WHAT DOES 2023 HOLD?

 What Does 2023 Hold?

The year 2022 has almost come to an end. It is not the end of time but the end of a demarcation of time. Many are looking forward to 2023 in anticipation of better things to come. While there is nothing wrong with that, the transition to a new year or a new year itself do not bring changes in the fortunes or lives of individuals. 2023 is a number and while it is a year in the period after the death and resurrection of Jesus, it cannot of itself bring about any change. It has no life of its own; it cannot be touched; it cannot feel; it has no power to change anything.

Changes can only come when we cooperate with God whose plans for us are perfect. If your desire is to see positive changes in your life and ministry in 2023, run to God like never before. No matter where you have been, what you have experienced, and what your expectations may be, God loves you unconditionally and will never leave you nor forsake you, if you draw near to Him. Thoughts precede actions and the Bible tells us what to think about.

"Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, AMP)

Having the right thoughts would ensure that your actions are the right actions in accordance with God's will. However, in order to walk in line with God's will, we must be born again and abide in Jesus. (John 3:3, 15:5)

The Bible says, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-8, ESV)

The promises of God referred to in the above passage have not just appeared on the scene. These are the everlasting promises of God applicable centuries ago and today. God has given us all we need for a fruitful and victorious life; He has blessed His people with all that is necessary for godliness. What that means is that in 2023, we have no excuse not to walk in holiness, in righteousness and in fruitfulness. Walking in the will and promises of God will 'keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus'. Having a better experience in 2023 requires action -"...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love". Interestingly, in 2 Peter, chapter 1, the responsibility for doing all the above falls squarely at our feet. In other words, God holds us responsible for working out faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love in our lives. Wow!. The implication is that there is a fathomless fountain from which we can draw, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It therefore is appropriate to say that the question should not be what 2023 holds but rather what we desire in 2023.

The Bible says in Psalm 37,

"Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord ; Trust in Him also and He will do it." (vs. 3-5)

Delighting ourselves in the Lord in 2023 will enable us to have desires that are in line with God's will. The recipe for prosperity and good success is still reading, studying, meditating upon and doing the everlasting, undiluted, powerful, uncompromising and unadulterated Word of God (Joshua 1:8). Given that Jesus is the living Word of God (John 1:1), meditating on God's Word is invariably the most important aspect of abiding in Him after being born again. There can be no success in 2023 without Jesus because without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Our resolution for 2023 should be to love God with all our hearts, and with all our souls, with all our minds and with all our strength. That will give us a future and a hope according to Jeremiah 29:11 and anointed living that will glorify God in all that we do. God is for us and not against us and therefore we can face tomorrow (the first day of 2023) and subsequent days with hope, faith and love.

Let's trust in God and excel in the good works He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:9-10) and 2023 will be a year of victory and powerful testimonies. Have a happy and fruitful New Year (2023).

The Attraction of Material Wealth

"For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10, AMP)

"For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:25, AMP)

Materialism is a philosophy that many nations have embraced to their peril. The pull or attraction of money has caused many to derail from the Christian faith. Many in the Church try to justify the insatiable pursuit of money and engage in a rationalization of those pursuits. In order for us to take care of family obligations, having a job or business is necessary but we must ask ourselves what our attitude is towards money. Do we see money as a means to an end or do we see it as an end? How we view money will affect how we run our lives; it will have an impact on us in all areas of our lives. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24). The issue of money was considered important by Jesus that He mentioned it and we would be wise to heed His advice. 

Mammon is defined as follows:"mammon, biblical term for riches, often used to describe the debasing influence of material wealth. The term was used by Jesus in his famous Sermon on the Mount and also appears in The Gospel According to Luke. Medieval writers commonly interpreted it as an evil demon or god."(https://www.britannica.com/topic/mammon). This implies that there is a spirit behind the insatiable pursuit of money. It is impossible to serve God and mammon. 

I have heard some people say that God will take away the riches of the unbelievers and give it to the believers. Really? They refer to when the Egyptians gave the children of Israel gold and silver just as they were leaving Egypt (Exodus 11:1-3). This is not only a misinterpretation of Scripture but a demonstration of greed and carnality. Why would God have to deprive unbelievers of their hard-earned wealth and in some cases ill-gotten wealth to enrich believers? That does not make any sense and would be grossly unfair. God says He will provide all the needs of His children (Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:19). Some people pursue more money citing the prospect of paying more tithe as a reason. On the surface it sounds sensible and logical but not all that glitters is gold and not every good thing is a God thing. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and self-sufficient. He does not need a single penny from us. However He commands us to give towards the work of the Kingdom (2 Corinthians 9:6-9) so that things needed for the preaching of the Gospel, church bills, salaries and other necessary expenditure can be taken care of. Furthermore, we will be blessed by God when we obey His commands. Satan will use anything to distract us including prospects for material enrichment. Isn't it surprising that most people immediately go for a bigger house and a bigger car (incurring more debt) when they are promoted and have an increase in their salary? Most cars are bought on higher purchase which implies monthly outgoings of car repayments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc. Is it wise to spend a lot of money on items  that depreciate rapidly in value? Just a thought! A little bit more prudence and frugality may well help us to cope with the financial challenges of life. 

