YOU SHALL SPEND YOUR YEARS IN PLEASURE

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.

YOUR FULL INHERITANCE

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). 

HOPE , JOY AND LIFE

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.

YOU NEED TO BREAKUP NOW

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.”

LIGHT AND LIFE BEYOND THE TOMB

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.

HEALING 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

Ephesians 5:25-27

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

By transgressing, Adam did not only separate from God and damage himself, he also declared he had now become an enemy of God. And concerning his seeds the apostle said in Colossians 1:21: “And you, that were sometime ALIENATED AND ENEMIES in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Emphasis added, KJV). At that moment, Adam began to form an alliance with the devil against God and His purpose. To frustrate the purpose of God has always been the plan of the devil since he was now rejected, having rebelled against God. The vessel through which God would establish His purpose therefore became a threat to him. So he advanced towards him and ensured that man, who was the vessel, allied with him so that they could frustrate the purpose of God together. Such was now the position of man against God. Therefore the destinies of men who forever remain allies of the devil will be the same with the devil’s. Regarding them the Bible says in Matthew 25:41:

“Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”

However, the purpose of God cannot be frustrated. The Bible says, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation” (Psalms 33:11). So God, in His mercy, chose to restore the man, who is His vessel, that the purpose of His heart may be established through him. 

Now, according to the position of the fallen man against God, we might naturally think the way God would restore him to Himself would be to threaten him to submission, discipline him or use any other similar way of restoration. But God, according to His infinite wisdom, chose the expression of His love for man as the best way to have him restored and reconciled to Himself. The world which with its dwellers came under the sway of the enemy now received the love of God. And John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

God did not just express His love to man after saving him, rather even before saving him. Romans 5:6-8 emphatically 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.”

What a great demonstration of love! By this have the hearts of many been won by God that they have willingly rebelled against the devil to partner with God for the establishment of His kingdom. Through this wonderful expression of love have many been delivered from mundane things to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. By this display of love, many are being healed of the affliction that befell man in the garden while they are realigning with God’s original purpose. 

This obviously was the reason apostle Paul recommended such love to be expressed by the husbands to their wives. It was by this love the church, which is now constituted by people who were once rebels, is formed and is being sanctified, cleansed, washed, that it might become gloriously presentable having been made whole from all wrinkles and spots. 

The only way to therefore win someone, who might even be your enemy, is by expressing the love of God. The same reason Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” For that is the only way a man can be completely healed and delivered from his rebellious nature to become obedient. 

Even the display of power cannot do what love can. A passage from the book of psalms provides us with great knowledge to clearly show us that even with the mighty manifestation of God's power, man still will not necessarily submit to Him. It reads: “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give FEIGNED OBEDIENCE to You’” (Psalms 66:3, emphasis added). The highest the display of the power of God can make out of His enemies is to make them pretend to be obedient but not truly obedient. This will be clearly seen during the Millennial Reign of Christ. For by the mighty descent of the Lord and His army, which is the church, will He put out the antichrist and his worshippers and the rest of the nations will be forced to submit to Him because of His display of power, for a thousand years. But we know according to the word of God that majority of the people will only pretend to be obedient, for when Satan will be let loose again, they will quickly rebel against Christ and join themselves with the devil to war against Christ and His saints. Then the fire of God will quickly descend from heaven to destroy them. 

Only the expression of God’s love can completely heal a man from his rebellious nature. It is only by this love man can be delivered from all vices to consecrate himself to God, not necessarily the fear of death or hell. Whoever comes in contact with this love will immediately become a slave of it. Just like Paul, who used to be so injurious to the church and beyond measure persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it was finally found laying down his life for the same church. Such can this love make out of one who is an enemy. 

BEST THING TO HEAR: I NOW BELIEVE IN JESUS

There is great joy and celebration in Heaven over one sinner that repents and accepts Jesus (Luke 15:7,10). There is no one that is too sinful to be saved. God sent His Son for all and He wants all to come to Him.

The day I made a personal decision to accept Jesus, there was great jubilation in Heaven. The day that person who was once an armed robber decided to accept Jesus, there was great jubilation. The day the fraudster, or the drunkard, or the womanizer decided to accept Jesus, there was great jubilation in Heaven. Why? Because that was God's desire when He came down to earth. That is what He wanted. That is a display of the fulfilment of His plans.

Prior to the coming of Christ, all of man's best efforts to attain the level of righteousness that God originally intended for us, were just temporary measures having temporary effects. All the animals slain—lambs, goats, sheep, birds, bulls and all others, could never have been enough to restore man. The sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden had repercussions of great magnitude for by them all of mankind, unborn generations, were automatically placed under sin. This is why a child born into the world need not even do anything wrong per se before being rendered a sinner. The Bible says for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). There was no distinction, it wasn’t “all adults have sinned” or “all above the age of 5 have sinned”. All have sinned, all of mankind have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God because of that singular act of disobedience by Adam.

Sin is accompanied by everything bad, culminating eventually in death. But for they that are in Christ, we have a way out for though we die, yet shall we live again (John 11:25). The first death for us will merely be a way of shedding our mortal bodies, getting rid of the dust. Our souls the main content will be transmitted to eternal life. We will not be subjected to the second death which is the ultimate end of sin. The Bible says the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20a) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So a person who doesn’t have Christ will end in eternal damnation if he/she continues that way. The person need not commit obvious sins such as murder or lying or stealing. The mere fact that he/she doesn’t believe in Jesus and hasn’t accepted Him into his/her life, has qualified the person for the second death.

Imagine how sad and unfortunate it is that all of mankind by default, is subject to sin and by extension, death. No one had a say in it before Adam gave us all up. Now, if the sinful act of a man had such grave consequences on all humanity, you can imagine the great and glorious benefits which the righteous act of God Himself has brought to us. 

