Holiness and Grace, Spirituality

Tozer Daily: Hungering after God.

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“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” – Ps. 63:8



Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God.

They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they had found Him the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking.

Moses used the fact that he knew God as an argument for knowing Him better. “Now, therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight”; and from there he rose to make the daring request, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.”


God was frankly pleased by this display of ardour, and the next day called Moses into the mount, and there in solemn procession made all His glory pass before him.


David’s life was a torrent of spiritual desire, and his psalms ring with the cry of the seeker and the glad shout of the finder.

Paul confessed the mainspring of his life to be his burning desire after Christ. “That I may know Him,” was the goal of his heart, and to this he sacrificed everything.

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ.”


How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers.

Everything is made to centre upon the initial act of “accepting” Christ (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible), and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls.


We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him we need no more seek Him.

Thus the whole testimony of the worshiping, seeking, singing Church on that subject is crisply set aside.


In the midst of this great chill, there are some I rejoice to acknowledge, who will not be content with shallow logic. They will admit the force of the argument, and then turn away with tears to hunt some lonely place and pray, “O God, show me thy glory.”

They want to taste, to touch with their hearts, to see with their inner eyes the wonder that is God.


I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate.

The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.

Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted.


Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity.

The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.

The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all.

If we would find God amid all the religious externals we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity.

Now, as always, God reveals Himself to “babes” and hides Himself in thick darkness from the wise and the prudent.

We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress, and come with the guileless candor of childhood.

If we do this, without doubt God will quickly respond.

AW TOZER

GENERAL

Soldiers with Caring Hearts

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I once watched an American war movie. It was based on real events. In the movie, American soldiers were fighting against terrorists in a foreign country. The battle was a really tense one.

The fierce bullet exchange kept the American soldiers focused in the battlefield, even though they were gaining grounds.

As they advanced, one of their men was hit by a bullet. It was as though his bulletproof vest had worn out due to several shootings from the enemy’s rifle.

The wounded soldier seemed to be a setback to the advancing soldiers. The bullet had hit him where it mattered most; his left breast; but he was still alive.

But as he lay, bleeding profusely, struggling to stay in this world, a frontline commando ran to him. He grabbed the bleeding soldier and upheld him in his arms.

“Leave me and focus on the battle. I am useless to you in this state” the bleeding soldier managed to say.

But the commando paid no attention to his requests. He took the wounded soldier away from the battlefield to a secret cave.

This cave was built in a hidden place by the American soldiers, and was full of medicals employed to treat soldiers.

The wounded soldier was immediately attended to. He was treated, and lived to become a war veteran in America.

1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith”

2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight”


Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle… against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”


2 Corinthians 10:4: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds…”

The first verse mentioned above reveals to us, that Christianity is not just a religion, it is a fight. But it is not just any fight; it is the fight of faith. In the third verse aforementioned, our opponents are revealed to us.

They are powers of darkness and spiritual wickedness, who try to make our lives sour and send various trials and temptations our way just to shake our faith.

In the last aforementioned verse, we are told that we are not left in this war, without powerful weapons.

Our weapons are mighty. When applied properly, they conquer territories, destroy those who rebel against the government of God, and cast down every device that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.

But this fight is not just an individual one, it is equally a collective one. It is a fight against every member of the body of Christ as well as a fight against the body of Christ as a unified mystical society.

In this fight, do not be so concerned about winning that you fail to help those who have been wounded by the shots of the enemy.


It befuddles my imagination, that these days, whenever a believer stumbles in faith, he becomes the mockery and object of criticism in the church.


He is labelled a backslidden Christian, a hypocrite and is almost ostracized from the church. This is not supposed to be so. The Church is a Body.

When the hand feels pain, the entire body bears it. When the legs get wounded, the entire body is affected. Then why would a saint, see his fellow brother/sister, struggling or wounded in faith, and would ignore such a fellow.

Some would go to the extent of mocking the fellow.

When Peter was taken captive by Herod, and held in jail, the Church prayed fervently for him. It was because of their prayer that Peter got freedom.

Bible never recorded Peter praying for himself, instead, it lets us know that Peter was fast asleep and held in chains when an Angel came to rescue him.

What if the church had not prayed? Peter would definitely have been beheaded by Herod.

There are believers who are being held captive by different kinds of chains. Some are in literal prisons because of their faith. Some are being held by chains of lust, immorality, addiction etc.

