to be playing with them, proving that the sins they delighted in once, now torment them.
“Oh, that mortals were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end”- Deut. 32:29.
Reader, to which place does the road that you are traveling lead? Many believe the Bible to be the word of God but few really believe it enough to fear God. Whatever God said in His word will take place, and judgment will begin in the house of God! “If it begins with us what shall the end be for those that obey not the Gospel?” The wages of sin is death - eternal separation from God in a place that God prepared for the devil and his angels and for all that follow the devil. Sin will be judged by eternal fire and torment.
All these visions of different people confirm that in whatever state you are in when you die, you will be forever in that condition. The Bible clearly teaches that Hell and the Lake of fire are real and will be the eternal abode of the damned souls who refused to obey the Gospel and live holy and righteously in this present world. Jesus can be your saviour now. But if you don’t live for Him now, you will face His wrath forever. Repent of your sins now for the next hour may be too late! “Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart”- Heb. 4:7.
Pastor Renus Olson gave a report of an heavenly revelation to him at the time of burial of a woman in his church. He saw the woman first taking to the bookkeeping department: one of the departments in heaven whose walls and shelves were made of transparent steel that one could see through them. The woman had gotten an indescribable beauty in heaven. An angel checked a big book on the shelf and saw the woman’s name written there in. This woman could still not realized that she is in a different world as she tried to pay the angel for helping her. But she could found no pocket in the spotless white robe she was wearing. The angel said to her “you need no pocket up here, not even for you handkerchief, for God has wiped the last tear from your eyes.”
This woman was led to the coronation room with transparent shelves full of gorgeous crowns: some with more jewels than others and some no jewel at all. However they were very beautiful. The angel said to her, “Gem are souls that you win for Christ. A crown was placed on the woman’s head and it fit perfectly.
From there the angel led the woman to her mansion along the most beautiful street any eye could ever see. The street was decorated with all kinds of palm shrubs and flowers. Beautiful homes abounds, and no two were alike, all inviting as the other. The angel said to the woman, “don’t you remember that Jesus said, ‘In my father’s house are many mansions?’ These are all the free gift of God. You did not even help to pay for them, no one can.” This woman asked the angel why some mansions were much better furnished than others. The angel answered, “you remember that Jesus told you, Lay up for yourself treasurers in heaven. These furnishing are the treasures that each have sent up from year to year, remember? Remember, even a cup of cold water in my name?”
This woman saw large beautiful painting in some other mansions and she requested to have one of such in hers. The angel said to her: “Those are only created by much sacrifice, too late now; your opportunity is passed.” Then she requested the angel to let her go back to the earth to tell her friends about all these. “No” said the angel, “that is impossible, there is a great gulf between heaven and earth.” The woman answering said, “well then, tell that preacher down there to be more urgent in his message to the people. Tell them not to neglect these vital things.”
Later on there was singing “like the voice of many waters.” The singing became louder and louder as she was getting closer. The Great White Throne was seen: “dazzling white and sparkled like diamonds.” Even from a great distance, this throne could not be looked upon for its brightness. Great throng was singing around the throne and this woman was gathered with the multitude, and she sang beautifully as them even though she could not sing a single note on earth. The most beautiful sound of bells were heard in heaven as soon as the woman was lost in the great multitude. The angel concluded, “There is joy in heaven when a pilgrim makes it home.”
CONCLUSION:
The last tear was wiped away from that woman¡’s eye because her name was found written in the book of life. “And I saw the dead great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. If anyone¡’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”- Revelation 20:12-15.
Now is never too late for you to repent and flee from the wrath to come. Bring forth fruit meet for Repentance. Eternity is ahead of you, get prepare to meet God before it is too late. “Who has ears to hear, let him / her hear.”
(¡Extract from compilations of Evang. M.A. DAOUD)
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1.2 THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Jesus gave us the assurance of His second coming when he said “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. I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also.” - John 14:2-3. He said He will come again to take the believers to heaven.
Two Angels gave us the assurance of Christ’s second coming as well. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”- Acts 1:10-11. Two men dressed in white apparel is a common description of angels. They gave us assurance that as Christ was taken up into heaven so shall He come down from heaven.
The third assurance was given by one of the Apostles (Paul) in the book of I Thess. 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Apostle Paul wrote elaborating on how Christ’s second coming would be, with the shout of trumpet of the Archangel. Then the believers that are alive shall meet the Lord in the air and to be with him forever. This is what is called the Rapture: the taking away of the believers from the earth, at the second coming of Christ into the clouds.
When will the Rapture take place? Jesus declared, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”- Matt. 24:36. But Jesus spoke further of the signs that will accompany his second coming. He said it would be as in the time of Noah when people did not give attention to the Gospel of salvation until the flood came upon them. Remember that the people were warned and invited to come into the Noah’s Ark. Were they caught by the flood unnoticed? No. They heard about it and probably read about it, but the concern for the things of this world took hold of their lives and prevented them from getting into the Ark of Salvation. They were to be blamed for their destruction.
All the signs that Jesus gave are coming to pass. The Electronic gadget are taking hold of men’s heart and gives men pleasure in the things of the world. Men’s hearts no longer sets on things of heaven but on things of this world. If you are really a Christian “What manner of person ought you to be” in this present world?
The second book of Peter admonishes us to “live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” For “that day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in heat.”- II Pet. 3:11-12(NIV). The second coming of Christ will bring about the destruction of those things that now take the hold of men’s hearts.
God that planted men in the earth, will one day harvest men out of it: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”- Rev. 14:14-15. The Earth is ripe for harvest. Men’s attitude of rebellion towards God by way of various acts off sin, is daily hastening the ripening of the world. Sin is always the event that leads to the ripening of the earth for judgment. Remember the time of Noah and of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”- II Pet. 3:9. God is still expecting men’s repentance from evil works. But if men refuse, the harvest of the earth would take place. And that would soon come to pass. What kind of person ought you to be?
