Posts

Showing posts from August, 2024

COSTLY DISOBEDIENCE

Text:Numbers 20:8 &11. "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals..." Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.   Though disobedience generally results into punishable consequences, but  certain acts of disobedience do result in grievous results.  Moses had endured the Isrealites' murmuring and disobedience on many occasions, but for this particular contention.  At the wilderness of Zin, the Isrealites contended with Moses and Aaron because they had no water. They said to Moses, "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!(Numbers 20:3).  God gave Moses an instruction to take his rod and go speak to the rock before the people. Moses took the rod

DO WHAT YOU HEAR

Image
Text: Matthew 7:26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: It's simply foolishness  when you hear so much, and you do next to nothing about what you've heard. Wisdom is only found with those who hear and act on what they've heard. It is also self deception for you to keep hearing God's words every now and then without making necessary adjustment under the grace of the revealed truth. James chapter 1 verse 22 encourages us not just to be hearers only. *"But be  doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves"*   *Until what you have heard is translated into action, you have not truly heard anything.*  Jesus likened those who hear His words without acting on them as being foolish . Though no one will ever agree to be tagged as being foolish, but the truth is  we sometimes act foolishly by disobeying God's instructions which offer us great. promise

Redeem the Time

Image
Text:Eph 5:15-17. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time,because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Time is the most essential resource God has given to man on earth. Your future is simply defined by how you are able to invest your time today. The difference between world changers and spectators is simply in the usage and Investment of their time. *While so many people spend time, only very few invest and convert time.* No one on earth has more than 24hours per day, but some people are able to produce more with their 24hrs than others. This is what we call efficiency and effectiveness.   To be effective and efficient in life, you must learn how to convert your time. While some folks are jumping from pillar to post, some have learnt to sit down, think and invest their time in a worthy cause. Don’t ever be deceived by thinking that you still have more time. Anyone who spends his time lav

THE POOR

Image
Text: Proverbs 17:5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,  and the one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished. The poor needs no definition, when you see one you will know. Jesus Christ said, the poor you will always have with you (Mark 14:7). So, the poor are always around.  The question however is, what are you doing with the poor around you?  Don't be too quick to mock anyone. Specifically, the scriptures warns us not to mock the poor, because that's as good as insulting your Maker. The following are God's instructions concerning the poor: 1.Intentionally leave a portion of your produce for the poor and stranger to benefit from. (Leviticus 19:10, 23:22). Don't just live for yourself,  set a portion aside for the needy. 2.Don't oppress your employee, (or anyone who renders you service)  especially the Poor ones. (Deuteronomy. 24:14, Proverbs 28:27). 3.Show pity to the Poor,  because in so doing you are lending to the Lord. (Proverbs 19:17). 4.Do

WAY MAKER-2

Image
Text: Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth: shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness,  and rivers in the desert. God promised that He will do a new thing for you, and that He will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. He has done this before, and He will do it again even in your own life.  When the children of Israel left Egypt, the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them, encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.(Exodus 14:9). Just like anyone would react, the Isrealites became so fearful because there is neither way forward nor back for them to escape. Before them was the red sea, behind them were the Egyptian armies. They became perplexed and began to murmur against Moses. It is possible you are also in a situation like the Israelites- No way forward, and no way behind. Things may appear like you are stranded. Desp

WAY MAKER

Image
Text: Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth: shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness,  and rivers in the desert. Our God is a God with uncountable names. Each of His names spells out dimension of His personality, strength and Power.   Our God is called a Way-maker because He makes ways where there is none. As far as God is concerned, there is no roadblock. (Isaiah 43:19). This dimension of His name as a Way-maker is beyond what man could think or fathom. For instance, when the Israelites were leaving Egypt for the promised land,  the Way-Maker showed up for them. He intentionally led them by the way of the wilderness and made a  way for them through the red sea.  (Exodus 13:18). Now, the Way-Maker is saying to you that He will do a new thing. New thing is new way!  He is the God that takes delights in making the impossible possible. (Matthew 19:26). Today, the Lord shall make a way for you where there is none in Jesus name.  Jesus

