Sunday 21 April 2019

JESUS CAME TO MAKE US COMPLETE IN CHRIST ALONE

" I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live ; but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God ; who loved me and gave himself for me ". Galatians 2 : 20 .


Assumptions abound about how to "identify" a "complete and true Christian".
There are diverse good-intentioned counsels and preaching , about how to live "a full and sanctified Christian life" and numerous man-made doctrines and criteria for measuring the Believer's "level" in his/her walk with God.
These criteria include how you talk , look or even walk! How many times you pray, how long and how loud your prayers are; what you wear: how long your skirts and sleeves are, how high your necklines are and how much or how often you give to the poor and your church records. Even, where you work, who your friends are and your marital status are considered in the "holiness and sanctification" package.
You flout even one of these "laws" and you are deemed "unacceptable" to God by some man-made laws..
No wonder, some people are very careful to look stone-faced, sad, pious, respectable, humble and very gentle in their manner and speech, especially in public.
All in the bid to impress their fellow men and to be "completely acceptable" to God.

The new convert is often confused and burdened with this load of "dos and don'ts" in some churches. This demand for "holiness by appearance and works" tend to contradict the message of the Bible which says:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God;
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

There are NO contradiction or confusion in the Holy Bible . What causes confusion and contradictions is the human attempts at manipulating the Word of God.
Inadvertently, man tries to shift the focus from God to himself, as "Saviour"; by attempting and failing to set up his own system of righteousness and holiness.
The Eternal Truth is that Man did not and does not have the ability to take away his own sins or another man's sins.
Thieves ,whores and other deviants are often advised to "get a job" or "get married as soon as possible! Do this, do that!".
But does that solve the underlining Spiritual Problem ,which is refusal to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

The futility and foolishness of trying to solve spiritual problems with carnal solutions are evident around us.
Getting a job or becoming rich would not stop a person who has a spiritual problem from being a thief or a prostitute or both.
Why would someone with valid credit cards and store cards and a wallet stuffed with hundreds of pounds be caught again and again, shoplifting ridiculous items like a tie or a pair of panty hose costing £4.99 only?
When a multi-millionaire is appointed into a government office , one would assume that he/she would not be tempted to embezzle huge sums of public funds. But is this the reality?
Why are some educated and talented men and women engaged in prostitution,even while in full-time, well-paying jobs?
In all human societies, marriage is desirable . Sadly, there is proof that getting married for some people ,has not brought the desired cure for promiscuity and sexual depravity; nor is it a guarantee for maintaining a life of holiness.
Despite all the edifying marriage seminars, preachings, teachings ,books and DVDs on marriage, the situation in some marriages are scandalous. Many married men and women engage in extra-marital affairs.
What or who, except the conviction of the Holy Spirit, can transform a heart where big and small lies and evil schemes are fabricated, non-stop?
Many youths from decent Christian homes have become "Children of Sorrow" and thorns in the flesh of their parents!
Why do people hate and murder people,just for the fun of it?
Why have physical punishments and imprisonment not deterred habitual offenders?
The answer is that until we, as individuals, surrender our whole lives to Christ, and until we have a PERSONAL relationship ( not a church or group relationship) with him trusting in his righteousness, not in ours, we would not get it right.

YOU ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST .
We have to get this truth in all its ramifications, into our mind and soul:
Salvation , by faith , is complete. It is an unmerited gift given by the grace of the merciful God .
There is NOTHING ELSE for us to do or for anyone to do on our behalf to add our salvation. God's word says that "It is Finished!" and it is finished indeed.
"And of his fullness have all we received ,and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses , but truth and grace came by Jesus Christ" . John 1:16 .

