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Tag: faith

  • Faith set to become second housemate to exit BBNaija 10

    Faith set to become second housemate to exit BBNaija 10

    Big Brother Naija 10 contestant, Faith, has stated that he is not a fan of the ongoing reality show, so he intends to leave the house.

    During a conversation with Joanna in the garden on Friday night, Faith, who is a medical doctor, described the reality show as a “waste of time.”

    He said, “I want to see a therapist because I want to f**king leave. This is a waste of my time. What am I doing here? I know you don’t believe me, but I’m seriously considering it.

    “I read about this show, the average time you need to spend on the show actually to make a career is five and a half weeks.”

    Faith has spent five weeks on the show. He was among the housemates initially nominated for possible eviction this week.

  • Paying the price (2) – By Femi Aribasala

    Paying the price (2) – By Femi Aribasala

    For how long are you going to look for people to lay hands on you?  For how long are you going to look for people to pray for you?  Grow up.

    The salvation of the soul is perfected:

    “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Corinthians 11:27).

    Jesus paid the price.  Even though he was God, nevertheless he paid the price.

    Fight the good fight of faith

    “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

    (Hebrews 5:8)

    Heaven helps those who help themselves.  That statement is in the spirit of the scripture:

    “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).

    The salvation of the soul will not take place without an effort on our part.  Health and life will not take place without our own exertion.  Jesus said my father is always working.  If God works, then you must work.  A servant is not greater than his master.  Work out what he worked in.  Don’t despise the grace of God.  God has given you the whole ability, do something useful with it.

    “The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.” (Psalm 78:9).

    God armed them, they carried bows, and nevertheless they refused to fight for their own deliverance.

    The pastor laid his hands on you, and the anointing fell.  My brother, it is only sufficient enough unto the day.  What will happen tomorrow?  Lay your hand on yourself.  Prophesy on your own head.  Don’t wait for any pastor.  The spirit of God is poured forth.

    Jesus said to a paralytic:

    “‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” (John 5:8-9).

    So Daddy, why did you not simply leave it at rise up and walk?

    No! Jesus included the injunction to take up the bed.  There were three things that this man had to do.  Even though the Lord had wrought a healing in him, the perfection of his healing was conditional upon his fulfilment of those three requirements.  He had to rise, he had to take up his bed, and he had to walk.  If he merely rose up and walked, his obedience would not be complete and his healing would not be perfected

    God is not a respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34). The so-called men of God are men of God because they paid the price.  They consecrated themselves and were focussed on the Lord.  There is no shortcut.  There are no five easy steps to the anointing that breaks every yoke.

    Martha thought she was the one putting in all the effort because she was in the kitchen cooking, while her younger sister was sitting in the living room listening to Jesus. Little did Martha know that it is more difficult to listen to Jesus than it is to cook in the kitchen.

    “She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, 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 10:39-42).

    “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:1-3).

    Observe that Mary was always inclined to pay the price, no matter how high.  Martha, on the other hand, refused to learn, but was still specialising in serving.

    Did you learn to speak in tongues?  No, you simply believed.  Yet listen, miracles are worked.  They are worked through fastings, and watchings, and praying, and fighting the good fight.

    “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast him out?”  So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for 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.  However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21).

    “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” (Mark 16:17).

    Signs follow believers, but believers work out their beliefs.

    “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18).

    You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (Jam 2:24)

    Therefore, Paul wrote to Timothy:

    “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6).

    Who is going to stir it up?  You are.  God is not going to do it.  You are going to have to do it yourself.  Therefore be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

    “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare. (1 Timothy 1:18).

    “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12).

    “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14).

    Hold it fast so they don’t steal it.  Keep it by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3).

  • Palm Sunday: Faithful mark feast with procession, fanfare rekindle faith

    Palm Sunday: Faithful mark feast with procession, fanfare rekindle faith

    Catholic Faithful in Lagos on Sunday joined others across the world to mark the Palm Sunday with procession, fanfare, to rekindle faith in God.

    The feast, which is a symbolic reflection of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, marks the beginning of the Holy Week in anticipation of the Easter, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    The feast, an important one in the celebrations of the church, reminds faithful of the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the confidence of faithful in the sonship of Jesus Christ.

    At the St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Okokomaiko, faithful began the feast with a procession, Mass, and street evangelism,  to draw people to Jesus Christ.

