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Tag: Jesus

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your value is in the pressing

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

    Meditation verse:

    “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8).

    Have you ever considered how oil is gotten from olive seeds? The seeds are pressed to express the oil. To produce sweet wine, bunches of grape seeds are put in a big drum and someone steps in to trample on them.

    Bread is made by kneading dough on a hard surface, and the churning of cream produces butter.

    What does all of this say about the creation of value?

    The value in you will not birthed in your comfort zone. It is in the daily struggling, pressing, squeezing, and suffering that the value you carry will show forth. Newton’s first law of motion states that an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity unless it is acted upon by an external force. His second law states that the rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the force applied. Greatness can hardly be found in your comfort zone, only mediocrity resides there.

    Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to become great, they must serve others. Then, He rolled up his sleeves, put on an apron and bent down to wash their feet. Prophesying the suffering of the Messiah, Isaiah 50:6 states “I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting”. If the world is to benefit from your value, you must get out there and do the dirty work, and in doing so, you will be hard pressed.

    2 Corinthians 4:7-10 says, “but we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body”. So, do not resist the hard knocks of life. The value is always in the pressing.

    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

  • Jesus the heavenly commando – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Jesus came into the world as a heavenly commando sent by God to destroy the works of Satan single-handedly. The devil holds men in bondage through the singular sin of the love of life; the foundation of all sin. We steal, cheat, fight, kill and commit adultery to save our lives.

    God required Jesus to call us to repentance and tell us about His spiritual kingdom. He would then demonstrate that our fear of death is baseless by laying down His life and then rising from the dead.

    Hebrews says of Jesus: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

    Exposed secret agent

    But how can Jesus survive in Satan’s kingdom on earth when His arrival was broadcast by angels? How can he survive when wise men from the East are foolish enough to make enquiries about Him in the king’s palace?

    Herod’s response on hearing of the birth of a rival “king of the Jews” was to kill all the infants in Bethlehem. However, God was always one step ahead of Jesus’ adversaries. An angel forewarned Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt for refuge. Thereafter, the devil was bound and rendered powerless for the duration of Jesus’ ministry.

    Jesus was not secretive about his mission on earth. He preached about the establishment of his alternative kingdom everywhere he went. He also validated his message with supernatural signs.

    He cast out demons, demonstrating the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom. He raised the dead, signaling the triumph of life over death. He healed the sick, announcing the end of human suffering. He multiplied loaves of bread, pointing to the satisfaction of all physical need. He stilled the storm, heralding the emergence of peace on earth. And He forgave sins, proclaiming the dawning of righteousness.

    Recognising Jesus’ superior authority and powers, the devil sought an unholy alliance with Him. He said to Him: “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” (Luke 4:6-7).

    When Jesus refused the offer, he resorted to his time-honoured strategy of employing the fear of death. He threatened Jesus’ life; knowing Jesus could easily save it. But if Jesus saved his life, he would be entrapped by the word of God which says: “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it.” (Luke 17:33).

    The devil even attempted to use one of Jesus’ disciples against Him. When Jesus revealed that God’s plan was for him to be killed and then rise from the dead, Peter objected, saying this should not happen to Jesus.

    But Jesus rebuked him sharply. He said to him: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23).

    A house divided

    In Satan’s camp were the Jewish pastors who were incensed that the more Jesus preached, the more he exposed their ungodliness. If He were to continue unabated, they feared they would soon lose their meal-ticket; the goodwill of the people.

    They were also concerned that Jesus’ popularity would grow into a revolutionary fervor against Roman occupation; prompting Caesar to crush it with characteristic ruthlessness. Since this would jeopardize their privileged position under Roman rule, they decided to accuse Jesus to the Roman authorities of plotting to overthrow Caesar, a crime punishable by death.

    However, Jesus knew Satan had no interest in killing Him; he only wanted Him to save His life. Satan knew he could not kill Jesus. Any attempt to kill Yim would prompt the rescue of angels. Satan said to Jesus: “It is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over You,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear You up, lest you dash Your foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:6).

