The Arm of The Lord

‘’To Whom is the Arm of the Lord Revealed?’’

‘’Who Hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.’’

The word arm is used symbolically many times in scriptures to signify that upon which man relies for strength and support.
The arm represents the person, sometimes the person is in weakness, and his arm is described as being weak. Sometimes it is in strength. The arm is the symbol of the person, or sometimes of the people in the Nation, but always indicating the state of strength or weakness.
The phrase ‘’ the arm of the Lord’’ when used in relation to men or nations implies the giving of His strength and support to that which is according to his purpose, the showing of Himself in power on behalf of it.

To whom then will the Lord show Himself in power? To whom will the Lord make bare His arm (Isa 52:10)
Biblical examples

There are many incidents in which the arm of the lord is shown, for instance in the bringing of Israel out of Egypt we found repeated reference to the barring of His arm, the stretching forth of His arm (Is.30.30) to bring them out, the arm of the Lord was revealed. If you read and consider the whole story of God’s dealing with Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of His people, you will find that it is all summed up in this—- it was the revealing of the arm of the Lord.

Again, take Israel deliverance from Babylon, that was another occasion when the arm of the Lord was revealed. The arm of the Lord, stretched out over Babylon, brought down her rulers and overthrew her forces, in order to bring the people back from captivity.( Isa 43:14). And again, that was symbolic, the recovery of a pure testimony amongst the Lord’s people.
But it is in the raising of Jesus, and in His exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty in the Heavens, that we surely see the supreme example of the revealing of the arm of the Lord.

In those succeeding early days of the Church, how wonderful was this revealing of the arm of the Lord. When they were suffering persecutions, a few met together for prayer, and prayed ‘’ Grant unto thy servants—— boldness while thou stretcheth forth thy Hand—and that signs and wonders may be done . (Acts 4:29-30).
Herod came under the impact of that arm, Saul of Tarsus came under it’s same impact, many things happened in many places, because the Lord was revealing His arm.

Now you will notice that many of these instances have certain features in common.

Firstly, there was the exalting of world powers against the God, the lifting up of the head on the part of the powers of this world against the Lord and against His anointed.

Secondly, there was the involvement of the Lord’s glory and the Lord’s purpose, through a condition of weakness and apostasy among His people. After the covenant that the Lord had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob , it was altogether contrary to the revealed purpose of His heart, that He should have the sons of Israel in bondage in Egypt, giving their strength to the powers of evil. How often do we see in scriptures the Lord revealing His arm because of a condition amongst His own people.

And then thirdly, there was a cry from within on the part of an instrument of intercession. There was Moses, in touch with God right from the inside in relation to that situation in Egypt. There was Daniel, and a few others with him, right on the inside of the situation in Babylon, crying to God, and there were those prayer meetings recorded in the books of Acts the cry of the elect to be avenged. This was a feature common to the intervention of God again and again. A cry from the inside.
Some questions arise in relation to all of this in our own day. Is there a situation in our time which corresponds to these situations, in that threefold connection? Is there a connection like that today?

I think the answer is obvious. Are world powers lifting their heads against the Lord?
Was there ever a time when the throne of God was more challenged by world powers than today?
Is there a condition in Christianity which brings much dishonour to the Lord?
Is The Lord’s true testimony today, involved in a spiritual state which is contrary to His revealed mind?
The answer is self evident. It is impossible in these days to move about this world without meeting these two things and being almost overwhelmed by them. The tremendous force of evil that is set against God. You feel it, you meet it, it comes out at you everywhere. And if that is distressing, without exaggeration, even more distressing is the sate of Christianity generally, which is such a contradiction to what God has revealed as to His purpose. Sometimes you are almost compelled to say that the greatest enemy of Christianity is Christianity.

The level of deception in the Church today is so alarming, and even more alarming is the apparent disregard to the advice given us by the Apostles to discern and test every spirit. The greatest single danger in these end times is not sickness, nor poverty , nor persecution. It is deception. If anybody says it could never happen to me, I’m afraid, it has already to that person, because that person is saying something that could never happen that Jesus said would happen.

The first thing Jesus said about the events leading up to His return, in Matt24, and verse 4 ‘’ take heed that no one deceives you, and in verse 5 ‘’ for many shall come in My Name saying I’m the messiah (that is Christ), and would deceive many. In verse 11, He warned, many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and in verse 24, He also warned “ For false messiahs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect.
Anybody who shrugs off that warning or treats it lightly does so at the risk of his own soul.

