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Tag: Christ

  • The mind of Christ (4) – By Femi Aribisala

    The mind of Christ (4) – By Femi Aribisala

    The worrisome mind is anathema to the mind of Chist. The mind that is fretful and full of anxiety is a mind that does not glorify God. The worrisome mind is the mind that does not trust God. It is the mind that does not believe that God is God. It is the mind that does not have faith in God. It is the mind that is not fed on the word of God. It is the mind that is not built on the rock of God’s word. 

    Paul says:

     Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

    (NKJ)

     Don’t be anxious about anything. Have you told God about it? Then you can relax. Look at the case of Hannah. She was all hot and bothered, but after she prayed about her barrenness in the temple, she went her way and was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:12-18)

    We go to parties and have a few drinks so we can be out of our minds.

    Jesus says:

    “I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? …Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25/27).

    The doubtful mind

    Jesus says:

    “Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.” (Luke 12:29).

    The doubtful mind is anathema to the mind of Christ.

    “Love never gives up, never loses faith. (1 Corinthians 13:7).

    The doubtful mind gives up. It does not believe the testimonies of God. It says: “God, if only you would do it just one more time.” It does not believe God’s promises.

    In the doubtful mind, the worries of this world choke the word of |God and render it powerless.

    Jesus says:

    “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22).

     The worries of this life choke the word. They strangulate the word. They make the word of God unproductive in our lives.

    Peace and rest are evidence of God’s presence in us. When we are exhausted or anxious, it is difficult to hear God clearly. Therefore. be still and know that God is God.

     “Jesus says to Martha:

     “You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:41-42).

    You are worried about too many things, whereas all you need to do is concentrate on the word of God.

    Casting all your care upon (Jesus), for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).

    Jesus Himself says:

    “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

    The peaceful mind

    The mind of Christ is a mind at peace. “For (Jesus) Himself is our peace.” (Ephesians 2:13). The peaceful mind belongs to he whose heart is set on the Lord. The psalmist says:

    “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” (Psalm 57:7).

    The heart that is fixed cannot be swayed by events. It cannot be swayed by situations and circumstances. It is not easily destabilised by storms and raging waves of the sea. “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” (Psalm 112:7).

     Isaiah concurs: 

    You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

    Mothers have to be very careful. A lot of mothers lose their faith if something bad happens to their children.

     The spiritual mind

    The mind of Christ is the spiritual mind. Paul says:

    “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6).

    To be spiritually minded is to be open to those feelings that the Holy Spirit produces and be subject to His leadings. The spiritually-minded can easily be in the spirit and remain there without being distracted.

     Some say, “I can’t pray for any length of time.” This is because we are not spiritually minded. Our senses are not exercised to dwell on spiritual matters. Even when we pray, all our prayers are about the flesh. But if we are spiritually minded, we esteem spiritual things. We appreciate the beauty of holiness. We hunger and thirst for righteousness.

    The carnal mind

    The carnal mind is anathema to Christ. 

    To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:6-7).

    The carnal mind is the mind that follows the propensities and inclinations of the flesh. It is the mind that thinks sex, sex, sex. It is the mind filled with vain imaginations. It is the mind that dwells on the vainglories of this world. It is the mind that can only be appealed to by what is advantageous to itself. It is the greedy mind: the lustful mind. It is the mind that is set upon the things that are in this world. It is the mind that is set upon riches. It is the mind that seeks pleasure and is devoted to pleasing the flesh:

    She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (1 Timothy 5:6).

    The fleshly mind

    The fleshly mind is the antithesis of the spiritual mind. It is not the mind of Christ.

    Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5). 

    Col 2:18

    18  Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. (Colossians 2:18).

    The fleshly mind is vain. Paul says:

    “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.” (Ephesians 4:17).

    The mind, being the head, is supposed to govern the flesh. But in the fleshly mind, the flesh governs the mind.

    Many women have fleshly minds. It is all about makeup, hairstyles, jewelry, perfumes, and snazzy outfits.

