Remember Lot's wife week 13, 2012

What really happened with that family? They had escaped the wrath coming upon the city but she fell on the wayside. God was showing all of them mercy at the time of judgement. Unlike Noah who promptly went into the ark at God’s command Lot hesitated: when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him Gen 19:15, 16(KJV). She and her family were marked out for salvation, were recipients of mercy, God limiting the onset and scope of judgement because of them. Yet she did not make it.
How could someone who received mercy still fail to make it? Did you notice something about her when the angels came? But Lot kept insisting, until they finally agreed and went home with him. He baked some bread, cooked a meal, and they ate Gen 19:3(CEV). It says nothing about her. Yes. Quite unlike when the same angels visited Abraham: And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes."Gen 18:6(ESV). Sarah was actively involved in caring for the angels and was actively sought out and blessed. Was it that Lot’s wife held herself back from hospitality, was not walking in love? Arguments from silence are not wise at all. I would say that is a loud silence. What if her husband didn’t request her to do so? That would be strange indeed, an indication of something already wrong.
Why did she turn back? She was minded after earthly things. Her heart was rooted in Sodom. They that observe lying vanities (worship worthless idols) forsake their own mercy Jon 2:8(CEV).Why? No one reported idols in her home. Remember Jesus warned: At that time no one on a rooftop should go down into the house to get anything. No one in a field should go back to the house for anything. Remember what happened to Lot's wife Lk 17:31, 32(CEV). This shows the reason she looked back was her desire for the property left behind in Sodom. Her heart had become bound to them. If we are covetous it serves as a hook on the heart to make us forsake mercy and loose out.
Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. Col 3:5(CEV)

And your household Week 12, 2012

“Why then did Paul make that statement in Acts 16:31(ESV) And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”?” Well I see the man already repentant of his sins and needing to know the way to be accepted; also God expects that when a man is saved the whole household will come to Christ. “Is that really Biblical?” Yes; remember Jesus’ statement when Zacchaeus got converted? Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this home, because he, too, is a descendant of Abraham Lk 19:9(ISV). Jesus shows God’s expectation for the house hold when you believe: this promise belongs to you and your children… Act 2:39.
“Does it mean everyone automatically got saved because they were members of the man’s family?” Of course not. Each one has to have a living faith in Jesus. That’s what happened here. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his home. He brought them upstairs into his house and set food before them, and he and everyone in his house were thrilled to be believers in God Act 16:32, 34(ISV). All heard the word, all believed. God’s word has greater access to the rest of the household when a man believes. The household is a definite sphere of influence and authority. