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Tag: Jesus

  • Europa: Jesus left out of Arsenal squad

    Europa: Jesus left out of Arsenal squad

    Gabriel Jesus has not traveled with the Arsenal squad for their Europa League tie against Bodo/Glimt.

    The Brazilian was a doubt for the game after picking up a knock against Liverpool at the weekend.

    Now it appears that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has taken the decision not to risk Jesus’ fitness for the mid-week clash against the Norwegian outfit.

    “We thought that with everything he’s been through in the last few weeks it was better that he stayed at home,” Arteta told reporters during his pre-match press conference

    “A few players that were injured,” Arteta added on other absences.

    “You will find tomorrow. I can’t give you everything.”

  • EPL: Arsenal beat 10-man Tottenham to stay top

    EPL: Arsenal beat 10-man Tottenham to stay top

    Arsenal maintained their position at the Premier League summit as an outstanding display overpowered Tottenham in the north London derby at Emirates Stadium.

    Mikel Arteta’s side were superior throughout and Spurs’ cause was not helped by Emerson Royal’s red card for a second-half foul on Gabriel Martinelli.

    Arsenal made a fast start and took a deserved lead when Thomas Partey side-footed a precise finish into the top corner from 25 yards after 20 minutes.

    Spurs were handed a lifeline before the break when Gabriel’s foul on Richarlison gave Harry Kane the opportunity to score his 14th goal in 18 derby games and his 100th goal away from home in the Premier League from the penalty spot.

    Arsenal were gifted the lead once again when Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris fumbled badly to allow Gabriel Jesus to score four minutes after the break, Antonio Conte’s frustration made worse by Royal’s reckless challenge on Martinelli that prompted referee Anthony Taylor to produce a straight red card.

    Conte was attempting to make three changes when Granit Xhaka effectively ended the contest with a low finish past Lloris from inside the area.

    BBC

  • Jesus hits double as Arsenal maintain 100% start

    Jesus hits double as Arsenal maintain 100% start

    The impressive Gabriel Jesus scored his first Premier League goals for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s side beat Leicester City in an entertaining encounter at Emirates Stadium.

    The Brazilian striker, signed from Manchester City in the summer, scored twice before the break and missed several chances for a hat-trick as well assisting his side’s other goals.

    William Saliba’s own goal early in the second half gave Leicester hope, but Granit Xhaka struck just two minutes later to restore Arsenal’s two-goal lead.

    James Maddison again reduced the arrears, only for Gabriel Martinelli to quickly made it 4-2 as the Gunners maintained their 100% start to the season.

    Leicester were awarded a penalty before half-time when Jamie Vardy and Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale collided, but the decision was overturned by referee Darren England after consulting with the video assistant referee.

    After scoring, Jesus was twice thwarted by Leicester keeper Danny Ward before half-time, and the 25-year-old also hit the side-netting from close range with 10 minutes of the game to go.

    BBC

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: What’s on the other side?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: What’s on the other side?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 8:22-39

    Meditation verse:

    “Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples.  And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they  launched out” (Luke 8:22).

    As Jesus and His disciples got into the boat and sailed to cross over to the other  side, a windstorm came down on the lake. The boat began to fill with water, and  they were in jeopardy. Whilst this was going on, Jesus was fast asleep. When  they woke Him up, crying that they were perishing, He rebuked the wind and  raging water, and there was calm. The journey was hazardous, but when they  got to the other side, a demon possessed man who had been living in the tomb  without clothes for a long time, regained his senses and became an evangelist  throughout the whole city.

    What step are you so afraid of taking? What hurdle looks too impossible to  cross? What journey do you consider too difficult to embark on? Your next level  miracle may be waiting for you at the other side of what you dread the most. As  soon as Jesus spoke to His disciples about crossing to the other side of the lake.

    They got in and launched out. Chances are the Holy Spirit is prompting you to move in a particular direction. How will you respond? Will you rise in faith to do  the needful or will you sit back in doubt? Until you cross over, you may never  know what awaits you on the other side.

    The key to receiving your miracle lies in stepping out and acting. God will not  stirrup your spirit unless He has gone ahead to make provision for you. Perhaps,  you tried in the past to cross over but got discouraged by the challenges you encountered. Let the word of God come alive in your heart again to stir you up.  The journey may be difficult, but if you can persevere and get to the other side,  you will receive your healing, provision, and testimony. You only need to be sure  that you have Jesus in the boat of your life.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • Wrestling with Jesus – By Femi Aribisala

    Wrestling with Jesus – By Femi Aribisala

    “Many of us so-called Christians are living a li”.