    But Jesus was determined to allow Himself to be killed so that Satan’s captivity of men through the love of life and the fear of death would finally be broken. When Satan realised this was Jesus’ resolve, he decided to call the whole thing off at the last minute.

    Pilate, another one of his agents, looked desperately for a way to free Jesus, declaring him to be innocent. He said to Jesus’ accusers: “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 19:4). He then sought to release Jesus through a clemency order in honour of the Passover.

    However, the pastors, Satan’s other agents, would not consent to Jesus’ release, insisting He must be crucified. In effect, Jesus’ non-resistance divided Satan against himself. Jesus says: “Every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25).

    Concerned not to jeopardise his position as Governor by inciting a riot, Pilate was forced to succumb to the demands of Jesus’ persecutors.

    Provoking righteousness

    But Satan had one last gambit. He engineered the rulers of the Jews as well as passers-by to mock Jesus, hoping to provoke him to jump down from the cross and save his life. They taunted him, saying: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” (Luke 23:37). “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” (Luke 23:35).

    Even God restrained Himself from saving Jesus when Jesus cried out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

    However, the love of God for humanity ensured Jesus was forsaken on the cross. Thereby, Jesus fulfilled the word of God that says: “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25).

    “Since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15;21).

    Thus, Jesus’ death became paradoxically His greatest triumph. Once He willingly laid down His life for God, the devil’s stranglehold on the lives of men was broken for the very first time. His resurrection ushered in a new era of the resurrection of the dead unto eternal life with God. (John 6:38-40).

    As a result, all the righteous dead began to rise from the dead: “The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52-53).

    By overcoming the love of life and the fear of death, Jesus opened “the gates of righteousness,” that men may thereafter follow His shining example. Thanks to Jesus, we are no longer held captive by sin and Satan:

    “Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:7-8).

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Give us this day our daily bread

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: MATTHEW 6:9–13

    Meditation verse:
    “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).

    In the wake of each day, God dispenses bread as He pleases. Daily bread can be in the form of a good break, promotion at work, a business deal, healing, or salvation for a loved one. Psalm 145:15 says the eyes of all creatures look expectantly to God and He gives them their food in due season. He opens His hands and satisfies the desire of every living thing.

    In teaching His disciples to pray, Jesus taught them to ask for their daily bread. God is a gracious father who delights in blessing His children. Jesus said, “if you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:11). Have you asked God for your daily bread today? James 4:2 says you do not have because you do not ask.

    Before you step out this day, why not pray in the manner Jesus taught His disciples:
    Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

    When you expect nothing, you will get nothing. It is as simple as that.

    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

    IN HIS PRESENCE: A daily devotional of

  • EPL clubs cleared to field South American players

    EPL clubs cleared to field South American players

    Premier League players are set to be cleared to play for their clubs this weekend after Brazil reportedly dropped their complaint about their failure to report for international duty.

    Under Fifa rules, players not released for the recent South American World Cup qualifiers were to be suspended from playing for five days.

    In total, 11 players were the subject of complaints.

    But the Press Association reports all countries involved waived the bans.

    Players cleared to play:

    Alisson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino (Liverpool and Brazil)

    Ederson and Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City and Brazil)

    Thiago Silva (Chelsea and Brazil)

    Raphinha (Leeds and Brazil)

    Fred (Manchester United and Brazil)

    Miguel Almiron (Newcastle and Paraguay)

    Raul Jimenez (Wolves and Mexico)

    Francisco Sierralta (Watford and Chile)

  • In Jesus There Is No Apartheid Or Caste System, By Stephen Ojapah

    In Jesus There Is No Apartheid Or Caste System, By Stephen Ojapah

    Stephen Ojapah MSP

    Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. for he is our peace, who have made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. (Ephesians 2: 13-16).

