Be Bold For Christ

Frederick the Great, the agnostic Prussian king had a devout Christian as his most trusted Army General, by name, Von Zealand. In a festive gathering, the king began making crude jokes about Christ until everyone, except Von Zealand, was rocking with laughter. Finally, Von Zealand stood up and addressed the king: “Sir, you know I have not feared death. I have fought and won 38 battles for you. I am an old man; I shall soon have to go into the presence of One greater than you, the mighty God who saved me from my sin, the Lord Jesus Christ whom you are blaspheming. I salute you, sir, as an old man who loves his Saviour, on the edge of eternity.” The place went silent, and with a trembling voice the king replied, “General Von Zealand, I beg your pardon! I beg your pardon!” And with that the party quietly ended.

That is courage – doing what you are scared to do for the sake of your conviction.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it" (Mark 8:35). When next you find yourself  torn in between the fear of man and a God-assigned duty, will you dare to be like Jeremiah? Be faithful and speak up for the Lord. He will vindicate and preserve you.

Directing Power Of God's Word

There are many preachers today who have relegated the word of God to the background. They, instead, elevated dreams, prophecies and other unscriptural practices in their preaching. No wonder then that there are many churches but righteousness and holy living is fading out in an alarming rate. No assembly can be favoured by God when the word of God is not given the right place. The hardened heart of sinners can only be broken by the power of the word. God wants us to embrace the “wheat” of the word of God and reject the “chaff” (dreams and visions) of modern day pleasure-seeking preachers. The power to deliver from sin and to keep us rapturable can only be found where the word of God is faithfully preached and lived out. “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29).

Stop Living On The Death Row

The inmate on death row is reserved unto the day of destruction. The condemned criminal may remain on death row for up to twenty years in some countries, but he is legally dead although made to pass through some routine of prison life for a while. The food may be good in some prisons, but knowing that death hangs at the door will make you loose your appetite to eat.Sinners, like inmates on death row, are liable to be executed unless they receive state pardon. The only pardon that can save us from that terrible life in the lake of fire that awaits every unforgiven sinner is from Jesus Christ our Saviour who took our place in death that we might receive forgiveness and live. You need to accept Him today as your Lord and personal Saviour.

Continue..

A little girl has had a fun day outdoor playing in the mud. After sometime, her parents call her in from the yard and the first thing they required of her is to have a good bath plus change of cloth. Why she is looking dirty. Even though she was wearing one of her beautiful dresses, the fact that she (herself and her cloth) is dirty can’t be overlooked. She gets a wash but goes back into the mud, just for a little while returns her to her former state which is “dirty”. Her parents require her to clean up herself again before jumping on the sofa or lying on the rug, but she insists she had a bath and changed her dress earlier…therefore needs not do that again. Long and short of it all, for her to be clean, she has to birth again.

Many so called Christians on earth are just like this little girl. They think been once cleansed from sin after they chose to be born again means they are forever cleansed. But they forget Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him”. This is because the so called Christian is no longer a clean. He/she might still be going to church, be nice to people, stay off further sins and all other nice things, however been stained again means you need to be washed once again in the blood of the lamb by confessing that sin, promising no to return to it and asking for forgiveness.

The ideology of “once saved, forever saved” isn’t supported by the Holy Bible or God. Continuing in God’s commandment is therefore they one and only guarantee of heaven. Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

Thinking about the future..

After the mind of a man has been exposed to new reason and purpose, it is hard to return to the former state of mind or just move on without giving diligent thought to it and applying such reason and purpose to the way and manner of he/she is living.

After understanding life the composition and spiritual purpose of the human race, life after death which isn’t for a day, week, year or millennium should make us ponder on the question “where would I spend eternity?” Why do people plan their 80/90years lifespan but the one that is more than a million years, they are ready to experiment with it? Many people literally suffer through some stages of life here on earth just so they can earn money, fame and momentary opportunities but why do they find it hard to sacrifice very little in order to escape unending pain and anguish? It is quite shocking after due diligence has been given to these thoughts.  

If you have given your life adequate thought and have made the right call to do whatever it takes to get to heaven, people would mock you and call you names. But remember that picture and know it is because they have little understanding of the future they face without the hope of Christ.

To have the hope of heaven, you really need to believe in Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and repent of your sins, promising not to return to them again. Further ask God to forgive you and importantly continue to live as Christ wants you to live.

Fasting The Right Way

"Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?" (Matthew 9:14).

Christianity does not equate with legalistic rituals. Instead, it reasonably allows for much simplicity, varieties, flexibility and faith in such a degree that grace provides all things for believers in Christ Jesus. Like other teachings in the scriptures, the doctrine of fasting and its appropriateness in our day-to-day living must be well understood lest we fall into the extremities and fanaticism of man's religion.
The disciples of John the Baptist came asking Jesus "why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?" In answer to their question, the Lord gave a number of illustrations to show the superiority of "grace" over the "law".
Like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees, many religious people today subject their followers to the rigorous practice of abstinence from food and water as a mark of piety, choosing particular dates, seasons, or times, irrespective of the people's physical, spiritual and emotional disposition. But in Christ, there is no basis for such observances. Instead, fasting accompanied always with prayer, is part of a Christian's normal spiritual exercise. It should then be conducted in such a manner that reflects sobriety, seriousness and sanctity.

When we fast, our souls are afflicted in expression of our helplessness, so that we are able to pray earnestly to God. Great problems and difficulties are solved through fasting and prayer. Such are some of the benefits of fasting that we take delight in, while engaging in it as the need arises.
"Man shall not live by bread alone.."

Efficiency Of God's word

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7).

Man in every generation faces the dilemma of choice: the choice between good and bad, true and false. In no other age than ours is this dilemma more pronounced. Christians too are not excluded from this problem of choice. The true pilgrim is also in a dilemma. Reason: Our age is attended with an uncanny, persuasive power of the wicked.
Man's nature is prone to lean towards the more convenient. The social, broad way gospel acquires status and popularity far above the old narrow-way gospel. The pilgrim's choice is obvious, to lean upon the unchanging word of God which guides him to avoid all known and unknown dangers on his way. A right choice demands a profound thirst and love for God's word on the believer's part.
Christian journey begins when the sinner's darkened, unregenerate mind is enlightened by the pure word of God and the perfect law, which converts his soul as our text today depicts. Armed with the sure testimonies (in the Holy Writ), he is now able to wade through the red-sea, cross the Jordan, confront Jericho, defeat Goliath and defy the persecutions from the enemies of the cross. The pilgrim is able to serve the Lord with clean, not slavish fear. The love in his heart is borne out of holy reverence towards the loving God. The word of God to him is righteous and it becomes joy and rejoicing to his heart. In times of despondency and adversity, the righteous derives his joy not from wine or women but from the word of God (Jeremiah 15:16). He stands before the true and righteous mirror of God's words and sees his true reflection.
He is broken and falls on the Lord when the true mirror reveals chaffs in his life. He is broken and falls on the Lord when the true mirror reveals chaffs in his life. He is strengthened and comforted when the righteous word points him to the path of righteousness. The fear of the Lord is our preservative.
When God's word is hidden in our hearts, our meditations are holy and our mouths speak neither ill nor guile of any man. Make it a sacred duty to drink from the inexhaustible fountains of God's word daily.
God's word, like salt, preserves from decay.