When Christ came, He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, cast out demons and even raised people from the dead but all these wonderful things weren’t the main purpose of His coming. They were reflections or will I say evidences of His main purpose. He came to correct the error of Adam’s act. He came to take away the consequences of Adam’s act. This time around, there were no limitations unlike the sacrifices of animals. The sacrifices of animals were limited to one sin alone. That is to say if Mr. A steals and Mr. Z also steals, the sacrifice of Mr. A will not atone for the sin of Mr. Z. Further, if after making sacrifices to atone for that act of stealing, Mr. A steals again or maybe this time around, he commits a different sin, the sacrifices he earlier made will not atone for his subsequent sin. Another sacrifice has to be made, and so on. That was how limited sacrifices were before Christ came.

But when Christ came, He took all the sins of mankind away. By getting crucified on the cross, He atoned for the sins of both those who were in existence at the time and those yet to be born for as long as the earth remains till He returns the second time. He is the ultimate sacrifice, the last sacrifice. Through Him, all the sins of Mr. A, Mr. Z and everyone else have been atoned for. However, much as He has done this for us, each person has the task of either accepting it or refusing it. Take an example of a person who was unwillingly locked in a room—Adam by his disobedience, locked all humanity in sin. And a rescuer brings the key to the room and gives it to the person—Christ came to rescue us and the key is believing in Him. The person has two options to select from, he either uses the key—believing in Jesus and leaving sin. Or he refuses to use the key—doesn’t believe in Jesus and remains locked in sin. 

But it isn’t the will of God that any man should perish this is why He brought the key to us (2 Peter 3:9). And He is patiently waiting and hoping that more and more people will choose to use the key to unlock the door and be freed from sin. And every time a person unlocks the door and leaves the room, God is overjoyed, the heavens are overjoyed, His whole kingdom is overjoyed, it is like welcoming a prince who was missing for long but has now returned to the kingdom.

For anyone who is yet to believe in Jesus, use the key this moment and unlock the door. Leave sin. Simply say a simple prayer. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess to God, believe that Christ is Lord and He came to save you. Ask Him to be your Lord and accept Him into your life. God is waiting to welcome you into eternal life.

UP-TO-DATE VALUE OF THE BLOOD

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

God, according to His design as the Creator, put the life of all flesh in their blood. The meaning of this is that the flesh has no greater value than its blood – its blood is its life. For instance, when Cain murdered his brother Abel, the Lord came unto him, asking him the whereabouts of his brother. Cain said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Then the Lord said to him, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:9-10). 

When Cain killed his brother, his blood entered into the ground. And he thought he had destroyed his brother’s life and also suppressed his voice, therefore no one could bring against him any accusation. Unknown to Cain was that the life he thought he took was actually in the blood of his brother. Therefore, the life could still speak and bring accusations against him. So it was, that the ground that received his brother’s blood from his hand amplified the voice of the blood, or rather Abel; for there was no difference between Abel and his blood. Consequently, judgment was brought upon Cain and he was cursed. This occurrence reveals to us that there is no difference between life and blood.

Now, the law of God says a soul that sins will die (Ezekiel 18:20). However, God in His mercy would want to redeem the sinner. So He provided a means of atoning by the blood. This God had done when creating flesh, that is, putting the life of the flesh in its blood, having foreseen what would befall man later and consequently, the need for redemption. The Bible says in Leviticus 17:11:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”

So before Jesus came to shed His blood for eternal redemption, God arranged a temporary way of atoning for the sin of man; which was replacing the sinner’s life with the life of the animal by shedding its blood. And since whenever man sins, God judges him, his conscience condemns him and Satan accuses him, the blood of bulls and goats was not powerful enough to set him free. The only blood which can satisfy such claims is the blood of Jesus, being the blood of the Son of God and also the blood of the most righteous man. For if the blood of Abel could speak out, much more the blood of Jesus. However, in the case of the blood of Jesus, it is not speaking for vengeance like Abel’s but forgiveness. Hebrews 12:24 says “the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (KJV). 

So the blood of Jesus is most valuable and effective towards God, your conscience and Satan.

Firstly, towards God. There is no way a believer can come into the presence of God without the blood of Jesus. Abel could only approach God with blood. And when Cain approached without blood, he was rejected. Additionally, in the time of the law, the high priest could not enter into the Holy of Holies; which was the very presence of God, without the blood which he offered for himself and the errors of the people (Hebrews 9:7). The same applies to believers now. The only way to enter into God’s presence and not die due to our shortcomings is by the blood of Jesus. By presenting the blood to the Father, the believer takes the place of righteous Jesus. So Hebrews 10:19,22 says:

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near.”

Secondly, towards yourself. So many times your heart condemns you and consequently, your conscience becomes defiled. Sometimes you sin and even after you confessed your sin and asked God for forgiveness, the guilt still remains and your conscience is unsettled. Because of this, you may become inefficient in the service of God and your relationship towards other believers will lack life. Since God is aware of this possibility, He already provided a solution which is the blood of Jesus. That you have guilt in your heart after committing sin is not abnormal. Your heart, being your judge, is only protesting that justice be done. The law that says the person who sins will die is written in your heart (Romans 2:15), where your conscience is situated to bear witness. So the conscience judges you according to the law of God written in your heart. The only way to now satisfy the claim of justice anytime you are condemned is to present the blood of Jesus as a Substitute for yourself. The law cannot be broken. Since you sinned, you must die. However, you are to present the blood of Jesus signifying that He has died in your stead. Only then can your conscience justify you and your heart will be purged. 

Lastly, towards the devil. Also relating to sin, Satan reminds you of your past sins and tries to condemn you. He will try to make you feel rejected by God and then keep accusing you. In this case, the blood of Jesus is the answer. When you present the blood to him, he loses all ground to accuse you because by the shedding of the blood of Jesus, your sins have been remitted. 