    Peter counsels:

    “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” (1 Peter 3:3-6)

    Who is the “oga pata pata?” Is it your mind or your body? Can you resist adherence to the sensuous principle? If the answer is “No!,” then you have a fleshly mind.

    The sound mind

    The sound mind is the mind of Christ. 

    Do you doubt the grace of God? Do you doubt the mercy of God? Do you feel it applies to others but not to you? Are you fearful? Then you do not have a sound mind.

    God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).

    A sound mind is well-balanced and under the divine influences. In this regard, a sinner does not have a sound mind. It is said of the Prodigal Son:

    “When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’” (Luke 15:17-19).

    He looks back and says: “I must have been out of my mind.” “I must have been out of my mind.”

    That means he was out of his mind when he engaged in riotous living. Indeed, the whole philosophy of what some call entertainment is to make sure we are out of our minds.

    We go to parties and have a few drinks so that we can be out of our minds and do and say things that we would not have said if we were in our right minds. We take drugs so that we can be out of our minds. We watch certain films (like horror films) so we can be out of our minds.

    Within the context of the text, the sound mind is the mind that is not afraid or fearful. It is a mind that is sober and not easily excited. It is a mind not easily given to anger. It is a mind that is not captive to lustful passions.

  • The mind of Christ (2) – By Femi Aribisala

    The mind of Christ (2) – By Femi Aribisala

    Paul is the chief exponent in the scriptures of the imperative to have the mind of Christ. He taught what he lived, so we have him as our chief example.

    Paul teaches that:

    “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)/

    This new creation is new and will become new. He comes fully loaded but starts like a child, with everything needed to become a man already in place. In effect, if anyone is in Christ, he has the potential to become like Christ. But he must grow in Christ. He has put on Christ and must put on Christ.

    “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27).

    He must work out what God has worked in him. (Philippians 2:13). So, Paul tells us to put on what God has given to us.

    “Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”(Ephesians 4:24).

    “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.” (Romans 13:14).

    The single-minded believer has joyful confidence in the Lord.

     The future is now

    Jesus says:

    “The hour is coming, and now is.” (Hohn 4:23).

    One new thing that is coming, and now is, refers to our mind. Paul affirms that:

    “We have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

    But this mind must be developed.

    “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5-6).

    Allow the mind of Christ to be in you. Do not impede it. God is at work in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

    Therefore, we have to jettison the old and put on the new.

    “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Ephesians 4:23).

    “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

    Single-mindedness

    Paul was single-minded. He says:

    “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

    James says:

    “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8).

    Paul was pre-eminently Christ-centred. This single-mindedness was the source of his stability in affliction and adversity. Paul’s concerns were never about himself. His concerns and preoccupations were always about Christ and the gospel.

    Can you forget about yourself for some time? After all, you are supposed to be dead. A dead man is no longer concerned about himself.

    Paul says:

    “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

    Paul’s body was not his own. His future was not his own. His reputation was not his own. He tried to put himself last in every situation.

    He regarded everything that happened to him as circumstances sent by God to exalt Christ and promote the gospel. If he is jailed, it is to Christ’s advantage.

    “I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.” )Philippians 1:12-13).

    Nothing can happen to Paul that he would not see from Christ’s vantage point. Whatever happened to him, he regarded it as being to Christ’s advantage. This meant he would not grumble or complain about anything.

    ´According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20).

    Fellowship of suffering

    Paul considered it to be a privilege to suffer for Christ.

    “For to you has been given the privilege not only of trusting him but also of suffering for him.” (Philippians 1:29).

    In Philippians 3:10, he calls it the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. Similarly, in the book of Acts, the apostles were excited when they were beaten for Christ’s sake.

    “When they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:40-41).

    Jesus prescribes this fellowship in adversity:

    “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).

    Paul understood that the purpose of God was in every situation and circumstance of the life of a believer. Therefore, he prescribes that in everything, give thanks.

    Self abnegation

    Paul made it a habit not to think of himself, but to think of others. He also made a point of praying for others. He sought to encourage others. His heaven on earth was helping others.