After the taken away of the believers with Christ, the time will set for the antichrist to rule the earth. All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the antichrist -those whose names have not been written in the book of life (the unconverted) - Rev. 13:8. He, who has mind to understand, let him understand.
The Antichrist will force everyone to “receive a mark on the right hand or on the forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he has the mark”- Rev. 13:16-17: This is also called the mark of the beast. Whosoever that refuses the Gospel message that is now being offered freely by grace, and receives that mark (666) on the hand of forehead, “will surely drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the lamb.”- Rev. 14:10 (NIV).
If you neglect salvation now, and you are alive at the time of antichrist, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. It you refuse the mark by all means, you can still be saved but by shedding your own blood for your salvation. “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands”- Rev. 20:4 (NIV). The question now is, if you refuse salvation now at this time of grace, how can you receive salvation then at the time of tribulation, the time of antichrist?
The world system of numbering man in Schools, Hospital, Banks etc. is preparing man ahead of time to easily receive the number of the beast. Man is already made used to numbering system. This calls for understanding of the events of the last days “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.” Christ’s second coming is bringing along the judgment of man according to his deeds. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”- Rev. 20:15. Where would your portion be? If you are preparing for the second coming of Christ, live everyday of your life in expectation of his coming “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”- Mt. 24:44. Therefore watch!.
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1.3 EVANGELISM: BRINGING BACK THE LOST SOULS (GLIMPSE FROM THE BOOK “SOUL WINNING” BY T.L. OSBORN)
If we don’t do more than pray, if we never visit the lost and witness to sinners, they will never hear Christ invitation to be saved. We must pray, but then we must Rise and Go out after souls. Sinners will go to hell if we keep praying for them in our churches, without our going to them. The Gospel must be taken to them personally. We are only making God an errand-boy when we keep telling Him to do all that we suppose to do - Going out to meet sinner.
You are the church. The church is the body of Christ. You are Christ’s body today in your community. The Holy Spirit wants to speak to souls about Salvation, to convict them of their sins and convince them of the Gospel. But the Holy Spirit is in you. He would work through your lips, your body. If you don’t go and witness or speak the message, your community will be lost. Christ can no longer stand in the public and preach the Gospel; he needs you to do that. Christ’s love can only be manifested through your life. His compassion and concern for lost souls can only be exhibited through you. Jesus Christ visits your community every time you do. Are you confining Him to your house? Are you selfish? Have you ever let Him speak to your neighbors? Have you ever allowed Him to tell them the way of salvation? Have you ever permitted Him to offer your neighbors His life? Do you accuse them of living in sin while you never let Jesus Christ tell them the truth?
It is not the church or congregation that Christ will use to get to the lost souls. It is you, if you are a real Christian. As far as God is concerned, you are the church, the body of Christ because Christ is in you. You will stand personally to give an account of your deeds and all you have done or failed to do. You will not be judged in the light of what your church did or what your congregation has done or failed to do. The ministry is not for a particular group of believers - the youth movement, Men’s Fellowship, Evangelism group, etc. It is your personal ministry. Christianity is a personal thing.
Evangelism is seeking for the lost sheep. “For the son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine; and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which Is gone astray?”- Matt. 18:11-12.
Christianity is letting Christ seek out the lost through you. Witnessing makes you grow deeper in Christ. Christ will become more real to you than ever as he ministers through you. This is the heart of true Christian living and of soul winning.
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1.4 PREACH THE WORD OF GOD
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget
thy children” - Hosea 4:6.
The priests who should have been their teachers had rejected knowledge and forgotten the law of God. Lack of knowledge among the people of God meant a lack of teaching by the servants of God. Are we preaching the word of God? Yet our people are famished-famine of hearing the word of God (Amos 8:11-12). Preaching is plenty but little consecutive teaching, and not too much result in changed lives.
Why do our people starve in the midst of plenty? We indulge too much in “blessed thoughts” and too infrequently teach the word of God in all its fullness. We take our thoughts and hang them on the scripture to control our thoughts. We use a text as a kind of launching platform to be left behind after taking off and we never return to it. Then we say what is in our own mind, which may have no foundation at all in the text itself.
We preach and yet convert nobody. This is because our motives are not salvation but being acceptable by the congregation - pleasing the congregation rather than God. We preach popular themes and avoid essential doctrines of salvation, sanctification and holiness. We denounce sin in the abstract but pass lightly over sin that prevail in our congregation. We even reprove the sins of the absent but make those present please with themselves so that they will enjoy the sermon and not go away with their feeling hurt. We like to preach on the virtue and glory of heaven but not on the sinfulness of sin. We preach on universal fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man and neglect so much the need for the second birth.
Sincere exhortation and a fund of good stories are no substitute for the convincing power and authority of the word of God. Very little of our preaching is exposition of what God’s word says and we may think we are expounding. Do our hearers feel compelled to open their Bibles and do they refer to them when we are speaking? Or have they become accustomed to our “blessed thoughts” that their Bibles sit closed in front of them or worse still, lie neglected at home? The number of those who truly expound the word of God still seems to be pitifully small. Time of our preaching has drastically fallen by allowing time for some other unspiritual events.
Poor preaching invites poor congregation, and poor congregation invites slack preparation. If God’s word is expounded in the power of the Spirit, people take notice and ask for more. The challenge is for those who believe that God still honours his word to commit themselves afresh to excellence in preparation and power in delivery.