    For a long time, Jesus was a big problem in my life. I simply could not handle the truth of God that He reveals.

    Before I met Jesus, I was convinced I was righteous. I lived my life under a strict code of principles and precepts which I believed set me apart from the rest of humanity.

    But the truth, which I only discovered much later, was that these principles were absolutely rubbish. The problem with Jesus is that His righteousness is diametrically opposite to mine.

    Jesus the righteous

    When I met Jesus, His message was unambiguous. There could only be one conclusion from His teachings: Femi Aribisala is unrighteous.

    I was confronted with a choice. I must either choose the righteousness of Christ or conclude He only says a load of pious nonsense. I could not come outright to say Jesus was talking rubbish because I came from a Christian home and was raised as a Christian.

    But at the same time, I sought refuge in the misguided conviction that Jesus’ righteousness is impossible to fulfil. I was convinced, for example, that there was no way a man could get to the point where he would never again look at a woman lustfully.

    There was no way that one would slap a man on the one cheek, and he would readily turn the other cheek. That man would no longer be a man but a weakling and a coward.

    There was no way a man would take your coat and you would give him your cloak as well; unless you were stupid. There was no way a sane human being could be expected to love his enemies and pray for them.

    In short, I concluded it is impossible to be the kind of man Jesus prescribes.

    What then should I do about the declared truth of God’s word?  I decided it was better to stop reading the Bible, especially the words of Jesus. I reached the conclusion, which I now realise was a major piece of deception, that if I continued reading the Bible, I would certainly end up as an atheist.

    Sooner or later, the illogical and irrational nature of Jesus’ teachings would get to me, and I would conclude that Jesus Himself was a load of rubbish. Since I did not want to reach that conclusion, I decided to stay away from Jesus as much as possible.

    Living a lie

    That was my way of dealing with the truth, and it was completely idiotic. The problem with Jesus’ truth is that it does not leave us alone. We can run away from it but are nevertheless soon overtaken by it.

    Jesus’ truth does not go away. It is always there, staring us in the face. It is always there, compelling a choice. If we harden our hearts, there remains only one way out: we must become abject liars.

    It is one of the major tragedies of contemporary Christianity that most so-called Christians are living a lie. We name the name of Jesus but ignore His commandments. We continue in sin but delude ourselves that Jesus has taken away our sins. We say Jesus is Lord, but in all practical matters reject His lordship.

    Accordingly, Jesus asks: “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

    “The one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:49).

    If Christians were to put Jesus’ words into practice, we would be known as the most righteous people on earth. We are not because we ignore Jesus.

    Instead, most Christians are hypocrites. A hypocrite is a play-actor, a pretender, and a deceiver. He is formally and outwardly righteous, but inwardly insincere and evil.

    Jesus says of the Pharisees: “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:28).

    Hypocritical Christians

    Hypocrisy among Christians is particularly harmful because it speaks of a terrible heart condition. The hypocrite knows the right thing to do, pretends to do the right thing, but does not believe in doing the right thing. Hypocrisy is pretending to be righteous when our heart is far from God.

    The scriptures say we can change our life by changing our hearts. That is the message of Jesus’ beatitudes. However, the hypocrite says we can change our life by changing our appearance. Hypocrisy fundamentally denies the existence of God. Our actions keep begging the question: “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” (Psalm 73:11).

    The hypocrite is only concerned about men; he does not reckon with God. As long as he fools men he is satisfied. Peter calls hypocrites wells without water. (2 Peter 2:17). Jude says they are trees without fruit, twice dead. (Jude 1:12).

    Hypocritical Christians need to repent because Jesus pronounced woe on hypocrites. He warns: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20).

    And so today, we have many people whose Christianity does not go beyond going to church, quoting the scriptures, singing praise songs, and going to prayer meetings.

    Beloved, how do we respond to the truth?  Our answer will determine whether we inherit life or death. Do we fight against the truth?  It is a losing battle because the truth is impregnable. To fight against the truth is to fight against God. We cannot win.

    The helper

    One day, I found myself in a church and the preacher preached a message I could not understand, except that something in me connected with it.

    It was time to stop fooling myself and accept defeat. My righteousness is inadequate. I needed to succumb to the righteousness of God. I went forward and prayed a heartfelt prayer of repentance. I asked God to help me and keep me on His righteous path.