    The members all marched in jubilation within the area to register God’s presence in the place, while some used the medium to reach out to people to turn to Jesus Christ and heed the good news of salvation.

    It was a spectacular scene at the Saints Peter and Paul, Tedi, Ojo Lagos parish, where the priest in charge, Rev. Fr. Anthony Thompson,  asked faithful to physically present a written petition to God to heal the nation.

    The followers, professing Jesus Christ as King of Kings approached the altar with their petitions.

    The event, which aroused public interest in the environs also had faithful display varying attractive craft made of Palm fronts to signify the day.

    Speaking during the homily (sermon), Thompson, said that before Jesus was crowned King, He showed perseverance and good character.

    “It is expected of us to toe the line of Christ, for us to make it as a people and a nation.

    “The decorations in the church with the palm fronts is a sign of victory, therefore our hope in the nation need not be dampened.

    “The anxieties of today will not last but has come to an abrupt end with the triumph of our Lord today,” he said.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Replace your fear with faith (1)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Replace your fear with faith (1)

    Read: Mathew 17:14-21

    Meditation verse:

    “So, Jesus said to them ‘because of your unbelief, for assuredly I say to you, of 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” (Mathew  17:20).

    Romans 12:3 says “God has dealt to each one of us a measure of faith. This is so  because we need faith to live out our Christian faith, victoriously. Indeed, there  are several scriptures that highlight the importance of faith in our walk with God.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of  things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report”. Hebrews 11:6 says  “without faith, it is impossible to please God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, we walk by  faith, not by sight. Habakkuk 2:4 says the just shall live by faith and our  meditation verse says if we have faith even as little as a mustard seed, nothing  shall be impossible for us.  

    The opposite of faith is fear. Fear is one of Satan’s strategies to keep us  stagnated and unfruitful, so that we are unable to become all that God designed  for us to be. The bible says fear hath torment. Satan wants to multiply fear in  our lives, and he is very busy doing so. He will tell you that the situation is  hopeless and that things will never change for the better. But God wants you to  replace your fear with faith. He wants you to live free of fear each day and so  the bible contains 365 ‘fear not”. 

    Irrespective of what is going around you, do not be afraid. We are currently experiencing very difficult times, but you must hold on to your faith and ask God  to increase it today. You are an heir to the throne and if your heavenly Father  says, ‘fear not, I will be with you’, then fear not. The Most High always keeps His  promises.

     

    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: Faith like potatoes

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Faith like potatoes

    Read: Hebrews 11:1-39

    Meditation verse:

    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”  (Hebrews 11:1).

    I stumbled upon a movie some years back which has made a huge impact on my  faith even till this day. The movie “Faith Like Potatoes” is based on the  autobiography novel of Farmer turned Evangelist, Angus Buchan. It portrays the  inspiring true story of Angus, a local farmer in South Africa who learnt to trust  God with every detail of his farming work. After his conversion, Angus began to live out his newfound faith in God in his work as a farmer. When a chance fire  threatened to spread, Angus Challenged his Zulu Farm assistant to pray with him  for rain. It wasn’t yet the rainy season and the assistant scoffed but Angus  prayed, and it rained. The rains extinguished the fire. 

    When the land experienced severe drought, such that nothing could grow on it,  Angus challenged the farmers to go ahead and plant their potatoes. Everyone  was skeptical, but Angus knew the God, he had come to believe in. So, the  potatoes were planted, but the surfaces remained very dry. It seemed nothing  was growing underneath. But when it was harvesting time, Angus again  challenged the farmers to dig and harvest the potatoes. That little Zulu town  experienced a bumper harvest of big, fresh potatoes like never. 

    At the end of the day, each one of us must live out our faith wherever we are  and in everything we do, otherwise our faith is useless. Our Christian faith must  be lived out especially in the marketplace. There is no separation between that  which is secular and spiritual, everything is spiritual. Our business practices,  engagements, associations, decisions, goals, activities, and outcomes must  reflect our faith in Christ. And this faith must be like the potatoes harvested by  Angus Buchan and his co farmers several years ago. Our faith must be big and  real enough for others to see, feel and touch.

     

    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.

  • Historical Trajectories of Catholicism in Africa: And the International insight of Faith – By Stephen Ojapah

    Historical Trajectories of Catholicism in Africa: And the International insight of Faith – By Stephen Ojapah

    You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). For over two thousand years, the Catholic Church has been celebrating the Eternal Words of Jesus. In these words, we see in Jesus a firm commitment, not only to establish His Church, but also to sustain it. The Lord has provided this sustenance from generation to generation through so many institutions but chief among these ways is the institution of the Papacy. 

