Posts

Enlarged Estate

   “ O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ” 2 Corinthians 6 : 11 - 13 ; 7:1 KJV Physical enlargement of estate requires coordinated planning and management of human and material resources. And so is spiritual enlargement. Life experiences and its challenges are bound to build up structures of restrictions against enlargement, but it takes the training of minds on positive perspectives to wield off all encumbrances. For the church at Corinth, so much encumbrances have been built around church politics, social engagements and relationships, in spite of their spiritual dynamism. But while leveraging on personal experiences and exposure to t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ambassador’s Anthem

  “ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him .” 2 Corinthians 5 : 20 - 21 KJV Just as redemption is the gift of God to man, reconciliation is the gift of man to God. Otherwise, there would not be any need for Apostle Paul’s prayer to the Corinthian church: “ we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” . The gift of redemption through salvation does readily teach the hearts of men to live soberly, righteously, and godly with the finished work of grace; but the hearts of men must be willing to show off this anthem as good ambassadors of Christ. We cannot claim to be Christ’s ambassadors while still exhibiting the attributes of the world, like living in sin and all forms of unrighteousness. If Christ can successfully demonstrate living in this world without sin “ that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

God’s Good

  “ He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6 : 8 KJV Oftentimes, what is good in God’s eyes is not desirable to man. We always want our own stuff, ambition, prospects, etc, not minding the divine purpose for our existence. Like someone rightly said ‘the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why’. Invariably, someone who hasn’t established a friendly relationship with God cannot discover what God is saying about the purpose for his existence. Little wonder the pursuit of man’s good is laced with greed, offences, obstinacy, and deception instead of godliness, obedience, offering, and decency. Rather than pursuing just what to live with in terms of material prosperity, position of authority, and the high standards of life, it is more desirable to know and pursue what to live for…” to do justly, and to love mercy, and to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Timeless Treasure

   “ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4 : 17 - 18 KJV In a culture built and sustained by empirical evidence, it is absolutely impossible for anyone to buy the invisible treasures of hope, faith and confidence in God, especially in the face of boundless alternatives and temporal treasures. For example, vision lacks sustainable passion, marriages lack sincere companionship, and business or career projects lack strong purpose when the only metrics for investment are restricted to SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevance, and time-bound). While the SMART metrics are useful and visible measures, working by faith often invites believers to endure light affliction or persecution to test their faith in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mindless Meddling

    “ After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.” 2 Chronicles 35 : 20 - 21 KJV One of the scary things about ministry is the thin line between ministering for God and ministering with God. When we minister for God, we know what we are doing and are good to go at any time; but when we are ministering with God, only God knows what He is doing and we can’t do anything without Him. While the latter is of desirable interest to all, many people do readily opt for the former with mindless meddling. For example, king Josiah was generally known as a good king that does good in the sight of the L...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sweet Savour

  “ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”  2 Corinthians   2 : 14 - 17   KJV Every contribution in life and ministry commands commendation. Ordinarily, no one set out to labour for condemnation. Therefore, it is normal for everyone to struggle to project his own savour through the understanding of people for appreciation and commendation. And it is understandable why frustration often fills the air when our labour becomes unappreciated. For Apostle Paul, in relation to his labour of love over the church at Cor...
Post a Comment
Read more

More Might

  “ Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah .” 2 Chronicles 32 : 7 - 8 KJV Since more might goes with multitudes in the human economy, it is understandable why conspiracy against the counsels of God in our homes, workplaces affairs, and life projects thrives. People tend to play along with bullies, oppressors, and conspirators on the basis of their might metrics in politics, administration, sophistication, etc, until they are divinely delivered from this spiritual bondage. For example, Hezekiah king of Judah was helped by the Lord to open the eyes of his people to the secret of more might in the arm of the Spirit: “ Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyr...
Post a Comment
Read more