    From that day, something strange happened to me. I discovered a power from within, teaching me the ways of God; enabling me to obey the commands of Jesus. Accepting Jesus means accepting His words and precepts. It means living by His words.

    Jesus says: “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19).

    I suddenly discovered that the commands I felt were impossible to obey can be obeyed with the help of Jesus’ Holy Spirit. He is appointed to lead us into God’s truth. Jesus says: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.” (John 14:6).

    Thanks to Him, we can no longer deal with truth in the abstract. The truth is now a person with a personality who comes down from heaven to dwell in us and lead us in the paths of righteousness.

    Jesus says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).

  • Jesus lost elections, so can Bishop Kukah lose to Buhari – By Owei Lakemfa

    Jesus lost elections, so can Bishop Kukah lose to Buhari – By Owei Lakemfa

    When a government like that of Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, is doing very well, it is manifestly immoral for a Bishop to divert its attention, especially with unsolicited homilies.

    That is the problem I have with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Archdiocese. He has this strategy of waiting until the Easter period of salvation to release nuclear-powered inter-continental missiles against the Buhari Presidency as if he were the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, putting Russia in its sight.

    In the 2021 Easter Buhari-Kukah war, I had uncritically taken sides with the Bishop, lambasting Baba Buhari. But as I waited for the 2022 war, I was tempted to advise Kukah to be silent as I suspected that the Presidency not only had a format prepared to respond to whatever he said, especially if it is the truth, but also to possibly fire scud missiles at him.

    I should have listened to my instincts and the Bishop would have been saved the headache of an attack spokesperson of Buhari instructing the Bishop on what he should say, and what parts of the Christian Holy Book he should quote, or is permitted to quote.

    Kukah fired the first shot in the 2022 Easter war with his 19-point Homily titled, ‘Mending a Broken Nation’. In it, he declared that: “Nigerians can no longer recognise their country which has been battered and buffeted by men and women from the dark womb of time.”

    The Buhari administration, he wrote, “sadly has divided our people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and region, in a way that we have never witnessed in our history.” The falsehood, he said, had been created that somehow, one religion is superior to the others, adding that “the way out is for the state to enforce the secular status of the Nigerian state”.

    Government, he argued, has shown far greater commitment to integrating so-called repentant terrorists than getting their captives freed. The military, he said, has the capacity to end banditry, but that: “In reality, the military cannot fire beyond the radar set by their Commander-in-Chief.”

    He argued that all criminals should meet the full force of the law. The Bishop wrote that with everything literally broken down except corruption, our country has become “one big emergency national hospital with full occupancy”.

    Consequently, he argues: “We stare at an imponderable tragedy as the nation unravels from all sides. The government has slid into hibernation mode”. The Presidency, he said, is not a human right based on ethnic, religious or regional sentiments, and that: “We have no need for any further empty messianic rhetoric laced with deceitful and grandiose religiousity.”

    To his fellow religious leaders who eat from the table and cannot speak truth to power, he reminded them that: “Caesar’s embrace is often full of thorns…A leader must know when to call Caesar a fox and not a horse (Luke 13:32).”

    The Buhari Presidency did not respond to the points raised by what it called the “bully-pulpit” because they were “merely assertions” based on hatred. It condemned Kukah for not devoting his Easter message to “Christ’s death and rebirth so Man might be saved – but to damning the government in the most un-Christian terms.”

    It wondered why with the jostling for the 2023 elections in the two leading parties, Kukah “could still find the time for a lengthy homily…”. The Presidency accused the Bishop of neglecting the Bible’s teachings in James 1:26 which states that: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

    The Presidency proclaimed that this is a time in Nigeria: “… as in Titus 3:9 to ‘avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless’”. Quoting Galatians 6:1-2, the Buhari government said even if it were “…caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” not criticise it. It claimed that religious leaders who choose to criticise government “do an injustice to their flock by filling their ears with talk of division and hateful thoughts.”

    Bishop Kukah had specifically declared that “the real challenge before us now is to look beyond politics and face the challenge of forming character and faith in our country.” However, the Buhari Presidency disagrees, giving Bishop Kukah two options: either “to leave government to the voters and the politicians they elect… or else, he should put away his clerical garb, join partisan politics and see how far he can go.”

    I think Buhari’s challenge that Kukah removes his cassock for electoral contest is a knockout punch. Imagine a Kukah who went to seminary as a boy, ordained a priest in December 1976 and has remained in the church since then, being in an electoral contest with Buhari.