They are so held by it, that they see no way out. They wallow helplessly in these vices. They are still believers, but they have been captured by the enemy.

It is the duty of the free saints, to pray ceaselessly for such believer.

You must pray for that believer as if your health depended on his spiritual wellbeing.

Some Christians have been wounded emotionally, by the losses they incurred this year.

Some have been bruised in faith, due to the severe hardship they experienced this year.

Do not ignore them! Pray fervently for them! Let them be your top priority in prayer.

Do not ignore the wounded saints. Even if you cannot treat them, take them to the master doctor; Christ. Offer them unto Him in prayers.

And do not withdraw your help from those you can help. Help them with food. Help them with beautiful Christmas wears.

Treat them with the balm of positive words. Heal their wounds with a genuine smile at them, and a show of love.


This is the life that Christ has called us to live; a life where we bear one another’s burdens. It is a life where we are our brother’s keeper.


Live it to its fullness.


You can begin now by picking up your phone, and reaching out to that believer who you know has gone through hell this year.


You can live it now by wiring money to the account of that church that has suffered financial lapses this year.


You can live it now by ordering for beautiful clothes for that child whose family is too poor to buy her Christmas wears.


God bless you as you live this life of love!

Christmas

The Reason for the Season

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This year teaches us what Christmas really is.

It teaches us that although we might not have enough to purchase gigantic Christmas trees, and hire Santa Claus, or host a Christmas party; yet, we can celebrate Christmas.

It teaches us that true Christmas celebration goes beyond the melodious hymns, the Christmas gifts, the unparalleled chorals and the nine lessons and carols.

This year’s Christmas teaches us, that true Christmas is a time of appreciation and Thanksgiving.

A Season when we thank God for what He did two thousand years ago. A time when we set our hearts right with God again, and appreciate Him, for coming in the likeness of sinful man, just to take us from sinfulness unto righteousness.

Don’t let the economic situation this year, stop you from celebrating Christmas.

There might be no special feel of Christmas in the air,
But let there be a special feel of Christmas in your heart.

You need not go to a Christmas party to have a splendid Christmas. You can have the greatest Christmas party with the CHRIST in the Christmas, right there in your house!

Let your family be filled with joy, that on this great day years ago, the savior of the whole world was born.

Shout for victory!
Take off the garments of mourning and rejoice.
Walk around your neighborhood, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Preach the Gospel. Educate your friends and loved ones on the significance of Christmas.

Let it be a Christmas with a difference.

Let’s love ourselves, just as Christ has loved us.

He made us Heir of His kingdom to show the extent to which He loves us.

Christmas is always a special season in the life of every true child of God.

Do not be carried away by the festivities that surround the season. Ensure you do not lose sight of the true reason for the season.


Our Lord Jesus is the reason for this season. Give him all of your heart.
Reach out for lost souls, and bring them to the kingdom.
Stretch forth your helping hand to the needy.
Help the poor.

Let this Christmas be the best Christmas ever.


We pray that God will give you the fortitude to bear the losses you have incurred this season.

We pray that He blesses you with the wisdom and direction needed for total recovery.

We pray that His love and peace and joy overshadows you, and keep your heart strong.

We pray that right there where you are, He gives you a Christmas miracle.

Amen.

Merry Christmas 😊😁

Christmas

THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS

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Christmas is a time to think and meditate on God’s unending Love for mankind shown by giving His Only Son to die for us.

Christmas is a time to ponder on the birth of Christ and his eminent death on the cross.

Christmas is a time of surrender. It is a time to examine your relationship with him. It is a time to reflect on your spiritual state as a believer.

It is a time to reflect on your Christian profession and your current spiritual experience.

The season of Christmas is also a time to renew our spirituality and prepare as the day of his second coming draws near.

Henceforth, till He comes,

Watch your conversation;

Colossians 4:6
“Let your words always be with grace, loving, lifting and encouraging“

Watch against besetting sins and careless moments

Hebrews 12:1
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”


Forgive

Never allow any root of bitterness spring up in your heart (Hebrews 12:15)

Finally;

Keep pressing forward even as we anticipate the new year.

God bless you.


©Nkemjoy

Spirituality

Earthly Palliatives and our Eternal Reward

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During the Covid outbreak, some part of Nigeria was declared to be on lockdown. Businesses were locked up. Movements were restricted. Churches were closed. Everyone was ordered to stay closed.