    “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” (Philippians 1:3-4).

    “Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:7-8).

    If there were chains on Paul’s wrists, he re-conceptualised them as his “bonds in Christ.” If his adversaries were causing trouble in his absence while he was under house arrest, he rejoiced that they were preaching Christ.

    If his friends were worried about his incarceration and were praying for him, he became excited that this would exalt Christ. If there was a possibility that he might be killed, then he believed that Christ would be magnified in his death.

    In his single-mindedness, Paul put Christ and the furtherance of the gospel ahead of everything else.

    In effect, nothing that man can do can take away Paul’s joy in Christ. Imprison him, and Paul simply tells you he is a prisoner of Christ. Chain him to a guard, and Paul is convinced that the whole design was to give him a captive audience who is to be won over to the gospel.

    Confidence in Christ

    As a single-minded Christian, Paul refused to allow circumstances to overcome him. On the contrary, he turned every circumstance into an opportunity to magnify Christ and to win souls.

    Above all, Paul was confident about the supremacy of God. He was confident that the Philippians would continue in their Christian walk, not because of any diligence on the part of the church, but because of the power of God.

    “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6).

    He was confident that his trials had given believers in Rome new confidence in the gospel.

    “Most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:14).

    He was confident that he would soon come through the trials and be restored to his friends.

    “And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.” (Philippians 1:25).

    This is the blessing of being single-minded. The single-minded believer has joyful confidence in the Lord, knowing that Jesus controls all situations and circumstances.

    One mind

    Christian single-mindedness leads to submissiveness. Submissiveness to God yields sacrifice and service. The mind of Christ is submissive, meek, and lowly. Humility is not thinking of ourselves at all. But exaltation always follows humiliation.

    Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6).

    With Christ at the centre and as the glue, Christians are supposed to be like-minded, having the same love, of one spirit, and of the same purpose.

    “Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2).

    Nothing is to be done out of selfish ambition and each believer is enjoined to consider others better than himself and to be concerned about the interests of others.

    Jesus is the prime example of this selfless humility.

    “Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.’” (Romans 15:2-3).

    “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6).

  • The mind of Christ (1) – By Femi Aribisala

    The mind of Christ (1) – By Femi Aribisala

    In 1997, I rented a building in Victoria Island, Lagos for two years for N1.5 million naira. When I did, God told me He had given the building to me, even though I was only a tenant. I believed Him because I have a mind of Christ. He says to me, “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16).

     The mind of Christ hears the voice of Jesus and believes the word of God. Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). Jesus’ sheep do not lean on their own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5). It did not make sense to presume I would own an expensive house in an exclusive part of Lagos when I was just the tenant.

     “Nevertheless, at Your word (Jesus).” (Luke 5:5). So, I spent N6 million renovating a building not my own, but promised to me.

    After 2 years, when my tenancy expired, the landlady’s lawyer approached me. She said the landlady would like to sell the building and would like to sell it to me. I never even asked to buy it. She told me the landlady’s father willed the building to her. She had never even seen it before. She lived in Chicago with her American husband.

    She wants to sell the building in Lagos so she can buy a building in Chicago.

     So, in 2000, I bought a building in Victoria Island, Lagos, at the ridiculous price of only N26 million naira. I did not even have the money to pay for it. I paid in instalments over four years, and God miraculously provided the final N10 million.

     Fast forward 25 years, and I now understand the building is worth N3 billion naira. That is now the cost of the land. That is what Jesus does. “It is He who gives (us) power to get wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

     Nouveau Schools

     In 2010, I established a school in the building. It grew to comprise 104 children. But then I lost most of my international children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

     So, God gave me a dream in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. I saw a classroom in the school full of children. Next door, I saw my assistant. I knew even if heaven and earth passed away, this dream would not pass away.

     “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3).

     So we started looking for additional space to accommodate the increased number of children God promised to bring.

     We found a suitable building just two doors away from us. This building seemed purpose-built for us. It had about 24 rooms, and it was vacant.