Material wealth attracts people because there is an innate love of luxury in almost every individual. Who wouldn't love an all-expenses-paid five star holiday trip? Who wouldn't like to have a sleek BMW or Jaguar car that appears to fly in the air? Who wouldn't love to fly first class from say UK to Japan or any other place? And these perks may well come into our lives at one point or the other but they hardly constitute the real purpose for living. The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing. Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" (Luke 9:24-25 )

Yes, we are in the world, have responsibilities to take care of, feel pressure from time to time to provide this or that. However, may we never lose sight of the fact that God is in control and He has our back. Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:31-34 )

My dear brethren, life can be quite challenging at times but we must never allow ourselves to be deceived by the devil. Unbelievers pursue wealth and many millionaires and billionaires are unbelievers, atheists and agnostics. Wealth in itself is not evil and many godly men and women have been and are rich. However, Jesus knew this when he sounded the warning about the potential pitfalls of the love and pursuit of money. The Holy Spirit was aware of this when He instructed Apostle Paul to write to Timothy about the dangers of loving money. The love of money is a love easily acquired and it excludes God from everything. Let us rather pursue the love of God and seek growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I therefore leave you with two passages of scripture to ponder on:

• "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40 )

• "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

May God enable you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and not to be distracted. Have a blessed day.

Entitlements and Obligations

Entitlements and Obligations

4 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, 5 so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. 6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ]." (Galatians 4:4-7, AMP)

In Christendom today, many people are always thinking of their entitlements and as a result are trapped in the web of self-gain and self-aggrandisement. It is true that as children of God (true believers) we have privileges and gifts but it is important to understand that we also have obligations. God expects us to play our God-given role in His Kingdom by His grace and power of the Holy Spirit. 

Believers have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13, Hebrews 10:19, Revelation 12:11). If you are a born-again Christian, a believer in Jesus, you have been set free from the bondage of sin , the law, the devil and death. You are free and free indeed - "Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:34-36, NKJV).

Before the incarnation of Jesus, man was held captive by sin as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve. They disobeyed God, eating the forbidden fruit and were thrown out of the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-23). Consequently, they lost the intimate fellowship with God they had experienced. Let's ponder over this for a moment. Until they disobeyed God and sinned, Adam and Eve were perfect, sinless and holy. The Bible makes us understand that God would come down to the garden of Eden and have fellowship with them. The Bible says, "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8). Wow, they heard the sound of God walking, meaning that there is a sound of God's presence, a sound only true believers can hear. Have you heard the sound of the Holy Spirit today? Have you heard the voice of God telling you where to go? Have you received a revelation from the Lord with regards to His plans and purposes for your life on earth? God desires to have a thriving, intimate relationship with His children and all mankind. He desires that all men should be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Sin brought in bondage to it and to the devil. Glory be to God that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day. The Bible says, "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10 )

The death of Jesus ushered in the possibility of reconciliation to God as opposed to alienation from Him. 

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14 ). The born-again believer is forgiven and redeemed from darkness and sin. 

The believer is no longer a slave to sin and the devil but is now a child (son or daughter) of God. The Bible says in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" . The one who receives Jesus as Lord and Saviour gladly surrenders all to Him, abides in Him and says every moment of the day, 'Lord, let Your will be done in my life'. Is that your prayer? God cares for His children and has given them all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4). He has not left us destitute and we can rest assured He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). 

What should be our response? "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:" (2 Peter 1:1)

"Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1)

It is important to state that the true believer obeys God, seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), offers his or her body as a living sacrifice to God, not conformed to the world but being transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:1-2). As those who have been redeemed, our ultimate desire should be that God's will be done in all situations. Apostles Paul and Peter knew that and pronounced that they were bondservants of Jesus. In other words, they voluntarily surrendered themselves and everything they possessed to Jesus. Furthermore, they declared their intention not to hold anything back from Jesus. They agreed that it was not their call to make as far as life was concerned; they were under the rule and reign of the Almighty God and their obligation was fear Him and obey His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). They never had a mindset that demanded this and that, rather they trusted God to direct their paths because they had absolute confidence in His judgement. Do you trust God enough to let go of everything and let Him handle your affairs? God can have a valuable input into your decision-making process if you permit Him to do so.

