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The word hypothyroidism is a combination of two words; ‘hypo’ meaning below or less than normal and ‘thyroid’ which is the gland that produces the thyroid hormones, important for metabolic health. So, hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormones to meet the normal needs of the body.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. It is an endocrine gland, and the endocrine system is responsible for coordinating many of the activities of the body. The thyroid gland produces hormones that are secreted into the blood and then transported to every tissue of the body. Its primary function is to produce thyroid hormones.
These thyroid hormones have many effects on the body. They have a metabolic effect, therefore having effects on almost all the tissue in the body. They affect appetite and the intake of substances. They also have cardiovascular effects as they increase the rate and the strength of the heartbeat. Consequently, they increase blood flow and the temperature of the body. The thyroid hormones also have effect on growth and development. They help in the growth of young people and the maturation of their brain. They can also influence their sleep, way of thinking and sexuality.
When thyroid hormone levels are becoming very low, the cells of the body will not be able to get enough thyroid hormone and the processes of the body will start slowing down.
Some of the symptoms that the thyroid hormone levels are becoming low are: dry skin, increased sensitivity to cold, fatigue, weakness, constipation, heavy periods, memory loss, unexplained weight gain, depression, slow heart rate, slow movements and speech, coma, etc. But because the symptoms are so variable and nonspecific, the only way to obtain a concrete diagnosis is through a blood test. Also, thyroid disease runs in families, so if you have it, you should explain to your relatives and encourage them to get periodic thyroid-stimulating hormone tests.
CAUSES
There are many reasons the cells in the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone. Below are the list of some of the causes;
Autoimmune disease: This is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. It is when the immune system that protects the body from invading infections mistakes thyroid gland cells and their enzymes for invaders and then fights them. So, there will be no sufficient thyroid cells and enzymes left to make enough thyroid hormone. This may happen because of the genes or some environmental trigger. It is more common in women than men. Autoimmune thyroiditis can begin suddenly or it can develop slowly over time. The most common forms are Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and atrophic thyroiditis.
Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland: Some people with thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, need to have part or all of their thyroid removed. If the whole thyroid is removed, they will definitely become hypothyroid because the production of thyroid hormone will decrease. Such people will now need to take thyroid hormone. But if part of the gland is left, it may be able to make sufficient thyroid hormone to keep blood levels normal.
Radiation treatment: People with Graves’ disease, nodular goiter, or thyroid cancer are treated with radioactive iodine for the purpose of destroying their thyroid gland. Patients with Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, or cancers of the head or neck are treated with radiation. All these patients can lose part or all of their thyroid function.
Congenital hypothyroidism: This is hypothyroidism that a baby is born with. A few babies are born without a thyroid or with only a partly formed one. A few have part or all of their thyroid in the wrong place. In some babies, the thyroid cells or their enzymes are defective although this happens less often.
Thyroiditis: Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland, which is normally as a result of autoimmune attack or by a viral infection. It causes stored thyroid hormone to leak out of the thyroid gland. Consequently, the whole supply of stored thyroid hormone is dumped into the blood at once. Initially, this leakage increases hormone levels in the blood, leading to hyperthyroidism, a condition in which thyroid hormone levels are too high and this may last for up to 3 months. Then later, the thyroid may become underactive, resulting to hypothyroidism which usually lasts 12 to 18 months, but sometimes is permanent.
Medicines: Medicines such as amiodarone, lithium, interferon alpha, and interleukin-2 can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland and therefore affect the production of thyroid hormones. These drugs are most likely to trigger hypothyroidism in patients who have a genetic tendency to autoimmune thyroid disease.
Too much or too little iodine: Iodine is a mineral the thyroid gland uses to make hormones. And since iodine comes into the body in food and travels through the blood to the thyroid, proper intake of food containing iodine is required to keep thyroid hormone production in balance. Taking in too much iodine can cause or worsen hypothyroidism.
Rare disorders that infiltrate the thyroid: this is a relatively uncommon cause of hypothyroidism. In a few people, diseases deposit abnormal substances in the thyroid and impair its ability to function. For example, amyloidosis can deposit amyloid protein, sarcoidosis can deposit granulomas, and hemochromatosis can deposit iron. All these substances can affect the functionality of the gland.
CURE
There is presently no permanent cure for hypothyroidism, and most patients have it for life. However, it can be controlled and managed. Also, there are exceptions: many patients with viral thyroiditis have their thyroid function return to normal, as do some patients with thyroiditis after pregnancy.
Hypothyroidism is usually treated by taking daily hormone replacement tablets called levothyroxine. Levothyroxine replaces the thyroid hormone, which your thyroid gland has failed to sufficiently produce. Hypothyroidism may become more or less severe, therefore, it is unlikely that you will continue to take the same dose. So your dose of thyroxine may need to change over time. You will need to make a lifetime commitment to treatment. But if you take your pills every day and work with your doctor to get and keep your thyroxine dose right, you should be able to keep your hypothyroidism well controlled throughout your life. Your symptoms should disappear and the serious effects of low thyroid hormone should improve.
1 John 4:15 KJV “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God.”
The first step to take to become a Christian is to believe. What are you to believe? That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He came to this world and died on the cross to save you and all of mankind from sin and death. Few Scriptures that will guide you through are John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have eternal life” John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life.” Matthew 16:15-17 “You are the Christ the Son of God...”
The next step to take is to realize and acknowledge that you are a sinner. These Scriptures will enlighten you Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” With this you come to understand that you were born a sinner. Your birth into this world immediately brought you into corruption. This was by reason of the sin of Adam (Genesis 3), where he disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree ofthe knowledge
After acknowledging that you are a sinner, you need to confess your sins. This doesn’t mean you have to list out all the sins you think you have committed. For we even commit sins without knowing that they are sins. All you need to do is confess them collectively as sins.
After confessing your sins, you need to ask that they be forgiven. And who will you ask forgiveness from? Christ Jesus who you now believe in. For He is Lord and He alone can forgive your sins.
Next, you ask to be cleansed of your sins. What has the power to cleanse you of sin? The Blood of Jesus! The Blood was shed on the cross once and for all to take away the sins of all mankind. Through one man (Adam), the world was plunged into sin and through another man (Jesus), the world has a sure way out of sin. Christ gave up His life so that anyone who keys into His Blood may be washed of all iniquity.
This needs to be followed up with genuine repentance. What is the essence of confessing your sins and asking to be cleansed if you don’t intend to stop them? It will just be a waste of time. You need to confess your sins with the intention of letting go of them, turning your back on them and starting afresh. This is called genuine repentance.
Having genuinely repented, you need to ask Jesus Christ into your life to be your Lord and your all in all. Here, you are surrendering totally to His headship. You are making the decision to submit your will to Him at all times, everything else—your plans, work, friends, career, spouse, and so on, will be subject to His direction and nothing is to be more important to you than pleasing Him.
Congratulations! You have stepped out of darkness into light. You are no longer a slave to sin. You are no longer under the control of the devil. You are no longer subject to the flesh. You have now placed yourself in the perfect position to rise above the ways of the world.