During the lockdown, in order to support the citizens and keep them strong, the government began to send food items to these starving homes.

The food items were known as Palliatives. They weren’t much, but they were enough to sustain the families until the pandemic was over in Nigeria.

These Palliatives were simply basic requirements for survival during the pandemic.

In 1 Peter 2:11, we are called strangers and pilgrims in this world. We belong to a better world. We are citizens of heaven, even while we journey here on Earth.

We are here to serve God, fulfill His Counsel for mankind, and draw more people to Him.

Nevertheless, God has not and will never leave us stranded. Even though we are pilgrims on a journey to eternity, we are not left to fend for ourselves here.

2 Peter 1:3: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”

As you serve God here on Earth, He’ll definitely provide financial breakthroughs for you, but you mustn’t be complacent when they start coming.

You must realize that these things are like Palliatives. They’re temporal and not lasting. They are only meant to keep our body strong as we do God’s work here on Earth.

The cars aren’t the rewards for serving God, neither are the houses or abundance of currency. These things might be given unto you in large measure. But in some cases, God chooses to give them in measures likened to the droplets of the drizzling rain.

Hence, the Saint must decide that whether he amasses great wealth here on Earth, or earns only little for sustenance of himself and his family, his eyes will remain fixed on the Eternal reward.

The Palliatives here are only temporal. They are corruptible and perishing. A brand new car bought today would cause a lot of celebration and Thanksgiving. It will be valued and treasured like gold.

But there is no doubt, that within five years from now, that car will lose its value. It will begin to rust, having sufferered severely from the potholes in the roads, the collusion with other cars and dealings from the mechanic.

The same can be said for every material gift.

Woe unto the one who serves God for material gain. You will be the most miserable of all saints.

Work for that reward which is eternal. Labor for the kingdom as much as you can, that on the last day, you shall receive a crown of glory decorated with several glittering stars.

1 Timothy 6:17: ‘Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God….’

Let not the rich trust in their riches. But let the rich and the poor trust in God.

Let them serve with all diligence. Whether you are in the choir, or in the Evangelism unit, or in the pastoral department, or in a secular engagement, labor for the kingdom.

Use every opportunity you have to work for the kingdom. Because God takes record of every single thing you do for Him. For every sweat that trickles down your face, for every tear you shed, every cent you spend, every sound you make, every loss you incur, for the promotion of God’s kingdom, there is a huge reward for it.

Set your eyes upon it. The day of the Lord is coming. The day when He will reward all of us justly.

Will your labor be worth rewarding?

GENERAL, Holiness and Grace

DON’T KILL THAT CHILD!

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Genesis 19:14: “Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.”

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes.

 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

Abortion is now a trend in almost every country regardless of its legal repute. In fact, out of over 200 million pregnancies worldwide that is recorded each year, approximately forty-six million which is about twenty two percent , end in abortion.

Where abortion is legally restricted, botched abortions are a major cause of maternal death.

Young Ladies in particular are at high risk for unintended pregnancy, because they have limited access to enough funds, and are more likely to seek abortion than advanced women.

At another view of reference, most women above 25 years will only seek for abortion for two main reasons. One of which is pregnancy that resulted from illicit affair while the other is melted on the palm of poverty.

A significant percentage of those women who end up in the hospital with complications from unsafe abortion are young.

Young ladies may be afraid to tell their parents or guardians about a pregnancy and may attempt to get an abortion on their own accord. How be it such decisions are always a matter of life and death.

As Christians, we need to ensure that females most especially the teenagers, are well informed about unsafe abortion and the options available to them should they have an unwanted pregnancy.

Most often, the primary cause of pre marital pregnancy, is not in anyway far from self.

One of the primary causes is sexual immorality.

Although, it might have been said of Hagar that she wasn’t the one who made advances towards her master, Abraham, but without doubt her relationship with him ended her as ‘‘the other woman’’ and while she was sent away from the home she nearly disposed her child as a victim to death.

Your entanglement in sexual activities might differ from hers. It might even come in form of fornication or rape, which might eventually lead to pregnancy. And as a result, you want an abortion.

Listen, in this kingdom even when we walk on paths that resulted in falling short of Grace, there is yet a hope for us and that hope is the truth.

John 8: 32 ‘‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’’

Thinking abortion is a means of escape or a cover for your flaw is a lie. It will get you held in more shackles. Of a truth, illicit pregnancy is bad but the life of the baby wallowing in your womb matters to God just as the son of Hagar mattered to Him.