Also, in spiritual warfare, the blood is an instrument of destruction to the enemy. By pleading the blood of Jesus before the devil, you are declaring the victory of Jesus Christ over him and his minions on the cross. Thinking he would extinguish Jesus on the cross, the devil afforded Him the opportunity to spoil him and his kingdom. Colossians 2:15 says “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” So when you use the blood of Jesus against Satan, you are making a public display of him and his cohorts because you have triumphed over them through Jesus Christ. And clearly does the Bible say in Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” 

PROVERBS 31:30

Proverbs 31:30 serves as part of the conclusion of a long passage that started in verse 10 of the same chapter. The successive verses proceeded to list the qualities of a woman who fears the LORD— she is diligent in her business, not lazy or idle, contributes to the upkeep of her home, gives to the poor, takes care of her household, strong in character, honourable, wise, kind and so much more. 

But the Scriptures had to point out something major in verse 30. It says “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised” (KJV). The Holman Christian Standard Bible puts it this way, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised”. This has 2 implications. The first is the more obvious implication and which is that what matters more is what is within a person and not outward beauty. Although these verses seem to be addressed only to women, it is in fact necessary for all, both men and women. 

Now, outward beauty isn’t bad. However, no amount of beauty can cover or make up for a person who is lacking in character. A person’s character is the real quality of a person. If the inside isn’t nice, the outside wouldn’t mean much no matter how nice it looks. Imagine you want to buy a house to live in and your realtor takes you to a house, no matter how beautifully painted and decorated the house is on the outside, you wouldn’t decide to buy it based on that. You would still want to go into the house and find out how it looks inside and if what you see isn’t palatable, I bet you wouldn’t even remember how beautiful the outer paint is before rejecting the house. The beautiful exterior wouldn’t factor in your decision if you don’t like the interior.

The fact is that outward beauty fades away fast if the inside is nothing to write home about. A person who has redeeming qualities is attractive to all that come in contact with him/her. Even if that person's looks may not seem amazing at first, once these qualities are displayed, looks are quickly forgotten. The moment you see or think of that person, what would cross your mind wouldn’t be the person’s average looks, what would immediately cross your mind would be the good qualities he/she has. And that person will always be pleasing in your sight.

The second and even more important aspect is the need for the fear of God. The fear of God is to be desired over and above all other good qualities. This means it is possible for a person to have seemingly good qualities without having the fear of God. A person may be hardworking, nice, kind and so on but all these come to naught if the fear of God is missing. Note that the qualities listed in Proverbs 31 aren’t hanging on their own. The beginning, the foundation upon which those qualities are built, is the fear of God. The opening words of verse 10 read, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (KJV). The word “virtuous” in that context means living according to the principles set by God. All the other qualities listed after the verse were just further descriptions of a person who lives according to God’s principles, in other words, a person who fears the LORD. All those qualities are therefore meant to serve as evidence of the presence of the fear of God in a person.

It will be surprising to know that a person who appears to possess these qualities without having the fear of God is still displaying “outward beauty and charm”. Because those qualities lack the proper foundation and when push comes to shove, they can so quickly disappear. Just like the parable of two houses that was given in the Bible (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49), one was built on a rock, a solid foundation while the other was built on sand, a poor foundation. When the rains fell and the winds blew, it was the house with the solid foundation that remained. If the foundation is poor, no matter how good the building is, it is bound to fall. 

Many are quick to list out all the qualities listed from verses 11 downward but they neglect what actually started it all. The reason why those qualities came into play. The reason for their presence in her life. And so they have it backward. These qualities do not bring about the fear of the LORD in a person, rather, the fear of the LORD enables these qualities to be inculcated. A person who fears the LORD will be all about pleasing Him in all areas of life and the qualities listed are pleasing to God. A person who fears the LORD will be diligent because God expects us to be diligent (Ecclesiastes 9:10a). A person who fears the LORD will not be lazy or idle because God detests laziness and idleness (Proverbs 19:15; 18:9; 6:6-11). A person who fears the LORD will be a giver because God commands us to give and He loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Such a person will definitely be wise because the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10a), a person who fears the LORD will look after his/her own household which God has given unto him/her. It’s that simple.

So really, the fear of the LORD is to be the number one priority for everyone. Once it is present in a person, everything good that is built on it will have an enduring quality. For the fear of the LORD will naturally birth and sustain them. And regardless of the ferocity of the rains and winds and storms, that person will stand. Those qualities shall remain.

In a nutshell, regardless of your gender, you must lay the proper foundation. The fear of the LORD is the only sure sustenance of everything good.

WHAT JESUS CAN DO THROUGH 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

Ephesians 3:20

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

Who is a believer? A believer is someone who has received Jesus Christ by believing in His Name (John 1:12). Therefore a believer practically has Christ in him. The implication is that, whoever claims to be a believer must have the life of Christ expressed through him and also have Christ work through him since Christ dwells in him. Concerning expressing the life of Christ, the apostle says in 1 John 2:6: “Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did” (TLB). Jesus says in Mark 16:17-18, “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Jesus actually made this statement after He resurrected and was about to leave the earth to go into heaven. And He clearly said that one of the ways to know a believer, that is, one in whom He dwells, is that such a person will be able to do the works people have always seen Him do while He was on earth because He would be in him working through him. That is, although He would no longer be physically present on earth, He would be present in the believer to continue His work through Him. That as a matter of fact, whoever believes in Him will not only do the works He was doing but “greater works than these he will do; because He goes to the Father.” (John 14:12). 

Without the believers, Jesus Christ will not be able to do anything on earth. Knowing this, before He died, Jesus prepared some people who would receive His Spirit to continue His work on earth. For without them, His work will end with His ascension into the heavens. Regarding this the prophet prophesied about the continuation of His work after He would have died. Isaiah 53:12 says: 

“Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.”