What about the third feature? Is there a cry from the inside? I believe Yes.
There is a growing sense within the heart many of God’s children that things are not right in the real sense, that what we are experiencing and witnessing in the Church today is not what the Lord purposed for His body.
There is an ongoing deep cry down in the hearts of many for some changing of the spiritual condition among His people.
It is a response to that cry and prayer that has brought us back to Nigeria after many years overseas doing the Lord’s work.

Dull of hearing

” Of whom we have manythings to say and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing for when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principle s of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat.” (Heb 5:11-12)

The whole book of Hebrews had the High Priesthood of Christ as it’s central theme.

The writer of Hebrews presents Christ, like the priests of old appointed by the Father to the position of High Priest. However, unlike the priests of old, Christ as our great High priest is the source of eternal salvation for all who follow Him (Heb 5:9-10)

Of particular interest to me in the passage is the phrase in verse 11 which begins with the clause ” Of whom we have many things to say”

The Priesthood of Christ and Melchizedek is the subject in view here, and there is indeed much that needs to be said about these two figures, but you will notice, the author will not pick up the subject again until the very end of chapter 6.

Why did the author delay or paused the teaching about Christ and the Melchizedek priesthood?

The answer to that question is found within the same verse.

” They are hard to be uttered”. Another translation puts it as these things are hard to explain.

Now this does not necessarily mean the subjects are just deeply mysterious as some would want us to think when bragging on their experiences in Christ. We are assured in scripture that the Holy Spirit searches all the deep things of God and reveals them unto us.(1 Cor 2:9)

The audience to which the writer of Hebrews was addressing could simply not understand the teaching not because it was mysterious, but because their understanding had become weak and imperfect.

You will notice the rest of verse 11 which places the blame for the difficulty of these subjects not with the subjects themselves, but with the readers and their dullness of hearing. You will also notice from that verse, that this ” dullness of hearing is not the original state of the readers, rather they had become dull of hearing. They started out alright like we all do, but somewhere along the way, they got wearied of hearing the truth and switched to those things that appeals to their selfishness and pride.

At the time of the writing the writer expected his audience to have become teachers, but no, they still needed and looking forward to teachers that will teach them the basics of the gospel all over again. (Heb 5:12)

They were fully responsible for their degeneration into this state. It was basically their failure to  wisely and honorably respond to scriptures that got them into the state. They became dull, apathetic and disinterested in spiritual truth. They became okay with whatever that was thrown at them.

No wonder many today are trapped in the cobweb of deception, discerning the Truth from Error is a non issue, these ones become easy prey to deceitful teachers who lay in wait to deceive.

We have a generation of believers today who get bored at anything done in Church except when presented in an entertainment format, and because these ones have lost the zeal and the interest they started out with in their walk with God, understanding and pursing after Him, they departed after those who would satisfy their fleshy desires.

Having become dull of hearing the Truth, they heaped to themselves pastors and leaders who would scratch their ears and make them fell good. These are the conditions that gives rise to false preachers in the Church.

Apostle Peter warned in 2Peter 2:1-2 ” But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

With the erosion of moral values, the acceptance of the break up of the family and divorce as normal, the selfish pursuit of money and status, that even now has a separate gospel identified with it ” the prosperity gospel”, these false teachers are having the time of their lives.

Many fail to realise that error is never taught in an obvious way, because it will be exposed and found out easily. Error usually comes mixed with a little truth, it’s usually dressed up in pretty clothes and made to look so good and attractive and presented as truer than the Truth itself.

There is so much the writer of Hebrews wanted his audience to know about Jesus, but they dulled their hearing and would not understand. How many today for the same mistake and and failure of good discernment have missed out on God and what he has for them.

” Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee Light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise redeeming the time, because the days are evil, wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:14-17)

Our Visit to Crown Bible Church

Living in Europe for many years has kind of robbed us of the Church experience in Nigeria, and we were very much looking forward to fellowship with brethren again at home.

Amongst the many brethren we were looking forward to meet was Bro Yomi and his family of the famed yomisays.com that has now been changed to pressingforthecrown.org.

We fellowship at their Church last Sunday and what a blessing it was.

Yes, we met bro Yomi, his wife and their two wonderful children. I must confess he is just as simple but bold in person as his writings portrays him to be. And i can’t but thank God for what the Lord is using them all to do in His body here in Nigeria.

