For the newest recruits in the Nigerian Army the first routine exercise would usually be to drop everything that is not listed as basic necessities before entering the drill camp. If they are to survive the heat and the ruggedity of the terrain they would have to let go weights and every form of drawbacks. These things are capable of making a soldier lose focus and his life in the process.
The danger in the field is usually unforseen. A little slumber can be disastrous. The race to heaven to eternal rest demands similar exercise. It will often require letting go the very things that we feel we may not be able to do without. The sweet and familiar things that make life very entertaining and weighty often, and Heaven less a focus.
Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” – Luke 18 vs 29
As impossible as these demands may seem they are sometimes the reason we are miles away from discovering our purpose in life or fulfilling God’s plan for our life. As believers our goal remains to stand before God blameless at the end of our time here. It is then compulsory to cut off every weight and distractions that keep us uninterested in finishing the rain as heaven has given us.
Looking at Jesus the Samarian woman might have wondered what on Earth the stranger was on about. First he wants the chance to drink water and he is a Hebrew. This was a time when discrimination was really high in the region. The Jews were known for looking down on the rest of the tribes around them. So you see she had a good reason to worry. Then came the moment Jesus tries to introduce himself as the much awaited savior of Israel and world at large. He then went on to tell her the stories of her own life. There at that point she was startled and unsettled. Nobody was suppose to know, not one who happens to be a stranger. But then he does. He then has to be all he said he is. The messiah.
At the Well
“You can now worship God right where you are. Time has changed” said Jesus. This means God’s love is universal as had always been. As for the Samarian woman the new Truth did something to her entire being. She is no longer a reject as she had always thought she is. It also means she is now as important as every other person (Jews and Gentiles) is. Her past doesn’t matter anymore. God does not consider her past again. Mercy has found her out and has taken away her shame and regrets.
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” –Lamentation 3 vs 22-23
As For Zachaeus Jesus passing his province has to be an opportunity for his visitation. He really has been following his crusades and has perhaps witnessed his many miracles. Then the turn for his town came to feel the breeze of hope and healing again.
Zacchaeus
He grabbed the opportunity and invited Jesus over to his home. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. This was a profession that was so much hated in Israel for the gross corruption it’s known for. He had made money and now belonged to a higher class in the Jewish society. So having Jesus come to his place was an unthinkable feat. And yes, Jesus came.
“So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly” – Luke 19 vs 6
Mercy found the tax collector and everything changed for him. God’s Mercy continues to speak today into our lives and situations. It is more than enough to go round wherever it is called upon. Our God is generous and still is in the business of setting free.
Prayer
May MERCY prevail over your life and family in the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. Mày Joy be restored back into your family IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS
Although Grace and The Law are two different entities, both are dependent on each other but yet are very important in the kingdom of God. The Law as it was given Moses has been very much around, so has grace. For Law brought orderliness among the Jews when they traversed the wilderness longer than they ought to.
Law kept their excesses in check punishing them for their sins of disobedience. Yet Grace ensured that as many would surrender to the high calling that much would be spared. Grace divided the Sea. Grace fed the people in ways that will today be considered impossible. By Grace Jericho was conquered and Canaan possessed.
While The Law ensured they stayed holy and dedicated to the worship of Yahweh, Grace preserved them and sustained Abraham’s covenant with God. Grace went further to unleash divine Rhema upon as many souls as sought God. Now we live in a time of the manifestation of the glory of God.
The Law Checks our Flawsand Prepares the Way for the manifestation of Grace
Without the Law there would be total chaos even in the house of God. This would only invite trouble and the manifestation of all manners of evil. “Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it” – Ephesians 2 vs 7-10.
There is then no condemnation unto those who are called by Jesus. Those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8 vs 1). This is Heaven’s Law as it is his will to keep us guided even until the restoration of many.