    Before Kukah’s ordination, President Buhari had been in politics first as military governor of the North-East, then Borno State and then Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources. Buhari had in December 1983 returned to full politics as Military Head of State. Even in retirement, he had served the Abacha dictatorship as Chairman of its Presidential Task Force, a body that ran a shadow government.

    While Kukah was busy in the church, Buhari had in 2002 become a full time politician first as a chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, then as leader of his own party, the Congress for Progressive Change and then leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Unlike Kukah, Buhari also has experience running for the Presidency in the last five general elections: 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019, winning the last two. I do not think that Bishop Kukah should be ashamed that he would lose any secular elections because when there was an election on whose life was to be spared between Jesus Christ and Barabbas, a convicted murderer, the latter won by a landslide. And when Governor Pontius Pilate asked: “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” Matthew 27: 15-22.

    In the 2022 Buhari-Kukah Easter war, even the Bishop missed out on the symbolism. For instance, people tend to forget that when Our Lord was nailed to the cross, he had two convicted thieves on either side. So, while we were celebrating Christ rising in the Easter period, the Buhari Presidency seemed not to have forgotten the two others nailed on the cross, so it freed two convicted politicians: former governors Jolly Tavoro Nyame and Joshua Chibi Dariye. This is a master stroke against Bishop Kukah and his supporters.

  • Man City run riot against Watford after four goals by Jesus

    Man City run riot against Watford after four goals by Jesus

    Gabriel Jesus struck four times as Manchester City crushed Watford 5-1 on Saturday to chalk off another win in their battle with Liverpool for the English Premier League (EPL) title.

    The Brazilian also provided the assist for Manchester City’s other goal, a stunning strike by Rodri, as the champions increased their lead at the top of the table to four points.

    Hassane Kamara did get on the scoresheet for the visitors but Roy Hodgson’s relegation-threatened side were no match for Manchester City, who were relentless and efficient in attack.

    Seven points off safety and having played more games than the sides immediately above them, the Hornets are running out of time.

    Such was Manchester City’s dominance that they could ease off in the closing stages knowing the onus was now on Liverpool to respond against Everton on Sunday.

    It also gave them chance to conserve some energy ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

    Meanwhile, Jesus could savour his fine riposte to speculation about his future in the light of strong reports linking Manchester City with Erling Haaland.

  • Do Christians really like Jesus? – By Femi Aribisala

    Do Christians really like Jesus? – By Femi Aribisala

    “Christians say we love the Lord, but the truth is we do not like him”.

    The bible is a book of prophecies. God says in the scriptures: “Don’t forget the many times I clearly told you what was going to happen in the future. For I am God- I only- and there is no other like me who can tell you what is going to happen. All I say will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

    Even some of the historical situations presented in the scriptures are prophetic. Therefore, they are fulfilled again and again. For example, the persecution of Isaac by his brother Ishmael is re-enacted in the persecution of Joseph by his brothers and repeated in the persecution of David by his brothers, and again replicated in the persecution of Jesus by his brothers.

    Furthermore, the process continues today in the persecution of true believers by pretender Christians.

    Prophetic Christians

    Since the true believer is created in the image and likeness of Christ, our identity is in the word of God. All we need to do is search the scriptures to determine what manner of men we are and what the future holds. This is because the bible does not merely predict the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also foretells the birth, growth, and development of believers and the church of Christ.

    It is the prophetic revelation about Christians that is of particular interest here. The scriptures indicate that Christians will not like Christ. The church in the wilderness rejected Moses. The Israelites rejected the prophets. The Jews rejected Jesus. Christians will reject the word of God.

    God says to Ezekiel: “I am sending you to the people of Israel with My messages. I am not sending you to some far-off foreign land where you can’t understand the language- no, not to tribes with strange, difficult tongues. (If I did, they would listen!). I am sending you to the people of Israel, and they won’t listen to you any more than they listen to Me! For the whole lot of them are hard, impudent, and stubborn.” (Ezekiel 3:4-7).

    Indeed, the scriptures detail not so much how Jesus is hated by men, as how He is hated by His own people. John says: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11). That statement is prophetic. Today, Christians are supposedly the people of God; so, the scripture now applies to us. It means Christians will not receive Christ. Jesus Himself observes that: “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” (Matthew 13:57).

    Christian animosity

    Most Christians do not like the Jesus of the bible. We may say we love the Lord because He is our Saviour, but the truth is we do not like Him.