Having asked for Jesus to be your Lord, ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon you. He is described as the Comforter, Counsellor and One who will guide you in all truth. The Holy Spirit will not just guide you in doing what is right but He will guide you in the will of God, which is what matters the most because there are certain things that may not be wrong so to say but because they aren’t the will of God for you, it will be wrong for you to dabble in them. The Holy Spirit will also help in your spiritual growth as He will guide you in all truth. With Him, you will be able to consistently draw closer to God. (John 14:26; John 16:13-14; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
Now having done all this, don’t just stop there. Just like you grow physically, so also you need to grow spiritually. And how do you this? By praying, studying the Bible, holding onto your faith and walking in obedience to the Bible and to God when He speaks to you. Being a Christian is a life long journey and a Christian is to live life having in mind that his/her focus is not to be found wanting by God in the end. You must therefore strive constantly in drawing nearer to God.
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), pray in all situations. Your prayers should not be offered only when you need something from God. You should also be mindful to praise God, thank Him for His blessings (Philippians 4:6) and do not forget of course to listen in the place of prayer because prayer is a two-way connection; you connecting to God and God connecting to you.
Study the Bible. The Bible is the written Word of God to teach you, instruct you, guide you, prune you, chastise you, encourage you, among others. The Bible feeds your spirit. Meditate on it day and night and you will never go astray (Joshua 1:8).
Be careful not to give room for doubt. With doubt comes fear and fear is anti God because He has given us a spirit of power and not of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). You need to learn to trust in God with all your heart, even in the midst of challenges don’t be in a hurry to give up or question Him. Keep trusting Him and the more you trust Him, the more your faith grows in strength and the more God shows Himself mighty for you. Don’t be a Christian that is always on shaky ground with God, so easily falls back and backslides to the ways of the world. Hold onto your faith.
Most importantly, obey! God highly values obedience (John 14:21; Luke 11:28). God is looking for people who are quick and ever willing to obey Him. Don’t engage in a wrestling of wills with Him or obey in reluctance. Let your response to Him always be “Let Your Will be done”.
Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
It is a common experience of every believer that sometimes while praying, God seems not to be listening to them. Many claim to have prayed for quite a long period of time and stopped because the answer to their prayer was not forthcoming. But Jesus gave a parable to illustrate that although there is a possibility of fainting or losing heart in the place of prayer when answers are not forthcoming, they should not faint but pray always. As usual, Jesus gave an extreme example in His parable to show to His disciples how impossible it is for their prayers not be answered if they continue in prayers. There was a widow in the city who was always harassed by her opponent and she came to this judge for legal protection. Now, widows were one of the classes of people that the Lord commanded the Israelites to defend and to care for since they no longer have husbands. But this judge was one who did not fear God or respect anyone. He was not willing to obey the commandment of God about caring for the helpless nor did he even consider any human. He was a self-centered person that cared only for himself. However, the widow kept coming to him and was demanding for his help. Eventually, the judge heeded to the cry of the woman, not because he had now chosen to fear God or had now become humane. But he answered and offered the woman her request because of his own peace. This inhumane judge said in Luke 18:5: “Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” He offered to help the woman not because he considered her but because he considered himself.
But, God unto Whom we pray, is not like this judge. For this judge is the direct opposite of Who God is. For God will keep His own words. If He had commanded that the helpless should be succoured, He would not do otherwise when they cry to Him. Also, unlike the judge, God is not inhumane. He is so compassionate and kind. The psalmist says in Psalm 17:7: “Shew thy marvelous loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (NASB). He is the One Who saves those who trust in Him and He quickly shows His loving-kindness by stretching out His right hand of power for the deliverance of those who call upon Him. And lastly, God is not self-centered. He will not wait till He has something to gain before He answers you. Or rather only answer you because He does not want to lose His peace by your disturbance. But then, even if God is like this judge, which is very impossible, if you continue in the place of prayer, you will still receive an answer.
A practical example was the case of Jacob at Penuel. He had met with a man whom Hosea tells us was an angel (Hosea 12:4), who wrestled with him. But as the day was about to break, he told Jacob to let him go but Jacob refused and said he would not let him go unless he blessed him. Then the man replied and asked him in Genesis 32:27-28;“What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Because Jacob insisted that he should be blessed, he was said to have prevailed and was blessed. Many believers do not see prayers as a form of wrestling. They do not know the forces that stand against the delivery of the answers to their prayers. Consequently, they see no need to fight in the place of prayer until they prevail. The case of Daniel gives us an idea of what happens in the spiritual realm. In Daniel 10, Daniel was said to have begun a fasting and prayer. But the answer did not come until the twenty-first day. And when the angel eventually came to him, he told him that from the first day that Daniel set his heart to pray, God had already answered him and he was sent to bring words to Daniel. However, on his way he was withstood by a principality. He could not leave until after twenty-one days when Michael had been sent to fight for his release. But all this was possible because Daniel continued in the place of prayer. And as Daniel prevailed in the place of prayers, the messenger of the Lord prevailed over the principality in the air. Believers should understand that there may be many factors that affect the answers to their prayers. But if they persevere, they will prevail.
Also, In Galatians 4:19, Paul likened prayers to a travail. He said to the believers in Galatia: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” Paul desired something for the believers and the only way to bring it to pass was to labour in the place of prayer and travail like a woman who was about to deliver. And he knew until he travails in birth, there would be no result.
Like a woman carries her pregnancy over some period of time and eventually travails during labour when she is about to bring forth her child, so should we consistently carry the burden of our prayers until due time when we will travail in the place of prayer and the answers to our burden are brought forth. For without travail, there will not be any delivery. By continuing in prayers, the answers to our requests are formed and if there is any hindrance, it will be removed and the answers to our prayers will be delivered to us.
All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Towards the end of the ministry of Jesus on earth, He began to give some farewell words to His disciples. He told them how He would be leaving them to go to the Father and immediately sorrow filled their hearts. During the few years He had spent with them, He had been everything to them. He healed their sick, delivered the oppressed, raised their dead. Many times did He defend them when the self-righteous Pharisees came after them. And when the devil himself arose against them on the sea, He rebuked him. Above all, He had been their hope. For they thought He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel and that He would make them sit with Him to rule the nation of Israel. But Jesus had said He was leaving them and they were now all dejected. All hope was lost. Many of them had left everything they had to follow Him. At a point, in Matthew 19:27, Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”
They seemed to have now lost all, having left everything they had and the Person Whom they were following was about to leave them. Because of this, Jesus gave them a promise. In John 16:23 He said:
“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.”
He knew their problem at that time was how they were going to survive in His physical absence, so He gave them His Name and told them that in that day, whatever they ask in His Name would be given to them.
Now, Jesus spoke about a particular day when they would begin to ask the Father in His Name and they would receive whatever they ask.
