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Showing posts with the label The Word

BIRTHDAY ISSUES: QUESTIONS ARISING

In my earlier post on the above subject, I gave Biblical foundations against its celebration by true saints. I hereby answers some questions posed in order to avoid "the trumpet giving an uncertain sound" on this heathen practice that has penetrated deep and hard into the body of Christ. 1. BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS?  a. "Learn not the way of the heathen...for the customs of the people are vain" (Jeremiah 10:2,3). Birthday celebrations are of heathen origin and practice (check online). It is very striking that it was never mentioned among the saints in both the Old and the New testaments, except among the heathen like Pharaoh and Herod. b. "And be not confirmed to this world" (Romans 12:2). This is clear enough for any who desires to please God. c. "Love not the world... If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15-16). This is not human verdict. 2. NONESSENTIAL?   The issue of worldliness was not classified as nonesse

THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "CHRISTAN" II.

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 15 June 2020. TOPIC: THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "CHRISTAN" II. TEXT: 2 COR. 5:16-20  MESSAGE Antioch is actually supposed to be the"mother church" in Christendome and not Rome. It is recorded that Paul and Barnabas sojourned in Antioch for one full year, teaching and grooming people from various belief about God to be under the umbrella of Christianity. There was a lot of contempt, mockery and persecutions from other professed scholars in the Jewish religious together with the hearthens and Gentiles which did not restrain or deter these true followers from sticking together in their manner and belief of worship once converted.  There was no longer Jews nor Gentiles as all the former marks of distinction and separation were no longer visible in the new church of Christ. The name of Jesus although not used in philosophy were the followers of Plato assured and preferred to be called Platonists and other likewise, the office of Chris

How to Treat Helpers!

MEDITATION DEUTERONOMY 15:12-23 How to treat our house helps, servants and employees 1. Put their future interest, freedom and prosperity in perspective. Don't be selfish v12. 2. Don't use and dump. Have specific plans for their successful independent living v12. 3. In determining their wages, treat them like human beings who should have enough to secure their present and prepare for their future. Don't be like Laban, Jacob's master  v12. 4. Don't be oppressive. Treat them in such a way that they will enjoy working for you and if they are to leave, it will be reluctantly vv16,17. 5. Settle them after they have served you and it is time to release them vv13,18. 6. Don't enslave them. Don't use affliction, deprivation, denials or delays in paying them to drive them away vv13,14. 7. The reward and blessings that follow obedience and love outweigh the sacrifice v18c.  8. It is expected of the servants to behave brotherly and sacrificially in a way that the emplo

SAY 'NO' TO ENSLAVEMENT

DAILY MANNA SUNDAY, JUNE 14 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first SAY 'NO' TO ENSLAVEMENT  TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 15:12-23. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee" (DEUTERONOMY 15:12). On December 2, 1808, in his annual message to Congress, widely reprinted in most newspapers, President Thomas Jefferson denounced the "violation of human rights" attending the international slave trade and called for its criminalisation. The Lord, in this chapter, prohibited the Israelites from keeping fellow Israelites servants beyond six years. On the seventh year, they should be set free and allowed to go wherever they want without any conditions. The servant who willingly expresses his or her desire to stay in service beyond six years, is to have a hole bored on the right ear to signify that he volunt

The Origin Of The Word "Christian"

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: Sunday 14th June, 2020. TOPIC: The Origin Of The Word "Christian" TEXT: Act 11:21  MESSAGE The word Christian is far different from Judaism, and it is not related to religious sects like the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Sanhedrin or Zealots and the likes. Though the name was not used in the old testament there were priests, prophets Kings and subjects that lived a righteous life with the fear of God. The word Christian originated from the progeny of Christ after He ascended. It is simply defined as disciples and followers of Christ who had a serious thought embracing the religion of Christ using it as their chief care to shape their lives through His precepts and examples. They are the believers that had completely disciplined themselves to the way of life Christ displayed here on earth. The name Christian is not bought with money, position or affluence. It is not to be demanded or forcefully retained. It is like respect which can never be