As Revival is the work of God to do, we also must Preach and Teach the word of God because it is Bible truth (truth taken into the mind and heart) that God blesses. Repentance and prayer must take place too, but the Lord has promised to honour with His blessing the preaching of His word.
God has sworn not to share his glory with any man. He has no respect for any man no matter how highly placed. He wants the bearers of his word to follow His directives to the letter. (No addition, no subtraction).
The Bible gave a record of Moses as the most humble man on the face of the earth (Numb. 12:3). In spite of his humility, the grumbling of the Israelite made him loose control and acted contrarily to God’s directives at one time. This brought an end to his ministry.
God instructed Moses at one time to “strike the rock and water will come out of it for the people to drink” - Exodus 17:6. The command was that Moses should strike the rock for water. At another occasion God said “Take the staff, speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water”- Num. 20:8. Even though Moses was to hold the staff in his hand, he was commanded to speak to the rock. Would Moses say that the people provoke him to act against God’s instruction? He struck the rock twice and water came out. The miracle came about but God said Moses “did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites” - Num. 20:12. The repercussion was that Moses no longer brought the Israelite into the land of Promise because he rebelled against God’s command at the water of Meribah. Moses entreated God as he used to do for the children of Israel when they sin against Him, but this time God said to Moses “That is enough, Do not speak to me anymore about this matter” - Deut. 3:26. God refused to grant Moses forgiveness because he did not act on God’s message according to the will of God.
The Ministry of John the Baptist was to preach “the Baptist of repentance for the remission of sins” - Luke 3:7. There were many noble people coming to him to hear his message. John did not soften his message at the sight of big men, but rather his messages became harder. He challenged men to “bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance” after calling them “generation of vipers.” John performed no miracle (John 10:41), but his message pierced the hearts of his hearers unto repentance just because he delivered it according to the standard of God.
As a minister or teacher of God’s word you don’t have to be carried away by trying to respect the opinions of the congregation to the detriment of preaching the word of God. Even though miracles may be happening, and people may be giving God the glory as they see God using you, as long as there is diversion from the proclamation of God’s message as sent, the result would be your rejection from entering God’s rest. Not all that proclaim Christ as Lord shall enter into the kingdom of God but only those that do the will of the father (matt. 7:21): He that delivers God’s message as it is given unto him yea according to God’s standard.
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1.5 THE COLT TIED AT A CROSS ROAD
“And saith unto them, go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him and bring him. And they went their way, and found the Colt
tied by the door without in a place where two ways met and they loose
him” - Mark 11:2 & 4.
A crossroad is where two ways intersect resulting in four (4) outlets. This is not a single road turning or a “T” junction, but a cross (┼) road. The Colt in our text was said to be tied; yet at the crossroad. At first the Colt could not decide where to turn, and then the tying down at the prime age of his life: “which no one has ever ridden”- NIV. A divine intervention is needed to make the Colt useful to God, to people and to himself.
Many of us found ourselves at the crossroad of life and at the prime age. A point of making decisions. If making a decision had been the only matter, it would have been better. What of the tying down? Even if the right decision had been made, there would have been no movement: no progress because of the tying down. Divine intervention through earnest prayers is needed to set you free.
Jesus knew about the situation of the Colt from a far distance and sent men to untie and bring it: Our solution lies in Christ who has passed through the cross before. It is at the cross of Christ that we can find solution. That is, when at a crossroad of life, you have to look at the cross of Christ for a solution. At the cross of Christ, whatever bondages that hold men captive are already broken: “Having cancelled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross”- Col. 2:14 RSV. You only have to identify yourself with the cross and pray through your deliverance. Except that happens, there would be no progress. The bondage must first be broken.
The Colt was untied and brought to Jesus who sat upon him. It was then the people knew the value of that Colt. As they cleared the road for Christ, the Colt under Christ also had a clear way to tread. Not even on bare ground, but upon garments of men. There was progress, usefulness and glory of God in the life of the Colt as Jesus also was moving on and receiving applaud from the people. This confirms that until Jesus liberates you by the blood He shed on the cross, you cannot make any progress when you arrive the crossroad of life. It is only after this that you can have clearness for direction, and live a life of purpose that would glorify God.
I Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez (sorrow maker) found himself at a crossroad of life. All conditions were against him and he could not progress. He was cursed to be sorrowful from birth. He had no honour. He was not to be reckoned with among friends. He was not known; no one expected him to attend any meeting. No matter how good, his contributions will be ignored. He was living in sorrow, in isolation simply because he was poor: “A poor man is shunned by all his relatives; how much more do his friends avoid him” - Pro. 19:7. Jabez realized his condition and prayed earnestly to the God of Israel for blessing, enlargement of coast, protection and deliverance from evil. God answered him and he became more honourable than his brethren.
The GIBEONITES deceived Joshua in order to escape from death and became part of the Israelite generation. At the discovery of truth, they were cursed as “hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord” instead of becoming blessed people for life. (Joshua 9:27). Suppose any one of the subsequent generation of Gibeonite can sit and think of the calamities caused by their slavery under Israel and he begins to pray earnestly unto God for deliverance from this deplorable crossroad of life, how do you think God will answer him? I think he will let him realize the cause of the curse by means of historical account or by revelation. His knowledge of the curse will help him entreat God more earnestly first for his own deliverance and then for that of his brethren. Unfortunately, there is no biblical account of the Gibeonite deliverance. They were poor for life serving at the altar in the house of the Lord. Are you serving in the house of God as a priest? What is the condition of your life? Are you at a financial crossroad even though serving at the altar of God? There is a curse somewhere. Seek for the root of your setback in life from God through prayers, and then pray for your deliverance clinging unto the cross of Christ.