God will never impose Himself on anyone and He has given people the freewill to even choose to oppose and disobey Him. God has you covered and rather than demand for this or that, let God direct you. Ask for strength to fulfil your God-given obligations for which He has equipped you (2 Peter 1:3-4). Instead of having undue expectations, we should be focusing on our obligations towards God and man. Remember, you are not an accident; you have been created specifically by God for a purpose only you can fulfil.  "For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]." (Ephesians 2:10, AMP)

You are obligated to be a fully active participant in God's plan to enable you to fulfil the good works He prepared for you before the world began. Have you discovered those works yet? If not, why not? I charge you this day in the mighty Name of Jesus to arise and find your place - your lane and walk on it to the best of your ability, diligently seeking the Lord God Almighty every step of the way. One of my pastors and mentors, Bishop James Lawson who went to be with the Lord in 2019 used to say that we should walk in our lane not another person's lane. Do you know your lane or are you yo-yoing (going back and forth, up and down)? 

Jesus said in John 15, "I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for[otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." (v.5, AMP). Jesus will guide us every step of the way, by the power of the Holy Spirit if we remain (abide) in Him. The key is remaining in Jesus. Then you will meet all your obligations and overcome the temptation to focus on perceived entitlements. In plain terms, we really are not entitled to anything. All we are and have is given to us by the grace of God. One might say he has worked hard and that is good but it is God who gives life and one day the final curtain will be drawn. Be rooted in Jesus and you will not be taken unawares. Have a blessed day.

Thoughts On Tithing

 THOUGHTS ON TITHING

• Tithe means a tenth (10%) and God places no restrictions on what one decides to give. One may give 10%, 20%, 30% or even 5%. It is the individual's prerogative.
• Tithing is in the Bible just as polygamy or sacrificing of animals is in the Bible. However today we do not practice polygamy, neither do we sacrifice animals because those practices have been done away with and are not acceptable in the New Testament, that is under the New Covenant.
• Remember Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the New Testament is about Jesus and the Church (which did not exist in the OT)
• In the OT, there were 3 types of tithe:
• The Levitical tithe - collected to support the Levites and priests
• The Festive tithe - given 'to be saved back and eaten by the giver of the tithe along with his household and the Levites' (letthebiblespeak.tv/is-tithing-for-today-the-text/)
• Three-year tithe - given every three years to support the poor
• The tithes paid by the children of Israel amounted to 23.3% of their agricultural produce and animals.
• Abraham gave a one-off tithe to Melchizedek voluntarily (Genesis 14:17-20). Melchizedek did not demand tithe of Abraham. Jacob promised to give a one-off tithe to God (Genesis 28:20-22). As with Abraham, Jacob offered the tithe voluntarily. There are no other instances of Abraham and Jacob giving tithe in the Bible.
• Jesus mentioned tithe once in the Bible (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42). Apostles Paul, Peter, and John never mentioned tithing or commanded the NT Christians to tithe. It should be noted that Apostle Paul had been a Pharisee and Apostles Peter and John are Jews who were very familiar with the OT requirements for tithing.
• The Moral Law (Ten Commandments) is the only part of the Mosaic law that is reiterated in the NT (Matthew, chapters 5 to 7, Romans 12 and several other portions of the NT). Every commandment is repeated in some form in the NT and in some cases, a higher standard set as in the case of adultery. Just looking at a man or woman lustfully is adultery (Matthew 5:28).
• In the NT, Paul admonishes Christians to give generously:

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."(2 Corinthians 9:6-9, ESV). 
• Jesus stated a very important principle about giving as follows: "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38, AMP)
• Generous giving is therefore commanded in the NT and that is what Jesus commanded. .

In conclusion, tithing in the 21st century is about giving 10% (because tithe means 10%) but it is not imposed on anyone. Tithing in accordance with the OT Mosaic law (Malachi 3:10-12) is not applicable in the NT.  As stated earlier, 10% is not a NT standard; generous giving from the heart is what is commanded.  It is important that we realise that God owns everything and therefore we should surrender everything to Him. Jesus said: "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33, AMP). 

Let the Holy Spirit minister to you on these things. It must be stated the fact that OT tithing is no longer operational according to the Bible does not exonerate us from giving. If the children of Israel could give tithes and offerings under the Mosaic law and at a time when they had to observe numerous rules and rites, what prevents us who are born again, delivered from sin, washed in the blood of Jesus, new creations, a chosen generation, a peculiar people and ambassadors for Christ giving much more? We should be giving more than 10%.

Giving is a condition of the heart and God owns everything.

Conclusion:

Giving is commanded by God but what to give is the prerogative of the believer. One's rewards are commensurate with his or her giving. Furthermore, the tithe in modern times is a tenth or 10% and although it is a good place to start with regards to giving is not mentioned or enforced in the NT. The apostles, disciples and deacons did not mention tithe. Tithing as practised under the Mosaic Law has been done away with. Jesus mentioned tithe is the context of the Mosaic Law while He was debating with Pharisees and Sadducees who were hypocrites and who disregarded their responsibilities under the Law. Let your giving be done generously, cheerfully, respectfully and in a mode of worship.