Because He was pouring out His life for mankind, His work would be discontinued, but the Bible says a portion of people will be given to Him to continue what He could not because of His life that He offered. 

Another reason why He needed to work through men was because of the magnitude of His work. In Matthew 9:37, He said to His disciples: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. But when He saw the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. He therefore thought of having more labourers. And the Bible says in Matthew 10:1 that Jesus then called unto Him His twelve disciples, and gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. The Lord gave unto them His authority so they could do exactly what He was doing – preaching the gospel, casting out demons and healing sicknesses and diseases. Also, after He died, resurrected and ascended to heaven, He descended again as the Holy Spirit to indwell and rest upon His disciples so that by His Spirit in all of them, He could reach out to the whole world through them. So instead of Jesus doing the whole work alone, He is now doing it through many people for a greater harvest.

The Bible also says in 2 Corinthians 5 that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. It further says since Christ is no more on earth, the believers have become His ambassadors and through them will the world be reconciled to God. Therefore the ministry of reconciliation is presently with the believers, and through them can the world be saved and reconciled to God.

Jesus wants to cast out demons and deliver the oppressed through you the believer. Through your hands He wants to heal the sick that they may recover from any form of sickness or disease. Through you, He wants to preach the gospel to the poor and have them reconciled to God. There has been no time when God did anything on earth without man. At a time, He even had to become a man, for He became flesh and dwelt among men that He might carry out His purpose on earth. Psalms 115:16 declares:

“The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of men.”

Since man has been destined to be in charge of the earth, God’s ability can only be displayed on earth through him. So He wants to display His full power through you. Beyond your imagination, He wants to work many wonders. The possibility of all these does not depend on you but is based on the fact that He now dwells in you because you believe in Him. Jesus has not stopped working. After raising the man who was sick for thirty-eight years, Jesus was asked why He was working, He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” (John 5:17). You also should be able to heal the sick and do miracles because Jesus is still working and this Jesus is in you. 

DEATH, HEALTH AND SIN

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

Straitly did the Lord God command them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not only did He command them, He also told them what would befall them if they would not give heed to His commandment. Genesis 2:16,17 reads, 

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden IN EATING THOU SHALT EAT: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof IN DYING THOU SHALT DIE” (Emphasis added. KJV, Heb.). 

This passage of the scripture supplies us with many revelations especially concerning the topic that is being treated. Respecting the sustenance of Adam, since he had a body, the Lord God gave him a twofold commandment by which his body should be strengthened. He commanded Adam to eat of every tree of the garden, then prohibited him from eating one out of all – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The result of obeying the positive part of the commandment was that Adam’s body would be strengthened. Now, it is known that the main purpose of eating is to supply the body with materials for its growth and repair, and for keeping the immune system healthy. For this purpose, Adam had to eat. And God did not just tell him to eat but commanded him to eat, for that was the way God chose for his body to be sustained. Disobeying this commandment would not only frustrate his body, it would also frustrate the purpose for which he was created. Thereby going against the will of God for him and committing sin. So Adam should in eating, draw sustenance for his body. 

The consequence of disobeying the other part of the commandment was also spelt out by the Lord to Adam. The Lord God commanded him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil also for the sake of his body. The statement, “In dying thou shalt die” means if Adam ate from it, the result would be the opposite of what his body required. His body, instead of it to be sustained, would die.

The statement also reveals how his body would die. That is, in a gradual process. Indicating that death is a process, initiated by sin. So the apostle says in James 1:15:

“Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

But how is this process accomplished? It is accomplished by sicknesses and diseases. Therefore the end result of sin is death but the intermediary stage is ill-health – the deterioration of the body. 

Adam was to sustain his body by keeping the two sides of the commandment. Breaking any part of it would lead to his death. 

Unfortunately, he ate from the tree he was commanded not to eat. And although he did not die immediately, the process of death was activated in him. Obviously this was what the woman did not know. For when  the tempter told her she would not surely die, she took of the fruits of the tree and ate. When she apparently did not die, she also gave to her husband to eat. But they all later died. Adam who was created to eat of the tree of life and live forever was now struggling to live up to a thousand years. By disobeying God, he committed sin. Through sin death set in. For his body could no longer sustain him. So has the life expectancy of his seeds been reducing since his time. 

Therefore, through sin, sicknesses and diseases find expression on earth as the forerunners of death. And when Jesus Christ came to the earth, He was found most of the times dealing with people’s sin while dealing with their sicknesses. When a paralytic man was brought to Him in Matthew 9, He forgave his sins and then said to him to get up, pick his bed and go home. And the man got up and went home. By removing his sins, his body became healthy. Additionally, after healing the man who had been ill for thirty eight years at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus told him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you” (John 5:14).  Obviously the sin of the man brought him his sickness and Jesus, having taken his sin away by forgiving him, warned him to sin no more lest worse come upon him. Lastly, when His disciples saw a man who was born blind in John 9, they asked Him if it was the man or his parents that sinned for him to be born blind. Indicating the fact that sicknesses and diseases, more or less, are the results of sin. 

To have good health, you must abide by the instructions of your creator. He created your body and knows what can repair or impair it. All His commandments are to enliven your body. John 12:50 says, “And I know that his commandment is life everlasting.” Going against any of His commandments will mean turning away from life to death. His words may not appear to bring you good health if you keep them, but they are given for your health. Proverbs 4:21-22 expressly says you should not let His words “depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body. It is not sufficient to eat from other trees. You must also not eat from the one God disallowed. Just as God has permitted you to do some things, so has He disallowed you from doing some other things. Refusing to do what he requires of you and doing what he does not permit you are both destructive. Keep His whole word and you will be made whole. 

EVANGELISM... YOU HAVE GOT TO BITE THE BULLET

Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel is still a commandment that is mostly overlooked by Christians today. Forgetting that the primary reason Christ came into the world was to save the world and He left people behind with the expectation that they will continue in what He came for. You are not saved because you were born into a family that went to church, you are saved because of knowledge—you heard about Christ, believed and asked Him into your life. If you didn’t know about Him, there is no way you would have been saved.