WORD WAR!-2

Image
Text: Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." God gave victory to Isreal over the Philistines because David understood how to fight the word-war. Goliath referred to the Isrealis army as the servants of Saul (1 Samuel 17:8) but David called them the armies of the living God. (1 Samuel 17:26). To engage in any word-war and come out victoriously,  you must first and foremost know your true identity.   *Having a true identity of who you are in Christ will position you to answer and respond to life challenges appropriately*.  David asked the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? Indeed, who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1Samuel 17:26. Unlike the rest of the Isrealis armies,  David saw Goliath for who He truly was,-'an uncircumcised Philistine.' Regardless of his stature and the e

WORD WAR

Image
Text: Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Every war starts with words, watch your words. Goliath (the champion of Philistines' army) had held  Israel up in fear for 40 days and 40 nights. He did this not only because of his height and stature, but by his words. He kept releasing fear into the atmosphere of the armies of Israel by his words.  ...He cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? [Am] I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." (1 Samuel 17:8 & 9).   Goliath defined the real war by his words. He further said,  "...I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." (1 Samuel

A VERY PRESENT HELP 2

Text : Psalms  46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. That God has used someone to be a blessing to you doesn't make the fellow your source of blessing. Ultimately,  God is your source.*  God is the only help that can never fail. Be grateful for help received from man, but don't look up to man for help. If God did not help you, man cannot help you, because vain is the help of man. (2 Kings 6:27, Psalms 60:11). At times, men can be of help to you (because God permitted it so), but man will never be there always. Infact, most times, man always disappear when you need him the most. The only ever present help is God. Jeremiah 17:5 says: *“Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind, who makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.*  In this life, you will always need help, but your only assured help,  which will never disappoint is God. God is your refuge and strength, your very present help in trouble,  cling onto Him. Look unto

DON'T BURN THE BRIDGE

Image
Text: Philemon 1:10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. We have more teachings today telling people to cut off relationships that are unproductive in their lives. While this may be sensible sometimes, it is not helpful most times. Though wisdom will demand that you should know when a particular relationship has expired or when it is staled, yet you must see to it that you do not deliberately kill a relationship that you ought to maintain or restore. For one reason or the other, Onesimus had left or fled from Philemon, his master. Some bible commentaries had accounted the reason for the break in relationship to theft.  Apostle Paul met Onesimus in Rome, preached to him, and got him converted. Paul the Apostle now wrote to Philemon, appealing to him to restore Onesimus who once was unprofitable to him, but now is profitable to  both of them (Paul and Philemon). It is possib

YOUR FATHER

Text : Matthew 6:26. Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren’t you? *The truth is, many people call God Father, but not many acknowledged Him as Father.*  Imagine that your father is the President or Head of states of your country. Some of the things you worry about will not be your headache in any way. But in actual fact,  your father is far higher than any earthly king or president.  If indeed you acknowledge God as your Father, your disposition towards life will be totally different. Some of the things you worry over will be non consequential.  Jesus Christ wasn't playing with words when He referred to the creator of heaven and earth as your Father. He said that the creator and owner of the universe is your Father. Can you take some minutes to reflect on this truth? Jesus, when talking to his disciples could have said, "my heavenly Father feeds the

THE WAY

Image
Text: Proverbs 22:6. Train a child in the way appropriate for him, and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it. It is an open revelation that the devil is targeting homes. This explains why we have many broken homes today.*  *A broken home will produce broken and hurting children.* Obviously, you can only give what you have. It will be grossly improper to expect an incorrect parent to raise a correct child.*It takes a well trained parent to train up a child in the correct way.*  A number of times, people think money is a major factor in raising a goodly child. If this is true (which Obviously isn't) then all the children of the so called rich people should turn out to be a well behaved, well cultured, and well trained children.  But we don't need a research to know that this is not the case. Expressly, the word of God told us that there is a way a child should be brought up, and once a child is set on this path, he will not depart from it, even in the absence of the par