The Christian Obligation

 The Christian Obligation

"The word Christian is used three times in the New Testament: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16. The original usage in all three New Testament verses reflects a derisive element in the term Christian to refer to followers of Christ who did not acknowledge the emperor of Rome" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_synonyms)

"and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For an entire year they met [with others] in the church and instructed large numbers; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians." (Acts 11:26, AMP)

Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, not as a commendation but as a derogation. However that description ended up as a commendation because the people of Antioch actually felt that the disciples were true followers of Christ Jesus. 

"Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28, AMP)

Even King Agrippa was touched and convicted by the words of Apostle Paul but the thought of being associated with believers who were called Christians was something he was not prepared to come to terms with. In other words, there was a price he was not prepared to pay.

"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." (1 Peter 4:16, AMP)

In 1 Peter 4, Apostle Peter mentioned the need for the believer to follow the example of Jesus, to be open to the possibility of serving and suffering for God's glory as a Christian. Being a Christian implies discipleship - following Jesus in His footsteps because the servant is not above the Master. Anyone who is determined to live a godly live will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do." (Luke 17:7-10, NKJV)

The true Christian is primarily a disciple of Jesus, His servant, called to do the good works that God had prepared before the world began (Ephesians 2:10). The good works are to be done with humility, appreciation of the believer's servanthood and an acknowledgement and acceptance of God's sovereignty. Unconditional service to God is the trademark of the true Christian and from this flows service to man.

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

True humility steers away from presumptuousness and/or pride. Pride seeks to claim knowledge of the unknown, engages in self-centred plans, and disregards God's Word partially or wholly. The true Christian walks in humility and not in pride.

The Christian obligation is therefore to be and remain a disciple of Jesus, fulfilling the Great Commission, loving God wholeheartedly and surrendering all to Him (Matthew 22:37, Luke 14:33). The true Christian realizes he or she is an ambassador for Christ, thus having the primary objective of making Jesus known and lifting Him up wherever he or she goes.

Have you lifted up Jesus today? How is your representation of Him going? Can people see Jesus in you? Are your words such as would endear Him to people? 

"The true Christian is not proud and does not engage in unbecoming behaviour. Such an individual is humble submitting to God-given authority. The true Christian is not self-seeking and is only interested in lifting Jesus higher. The true Christian walks in righteousness, holiness and integrity."('The True Christian', pages 40-41, ISBN 9781535354356

May the good Lord enable you to take the Christian obligation seriously. Have a blessed day.

No Cross, No Crown

No Cross, No Crown

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8) 

Apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy at the tail-end of his ministry. It is interesting to note how he characterised his ministry - a race that he had finished in keeping the faith. This led him to confidently state that a crown of righteousness awaited him. Wow. To some it might sound like a pompous babble. Apostle Paul had served God faithfully through the decades and knew that he would be rewarded for God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). In describing his ministerial experiences, he wrote,

"Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— "  (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

The point is that Apostle Paul found out that the Christian race is not a bed of roses, a walk in the park, a luxurious cruise on the Mediterranean or some delicious meal in a 5-star restaurant. In serving Jesus, Paul endured hardship, faced persecution, was physically assaulted, mocked and humiliated but he never gave up. He went on further to state, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

The goal of Apostle Paul was clearly stated in Philippians 3:3-11

"For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:3-11)

The question that arises is: Should believers today expect to give less or suffer less for the Gospel of Christ? Should we expect to be exempt from hardship, persecution, ridicule, etc.?

Paul gave everything, considering his achievements as loss for the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus. Will you give everything for Jesus? How much do you love Him? Enough to die for Him?

For those who may think that what Paul went through does not apply to them, what about what Jesus, our Lord and Saviour went through before His crucifixion? He faced opposition from the Pharisees and Sadducees, was deserted by some disciples who found His teaching too hard (John 6:53-66). However, Peter said,  “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6:68-69, NKJV). Did Peter fully understand everything that Jesus said? NO, but he decided to follow Jesus to the end, no matter what. Interestingly, he was crucified upside down for Jesus.  Any preaching that postulates a painless, effortless Christian race or one that is not difficult is from the pit of hell. Jesus never told His disciples that life on earth would be without difficulty. In fact He said in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.". (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus went on further to state, "... “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." " (Luke 9:23-24) 

The cross is s symbol of death which must be taken up daily. Jesus was not referring to a necklace worn around the neck. He was referring to the cost of discipleship or followership. Following Jesus is not a walk in the park; it is not a casual race or a part-time engagement; it requires 100% commitment, 100% diligence, 100% faithfulness, 100% of everything involved. There is no short cut, no Plan B, no circumvention of God's order, no compromise or political correctness. It must be  done God's way, otherwise nothing will be achieved.