And that is what Evangelism is about, spreading the knowledge of Christ to people so that they may be saved. Sadly, many believers have relegated this task to pastors, evangelists, “men of God” in general. Christ didn’t list out a particular set of people to preach the Gospel. Given, pastors and “men of God” mount the pulpit to preach but preaching isn’t meant to be done in church alone. Preaching is meant to be done wherever Christians find themselves because a soul that is yet to be saved may be there.

Jesus Christ, when He walked on earth didn’t confine Himself to preaching in the temple or synagogue. He preached wherever He went. He said He came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10 KJV). The “lost” aren’t found in particular areas or countries or locations, the “lost” are everywhere. They are made up of those who have heard about the Gospel but don’t believe, those who haven’t even heard anything about Jesus at all, and also those who at one point in time heard and believed but due to one reason or the other fell back. Practically anyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, regardless of the reason, is lost. And Christ came and left with the confidence that He is leaving people behind to continue His work to oncoming generations until He returns. 

But how many Christians evangelize? How many of us even remember that there is something called “evangelism”? We are merely comfortable with attending church on Sundays and probably weekly activities, forgetting that there are many out there who are wallowing in darkness either knowingly or unknowingly. How many Christians shine forth the light of the Gospel?

While many Christians are nonchalant about evangelism, others are afraid. Afraid that those they approach wouldn’t be interested or afraid that they may be asked a question and they wouldn’t know the answer or afraid that they will be drawn into arguments regarding difference in beliefs. For those who entertain various fears regarding evangelism, remember firstly that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear, He has given us the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). You are therefore to go forth in that power, unafraid of whoever you will be speaking to. And in that love for unsaved souls because love really is the foundation (John 3:16), if God didn’t love us then He wouldn’t have set out to save us. Next, remember that it isn’t your job to save. No matter how spiritually strong a Christian is or becomes, he/she can never carry out the work of salvation. Furthermore, a person isn’t saved because of a Christian's oratory prowess or because of the number of Scriptures quoted. On this premise, you shouldn’t focus so much on how to convince people, your work is just to tell them about Jesus Christ, the One who saved you, the One you have come to know and love and serve. It will be unwise to engage each person in arguments about religion. Christianity isn’t a physical engagement, it is highly spiritual.

Recall that not everyone who Christ came in contact with, believed in Him. In fact even His own family and hometown found it difficult to believe in Him. If Christ Himself was blatantly turned down by some, how much less you, a mere human being. Christ didn’t let that deter Him, He kept seeking for souls. You also shouldn’t allow that stop you from spreading the Gospel. Meanwhile, who said that the people you approach wouldn’t accept Jesus? They may or they may not, it isn’t for you to try to determine it. Simply keep carrying out Christ’s command. The Gospel is meant to reach the whole world meaning that every Christian is to preach it wherever he/she is. You may be the only means by which the people in your community can meet with Jesus, why don’t you give them the opportunity to meet Him? Take Christ to them that they may be saved. 

The first time you evangelize, you may still feel a little fear while approaching the person but keep moving until you get to speak to the person. You will discover that overtime your love for it will keep growing and you will always yearn to do it. Invariably, all fear will be forgotten and it will become part of you. All it takes is that first step.

For those who are simply nonchalant about it. Probably because they feel it doesn’t directly affect them. That is a wrong notion. It directly affects all Christians. We are Christ's representatives here on earth and we are to walk in His footsteps. Christ preached and so should we. In addition, He followed it up by specifically giving us that command. And so the same way we don’t steal, kill, commit adultery, serve other gods as Christians, likewise are we meant to preach the Gospel. The same gravity that we attach to other commandments should be attached to this command.

Lastly, we shouldn’t forget to also preach Christ through our conduct. Be doers of the word (James 1:22). Don’t don a holy personality when you are preaching to people and put on a separate one when you get home. If anyone was to bump into you anywhere, let the person be convinced that you are actually a Christian, that you are who you say you are. 

Preach the Gospel and Live the Gospel!

GRACE AND LOVE OF GOD

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 Bible reveals that God is full of love. The word of God even says in 1 John 4:8, 

“The one who does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE.” (Emphasis added). 

Since God is love, the love of God is God Himself. And because the very nature of His essence is love, nothing but love can flow out of Him. All His expressions are love. 

The love of God is seen displayed from the beginning of the world till now. Before the first man transgressed in the beginning, God, in His love, commanded him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Although this restriction did not appear to be an expression of love to Adam, it was really the expression of the love of God to him so that he would not die. The devil, however, came in his hatred for man to deceive him so that man could become what he himself had become. Because the devil disobeyed God, iniquity was found in him and consequently, he was cast as profane from the mountain of the Lord. Having seen the result of his disobedience, he also ensured the man disobeyed God so he could be cast out of the presence of God. 

Furthermore, after Adam sinned, came short of the glory of God and became naked, God, Who is love, also expressed Himself by killing an animal for the man’s sake. And the wisdom of God, motivated by His love, was able to use the animal’s blood for a partial atonement for the sin of the man and its skin as a form of glory to cover his nakedness. 

God also expressed His love by sending the man out of the garden. Apparently, this also might not have been an expression of love to Adam, but it was. For the Bible says in Genesis 3:22, 

“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” 

God had already told Adam that the day he eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. And He is now seen here preventing the man from the tree of life so he would not eat of it and live forever. Adam, probably, would have thought that God sending him out of the garden was now not an expression of His love because it seemingly looked as if God was keeping the remedy of his fall from him. For logically, if the tree he ate from made him dead, the tree of life should then be the solution that would enliven him. But this was not so. By eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam had received the nature of the devil. If he now ate from the tree of life, he would live forever, not with the nature of God, but with the nature of the devil, completely shutting himself up from redemption. So the omniscient God expressed His love once again and sent him out, lest he eats from the tree of life and live forever in sin and corruption. 