    The letter to the Ephesians is addressed to Gentile believers in a multiracial and trans-national church. Ephesians 2:13-16 is a significant part of the St Paul’s prayer that extends from 1:3 to 3:21. The prayer begins with a doxology and ends with one. Ephesians 2:13-16 deals primarily with reconciliation (which presupposes estrangement). It discusses humanity’s condition in original sin (the state of separation from God) and is set in the context of Ephesians 1:19-21. The conclusion can also be supported by comparing Ephesians 1:19-23 and Ephesians 2:1-10.Having mentioned the surpassing greatness of God’s power in 1:19a, Paul breaks off from his prayer to mention that the resurrection of Jesus and His exaltation to God’s right hand in heavenly places were accomplished by the same supernatural power. St Paul, follows with a demonstration of God’s grace as manifested in God’s treatment of undeserving sinners through Christ Jesus who have become one irrespective of race, colour or social status.

    Between (1844-1858) Fr Marion Bresillac ministered to the natives of India in Pondicherry. His life and times with the natives was full of passion for the spreading of the Gospel. Fr Bresillac loved the Tamil language and the people; however, there was one scandal he could not understand, as missionary coming from Europe. The Caste System. In the middle of February of 1844, Bresillac was made the Rector of the Seminary with eighty- nine students. On assuming such a responsibility he said: “ I had to fight not only against the prejudice of the Indians, but against old ideas rooted in the spirit of many of my confereres who are actively supporting the caste system. As I continued to serve as Rector, my aim was to move little by little beyond certain delicate observances which were not against directly against caste” (Michael Mission or Martyrdom 1989). And what exactly was or is the caste system?

    The caste system divides Hindus four main categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shrudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation. … The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. Modern India’s caste system is based on the colonial superimposition of the Portuguese word casta on the four-fold theoretical classification called Varna and on natural social groupings called Jati From 1901 onwards, for the purposes of the Decennial Census, the British classified all Jātis into one or the other of the Varna categories as described in ancient texts. Herbert Hope Risley, the Census Commissioner, noted that “The principle suggested as a basis was that of classification by social precedence as recognized by native public opinion at the present day, and manifesting itself in the facts that particular castes are supposed to be the modern representatives of one or other of the castes of the theoretical Indian system.”

     

    Varna, as mentioned in ancient Hindu texts, describes society as divided into four categories: Brahmins (scholars and yajna priests), Kshatrivas (rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (farmers, merchants and artisans) and Shudras (workmen/service providers). The texts do not mention any hierarchy or a separate, untouchable category in Varna classifications. Scholars believe that the Varnas system was never truly operational in society and there is no evidence of it ever being a reality in Indian history. The practical division of the society had always been in terms of Jatis (birth groups), which are not based on any specific religious principle, but could vary from ethnic origins to occupations to geographic areas. The Jātis have been endogamous social groups without any fixed hierarchy but subject to vague notions of rank articulated over time based on lifestyle and social, political or economic status. Many of India’s major empires and dynasties like the Mauryas Shalivahanas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas among many others, were founded by people who would have been classified as Shudras, under the Varnas system. It is well established that by the 9th century, kings from all the four Varnas, including Brahmins and Vaishyas, had occupied the highest seat in the monarchical system in Hindu India, contrary to the Varna theory. In many instances, as in Bengal, historically the kings and rulers had been called upon, when required, to mediate on the ranks of Jātis, which might number in thousands all over the subcontinent and vary by region. In practice, the jātis may or may not fit into the Varna classes and many prominent Jatis, for example the Jats and Yadavs, straddled two Varnas i.e. Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, and the Varna status of Jātis itself was subject to articulation over time.

    Starting with the British colonial Census of 1901 led by Herbert Hope Risley, all the jātis were grouped under the theoretical varnas categories. According to political scientist Lloyd Rudolph, Risley believed that varna, however ancient, could be applied to all the modern castes found in India, and “[he] meant to identify and place several hundred million Indians within it. In an effort to arrange various castes in order of precedence functional grouping was based less on the occupation that prevailed in each case in the present day than on that which was traditional with it, or which gave rise to its differentiation from the rest of the community. “This action virtually removed Indians from the progress of history and condemned them to an unchanging position and place in time. In one sense, it is rather ironic that the British, who continually accused the Indian people of having a static society, should then impose a construct that denied progress The terms varna (conceptual classification based on occupation) and jāti (groups) are two distinct concepts: while varna is a theoretical four-part division, jāti (community) refers to the thousands of actual endogamous social groups prevalent across the subcontinent. The classical authors scarcely speak of anything other than the varnas, as it provided a convenient shorthand; but a problem arises when colonial Indologists sometimes confuse the two. Thus, starting with the 1901 Census, caste officially became India’s essential institution, with an imprimatur from the British administrators, augmenting a discourse that had already dominated Indology. “Despite India’s acquisition of formal political independence, it has still not regained the power to know its own past and present apart from that discourse”.