ACHAN was cursed to death and his household suffered with him. The whole of Israel was also affected by the repercussion of Achan’s sin. His covetousness (of accursed silver and garments) brought the nation to a crossroad. This shows that the sin of a leader can bring down curses upon the followers. In order to get out of the crossroad caused by other men’s sin, you have to pray earnestly for your deliverance.
PRAY THESE PRAYER POINTS FERVENTLY AND CONTINUOUSLY
1. Identify you position in line with this message and thank God for bringing you into the light of His word.
2. Lord break any curses (from parental linage or through self indulgence in sin) that ties me down at a crossroad in Jesus name.
3. Pick me oh God from the crossroad of life and set me on for progress to the glory of your name in Jesus name.
4. God bless me, enlarge my coast, and let thy hand be upon me for good, keep me from evil and let not life grieve me in Jesus name.
5. Lord, let me be more honorable among my family members in Jesus name.
6. Lord, uncover any secret of success over my life and wash away any evil covering by the blood of the lamb in Jesus name.
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1.6 ANOINTED FROM THE WOMB
John the Baptist was anointed from the womb, “he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb” - Luke 1:15 AMP. He was a Nazirite like Samson of old. But Samson messed up his Nazirite anointing by eating honey from dead carcass, polluted his life through lust for women and by allowing razor upon his head. That was not the case with John. John fulfilled the Nazirite laws: and even though he performed no miracle (like Samson), he was spoken of by Christ as the greatest of all those born of women (Matthew 11:11) because he was able to live up to the expected life.
Anyone born through the union of a true marriage is a godly offspring and is anointed for good from the womb. Parents are to take caution! Children that are born out of wedlock must definitely have a mark of a curse from the womb that will be upon them for life. How can they succeed? You that were born of a true wedlock, how do you keep your Nazirite laws? Do you mess up in the beer parlour or with women? Let not God¡¯s anointing upon your life be messed up.
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1.7 TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS
This is a prayer of the Psalmist which we ought to make our daily prayer. That God should “teach us to number our day aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
- Psalm 90:12 NIV.
Everyone should know that the number of his days here on earth is few and can suddenly pass away like smoke. Man must not live without the thought of his accountability to God. Constant self-reminder about going back to God one day is wisdom. How are you preparing? Are you living in pleasure or living for God? You may not live to be seventy or eighty and yet live a life of trouble and sorrow, or of pleasure. Which every way, ‘they quickly pass, and we fly away.” In the next 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, they will say of many now living “he once lived”. Where will you be then? In eternity with Christ or in eternal hell?
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1.8 THROW DOWN YOUR FATHER’S ALTAR OF BAAL
“Throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock”
- Judges 6:25-26.
When a man or woman is born again, the Bible says, “Old things are passed away”. The adamic (sinful) nature in man (inherited from the parents), which do manifest in anger, wrath, malice, fornication, covetousness, inordinate affection, filthy communications, etc., are to be put to death in the believer’s life. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit” - John 3:6. How can you say you are born of the Spirit and still live a life of the flesh: the sinful nature still in control? The nature of sin which was inherited from the parents must be dealt with for
“our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”- Romans 6:6. You are to pull down that “altar of Baal” of anger, malice, etc., that was inherited from your father or mother and build an altar to God in your heart upon the rock that is Christ. Destroy the altar of sinful nature and build an altar of love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, meekness, temperance, faith, longsuffering that are of great price. These will make you fruitful in the knowledge and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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1.9 WHEN MEN SLEPT
An account was given in I Kings 3:16-28 of two prostitutes that lived in the same house and lost their blessings through much sleep: the first lay on her son and the boy died while the second overslept and had her living son exchanged for a dead one. There was war in the following morning. Both of them should have lost their children but because the owner of the living child had compassion for her son at the time of judgment, she was able to retain the ownership of her child.
There is time for everything under heaven (Eccl. Chap. 3). If men are unaware of “the time” of a particular blessing to come in their lives, that becomes a sleeping over the blessing or getting the blessing exchanged by the devil. This is not the normal over-night sleep during which we regain strength for the new day’s business, but a spiritual lethargy: not awakening to, or not “sensing” your blessing at the right time.
Jesus gave the parable of “a man that sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way” (Matt. 13:25). The surprising thing is that, the servants were instructed to delay the wedding of the tares until the time of harvest. Allowing weeds to grow together with your crops results in very low and poor yield. The good plants are prevented from enjoying maximum potentials that aid growth. Why should weeds be allowed to grow together with crops? Christ’s answer was: so as not to uproot the good plants along with the weeds.
It is always difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve one’s blessing if it has, at one time or the other, been overlaid through spiritual sleep or exchange for a counterfeit by the devil. The devil is the enemy that often prevents us from having God’s blessings. Blind Bartimaeus cried out at the time when Jesus the healer was passing by. Imagine what could have happened if he had adopted an attitude of mute indifference at that time. I think his song that day was “Pass me not O Gentle Saviour.”
“He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son”- Prov 10.5. He who sleeps at a time when he should lay hold of his blessing or refuse to understand “the time” a particular blessing of his life is to be grabbed, and neglect or plays off the time, is a son (or daughter) of God that would bring discomfort to himself when he is supposed to be enjoying the blessing. Among the children of Israel, it was the tribe of Issachar “that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”- (Chr. 12:32) at the time David was king in Hebron.
Have a fervent concern for your needs when putting them before God in prayers. While petitioning to the Almighty King, clearly give your reasons. “Present your case, says the LORD; set forth your arguments, says Jacob’s King” - Isaiah 41:21. Put God in remembrance of His promises; plead together with Him so that you will be justified (Isaiah 43:26). Even if you have allowed the devil to exchange or steal away your blessing, you can wake up to have them back through prayers. “It is better late than never”, they say. It was prior to the departure of the Angel that Jacob got his blessing when he refused to let the Angel go. Awake to the time of your blessing (harvest) and be not “a disgraceful son (or daughter)”.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, let all the blessing I suppose to have at this prime age of mine come my way in Jesus name.
2. Let nothing disturb your plan from coming to stand in its appointed time for my life in Jesus name.
3. Let all coverings over the blessing of my life be scattered in Jesus name Amen Thanks God for granting you grace to come to this realization about His blessings.
Pray God to retrieve for you all that the enemy has stolen and pray God to exchange for you devil’s counterfeit of blessing: Gold in place of Brass, Silver for Iron (Isaiah 60:17).
...
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
1.10 THE WATER THAT WAS MADE WINE
The first miracle of Jesus as recorded in the second chapter of the book of John can be seen as an allegory: an analogy of the life of man. It is a miracle where he turned water into wine. Human life is like water: unsettled and can be easily disturbed by circumstances just like the face of water can be disturbed by the wind. Man Complies to different doctrinal believes just like water that takes up any colour. Man can persevere and fit into circumstances of life like water that takes the shape of its container. The life of man is a natural gift of God just like water, which is a natural resource.
Jesus came to change the life of man: to give man a new life. The new life in Christ is better than the natural life of man. “Therefore if any person is (in grafted) in Christ, the Messiah, he is (a new Creature altogether) a new creation: the old (Previous Moral and Spiritual Condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come” - II Cor. 5:17 Amp. The old unsettled life that accepts any form of doctrine, and fits into just any worldly circumstances would be changed to a better life altogether. The person involved will surely know and conclude: but God has kept back the good life (wine) until now (John 2:10). The thoughts of the former lifestyle would be a thing of regret considering the joy and bright hopes that fills the heart of a believer.
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1.11 THE MAN WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT
“The wedding banquet is ready; but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find; But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was
not wearing wedding clothes” - Matt. 22:8-14.
People that were invited to the wedding banquet refused to come: individual gave selfish reasons why the banquet could not be attended even when the king had spent to make things ready. The king ordered his servants to bring in as many people as they can get on the street for the occasion. At last the banquet hall was filled up. But alas, the king himself noticed a man who had no wedding garment, and ordered him to be thrown “outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.
The original guests are the Israelites but when they rejected Christ, we (Gentiles) were brought in by faith from all spheres of life: adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, 419ers, etc. No one was good: we were all bad. But our King wants us to appear the same after we have entered into Christ. He wants us to put on His own righteousness that is in Christ. Without such righteousness, no man will reign with Christ no matter the number of years spent in the Church. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS” - Matt. 6:33. Righteousness is a garment: “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God)”- Psalm 132: 9 AMP. Do not only seek to enter the kingdom of God, but also seek to live righteously for that will be your garment at the heavenly banquet.
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1.12 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GARMENT
The garment of the Almighty is light: “He wraps himself in light as with a garment”
-Psalm 104:2 NIV.
There is no darkness in God because He wraps himself with light. No darkness can come near Him. So, if we also walk in the light, we shall have fellowship with Him.
The wicked clothed themselves with cursing. “As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment”- Psalm 109:18. That is why blessing is far from the wicked! “As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him, as he delighted not in blessing so let it be far from him”- vs. 17. Whosoever that loves to curse or does not take delight in blessing others is the wicked that clothed himself (or herself) with cursing.
But the Lord enjoins us to be clothed with righteousness as with a garment: “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God” - Psalm 132:9 AMP. Who is a Priest? Whosoever that has been regenerated is “being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” - I Peter 2:5.
God wants every believer to be clothed with righteousness as with a garment. “Let thy garments be always white”- Eccl. 9:8. Your garment as a believer must be “without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” - Eph. 5:27. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave this command: “Beloved, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed” - Rev. 16:15.
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1.13 THE MINISTER AND HIS PEOPLE
Thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people”- II Sam. 17:8.
These words were spoken to Absalom about King David, his father. David always enquire form God what step to take. He is not only a warrior in battle with men, but also a warrior in prayer to God. A life of separation of the leader from the people. A life of consecration to pray.
“Thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men” (vs. 10). If a minister is prayerful, the church members will be known as men and women of prayer. But if the minister of God’s word is weak in prayers (one who cannot wrestle in prayer to God), the church “Is dead while she liveth”.
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1.14 THE SALT OF THE EARTH
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” - Mattew. 5:13 NIV.
Christians are called salt of the earth. Salt is used for savouring, preservation and sterilization, etc. Christians whenever they are are to give savour (Taste) to the world system and to preserve it from decaying. The savour to the world system implies introducing Christ into areas or lives where his impact is not yet felt. Christ is the savour in the life of a man. A person without Christ has no savour of life. A soup without savour is a reject. Any person without Christ is a reject.
As a preservative, the Christian should preserve his surrounding - office, school, home, business area, relatives etc. from decaying. The world is decaying daily: Bribery and corruption everywhere, prevention of peoples’ right in working places, looting of Government treasury through contracts and forged documents, seeking political posts for wealth accumulation, security agents becoming Armed robbers and even Church leaders embezzling Church funds, etc. “Have nothing to do with fruitless deed of darkness, but rather expose them” - Eph. 5:11. Expose the fruitless work of darkness around you; be not partaker in them; preserve their lives from decaying. That is your role in the midst of this wicked and perverse generation. Instead of your sterilizing the world (i.e. freeing the people of the world from deadly germs), you become corrupted though them! A sterilizer that loses its ability to sterilize shall become infected. So it is with you.
“But if the salt loses its saltiness.” If you as a Christian lose your stand with the world, it will be terrible! You are now in the same rank with those you are supposed to sterilize, preserve and savour. They will know actually that you are not as you were before. What else can you tell them to make them tremble when you are partaking in their errors? You are sharing the unjust gain together? You approve corruption to be carried out through your non-challant attitude (you may not be a partaker any way). You only rebuke the national leaders instead of the very person(s) in your presence committing crimes? Your cold complicity and mute indifference imply your approval of those unfruitful deeds. How can you be made salty again? You are no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and be trampled upon by men. Insults from your non-Christian mates would be your share: “and he calls himself a Christian.” You become of no value because they known you now to be a hypocrite.
You have dropped the flag of living a life worthy of emulation. Some of the unbelievers would even say, “I am better than him /her”. You have lost your saltiness. Now you have become something to be trampled upon by people including the unbeliever. Believers again will throw you out because you no longer conform to their norms. “Although he is from us, he is not a part of us”.
Or do you say you are the only one among so many unsaved people to affect them in anyway? Or together with other believers around you, still so few? Can you compare the quantity of salt used in cooking to the entire food cooked? Very small indeed. Your small number or your being alone does not mean Christ’s impact can not be felt “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”. Only do your part in salting your environment and allow God to complete the work of changing their hearts by the Holy Ghost. Do you think you are occupying that position of yours for selfish and worldly gain? If you refuse to fulfill the ministry of savouring the earth and to preserve or sterilize it, your saltiness shall be lost”.
HOW TO SALT THE EARTH:
Have salt in yourself (Mrk. 9:50) by getting your heart constantly renewed through the word of God (Rom. 12:2). The word of God is the salt of grace. Be seasoned with the knowledge and grace of the gospel. So that you will be able to render acceptable to God, those that are living in ignorance and wickedness (ready to putrefy).
Be an example of Christ Every where and at any time - I Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7.
Let no corrupt communication be found in you - Eph. 3:29; Col. 4:6.
Put off corruption from your life first (Eph. 4:22 - 24). You have to remove the beam from your own eyes before removing the speck from the eyes of your neighbour.
Watch your life first. Do not join, but reprove cheating and corruption.
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1.15 CHURCH OR APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE?
And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ Doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostle” - Acts 2:42-43.
The disciples left behind by Christ (Peter & Co.) were called the Apostles: They that were taught directly (physically) by Christ, they that moved in and out with Jesus on this planet earth. They walked everywhere with Christ. They were the Apostles. Paul, who was later added to that number by Christ himself, could not boldly fix himself into that class: he simply said, ¡°unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given” - Eph 3:8.
Paul puts himself behind the other Apostles even though through him, signs of an Apostle were manifested “in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds” - II Cor. 12:1. Apostles were not appointed by men, but by Christ himself. The post of an Apostle is not man made. The Apostles followed the doctrines given to them by Christ. That is the Apostles’ Doctrine: the doctrine of Christ given to the Apostles.
Their holding unto Christ’s doctrine steadfastly in fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayers resulted in “many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles”. Then fear came upon every soul and many were added unto the church on daily basis. The church grew daily. The Apostles followed the teachings of Christ, and Christ confirmed his words with signs and wonders - miracles.
Why are we not getting results today in our churches? Do we continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine or we have our Church doctrine? As soon as a church formulates her own doctrine which normally puts off some part of the Apostles’ doctrines, the results that followed the ministry of the Apostles shall be lacking. The Apostles’ doctrine is the Biblical doctrine, the doctrine of Christ. Church doctrine can be said to be derived from the Apostles’ doctrine plus or minus some elements according to the desire of men that formulated it. That is why the church is not getting results even in Evangelism as in the days of the Apostles when the Lord Himself “added to the Church daily such as should be saved”. When the Apostles wanted to replace Judas, prayers were made before their casting of lots. The Bible recorded concerning the Apostles that “As they Ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabar and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” – Acts 13:2-3.
How do we appoint men and women in the church today? Through prayer and fasting, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead? How do we send men forth for the work of the ministry: as we saw in them in line with our Church doctrine or as God chooses them? Why are we not getting results from the work of our Evangelists, Pastors and Church Leaders? How were they chosen? What of the teachings in our churches: how do we do it? Do we refer to the Scriptures on every items we teach? The Apostles always make references to the scriptures: “For it is written.” What of in times of Crisis or dispute? It happened at the time of the Apostles too but they always made references to the scriptures and gave the Holy Ghost a chance. They never parted in disagreement. God was always allowed to step in. They were getting results in church planting and Evangelism on daily basis because they continued steadfastly in the doctrines delivered to them by Christ. They did not formulate a “Church Doctrine”.
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1.16 LOOKING FOR MIRACLES?
Labour not for meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the father sealed” - John 6:27.
Great multitudes followed Jesus in the gospel of John Chapter 6. They followed him, because they saw his miracles of healing the sick that were diseased. The multitudes were later fed with five barley loaves and two small fishes and at the end there was a remnant of twelve baskets of food. What a mighty miracle! The miracle of healing that they regarded as great at first became less surprising compared to that of feeding thousands of people with such a remarkably small quantity of food. The Bible gave the number of the men fed at the occasion as five thousand. It does not say anything about the number of woman and children that usually outnumbers that of men in such occasion. I am of the opinion that in order to have a correct idea of the greatness of the multitude that Jesus fed, the number of men given in the Bible should be multiplied by four or five. This is the only way by which we can have the correct picture of the “great company.” that came to Jesus. The miracle of feeding them free of charge made the multitude wonder: “Why don’t we make this man (Jesus) our king? By doing so, we will no longer have the problem of feeding the masses and healing the sick?” So they summoned courage to look for him and enthrone him as the king that would always supply them daily with miraculous food. Jesus made it plain unto them: “ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” – vs 26. Why are you serving Christ? What were you looking for or your expectations as you attend Gospel Programmes: miracles of Contracts, of Business, of Car, Husband / wife, of Children, of Good Jobs, etc.? All these are meat that can perish one day. But that which can never perish is the miracle of your salvation that is the meat, which endures unto ever lasting life, which the son of man gives. Jesus spoke of Mary as having chosen that which shall not be taken away from her (Luke. 10:42). Other miracles can be taken away: business can collapse, money can be spent, body can become sick again but salvation that is gotten through Christ shall abide unto eternal life. That is why Jesus proclaimed that we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and that all other miracles shall be added unto us. If you are seeking for the miracles first, you will miss eternity at last for miracles are “the meat which parishes” and which can not endure unto everlasting life.