If our salvation depended on our own efforts and "good works", then the life, death and resurrection of Christ would be meaningless.
Then there would be no difference between the Christian and the Unbeliever who believes that his or her salvation depends on some "judgement by scale" which weighs a person's "good and holy" deeds against their "evil" deeds to determine whether they are "qualified" or not to enter Heaven!
In spite of God's word that Salvation is by grace and NOT by works (Romans 11:6,and Ephesians 2:7), mankind have decided to "help" God by making salvation " MORE complete"!
Sadly, to complicate and confuse issues further for a new-comer in church, some Christians have brought in "old wives tales", man-made doctrines and their local customs and traditions into the church , upholding them as Bible doctrines!
A lot of time is expended and wasted in hair-splitting arguments and numerous scriptures are quoted to support these unChristian doctrines and teachings!
The Bible counsels that we should beware of the tricks of our adversary , the Devil, which shift our focus from Christ and which make us depend on our own righteousness.
" Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."Colossians 2:7-8
Look unto Jesus , who began a good work in us and he is able to accomplish it.
In moments of confusion , when we are being bombarded with diverse "dos" and "don'ts", remember that we do not stand by our strength alone. We have power divine living in us . Do not be bewildered or swayed by diverse doctrines of men.
Believe God and believe his word that you are loved and you are accepted by God BECAUSE of Jesus Christ.
When God looks at us , he doesn't see our filthy righteousness but he sees Christ in us , our hope of Glory.
The fullness of the Godhead which dwells in Christ we have received by faith . Christ dwells in us , expressing through us , making us complete in Him.
Jesus lives in and transforms the Christian inside out; perfecting all that concerns us.
Daily , we should appreciate this truth and rejoice in it; not be burdened by our guilt, doubts or failed attempts to be "holy"!
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:9- 10.

Thursday 5 October 2017

TREADING MILK

I first heard the mouse story, sometime in my pre-teenage years.
 Maybe you have heard it before.
 The lesson the story teaches is ever-relevant to daily human lives , even today.

Three mice , hoping for a refreshing drink of milk , fell into a large jug of milk. 
After filling up, the thieving mice  tried to get out of the jug of milk , but they could not .
Then they began swimming and splashing around in their desperate bids to claw up the sides of the jug , to grab its rim and then to jump out .
But all their efforts were in vain.
After a long spirited battle for survival, two mice became exhausted, they gave up clawing and splashing around in the milk and then the poor mice sank to the bottom of the jug and drowned in the milk.
One could say " They met their Waterloo ! Serves the thieving mice right !"
But spare a kind thought for them.
 Give them some credit. Mice have no jobs and no income but they have got to feed and survive in a world of humans who are very hostile to mice and other vermin.
Would I allow mice, cockroaches or any other vermin in my house ?
Of course not! I'll call in the Exterminator to clear them out .

The third mouse kept on splashing around and kept on making frantic  treading motions in the milk with its tiny legs and arms; in a desperate effort to stay afloat.
After a long struggle, the milk under the mouse churned into cream , then the cream thickened and transformed into cheese!
Talk of dogged courage!
By its unrelenting treading efforts, our friend , the thieving "Mousey" had inadvertently become a cheese maker!
Thereafter, the poor little, thieving mouse was able to climb on the solid cheese and jumped out of the milk jug. 
The gutsy little fellow then ran away at top speed to its well-deserved freedom! 
Cheery story indeed. 

The title of this my blog should have been " Quitters are Losers" . Right ?!
Nah.
 I believe some Quitters don't win . But I do not subscribe to the notion that all Quitters are Losers.
Not all Remainers are winners
Sometimes  unnecessarily , you lose a lot of time , money and efforts by staying put and by keep trying to fight to "win" in a situation which does not deserve your fight .
This is like flogging a dead horse to revive it.
Therefore there are different classes of Quitters and Remainers.
 
The questions are what are you quitting from ?
What are you fighting to retain ?
Is that thing, that job, business; or that place , that relationship or that person worth wasting your time, your efforts and your resources  on ?
 Are they worth your struggles and fighting to hold on to such hopeless situations and  dying or dead relationships?
I believe in holding on and fighting to retain anything good , profitable and blessed.
In each situation or challenge you encounter , assess them , weigh your options , seek and listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit .

I don't think the little mouse  started  struggling because he knew that  his milky prison will transform into life-saving cheese  .
The little fellow was just trashing around in a reflex action to  survive.
Your dear life ; both your biological life on earth and your eternal life are worth fighting for .
One should stay put and fight the battle for survival ; for your dear life till the very end , like the mouse did.
Stay focused , steadfast and strive for your crown of eternal life; till the end of your life.
" Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. " 
1 Timothy 6 :12. (ESV)

 Wisdom dictates that you quit all situations and associations which threaten your life, your peace, your sanity and which destroy your self-esteem and general well-being.
You lose NOTHING but gain a lot of good things and you retain your health, integrity and peace of mind when you quit certain  unpleasant situations or toxic relationships,  completely.
If you QUIT a lifestyle of smoking, drug abuse, binge drinking , sexual promiscuity, crime ; what good thing do you lose? 
You lose NOTHING good.
But you gain power and access to start a better lease of life as a profitable living soul.
If you QUIT a long-standing abusive and toxic relationship you gain a lot peace and self-esteem.
What do you gain by staying put and fighting to remain in a loveless relationship with a man or woman who is  unrepentant in being promiscuous, rude , arrogant , aggressive ; and who actually thinks that you should be grateful to her or him because  she or he is doing you a favour by remaining in a relationship with you?

To survive unpleasant characters and challenges which come your way ; prayerfully examine them to know how to survive them by embarking on positive ACTION !

Know when to QUIT or to STAY PUT.
11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 
12As you enter the house, greet it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 
14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 
15Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town ".  Matthew  10: 11- 15

Life goals are achieved not only by blowing "hot air" and "blowing mouth"! 
If you "exercise faith" by claiming and declaring all the deliverance and prosperity promises in the Bible, or "confessing positive words and thinking positive  thoughts", or whatever ; from now till Kingdom come ; without acting out your faith ; you would be wasting your time. 
Proverbs 13:4; James 2 : 14.

Some people would argue that prayer changes things.
Yes, prayer changes things; but remember that there are some strong -willed human beings with evil characters and there are some unpleasant situations which will NOT change, even with prolonged prayers.
Recognise them , know when to quit fighting to change them and then move on to your new lease life.
2 Samuel 12 : 1 - 22.
You future depends on making the right decisions in this regard.
In every unpleasant situation you must weigh your options to know whether to keep  treading milk , like our friend , the little fighter-mouse or to QUIT to live out your life elsewhere in a better environment.  

May you abound in grace to receive wisdom and strength to know whether to quit or remain  in toxic relationships and very unpleasant situations.
Amen.




 



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Friday 18 August 2017

Sitting Pretty

" And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Amen. Revelation 1: 5,6.


While watching a wild life programme shot somewhere in the Serengeti,I was amused by the antics of the various breed of monkeys in the tree branches on the banks of a lake.
The serene and beautiful surrounding of the lake was dotted with all kinds of animals and birds, large and small, milling around, to drink and swim in the watering hole.
Suddenly , all the animals , including the large ones like zebras and buffaloes moved away from the lake into the cover of the bush ; each letting out cries of fright to warn each other of danger. The calm of the lake was shattered!
There was panic amongst the animals because a pride of lions had arrived on the scene to quench their thirst!
The howler monkeys went higher up the trees and let out loud screams and howls ; while the birds and other animals joined the chorus of hateful alarm in their own peculiar "languages".
The lions ignored them and without even a glance at the gang of protesting animals, they drank water to their hearts content and then laid down on the shore for a rest.
As they laid there , the noise and commotion from the other animals continued.
Some of the animals ran away; while others shrieked , snorted and howled at the lions from a safe distance.
But none of them dared to return to the lake while the lions were there.
Meanwhile, the lions were unperturbed and indifferent to the commotion around them. Nor were they afraid that they were out-numbered by hundreds of howling and screaming animals who, were ,obviously, very upset at the lions' unwanted awesome presence!
Apparently , the lions were not hungry and did not come to hunt for prey but to quench their thirst.
The family of lions sat down , confidently ,took their rest by the lake, for as long as they wanted to do so; and then they walked away, majestically .
Such is the confidence and privilege which go with power, strength and dominion.
After the lions had left the scene, then the other animals felt safe and were enboldened to return to the lake.
Indeed , when the Cat is away, mice come out to play!