It should be known that, spiritually speaking, names are not just for nomenclature or means of identification. A name is rather a signet of authority. God enshrines in names the authority He confers on the bearers. After Jesus resurrected, in Matthew 28:18, He came up and spoke to His disciples, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Then the book of Philippians, chapter 2, reveals to us how Jesus received this authority. Jesus was in the form of God and was equal to Him. Yet He did not see this equality as something to hold on to but He humbled Himself, put off the form of God and put on the form of a bond-servant. And He did not just become the servant of God like the angels but went below the level of angels and became a man. And after becoming a man, He also became obedient onto death, even the death of the cross, which was the most shameful death. A criminal death whereby they will be naked on the cross, publicly disgraced. After His death, He also went down to the hades. So Jesus descended from heaven to the earth and also went farther down to hades. He did all this that He might accomplish the will of the Father. So Philippians 2:9-11 now says: “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
After He obeyed God to the point of death and descended to the lowest part of the universe, God then highly exalted Him and He ascended to the highest place in the universe and was given a Name enshrined with all the authority in the whole universe. So we read in Ephesians 4:9-10: “Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.” By descending and then ascending, He received all the authority in the whole universe. So also Peter tells us in Acts 2:32-34 that after Jesus was resurrected He was exalted to the right hand of God and has also been made both Lord and Christ. For this was the day that He spoke about to His disciples that they could begin to ask the Father in His Name; after His resurrection. After He resurrected, He could now tell His disciples; “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
Now, although the Name of Jesus is powerful and full of authority, and can be used to ask the Father anything whatsoever, it may not be effective on the lips of some people and may not grant them their answers. The only way to fully maximize and actualize the authority in the Name is to take the way Jesus took to obtain the Name, which is the way of humility and obedience. The Name of Jesus will not be effective in your mouth if you are proud neither will it be authoritative on your lips if you are dwelling in sin and walking in disobedience. The potency of the Name in the life of anyone is dependent on the kind of life such a person subscribes to. The more you come under the rule of God, the more you see God answering whatever you ask Him in the Name of Jesus. But if you are engrossed in sin, the only thing you can ask in the Name is salvation. The scriptures says in Romans 10:13: “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Then after salvation, you can begin to ask the Father anything in the Name. And as long as your life is consistent with the humble and obedient life of Jesus, it will be given unto you.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Revelation 15:2
“And I saw as it were a glassy sea mingled with fire; and them that come victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by (on) the glassy sea, having harps of God” (ERV).
The scriptures talk about a region called the abyss or the deep. Its location is in the sea, hence the name, deep. The first time the word was used in the Bible was in Genesis 1:2: “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” From this verse, we see that the deep and the waters were already in existence even before the commencement of the work of ‘creation,’ as it is normally called. But actually, the record in Genesis 1 is not the record of creation but of the restoration of the earth. For in Genesis 1:1 the scriptures say: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And according to Isaiah 45:18, it is said that, God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited. However the next verse after Genesis 1:1 says, “The earth was (or rather, became, Heb.) formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” The earth which the Lord had created not to be formless but to be inhabited had become formless and empty and therefore needed to be restored. The only thing that could have brought about the need for the restoration of the earth would have been its destruction by God’s judgment. A few portions of the Bible give such hints. The same assertion in Genesis 1:2 was made in Jeremiah 4:23, and it was referring to when God executed His half judgment upon Judah. Also in Isaiah 24, the Bible speaks about the same result after God judges the earth because its inhabitants transgressed laws, violated statutes and broke the everlasting covenant.
Now, before the time of Adam, satan with his subordinates, seemed to have been placed by God to run the administration of the earth before he became a rebel. But when he rebelled with his subordinates against God, they were judged by the waters and the earth was ruined. The judging water became the sea, and many of his subordinates were now reserved in the deep of the sea to be destroyed later in future. So that after God separated the waters in the second day, causing some to be over the expanse and some to be below the expanse, He did not pronounce it good, as He had done to His works in the other days. This is also supported by the fact that after God would have finished His judgments on earth, and the new heaven and new earth roll in, there will be no more sea (Revelation 21:1).
The same occurrence was seen during the time of Noah. The angels of God came to mingle themselves with the daughters of men which was an abomination and then corrupted the earth. And the wickedness of man became so great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord became sorry that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. So He decided to destroy both man and beast, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air from the face of the earth. Then in Genesis 7:11, the Bible says: “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.” Once again was the judgment of God executed by the waters. So Jude 1:6 says concerning them: “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds UNDER DARKNESS for the judgment of the great day” (Emphasis added).
But after the flood, Noah made an offering unto the Lord and God was pleased and then made a covenant with Noah and the whole earth. He gave him a token of the covenant which was His bow, or rather, the rainbow in the cloud. So He said to Noah in Genesis 9:15: “And I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.” God promised Noah never to use water to destroy the earth. Therefore, His subsequent judgments would be carried out by fire and not waters, as we can see with Sodom and Gomorrah.
Then in Revelation 15:2, we see a glassy sea, not of waters but of fire. This glassy sea is similar to the sea wherein every rebellious thing is confined and punished. But this glassy sea was not of water. It is said to have been mingled with fire. Since God had promised not to destroy the earth with waters again, the sea of water would be turned to a glassy sea mingled with fire which would eventually be developed into the sea of fire, or rather, lake of fire wherein everything that is against God would forever burn. This glassy sea was seen with the rainbow of God in Revelation 4, showing that God would keep to His covenant, but He would nonetheless execute His judgment, however not by waters but by fire. And according to Revelation 15, only those who came out of the earth victorious would stand on this glassy sea, being above God’s judgment. The judgment of God will eventually be executed upon the wicked. And God has been gracious to reveal that the only way out of it is by believing in Jesus Christ and living a victorious life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Begin to live a life above sin today and you will be counted victorious tomorrow to stand, not in, but on the glassy sea with harps to play unto the Lord.
As Christians, people who profess that Jesus Christ is the Lord which by implication means we are born of God, we must love one another because everyone who loves God, loves His children (1 John 5:1). And what does it mean to love God? It means to keep His commands (1 John 5:3a).
God's commands are actually for our own good. Thou shall not steal, thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery, love thy neighbour as you love thyself. When you keep all these, you will be at peace with God, yourself and everyone around you. Guilt, fear, anxiety, regret, will have no place in your life. And the Bible tells us that when you keep these commands, it is proof that you love God and by extension, you love His children (1 John 5:2-3). When you love someone you wouldn’t want to do things that will displease the person or cause the person discomfort.
Now we know that the flesh wouldn’t want to keep God's commands. The flesh would want to live life anyhow and do things anyhow without caring about their negative effects. And so the flesh will see these commands as a burden, as something impossible. But the Bible tells us that whatever has been born of God conquers the world, conquers the flesh and its desires. Therefore, God's commands will be easy to follow. And we as Christians, have conquered the world by reason of the fact that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God—through our faith, we have conquered the world (1 John 5:3-5).
Verses 6 to 9 go on to restate the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God testified to this Himself. And whosoever believes in Him, has this testimony within him/her. Whosoever doesn’t believe has rendered God a liar. And what is this testimony? That God has granted us everlasting life and this life is in His Son—whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16b), I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), I am come to give life and to give it more abundantly (John 10:10b). Verse 12 summarises it all by saying that whoever has Jesus has life and whoever doesn’t have Jesus doesn’t have life!
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” 1 John 5:14 KJV. From this we learn that for our prayers to be heard, we must ask—ask and it shall be given unto you (Matthew 7:7a; Luke 11:9a); if you ask for anything in My Name, I will do it (John 14:13-14; John 15:7). And secondly, what we are asking for must be according to His will. These are the major components of effective prayers. Much as we are to ask, we should endeavour to make sure that what we ask for is the will of God. Recall when Christ was teaching His disciples to pray, His opening words were “Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done...” Also recall when Christ walked on earth, during His lowest moments when His time to go to the cross was drawing near, He asked God to take it away from Him but after He asked and above what He asked, He said that let God's will be done and not His. And do you know what? God's will was that Christ will be nailed to the cross to save mankind so He didn’t take away that part for the sake of His Son, no. He let Him go to the cross for the fulfilment of His will. Therefore, we should bear in mind that when we ask outside God's will, our prayers will not be heard because God's will takes pre-eminence. It must be done. Even Christ, God the Son Himself acknowledged this fact. Many at times we may find ourselves consistently asking for a particular thing and it seems to keep delaying, it seems as if we haven’t prayed or fasted enough. We must also bear it in mind that it may also mean that it isn’t the will of God. Either that it isn’t the will of God at all and it will never be answered or it isn’t the will of God for it to be delivered unto us at the time and so we would have to wait. Whatever the case, the foundation of all our prayers should always be the will of God.