So many times the Lord prevents believers from some certain things after they sin. These believers then think God has totally rejected them, not knowing He is only preserving them from becoming utterly corrupt. What He now prevents from them as a result of their sins will eventually be given to them when He has finally worked out their salvation. Although man currently has no access to the tree of life, the Bible says in Revelation 22:14 that after we have been completely washed, we will again “have the right to the tree of life.” So, even when the Lord chastens a believer for a sin committed, it is still an expression of His love. For Hebrews 12:6 vividly says, 

“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

So was the love of God expressed to mankind from the beginning till He eventually gave all of Himself by sending His only begotten Son, Who is the express Image of His Person to die for the world for their salvation. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). 

Now, it is one thing to love, and it is another thing to fully express the love. When love is expressed, specifically to the destitute, it becomes grace. Grace is something freely given to the destitute. Man was destitute and needed to be redeemed. Therefore God gave Himself freely as grace to man for his redemption. So when Jesus came, the Bible expressly says in John 1:14,16, 

“And the Word (Who was God, John 1:1) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

So God became flesh as Jesus Christ and grace, which is the substance of His love, or rather Himself, could now be received by as many that believe in Him. 

It should be known that the grace of God is not meant for those who have enough to solve their problems. The grace of God is only meant for those who are insufficient and powerless to help themselves. So Jesus, who is the love of God expressed as grace for man, told the Pharisees who thought themselves righteous, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32). Are you a sinner? God’s love is for you. You do not need to be righteous to be qualified for His grace, being a sinner qualifies you. And the grace itself will make you righteous when you receive it. It also does not matter how sinful you are, for “wherever sin abounds, this grace does much more abound.” (Romans 5:20).  God has “in deed and truth” expressed His love by sending Jesus, not to some special people, but to you and the whole world. 

ETERNAL SPIRITUAL CHILDHOOD

Unless otherwise stated, 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 Bible clearly reveals the three stages attainable by man: natural, carnal and spiritual. 

First, the natural stage. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, 

“But a NATURAL MAN does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (Emphasis added). 

Everyone born into this world is a natural man. You need not do anything to attain to this level, you naturally enter into it. As long as you are a product of a man and a woman, you fall in the stage of the natural man. 

But who is a natural man? A natural man is someone who does not have the Spirit of God. That is, an unbeliever. One who has not received the Spirit of God by believing in Jesus Christ the Son of God. According to the words of the Lord in John 3, such a person is only born of the flesh and not of the Spirit, therefore, he is flesh and natural. Because of his state, he cannot see or enter into the kingdom of God. Furthermore, according to 1 Corinthians 2:14, he is incapable of receiving the things of the Spirit of God because they look foolish and meaningless to him. Meanwhile, the things of the Spirit of God are not foolishness. But because they are spiritually encoded by the Spirit of God, the natural man lacks the understanding needed to receive them because he does not have the Spirit. This was the reason Nicodemus, who although was a Pharisee and a spiritual ruler of the people of God, could not receive what Jesus was telling him. To be learned, even in the scriptures, does not mean one is no longer a natural man and can therefore understand and receive spiritual things. To be a spiritual ruler too does not qualify one for receiving the things of the Spirit. One must be born again and be born of the Spirit to be able to receive His things. 

Second, the carnal stage. 1 Corinthians 2:1 says, 

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto CARNAL, even as unto BABES in Christ.” (Emphasis added, KJV). 

A carnal man is someone who, despite having received the Spirit of God by believing in Jesus Christ the Son of God, lives like a natural man. Such still displays the characteristics of a natural man, for there is no apparent difference between him and a natural man. His attitude and lifestyle are just like the unbelievers. The fruits he bears are inconsistent with the Spirit of God he has received. Such people, like those the apostle was addressing, manifest the works of the flesh. They are not obedient to the Holy Spirit which indwells them. Concerning such people he said in 1 Corinthians 3:2, 

“I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able.” 

Carnal believers can only drink but cannot chew because they are underdeveloped. Just like infants, they can only drink milk but not solid food because all the parts of their spirit are yet to be completely formed. They are therefore unable to receive the real things of the Spirit. 

Lastly, the spiritual stage. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 says, 

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to SPIRITUAL MEN, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not SOLID FOOD.”

And Hebrews 5:14 also says, 

But SOLID FOOD is for the MATURE, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

A spiritual man is the one who has believed in Jesus Christ the Son of God, received the Spirit of God and grown from childhood into maturity. Such a person has his organs well developed to receive the real things of the Spirit which are called solid food. Having developed teeth, they have been weaned to chew bones.

Among these three sets of people, contrary to general belief, the Lord has no pleasure in the carnal believers. They are the lukewarm ones He spoke about in Revelation 3:15-16. He says, 

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”

They are neither devoid of the Spirit of God nor spiritual. The Lord said He even wished they were cold or unbelievers so as to know how to win them, or to be hot or spiritual people who already have been weaned. 

Although one must experience childhood, the purpose of being born again is not to remain a child forever. This will be against the will of God and also be tantamount to frustrating the Holy Spirit inside the believer. Nobody gives birth to a baby and expects the baby to remain a baby forever. It is expected that the baby grows into maturity so as to relate with the environment. Spiritual childhood is a stage that one must pass through quickly. And this growth from childhood to adulthood is not necessarily determined by time as in natural babies but by obedience.  Hebrews 5:14 says, 

“But solid food is for the mature, WHO BECAUSE OF PRACTICE have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

The Bible does not say such people became mature because they have spent years in Christ but they became mature because by practically obeying the Holy Spirit, they have developed and trained their senses to receive spiritual things. This is the purpose of salvation, to be able to receive from God by walking in obedience and also being able to teach others to do likewise. (Hebrews 5:12). 