     

    Jesus, broke the walls that separated the Jews and the Gentiles. He is a true leader, who unites all his sons and daughters. The mark of any leader or system, is the ability to unite the people under its care. In modern history, we remember the crumbled apartheid system of government in South Africa, and the civil right movement in America that saw to the granting of equal opportunities and voting rights to both blacks and whites. Martin Luther King Jr, will continue to be a true leader and hero who struggled for this equality till his death. Nelson Mandela, would be remembered for paying the price of freedom and equality with the threat of death to his life and his eventual incarceration for twenty seven years. Jesus paid this same price with his death on the cross, that all may be one. (John 17). A prayer he said before departing this world. One will ordinarily think that after two thousand years of Christianity. We would have made tremendous progress, in bringing people together as one, either as a nation or as a church. Or we would have been celebrating leaders, who are willing to spend the rest of their lives and strength to the course of unity.

     

  • Jesus is the saviour of the Boko Haram – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    A lawyer asks Jesus about the prerequisites of attaining eternal life. Jesus tells him to love God and love his neighbour. Then he asks: “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus’ answer leads to the story of the Good Samaritan. In that story, the neighbour of the Jew turns out to be the despised Samaritan.

    Still on this message, John says: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:20-21).

    But the question I want to ask here is: “Who is our brother?” Even more precisely, is the Boko Haram bomber, the one who kidnaps our children and bombs our churches, is he also our brother?

    Christ on forgiveness

    A cardinal feature of Jesus’ message is forgiveness. Jesus reveals that God is love. But there can be no love without forgiveness, and there can be no forgiveness without love. To love is to forgive: to forgive is to love.

    When Moses asked God to show him His glory, God wrote His own C.V. One of the main things He said about Himself is: “I forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin.” (Exodus 34:7). By His own admission, that is one of His distinctions.

    The special name one psalmist has for God is: “God-Who-Forgives.” (Psalm 99:8). Another psalmist says: “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4).

    Because God forgives, we can have the audacity to come before Him and worship Him. We can: “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). Otherwise, we would be consumed because of our sins.

    Jesus draws a parallelogram between love and forgiveness when he says to Simon the Pharisee about the woman of easy virtue who crashed a dinner party and was kissing His feet: “I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47).

    Since God has forgiven us for all our sins, we must also forgive others for their sins. He who has forgiven must forgive. Therefore, we must forgive even killers like the Boko Haram. If there is to be an end to evil in the world, it can only come through the forgiveness of sins.

    Peter says: “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (1 Peter 4:8). Love can only cover sins through forgiveness. Solomon says: “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9).

    The greater sin

    What is the difference between someone who tells a lie and someone who murders the innocent? According to the scriptures, there is absolutely no difference. Both are sinners. Both have fallen short of the glory of God.

    Man determines the gravity of sin by how grievous it is to us, making murder more problematic for man than lying. However, all sin is first and foremost against God, and to God, murder is just as grievous as lying.

    God says: “The soul who sins will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4). That means the soul who tells a lie will die, and the soul who kills the innocent will also die. The penalty is the same.

    John defines sin as the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4).

    James says every sin is a transgressor of the law: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:10-11).

    Simply put, that means a liar is also a murderer.

    The greater sin is not against man. It is not the killing of 6 million Jews in Hitler’s Germany. Neither is it the despicable nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. The greater sin is against God. It is the killing of Jesus, the Son of God. It is the sin that reveals the total depravity of man.