I sympathised with all the other harassed animals who had to endure this atmosphere of fear and intimidation caused by the arrival of the lions, every day, at their watering holes.
I could imagine the insults and threats those animals hurled at the intruding lions and their anger and bitterness at being inferior in status and strength to the lions.
But in this life, every one cannot be king.
In the jungle of life, someone has to be King to rule and reign over the others.
The lion was divinely endowed with power and strength as king of the Jungle ,  to lord it over the other beasts of the jungle.
All lions know this and all the other animals know this and accept that the Lion is king ; even if they do accept this fact grudgingly.
When the Lion speaks ( roars), no animal dares to rebuke him into silence.
At the sound of his roar ,the earth trembles ; the other animals retreat into hiding and they quake with fear!
"...he uttereth his voice , the earth melted" . Psalm 46:6b
The King of the beasts eats and drinks whatever he desires, when and where he pleases.
The king of the jungle goes wherever he wants ; even where other animals would not dare to tread.

The king walks tall , striding majestically before his enemies and is not shaken or deterred by their protests or disapproval!

Jesus Christ has been given all
power to rule and reign in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28: 18.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is Lord , in Heaven and on Earth.
All usurpers, noise makers and pretenders to the Throne know who the King is and so they become silent and they must bow in the presence of the King of Heaven and Earth!
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ". 

Philippians 2:9 - 11

Kingship is bestowed either by birth and or by anointing.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has bestowed His power and dominion to rule and reign on those that are called by His name.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." 1 John 2:6.
Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords .
He has made his people who are called by His name to rule and reign in the midst of their enemies and the enemies of their God.
Psalm 110:2.
Receive the authority by Kingship to sit pretty, to walk tall and to reign in the midst of all challenges and over every adversary! 
The power and dominion which Jesus bestows on people for kingship flow from His throne of Righteousness.
In righteousness, we are sitting pretty and reigning in the midst of our enemies.
"The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” 
Proverb 18: 10.
Have you received Christ's righteousness?
It is freely bestowed not on just anybody ; but on every one who believes in his or her heart and confesses that Jesus is the son of God ; that He died to take away the sins of the world , He was buried and He rose from the dead on the third day.
Romans 10: 8- 11 .

Jesus is alive and He reigns for ever more.
Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has made us righteous to sit and reign in high places with Him, far above principalities and powers and every power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt us.
"For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ". 
Romans 5 :17

Just like the other animals dread and tremble before the lion , so God has put trembling and the fear of His people
in the midst of our enemies to paralyse them and render them
and their evil devices impotent against us.
"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Psalm 1:33.
If only we believe and stand in the liberty and authority which the salvation of God has given us ; deliverance, boldness, peace and victory shall be our portion in life, always.
Amen.
God bless you .
- Tina E. David
My other blog is www.tinaeds.blogspot.com