The individual who enlists in the army does not decide which front he or she will be sent to. The soldier is prepared for death because that is always a possibility. Apostle Paul knew that there is no crown without a cross. Only those who endure to the end shall be saved (Mathew 24:13, Mark 13:13). So, brethren keep pressing on. Do not give up; do not give in; do not fret; do not lose hope. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-7). TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY, AND YOU WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN JESUS' NAME. Have a blessed day.

Will You Make Heaven?

 Will You Make Heaven?

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

The above verses show that the Kingdom of Heaven exists and that there are conditions for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. First of all, the Kingdom of Heaven is a place without sin and therefore no one engaged in sinful behaviour will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. No one who does his or her own will will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 

In Galatians 5:19-21, the Bible says, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Wishful thinking will not get anyone into Heaven; no one can get into Heaven on his or her own terms, only those whose names are written in the Book of Life.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15) 

The Book of Life is the record of all those who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour and have lived righteously, always seeking to do the will of God. It contains the names of all those who have run the Christian race according to God's will - those who have not compromised, who have not been lukewarm, those who have fought the good fight of faith, those who have endured to the end, those who walked by faith and not by sight and who were disciples of Jesus. Are you doing the will of God? Do you hope for or long to get to Heaven? Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11) 

Jesus came from Heaven to earth at His conception and incarnation, walked on the surface of the earth, was crucified and buried. On the third day, He rose from the dead. The Bible states very clearly what He accomplished - "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died for us on the cross of Calvary, paving the way for our forgiveness, our redemption, justification, sanctification and reconciliation with God. In other words, Jesus came to set us free to worship God in spirit and in truth and live lives that would glorify Him. There is no excuse for anyone who rejects Jesus. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.2 (John 3:16-19)

God has gone to great lengths to deliver us from the bondage of sin and of the devil. To enter Heaven, you must confess and repent of your sins, surrender to Jesus and live for Him all the days of your life. In other words, one must declare total allegiance to the LORD of lords and the KING of kings. What that means is loving Jesus above anyone else or anything else. In the words of Jesus, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

Rejecting Jesus will result in a one-way ticket to hell. Are you prepared to let go and let God? The bottom line is that only disciples of Jesus will enter Heaven. ARE YOU A DISCIPLE OF JESUS? If not, you can take the necessary steps to becoming a disciple of Jesus. You must give up everything and follow Jesus (Luke 14:33). What that means is that everything you have in your possession must be surrendered to Jesus. That is what being a follower of Jesus is all about and that is the standard for entry into Heaven. Only followers/disciples of Jesus will make Heaven. Have a blessed day.

What Will You Do For God?

 What Will You Do For God?

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:1-6, NKJV) 

Many believers do not think about what they can do for God. They are consumed with the thought of what they can receive from God. On the day of his encounter with Jesus, Saul knew he had something to do for the Lord. Do you know what yo have to do for Jesus? What will you do for God?

Jesus, Himself, said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Giving is divine. God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus (John 3:16). Do you love God? If so, what are you giving Him?

You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. In Matthew 9:37-38, the Bible says, "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (NKJV)

A true disciple of Jesus always seeks to serve our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We are saved to serve and to excel in the good works that God had prepared before hand (Ephesians 2:10). We are created to walk in those good works, otherwise we will not be fulfilled. 

Ask God today what He would have you do. Think about it this way - God is depending on you for a job He has created you for. You are His workmanship, wonderfully and fearfully made for that purpose. Will you oblige God?

Remember God is not the respecter of persons. The Bible says, "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." (Acts 10:34-35) 

Gear yourself up for service in the army of the Lord and in His vineyard. Ask the Lord and He will answer you (Jeremiah 33:3). Have a blessed day.

What Is A Woman?

 What Is A Woman?

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the question, 'What Is A Woman'. Why? Learned individuals and religious organizations such as the Church of England claim that they do not have a definition for ‘woman’. Interestingly, many of those who claim they do not have a definition of 'woman' call themselves women. What a state of confusion! In Genesis 2:21-24, the Bible says "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

In biblical context, God created Adam and proceeded to create Eve from one of Adam's ribs. Eve was a woman, so called because she was taken out of man, and from all indications, different from Adam. Physically and biologically, a woman is different from a man. In Genesis 1:26-27, the Bible says, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them". God created man in His own image according to Genesis 1:26. What exactly does that mean given that God is not a physical being? In John 4:24, the Bible says,
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”. Therefore, the likeness referred to in Genesis 1 was not a physical likeness, but a spiritual likeness.

The fact, however, remains that God created human beings, male and female. Adam was a man and Eve was a woman. The Oxford Learner's Dictionary defines 'woman' as 'an adult female human'. Yet, the Church of England claims it does not have a definition of a woman, stating that there are 'complexities associated with gender identity' (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11000401/Church-England-woman-decide.html).

