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.