     I went to inspect the building with two delegations. The first time,  with people from the school. The second time, with my wife and family. We all agreed the building was ideal. But when we asked how much it would cost to rent it, we were told N25 million naira a year.

     That immediately put paid to our plans. The money was just too much. There was no way we could afford it. In any case, the additional children had yet to arrive.

     A few years later, we went back to enquire about the place. We were told the landlord was tired of waiting for us but had rented it to someone else. That “someone else” has spent a lot of money renovating it. It is now an exceptionally beautiful building two doors away, with colourful flower decorations.

     Blunder upon blunder

     The Bible says about the church in the wilderness. “Again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalms 78:41).

    I have now discovered that that is precisely what happened to us. We limited Jesus, the Holy One of Israel. That was why we thought we could not afford the N25 million naira rent.

     A few weeks ago, a colleague, Simon Ezeh, alerted me about some people who could help us develop our own property into a high-rise building. They said they would give me N300 million naira to relocate, while the new building was being constructed.

     I then realised that I had made a big blunder in 2021. Why did I think God could not provide me with the N25 million rent? I did not think so because I limited the Holy One of Israel. I forgot that with God, nothing will be impossible. (Luke 1:37). I did not think it was possible because I reverted to the mind of a man instead of the mind of Christ.

     Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’” (Matthew 17:20).

     Unanswered questions

     Why did God give me the dream at the time he did? Why was the perfect house vacant at that particular time when I could not afford the rent? Why did the agent tell us the landlord was tired of waiting for us? Do coincidences exist? Certainly not! God is not a coincidental God. “He works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11).

     The mind of Christ recognises that everything he needs is at hand. He automatically meets everyone God has appointed to help him. He is led to everyone that God has appointed for him to help. The psalmist says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23).

     When I am broke, God tells someone to register their child in my school. Or He tells my wife to buy me lunch. Or He tells my niece to send me some money.

     “The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” (Jonah 2:10).

     The God who speaks to fishes surely speaks to men. Indeed, He speaks to so many people without speaking to them and they do what he wants them to do. They think they are the ones doing it, but no, it is the Lord.

     “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

     The person who has the mind of Christ recognises that God is the determinant of everything. He proclaims:

     “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11).

     

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stability can only be found in Christ

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Stability can only be found in Christ

    Read: Psalm 91:1-16

    Meditation verse:

    “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will  trust.” (Psalm 91:2).

    We are currently living in difficult times. There is currently so much brokenness, decay, lawlessness, and wickedness. The world is currently going through a lot  of distress. Insecurity, terrorism, food crisis, inflation, high cost of living and of  course the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria that claimed thousands of  lives.  

    When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about difficult times, he charged  Timothy with the following words: 

    But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been  assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from  childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make  you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture  is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,  for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may  be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

    What does this say to us? Amid the current hopelessness, brokenness and decay,  stability can only be found in Jesus Christ and in His word. We must look to Him  as our anchor and hope. Here’s His promise to you: “he shall call upon Me, and  I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. 

    With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:15-16).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: No Christmas without “Christ”

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: No Christmas without “Christ”

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 2:1-20

    Meditation verse:

    “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

    Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” – Luke 2:8-14

    Over two thousand years ago, an angel of the Lord stood before certain shepherds in a field, proclaiming the birth of a child as ‘good tidings of great joy’. But what was so special about this birth? It was the arrival of the much-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would save mankind from destruction and death. It was such great news that a multitude of heavenly host burst into singing and rejoicing. The essence of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the saviour of mankind, Jesus Christ. 

    In every celebration, the celebrant is the object of focus; there can be no Christmas without Christ. How do we celebrate this day? Are we so focused on the pomp and pageantry that we fail to remember that Jesus Christ is the reason for the season? Here is God’s word for you as you celebrate this day and season in commemoration of His arrival on earth: “but above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body: and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:14-17). 

    Merry Christmas!

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do you know who you are in Christ?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Do you know who you are in Christ?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Isaiah 61:1-4

    Meditation verse:

    “…They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord  for the display of his splendour”. (Isaiah 61:3).