Beloved reader, it is only accepting the truth that will set you free. Drop the decision that propels lie. Do not kill that child. That life in your womb matters!

Abortion, simply defined, is murder. You made a mistake in getting involved with someone. Abortion will not eliminate that mistake, it will only compound it.

Hagar wanted to abandon her son to die, because she did not have enough to take care of him.

But God sent an Angel, and a well of water was revealed to her. That well sustained her and her child.

In the midst of the shame and financial troubles involved in unwanted pregnancy, God has a well He has prepared for you and your baby, to sustain the both of you.

All you have to do is Trust Him. Go to Him in remorse for your mistake. Seek for forgiveness. And decide to trust Him for a bright future.

Moses of the Bible days, was born in a time when Jewish male babies were being murdered. As soon as the government discovered you had a male child, they would take him from you, and kill him.

But Jochabed delivered a baby boy, and saw that he was good, so she hid him.

He was born in the time of turmoil, yet, she saw goodness in him.

He was born in the time when they were poor, wretched slaves, yet, she saw goodness in him.

She would have aborted him while he was in the womb, since male babies only caused trouble.

She would have gotten rid of him, herself. But she decided to keep him, and nurture him.

And that little boy grew up to be the Prince of Egypt and eventually the Great Prophet of Israel.

That seed you are carrying which you think is the fruit of your mistake, can also turn out to be the recompense of your mistake.

Don’t abort that baby! This is not all about being liberal or pro-life. This is about choosing what is best for your future and health.

Keep the Baby.

You can win this. At first, it will be hard, but with God on your side, everything will work out for your good.

©voicequo

©Nwodo Divine

© Koinonia Art

Christmas, GENERAL

A Christmas Story: From The Physics Lab

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Matthew 2:1-2, 9

“”In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

…When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

THE SUN is a star. It’s a small star. Many stars we see in the sky are many times larger than the sun. They are just so far away. Other stars are roughly of equal size with the sun, some are smaller.

In much the same way, some stars are much brighter than the sun, emitting far more dazzling light, while others are dimmer.

The light from the sun takes 8 minutes to get to the earth. Light is the fastest known traveller. It travels 300 million metres every second. All lights have this speed.

Traveling at this speed, light from the sun covers a distance of 150 million km in 8 minutes.

NASA’s spacecraft embarked on a journey to Pluto in 2006, traveling at 60,000km/hr; it took it 9 years to arrive there in 2015. If it was journeying to the sun, it would have taken it 78,000 years!

Think about that.

Your sports car at 200 km/hr that will go from Lagos to Ibadan in 40 minutes, if there is no traffic hold-up; but if it were to get to the sun, that will be some 24 million years!

Light does the distance in 8 minutes.

THIS MEANS THAT light leaving the sun at this moment, would reach you in 8 minutes. And the light hitting your eye now, left the sun 8 minutes ago. THIS MEANS THAT: NO ONE SEES THE SUN AS IT IS, EVERYONE SEES IT AS IT WAS 8 MINUTES AGO. I read this in a geology or an astronomy text in my secondary school library. It was quite fascinating.

Going a little farther- after the sun, the star nearest the earth, is the PROXIMA CENTAURI. This star is 4 light years away from the earth. This means that just as light from the sun takes 8 minutes to get here, light from the Centauri takes 4 years to get here.

That’s an astounding 40 trillion kilometres, but only 4 light years. If you see the Centauri tonight, the image reaching you was produced 4 years ago in 2013, and is just arriving today, at the speed of light. You are seeing it as it was in 2013

SIRIUS is twice as large and as bright as the sun. It’s almost 9 light years away. Putting kilometres and sport cars aside, if you see the Sirius tonight, we’d be seeing an image 9 years old.

When therefore you see the Centauri, the Sirius, and the Epison Indi (12 light years) in the night sky, one image is from 2013, one from 2008, and the third from 2005.

The Sirius Star

There are 45 stars within 17 light years of the earth, bringing us images from the past 17 years. What is more?

We have at least 200 billion stars in our galaxy, several tens to hundreds of light years away, many of which are visible from the earth with the unaided eye, on a clear starlit night sky.

The Deneb for instance is one of the farthest stars in our galaxy that can be seen with the unaided eye. It is said to 200 times larger, 200,000 times brighter than our sun, and about 1400 light years away.