There are today countless Bible versions on hundred of Bookshelves across the world, and hundred soft copies of the same on a hundred online bookstores. One just have to only walk into a street store or pick an Android phone and download as many Bible apps as possible.
While this is good since it means God’s word is everywhere almost, there is really no easy identification of copies or versions that are false. Not everyone is paying attention to that. Perhaps the Theologians carry out reviews once in a while. Yet that doesn’t do much to the wildfire.
The Three Aspects of translation
The different doctrines that identify with the faith all claim to have revised the Bible. This is indeed the truth. Some of them have gone as far as altering the original content. Here are some views about Bible Translation and Revisions:
“One who translates a verse literally is a liar, since he distorts the meaning of the text, and conversely, one who adds his own translation is tantamount to one who curses and blasphemes God” – Rabbi Yahuda
Williams Tyndale, an early commentator expressed his reservation thus:
“Which thinge onlye moved me to translate the new testament. Because I had perceaved by experyence, how that it was impossible to stablysh the laye people in any truth, excepte the scripture were playnly layde before their eyes in their mother tonge, that they might se the processe, ordre and meaninge of the texte: for els what so ever truth is taught them, these ennymyes of all truth qwench it ageyne, partly with the smoke of their bottomlesse pytte wherof thou readest apocalipfis ix. that is, with apparent reasons of sophistrye & traditions of their awne makynge, sounded with out grounde of scripture, and partely in jugglinge with the texte, expoundinge it in soch a sense as is impossible to gether of the texte, if thou see the processe ordre and meaninge therof”— William Tyndale
“Indeed, I disagree very much with those who are unwilling that Holy Scripture, translated into the vulgar tongue, be read by the uneducated as if Christ taught such intricate doctrines that they could scarcely be understood by very few theologians, or as if the strength of the Christian religion consisted in men’s ignorance of it. The mysteries of kings, perhaps, are better concealed, but Christ wishes His mysteries published as openly as possible. I would that even the lowliest women read the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles. And I would that they were translated into all languages so that they could be read and understood not only by Scots and Irish but also by Turks and Saracens. … Would that, as a result, the farmer sing some portion of them at the plow, the weaver hum some parts of them to the movement of his shuttle, the traveler lighten the weariness of the journey with stories of this kind” — Desiderius Erasmus
There are diverse Schools of thought and their respective views about Bible Translation and what it means to the faith. These view have without doubt affected the religion negatively and positively. One thing has remained the same amidst the chaos; Man’s salvation is the most necessary and will continue to be the central message everywhere around the World
There is no argument that the world we live in today is in dire straits. Its a world that is really due for judgement as the enemy Satan has expanded his campaign to reach as many souls as he can even those with the marks of the elect on them. Everything is under pressure including the internet, homes, marriages, government institutions, and more especially the Church. Amidst God’s own garden of Roses are Thorny weeds planted by the enemy.
It is such a tough world to be a believer in. One where consistency in loyalty to God is a very difficult feat to achieve. A place where wolves take the appearance of sheep 🐑. And straying herds will have itself to blame. Then you have cases where goats walk boldly through the doors while the sheep jump high windows.It is totally evil what is happening now.
While the Watchmen sleep the enemy sneaks in to spray seeds of discord and confusion amidst God’s children. The thorns grow and shadow out the Roses thereby creating an illusion of faith where there is none. Appearance becomes the order of the day. Earth has become bigger and smaller at the same time. A system is birthed that offers keys to solving basic problems at a fantastic speed. This is what keeps man on his toes. The thorns have become the open doors. The Roses 🌹 🌹 are no where to be found. They have withered and are gone.
The Thorns; What Are They?
They are the friendly enemies. The Judases. The initiators. The harbingers of evil report. The serial sinners. The devil’s incarnates. The agents of Kingdom darkness. They are goal driven: to pull down as many souls as they can. This is their simple instruction. Destroy until the lights are out. They are behind the scenes wherever destruction happens. They are bad omens and are okay with the sufferings mankind is trapped in.