    The Papacy is the office and jurisdiction  of the bishop of Rome, the pope who presides over the Holy See  (the central government) of the Roman Catholic Church . The term pope was originally applied to all the bishops in the West and also used to describe the patriarch of Alexandria, who still retains the title. In 1073, however, Pope Gregory VII restricted its use to the bishop of Rome, confirming a practice that had existed since the 9th century.

    As an Institution, the Papacy is responsible for so many wonderful things that is happening in the continent of Africa. The recent Papal visit to the Central African Republic and South Sudan is a huge testament of the monumental works done by the Papacy through the missionaries. We do not need to look too far in Nigeria to see what the Irish missionaries did with the support of the Papacy. This week’s reflection will take a critical look at the work of a brilliant missionary and academician, one who has taken us through memory lane in other to appreciate the great sacrifices undertaken by our forebears. In this reflection, we will place the brilliant works of Valentine Iheanacho side by side with the crass illiteracy that is manifested in the religious leaders of the 21st century, especially in Nigeria.

    The book:  Historical Trajectories of Catholicism in Africa consists of five parts; written in 183 pages. Part 1 began with an overview of missions in Africa with the incursion of the Portuguese with the assistance of the explorer and navigator Diogo Cao (1450-1486). Missionary activities here suffered many setbacks because of disease and bad weather. Despite several attempts made by the popes to encourage missionaries to Africa. That became possible only with the scientific discovery of quinine in 1631.

    The Part 2 of his works deals with Missions in Africa in the twilight of the nineteenth century. “This period provided the background within which the missionaries operated” (Valentine). So many factors and figures propelled the missionary activities of the church in the second part.  One of the most prominent is Pope Leo XIII, who was known for correcting errors, as in the case of Fr Carlo Maria Curci founder of the Jesuit Italian Journal Civilta Cattolica. Leo was very good with diplomatic approach to mission territories in Asia and Africa especially in Zanzibar when he met with the Sultan Barghash Ibn Said. In this chapter, Valentine dealt extensively with the role the Papacy played in the anti-slavery campaign, when slave trade was the most lucrative venture in Africa. Slave trade was indeed an ‘empire’ it cuts across continents, Asia, Europe, and Africa itself. “Thousands of Africans were transported or forced against their will to trek from central Africa to the slaves markets in Zanzibar, Khartoum and Caira” (Valentine). The book talked extensively of the work of a brilliant French Cardinal Lavigerie who reported to the Holy See how widespread this evil was; and on 5 May 1888, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical titled In Plurimis condemning in strong terms slavery and the liberating character of the Christian Gospel.  

    The Part 3 of the book offered a broad ambient of plantatio ecclesiae. The aim of every missionary activity should end in the planting of the church. It is an old concept that only was re-awakened at the beginning of the 20th century. All through the centuries, Valentine asserts, there were two approaches to mission that have been used simultaneously, the tabula rasa method and the adaptation method. In contradiction to the tabula rasa approach, the second method privileged adaptation as the preferred manner of proceeding in missionary undertaking. It seeks to recognize and appreciate the merits in other cultures and traditional values of other people beyond the shores of Europe.

    The Part 4 of his works resolves around Missionary Tutelage to Indigenization. Using the theology of Karl Rahner to say, until the II Vatican Council the word ‘Church’ has always been in potency. He made the case for the evolution of the church, from Jewish Christianity, to Gentile Christianity. The second epoch as explained by Karl Rahner was from Antiquity to the middle Ages. The third was the leap of faith made by Europe, to the other continents of the world: The Americas, Asia, and certainly Africa. In her many mistakes, the Catholic Church did not get it right in Japan and China in the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries. As most of the clergies where not indigenized. Waves of persecution and martyrdom snuff the little life of the church away in no time when it started. That trend, was greatly reversed in Africa, This chapter is ‘littered’ with incredible histories of indigenization, across the continents with specifics in Africa.

    In Chapter 5, Valentine begins with the scientific nature of Church History, as a discipline that gathers a body of knowledge that analyses the past, understands the present, and have an insight into the future. Using the theological analyses of Karl Rahner. He explained one of Rahner’s legacies as making a distinction between worldliness and sinfulness of the church. Its worldliness is shaped by temporality, while its sinfulness refers to the departure of the Church from the ideal as a result its always being subject to change and occasional missteps like many other human institutions.

    With the view point of Karl Rarner. Valentine Iheanacho has given us so many onions to chew. These onions clears the eyes and refreshes the brain. However, drawing from the last point in my review; in referring to the worldliness of the church and its sinfulness. It simply brings me to the earlier point I made in my earlier paragraph. The church in Nigeria, has demonstrated these in her love for prosperity gospel; the cravings for power and authority has caused divisions and separation from one General Overseer to another. The Catholic Diocese of Ihiara in Nigeria demonstrated this in the most abysmal manner just few years ago. Thus we appreciate Valentine looking at the brilliance of such a work in contrast to the illiteracy that permeates our religious leaders.

    Karl Max once said that religion is the opium of the masses. I truly believe so. However, religion had shaped great men and women in history. Not so all is bad about religion. That is why we celebrate great works of religion in the book reviewed above. Two points that underscores the worldliness of the church is the summary of the preaching of two clerics. One a Christian and the other a Muslim. The Christian Cleric said. God revealed to him that the POS machine that we used to dispense cash before the naira re-designation will begin to dispense money physically, and rational people were answering Amen. Another cleric from the north, said if you vote our party, all the money you have changed will be given back to you whether you have bank account or not.

    Pick a copy of Iheanacho’s book and learn religion using the science of history. (valmsp73@gmail.com).

     

    Fr Stephen Ojapah is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul. He is equally the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, a member of IDFP. He is also a KAICIID Fellow. (omeizaojapah85@gmail.com)

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Engaging the power of faith

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Engaging the power of faith

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Hebrews 11:1-40

    Meditation verse:

    “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must  believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. (Hebrews 11:6).

    The bible describes faith as the substance of what we hope for, and the evidence  of the things we cannot see. What this means is that when we pray to God, even  though we have not yet seen the manifestation of an answer, our faith is what  we must hold on to as the evidence that God has answered our prayers. Faith is  the substance we hold on to, even when the manifestation tarries. Faith says, 

    “even though I can’t see the answers, I am confident that God is faithful and that  He has answered my prayers in the way He deems best”. Doubt on the other  hand says, “unless I see, I will not believe that God has answered”.  

    Faith moves people to act in ways that may otherwise seem foolish. Imagine  Noah building an ark of great dimensions in preparation of a flood, no one else  believed was coming. He must have been mocked and laughed at. Imagine  Abraham at an advanced age leaving his familiar homeland to an unknown place  at God’s instruction. The bible says he went out, not knowing where he was  going. Hebrews 11 referred to as “faith’s walk of fame” highlights various  exploits accomplished by ordinary men and women. Through faith, kingdoms  were subdued, and promises were obtained. The weak become strong, the dead  were brought back to life, and many endured all kinds of hardships. 

    What exploits have you set your heart to accomplish this year? What is that  seemingly impossible task before you? Why not engage the power of faith. Faith  transforms impossibilities to possibilities. “Therefore we also, since we are  surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and  the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that  is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for  the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has  sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

     

    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.

  • Beware of Hypocrites (2) – By Femi Aribisala

    Beware of Hypocrites (2) – By Femi Aribisala

    “The work of God humbles man; it does not glorify man”.

    Jesus did not have a big problem with sinners. He had a big problem with hypocrites. So, He warns us: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1).

    Religious people are hypocrites. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus says about them: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:8-9).

    Hypocritical prayers

    God called me to a healing ministry, so I used to spend days fasting and praying before healing services. But then, one day, the Lord asked me a curious question. He said: “So, Femi, why are you fasting and praying? Why are you spending so much time in prayer? Is it because you are ministering at the Time of Healing? Is it because you want them to see you as a man of God?”

    “Why do you want Me to heal? Is it because you are the one praying? Do you need this healing to validate your Christianity in the sight of men? Or do you need this healing because of Me? Why don’t you fast and pray without an agenda, when I am your only motive?”  

    The immediate upshot of these questions was that I lost all interest in fasting and praying. I stopped altogether for a season because my motive was essentially hypocritical. I lost my motivation.

    Hypocritical insecurities

    A man saw the actor Robert Redford in a hotel lobby and chased him into the elevator. “Are you the real Robert Redford?” he asked him with alacrity. “Only when I am alone,” replied Redford.