If you see the Deneb tonight, you’re looking 1400 years into the past at an image from the 7th Century! Stars in the sky are a time map.

The light from those stars reaching your eyes are coming from very different distances and from very different times. You are seeing images from different generations and different eras.

NOW, IN GENESIS 22:17, WHEN GOD preached the gospel to Abraham, when he showed him the stars and said to him ‘so shall your seed be!’; God was showing him his descendants shining from different times.

The sky was like a mirror. Whereas normally, it shows time spreading back over days and years and centuries; God was showing the man stars in a time sequence spread forward over centuries.

He said ‘Abraham look, that star 45 years from now is Jacob, and that star 430 years from now- is Moses, rising from the backside of the desert to Mount Horeb; look, that one 600 years from now is Debbie, arising a mother in Israel…and that over there is David rising 700 years from the head of Goliath to the throne of Israel.

That is Daniel, that’s James, Martha, Paul, Apollos, Lydia, John, Augustine, Luther, Wesley, Ajayi Crowther, Parham, Elton, Cho,… He showed Abraham all these stars shining in their generations.

THEN GOD SHOWED Abraham the Source of the light. He showed Him the true Light, that gave light to other stars. (John 1:9)

He showed Him the Daystar. This Star is different from other stars (1 Corinthians 15:41) Every star shining in the sky, is shining because of the Daystar. They emit some light, but He will bring the morning. He will bring the Day.

John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.“

LITTLE WONDER the wise men saw a star in the sky when Christ was born which led them to him (Matt 2:2,9). They were not the first to see it though. Balaam saw it hundreds of years before that time (Num 24:17). It had always been in the sky. And God showed it to Abraham that night too.

Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
Galatians 3:29
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

God said to Abraham – He is the CHRIST, whose goings have been from everlasting, arising from Bethlehem Ephrathah, of Judah (Micah 5:2), lifted onto the Cross, whose circuit extends to the lower parts of the earth, and the third day shall rise, and afterwards you ascend Lord of all. This is the Star that gives all others light and causes them to rise.

THAT STAR entered into earth’s orbit 2000 years ago, terrified and defeated the rule and dominion of Night, and birthed the kingdom of Light in the realms of men. He is coming again with the fullness of Day, to forever destroy the Night.

This is the essence of Christmas.

So many have lived for and served God, with the beautiful hope of heaven, whose names are not in our history books- unnamed and unsung. Nevertheless, because of Christ, God knows their names, and their lives shine before Him with great brightness.

2 Corinthians 4:6

“for God who commanded THE LIGHT to shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts the light of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus. Psalm 147:4 says ‘He telleth the number of the stars; HE CALLETH THEM ALL, BY THEIR NAMES. Their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

When He showed Abraham that night- if you are Christ’s- Your star was also there. Your light has come, and the glory of God is risen up on you.

His name is Jesus, Christ; the Son of the living God.

Arise.

SHINE!

Merry Christmas.

GENERAL, Ministry

The True Christmas Message!

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There is a preaching that does the expected; exciting young men and women; and a teaching that makes the elderly nod in deep thought, say the occasional Amen, and afterwards shake the hand of the preacher as a measure of appreciation. We bless God for that.

Yet, we also know that the teaching of a good orator that knows understands oratory and connecting to people’s emotions, may be able to do the same. One who knows how to steam a powerful message in a broth of rhetoric and cadence, spiced with an impassioned voice and well timed gesticulations; will surely steer the audience, but only the expected will occur.

Only those who like speeches will be impressed. Only those who are happy, will smile. Only those who are okay will clap. Only those who are young will, hoot, and make a great deal of noise, “yea!”, “aye!”, “on point siiiir!”, “preach!”

Yet…

The rich will not embrace the poor. The hypocrite will not relent. The sinner will not repent.
The aged will not dance. The hurting will not be healed. The agnostic will not be persuaded . The stingy will not give, and The offended will not forgive.

However, there is that preaching that readily produces the unprecedented, and easily accomplishes the impossible.

THAT PREACHING that is the current ministry of the Holy Spirit. That is a ministry of weakness, brokenness, fear, and much trembling, and yet one of the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

THAT PREACHING that is a ministry of love. A ministry of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. That chooses the least likely, and exalts the most unexpected; that destroys artificial barriers, dissolves race, casts out caste

THAT PREACHING that is the message of the Cross. That confounds the wise and turns the knowledge of this world into foolishness

THAT PREACHING that knows no man after the flesh, but beckons to all, man or woman, black or white, great or small, Jew or Gentile, to come to the Cross – the place where everything previous, everything Adam may end, where Christ and Him crucified becomes the common denominator by which all old things are passed away.