Verses 16 and 17 enjoin us to be our brother's keeper—where we see a Christian committing sin, it is our duty to pray for him/her, that God may restore life to him/her. Therefore when a Christian stumbles, it will be wrong for us to cut him/her off or laugh at them. This is in line with the opening verses of this chapter where we are commanded to love the brethren. It is by reason of this love that we will pray for anyone who has derailed. By doing this, we are portraying our love for God and displaying that we are Christ-like in deed. God is love and it is by reason of this that He gave us His Son, Jesus to die for our sins. God saw that we were in sin, He didn’t turn away from us, He didn’t condemn us. Instead He sent His Son to redeem us, to pick us up from the pit of sin. Now if we say that we are of God and we love Him, we must in turn extend this hand of love to the brethren.
The concluding verses of this chapter proceed to list out certain key truths that we must know: that as Christians and they who are born of God, we do not sin. This means that we aren’t to continue in sin, we are new creatures in Christ and we are to remain free of sin.
Next, we are of God while the world is controlled by the devil. This is to serve as a warning that we may face persecution or situations where our faith will be put to test. In these cases, if we remember that we are of God but the world isn’t, we will not fail.
Next is that we should know that Jesus Christ has come and has given us understanding so that we may know God, and we are in Him. He is the true God and He is everlasting life. If we are ever conscious of this, we will not stray from the path of righteousness.
Lastly, we are to guard ourselves from idols. Idols come in many forms. Whatsoever thing we prioritize above God becomes an idol. It can be money, a job, your marriage, just name it. It is our duty to always be on guard and ensure that God remains number one in our lives.
All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Romans 12:18
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Peace is a state free of both internal and external disruptions. A state free of internal, oppressive thoughts and emotions and a state of tranquility, harmony, and absence of external violence. Strictly speaking, it is the state of God, for no one can have ‘peace’ except God. Many passages in the Bible tell us that He is the God of peace. For instance, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 clearly says: “The God of peace Himself.”
Now this does not mean He is just a peaceful God, but that He is the Author of peace. No human can have peace apart from Him. Many times the apostle greeted the recipients of his letters, he made it known to them that peace could only come to them from God. Like in Ephesians 1:2, he said:
“Grace to you and peace FROM GOD OUR FATHER and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Emphasis added).
Additionally, in the verse above, and also in every other portion related to it in the scriptures, peace was said to come not just from God but God the Father. Therefore, if God is only your God, that is, your Creator; you cannot receive peace from Him. For you to be able to receive peace from the Author of peace, who is God the Father, you must be begotten of Him. He must be your Father and you must be His child. And John 1:12-13 reveals how to be born of God. It reads:
“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born…of God.”
To be born of God and have the right to become His child that you may have peace, you must receive Jesus Christ by believing in His Name. Then, the peace of God can be released to flood your heart.
Additionally, according to the Bible, peace is said to come not only from God the Father, Who is the Author of peace, but also from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace.
“Grace to you and peace FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Emphasis added).
So, it is not enough to have received Jesus and be born of God, for you to have all round peace, Jesus Christ must also be your Lord. That is, Jesus becomes your master and you are His servant. He takes charge of your life and you follow Him as He leads. In Romans 1:1, the apostle empathically said: “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus.” No wonder in the midst of turmoil, he was always at peace. Even while he was in chains and was imprisoned, he would still write to comfort those who were free and send to them the peace of God. There are many who, although having been born of God, reject the lordship of Jesus Christ. They walk in disobedience and disorderlines. They lead a life contrary to the life of Jesus Christ. Such people, although born again, cannot experience the peace of God. After receiving Jesus by believing in His Name to be born of God, you must also submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ that the peace of God may be established in your life.
Having the peace of God will enable you to live peaceably with others. Whoever has no peace within himself cannot live peaceably with others. For you to live peaceably with others, you must have peace and of course be a child of God. Therefore Matthew 5:9 says:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Only those that can make peace and live in peace with others are the sons of God.
Then the scriptures reveal to us how having the peace of God can make us live in peace with others.
Firstly, Philippians 4:7 says:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
For your heart and mind to be guarded against the attacks of people and the enemy, you need peace as your covering. So many times the devil afflicts people with depressing thoughts by taking advantages of the circumstances and people around them. He projects upon their minds hopelessness and throws them into anxiety and therefore get them discouraged and frustrated. But when the peace of God comes into you, it will shield you from all these attacks, that even though people are hostile to you, the peace of God beyond all understanding will give you rest and cause you to live peaceably with others irrespective of their character.
Secondly Colossians 3:15 says:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
For believers to live in peace among themselves and become one in the Spirit, they must have the peace of God in their hearts whenever they attempt to do anything. And if anything is done and the believer loses the peace, he must quickly amend his way. The peace of God is given to us to rule and guide us. Since the peace of God is administered into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, He uses it to make us one in Him. For if you do anything contrary that will bring disharmony in the body of Christ, you will lose His peace which is a sign that you have gone against His will. If believers follow the rule of the peace of God, it will bring about oneness since it is into one Spirit they have been baptized. He will not guide them to do things that conflict each other but rather complement each other.
For you to have peace with yourself and everyone around you, you must be born of God and as well submit to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you can experience peace and live in it with others.
All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
1 Corinthians 12:31
“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.”
Immediately the Bible finished talking about the different gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, it moved on to talk about a more excellent way, which of course was discussed in the following chapter. The subject of 1 Corinthians 13 is love. Therefore, love is the more excellent way. For it does not matter how rich one is in the gifts of the Holy Spirit or in any other material possession, without love, such riches are counted as nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3 says:
“And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”
Every gift offered must be motivated and fueled by love for it to be profitable both to the giver and the receiver. In essence, love must precede giving for it to be acceptable before God. Because of this, the Bible refers to love as a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 13:8 says:
“Love never fails; but if there are gifts…they will be done away.”
Every display of riches will fade with time, but love never fails or fades. It rather endures forever. To make the works wrought by riches to endure forever, you must let them be founded upon love.
In comparison, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:13:
“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.”(Emphasis added).
Meanwhile, the word of the Lord says without faith, it is impossible to please God. Yet, it says love is greater than faith; than pleasing God, because God Himself is love. So, whatever you do must be on the basis of love. That is, must have God as its foundation that it might last forever. And about hope, Romans 5:5 says:
“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Therefore, hope still rests on love as its assurance or foretaste.
Now, as much as love is important, it will be impractical without riches. Riches are meant to give expression to love. For instance, talking about being rich in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, if there is a sick person that needs healing, merely showing the sick person love in words will not be sufficient. The best love that can be shown this sick person is love in deed; which is healing the person. But the person who is trying to show love will be incapacitated if he or she is not rich in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In such case, love can neither be expressed nor received. Such love is not the one recommended by the Bible. It says in 1 John 3:18:
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
The same was done by God. Ephesians 2:4-5,8 reads:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”
God loved us while we were yet sinners. However, He did not just speak about how He loved us and left it at that. But He also expressed the love according to how rich He is in mercy by sending Jesus Christ His only begotten Son for our salvation. The riches of the mercy of God helped us to know how much He loved us. Without it, we could not have thought that the love of God could be shown to those who were hostile to Him. Romans 5:6-8 says,
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
By this act, we are able to see how much God loves us. So John 15:13 says: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” Meanwhile, Jesus laid down His life not for his friends but His enemies. That was a love beyond comprehension. But all this was received by us because of the riches of God. By that, He was able to give full expression to His love.