Friday 26 May 2017

The Circle of Glory

12. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 
13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 
14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 
19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”  Act 5 : 12 - 20.
As it was in the beginning of the era when Christians started preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ , so it is even today.Then and now , preaching the Truth of the Gospel of Christ filled the rulers of this world with indignation. The governments and the peoples of some nations in this world condemn the preaching of the undiluted Gospel of Christ as  "Hate Crime" and as " offensive and inciting statements !".
In many nations today, Christians are chastised and sanctioned whenever they express their opinions about anything ; opinions which are based on their faith in the word of God.
 In such countries, speaking  the Truth in the Bible is regarded as making " offensive" and "politically incorrect " statements; therefore in some nations it is an offence punishable by loss of jobs , ostracism, imprisonment and even by death ; for Christians to express their faith in the word of God as declared in the Bible .
Recently ,in one of such "civilised countries",there were protests when a top politician ,during an interview spoke from his perspective of his Christian faith and expressed his Bible- based opinion of homosexuality ; a lifestyle which is not approved by the word of God.
There was an uproar against him for saying "such offensive words" ! 
Some members of the public ; especially people in his constituency , dared him to repeat and confirm what he said about homosexuality .
The harassed politician, for fear of losing his job, had to tread softly by issuing a watered- down statement which was a sort of denial of what he actually believed to be the Truth in the Bible .
It is now regarded as the "civilized , proper and acceptable" thing for people to joke, use swear words and utter statements which ridicule and condemn the word of the Christian God . Few people would bat an eyelid when non-Christians make public statements which are blasphemous , hate-filled and downright disrespectful and antagonistic regarding Christian doctrines. 
Indeed , these are the days of persecution of Christians all over the world .
Least of the list of anti-Christian attacks is the institutionalised and determined efforts to stifle and silence the preaching of the Gospel , even when preached from church pulpits  inside churches.
Sadly, this hatred and antagonism against the Gospel Truth has intimidated and bullied some Christians  into silent retreat .
For this reason , some Christians now, have become secret disciples who visit Christ at night only. John 3:1. 
Some Church ministers , when preaching sermons , can be heard trying very hard , to not be "offensive" by NOT nailing the Truth of the Gospel on the head.
Some Christians would not even be bold enough to step out and  win souls by obeying the mandate given by Christ in the Great Commission . Matthew 9; 35-38;  28:16-20  .
When push comes to shove, even fewer would bother to take their stand on the Truth in Bible when they are faced with  threats to their lives, source of income  and to their self-esteem.
The days are evil indeed. The Enemies of the Cross have become desperately violent because the evil spirits who drive these Satanic sons and daughters of men know that their time is running out and that the Bridegroom is coming with fire in His eyes and with His reward and judgement in His hand.
In times like this , FOCUS is the guiding word for Christians
Be focused on Christ who called you ; not on the agenda of the defeated foe and his agents.
" If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first ". John 15:18.
Christ is the One who has prepared thrones and crowns of glory awaiting His  own people .He was hated , He was threatened , mocked and rejected; but Christ overcame all and He has given Christians His peace and victory .
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world ". John 16:33.
Receive the anointing of strength and boldness by the power of the Holy Ghost.
The Circle of Glory is  complete and continuous in the ministry of the preaching of the Gospel of Christ .
 Be strengthened and be focused on this Circle of Glory . 
This Circle of Glory starts and is PROGRESSIVELY revolving as God is being glorified when His work is accomplished on the earth ; by the power of the Holy Ghost through the lives of His faithful sons and daughters who are Abiding in Christ and doing God's word . 
7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
 John 3: 7-9.
When we bear fruits, God is glorified ; but the enemies of the Cross are filled with wrath.
Their wrath spawns their persecution of God's people .  Acts 5 : 12 - 18.
Persecution of Christians results in the Dispersal of the Fire of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth ; with signs and wonders confirming the preaching of the word of God everywhere . 
 God is glorified when the results of persecution against the Body of Christ are increase , stability and signs and wonders confirming the word preached by His people . 
Hallelujah ! 
Be assured that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ.  
Christians and the Church CANNOT be overcome by the evil agenda of the Enemies of the Cross. 
Faithful is the Lord of the Harvest and He is able  to deliver His people ; even to the uttermost .
"19. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”Act 5: 19-20.
Whatever the challenges faced by Christians , more than ever before , the clarion call to all Believers is : " The ultimate goal of all Christians is to obey God rather then men ! ".
27. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28. Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
 We ought to obey God rather than men.
This is not the time when Christians would succumb to threats to their lives or any other types of threats. Now  is the TIME when Christians must defy all forms of intimidation and bullying  ; whether they are overt or covert .
Brethren, the Harvest is Ripe. Go make disciples of all men . 
GO, TEACH and PREACH the Gospel of Christ every where ; all the time.
 Matthew 9; 35-38;  28:16-20  .
22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”…
Revelations 3: 21-22.
"And the Spirit and the bride say "Come!"...... Revelation 22:17.
Amen.