    “Would they still love me if they know the real me? Would they still love me if they know I am still striving against sin? Would they still love me if they know I am an alcoholic? What if they find out that I beat my wife? What if it becomes public knowledge that I have children outside my marriage? What if they know that I am addicted to smoking Indian hemp? Would they still love me?”

    Jesus says: “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.” (Matthew 23:11-12).

    The holiness movement is a waste of time because it is about impressing men. Have you heard someone say that they do not do something anymore? It is a lie because he is taking the glory.

    Someone says: “I used to have such a bad temper, but now you can do anything you want to me, and I won’t even mind it at all.”

    “So, you mean that God has healed you of your bad temper?”

    “Yes. He has healed me totally and completely.”

    That is a lie. God does not heal totally and completely. His healing is only sufficient for the day. If Jesus heals you of AIDS, you can catch it again. Accordingly, He says to a man he healed: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14).

    If you stop reading your bible, your bad temper will come back in a dimension that is much worse than before.

    Law of faith

    “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.” (Romans 3:27).

    If it is true that God has healed you, there would be no glory of man in it. The work of God humbles man; it does not glorify man. It glories only God. Jesus says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

    Hypocritical David

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. David discovered the fear of the Lord. Like Achan, he sinned and buried the evidence in the sand. He committed adultery with another man’s wife, got her pregnant, and had her husband killed. He then marries her thinking he had gone clean away.

    When he was told a story of a man who committed a similar sin, David maintained the sinner must be killed. Only to discover that the story was about him.

    God sent Prophet Nathan to David to reveal to him that he did this evil in the sight of the Lord. Thereafter, David could no longer trust his heart. Every so often, he went to God to seek cleansing from secret and presumptuous sins.

    He asks: “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14).

    Blind hypocrites

    Hypocrites kept me out of the church. I went to church as a young boy and noticed it was full of hypocrites. The churches are full to the brim of pretenders, living sinful lives, but acting holy on Sundays.

    Jesus teaches that where charitable acts are concerned, we should not be seen. Our light must shine but we must not shine. Our righteousness must not be ostentatious.

    Do we carry our bibles publicly?  Do we litter our speech with vignettes of scripture?  Do we drop one “hallelujah” here and another “praise the Lord” there?  Do we hold hands to pray before eating at home or in restaurants?  Do we bring all-comers up to speed with jaw-dropping testimonies about the wonderful works we are doing for the Lord?  Then we have missed the way of Christ. We are on “Broadway” and not on the narrow path that leads to life.

    But churches love hypocrites. They celebrate them. They have special seats reserved for them in front of the church. Everyone knows they are moneybags. They are the ones who buy the new church organ. They are the ones who make a show of buying a car for the pastor. They are the ones who steal public funds and give lavish tithes of their loot to the church.

    You can imagine my surprise, therefore, when as a new believer, the Lord revealed to me in a dream that I was also a big hypocrite. I then discovered that the hypocrite often specializes in identifying hypocrites.

    Zig Ziglar said that he invited a friend to go to church with him.

    The man answered, “Well, I’d like to go. But the church is so full of hypocrites.” Ziglar replied, “That’s okay. There’s always room for one more.”

    “So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When He comes, He will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of — inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5).

  • Beware of religious hypocrisy (1) – By Femi Aribisala

    Beware of religious hypocrisy (1) – By Femi Aribisala

    “The hypocrite says you can change your life by changing your appearance”.

    Jesus warns against religious hypocrisy: “You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip, and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.” (Luke 12:2-3).

    A hypocrite is a play-actor, a pretender, and a deceiver. He is formally and outwardly religious, but inwardly insincere and unrighteous.

    Hypocrisy is acting like something that we are not. It is harmful because it speaks of a terrible heart condition. The hypocrite knows the right thing to do, and pretends to do the right thing, but does not believe in doing the right thing. Hypocrisy is pretending to be religious when your heart is far from God.

    The Bible teaches you can change your life by changing your heart. That is the message of Jesus’ beatitudes. (Matthew 5-7). But the hypocrite says you can change your life by changing your appearance or people’s perception of you.

    Magic-show religion

    Hypocrisy denies the existence of God. The hypocrite is only concerned about men; he does not reckon with God. As long as he fools men he is pleased. The actions of the hypocrite beg the question: “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” (Psalm 73:11).