How is this possible? If a church does not know what a woman is, echoing the sentiments of the LGBTQ movement, then we are in serious trouble. The degree of capitulation and compromise has exceeded anything we could have imagined or anticipated even as recent as one year ago. If a supposedly Christian organisation that goes back hundreds of years, is now deconstructing the truth of God's Word, are we not in the very last days? Is deconstruction of God's Word even a remote possibility? God said, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord . “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:8-11)


The Word of God cannot be diminished no matter what people think, scheme, deny or propagate. A deliberate denial of what God has established in order to appease individuals, institutions or to be politically correct is, at the very least, a betrayal - a betrayal of the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God; a betrayal of Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son. It is really sacrilegious.

The anatomical differences between men and women are clearly noticeable - the wider hips of women, greater physical strength of men, broader shoulders in men, smaller physiques of women, greater quantity of facial and bodily hair on men, different types of external reproductive organs, much bigger breasts of women, much bigger and wider buttocks of women, etc. Differences between men and women include chromosomes, men having XY chromosomes while women have XX chromosomes. Women produce ovaries while men produce sperm and these will never change. No hormonal, surgical or cosmetic treatment can turn a man into a woman or a woman into a man. Short and simple!

Basically, there is no doubt that bodies of women are different from the bodies of men. If Eve had the same body as Adam biologically and anatomically, she would have been called man and not woman. Therefore, it makes no sense calling a female, man or a male, woman. There has been a lot of needless controversy over the supposed difference between gender and sex. The underlying factor is that those who relish in amplifying the so-called differences between gender and sex, support transgenderism which is basically the transition from one gender to another. If the genders of humans are fluid, then what are the transitions for? In other words, if a woman cannot be defined, what exactly does it mean when an individual claims to transition from man to woman or vice versa?

If there are no features to distinguish between genders except the preferred choices of those involved, what are we really saying? - that we are in a state of confusion and that an individual can decide on an impulse to name himself or herself male or female, man or woman, regardless of the obvious distinctions. How can we call an individual born with male reproductive organs, with all the other features of a male a woman? In fact, even if someone tried to do that, it would amount to double jeopardy because a woman, according to popular culture, cannot be defined.

My dear brethren, these are tumultuous days. Compromise, backsliding, betrayal, denial, idolatry, deception, etc. are occurring right now in Christendom. Many are turning away from the Lord, denying the faith and embracing heresy. If Bishops in the Church of England (many of them with doctoral degrees in theology) can capitulate and deny biblical truth, then what exactly lies ahead? The unbelievers and LGBTQ people will capitalise on this sad development and exert more pressure on Christians to compromise. That we must not do. Let's intensify our intercessory prayer and come against this abomination in the mighty Name of Jesus. Right from the garden of Eden, Satan has been trying to drag as many people with him to hell. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus paid the ultimate price and defeated him, crying out, 'It is finished'. In spite of all that, the devil has continued to propagate apostasy, heresy, and has instigated persecution against the Church. Today, believers are arrested for flimsy charges publicly as was the case of a preacher arrested in Seattle, USA for reading Scripture aloud near a LGBTQ 'Pride' event (www.christianheadlines.com).

One is not advocating hatred, or discrimination against, individuals who have decided to adopt a homosexual lifestyle but it is unfair and unjustifiable to impose ungodly ideas on believers. Every believer has a God-given right to live a holy and righteous life and homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexualism, queerness are in the category of sexual immorality which God hates.

The Bible says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

A woman is different from a man and there is simply no credible contest to this fundamental truth. Embracing any idea that is contrary to this is at best ignorance and at worst lunacy of the highest order. Transgenderism makes no sense and the refusal to acknowledge who and what a woman is, is an attempt by the devil to cancel God's order and that will never work. It is to be expected that believers will experience increased persecution because adherents to transgenderism, homosexuality, and other perversions are very hostile to the truth of God's Word.

Finally, as Christians we have an obligation to love lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people with the love of God. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should give reasons for the hope we have in Jesus with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). In fact, the present politically correct climate offers great opportunities to preach the Gospel to the unsaved. May God guide you and keep you strong in the faith. May you never waver from the truth and may you be empowered to declare the unadulterated and infallible Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. Have a blessed day.

Jesus' Words on Discipleship

 Jesus' Words on Discipleship

Jesus spoke unequivocally and unambiguously about the necessity and cost of discipleship. Being a disciple of Jesus is the ultimate goal (Matthew 28:18-20) and making disciples is the supreme task. Below are some Words of Jesus on discipleship.

"Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."(Luke 9:23-24)

"Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” "(Luke 9:57-62)

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26-27,33)

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:8)

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) 

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23)

Are you a disciple of Jesus? Do you love Jesus so much that you are willing to die for Him?

NB: All Scripture passages above are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible. Meditate on the above Scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you.