It is good to pursue love, as the most excellent way. But it will be crippled if there are no riches to give expression to it. This cuts across every area of life. Be it in ministering to the needy, preaching the gospel, healing the sick and all human relationships. It is therefore imperative to pursue love and at the same time make it a necessity to be rich in all areas. Or does the Scripture not say “EARNESTLY DESIRE the greater gifts?” (1 Corinthians 12:31, Emphasis added). And in Ephesians 4:28, the apostle counselled some of the Ephesian Christians and said:
“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, SO THAT HE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH ONE WHO HAS NEED.” (Emphasis added).
To share is an act of love. But it will be practically impossible to share things with others when you are poor yourself. Therefore Paul encouraged the believers to labour with their own hands what is good and be rich to supply themselves and others to fully express their love.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Man is the portal through which anything from the spiritual realm enters into this physical realm. Whether it is a divine thing or a demonic thing, it cannot find expression on earth without the permission of man. When the devil rebelled against God in the spiritual realm, the scriptures say iniquity was instantly detected in him and was therefore cast out from the presence of God. Having become a rogue, he wanted to smuggle his iniquity into the physical realm because there was no place found for him in heaven. But knowing that man had been placed as the guardian of the physical creation, and that he was the entrance through which he could gain entry into his realm, he decided to first cause Adam to transgress. By causing Adam to transgress, his iniquity would gain entry into Adam and then into the whole physical world. Then the whole world would now be under his rule. The implication of that is, whatever now exists on earth will also automatically be made to taste of his iniquity. So Romans 5:12 says:
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
Now, sin does not move alone. It comes with its consequences. And the ultimate consequences it moves with are death and hell. In his vision, the apostle says in Revelation 6:8:
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: AND HIS NAME THAT SAT ON HIM WAS DEATH, AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH HIM” (Emphasis added, KJV).
So when a man sins, he dies and hell receives him into his abode. Now that iniquity has entered into this world, and afflicted every existence in it, its consequences would also fall on everything on earth. Both Adam and the whole creation would be brought into the bondage of corruption. Every descendant of Adam, being found with iniquity, would bear its consequences. It does not matter if they had sinned or broken any law like Adam or not. As long as they proceeded from him, they inherited it.
Spiritually speaking, it is believed that whatever a father does, his children, even though are yet unborn, also partake in it.
We find this possibility in the book of Hebrews 7:9-10. It reads:
“And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.”
After the return of Abraham from the slaughter of Cherdolaomar and the kings that were with him in the valley of Shaveh, he was accosted by Melchizedek to whom he gave the tithes of all the spoils. At this time, Abraham had not even a single child. But it was later counted that Levi, who was his great grandson, gave tithes as well as Abraham because at the time Abraham was giving the tithes, he was in his loins.
So a child whether born or unborn is a partaker of his father’s doings. Since Adam sinned, everyone on earth has sinned because we all came out of his loins. The consequence that befell him will also befall us all whether we sin like he did or not. For so it has been constructed spiritually. Romans 5:13-14 lays emphasis on this and says:
“For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”
Before the time of Moses, there was no law. And wherever there is no law, no one can be accused of being lawless, therefore judgment should not come on such a person. But the judgment that issued out of the mouth of God that Adam would die if he transgressed also came upon his descendants even though they themselves did not sin like Adam or broke any law. Therefore, iniquity plus its consequences became generational and flowed to everyone since the first man committed sin.
But Jesus, Who is the second and the last Adam came to repair what Adam had damaged. Just as Adam let iniquity enter him through his disobedience, and then enter anyone who comes from him, Jesus also by His obedience wants to make everyone that comes from Him righteous. Romans 5:19 vividly says:
“For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
But then, how can you come from Jesus, the last Adam, having already and naturally come from man, the first Adam?
It is simply by being born again. For it was by birth you came out of the first man, Adam and then inherited his iniquity even without sinning like him. So it will be by another birth that you will come out of Jesus, the last Adam and the righteousness He had procured for you through his obedience will also automatically become yours even without dying on the cross like He did.
Then John 1:12 tells you how to be born again:
“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
Therefore, by believing in the name of Jesus you receive Him and then become a child of God. You will no longer be a partaker of any generational iniquity and its consequences but a partaker of righteousness and its fruits and rewards. And if you find any manifestation of the consequences of iniquity in your life after getting born again, you can boldly use the Name of Jesus to bring an end to it. The devil should never lay claim on you again, either by making you to sin or experience any generational curse, for you are a new creature.
The book of 1 Timothy was the first letter the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. In the first chapter, he ventured into his personal testimony. In verse 15 he said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” To fully appreciate the import of this statement, we must go back to where Paul was coming from.
In the book of Acts chapter 7, we see Stephen, one of the seven who were chosen by the disciples to serve the growing church. He was seized and brought before the council on false charges. After he had testified about Jesus, the Bible records that he was dragged out of the city and stoned to death. And those who stoned him laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul (Acts 7:58). That was the first mention of the apostle Paul in the Bible—he joyfully watched on as a follower of Christ was stoned for believing in Jesus. Chapter 8 proceeded to tell us how Saul persecuted the church, throwing many believers into prison.
Chapter 9 shows him obtaining letters of permission to go to Damascus to arrest the believers there. “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest... (Acts 9:3-5 KJV). The Lord made him blind and he remained that way for three days. But Christ didn’t stop there, He directed a disciple named Ananias through a vision to go and minister to Saul and pray for him. “Then Ananias answered, Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:13-15 KJV. Emphasis added). After Ananias prayed for Saul and he received his sight, he was baptized and immediately began to preach that Christ is the Son of God.
What great lengths that Christ went for just this one man. If he were a righteous man it would be easy for us to grasp but this was someone who was very zealous in his persecution of the church. He killed, imprisoned and supported the killings of believers. Yet Christ encountered him personally and chose him to proclaim His Name far and wide. What a loving and merciful God we serve.
Christ came that all might be saved. If we were all holy and righteous then He wouldn’t have come just like how the doctor ordinarily does not dispense drugs to the healthy person, it is the sick that need to be made whole, it is the unclean that need to be cleansed, it is those that are in darkness that need to be brought into light, it is those who are in sin that need to be saved. And Christ came for the sinners. Who were the sinners? You and I, and everyone born into this world. The Bible says for all have sinned (Romans 3:23a). Meaning just merely being born into the world automatically makes you a sinner. If you have stolen before or lied before, it doesn’t make you more of a sinner than the next person, Christ came for us all. The same love He has for me is the same love He has for you. This is why there is no discrimination. This is why apostle Paul was not disqualified from being called by Him. In fact, it can be said that the qualification for salvation is to be a sinner and if everyone was a sinner then God wants us all to be saved. This was why He sent His Son, for He so loved the world (John 3:16). While we were yet sinners, Christ died for you and I. (Romans 5:8).
While Paul was still persecuting the Church, Christ died for him. While the thief that was crucified alongside Jesus had spent his life stealing and committing atrocities, Christ went to the cross for him. Jesus was found dining with tax collectors who were commonly regarded as sinners and Christ was very comfortable in their midst because He came for them, He came to save them.