Though, the message was brought by another elder of the church, but what a challenge and  blessing we recieved from the Lord.

It was also an escape from the constant barrage of  ” you can get it” or ”what to do to get it stuff” that is all over the air since our arrival in Nigeria. And  i must confess it’s really bad and sad, the kind of gospel that is being preached, the ones we have been listening to since our arrival! ha! God must do something and do it quickly to save the elect.

That is why i thank God for Yomi Adeboye and Ministers like him every where especially in this part of the world who stand for the truth, even when done at a price.

In stark contrast to this greed gospel so prevalent today, Our Lord and His Apostles actually taught that material prosperity can cause a man lose out with God for eternity.

   ”Ít’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”

” But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which some coveted after,they have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1Tim 6-9-10)

I have always told people, if our financial status is a direct indication of our spiritual life, some of us are in in big trouble.

Paul warned of this deception and told us to flee such false falsehood and those who teach or preach it.

”If  any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife’s of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself.” (1Tim6:3-5)

Coming Back to Nigeria

It’s been a bit difficult to sit down and write, since it became evident that God was leading us back to Nigeria, lots of  praying,planning, readjustment and getting the children accept the concept of going back to Africa took a great chunk of our time.

However, thank God we finally arrived Lagos 3weeks ago.

It’s been challenging, the heat and the incessant nature of power supply isn’t making our home coming any exciting at all. But as each day passes we keep sensing the great need particularly amidst God’s children and can’t but agree with God for our return home.

Many of course did question our decision to return home. When everybody seems to be  looking for a way out , what in the world are you coming in here to do? has been the question most thrown at us.

It’s usually difficult to make some see and understand that the life of a man is not in himself, and  that it’s not man to choose to direct his path. The Lord directs the steps of the righteous.

Gradually, we are getting to settle down and adjust to the new environment and the challenges that comes with living in this part of the world.

Tobi and Toba our children started school last week, and we are at the moment about securing a place for accommodation and a place of worship to fully start what we believe the Lord brought us home to do. 

It will definitely take a while to be fully re-integrated into the system here in Nigeria again, but we are trusting the Lord for a quick resolution to all the arrangements on ground, so we can get to work immediately.

Thanks to the emergence of the new Internet subscribers now in Lagos, we were able to get back on line as soon as we got into the country, and i expect by God’s grace to start writing again, and as soon as we finalise the arrangements for the place of worship, i will let ya all know.

Meanwhile, we covet your prayers.

A Word for the New Year

” Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again i say unto you rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus………Not that i speak in respect of want; for i have learned, in whatsoever state i am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and i know how to abound, everywhere and in all things i am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:1-13)

This is obviously one of the most difficult lessons of life…..Learning to be content.

Apostle Paul wrote ” I have learned….to be content.

The troubles he had to go through to get there, the pains he must have felt before the attainment of that great truth, but he eventually did and he could say…..” I have learned in whatever state i am therewith to be content…..” In order words he has arrived at a condition in which he is no longer hyper-sensitive.  He is in a condition in which it does not matter very much what happens to him, it is not going to disturb him.

” I have learned, in whatsoever state i am, to be content.”

That is the position in which all of us Christians should be, and that is my prayer for you this year, that the Lord will bring you into this state.

Now, the man who is not a Christian is not there, and cannot get there, he is driven and controlled by lust, living ever to satisfy it’s desires.

It’s another New Year, the season for the endless prophecies and so called Word of God for the New Year.

Well, I’ve heard and read many of them and it’s amazing how God keep changing His mind by  giving different word or prophecy to different people. While one is saying, it’s going to be the best year ever, another one is saying it’s going to get tough and rough.

There are hundreds of prophecies out there right now, each so called Prophet trying to outdo the other and get people’s attention, and the underlying theme of all their prophecies is  ” DISCONTENTMENT”.

It’s really sad and  unfortunate that many continue to believe and follow after these impostors. All they are doing, and all that is coming out of their pulpits is targeted at making Christians become discontent with their lives.

Every word they preach, or supposed message from God ends up making people want more of what they already have or don,t have. They through their prophecies persuade Christians to become discontent with every aspect of their lives…their jobs, where they are, who they are, and even what they look like, to seek for something higher and better.