    Today’s reading refers to you as an ‘oak of righteousness’. The oak is a very tall  tree between 40 and 80 feet and is said to surpass 300 years. A very interesting  feature of the oak tree is the root system. It pushes downwards as deep as the  height of the tree and branching out wide. It can withstand very strong storms  like tornados. Even when stripped of the leaves, they survive because of the  strength of their root systems. Its branches spread out wide. An oak tree has  significant depth, height, and width. 

    So, when the bible refers to you using the symbol of an oak tree, what are the  implications? As a child of God, you should have: 

    Depth: This speaks of a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. Your spiritual roots  must be deeply embedded in Him. 

    Height: This speaks of your growth and maturity in Christ. You must grow in  grace and knowledge of God. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “but grow in the grace and  knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now  and forever. Amen. 

    Breadth: This speaks of impact and influence. You were created for a purpose. Mathew 5:14-16 says “you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill  cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a  lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine  before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in  heaven”. There is a multitude that you have been called to serve. You need to  find them and feed them.  

    Sometimes, circumstances of life cause us to forget who we are. So, we live  broken, defeated, and fearful. Gideon was a mighty man. However, he was living  in fear, threshing wheat in the winepress because of the Midianites. When an  angel appeared to him and said “the Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor, 

    He queried God’s presence in His life. And the angel said to him “go in this thine 

    might and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. He was hiding  from the same people, whom God had already given him victory over.  

    Do you know who you are in Christ? Are you living a victorious life in the place  of your assignment or are you cowering in fear and defeat. In this new month,  God is saying to you “mighty man/ woman of valor, go in this thine might. How  will you respond?

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • Denying self for Christ’s sake – By Femi Aribisala

    Denying self for Christ’s sake – By Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    “One of the major idols we worship is ourselves”.

    Parents make sacrifices for their children. They go through ordeals so their children will not have to go through them. Not so with Christ. He goes through ordeals because He wants us to also go through them and follow His examples.

    Accordingly, Jesus denied Himself. Then He says: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself.” (Matthew 16:24).

    Jesus denied His exalted throne of glory in heaven to come down to earth as a menial servant of men. The King of glory: “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8).

    Disciples are now required to follow Jesus’ example.

    Following Jesus

    When we deny ourselves, Christ increases, and we decrease. (John 3:30). We forget out past and forget our sins because: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has (God) removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12).

    We also forgive ourselves for past sins and forget about them. We no longer define ourselves by them. As new creations in Christ Jesus:

    “Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

    Thus, Christ denied Himself by associating with prostitutes and sinners, and He ate and dined with even extortionate tax-collectors. (Luke 5:30-32). We must also follow His example if we are to be “the salt of the earth.”

    Idol worship

    If we are to deny ourselves, we must stop worshipping idols. One of the major idols we worship is ourselves. Every day, we bow down and worship at the church of the self. We are devoted to ourselves. We feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, and adorn ourselves. We glorify ourselves and exalt ourselves.

    This self-worship must come to an end.

    Women are the greatest self-worshippers. They worship and magnify every part of their bodies, from their hairs to the eyelashes, eyebrows, earlobes, lips, necks, breasts, nails, fingers, and hips.

    All of us; men and women, are preoccupied with ourselves and mindful of me, myself, and I. Moreover, we obey our flesh in its lusts and desires. This also needs to stop.

    Ignoring yourself

    Ignore your needs and concentrate on the needs of others: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4).

    Never be too busy to listen to the needs of others. “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” (Philippians 2:14). “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9).

    Do not trust yourself. Trust only God. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Only God can. You cannot.

    Henceforth, you are your greatest enemy. The only evil person you know is yourself. Therefore, die to self. Do not waste time defending yourself in interpersonal relationships. Accept that you are always wrong, and the other person is always right.

    Never condemn anybody. Jesus says: “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.” (Luke 6:37).

    The disciple of Christ must make a habit of ignoring himself. Stop paying attention to what you think, what you want, and how you feel. “Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14).