No matter how far gone you think you are in sin, as long as you are still alive, you are qualified for salvation. Christ died for you. He didn’t set a limit as to the number of sins a person may commit. In all His encounters with people, He never asked them how many sins they had committed. He never even asked as to the nature or type of their sins. He forgave all.
God is inviting you today. He says “Come now let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 KJV). The apostle Paul was once among the greatest enemies of the church. His name was known far and wide as a persecutor of the church. And Christ still extended His love to him and used him mightily.
You are loved by God and He is waiting for you to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. No soul is worthless to God, no soul is less important in the sight of God. Seize this opportunity today and surrender your life to Christ. Don’t believe the lies of the enemy that you are too sinful to be accepted into God’s kingdom. Believe in Jesus and your sins shall be wiped away.
Son: Dad! Mum! Guess what? God is calling me to be a missionary.
Dad: Really?
Son: Yes dad.
Mum: Are you sure about this? When did you receive this call? Have you suddenly forgotten that you are our only child?
Son: No mum. But souls are dying and going to Hell. You have brought me up well in matters of God. I have what it takes to be a missionary by virtue of the dealings of God upon my life. I have been sensing the call for a while now but in my just concluded retreat, it became clear, exactly what He wants me to do.
Dad: I’m sorry but I am not ready to lose my only son to a life of hardship. God can send others who are not the only offspring of their parents. Stay here and serve God.
Above is a little fictional illustration of the resistance loved ones can put up when an individual decides to go for a not-so-envied life assignment of a missionary. It is even worse if such an individual is an only child.
When a lot of people hear the word, “missionary”, the picture they have in mind can range from that of a suffering fellow who is broke, depends on churches and charity organizations for sustenance, exposed to different forms of rejections and persecution and may even die a martyr.
The Merriam-Webster’s English dictionary defines a missionary as a person undertaking a mission and especially a religious mission. It also defines a mission as a specific task with which a person or group is charged.
We can say therefore that one who is charged with a specific task of winning souls to God’s kingdom is a missionary.
People give up a lot of conveniences to become missionaries. This can be giving up one’s ambitions, career pursuit, giving up the conveniences of urban living in order to be able to reach those isolated from civilization, et cetera.
From the above mentioned, we have established that missionaries are charged with specific tasks and make sacrifices to ensure that task is accomplished.
I know of a certain personality who was an only begotten Son, who came to accomplish a particular task of salvation, who made the ultimate sacrifice of His own blood to ensure the task was completed. He is Jesus Christ. We may want to call Him the pioneer missionary, the chief missionary, the founding missionary, the head missionary or the grand missionary.
The need of mankind for salvation was perceived by a God who loved mankind in no small measure. This made Him send His only Son as a missionary with the aim of restoring mankind to Himself. That was how far He was ready to go to rescue man after The Fall.
Let us quickly examine some of the characteristics of an ideal missionary;
A missionary goes to the mission field with a purpose in mind to bring people to salvation.
A missionary undergoes adequate preparation for his assignment.
A missionary spends a definite amount of time on the mission field which may span to his death
A missionary leaves a legacy behind.
All these qualities can be seen in our Lord Jesus during His thirty-three and half years on earth as we shall now see;
He dwelt in the mission field with a purpose in mind.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Matt 18:11-12
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Luke 2:49
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
KJV
Jesus from the tender age of 12 already had the business of the Father at heart. His meat on earth was to do the Will of the Father, His assignment on earth was to save the lost.
A missionary undergoes adequate preparation for his assignment.
We see Jesus in the 2nd chapter of Luke reasoning with the doctors in the temple, listening and asking questions. He is found to reply the devil using scriptures He had acquainted Himself with, before the temptation (Matthew 4). His preparation entailed knowing the scriptures and then the descent of the Holy Spirit on him in the form of a dove. Like the ideal conventional missionary we know about, Jesus prepared for ministry.
Missionaries spend a definite amount of time in a mission field. Jesus spent thirty-three and half years on earth in His mission to save mankind. Oh, what a successful mission it was!
A missionary leaves a legacy behind. This can be in form of a transformation in the mindset of people in a defined geographic location. It can also be in form of discipling others to carry on the work. Jesus not only brought about a change in the mindset of the people around Him at that time but He also raised disciples who carried the missionary assignment after the completion of His own assignment in what we know today as The Great Commission.
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
KJV
That the Creator made a big deal out of saving mankind enough to present His ONLY begotten as the substitute for our sins is a call in itself for us to present our one and ONLY lives for His use in bringing salvation to the lost.
The ideal missionary stays with GOD to find out his specific role in the Great Commission, be it in rural areas, the church, the workplace, et cetera and commits his life to its fulfilment with the aim of pleasing Him who will reward every man according to his works. This goes beyond merely preaching the Word but a commitment to align one’s life and give one’s all to establishment of divine agenda as the Holy Spirit leads.
The next time you see a missionary and you are tempted to think of him as one who has chosen to tread upon an unattractive path of self-denial and obscurity, remember that all Christians are missionaries meant to carry out the command of Christ to preach the Gospel and bring salvation to all who are lost just like Christ did.
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:16 KJV
God isn’t a God of little. Everything He does supersedes limitations. Recall the popular story of Prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. After Elijah prophesied that there will be no rain and God led him to the widow who was about preparing her last meal after which she planned to starve to death, by the word of the LORD, not only were they able to feed for that day and the next but the little flour and oil she had ended up feeding her, her son and Elijah for the period of time that there was no rain. “For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth...And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which He spake to Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:14,16 KJV)
In the time of Elisha, there was a widow who cried out to him because her late husband’s creditor was about to take her two sons from her to regain the money owed. Upon Elisha’s enquiry, she told him that she only had a pot of oil and Elisha directed her to borrow as many empty vessels she could get from all her neighbours. He said “borrow not a few” (2 Kings 4:3b KJV). And he told her to shut her doors and start filling the vessels with oil from her small pot. “And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” (2 Kings 4:6-7 KJV. Emphasis added). Not only could she repay the debt but she and her sons had more than enough to live on.
When Christ fed the multitude, five loaves of bread and two fishes multiplied so much so that they were able to feed five thousand, besides women and children. What more? “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.” (Matthew 14:20; Mark 6:43; John 6:13 KJV). Similarly, the next time He fed the multitude of about four thousand men, asides women and children, seven loaves and a few fishes fed them all to their satisfaction and the remnants filled up seven baskets (Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9).
When we come to the traits, the characteristics of God, they also testify of how limitless He is. Psalm 86:5 KJV says, “For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee” (Emphasis added). Psalm 103:8 KJV says “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy” (Emphasis added). Exodus 34:6 KJV says “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Emphasis added). John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Emphasis added). Ephesians 3:14,16-19 KJV says “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” And verse 20 describes God as “Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Emphasis added).
This is the type of God that we serve. He is too great to do anything little or insufficient. With Him we are rest assured that we cannot lack in any area. Psalm 23:1 KJV says “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We have full confidence in Him. When He called Abram to walk before Him, He told Abraham that his seed shall be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the dust of the earth (Genesis 14:5; Genesis 13:14-17). Indeed aren’t the seed of Abraham uncountable today? For all, both Israelites and non-Israelites who believe in Jesus are the seed of Abraham.