    Nevertheless, Jesus prayed while dying on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Stephen said the same thing while they were stoning him to death: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60).

    Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. If He can forgive us for killing Him because of our sins, we should forgive everyone, including even the Boko Haram, for their sins.

    Same difference

    Since all sin is the same to God, the Christian is the terrorist who has received the grace of God, and the Boko Haram is the sinner who has yet to receive grace. But if the sinner who became a Christian can receive the grace of God, so can the Boko Haram terrorist.

    The grace of God is never earned. It is freely given. No one merits it. But some sinners have obtained mercy. That does not foreclose the fact that others will obtain mercy as well. Jesus is not the Saviour of Christians. He is the Saviour of all men. (1 Timothy 4:10). He is: “the Saviour of the world.” (John 4:42).

    The scriptures reveal that God: “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4). One thing is certain, God will get whatever He desires since He: “works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11).

    This means there is salvation in the works even for the murderous Boko Haram. Paul says: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23).

    Paul himself was a terrorist like the Boko Haram who supervised the killing of Christians. Since this did not prevent him from receiving from Christ the forgiveness of sins, neither will it prevent the Boko Haram.

    Paul says: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

    The promise of God does not exclude the Boko Haram from forgiveness. God says in Hosea: “In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there it shall be said to them, ‘you are sons of the living God.’” (Hosea 1:10).

    He says furthermore: “I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘you are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’” (Hosea 2:23).

    CONTINUED

  • 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.

  • Redeemed from death to life – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    How many times have you heard these kinds of testimonies? “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! God has blessed me with a brand-new car.” “My wife just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.” “Glory be to God; I have just been promoted at work.”

    These testimonies are invaluable, but you must admit they are run-of-the-mill. In the first place, they are not limited to believers. Unbelievers also buy new cars, have children, and get promoted. But there are testimonies that separate the sons of God from the sons of men. Those testimonies are usually preceded by a death, after which they reveal the power of resurrection.

    Living death

    Imagine you are in church when Lazarus gives this testimony: “Praise the Lord! I fell sick and died. After four days, the Lord Jesus raised me from the dead.” I bet you would sit up and really pay attention. Or imagine you were there when Jonah says:

    “Praise the Lord! I was thrown overboard on the high seas. A big fish came and swallowed me. I was in its belly for three days and three nights. While there, I phoned Pastor Joshua and told him to labour in prayer with me. After three days, God answered, and the fish vomited me at Nineveh harbour.” Now, how about that for a testimony?

    Jesus was crucified and he died. On the third day, he rose triumphantly from the dead. On his resurrection, he told his disciples: “You shall be my witnesses.” What does it mean today to be a witness of the death and resurrection of Jesus?

    You have to experience a living death and then be resurrected from the dead. You have to be thrown down a well; sold off as a slave; and then resurrect in Egypt as the prime minister.

    A resurrected man is a completely different kettle of fish from a natural man. A resurrected man has been fed to the lions. He has overcome death and no longer fears death. Indeed, he can no longer be killed. John says: they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11).

    There is no other way to overcome in life except by undergoing a living death. Jesus says: “He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

    To overcome like Jesus, we must be prepared to experience the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. So doing, we experience first-hand the power of his resurrection. It is at these imperatives that many of us draw back from following Jesus. (Hebrews 10:32-35).

    Triumphant life

    The life Jesus gives is the resurrected life. Jesus does not just say: “I am the life.” He says: “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25). Before there can be life, there must be a death and then a resurrection. Hannah says: “The LORD kills and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and brings up.” (1 Samuel 2:6).

    The true Christian life is “the resurrected life.” The promised abundant life in Christ is a life after death. To live it, we must become a Lazarus. We must die in our afflictions and then be raised to newness of life. Jesus says: “a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat.” (John 12:24).

    In the scriptures, God reveals himself as the resurrection and the life to a number of people, including Job, Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel. The revelation follows a familiar pattern. God decrees their death in afflictions, and then he raises them back to life. The new life inevitably makes them impregnable to the travails of life.