    We must not be addicted to anything, for we must remain under the singular authority of Christ. Thus, Paul says: “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

    Give up your right to think your own thoughts: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:7).

    Stop talking to yourself. Start talking to God instead, even in your mind: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

    Do not be bothered by what men think about you. (John 5:41). Solomon says: “Man is tested by the praise he receives.” (Proverbs 27:21). Jesus concurs: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” (Matthew 5:11).

    Having nothing

    When we deny ourselves, we lose our possessions. Jesus says: “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33). As a result, we have nothing, nevertheless, as God’s children, we possess all things. (2 Corinthians 6:10).

    As Christ’s disciples, even the money we earn is no longer ours. We can be called upon to give it to someone else at a moment’s notice. Therefore, we do not spend all the money we have on ourselves.

    We recognize that we are stewards of the money we have and not the owners. Jesus says: “If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:12).

    So, we do not lavish money on worldly things. “Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (1Timothy 6:8).

    Loss of rights

    When we deny ourselves, we lose all our rights with men and only have rights with God. Marriage is not an institution where we stand up for our rights, but one where we lose them. Never seek fulfilment in marriage, in having children, or in having a good home. Only seek fulfilment in Christ and His righteousness. (Matthew 5:6).

    With Christ, we lose our right to live by our own rules. We give up our right to live by our own righteousness.

    We give up our right to self-defense. Jesus says: “I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5:39).

    “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45).

    We give up our right to hold a grudge. Instead, we bear with one another and forgive one another, just as Christ our Saviour forgave us. (Colossians 3:13).

    We also give up our right to revenge wrongs done to us. Paul says: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

  • Confessing Christ before men – By Femi Aribisala

    Confessing Christ before men – By Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    “Every Jack, Jill, and Harry has a Ph.D. in Divinity”.

    Jesus says: “Everyone who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33).

    How exactly do we confess Christ?

    Confessing and denying

    Many Christians take this to mean answering an altar call and declaring that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour.

    This is based on Paul’s assertion that: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).

    However, Paul himself does not believe that a once-for-all declaration is sufficient. He writes to Titus about people who: “profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.” (Titus 1:6).

    Christians readily confess our churches. We are quick to declare our denominations. But we do not confess Christ. In critical situations, we discover that we do not know Him. Or we pretend that He does not exist.

    Do Christians know God? If you were to talk about aeronautical science, most people would shut up because they know nothing about it. But if you talk about God, everybody becomes an expert. Every Jack, Jill, and Harry has a Ph.D. in Divinity.

    “But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you? When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have been a partaker with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you.’” (Psalm 50:16-21).

    Peter was the first person to “confess” Christ. When Jesus asked His disciples who they say He is, Peter said to Him: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16). But this same Peter went on to deny knowing Christ not once, but three times on the trot when He was arrested.

    Peter denied Christ, saying: “I don’t know the man.” How do we say: “I don’t know Christ” today? We deny Christ when we tell a lie. We deny Christ when we cheat and steal.

    When Peter denied Christ, Jesus was in the same room. Peter looked up and saw Jesus looking directly at him. Their eyes locked.

    Similarly, when we tell a lie, Jesus is right there with us. He is right there in the room. And yet, we say we do not know Him. We talk as if He does not exist. Then we go to church and sing “Praising the Lord, always.”

    Lip-service confessions

    Jesus maintains He is not interested in lip-service confessions. He says: “You will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:20-23).

    This shows that even preaching the gospel and engaging in evangelism is not enough. Confessing Christ before men means living according to the way, the truth. and the life. (John 14:6).

    When we confess Christ, we fail at the job interview because we tell the truth. But when we confess the devil, we get the job because we tell a lie.

    When we confess Christ, we must resign our appointment because we are required to cook the books. But when we deny Christ, we say we are thirty when we are forty. When we confess Christ, we call a spade a spade. But when we deny Christ, a spade easily becomes a cutlass.

    Failing the test

    Bolaji was taking her exams and everybody in the centre was cheating, with the connivance of the invigilator who had been bought over. Does she join them and succeed, or does she ignore them and come last?