Breaking Evil Covenant

MEDITATION EZEKIEL 17:11-24. How to break an evil covenant 1. The evil covenant a. Jerusalem was already captured and had already experienced the first deportation to Babylon 2 Chronicles 36:10. b. Zedekiah was installed as King by Nebuchadnezzar under an evil covenant if he wanted to enjoy his reign 2 Chronicles 36:13. c. What was the term of the covenant? That the kingdom of Judah will forever be base, in subjection and perpetual defeat, Ezekiel 17:14.  d. What was the benefit? Judah will not be destroyed and the king will not be taken to captivity Ezekiel 17:14. e. Since it was a national covenant, the princes and leaders were part of this evil covenant Ezekiel 17:13. Q Why do people go into unrighteous covenants with greater powers, civil or spiritual, nowadays? Hebrews 2:15. 2. God's attitude towards evil covenants a. Did God recognise the covenant? Why not? It was voluntary. Both sides had their benefits and the repercussions. God is a covenant keeper and He is a witness to a

DON'T BE A REBEL!

DAILY MANNA SATURDAY, JUNE 13 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first DON'T BE A REBEL! EZEKIEL 17:11-24. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?" (EZEKIEL 17:15). Russian communist leader, Joseph Stalin was one time a seminary student, preparing for the ministry. He made a decisive break from God later in his life. This dramatic and complete reversal of his conviction resulted in his hatred of all religion. Stalin, not his real name, means "Steel." This name was given to him by his contemporaries who fell under his steel-like determination. He became one of Russia's most brutal dictators, sending millions of his own people into the labour camps and many to their untimely death. He could have become a priest, but ended up a

The Love Of Money

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: Saturday 13th June, 2020. TOPIC: The Love Of Money TEXT: 1 Tim. 6:8-10  MESSAGE Money is not evil and can never be evil. It is a legally binding means of entitlement to wealth, payable for all depts and taxes and regulated in supply. Simply put, it is a legal tender - a general acceptable means of exchange and measure of values. So we can see that it is not evil. Many believers, now have preference for money over the things of God. The love of money has drawn too many people a way to commit evil unspeakable. it has Led many away from the faith that they once adhered and professed to.  They now covet money,  amassing of wealth, insatiable and uncontrollable greed to get it quick and more has Led many including notable and numerous men of God into destruction and loss of souls. The love for money has made many to err in feet blinding their faculty. What? The love of money is the root of all evil as many marriages are now in shambles, ritualistic killing,

THE DANGER OF HAUGHTINESS

DAILY MANNA FRIDAY, JUNE 12 2020 It is advisable that you meditatively read the text first THE DANGER OF HAUGHTINESS  TEXT : ISAIAH 2:10-22. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day" (ISAIAH 2:17). The human heart is a very deep reservoir of several ideas, thoughts and actions. When the heart overvalues the man, it pushes him to overestimate who he is and what he can do. No man wishes to put himself down except if he suffers inferiority complex. In fact, the Bible talks about every man proclaiming his own good. So, naturally there is tendency in every man to have some elements of pride. Our passage for meditation today, however, takes a critical look at pride that makes a man to disregard, dishonour and disobey God's commandments as set out in the Scriptures. The picture we have in this narration captures an individual or a group of people, a nation, who deli

Great Tribulation

MEDITATION A rehearsal of the Great Tribulation? The literal fulfilment of the text will be in the Great Tribulation. For example, cp vv19-21 and Revelation 6:15,16. However, the pandemic is  showing that the fulfilment will be literal. 1. Some modern day sins that will precede the great tribulation a. Proud look vv11,17. Sin is a heart problem, but it  will always seek to overflow to the outward appearance in dressing, physical and outward comportment etc., if not dealt with. Q Mention some of the elements of outward look that show pride and worldliness. b. Arrogance vv11,17. Unprecedented arrogance against God and His word, due mental knowledge, wealth etc. will characterize these last days. P Think of how mental knowledge and quest for wealth have replaced the knowledge of God in this age. c. The idols of latter days will be more of love of wealth (gold and silver), worldly wisdom (knowledge that is exclusive of God and godliness), wickedness, worldliness and wantonness  v20. Are yo