There is nothing wrong with a lifting or a promotion in life, if that is God’s purpose and plan for an individual, but consider for a moment, the circumstances Paul was in at the time he wrote this. At this time, Paul had been imprisoned for approximately 2years. The odds were against him, in-fact, his only hope of getting out of jail was execution. Yet, this man writes…..”I have learned….to be content.”

This is a lesson i pray God will teach my generation of Believers, and it’s a lesson i pray you will come to attain this year. It will free us from the tyranny of lust and desire that is always looking for more,the drive to control and posses more, the endless prayers and cries for breakthroughs and new-levels that does nothing but kills our love and devotion to our Lord.

Paul was a man free from worry. He had Peace and Faith in his God. He trusted God’s judgement and understood that God is sovereignly in control of all events in his life.

Here is a man who in any and every circumstances found himself sufficient and satisfied.

I pray that the Lord this year will bring you into this place of contentment in whatever He allows or permits in your life.

May you come to the understanding that the way of a man is not in himself, and it’s not in man to direct his life. It’s God that orders the steps of the righteous.(Jer 10:23)

Our Lord reigns and regardless of what the devil will do or try to do, God is still sovereignly in control of all events in our life.

The journey into the year 2009 has begun, and as the Lord takes us through it various phases and seasons, be rest assured that He works and does All things  to work for our good according to His purpose.

May you find Joy and satisfaction in God’s dealing in your life this year, may you find joy and satisfaction in your relationships, your family, your job, and may you have peace and rest in the things He will allow in your life this year.

Redeemed from the curse of the law

This is  a phrase often  used by some Bible teachers to justify the claim that God’s will for all Christians is to be wealthy as Christ has delivered us from the curse of poverty.

What exactly is the curse that Christ delivered us from?

I encourage you read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28. In verses 30-31,33-40, 42-48, 51, 68, specific curses were listed that will come on those that will not hearken and obey ALL of God’s commandments.

And in Galatians 3:13, Paul writes ” Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law—-”

Though it could be argued Paul had some of the these specific curses listed in Deut 28 in mind at the time, but notice in that verse he did not say Christ redeemed us from the CURSES of the law, but rather the CURSE of the law in singular term.

The Bible says of the law in Galatians 3:11 that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God, and in vs 12, that the Law is not of Faith. Also in 2Cor 3:16, we are told the Law in itself is good, but when the Law was given, it ministered death to the hearers. What was meant to be good news, actually became a curse for those living under it, because they could not obey the law and therefore could not please God.

” For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse, for it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them.” Galatians 3:10

That is exactly what Jesus delivered us from ” the curse of the Law”.  The whole Law had become a curse to those who tried to gain salvation by it’s observation, and according to Gal 3:11, no one can receive justification from God through the Law.

Jesus redeemed us from that curse of the law that we might be partakers of the blessing of Abraham through Faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law.

As believers of course we do have scriptural basis to believe, ask, and receive from God,  healing, deliverance from all forms of oppression and pain, but the idea that Paul’s statement in Gal 3:13, meant Christ delivered us from every disastrous thing listed in Deuteronomy 28, thus guaranteeing our material prosperity is a manipulation of scripture to support a doctrine that is false.

Consider this, if Christ actually redeemed us from every form of poverty and pain, why would Paul the ”Apostle” in 1 Cor 4:11 writes ”Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place, and labour working with our on hands, being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we suffer it.”

Again if this were to be a permanent escape from famine, nakedness or distress of any kind, why would Paul write in Romans 8:35-36, that  ”Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the daylong, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Consider what Jesus also said to His disciples in Mtt 25:34-40

” Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand , come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungered and ye gave Me meat,I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink, I was a stranger and ye took Me in, naked and ye clothed me, I was sick, and ye visited Me. I was in prison and ye came unto Me———And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of those My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”

It is very obvious from Jesus statement that some believers who will be redeemed from the curse of the Law will find themselves in very challenging and non-prosperous circumstances, but the good news is that in those trying times Jesus would always meet their needs through other believers.

The Man Paul

What does it mean to be a real man?

According to today’s standards of our society, very much shaped by the media and the movies, the real man is the big and strong, bold and brave, confident and competitive. He is the one who doesn’t show his emotions and the one that is apathetic to any thing religious.

The church today offers no better definiton of what a true man in Christ represents.