    “Why don’t you like Me?” asks God? “What did I do to drive you away?” “What iniquity did you find in Me that turned you against Me?” (Jeremiah 2:5). “Hear, O you mountains, the LORD’S complaint, and you strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a complaint against His people, and He will contend with Israel. ‘O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.’” (Micah 6:2-3).

    Moses says God created man in His own image. However, George Bernard Shaw was right when he said: “We have decided to return the favor.” We have created God in our own image. God says again prophetically: “These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you.” (Psalm 50:21).

    Christians do not really like the God that is revealed in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we contradict Him at every turn. We do not want the God who insists we should love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44-45). We prefer a God who sends the fire of the Holy Ghost to destroy our enemies. We do not want the God who says those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. (Matthew 26:52). We prefer a God who will be on our side when we go to war.

    We do not like the God who says we should turn the other cheek. (Luke 6:29). We prefer the God who gives an eye for an eye. We do not want the God who desires mercy. (Matthew 9:13). We prefer a God who exacts eternal punishment on sinners.

    The God revealed in Christ is far too demanding for us. He wants everything we have. (Luke 14:33). But Christians prefer a God that only requires a tithe. We do not like the God in Christ who regards men and women as equals. We prefer the God who legislates women must not wear trousers. We do not like the God in Christ who says we should bless those who curse us. (Matthew 5:44). We prefer the God who allows us to abuse our opponents.

    Christians do not like the Jesus who was born in poor and humble circumstances. We prefer the Jesus of our mega-pastors who fly around in jet planes and even establish their own airlines. We do not like the Jesus who did not go to school and get a formal education. (John 7:15-16). We prefer would prefer the Jesus who boasts of his Ph.D. We prefer the God who establishes church universities where money is made by collecting high school fees.

    New improved Jesus

    Indeed, the real Jesus of Nazareth has become so offensive to Christians that we have created a new improved Jesus more to our liking. This new Jesus is no longer poor, meek, and lowly. But according to some, He is a rich man who wears “designer clothes.” Some Christians even claim the donkey Jesus rode in humility into Jerusalem was a brand-new “Continental Donkey;” thereby ascribing to it the same status as today’s Cadillac.

    Christians have given Jesus a spiritual makeover. He is no longer physically ugly according to prophecy: “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2). The modern-day Jesus preferred by Christians is very handsome. He is not even Middle Eastern any longer: he is European and blue-eyed.

    In effect, we have fulfilled the prophecy which says of the true Jesus: “He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (Isaiah 53:3).

    But even more than the fact that we do not like Jesus personally, we certainly do not like His doctrine. We do not like His insistence that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross in order to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24). We don’t like His requirement that we have to lose our life in order to save it. (Mark 8:35).

    We do not heed His warning that we should not be worldly but should be hated by the world. (John 15:18-20). We do not obey His injunction not to have any other father but God. (Matthew 23:9). We do not agree with Him that it is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:24).

  • New wine, new wineskins (2) – Femi Aribisala

    Femi Aribisala

    If you have concluded that you cannot meet Jesus’ standards because they are impossible to meet, I want to congratulate you because that means you are finally ready for a Saviour. When you finally recognise that you cannot save yourself from your sins, then you are ready for Jesus to be your Saviour.

    Many years ago, I heard someone quote this scripture and the Holy Spirit gave me a translation that I have not found in any bible. It says: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4). This is how I heard it: “Christ is the end of trying to be good for those who believe in Him.”

    When we are apostles of “do-it-yourself salvation,” we make Jesus irrelevant and continue to knock our heads against the wall. Jesus says: “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:24).

    When we finally recognise that we need divine help to live a godly life but are simply incapable of accomplishing this on our own, then Jesus says we are blessed. That is the real message of the Sermon on the Mount.

    Jesus says those who recognise their deep spiritual needs are blessed: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3). The poor in spirit are those who acknowledge that they are spiritually inadequate.

    Jesus says blessed are those who are sad because they know that they are not good enough: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4). They will be comforted because God will perfect everything about them.

    Blessed are those who have a strong desire to be like God: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). They will be fulfilled because God will give them the desires of their hearts. (Psalm 37:4). They are blessed because that is precisely why Jesus came to die for our sins: so that we can be perfect, just as the Lord our God is perfect. (Matthew 5:48).

    Vain efforts

    Many of the spiritual disciplines that we establish in the name of religion lead us further and further away from the beatitudes of Christ. Many assume the faith in Christ is amenable to rigorous exercise. If we go to church and pray every day, cram a few scriptures, then we convince ourselves that we are holy.