...
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
...
1.17 CONFIDENCE
“And Jesus said to them, you will all fall away this night (that is,) you will be caused to stumble and will begin to distrust and desert me: for its stands written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But Peter said to Him, Even if they all fall away and are caused to stumble and distrust and desert you, yet I will not (do so)! And Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very night, before a cock crows trice, you will utterly deny me-discharging all connection with me-three times. But (peter) said more vehemently and repeatedly, (Even) if it should be necessary for me to die with you, I will not deny or disown you. - Mark 14: 27 - 31 AMP.
Peter trusted himself so much that he could not believe he would ever deny Christ. He saw himself as bold, outspoken and a “Leader” of the disciples. He saw himself closer to Jesus than others. He so much loved Jesus, and trusted so much in himself. He was self -confident. Jesus saw in Peter a self-glorification and wanted to teach us a lesson so that we do not boast in ourselves. Then Jesus prophesied unto him that peter would deny him three times that same night before the cockcrows twice. Since the Word of Christ must be fulfilled, it came to pass exactly as the master said in less than eight hours after the dialogue. Originally God did not intend that Peter should deny Christ; but because of Peter’s self-confidence (seeing himself as one that can stand all situations) the Master had to pass him through a lesson to abase him and thereby teach us the same lesson.
“Therefore let any one who thinks he stand- who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm - take head lest he fall (into sin)” - I Cor. 10: 12 AMP.
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1.18 RUNNING A RACE
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” - I CORINTHIANS 9:24 NIV.
Christianity is a race. The race starts in earnest on the day a man gets into Christ: on the day salvation becomes real in a man’s life. No matter how long you’ve been going to church, if you are not regenerated or converted, you have not yet enlisted for the race. You are still not “in the number.” But as soon as you become born-again, turning from sinful life to Christ by faith and abiding therein, then you are enlisted in heaven as a runner, yea, as a pilgrim. Many get into the track but not all may finish the race. Like the worldly athletic described in the scriptures, many run the race but only one gets the prize. But we are all admonished to run in such a way as to get the prize. An athlete goes into strict training so as to get a prize: a prize that does not last. Another athlete in the next event can win this same prize, yet every one of them goes into strict training. Training to shape the physical body and make it fit for the race. They discipline the body, refusing it some essentials of life. Some become slimmer and get light to be able to move swiftly in the race and so get the prize. If man can do all those to get prizes that do not last, how much more shall we not do even more training for our body and soul as to get a crown that will last forever?
“ Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"- Heb. 12:1. Putting aside all inordinate affection and concern for the body, the present life and the world. To run the race swiftly, each runner has to put aside any sin that has the greatest advantage against the body by the circumstances we live in. There must also be a focus on Jesus, our perfect example who won that kind of race we are in. He endured dying on the cross, he did not take the shame of dying for sinful men to mean anything and he endured oppositions from sinful men. At the end of the race, he won a place at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven: an everlasting position.
Care must be taken as not to run the Christian race in vain. One may run and not get a prize. We are not to run this race without definite aim.
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1.19 SUFFERING FOR CHRIST
“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” - Acts 5:41.
Can we really suffer for Christ? Christ suffered for all mankind on the cross. His suffering and death brought Salvation, Joy and Peace to all that believe in him. But can we really suffer for Christ in return? Is there any suffering for Christ, that is, suffering in his sake as he did for us?
The book of Hebrews Chapter 11 gave a summary of people who, through their faith in God, passed through the flames and get into the lions’ den. Some were tortured and detained, some faced jeering and flogging; some were chained and put in prison; some were stoned, some were cut in two with a saw; were put to death by the sword. Many wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes. These and more happened to men at one time or the other, nevertheless they stood the test of their faith. The secret is in their faith in God. Unless you give your complete being to Christ, you cannot endure to suffer for his sake. All the heroes of faith that passed through the aforementioned trials had qualifications and positions ranging from labourers to Governors, and from poor to rich. Yet they counted not on what they had.
What denial have you ever made in your life because of the Gospel? Yea, because of Christ? There is no arrest, no putting into prison, no threatening with gun for now but what of denying yourself of some basic needs because of the Gospel? What of putting aside your certificate or your good job for Christ’s service? What of spending your money or time for the gospel work? This cannot be too much. You must pay a price for coming to Christ. What have you ever done?
We blame Peter for denying Christ at the hour when Christ was being tortured.
Is your putting aside suffering for Christ not a denial of him?
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1.20 PREPARATION OF HEART
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statues and judgments” - Ezra 7:10.
“The plan of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the
Lord comes (wise) answer of the tongue” - Proverbs 16:1 AMP.
“To man belongs the plan of the heart” NIV.
It is in the power of a man to prepare his heart towards an issue, occasion or whatever. It is in the power of a man to prepare his heart to serve the Lord or not to serve Him, to shun evil or not. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king¡¯s meat, nor with the wine which he drank” - Dan. 1:8. It was in the power of Daniel to eat the king’s delicacies but he purposed (he determined) in his heart not to eat it.