Young people today are taught in our churches that a real man is a true stoic- someone who doesn’t show his emotions. He is the self confident that has faith in his gifts and qualities, he is the i can do and become all things types. He is the all blessed, all rich and lacks nothing type. He is the healthy, bold and competitive type.

Consider the type of man Paul was and compare it to what you are been taught are the marks of a true man in Christ.

The Apostle Paul was indeed a man of Strong, bravery and confidence, yet of the things we read of him, he was a man of who cared deeply about the state of the world, about others and the purpose of God

He was a man who understood that he was strongest in Christ when he was weakest in himself, (2 Cor 12:10) ” for when iam weak, then am i strong.”

He was a man who knew his only confidence and strenght was in Christ, and not in any self strenght or gift. ( Phil 3:3) ” For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.”

He was a man who cared so much for the people of God that he was willing to suffer the persecutions of men rather than be at home with Christ. (Phil 1:21) ” For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

He was a man who didn’t,t feel the need to pound his chest and defend himself as the great apostle Paul, rather, he buffeted his body so that he could present it to the Lord to gain an invisible crown. (1 Cor 9:27) ” But i keep my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means , when i have preached to others, i myself should be a castaway.”

He was a man willing to be considered a fool for Christ.( 1 Cor 1:27) ” But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,–”"

Paul indeed was a real man, and one of the greatest men of all time. He was a man who very much concerned himself with servant-hood, humility. He was a man who did not live for his own greatness and glory but lived humbly before the face of God for the glory of God.

The way of the wilderness

The article is a part of George Warnock’s writing, ” A way through the wilderness”.

 

“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea…” (Ex. 13:17-18).

This is a day of “fast” things: fast foods, fast trains, fast cars, fast planes, fast pleasures, fast communications. But God’s way into the life of the Spirit is still the long way around. Many do not think so, and there are many in the Church who deride the thought of exercising “patience” in order to win the race that is set before us. “Let us run WITH PATIENCE…” may sound a little contradictory to a man in a race; but it remains God’s way of winning “the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). God’s direct route to Canaan life is the long-way-around. There may seem to be a shorter way, a more direct way, and many continue to explore that route, only to end up rolling in the dust. “God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near…” Now the word “Philistine” comes from a word meaning “to roll in the dust, to wallow.” And though it is a well-beaten pathway, as it was in the days of Israel, and though it would seem to lead in a more direct route to the land of our inheritance, it will leave the one who travels this road wallowing in the dust. And why? Because there is nothing in common with the way of the Philistines and the way of God. The Philistine spirit is that spirit of the world, of the natural man, that knows nothing of the Spirit of God. But because it is a well-worn pathway, and because it seems to be leading in the general direction of our pursuit for God, it is enticing to the natural mind. It is the logical approach to the things of God. It is the positive, the most direct approach to things spiritual. But it leaves you wallowing in the dust of the old Adamic life, rather than soaring into the heights of the Spirit of God.

“You do not have to take that long, uncharted, entangled way into the things of God… We can show you a simpler way… We can point you to a shortcut… You can know the joy of Canaan living without all the distress of becoming entangled in the wilderness.” This is the reasoning and counsel of the natural mind.

But the fact remains, we did not choose the wilderness way. We simply chose to go God’s way. It is He who goes before–by day in a pillar of cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire–to give direction and light for the journey. It is by the Light of His Glory that we find ourselves entangled in the wilderness. He leads us this way that He might have all the glory, and that our enemies might be consumed in the very midst of our own perplexity and dismay. For it is only when we find ourselves “hemmed in,” with no place to go, that we are inclined to go to God for help. This is why He hems us in… that we might flee into His arms. God knows the Enemy will say, “They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in” (Ex. 14:3). And so God deliberately sets a trap for the Enemy by bringing us into that place where we have no other recourse, but in God alone. As long as there is room for the heart and mind of man to calculate and plan his own deliverance, God is left out of the picture. We don’t really need Him, or so we think. But if we are followers of the Cloud, God will lead us into areas of utter hopelessness and despair, that we might prove Him to be the God who makes a way where there is no way, and a path in the mighty waters…

“Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known” (Ps. 77:19).

“The LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters” (Isa. 43:16).