INCREDIBLE LOVE-2

Image
Text : 1 Johnn 3:1   Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Love is a two way traffic, "I  love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me", the Lord said in the book of Proverb chapter 8 verse17. The two parties involved here are: the Almighty God and You! It has been established from the scriptures that the love of God is always constant because God is love, (1John 4:8). But the question is, do you love God? When you ask people this question, the ready-made answer is "Yes".  There is however a yardstick with which  your love for the Father God can be determined. Jesus Christ once said to one of his disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23). "Without mincing words,  *one major yardstick for showing your l

INCREDIBLE LOVE

Image
Text :1John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.*  The Amplified version of our text refers to the love the Father shows to us as incredible. It reads thus: "See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." A number of times, we are unable to see the love of the Father due to many reasons.  Some years back I was in a prayer meeting and a song was raised. The lyrics was simply talking about how good and loving God is to me.  Immediately,  I switched off because I felt the song was not so true concerning me. This was because of my feelings at that time. I was feeling rejected, dejected lonely, hurting, and depressed. As a result of my feelings and experiences,

DON'T BE ABSORBED-2

Image
Text:Luke 17:26&27. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Today, we shall be looking at the second human legitimate obligation that would be abrupted by the second coming of Jesus Christ. Just like in the days of Noah, humanity shall continue in their marital obligations, they shall be marrying wives and they shall be given in marriage. While marriage is not against the Will of God, it however remains one of the human obligations that will be brought to an end by Christ’s second coming. It is however worthy to note that *the most important, foremost and eternal purpose of marriage in this life is to raise godly family and seeds unto God.* Anything short of this makes such marriage unfruitful to God and to His purpose. All marriages end here on earth. There is no marriage in heaven. J

DON'T BE ABSORBED.

Image
Text:Luke 17:26&27. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Jesus Christ made a very vital remark  about His second coming which all believers must pay keen attention to. On several occasions, Jesus  would instruct His disciples to watch and pray. For instance, in Matthew 25:13, He said "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." As a follow-up to this call, He gave a similar instance that would precede His coming. Just like in the days of Noah, human activities and commerce will be going on as usual. Jesus mentioned few human activities that will continue as usual, but would be interrupted by His appearance. These activities are legitimate ones. Such include: 1.Eating and Drinking: One may wonder how and why Jesus mentioned

TREASURE 2

Image
Text: Mathew 13:44  “The kingdom from heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found and hid. In his excitement he went and sold everything he had and bought that field.”   *What will you do if you happen to locate a hidden treasure?* We stopped at this question yesterday. We'll attempt to answer it today.  On a norms, anyone that stumbled on a hidden treasure will look for means of keeping it. Jesus said, "the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found and hid. In his excitement he went and sold everything he had and bought that field." The man was able to sell all that he had in order to buy the field because he knew what is on the field worths much more than all he had.  *The moment you know the worth of the kingdom of heaven, you'll do everything to make it there.*  When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to be saved, Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the

TREASURES

Image
Text: Mathew 13:44  “The kingdom from heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found and hid. In his excitement he went and sold everything he had and bought that field.”   Our text today is about the only parable in the Bible that Jesus gave within the space of just one verse. Though just a verse, it is well loaded. So, let's take a look at the message our Master was trying to pass across: 1. *The kingdom from heaven* Other version renders it as kingdom of heaven. Whichever way, the bottom line is, there's a kingdom that is not of this earth. *Isn't it amazing how a number of us live as though everything ends here on earth?* No, there's another kingdom that spreads out into eternity. It is called the kingdom of God. This kingdom cannot be accessed by anyone who is not willing to accept Christ.  However, Jesus is giving us insights as to how to  gain admission into this kingdom.  2. *Hidden Treasure:*  This is why many are oblivious of this kingdom, because