    Sons of God must conform to the image of Christ. Jesus died and rose from the dead. Thereafter, death no longer had dominion over him. By the same token, the life of the redeemed is the resurrected life. Without death, there can be no resurrection. Therefore, the redeemed is a man or woman who died and has risen from the dead.

    The problem here is that most Christians simply do not want to die. But if God does not kill before he makes alive, then the motions of sin in us would soon corrupt and defile the new man in the redeemed.

    Jesus warns: “No one puts 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).

    Life after death

    In this life, life does not prevail over life. But death normally triumphs over natural life. Therefore, to be victorious in this life, we must conquer death. Death boasts: “No matter what you become, no matter what you acquire, I will get you in the end and bring it to nothing.”

    Since death is always victorious over natural life, the only life that is worthwhile is the life that has prevailed over death. If your life cannot prevail over death then you are done for. The victorious life is life after death.

    If Jesus had performed all his miracles, only to die like any other man, he could not have been the Messiah. He might still have been a remarkable man. But he would nonetheless have been just another prophet.

    Do not believe in any faith that cannot guarantee the resurrection of the dead. Do not believe in any faith where the dead cannot be raised back to life. Only Christianity guarantees this. Even in my ministry, the Lord has raised the dead back to life.

    Just think about it. If there is no life after death, then the poor and the needy would be the most miserable people on earth. However, Jesus says: “God will bless you people who are poor. His kingdom belongs to you!” (Luke 6:20).

    Why should a man come into this world just to encounter all kinds of problems and, at the end of it all, simply die? Paul says: “If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

    The problems of this life only make sense in light of the life after death. It is the life after death that makes this life bearable. It is the life after death that gives meaning to this miserable life. Therefore, even in this life, God is determined to socialise us into the resurrected life. Even in this life, God insists that we lay down our lives so he can raise us from the dead.

    Listen again to the words of Jesus: “Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18).

  • Will Jesus Fly The Flag At Half Mask?, Stephen Ojapah

    Will Jesus Fly The Flag At Half Mask?, Stephen Ojapah

    Stephen Ojapah msp

    When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said. “Where have you laid him? They said. “Lord come and see.” Jesus wept (John 11: 33-35). In some African cultures weeping is a sign of weakness. Men, we are told are not supposed to cry. Very often when something tragic happens, men are blackmailed into silence. Some cultures in Asia, especially in North Korea, women are discouraged from showing “weakness” during child delivery. Whatever that means I honestly don’t comprehend it very well myself. But, today we see in the chapter and the verse above, how Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus. This weeping I can imagine was a public display of his pain and agony over the death of his friend.

    This week in Nigeria scared me so much, I tried to wrap my thoughts on what to write. The inglorious news and happenings were simply too numerous. Where exactly should I focus my prayer points to? The Editorial of the Punch Newspaper of May 6th 2021 tried to summarize our woes in simple language: “Plainly, Buhari has lost control of non-state actors; Nigeria is at war in many theatres. The human and economic costs of this anarchy are simply unsustainable. In the North-East, Islamic terrorists have regained the upper over the military. Boko Haram, which has killed more than 100,000 persons and displaced millions is better armed than the military. Insurgents are recapturing territories, with Geidam, Yobe State, and Southern Borno State their latest Prizes.”

    How are we to feel, with the hopelessness in our land? The editorial continues: “The North-Central is bleeding blood again. Eleven soldiers were butchered early in April in Benue State. Between April and early May, bandits and Fulani herdsmen slaughtered 70 people in an IDP camp in Makurdi. Before this died down, 19 others were massacred on Monday in the Gwer LGA of the State. The bloody frenzy has spread to Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Kogi States. Its more deadly version occurs in Niger State, where Boko Haram has hoisted its flag in 50 villages in two LGAs. Various international reports categorize Nigeria among the world’s most terrorized countries. We read in 2nd Samuel Chapter 21: 10: “And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until it rained on them from the sky; and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night”.