People of God, beware of the shortcuts. There are many that are offered in this day and age, shortcuts to true spiritual life and progress, but they will not bring you there. You may try to find an easy way into spiritual gift and blessing. You may learn how to get, and how to operate spiritual gifts the easy way, without total commitment, without waiting upon God, but sooner or later they will fade away. You may think you have discovered a secure and safe covering in some church structure or institution, assuring yourself that you are being spared the pangs of finding your own way in the entangled wildernesses of life. You feel that if you trust in certain leaders, in certain apostles and prophets, in a certain “New Testament Church Order,” that it is a much safer, much easier pathway. But sooner or later you are going to discover that the rest and comfort you sought in sheltered areas of this nature, are nothing less than the bondage of Babylonish systems; and you will discover that this is far more distressing and more captivating than the way of the Lord from which you sought to escape. When you see the “wars of the Philistines”–the striving for lordship, the striving for power and authority and for a place of preeminence–your hearts will become discouraged, and you will wonder why you ever chose to walk in that kind of a pathway. If we would examine our hearts, we might discover that what we are really looking for is some kind of a religious system that will make it easy for us or for our children. We want to shrug off the heavy burden that is associated with finding God for ourselves by way of total commitment to Him. So when someone offers us a place of rest in some kind of a structure that promises clear direction, we are quick to grasp it. God does want us to have fellowship with one another in Christ; but there is no true fellowship except as “we walk in the Light.” And in our searching after God, there is no such thing as immunity to the trials and struggles and heart-searchings and perplexities that have always been the appointed lot of any man or woman who seeks to come into a living, vital relationship with the Lord.

Godliness with Contentment

1 Timothy 6: 6-8. ‘’ But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us therewith content.’’

 

Contentment is a forgotten word in our churches today. It’s being at rest in heart with what you have. It’s being satisfied, having no longing or passion for what you do not have as yet.

 

Contentment is saying NO, to the thought of beginning to look for ways to acquire something we have just seen, thought of, or heard about, but which has NOT ACTUALLY BECOME A NEED.

 

Unfortunately, the teachings coming out from our churches today, creates a longing in people’s heart to want more of what we already have, which we suppose will give us more pleasure.

 

However, contentment is being satisfied with what God has provided and being willing to wait for what He is yet to provide and again being willing to do without it, if  He is not planning to ever provide it.

 

“ Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. For I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound, every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’’ (Phillipians 4:11-13)

 

Contrary to what some of today’s Bible teachers teach, God never promised in any where that all His children will be millionaires or wealthy. He only promised to supply all our NEED, not all our WANTS or DESIRES.

 

The ways of God are such that whatever we need to fulfil His purpose for our lives will be released to us per time.

 

 

Living by Faith

” By Faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, and he that had received the promise offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Hebrews 11:17-19)

It,s right to argue from a human perspective that the Lord’s command for Abraham to offer up Isaac, the one upon whom the promise depends is absurd.

It was also legitimately human for Abraham to have asked the Lord certain questions. ” How can You Lord ask me to return the gift You finally gave me?”, ” Will the death of my son destroy the promise and leave me to die a fool?”

But he didn’t. Rather, the scriptures says ” And Abraham believed the Lord”.

He was convinced the Lord will keep His word through Isaac even though he does not know how God will do it. Abraham knew his God could do the impossible, accounting that God was able to raise his son up even from the dead.

By Faith when Abraham was put to test or while his Faith was being tested, was still willing to surrender his beloved son.

We cannot begin to imagine the sleepless nights he endured on the way to ”the place of which God had told him”, or the sadness he faced as he ”bound Isaac his son” (Genesis 22:1-18)

God’s twofold repetition of ‘’son”, and ” whom you love”, in verse 2, illustrates the high cost of the Lord’s call. Not the type we respond ” yes Lord” quickly to. Yet Abraham moves forward, clinging to the Lord’s promise even though doing so troubled him greatly.

Living by Faith often means we go through pain, yet press on in obedience to the Lord’s command despite our pain.

And knowing that at those times when we feel bound by the Spirit’s unrelenting work in our lives, or when we experience the greatest spiritual pressure, or when our Faith is being tested, God is working in us, instilling humility and patience in us, with the sole aim of bringing us to the end of loving ourselves, so that we might be released unto a complete freedom in Christ and love Him supremely above all things.                (James 2:2-4) 

That my brethen is ” Living by Faith.”

How do i know my church is tending towards apostasy

The word Apostasy is taken from the Greek noun Apostasia. It means a defection, a renunciation or to depart.

Apostasy is the turning away from Jesus, and the fundamentals of the Faith by those who profess Christ as saviour.