The Will of God

THE WILL OF GOD

"Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:15-17, AMP)

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1-2)

"in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, AMP)

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6)

"Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power, or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right. For it is the will of God that by doing right you may silence (muzzle, gag) the [culpable] ignorance and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people." (1 Peter 2:13-15, AMP)

"Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” " (Acts 21:12-14) 

Our daily cry should be that the will of God be done in our lives. But what is the will of God? The will of God is not attained by popular vote. The will of God in rooted in who God is, His sovereignty, His omnipotence, His attributes and His Word.

The Will, Way and Word of God are intertwined and inseparable. In other words, it is impossible to walk in accordance with God's will and disobey His Word.

The will of God is not subject to governmental decree. For example, divorcing a person according to the law of the land does not necessarily make it right in the sight of God. 

"Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]." (Romans 12:1-2, AMP)

The will of God is good, acceptable and perfect, at the same time. 

There are prerequisites for knowing and proving God's will -

1. Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, 
2. Not conforming to the world, 
3. Being transformed by the renewing of our minds 

The Commandments of Jesus:

The commandments of Jesus are the will of God. 

"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]." (Luke 9:23, AMP)

"Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:27, AMP)

IT IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR US TO TAKE UP OUR CROSSES DAILY.

The disciple of Jesus follows Him, obeys Him and abides in Him. However, to be a disciple one must (without exception) take up his or her cross daily and follow Jesus. 

Do you know your cross for today? If not, why? If so, are you carrying it?

The will of God is in addition to denying ourselves and taking up our crosses daily:

1. To firmly grasp what the will of God is (Ephesians 5;17)
2. To be aware that only those who do His will shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21)
3. That we should no longer live in the lust of the flesh (1 Peter 1:2)
4. That we should continually give thanks to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
5. Our sanctification and abstinence from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
6. That we do right and thereby silence the ignorant and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people (1 Peter 2 :15)
7. That our ultimate desire should be that God's will be done in all situations (Acts 21:12-14)
8. That we fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12;13) 

The good, acceptable and perfect will of God is only fully revealed to those who yearn after God, who seek His face daily, who fear Him and keep His commandments, who pursue holiness and righteousness, who humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. Boastful, proud, self-centred individuals are resisted by God (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). God does not throw pearls to swine. The Bible says, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deuteronomy 29:29, NKJV)

It is God's desire to reveal more of Himself to anyone who truly yearns for and seeks Him. Are you one of those who longs for God as a deer pants after water?

We should be reminded that while it is good to call upon God for our needs and miracles, Jesus said emphatically in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (NKJV). The Kingdom of God and His righteousness must be our priority. We must remember that the things of the world are temporary and we will be wasting our lives if we only focus on them. Whatever achievements one has made in terms of earthly goodies, will not be of any use or advantage in Heaven. So in conclusion, I would like to quote the words of Jesus:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21, NKJV)

May the Lord God Almighty enable and empower you to do His will just as Jesus did. have a blessed day.

Betraying Jesus

Betraying Jesus

"When they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies]; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised [from death to life] on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved and distressed." (Matthew 17:22-23, AMP) 

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, the disciples fled from His presence, and Peter denied Jesus three times. The truth of the matter is that they all engaged in different levels of betrayal. Today, many Christians betray Jesus in one way or the other. There are times when we refuse to reveal to the public that we are believers. At other times, we are so engrossed in our personal businesses that our primary responsibility (making disciples) is relegated to the background. If our ultimate goal each day is not soul-winning and discipleship, then we have lost the plot. 

"For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heavenly] Father and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:26, AMP)

When we pass opportunities to witness for Jesus, don't we thereby demonstrate that we are ashamed of Him? If our focus is on the repercussions of sharing our faith and preaching the Gospel, then we are more interested in ourselves than in God. If we hear people near us using the name of God in vain, and say nothing then we would have entered into self-preservation mode. Interestingly, such a mindset really exposes a lack of understanding because no one can preserve himself or herself. No one can reverse the day of death, whenever that will be. No one can live forever on this earth irrespective of technological breakthroughs in cosmetology. No one except God has the world in his or her hands. In other words, God has the final say.

The word, 'betray' is defined as follows: (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/betray)

• to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty:
• to be unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling:
• to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to:

God expects His people to tell the world about Jesus, to be ambassadors for Christ, to make disciples for Jesus and to boldly declare that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. An ambassador of a country does not hide his or her identity; in fact an ambassador is glad to tell anyone who wants to listen that his or her country is worth visiting. The ambassador promotes the interest of the country he or she is representing. Similarly as ambassadors for Christ, we should be telling people of Heaven, the Kingdom of God and God's rule and reign. We should be quick to give an answer to any question asked about the hope we have  in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). We should not be ashamed of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16)

God is depending on us to broadcast the Good News of salvation. Failure to do that means failure to identify with Jesus which ultimately results in betrayal. Peter did not hand over Jesus to the Jewish authorities was equally betraying. Thank God for His love and mercy, Peter was restored and went on to be an important leader in the early Church. Will you tell someone today about Jesus? Will you stand your ground when people are ridiculing the Christian faith and mocking Jesus or will you turn away unconcerned?