Revelations on Prayers

MEDITATION PSALM 5:1-7. Some revelations on prayers 1. Some levels of prayers  vv1-3. a. Meditations or desires v1. Proverbs 10:24b and  Isaiah 65:24 show that God do grant some meditations/desires without asking. So, mind your meditations and thoughts.  Q Can you think of a case in the Bible where mere desire was granted without prayers? b. Worded and vocalised prayers v1. The prayers are worded but none is hearing except the petitioner. An example was Hannah, I Samuel 1:13. Some desires will not be granted until you ask Matthew 7:7. c. Voiced and audible prayers v3. This requires voicing out your requests to God in such a way that others may hear, Jeremiah 33:3.  d. Crying to God v2. This involves seeking and knocking the gates of heaven with passion and strong intensity. Q Apart from Jesus at Gethsemane, which other example do you have in the Bible? e. Prayer of confession of faith/praise vv4,6, Romans 4:20. Q Give an example where Judah resorted to praise when it appeared they did

PRAYING TO RECEIVE

DAILY MANNA THURSDAY, JUNE 11 2020 It is advisable that you meditatively read the text first PRAYING TO RECEIVE  TEXT: PSALM 5:1-7. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray" (PSALM 5:1,2). Dr George Washington Carver once wrote on the subject of the potency of prayer, "My prayer seems to be more of attitude than anything else. I indulge in no lip service, but ask the great God silently, daily and often many times a day, to permit me to speak to Him. I ask Him to give me wisdom, understanding and bodily strength to do His will. Hence I am asking and receiving all the time." The secret of a close relationship with God is prayer. Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. The psalmist considered not only the potency of prayer but also expanded the necessary ingredients that could make prayer effectu

Idol Worshippers - Lessons

MEDITATION Exodus 1:15-22 Some lessons from idol worshippers 1. The midwives were brought up in an idolatrous environment, yet they believed and feared the only true God above all else. L Your godless background should not be an excuse for not seeking the truth and breaking off from false religions or ways.  vv17,21.  2. All the Egyptians and the task masters cooperated with Pharaoh in carrying out evil racial and hateful assignment except the midwives v11,12.  L Be willing and ready to distinguish yourself from majorityif you want to please God Exodus 23:2. 3. The nurses, in line with their professional training, had a strong conviction on the sanctity of life and were not ready to compromise it vv16,17. Q Are you faithful to the ethics of your profession even when it is tough to do so? vv15,16. 4. Their fear of God made them to obey God above the most powerful king on earth at that time vv17-19. Q Do you have such an uncompromising fear of God? Acts 5:29. 5. God is a faithful rewarde

WISDOM PAYS

DAILY MANNA WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and  meditatively read the text first WISDOM PAYS  TEXT: EXODUS 1:15-22. 🔑KEY VERSE "But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded, but saved the men children alive" (EXODUS 1:17). The culture of volleying blame, buck-passing and excuses are prevalent in our society. Too often, people are quick to blame others for their misdemeanor, weaknesses and lack of conviction or wicked actions. Employees blame employers for tempting or pressuring them to be unfaithful or lazy because they are not being treated fairly. Some husbands/wives may try to hide under the leaking umbrella of having 'a difficult spouse' as an excuse for extra-marital affair. But the narrative in our passage stands to condemn many people and shut their mouths from giving excuses for failures and lack of fear of God. The midwives had every excuse under heaven to carry out the ungodly and inhuman decree of Ph

Constant Companionship With God

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: Wednesday 10th June 2020. TOPIC: Constant Companionship With God TEXT: PS 23:3-4  MESSAGE When we agree to subject ourselves to His directives and live in obedience to His word, not turning aside our conscience, he leads us by the still waters, i.e. in dangers, deep and imminent, He leads us. Even when the true believers wander away from the paths into the by paths, God shows them their errors and there is repentance as they come back quickly to their duty post. verse 4 of our text says, "Though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, "FOR THOU ART WITH ME" thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."  David as a young Lad suffered and passed through series of dangers.  As a youth, Saul sought to kill David with all his military powers and when he was aged, there was internal face off and gang ups that even made him run away from his throne. This was what prompted him to write this psalm - "Though i w