It is the forsaking of the principles of the Christan Faith one has professed.

” Now the Spirit speaketh expressely, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” ( 1 Timothy 4:1-2)

” But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” ( 2 Peter 2:1-3)

Apostate Churches are those that corrupts God’s word, using it as a means of worldly gain.

” For we are not like so many, like hucksters making a trade of peddling God’s word, shortchanging and adulterating the divine message—” (2 Cor 2:17 amp)

Having define what Apostasy is, how do i know my church and her beliefs are not apostate in nature?

1. The first test is the test of teaching and doctrine.

If your Church or leader do not accept sound doctrine as taught by the foundational Apostles through the Holy Spirit as written in the Bible, there is serious reason for concern.

When the Bible alone is not the Foundation for spiritual truth, it opens the door for all kinds of error. Where you have too much relying on extra biblical experiences, such as visions, revelations or prophecy of men and taken as inspired as the bible is, is sure not a safe place for a healthy spiritual growth.

   2.        When your Church places too much emphasises of what they think you can get from God (materialism) instead of obedience to Him.

 If the main vision of the Church is making Christians achieve or realise a life of comfort here on earth, then it is a reason for concern. The Bible teaches the opposite. God is more interested in transforming our character than in providing for our earthly comfort.

    3.        When the Church instead of emphasising teaching and preaching focused on the Word of God and Jesus Christ, have an open-mindedness and tolerance of whatever anyone believes, in order not to offend anybody.

Few Churches today will address SIN for what it is, because that could be offensive. The result is that Churches are not preaching against adultery, divorce, remarriage, lying, drinking alcohol, sexual promiscuity, cohabitation, for not wanting to offend anybody.

     4.      When your church reasons that they have to be friends with the world and be like them to win them.

Any Church that wants to be friends with the world have chosen to be an enemy of God. (James 4:4-5).  When the emphasis is on trying to find the best method for reaching multitude or making people comfortable in Church whether it is according to the Bible or not.

   5.   If your Church teaches the doctrine that demotes God by bringing Him to the level of man and elevates man to God’s status, by claiming the ” ye are gods” fable, then i,m afraid such a place is not healthy for your spiritual growth.

What should be the response of Bible believers to heretics?

” Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have received, and AVOID them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17-18)

” A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition REJECT.” (Titus 3:10)

Is it right to name names when confronting error?

Many believe it’s wrong and unchristian to name names or call out the teachers who proclaim false teachings and distorts God’s word.

I’ve had to struggle with this myself, however careful research into scriptures shows, it’s not only okay, but it’s our duty and responsibility to name and identify those who are in error and refuse to repent.

Take time to go through these passages.

• Galatians 2:11-14. Here, Paul named and rebuked Peter publicly
• 2 Timothy 4:10. Paul named Demas for loving the world
• 1 Timothy 1:18-20. Paul named Hymenaeus and Alexander
• 2 Timothy 2:15-18. Paul named Hymenaeus and Philetus whom he accused as leading many astray
• 2Timothy 4:14-15. Paul named Alexander the copper smith of whom he said did much evil
• 2 Peter 2:15. Peter expose those who loved the wages of unrighteousness
• 3 John:9-11. John called out Dietrephes for his pride and arrogance. He would not accept what the Apostles were teaching.

 

I recognise though, that a danger exists in trying to expose error, one can end up being over critical, and i see too much of this in play, especially within the discernment ministries.

Personally, i do believe there are many out there doing the Lord’s work as best as they possibly can, but are being deceived merely out of ignorance of scripture. Of course this latter group of Christian teachers must not be confused with those who have been confronted with their errors, and shown the way back to sound doctrine , but refuse to change or repent.

I believe , the best thing you can do for a believer, is to teach and disciple them according to God’s word, so they can grow to maturity in Christ and be able to discern for themselves between good and evil, and not be carried away by every wind of doctrine.

” And He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors, and Teachers, for the perfecting of the saints,for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to dieceve”. (Ephesians 4:11-14)

Naming names does two things–

1. It helps protect God’s children (the sheep), from the wolves out there, who secretly introduces heresies into the church.

” Beware of False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” ( Matthew 7:15)

” But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” (2Peter 2:1)

2. Naming names also provides an opportunity for heretics to reconsider their stand and repent. Heretic teachers must be confronted with the truth in love as regards their false teaching in hope that they might be ashamed and return to sound doctrine.