A dear brother shared with us recently how someone came to him while he was witnessing in the City Centre and looked at him in disgust, questioning his sanity because of what he was doing. Standing up for Jesus may attract mockery, insults, disdain, contempt and a host of other things but we should never give up or back down. We should never betray Jesus; we should always do what He tells us to do in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The lyrics of the hymn 'Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus' by Bart Millard

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

Ye soldiers of the cross;

Lift high his royal banner,

It must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory

His army shall he lead,

Till every foe is vanquished,

And Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

Stand in his strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you,

Ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor,

Each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls or danger,

Be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

The strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle,

The next the victor's song.

To those who vanquish evil

A crown of life shall be;

They with the King of Glory

Shall reign eternally.

We will not betray Jesus, we will stand up for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have highlighted the second verse because we are on duty for Jesus and we must not fail Him. Jesus is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the Lamb of God and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the only Way to God; He is the truth and the Life. The Bible says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:15-18, NKJV)

Jesus is God the Son and the Son of God. To be ashamed of Him is to betray Him. When our lives are not aligned to His in real terms, we betray Him. When the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are at variance with God's Word, we betray Him. When our plans do not match God's plans for our lives, we betray Jesus. When our focus is on things that may seem good but which God has not ordained for us, we betray Jesus. In other words, a deliberate engagement in anything that is outside God's will for our lives is an act of betrayal. It is important to note that just because God allows something for someone does not mean it is right for you. 

 

Will you serve Him today? Will you bow at His feet and surrender your life to Him totally today? One day, everyone will stand before Jesus. That day is unavoidable. There is no mountain so high that can keep anyone away from the reach of Jesus. There is no depth so low that can hide anyone from Jesus. Fighting against the will of God for your life is an act of futility. There are many people who think that it is God's will for them to become something, or have something when it really is not but they refuse to accept God's will because it is not the fashionable thing to do. I will end this short article with a quote from Jeremiah 17:

"Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord . For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , And whose hope is the Lord . For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:5-8, NKJV)

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND YOU WILL NOT BETRAY HIM. May the Lord God Almighty give you the grace to be an instrument of blessing in His hands. Choose to obey God in all areas of your life and you will never betray Jesus. God bless you.

RENOUNCING ALL

 

RENOUNCING ALL

"So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke14:33, ESV)

Jesus spoke the above words whilst teaching on the cost of discipleship. This is one area that many people shy away from. Some say it is too heavy a topic; others say we should focus on the riches that we have derived by virtue of receiving Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour. Well, the truth of the matter is that Jesus is not only Saviour, He is LORD. What exactly does that mean? Let's ponder a little bit more on two words

1. Renounce: 'formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession)' (Cambridge Dictionary). For example when one renounces citizenship of a country, it means that the person gives up the right to be a citizen of that country. 
2. LORD:  'a person having power and authority over others' (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

So the implications are that if one is to be a disciple of Jesus, then He must have power and authority over that person and the individual must give up everything he or she possesses. The New Living Translation renders Luke 14:33 as follows: "So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own."

This verse of Scripture is unambiguous, short and simple. There are no alternative interpretations. God says what He means and means what He says. In Matthew 19, there was an encounter between a young rich ruler and Jesus and on that occasion, the young rich ruler was confronted with a choice - sell your possessions, give the proceeds to the poor and then follow Jesus OR keep the possessions, focus on one's carnal desires and self-gain, and consequently live an unfulfilled life. The man chose the latter. It is ironic that he decided to place earthly temporal riches above Jesus and decided to pursue worldly treasures that would be destroyed by moths and rust (Matthew 6:19). What is your choice?

Will you renounce all and follow Jesus? Suffice it to say that it is impossible to be a disciple without surrendering all to Jesus. Discipleship without renunciation of all we possess is impossible. A disciple of Jesus cannot  prefer earthly treasure to heavenly treasure; a disciple is willing to let all go and allow God to have His way. 

Only followers of Jesus will make Heaven and only followers are disciples. The Bible says in John 1:12, "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— " (AMP)

Receiving Jesus means accepting Him with everything He has to offer; it means embracing His Lordship and Deity. That is the bottom line. Worldliness and discipleship do not mix. A disciple of Jesus cannot love the world. The Bible says, "Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world." (1 John 2:15-16, AMP)

My dear brethren-in-the-Lord, friends and acquaintances the simple truth of God's Word can be very challenging but there is no alternative to obeying God's Word. One is either obedient or disobedient. What is your decision? - To renounce all that you have and follow Jesus OR to follow your carnal desires, a choice that will lead to spiritual death? May the good Lord enable and empower you to choose right and do right in accordance with the unadulterated Word of God. Have a blessed day.