Joseph determined in his heart not to sleep with Potiphar’s wife and concluded:
“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”-Gen.39: 9.
God would not force anyone to do contrary to the choice of his heart. He leaves us to choose: it is our duty to prepare our hearts to choose whatever we desire. Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord” and he achieved that. Nothing can withstand your heart’s desire to serve God. If the wicked could achieve their heart’s desire, why not the righteous? Ezra prepared his heart “to do it”. Doing is obedience unto the Lord. Not doing according to God’s word is disobedience. “TO DO IT”. What is it that prevents you from doing the will of God? It is in the power of your mind to do and not to do. But it is your doing it (the will of God) that will usher you into enjoying God’s promises.
Ezra prepared his heart “and to teach in Israel statues and judgments”. To teach others is a command from the Lord himself: “Go therefore, and teach all nation” - Mt. 28:19. It is what you know and believe, and what you do (practice) that you can teach others effectively. If there is no preparation of your heart to daily learn from the Master and do what He says, what then do you teach others? You should first prepare your heart to seek the Lord and practice all He says before you can teach or influence other people around you with God’s statues and judgment.
···
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
···
BE A PART
Be a part of this publication effort in Prayers for God to use these words in the hearts of readers, and in assisting print editions of these messages financially for free distribution. Send us your comments for possible Publication. Inspire us to do more in reaching nations for Christ. Send to us or make a call: Our email: christianpubint@yahoo.com; Phone line: +2348036121781, 08051109976. Mail: P.O. Box 387, JEBBA (241002), KWARA STATE, NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA.
···
These series of messages are published by the CHRISTIAN PULISHING INTENATIONAL,
JEBBA, NIGERIA. Christianpubint@yahoo.com; Tel: +2348036121781.
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied
and used freely for edification of the body of Christ.
··· ··· ···
Can we really suffer for Christ? Christ suffered for all mankind on the cross. His suffering and death brought Salvation, Joy and Peace to all that believe in him. But can we really suffer for Christ in return? Is there any suffering for Christ, that is, suffering in his sake as he did for us?
The book of Hebrews Chapter 11 gave a summary of people who, through their faith in God, passed through the flames and get into the lions’ den. Some were tortured and detained, some faced jeering and flogging; some were chained and put in prison; some were stoned, some were cut in two with a saw; were put to death by the sword. Many wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes. These and more happened to men at one time or the other, nevertheless they stood the test of their faith. The secret is in their faith in God. Unless you give your complete being to Christ, you cannot endure to suffer for his sake. All the heroes of faith that passed through the aforementioned trials had qualifications and positions ranging from labourers to Governors, and from poor to rich. Yet they counted not on what they had.
What denial have you ever made in your life because of the Gospel? Yea, because of Christ? There is no arrest, no putting into prison, no threatening with gun for now but what of denying yourself of some basic needs because of the Gospel? What of putting aside your certificate or your good job for Christ’s service? What of spending your money or time for the gospel work? This cannot be too much. You must pay a price for coming to Christ. What have you ever done?
We blame Peter for denying Christ at the hour when Christ was being tortured.
Is your putting aside suffering for Christ not a denial of him?
...
1.20 PREPARATION OF HEART
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statues and judgments” - Ezra 7:10.
“The plan of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the
Lord comes (wise) answer of the tongue” - Proverbs 16:1 AMP.
“To man belongs the plan of the heart” NIV.
It is in the power of a man to prepare his heart towards an issue, occasion or whatever. It is in the power of a man to prepare his heart to serve the Lord or not to serve Him, to shun evil or not. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king¡¯s meat, nor with the wine which he drank” - Dan. 1:8. It was in the power of Daniel to eat the king’s delicacies but he purposed (he determined) in his heart not to eat it.
Joseph determined in his heart not to sleep with Potiphar’s wife and concluded:
“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”-Gen.39: 9.
God would not force anyone to do contrary to the choice of his heart. He leaves us to choose: it is our duty to prepare our hearts to choose whatever we desire. Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord” and he achieved that. Nothing can withstand your heart’s desire to serve God. If the wicked could achieve their heart’s desire, why not the righteous? Ezra prepared his heart “to do it”. Doing is obedience unto the Lord. Not doing according to God’s word is disobedience. “TO DO IT”. What is it that prevents you from doing the will of God? It is in the power of your mind to do and not to do. But it is your doing it (the will of God) that will usher you into enjoying God’s promises.
Ezra prepared his heart “and to teach in Israel statues and judgments”. To teach others is a command from the Lord himself: “Go therefore, and teach all nation” - Mt. 28:19. It is what you know and believe, and what you do (practice) that you can teach others effectively. If there is no preparation of your heart to daily learn from the Master and do what He says, what then do you teach others? You should first prepare your heart to seek the Lord and practice all He says before you can teach or influence other people around you with God’s statues and judgment.
···
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
···
BE A PART
Be a part of this publication effort in Prayers for God to use these words in the hearts of readers, and in assisting print editions of these messages financially for free distribution. Send us your comments for possible Publication. Inspire us to do more in reaching nations for Christ. Send to us or make a call: Our email: christianpubint@yahoo.com; Phone line: +2348036121781, 08051109976. Mail: P.O. Box 387, JEBBA (241002), KWARA STATE, NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA.
···
These series of messages are published by the CHRISTIAN PULISHING INTENATIONAL,
JEBBA, NIGERIA. Christianpubint@yahoo.com; Tel: +2348036121781.
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied
and used freely for edification of the body of Christ.
··· ··· ···