THAT PREACHING which by the same vital force that raised up Christ from the dead, becomes the platform alone upon which we here the glorious shout that breaks the hold of darkness “Behold, All Things Are Become New!”

THAT GOSPEL that

Thoroughly forgives the sinner,
And makes him completely new.
Restores the brokenhearted,
Broken dreams, broken minds, broken homes.
That heals the sick,
And restores the life of the dead.
Dead lives, dead bodies, dead marriages,
That turns sworn enemies into trusted friends.
That sets the solitary in families, 
And gives the desolate an inheritance.
That enriches the poor,
And makes the barren more fruitful than the fertile.

THAT PREACHING that fixes teenagers to their seats for the quarter of a day, taking notes, resetting the tiny visions which they had previously thought mighty, and digging deeper stakes, all the while praying under their breath, and seeking the face of God; replacing ambition with vision, so that instead of preparing to take over the world, rather deciding to let the Lord take over their lives; [for it is only when Jesus is Lord of one’s life that one may gain the whole world and still possess and keep his soul]

THAT PREACHING that turns a roomful of elders in their 70s and 80s, loose in tongues, pacing, jumping, laughing, and running about prophesying and rejoicing, for hours on end…judging God faithful, speaking of things to come, against hope believing in hope, receiving strength to bring forth, and giving glory to His name.

That pregnant virgin, king in a manger, God in a diaper, Savior on a cross, criminal in paradise, graveyard dwelling madman-into-sound evangelist,

pharisee terrorist-into-apostle and bond servant of Christ-making, sinner-into-saint,

blind-seeing, 
lame-walking, 
enemy-reconciling,
dumb-speaking, 
dead-raising…….GOSPEL.

That is the message of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Ebele UzoPeters

Ministry, Spirituality

The Gate and The Way; An Exposition on Matthew 7:14

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It is written in the scriptures that: strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt 7:14)

There is therefore a GATE, and a WAY.

A gate is a crisis point, requiring one to pass through. You are either on this side of the gate, or the other side.

Passing through a gate is not a gradual process, it occurs at once. A way on the other hand, is traversed gradually.

Walking on a way does not occur at once. Rather, we make progress over time. We have gate experiences and way experiences. And both are essentially distinct, though connected.

From the scripture above- the gate comes first, then the way. There is that hymn (To God be the glory) that says Jesus yielded His life an atonement for sin and opened the life-gate THAT ALL MAY GO IN.

That’s the truth.

When people ‘give their lives to Christ’ over and over again thinking they did not do it well the previous time, or because the meeting is intense, or because of the things they have done since the last time they received Christ.

When we rededicate our lives to God several times, and confess sins and ask for forgiveness regularly, especially before bed- jolted and even scared by messages of the appearing or coming of Christ and messages of hell.

When we feel guilt about past sins and even go ahead to say things like ‘we are all sinners, except for the blood of Jesus.’ When we are always stumbling over the same sins and repenting of them….

We are trying to walk upon the way without acknowledging that there is a gate to pass through.

It will never work.

We need to know what happened to us at the gate. Without the gate, we will struggle to make heaven- an impossibility in itself.

Until we see the gate, progress upon the way will be impossible, and we will keep going back to start point- repenting again, starting again, instead of moving on to perfection.

There is nothing as frustrating as trying to enter into a room you are already in.

THEREFORE, there is a GATE



At the gate is Christ, at the gate is the Cross, at the gate the Lamb was slain, and our sins forgiven, and guilt rolled away.

At the gate Christ met us- He loved us, He took us unto Himself. He died for us and rose again. When He died, we died with Him, and when He rose, were raised together.

If anyman is in Christ therefore- He is a new creature. The gate is not about what we have done or what we should do, but about what God has done in Christ. Changes here are instantaneous.

God has done everything in Christ, and then put us in Him. The moment we believe it, we receive it, and we become it- not in a hidden way, but manifestly.

It is credited to our account as righteousness.

Therefore at the gate we are free, at the gate there is therefore now no condemnation. At the gate old things are passed away. At the gate all things are become new, at the gate we have passed from death to life. At the gate we are a new creation, at the gate we have been healed by His stripes. At the gate, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.