More Than Mental Faith

MEDITATION James 2:10-26 More than mental faith and confession 1. The laws of God by which man will be judged are more than the 10 commandments vv9,10.  2. 99.9% obedience = 100% disobedience to God vv10-13. No man can please the Holy God by good works without definite salvation or new birth experience. 3. While good works cannot save any except by personal faith in Christ, genuine faith is known by the good works we manifest vv14-16. 4. Divine Mathematics a. Good works - faith in Christ = 0% (total failure). Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8,9. b. Faith in Christ - good works = 0% (total failure) vv14, 17, 26. c. Faith - good works = vain religion v20.  c. A man of faith without a new life in Christ is not better than Satan v19.  d. Faith + fruits of repentance + good works = 100% v22. e. Any score less than 100% is failure v10. Who said new birth minus holy living is sufficient? Lord, I realise that good trials are not enough, give me the new birth that will turn my efforts into experien

PROVE YOUR FAITH

DAILY MANNA TUESDAY, JUNE 9 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first PROVE YOUR FAITH  TEXT: JAMES 2:10-26. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (JAMES 2:18). It is all too easy to seek to extol our personal virtues, flaunt our spiritual gifts and make ourselves look better than other people. Whereas, this may impress men, it accounts for little or nothing before God. What matters to Him is the result of whatever spiritual experiences we claim to possess. Apostle James underscored this point when he stressed that believers must not strive for half measures. They either obey all the laws or they fail in all. Their words must match their actions. In the same vein, he said if they profess to possess faith, it can only show by their good works. It is no use telling someone in need, who came to you for help, that God will bless him

No Other Foundation

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: Tuesday 9th June 2020. TOPIC: No Other Foundation. TEXT: Isaiah 58:12.  MESSAGE A part of Isaiah 52:12 says "the repairer of breach" which means that true Christians are repairers or the ones responsible to retain, sustain, amend ruptures in marriages and settle amicable any breach in content of promise to avoid the outbreak of violence, rift or confusion. For our righteousness to shine and for our lights to rise and dismiss obscurity we need to (a) loose the brand of wickedness (ii) undo the heavy burdens (iii) let the oppressed go free (iv) break every yoke (v) deal our bread to them that are hungry (vi) provide shelter for the homeless (vii) clothe they who are naked and (viii) have total and perfect compassion and tender affection for the above mentioned classes as if we were doing it for our own selves. Ministers of the gospel must be wise master builders so as to be able to guide the members in the areas where they can help and be helpe

Count Not It As Strange Experience

MEDITATION James 1:1-15 Don't count it a strange experience please 1. The reality v2. You will at one time or the other experience divers (not just one) situations that will tend to shake your faith John 16:33. 2. The righteousness v2,12. This is different from temptations to sin. Believers are not to fall into temptations but we will fall into trials. We are not to endure temptations but to resist them; we are to endure trials. No sinner will experience a trial of faith because they don't have saving faith. 3. The rationale v3. Trials of faith are permitted by God to try, test, toughen and make your faith triumphant in troublous times. 4. The roughness v8. It is a rough experience that will expose your hypocrisy and unfaithfulness, if you don't have genuine faith, thereby propelling you to seek for the real experience. 5. The radiance v2. Radiate the joy of the Lord without despondency because trials show that God is interested in pulling you out of the register  of hypocr

PERFECTED BY TRIALS

DAILY MANNA MONDAY, JUNE 8 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first PERFECTED BY TRIALS  TEXT : JAMES 1:1-15. 🔑 KEY VERSE "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (JAMES 1:3,4). "The tree that never had to fight for sun and sky and air and light, that stood out in the open plain and always got its share of rain, never became a forest King but lived and died a scrubby thing..." So wrote Douglas Malloch in his poem, Good Timber. Similarly, as observed by Mildred Witte Struven, "A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain." That is the case with our faith. Our text makes it clear that the trying of our faith produces patience which in turn works out our perfection. Our attitude therefore when we "fall into divers temptat