    Should she decide to pass her exam, or should she agree to fail? If she passes, she denies Christ. If she fails, she confesses Him. If she fails, she cannot gain the world. But if she passes, the world is her oyster.

    Therefore, Jesus says: “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:35-37).

    With God, the decision to fail in the name of righteousness amounts to good success, while the decision to pass through unrighteousness amounts to bad success.

    Accordingly, God said to Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).

    In effect, the requirement to confess Christ is not a call to hypocrisy. Jesus says to His disciples: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).

    We witness to Jesus by being like Jesus. We witness to Jesus by being the Jesus that people will meet in the flesh. That means you cannot confess Christ without first denying yourself. Denying yourself means you no longer exist. When you confess Christ, you lose your life. Christ becomes your life. (Colossians 3:4).

    Denying yourself means that: “the sharing of your faith (will) become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Philem 6:7).

    Inviting trouble

    This is where the confession process becomes troublesome. Confessing Christ is costly. It takes us out of our comfort zones. It requires us to carry our crosses and follow Jesus. It means we are naked and not ashamed.

    To confess Christ as your healer, you need to fall seriously sick. To confess Him as your provider, you need to become seriously broke. To confess Him as the resurrection and the Life, you need to fall down and die.

    Moreover, since Christ is a rock of offense, we become offensive to people in the world. They cannot rely on us to back them up with lies. They take offense that we refuse to walk with them: “in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” (1 Peter 4:3).

    Confessing Christ sets sons against fathers, daughters against mothers, and daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law. According to Jesus, when we confess Him, our enemies will become members of our own household. (Matthew 10:34-36).

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Can God count on you?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: DANIEL 3:8–30

    Meditation verse:

    “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18).

    Three young men stood in the moment of truth; bow down to the king’s golden image or be thrown into a fiery furnace. It would have been so easy to bow, after all, it was just a small compromise to make life easier for them in a foreign land. It did not necessarily mean they were no longer faithful to God. However, they were wise enough to understand that compromising would poison their allegiance to Jehovah. So, against all odds, they chose to defy the king’s command. And God honoured their commitment.

    You may find yourself in a moment of truth sooner or later faced with a temptation to compromise just to make life a little easier. It may be to alter the figure, jump the queue, tell a little lie to look good, engage in an adulterous relationship, give that bribe to obtain a favour, or what have you. Can God count on you at such moments to say: ‘let it be known that I will not bow?’. Refusing to bow can be a very lonely road to travel. Picture Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing before the crowd, whilst the officials prepared the fiery furnace.

    It is much easier to follow the crowd. But if you want to excel in life and fulfil your purpose, you must learn to stand alone sometimes. The journey to Calvary was a very lonely and painful one for Jesus Christ.

    However, the three young men were not alone, the bible says there was a fourth man was in the fire with them. Similarly, in your own moments, you are never alone. God promises to be with you always. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2). Remembering that God is always with you, will help you make the right choice in your moment of truth.

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder, The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)
    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com
    or call +2348155525555
    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org

  • Dead to the law: Married to Christ – Femi Aribisala

    Femi Aribsala

    Marriage is at the centre of the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is about a wife espoused to one husband, and about a husband who gave himself for his wife. Paul says: “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him.” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

    Therefore, the opening salvo of Jesus’ long retinue of miracles was fired first at a wedding in Cana of Galilee where He turned water into wine.

    Bride and groom

    John the Baptist says: “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:29-30).

    He who has the bride is the bridegroom, and the bridegroom is Christ. So, boyfriends, girlfriends, fiancés, fiancées, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends, and acquaintances must recognise their positions. We must not interfere in the relationship between the bride and the bridegroom.

    The bride herself must know that the name of the bridegroom is Jealous. He will not tolerate the slightest hint of unfaithfulness. Jesus must increase and everybody else must decrease. We must recognise that the relationship that comes from heaven is above all earthly relationships.