    The bloodshed in our land is “almost beyond atonement”. The terrorism is on everyone’s door steps. On the 4th of May 2021, I received a call from the secretary of one of my outstations; St John’s Catholic Church Danja, Katsina State. He called to report to me the return of one of my parishioners who was kidnapped on the 26th of April 2021. She came back not in her full senses, and apparently abused by her captors. I rushed to see her and to welcome her. I took time to listen to her. Her trauma and experience was gory and humiliating, she witness the death of some of those in captivity with her. The whole town irritates her she said, she can’t continue to live here she told me.

    The entire country is involved in one form of agitation or the other. We are seeing death as never recorded before in our country’s history. We have a harvest of tragedy after tragedy. No one is safe and free. We have prayed and fasted, and we have wished our political leaders God’s wisdom and discernment as they carry out the duties of their offices. But something keeps striking me, and am sure a lot of other Nigerians. What tragedy will force the government to fly its flag at half-staff in recognition of all the deaths and tragedy that has occurred in recent times? Statutorily: “The president may order the flag to be flown at half-staff to mark the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries, in addition to these occasions, the president may order half-staff display of the flag after other tragic events”. And I wonder, what other tragedy are we left to experience before we can show some respect to all the victims of Boko Haram, Kidnappers, Bandits, and Herdsmen?

    In the play Peer Gynt, the hero visits a lunatic asylum where he believed that people are not out of their minds or out of themselves. The director corrects him; “It’s here that men are most themselves- themselves and nothing but themselves- sailing without spread sails of self. Each shuts himself in a cask of self, the cask stopped with the bung of self and seasoned in a well of self. None has tears for others’ woes, or cares what any other thinks.”

    The cure for this general malady of selfishness is to break out of our walled garden of glass cage. Existence is not opaque and unrelated to the universe and people about us. Existence has a relatedness to everything. That is why there is in us a nostalgia, a sense of nonfulfillment, until we complete it by having an encounter with others. Care makes one a responsible being and responsible government, reacting to others, helping others grow and develop. There is a frustrated egotist who could not be cured by getting his back off a couch, getting on his feet to serve. His weakness would pass out through his fingers in what might be called the therapy of touch. Instead of having his guilt explained away, he could work it away with a love that covers a multitude of sins.

    A British psychiatrist Maxell Jones, introduced into a hospital what he called community care. The project was that each person should have contact with those either in the same room or, if he was ambulatory, on the same floor, he was to consider himself a part of the healing community. No one was to talk about his illness but to bring solace to others. The orderliness, the nurses, the doctors, also pledged themselves to be interested in others. Three results followed: Patients recovered more quickly, because they were loved. Doctors discovered that fewer formal interviews with patients were necessary, because of the new form of care on the part if the patients. Third, the doctor divested himself of unnecessary symbols of authority, such as the white coat and the stethoscope, and depended upon earning his status as a real person in the life of the patients and the personnel. It is all very well and good to release people from certain anxiety, but the real cure does not come until one is released to a concern for the welfare of others. The cruelest words of tongue or pen are “could not have cared less”. Jesus is an epitome of care and concern. With all that has been happening, He would have flown the flag at half-mast.

    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)

     

  • The sure mercies of David (3) – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    When you are at your wit’s end, don’t be at your faith’s end.

    Earthquakes can be disastrous, and they are even more lethal when combined with tsunamis. Earthquakes bring down buildings. To escape, you must run out. But with tsunamis, the flood confronts those who manage to run out of collapsing buildings.

    Earthquakes take place in earthquake zones. There are some parts of the world that are sitting on what is called a fault. It is like sitting on a crack. The crack can expand or enlarge at any time, leading to earthquakes.

    Here in Nigeria, we are sitting on a fault. There is a fault between Nigeria and Cameroun. That is why there is a high incidence of land erosion in eastern Nigeria. In short, earthquakes and tsunamis can easily take place in Nigeria.

    Whatever happens, we must never lose sight of the mercy of God in Nigeria. Remember this, if we continue in His word, God’s mercy in our lives endures forever. That is the covenant of the sure mercies of David.

     

    Victoria Island, Lagos and the whole Lekki/Ajah axis is reclaimed land. It is practically below sea level. That is why the beaches often washing ashore. You just wake up one morning and find water all over. So, if you have a tsunami in Lagos, parts of Lagos might disappear.