    Indeed, many of the religious disciplines we glory in merely foster in us a critical spirit towards others. They fool us into believing that we are better Christians than others simply because we are more able to fulfil them.

    This brings to mind Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee who despised the tax collector in the Temple, saying: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” (Luke 18:11-12). Jesus says the man was not justified by God.

    Paul says Christianity is all about: “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5). But some have reduced this imperative to obeying man-made rules and regulations and fulfilling the traditions of men.

    In Nouveau Schools that God gave me I have guards that open the door of my car to let me in or out but do not do the job I employed them for satisfactorily. They want to help me to carry my bag when I never required that of them, hoping foolishly that it would be to their credit.

    The brother of the Prodigal Son was convinced that he loved his Father more than his brother because he stayed at home and did not leave. But love is not merely achieved by marking present on a register. Similarly, some people are deluded into thinking they are lovers of God because they go to church every Sunday. No such luck.

    Many stress formulas rather than the centrality of the Christian relationship with God. Many elevate self-righteousness to a virtue, thereby honouring those who keep the rules rather than honouring only Jesus Christ. Many prescribe bodily exercise as a means to spiritual growth, rather than the purification of the heart by faith.

    Jesus says: “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:16-17).

    Water baptism

    John the Baptist could show people their sins, but he could not help them to become sinless. All he offered was water baptism. Water baptism cleanses the body on the outside, but it does not cleanse the inside which remains filthy.

    John himself recognised these limitations. He told the people: “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16).

    Only Jesus baptises with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

    The difference is fundamental. The good news of Jesus Christ not only calls us to repentance, it works repentance in us. It gifts us repentance. It makes us repent. Jesus does not only show us our sins, He enables us to overcome them. His atonement enables us to receive the Holy Spirit, who works in us both to will and to do for God’s good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13).

    The Ten Commandments that Moses wrote on tablets of stone are now being re-written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit precept upon precept, line by line. Thus, in the volume of the book, it is written that we now delight to do the will of God. (Psalm 40:7-8).

    The fire baptism of the Holy Spirit cleanses and purifies the heart from the inside. Holy Ghost fire purges the dross that is within and enables you to come out as gold.

    But you will tell me that you have received the Holy Spirit, so why do you still have nagging inclinations to sin? Yes, but after you received Holy Spirit, you continued to listen to John the Baptist in the churches where new wine is served in old wineskins. John himself says: “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).

    So, let us ask the same question that John could not answer, but now in the light of the New Testament: “What shall we do?”

    “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom (God) sent.’” (John 6:28-29).

    The jailer asked the same question of Paul and Silas: “‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So, they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” (Acts 16:30-31).

    For every question about what to do, the answer is that all we are required to do is to believe.

    CONTINUED

  • [Devotional: IN HIS PRESENCE: Jesus, the game changer

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 2:6-14
    Meditation verse:

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

    Picture this: you are watching a match where one team is leading the other with a score of 2 – 0 at half time. As the second half begins, a new player is brought into the losing team by the coach and suddenly the game begins to take a different turn. The scores become 2 – 1, then 2 – 2, and just as the game ends after the extra minutes, the scores become 3 – 2 in favor of the initial losing team. The player introduced into the game in the second half is known as the ‘game changer’.

    When Jesus Christ was born into this world over two thousand years ago, the game of life changed in favor of the entire human race. Up until then, Satan had the upper hand due to the fall of Adam. However, with the birth of the Savior and Messiah in the fullness of time, the scores were reversed.

    Jesus Christ is the ‘ultimate game changer’. The angels announced His birth to the shepherds in the field and declared good tidings of great joy, peace, and goodwill towards all men. Several years later, experienced fishermen fished all night in tested waters, but caught nothing. When the game changer arrived on the scene, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. Five loaves of bread and two fishes were insufficient to feed a hungry crowd, but in the hands of the game changer, several baskets of crumbs were gathered after the crowd had eaten to their full.

    Jesus Christ is still in the ‘game changing business’. Hebrews 13:8 states that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Irrespective of what you are going through today, He can change the game in your favor. However, you need to trust Him for the salvation of your soul.

    Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart? He says in Mathew 11:28, “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He longs to give you rest. Here’s a prayer you can say right away: “Dear Jesus, I confess I am a sinner and I believe You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I invite you into my heart and I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me my sins and help me to live my life for You”.

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