God has so much in store for us and all it takes is for a person to believe in Jesus to become a partaker of these great blessings. The opening words of an old song by popular gospel artiste Alvin Slaughter go thus “O Lord, You are more than enough; a well spring of mercy and a fountain of love” That is indeed true of our God. These descriptions depict the vastness of God's resources.
The fact is that God’s blessings unto His own aren’t only unlimited in quantity or nature, they are also unlimited in time. This means that the blessings aren’t meant to end here on earth but they extend till eternity. For they that believe in His Son will have everlasting life (John 3:16). Christ said in John 10:10b, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Not simply life here on earth but more importantly, life after the earth has passed away. If a thousand years on earth is like a few hours of the night in the sight of God (Psalm 90:4) then you know that the years spent on earth are too short for God to dispense all He has in store for His children. Eternity itself is too short.
Are you a child of God? Do you believe in Jesus? If you don’t, ask Him into your life this moment and you shall spend your years in pleasure.
Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Shortly after Abraham obeyed the call of the Lord to leave his country, his relatives and also his father’s house and of course, consequently losing his inheritance, for the land of promise, the Lord established one of the promises He gave to him when He called him. The promise was, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Genesis 12:7).
Not only did God establish this promise, He also made a covenant with Abraham concerning the land. The Scripture says in Genesis 15:18: “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” The Lord added a covenant to the promise He gave Abraham not because He might change His mind later. But that, according to Hebrews 6:17, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, He therefore interposed with a covenant. Therefore by these two immutable things – His promise and His covenant – it is impossible for God to lie and not make the seed of Abraham inherit the land of promise.
Also, in Genesis 17: 8, the Lord said unto Abraham that the land would be given to him and his seed for an everlasting possession and He would be their God.
This land of promise was the land of Canaan. The land flowing with milk and honey. It was a land where the inhabitants, as long as they obey the word of the Lord, experience wellness and increase mightily (Deuteronomy 6:3). It was a land that the Lord Himself espied for Abraham and his seed. It was a land which was the glory of all lands (Ezekiel 20:6).
Now, when the Lord was giving the promise to Abraham and that his seed would inherit it, he was childless; he had no seed. Abraham approached the Lord and asked Him why He should give him a promise since he had no heir. Then the word of the Lord came to him that one shall come forth from his body that would be his heir. And the Scripture says Abraham believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.
When the seed finally arrived, Abraham was commanded by the Lord to offer him as a sacrifice unto Him. And when Abraham obeyed again, the Lord established another promise unto him. Genesis 22:18 says:
“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
That is, the Lord willed His blessing to Abraham and only through his seed can the blessing of the Lord reach the nations of the earth.
Now, this blessing of the Lord, which was willed to Abraham, among many other wonderful things, makes rich and adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). To therefore become rich and enjoy every other great supply of God, you must be the seed of Abraham or be in his seed, for in him shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
But the apostle, in his letter to the churches in Galatia, revealed to us that the seed of Abraham the Lord was referring to, who should inherit all the promises, was not really Isaac but that Isaac was only a type. The real seed of Abraham Who was to inherit the promises was Christ (Galatians 3:16), and in Matthew 1:1, He is called the Seed of Abraham. Therefore, Jesus is the real Heir, Who inherited the land flowing with milk and honey and has the sphere of wellness, increase and glory. A land so fertile and fruitful that two men would be needed just to carry on a pole its single cluster of grapes (Numbers 13:23). It is Christ Who inherited the blessing of the Lord, or the blessing of Abraham.
Whosoever must enjoy this full inheritance must be in Christ. Galatians 3:14 expressly says it is in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that they would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. It is in Christ Jesus that anyone on earth can enjoy the blessing of the Lord, which even makes rich and adds no sorrow to it. It is in Christ Jesus that no curse can operate. It is in Him you can be so blessed and become a blessing. It is only in Him you can experience wellness, become great, increase mightily, have riches, become exceedingly fruitful and become glorious. There is no blessing allocated to you by God outside Christ. Your full inheritance is in Him. Even in Him, you will receive the Spirit of promise Who is the Custodian of all the blessings of God that they might be your everlasting possession.
But how do you come into Christ to become a co-heir with Him and an heir of God to also inherit all these blessings?
Firstly, it is simply by faith; that is, believing in Jesus Christ and being baptized into Christ. Galatians 3:26-27,29 reads:
“For you are all sons of God THROUGH FAITH in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Emphasis added, NASB).
Secondly, you must obey the Spirit of God, Who is the Custodian of your inheritance. It is by walking in the Spirit, just like Abraham, that He will establish and administer the blessings to you. Even if you are an heir, but you walk in disobedience; fulfilling the lust of the flesh, you cannot have your inheritance because you are still a child. And according to Galatians 4:1, you differ not from a slave. But when you follow the leading of the Spirit, you prove yourself to be a son who is mature to walk in his full inheritance. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” ( Romans 8:14).
All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
The Lord spoke through His servant to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11 and said:
“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”
Although God had interest in the children of Israel and had great plans for them, they were faced with calamity. They were removed from the land flowing with milk and honey and were taken as captives to Babylon because of their disobedience. So the Lord had to declare to them His real plans through the prophet. The same was the case of Adam. The Lord had a great plan that would give him a glorious future and hope. But because he sinned, he missed out of God’s plan for himself and lost his glorious future and hope.
But Jesus Christ has come to restore the future and hope which was lost. The Bible says in Hebrews 6:19-20:
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The purpose of God for man is that he might dwell forever in His presence. This was why He delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians, brought them to a special land, so that He might dwell in their midst. But they soon returned into bondage. This was what Adam also missed out from when he was sent out from the presence of the Lord. Then when Jesus came, He clearly and boldly declared He was the Way, and that no man could be restored to the presence of the Father except through Him. Not only did He become the Way, He also entered into the presence of the Father as a Man to be a forerunner for us. Now, if Jesus Christ with His (resurrected) human body could enter into the presence of the Father, it means man’s hope and future have been restored, for he also, after resurrection – or rapture – will enter into the presence of the Father with his redeemed and glorified body.
He is also in the presence of the Father as a Mediator or as a High Priest. 1 Timothy 2:5 says: “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” As our forerunner, He went ahead of us to pioneer a way wherein we can enter within the veil. Then after achieving this, He became our Mediator or High Priest, making intercession for us so that we can also successfully end up within the veil by Him and through Him. And according to Hebrews 7:25, He ever lives to make this intercession until we are all saved to the uttermost, that is, until we have all successfully arrived at our future.
Now that Jesus has restored the hope of man which he lost when he sinned in the beginning, man can now rejoice. Romans 5:2 says:
“By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and REJOICE IN HOPE of the glory of God” (Emphasis added).
It is through Jesus, Who is the Way, that we presently have access to the Throne of grace. This access we have by faith is an assurance that we will in reality in the future enter into the presence of the Father and stand before His throne, therefore we rejoice in hope. This joy is based on the fact that we will eventually fulfill the purpose of God for our lives. And if the purpose of God will be fulfilled in us, all things must work together for our good. So, Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Everything around us must contribute to the fulfillment of God’s purpose in our lives. God will deliberately cause them to favour us. Ephesians 1:11 says we have been predestined according to the purpose of God Who works all things after the counsel of His will by His power. As long as we are walking in His purpose, His power will sustain us and ensure we arrive in the future He prepares for us. In Jeremiah 29:11 He says He has “plans of welfare” for us. Because of all these we rejoice.
