NEVER

Never is a word that expresses a strong position about something implying a discontinuity. It is a word that a believer in Christ Jesus must be careful to use when when making certain decisions that are permissible in the scheme of God’s plan and agenda.

When you recognise that God is the owner of your life and you are willing to allow Him to have the lead role, then NEVER is a word you use cautiously. There are some obvious decisions you should grow into as a maturing believer. With such growth comes an enriched understanding and a realization of responsibility in Christ. For example, you shouldn’t make a decision like “I can NEVER forgive that person”. This is clearly an anti-Christian position, though many Christians are caught in that web. As you mature in Christ, you realise the severity of such a statement. 

A higher level of decision not to be made may be in statements like “I can NEVER marry someone like that” or “I can NEVER leave that job” or “I can NEVER have a child anymore”.

While these examples are. relatable in our contemporary life, they were also case points that people in bible times might have found themselves in. 

Joseph would have been close to never wanting to forgive His brothers; Prophet Hosea would have likely said he can never marry a harlot; Joseph the earthly father of Jesus would have told Mary to forget the wedding because He can NEVER get married to a woman who is pregnant. Elizabeth was societally and medically confirmed and agreed that she could NEVER have a child. The list could go on of people whose life portray the reality of how the word NEVER should not be expressed outside of God’s consultation either beginning from His word or unto receiving direction from Him in your daily walk with Him.

Science may have said you can Never be healed, but the God of all creation can heal you. You may have sternly decided never to go with the plans, but God can reroute your path to arrive at the same decision as the only option. 

Be careful to take the NEVER position as a believer without consulting the owner of your life. 

I’ve learnt and could say I’m still learning not to use it affirmatively. This is because I know the one who owns me can call with an assignment that will overrule any decisions I have made irrespective of whether it is major or minor. Many things I’ve said I will never to, I have seen the Lord lead me to do them while He stood by me and used me through the decision. 

We must recognise that He is sovereign over all things and can alter any decision, situation, report, agenda, appointment, etc, to establish His rule. 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.(James 4:10)

God be praised forever more!

No Turning Back..

 

There’s a song trending with the lines “I have decided to follow Jesus” by Gaise-baba and   Lawrence Oyor. It’s one that everyone is jumping on to do a cover or dance video. I’m suspecting you have added yours as well… LOL.

It’s a good one with danceable beats, convicting lyrics and chorus sung in a resounding way that can readily play in the head. This could imply something- regurgitation of the words that could also imply meditating on the words that should build convictions. 

This piece is to remind, charge and possibly caution in order to avoid a throwing to wind of the reality of that golden phrase - 

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.. NO TURNING BACK!

The original hymn with those lines was generated based on the last words of the Garo martyr Nokseng as his family first and then himself died. He was asked to denounce Jesus Christ publicly or have his family killed one after the other beginning with his child, then his wife before himself. The words were inspired by the Holy Spirit through the martyrdom. (https://renewaljournal.com/2017/11/29/the-true-story-behind-the-song-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus/)

While we sing and dance with joy and energy this new viral song that is loud about living triumphantly a beautiful life of having abundance to spend for Jesus Christ, we must not fail to stay sober as we remember that the same phrase was expressed by a man watching his dear family killed before he himself joined them.

Imagine you were in the same situation as the martyred, would you have been able to sing or shout those lines loudly -

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.. NO TURNING BACK.. THE WORLD BEHIND, THE CROSS BEFORE ME… NO TURNING BACK..!

A few years ago, a damsel called Leah Sharibu was held back by the Bokoharan group and will not be released with the other girls released because she failed to renounce Christ Jesus. I saluted and admired her courage while challenging Christians on social media then if they would have had the conviction to do the same. Someone responded vehemently on to my post saying she(Leah) did not use wisdom and so on. I still dove my heart for Leah for what she did irrespective of the eventual outcome which is not public. Whether in life or death, her saviour who owns her keeps her safe.

For this current race, I do pray that the words being sung have a heart alignment built on conviction that will withstand trials when or if they do come. The concern is that it’s very easy to loose the import of a message when it’s all frenzy and without serious sober reflections on how much impact it could generate.