It does not occur gradually- but if anyman is in Christ, He is- not that he will be, but he is.

Not that old things are passing away, but they have. Not that all things are becoming new- but they have.

That is the strait gate.

LIKEWISE, THERE IS ……A WAY.

Sometimes we focus on the gate, and forget the way.

Sometimes we don’t know the difference between where we are seated, where we are walking, and where we are standing.

We forget that while we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, we are pressing towards the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Him.

We forget that we are seated with Christ in heaven, walking in Him on earth, and standing with Him against hell.

And that while our seating position is fixed on high, it does not change the fact that progress has to be made here in this realm.

We claim everything has been already done and there is nothing left for us to do.

But faith is both he who comes to God and he who diligently seeks Him.

A W Tozer says to have found God and to pursue him is the sweet paradox of Christianity.

Those who pass through the gate must be prepared to walk the way.

At the gate God found us, on the way we find Him.

At the gate- God loved us, on the way we love Him.

At the gate- we are planted in Christ, on the way Christ is expressed through us.

At the gate victory is delivered, but on the way battles will be fought.

At the gate inheritance has been entrusted, but on the way the heirs will be tested.

At the gate- we are forgiven, on the way- we must forgive others.

At the gate- we are perfected, on the way- we learn perfection.

At the gate- we are born again, on the way- we live again.

At the gate- we are justified, on the way-we are sanctified

At the gate- we repent as sinners, on the way- we repent out of righteousness.

At the gate, faith is received…on the way we add to our faith.

At the gate- the Cross carried us once…On the way we carry our cross daily.

At the gate- the old man is crucified with Christ; on the way we mortify its members which are on the earth

At the gate- Christ died for us; on the way, we live for Him

At the gate- Christ becomes the Author of our faith, and on the way- He is the Finisher

At the gate- we become children of light, on the way, we walk in the light.

At the gate is the new birth, on the way is the new life (the new and living way)

At the gate- we become sons by birth, on the way- we become sons by (training, which is by) adoption

At the gate- we receive eternal life as a seed (the seed of God); on the way, we develop eternal life as a fruit

At the gate- we receive (as some like to say) God’s DNA, or genotype; but on the way, we develop God’s phenotype

At the gate- we are made partakers of the divine nature; on the way, we are made partakers of His holiness

That is the narrow way.

And at a time when some of us have indeed constituted ourselves super-teachers, we need someone to again teach us the elementary principles of Christ and have become dull of hearing and for all our verbosity, are unskillfull in the word of righteousness and unable to discern good from evil.

For he that does not make progress, being waylaid by the inertia, it seems these days, of false doctrine; is shortsighted, and cannot see afar of; and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his past sins as well as other ‘gate experiences’ though he makes a great noise about them.

Let as many therefore who claim to have entered in at the gate know that the one proof thereof, and the only,

Is to walk the way.

Cheers.

Ebele UzoPeters

GENERAL, Spirituality

Faith over Feelings

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Even though God can be touched by your feelings, and even though He became flesh to bear your sorrows, and even though He is the Comforter, remember that He is not an emotional God.

God is spirit, not soul. Faith is spiritual. Emotions are not spiritual. They are soulish. God is a faith God. He is a God of Love. There is spiritual love and humanistic love. They are not the same thing.

Human love is very nice. Human love is superficial.
Human love can change to hate in a second.

God’s love is kind. God’s love has a red fount, in the blood of Christ Jesus. God’s love is transforming.

Always learn to separate your emotions from your faith. Don’t be stoic. Have feelings. Pour them out before God; but remember that they are your feelings.

God can touch your feelings and know them; but if you want to touch His feelings and know them, have Faith. Only faith. Just faith.

When a baby is crying and the mother comes to carry it, it stops. Why?

Is it because the tears have run dry? No. The baby has some faith in its mother.

If you needed one million naira today, and the richest man in the world met you and asked you what you wanted, will you keep crying?

No. Why? You have some faith in his ability.

1 Samuel 30:4
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: BUT DAVID ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD his God.

1 Samuel 30:8
AND DAVID ENQUIRED AT THE LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

.

John 11:35
Jesus wept.

John 11:38
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

John 11:41
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. AND JESUS LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND SAID, FATHER, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

.

When you have finished weeping.

Do likewise.

Jesus is alive, and He is Lord.

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Communion with God through Literature

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