Additionally, 2 Peter 1:3 says:
“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO LIFE and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (Emphasis added).
Due to His purpose for us, His divine power has made available everything we will need in life. He specially arranged a land for the Israelites, a very fruitful land, because of the hope He had for them. This is the type of welfare He has for us, and not for us to meet with any calamity. He has come that we may have life and have it more abundantly by giving us His precious and magnificent promises.
The only way to enjoy this life and also have joy is to have your hope restored. And the only One Who can restore your hope is Jesus Christ. Without Him you are without hope. But if you follow Him, He will not just restore your hope, He will be your hope so that you will never lose it again. 1 Timothy 1:1 says Christ Jesus is our hope. So when your hope is restored, you can be well assured that the divine power of God will make available all the good things you need in life, for God Himself will cause them to navigate your way and your joy will be full.
All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
In his prophetic vision, Isaiah saw the end of Satan. Concerning Satan, he said:
“Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms?’” (Isaiah 14:16).
By the end of time, Satan would have so degenerated that it would be hard to believe he was the one who had vehemently troubled the whole earth. Although when he was created, the Bible says he had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. That even his covering was of every precious stone and was anointed and served right at the feet of God, ministering to Him. But he would by the end of time be completely marred, because sin was later found in him. And in Ezekiel 28:18, the word of the Lord reveals to us how he would be brought to such utter ruin. It reads:
“By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries. THEREFORE I HAVE BROUGHT FIRE FROM THE MIDST OF YOU; it has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you.” (Emphasis added).
Because iniquity was found in him, fire was brought from within him to consume him. This fire will so consume him that he will look like ashes by those who behold him. This is the reason the people who will gaze at him will hardly believe he was the one who made the earth tremble and shook kingdoms.
And just like sin is with the devil, so is it with anyone who dwells in sin. It will generate a fire in the sinner that will eventually consume him if he does not repent. The longer one remains in sin, the more degenerated in all respects one will be.
It is a dangerous thing for people to remain in sin. For God does not necessarily need to destroy such people because the sin in them will occasion their destruction. Just as the life of God enlivens people, so does sin destroy. It has the tendency to destroy the spirit, soul and body of whoever remains in it.
However, unlike Satan whose future has been sealed that his destination should be in the lake of fire, man still has the opportunity to repent today, and even now, from any sin whatsoever. The blood of Jesus has been made available by God Himself to quench the fire that might have been kindled by sin for the destruction of man. But if he does not repent, he has chosen the destination of the devil because he is of the devil. At the end, he will be hurled into the lake of fire, “into an unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die.” Therefore every man should repent from every sin so as not to be destroyed like the devil.
1 John 3:8 says:
“The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
The latter part of the above text clearly reveals the purpose for which Jesus, the Son of God, appeared on earth, which is to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus has appeared to undo what began with the devil, even sin. Therefore it is now possible to breakup with every sin and be restored to God.
The first step to take to breakup with sin is to consciously decide, while resting on the grace of God, to do away with any form of sin. It means to first acknowledge your sins and repent while you forsake them first in your heart. When you forsake your sins in your heart, you will be able to now actually forsake them.
The second step in breaking up with any sin is to believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Without Him, you will lack the grace that can set you free. John 8:36 says: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” True freedom lies with Him. Are you laden with sin? He beckons on you and says: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Third step is to begin to live a prayerful life and to consistently study the Word. By this, you will build yourself to become strong that the enemy will not be able to defeat you and again bring you into captivity. The Lord says that when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, if it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Therefore, you must not just forsake your sins and keep yourself just free of them, you must also allow the Spirit of God to fill you by praying and reading His Word.
Lastly, you should have fellowship with other believers. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22:
“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, WITH THOSE WHO CALL ON THE LORD FROM A PURE HEART” (Emphasis added).
The need for fellowship cannot be overemphasized. It will not only help you grow, it will also keep you away from sin. You should seek people who genuinely worship God, join yourself with them and you will not be quickly overrun by the devil. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
So many years ago, in eternity past, before the earth existed, before even time itself existed, there existed a supernatural being. This being is God. He created the heavens, the earth and everything else. He created the first man Adam intending that they would commune with one another for eternity.
But Satan struck. Adam ate the fruit which God commanded him not to eat and mortality set in. Man could no longer live in fellowship with God and his days were now numbered. Satan thought he had won, he thought he had successfully truncated God's plan.
And years passed until the time of Abraham from whom God brought out a people chosen and set aside by Him to work in His ways. To these people He gave the Law to serve as a guide to pleasing Him, that all of mankind may not continue to wallow in sin and darkness. That wasn’t the end though, God had so much more than man could ever imagine. Out of His endless love for man, He came down Himself in the person of His Son, that we can be truly saved. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 KJV.
Surprisingly He didn’t come as a king or a strong warrior or even as a priest. He came as a baby born into a very humble home. His father, a carpenter and his mother a virgin who was almost put away due to the pregnancy. He wasn’t even born in a house for His parents were forced to flee from a wicked king who sought to put the baby to death. He was born and placed in a manger, among animals.
When He grew up, in order to save us, He stayed in the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. And Satan came again, man's age long enemy, thinking that he could weave his web of lies and deceit and put a stop to the plans. He was gravely mistaken! Jesus Christ prevailed over him after which He fully set out to carry out His purpose.
Jesus Christ healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry spiritually and physically, cast out demons, taught the ignorant and worked wonders. Having done all this great things how was He repaid? He was arrested, beaten, mocked and crucified. Surprisingly, this was all part of the plan. Because His love for us is so strong, He volunteered to be the sacrificial lamb so that the whole world could be brought out of the darkness which Adam’s sin plunged us into. He gave Himself up without any fight, to be put to death. And put to death He was. He died on the cross and was buried in a tomb, sealed up with a huge stone. (Matthew 27:31-60; Mark 15:20-46; Luke 23:26-53; John 19:17-42).
At the point of His death, Satan probably laughed, thinking he had won not knowing that he had just suffered a crushing defeat that will last for eternity. For on the third day, at the appointed time, there was nothing that could keep Jesus Christ in the grave. He arose from the dead and came out of the tomb. And His purpose was fulfilled. Luke 16:5-6 says, “And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him” (Emphasis added. KJV).
By the shedding of His blood on the cross, all our sins were washed away. By His death, we die to sin and by His resurrection we rise cleansed, completely purified, new creatures in Him.
Further, His resurrection was a confirmation of His promise to us. John 3:16b says “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (KJV). As Christ resurrected, so would everyone who believes in Him resurrect. For whoever believes in Him, death is not the end and as such, it shouldn’t be feared. Death simply ushers us into eternal life. Death would simply be to fulfil the requirement for the flesh for our earthly bodies are made of dust and unto dust must they return. Death will simply be a farewell to a vessel that has outlived its usefulness and must be let go of.
All it takes is to believe in Jesus.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV says “For ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
If you want to stop living in sin. If you want to come out of darkness. If you want to live, open up your heart to Jesus Christ this moment. Simply say this simple prayer, “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I know that You gave Your life to save me. I believe in You and I accept You as my Lord. Come into my heart and my life from this moment. Amen.”
Henceforth, you are born again. You are a child of God. Christ said in John 11 that He is the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Him, though he were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever lives and believes in Him shall never die. Though you were dead in sin, the moment you believe in Jesus, you are brought to life. And though you may eventually die if Christ tarries, it will only be your body that will die. Everlasting life is yours. You will live.