God be praised forevermore!

Fulfilling God’s Purpose..

 Fulfilling God’s purpose in life is not about the numbers or size of the task to be carried out. It is simply about being faithful to act on the assignment given dutifully.

Many people have it mixed up in their head that someone with a grand and very visible ministry is fulfilling God’s purpose better than someone who is known only to a sizeable congregation that he is sent to be in their lives at that period. As a result we undermine one and exhalt the other thereby losing out on what God has intended for you through the one undermined.

As in the book of Romans 12, every part have it’s usefulness and none can be discarded as irrelevant because of their hidden role.  The role of the eyes to the body is important just as the mouth, the ears or the brain. Do away with the hypothalamus in your body and your whole world is a mess. The question is what is that?!?!??! HYPOTHA…What??

The hypothalamus is that organ in human body that regulates the body temperature. It’s an hidden, relatively unknown organ that must play its part in the body for the common good of all.

Stop looking down on people because they have been assigned roles you think are not big and start appreciating everyone from the eyes of God’s sovereign grace who chooses who he wills, when He wills to carry out different jobs that will bring glory to His name. To one He puts in a village to lead locals to Christ and offer them spiritual guidance. To another he sets up to be the GO of a large ministry that is know around the world. Every position is important and demands faithfulness.

What has God called you to do? To what purpose has God saved you and allowed you be where you are at this time? Can you faithfully commit to it and stop prioritising the quest for a big stage. The most important thing is to be faithful to the one that enlisted you for the assignment. 

God be praised forever more!

Not Condemned!!?! How?!?!!

.. I do not condemn you.. 

John 8 tells the story of a woman who was brought by the Pharisees to Jesus because she was caught in adultery.

Firstly, we all know it takes two to complete the act of adultery that she was being accused of and I can’t but wonder where the other person was. Why wasn’t he brought down as well? Maybe he was too fast for them and jumped through the window before they could catch him, or he bribed them as they brought him. I’m also suspecting the woman is probably the wife of one of the accusers who wanted to ensure his disgraceful wife was stoned according to the law while using the situation as a bait to get Jesus.

Jesus’ answer to their question was simple “the one without a sin should throw the first stone”. His answer did not try to encourage the woman’s sin but exposed the many questions that are hidden leading to this judgement and ensure it was a fair one. 

It became obvious that they had no legal or moral right to judge the woman because they also had sin hanging round their necks. They all walked away one after the other throwing away their self acquired judge’s gown and gavel in shame and disgust.

Jesus looked at the woman who was caught in sin to assure the woman that judgment is not in the hands of men but with God and that He did not come for judgement at this time but to save. He assured her that though He has the right to condemn her but He wouldn’t.

You would have found yourself on either side of the divide where you have judged someone or have been judged by others, but as the one with the absolute right to judge did not judge her, He is not judging you at this time nor expecting you to be the judge of people He has paid for with His blood. 

The time of judgment will come when Jesus returns a second time and it will be too late for anyone who has refused to accept His love and enjoy this graceful dispensation that is full of forgiveness without condemnation. 

Lastly, Jesus did not leave her in her sin but charged her to go and not sin anymore. It should not be grossly misunderstood that grace is a leeway to continue or encourage sin, but an opening to start living above it. An acknowledgment of how awful your past is and not being condemned as it is due should generate a reverence of God that leads away from sin to righteousness. You don’t encounter Jesus and remain the same, because it brings about an irreversible transformation that causes a nauseation for sin and an appetite for godly living.

Fall into the arms of the Lord and judge of all who at this time has chosen to withhold judgment and condemnation but offers forgiveness and strength to live triumphantly above sin. Like He looked into that woman’s eyes, He’s saying the same words to you as you acknowledge and stand at His mercy saying I do not condemn you.. go and sin no more.

Believe and be saved.

Fisi…

 Fisi…

Fisi…

The gospel of Jesus Christ through the cross has been laced with many glamours that has taken away the focus from what it truly represents to the other things THAT are merely additions. 