The Way out of Thorny Situations
Pray to overcome their evil tactics. Pray without season. Then remember to flee every appearance of evil. Don’t negotiate with evil. You will never win. Just avoid everything that looks like temptation around and in your life. Remember to run as fast as your feet can take you
Arm yourself with these Passages: Mathew 26 vs 41, 1 These 5 vs 16 -22
One of the sermons of our Lord Jesus Christ that highlights the importance of setting our priorities right as believers here on Earth is the teaching on wealth accumulation. It is also the most twisted and often intentionally ignored sermon considering it discourages to a point the now indiscriminate campaign on prosperity and financial increase by Preachers today who should I say sadly are overtly more interested in fame and fortune than making it to Heaven. Is the goal still Heaven?
The Love of Money💰
In the time Christ’s Ministry was on Earth wealth was only in the ✋ of a few. You could count them in Israel. Rome had the control of more than 50% of the world including Israel. In Israel you had the Merchant traders licensed by Rome. The Tax officers who made money from oppression and extortion and then fishermen. To excel in that time you really need to belong to a system that favors a certain class of the society. Many Jews denied their faith and loyalty to Israel just to win Caesar’s favor. They consequently got what they wanted. Others became Roman spies and harbingers of violence against their people. Others found Tax collection a lucrative career. They became really rich from exploiting the poor. Losing such opportunities and connections would mean losing the respect they brought them, and becoming poor again. To protect that luxury would require gaining more and staying there at the top at whatever cost. So the more of this fortune they gained the more relevant they stayed. Jesus understood that this would be a major problem for the Jews. So this teaching was timely then as it still now. In Mathew 6 vs 19 he reminded his audience that everything here on Earth has an expiry date especially wealth. Making it a priority would take ones interest away from the things of God and life after death. It also is not possible to keep having them even in the grave since everything will decay here. Why worry so much about it? Why do just anything for it?
The Perfect Treasure
He went on to share a Kingdom information on investment (verse 20-21). This is it: Fortunes accumulated in Heaven last forever. There there is no decay. There is no pollution nor is there any race over wealth or struggle over who has more. And remember, there is no sorrow or weeping there. That makes it the right place to invest your fortune on. But you asked; How can I store treasure in Heaven literally?
Kingdom Remittance: There is a formula for achieving this. It is like a system that let’s expatriates in Nigeria for instance have their salaries paid into their foreign accounts which is in their country of residence where of course their families are. They are however given certain allowances for shopping and miscellaneous expenses. So as they work they earn. Their salary range depends on hours worked and efficiency. So the one who takes his jobs serious and delivers on it earns more and his foreign account balance rises. This is a simulation of what is obtained in Heaven. Every good deed and effort made towards living righteously has a certain measure of wage it attracts. The more hard one works the better off their accounts in Heaven is. The Kingdom lazy and negligent ones keep zero accounts in Heaven. How busy your account is determines the weight of your treasure in Heaven. At the end of everyone’s time here on this workspace we will stand before the Auditor General and defend our account statement.
A New Life in Christ: We have before us a brand new key to a safe, a cheque book, a new Visa and everything you will ever need for a brand new life in Christ. God has indeed given us a reason to smile again. When we acknowledge and receive Jesus into our lives we begin afresh and can now store up the real treasures. We live and work like him who when his work was done here ascended to Heaven where now seats to judge the living and the dead. Today he sits on the throne of David as the Chief judge of all. What treasure is greater than that? Like Jesus, let your aim be to represent God here on Earth by every means made possible to you by the spirit. Be interested in living a holy and emulatable life. Heaven takes records of all things.
It is popularly believed that most trials and challenges have their root in Satan. This view is considered true because Satan is known for having great interest in causing Havoc to Mankind. From the days of the first Adam even till date he has been in the business. However, as evil as he may be he only has the permission to execute a given number of trials some of which are specially reserved for believers. These carefully selected trials are called Tests; The Necessary Test.