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT RESULT ORIENTED STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) THAT WILL IMMEDIATELY FETCH YOU A JOB

A Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) generally is a step-by-step set of instructions to achieve a goal. And so the guiding principle behind writing one is that if a random person reads it and follows the stated steps, he/she should be able to arrive at the stated goals. 

Let’s take a simple example of withdrawing from the ATM machine. A person who wants to write an SOP on it should write with the expectation that whoever follows the steps will end up withdrawing money from the ATM.

SOPs however are usually made up of different broken down actions, each with a measurable result, a combination of which will be geared towards achieving the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal will depend on the circumstances of each case. 

For SOPs to get a job, the ultimate goal usually is more profit for your potential employer. The following guidelines can ease the writing process:

1. I need to show that this organisation needs me if it wants to make more profit

2. In order to show this, I must be able to clearly state the tasks/actions I will carry out if I am employed

3. Next, I must be able to clearly state the results that each of my actions will produce

4. These results must then be able to attract or generate more profit to the employer

At that point, you may not be able to write out all the tasks you intend to carry out but you should be able to select the major tasks you intend to carry out for your employer that will bring in profit. Your SOP should be taken as a smart proposition to increase the revenue of your potential employer.

The SOP should be irresistibly attractive to your potential employer. It should be so detailed as to fully convince your potential employer of the relationship between your actions and results that will increase his revenue.

For instance, Mary intends to be employed as a secretary to the CEO of a small organisation. In writing her SOP, she will need to convince the organisation that a secretary is needed and she is the best person to fill that role.

And so she reasons to herself that treating people well will ensure that they keep coming back and also recommend you to others. She decides that one of her tasks will be to ensure excellent customer service. To accomplish this, she will be polite to customers and visitors to the organisation; she will entertain them while they are waiting for their appointment with the CEO; and in his absence, she will ensure that subsequent appointments are fixed at a time when he will be available.

Mary also reasons that for the organisation to run effectively, the CEO must attend all necessary meetings such as meetings with investors, potential investors, and so on. She decides that another task will be to ensure that the CEO is kept abreast of his appointments and schedules. To accomplish this, she will update his diary frequently and send reminders to him about 24 hours to each appointment.

Next, Mary knows that records are very important as they are needed for reference purposes, to track growth and profit, to correct errors if any, to identify areas where improvement is needed, and so on. And so she writes out her next task, which is to ensure that accurate records of the organisation's proceedings are kept. To accomplish this, she will attend all company meetings timely; take judicious minutes of all the meetings; and organise the company files.

Next, Mary reasons that the organisation must work as a team to run smoothly and one of the key areas is communication. And so, she writes out another task which is to improve the relationship between the employees and management. To accomplish this, she will leave the flow of communication between the staff and CEO open by arranging for the CEO to be approached when it is convenient for him. With her standing as the go-between, the CEO will not be flooded with so many things at once and he will be able to effectively address each issue that is brought to him. 

This is how Mary will keep proceeding, thinking of ways that will make her services indispensable to her potential employer. When she forwards her SOP, the CEO that has most likely been trying to keep up with the responsibilities of his growing organisation should be attracted to it. He wouldn’t have to personally come out to attend to each visitor, client or customer. And in his absence, he can rest assure that they will be well attended to because Mary will be there. He no longer needs to struggle to remember all the appointments he has or even set appointments that clash due to his forgetfulness. This is because he will now have Mary to arrange his schedule and ensure that no appointments clash and nothing is missed. He will no longer have to deal with disorganized or missing records and he will even be able to afford to miss a few meetings where an external priority arises. This will be possible because Mary will definitely be at the meeting to record and give him feedback. 

With Mary, the organisation will be able to run more smoothly and the CEO will be able to perform more effectively. This will definitely lead to an increase in the activities which he can now handle because he can now delegate to Mary, certain responsibilities that have formerly slowed the organisation down. Ultimately, with increased efficiency and effectiveness, more revenue is generated.

In addition to this, attention should be paid to other seemingly little things that are easily overlooked. If your potential employer sets out instructions regarding what is expected, they should be followed. Some may be willing to overlook it if you don’t while others will be quick to discard any that didn’t comply with their instructions. Also, don’t forget to research on the organisation, this will inform you of the tasks that will be highly desired and prioritized.

Lastly, use clear and simple words, your SOP should neither be difficult to follow nor comprehend.

INTIMACY WITHOUT SEX

Unless otherwise stated, 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

2 Samuel 1:26

“ I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” (KJV).

In 1 Thessalonians 4, the apostle revealed the will of God to the believers. He told them the purpose of God for them was to be sanctified. That is, to abstain from every form of immorality, be it spiritual or physical. They were not to defile themselves with any idol or have fellowship with demons. They were also not to be involved in sexual immorality or lust after each other. But they were to be fully consecrated unto God. And in verse 4, he said, 

“That each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”

Man’s vessel is his soul, comprising his will, emotions and mind. This vessel should be sanctified, that is, given to express God and His intentions alone. It should also be owned in honour, that is, kept morally upright. However, the possibility of the latter is dependent on the former. For the soul cannot be kept morally upright if it is not sanctified for God’s expression alone. Separated from God and left on its own, the soul will express itself carnally and quickly run into corruption. Even Adam in the beginning could not keep his innocence because he was drawn away from God and got enticed with sin. Also, when men were later left to themselves by God to see if they could restore themselves after the fall, they instead ran headlong into utter depravity. Then the Lord said in Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh.” Man had completely degenerated to flesh. 

Therefore, to keep the soul upright, it must be consecrated unto God for His glory and expression. The mind should be cleansed and renewed by the word of God. The emotions should be refined to only express God’s feelings. Then the will should be sacrificed for God’s will. By this, the soul will be virtuous. 