“Fisi” is a Yoruba phrase that literally means “add extra”. It is what a customer demands from a seller for a purchase made that should serve as an incentive for choosing to buy there. In some instance, it is the seller that throws it in the deal to reward loyalty or attract the customer back. Most of the time, “Fisi” achieves more of a psychological satisfaction to the customer than any real impact on the real need but definitely the seller is making a profit either immediately or on the long run.

Many preachers have garnished the gospel with enticing promises that majorly satisfy needs and wants of the physical demands, challenges and lusts. Thus, setting the eyes and hearts of people on the physical which can only be counted as secondary while subtly de-emphasizing on the spiritual accomplishments that the gospel has delivered. 

This is not to imply that God is not interested in your physical gains and improvement after believing in the gospel of Christ but that Jesus accounts for them as “Fisi”. Jesus said “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”(Matthew 6:33). This was His position about the basic needs of life - food, shelter and clothing. He simply said they will be added as you focus on the primary thing which is found in Christ's death and resurrection.

Many messages have been preached, songs sung, movies produced that have presented the message of the cross as a means to end all physical challenges and needs. While this may not be absolutely out of place but it sets a misconception in the heart of the hearer. There must be a careful consideration and assessment to ensure that the primary message is not diminished while exalting what is secondary. The objective ought to be to seek the giver of the gifts and not the gift.

Jesus was clear about the primary gain of believing into Him and that is eternal life. He said “whoever believes... will have eternal life”(John 3:16). This position is undeniably mentioned all over scriptures and affirms what the main promise is, that is the God kind of life - eternal life. It’s not in the car, monies, jobs, aspirations, healing, spouse, child, etc that is brandished by many ministers. It is primarily about receiving eternal life and other things are added accordingly.

Focus on the main gift, not on the “Fisi”. Seek the giver, not the gifts.

God be praised forever!

Father’s Day Celebration, more to be celebrated!

 Father’s Day Celebration, more to be celebrated!

The role of a father is not one to be underrated in any way. Jesus readily proclaimed God as His father and did not allow the threat of cultural bias deny Him that at anytime. 

The Jewish culture accepted a father’s relationship to mean equality, that is a father and a son are same of a kind.

Jesus” frequent deferring to God as father shows the importance of a father in our lives and the responsibility conferred on fathers.

A father is needed in a child’s life to guide, teach, support, love, protect, comfort, be available, provide etc. These expectations confers on a father the responsibility to be in control of himself and be able to chat a course the child should desire to emulate. 

It is quite “easy” to be a father through reproduction as taught in biology but it is an enviable responsibility to be a father as God expects us to be.

While fatherhood is celebrated once a year, let us all appreciate the role without down playing on the importance. Let the men embrace the responsibility to be a father to the children in our lives (biological or not). Embrace the Father’s love and learn from Him deliberately to guide and teach you how to be the father He will be proud of.

Enjoy the fatherhood celebration everyday. Happy Father’s Day!

Take a moment to appreciate the people who have played the role of a father in your life at any stage. Celebrate them and say a prayer.

Born Again? What does it mean?

 “What does it mean?

So there is a growing number of people who do not understand what it means to be born again. Some assume it is a bad thing and always despise people who claim to be. Another group even say they are and cannot even explain clearly what it means to be one. The question then will be, can you be what or who you do not know how to describe?

If you say you are something, it doesn’t make you the thing. If you act like you are something, it still does not make you that thing. If I were to say I am a medical doctor and even go ahead to dress like one, it does not qualify me to become a medical doctor. If I were to do some medical diagnosis and treatment based on my experience with being around a doctor and caring for the sick around me, it does not qualify me to be a doctor. A medical doctor is someone trained and licensed to diagnose and prescribe medications for the sick.

To be born again means that one is born of the Spirit. In John 3 verses 5-6,

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus clearly presents a distinction between spiritual and physical (fleshly) birth to make it clear that being born again is a spiritual birth. To be born again is to be born spiritually and this is absolutely different and has nothing to do with your physical birth. It is a birth and it must be seen and acknowledged as that.”

Excerpts from the book “Born Again?”

Available on Amazon.. see Link below 

Born Again?: A simple guide on the new birth Jesus Christ talked about: Making plain the realities of what being born again is all about. See it as it is and be sure of what you believe .