Test is a Mechanical Engineering phase
What the Bible Says About Tests
They Are Compulsory: When Jesus was admonishing his disciples as recorded in Mark 9 vs 49, he pointed out that tests are for everyone. Some versions calls it “Seasoning in the fire”. This is a kingdom process. It is compulsory for everyone who would be handling the things of God especially specific assignments.
They prepare the Steward: Trials are necessary test that sharpens us. Going through them helps build in us certain qualities heaven expects us to possess for certain roles and purposes. It especially builds our patience according to James 1 vs 3. If a Man with a severe addiction be deprived of the very thing he is obsessed with he would overtime if he stays focused on getting better and moving on without it grow out of it. If Jesus was tested by Satan, we will be tested too.
They are Rewarding: The recipient grows out through the test into something wonderful with a divine approval for exploits. Such a person is then ready to fulfill his purpose and to consequently receive the reward that awaits those that diligently seek God’s face.
A tale of sorrow and of pain of a woman in great distress. What was wrong?
God came to Jeremiah in a revelation with a poetic description of a pitiable situation of a woman whose voice can be heard across Ramah. She was in a great despair for her children are no more. How Jeremiah felt at such a time will be nothing short of pity. How do you comfort such a woman? Will your words be enough? Her children are no more.
Rachel
Rachel in this prophesy represents Israel in a time when the Jews were in captivity. It was a time of great sorrow for a country constantly plunged by her enemies. Babylon had taken the people into captivity. There is no denying the obvious truth that many would have died while resisting. Heaven has heard their cries and God has remembered her.
So God declared unto Jeremiah his plan for Rachel and her children. Restoration is possible. All that has been lost will be restored. Thus he did with the assurance of a brighter future.
God’s Promise
In Mathew 2 vs 9, Mathew compares the sisituation in the time of Jeremiah to that which happened around the time of the birth of Christ when new borns were slaughtered. It was a time of great sorrow. However Jesus was safely moved out into Egypt until Herod died. Then he was returned to Israel where he grew and fulfilled his purpose.
God promises RESTORATION to all who mourn and are in sorrow. There is hope. Be comforted.
You will be restored
You will be pardoned
There is hope for the future
May all you have lost be replenished a thousand fold. AMEN
As part of his assignment Jesus proposed a very simple prayer as a guide to his new converts. He understood they would need it and drafted a simple prayer for them. Before Christ only the Pharisees were permitted to read the scriptures and lead in songs. In Mathew 6 all that changed. Thus he opened theirs eyes to all they have been denied of.
He listens
Our Father in Heaven
They can talk to God directly now. No one has to do that on their behalf. He is in heaven but is very near.
Hallowed be Your Name
God cherishes our praise. He adores it when we say it ourselves. May everything that has breath praise the Lord. This is what God cherishes.
Thy Kingdom Come
We can ask for God’s authority to be established in our homes, business centers, churches, school and especially on earth. His Kindom represents his glory and power.
Thy Will be Done on Earth
We can ask for God’s Will to be done. We know that his will represents his thoughts for us (Jeremiah 29 vs 11). We can ask for that too.
Grant us This Day our Daily Bread
Meet us at our point of need today both in the spirit and in kind. God will never leave nor forsake.
Forgive us Our Sins as We forgive others
Jesus knew that we must forgive others if we are to be forgiven. This is the way of Heaven. God is ever ready to forgive.
Lead us not into Temptation
There are trials and temptations that Heaven permits. But then they are to help us become better. However, if we daily as for safety, even mercy will prevail for our sake.
Deliver us from all Evil
This especially is God’s desire for us. He wants us to stay safe and be comforted. He is ever willing to defend us. (Psalm 91 vs Isaiah 54)
All power and glory belongs to Yahweh. He is ever faithful to help us in times of need. Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus. The love of God. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Be with you now and forever even until the return of our saviour