    There but for the grace of God. By the grace of God, all that happens is that we merely read about earthquakes and tsunamis in the newspapers. They hardly happen in Nigeria.

    Whatever happens, we must never lose sight of the mercy of God in Nigeria. Remember this, if we continue in His word, God’s mercy in our lives endures forever. That is the covenant of the sure mercies of David.

    Merciful God

    David came back to Ziklag and discovered that the Amalekites had burnt the city to the ground. They had taken everything take-able and carried away captive all the wives, sons, and daughters of the people. So, what happened to the sure mercies of David?

    The people wept until they had no more power to weep. They blamed David for their adversity and some even wanted to stone him. But David encouraged himself in the Lord. He remembered that God is merciful.

    Have you ever been discouraged? Encourage yourself in the Lord. His mercy endures forever. It does not matter if Lazarus is dead. It does not matter if he has been dead for four days. It does not matter if he smells already. God’s mercy endures forever, even in death.

    God brings light out of darkness. He brings peace out of trouble. He brings good out of evil. He works all things together for good for those who love him and for those who are called according to His purpose. Therefore, when you are at your wit’s end, don’t be at your faith’s end.

    The mercy of God had not departed from David, for His mercy endures forever. The mercy of God never departs, no matter the situation or circumstance. God told David to pursue the enemy and assured him that he would overtake and recover all.

    But David had only 600 men. By the time he got to the Brook Besor, 200 of them said they were too tired to continue and he had to leave them behind. But “nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6). Then they found an Egyptian in the field. The man was sick and dying. He had not eaten for three days and three nights.

    He who has received mercy has mercy to give. David had mercy on the man. He gave him bread to eat and water to drink. He also gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And that was the man who God used to reveal to David the location of the Amalekite raiders. For His mercy endures forever.

    David launched a surprise attack on the Amalekites and routed them. And he recovered all that they looted from Ziklag. Moreover, David led captivity captive and received gifts. Remember the same thing happened to Abraham when his nephew, Lot, was taken captive. Abraham chased the enemy, routed them, and came back with spoils.

    This was repeated with David, and it was repeated with Jesus. They led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. It will be repeated with you. You are the seed of Abraham, of the House of David, and are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

    Plenteous redemption

    “Thus says the LORD: ‘Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.’” (Isaiah 49:25-26).

    Although the Amalekites burnt everything in Ziklag to the ground, God made sure they killed no one. David himself had attacked the Amalekites (1 Samuel 27) and killed everyone he found. Yet God ensured that the Amalekites did not kill any of David’s people. For His mercy endures forever.

    This means everything that will happen to you will be for your correction and not your destruction. For God’s mercy endures forever.

    The Amalekites were nomadic people. They did not live in one place. They moved around, living wherever they found themselves at any given time. That means even when they go to war, they carry along their jewelry and their “television sets.” They bring along with them everything they have, including their cattle, their sheep, and their goats.

    So, by the time that David pursued and overtook them, he got back far more than he lost. He got all the property the Amalekites carried around with them. He got all their flock and herds. When he came back to Ziklag, the people who had spoken of stoning him now started hailing him, saying: “This is David’s spoil.” But it came from God’s sure mercies of David.

    Gift of God

    Some of David’s men insisted that the 200 who stayed behind should not be included in the division of the spoils. They felt it would be unfair to include them, after all, they did not fight. But an extreme concern for fairness is often a camouflage for greed.

    David understood that a man can receive nothing unless God gives it to him. He understood that it is not of him that wills or runs but of God that shows mercy. Therefore, he knew that it was not because some fought that they got the booty. It was because God fought for them. It was because the Lord was on their side.

    Therefore, whether they fought or not, David included everyone in the division of the spoils. He even sent some to friends in Israel who had nothing to do with the matter, saying this is a present from the Lord.

    David made this protocol into a statute and an ordinance in Israel. In the kingdom, you must be ready and willing to share with others.

    And so, God says: “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isaiah 55:3).