    Do not allow yourself to be deceived, We cannot mock God. He can identify the hypocrite even before he is born.

    Peter calls hypocrites wells without water. (2 Peter 2:17). Jude says they are trees without fruit, twice dead. (Jude 1:12).

    You are not a hypocrite if you smoke, drink, take drugs, fornicate, or fight on the bus. But you are a hypocrite if you have a problem with Christians who do. You are a hypocrite if you are holier than thou.

    Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus at night? Because he is a hypocrite. Why were Ananias and Sapphira struck dead? Because they were hypocrites. What kind of man was Judas? He was a hypocritical Christian.

    He took offence at the woman who poured an expensive ointment on Jesus, asking: “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:25). But he had no regard for the poor. He frequently stole money meant for them.

    Almsgiving

    Jesus says: “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater but the God who made you won’t be applauding.” (Matthew 6:1).

    “When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it — quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” (Matthew 6:3-4).

    Hypocrites readily answer mercenary pastors who ask them to stand in church and make pledges for projects. Worse still, some make pledges publicly and then renege privately. Hypocrites pretend to put money in the offering box when there is nothing in their hands.

    Check your feelings. Do you get a kick out of giving or are you grateful for the ability to provide? Are you offended if they do not appreciate your giving? Is your reputation in any way involved in your giving or not giving? If so, you are a hypocrite.

    Role-play

    Jesus cautions: “When you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.” (Matthew 6:5-6).

    How do we square this with public displays of piety? For example, David’s lavish dance when they brought the ark to Jerusalem. Or the woman who poured an alabaster of precious ointment on Jesus. Should they have kept these from public view?

    To avoid hypocrisy, do not do publicly what you do not do privately. Let your faith be primarily that of the closet. Let it not begin and end in public. Let it come from “the hidden person of the heart.” (1 Peter 3:4).

    Public prayer should be the outgrowth of private devotion. Have you seen a man with the spirit and power of Elijah who prays openly and publicly with boldness and confidence to great effect? It is because he spends hours in private and personal prayer. “Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

    God says: “Have a relationship with me.” Our relationship with God should be personal and intimate, and not a shallow public display.

    Have you ever known a husband and wife who do not get along with one another, and yet in public they pretend to be sweethearts? When they have guests, they call themselves “darling,” “pumpkin,” “moin-moin.” But in private they are abusive. That is hypocritical.

    Private faith

    The psalmist says” “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1). The believer’s relationship with Christ is secret first and foremost. This does not mean that we publicly deny the Lord or keep the relationship under wraps. It means it should be pre-eminently intimate, warm, and private.

    God says: “I am the God of Abraham.” This shows He favours the personal relationship. When we have a deep relationship with the Lord, then, we can speak and act publicly as He directs.

    The Bible says: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24).

    How did he walk with God? By faith. In which case, you might see Enoch walking down the road by himself. But no, Enoch is not alone, he is walking with God. He might sit in a corner all by himself, but he is walking with God. He might be in the middle of a crowd of people, but he is walking with God.

    This explains the psalmist’s doxology: “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:19-20).

    When we pray, we are required to disclose our innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires. Sharing our secrets and desires with God provides the foundation for a deep and intimate relationship with him. It also enables us to avail of his healing, comfort, and guidance.

    Jesus says: “I can see it now- at the Final Judgement thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’” (Matthew 7:22-23).

     

    CONTINUED

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Faith is the missing link

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Faith is the missing link

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Hebrews 11: 1-39

    Meditation verse:

    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

    The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews is dedicated to the subject of faith.  Reading through the whole chapter, faith is clearly the missing link needed to live a victorious life in any area of human endeavour as a child of God. Abraham  became the father of nations by faith. Sarah’s dead womb conceived and bore  a child by faith. Moses was preserved at birth from the King’s deadly command  by faith. The children of left Egypt for the promised land, crossing the red sea by  faith. The walls of Jericho came crashing down by faith. Samson defeated the  philistines by faith. David defeated Goliath by faith. 

    Through faith, Kingdoms were subdued, promises were obtained, acts of  righteousness were wrought and mouths of lions were stopped. The weak  became strong, turning to flight armies of the wicked. The dead were raised back  to life again and people endured all kinds of hardship through faith.  

    God does not change. His word is forever settled, and His principle are sure.  Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever”. If you  are currently experiencing defeat in any area of life, faith may be the missing  link. “For without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God  must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

     

    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.