    Do not get married unless you are first married to Christ. Do not get married to anyone who is not married to Christ. Do not be in any relationship that does not have Christ at its centre.

    Abigail and Nabal

    Let me tell you the story of a lady called Abigail. Abigail was married to a devil called Nabal. She was in constant turmoil. She contemplated suicide, but she did not have the courage. She thought of murdering her husband, a useless man called Nabal. On one occasion, she seriously considered poisoning his Edikaikong soup. But she was afraid of spending the rest of her life in jail.

    And then there was this issue of divorce. She had nightmares about this. She was afraid that she would wake up one day and discover that she was divorced. Nabal made her understand that he could divorce her at any time for any cause. And then where would she be? Where would she go?

    So, what happened? Thank God. Nabal died. What happened to him? He just fell and died.

    Let me tell you what happened. Nabal went and picked a quarrel with David. You remember the David who is said to have killed Goliath? That is the worst person you can ever pick a quarrel with. He picked a quarrel with him and insulted him. And David was coming to kill him. His wife, Abigail, had to intervene and plead for him.

    She told David she knew that he would one day be the king of Israel. And that of his kingdom, there would be no end. She told him that her husband Nabal will surely come to no good. He is a scoundrel. His name means folly, and folly is with him.

    But you, my Lord David, you fight the battles of the Lord. And evil is not found in you throughout your days. The Lord will certainly do all the good that He has promised concerning you and appoint you ruler over Israel. When He has done so, please remember me.

    Later on, Abigail told Nabal all that happened, and how near he came to death. She told him that the person he had insulted was that David who is said to have killed Goliath. She also told him that David had come with his men to kill him and would have done so if she had not pleaded for him.

    Suddenly, Nabal became very scared. He started coughing. He started choking. It was as if he could not breathe again. And then Abigail suddenly realised that he was having a heart attack.

    Ten days later, he died. I supposed that is what they call an act of God.

    House of David

    It is important to learn from Abigail. Although she was married when she met David, she immediately started to behave like a single lady. She made sure David knew that she was married but single. I want you to observe certain things here.

    This lady had no qualms about bad-mouthing her husband. Although she was not married to David, her intentions were clear. She was already calling him Lord, the same way Sarah addressed Abraham. You could tell immediately that she wished she could have been married to David instead of that good for nothing called Nabal.

    But she knew that that would be adultery, and adultery was definitely against the law. So, you can imagine how glad she was when Nabal had a heart attack and died. She did not even attend his funeral. Once he died, David proposed to Abigail, and she accepted immediately.

    The difference is clear. There is a big difference between being married to David and being married to Nabal. It is like chalk and cheese. There is no record of Abigail having any children with Nabal because that kind of marriage is characterised by barrenness. But there can be no barrenness in the Christian marriage.

    Abigail had children for David. The bible gives an impressive list of women who were barren until they met the Lord. Consider the cases of Sarah the mother of Isaac, Hanna the mother of Samuel, Manoah’s wife the mother of Samson, and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist.

    The redeemed

    It is the redeemed that is married into the House of David. In that marriage, we have peace like a river. We have joy unspeakable and full of glory. We have the patience of Job. We have the kindness of Jesus. We have in large measure goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

    There is no sickness in our new family. There is no poverty in our new home. Our husband owns everything. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is always in power. His kingdom shall have no end.

    When Abigail married Nabal, he gave her a list of things she had to do as his wife. But she could not meet the conditions. No matter how hard she tried she would always find that she forgot to do something, or forgot to say something, or did something in a way that was different from the exact way he wanted it done.

    He wanted his rice cooked in a particular way. His meat had to be boiled in a particular way. His shirt must be ironed in one way, or you would not hear the last of it. If Abigail failed to meet even one of his many conditions, it was like she had failed to meet every condition.

    But when she moved into the house of David, the difference was clear. She asked David for his list of dos and don’ts. He said he had none. I just love you, he said. There are no laws, no rules, no regulations, and no guidelines.

    Just love. For love makes up for many of our faults. Love covers a multitude of sins.