Now, the apostle, immediately after this exhortation, says in verse 9, 

“But as touching BROTHERLY LOVE ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” (Emphasis added, KJV).

Brotherly love is the love of God that finds expression among the people whom God has called out of different places and are gathered together in the Name of Jesus. This love is different and stronger than that which is found among ordinary friends or among family members. It is the love of God. And since God is love, it is the expression of God Himself, specifically in an affectionate manner, through the believers towards themselves. It is by the expression of this special love among the believers that they are known to be followers of Jesus. Jesus Christ says in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

So before talking about this affectionate feeling, the apostle first laid a foundation that the believers should shun fornication. Knowing fully well that the enemy, the devil, will want to corrupt the love of God among them. Consequently, instead of possessing their vessel in sanctification and honour, they will have it in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God. (1 Thessalonians 4:5). 

Meanwhile, one of the reasons the Lord lets His love to flow through the believers is that they might be united. So that by being united the world may believe in Him. (John 17:21). However, the devil’s plan is to frustrate this purpose. He therefore tries to corrupt the true love of God among the believers so he can eventually bring disunity among them. If he becomes successful, the world, instead of believing in Jesus Christ, will blaspheme the Name of God because of the believers. 

But in Philippians 4:1, we see how apostle Paul was expressing his love for the saints at Philippi. He said, 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.”

There was a deep love among the saints, the relationship that existed between them was stronger than the one that exists even among blood relations. We also see Jesus Christ demonstrating this love while on the cross about to die to leave the earth. He did not hand over His mother to His siblings. He handed her over to one of His disciples because the disciple was closer to Him than His siblings. John 19:26-27 says, 

“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”

Mary, the mother of Jesus, did not return home but immediately joined herself to the disciple. And in Acts 1:14 we see her continuing with the disciples as they devoted themselves to prayer. 

Believers should learn how to be intimately one with one another by the love of God while they still keep their souls clean, sanctified and morally upright. Such was the love that existed between David and Jonathan. It surpassed the love that a man has for a woman. It was the pure love of God. If such love exists among believers, they will be intimately one without any lustful passion.  And if it is established, when believers enter into courtship, they will also be able to keep themselves pure while they still display affection towards one another. Then after they are joined, “the marriage will be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed will be undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4). 

SO MUCH JOY EVERYWHERE

Luke 15:1-32 gives three parables to give us an idea of how important a single soul is to God. The first parable which is the parable of the lost sheep narrates how a shepherd who owns a 100 sheep leaves the rest behind to search for any single sheep that goes missing. Even if it is just one sheep that goes missing, the shepherd leaves the 99 to go in search for the 1 and when he finds it, he gathers his neighbours to rejoice with him. And Jesus said in verse 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over 99 just persons, which need no repentance.

The second parable is that of the lost coin. It goes thus, that if a woman who owns 10 pieces of silver loses one of the coins, she lights a candle and sweeps the whole house, carefully searching for the one coin that went missing. When she finally finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her. And Jesus repeated, likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The third parable is a popular one. The parable of the prodigal son who collected all his inheritance from his father and went out from his father’s presence to squander it on senseless living after which, he was finally reduced to eating food meant for pigs. When he finally came to his senses and went back home to his father, even before he near the house his father ran out to him and hugged and kissed him. He dressed him in his best robes and threw a huge party in his honour to celebrate his return, for he said, this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Yet these parables are but a mere shadow of how much the heavens rejoice over a single soul that is won to the kingdom of God. A God that loved us so much that He sent His only Son to reduce Himself to flesh just so we can be saved. Not only did He become a human being, He was born into a humble home, not the home of a king or ruler or even a rich man but the home of a carpenter. Even at birth, He was born in very humble surroundings. 

And even those He was sent to didn’t welcome Him. Some didn’t believe Him, He was persecuted, beaten, pierced, humiliated and crucified. He bore all this in silence just to ensure that we are saved. 2 Peter 3:9 KJV says The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. That is what God wants, that none of us should be lost to destruction but that we all should repent and be saved. This was why He sent Jesus, that all of humanity will have a chance at returning to Him.

And guess what? God is still waiting for you. The Bible describes Him as long-suffering. This is why despite the number of years you have spent outside of Him, living your life your own way, He is still waiting for you, ready to welcome you and rejoice over you just as the father welcomed his prodigal son with open arms.

Not only will God welcome you with open arms, but your past life of sin will be remembered no more. The day you receive Jesus and return to God, you will stand washed and purified before Him because Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” The day you surrender your life to Jesus, you begin afresh with God, He gives you a clean slate, He writes off your sins and you start a new life in Him, free from all encumbrances. In place of your filthy garment, a garment whiter than snow will be placed on you.

And do you know what? The rejoicing when you give your life to Christ isn’t restricted to heaven alone. Even you yourself will rejoice. Acts 8:5-8 KJV says, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Emphasis added).

And there was great joy in that city! Because they had been taken out of darkness into God's marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9b). Because they had been liberated from sicknesses and diseases (Isaiah 53:5). Because they were no longer at the mercy of demons, demons had been subdued (Mark 16:17). Because they were no longer doomed to an eternity of sorrow and gnashing of teeth. Because that void in their lives which they didn’t even realize existed, had been filled. Because they had been introduced to the love of God (John 3:16). 

Oh what great joy will there be among the hosts of heaven when you turn away from the path of destruction. Oh what great joy will there be within you when you come into God’s kingdom, when you make up your mind that you don’t want to live in sin anymore, that you don’t want to live your life chasing things that don’t have eternal value. Oh what great joy will there be within you when you realize that you are now on the path of life. Just like the thief that accepted Jesus even at the point of death and his fate was immediately turned around for the better. Luke 23:43 says “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Jesus is waiting expectantly for you. Open your heart to Him today.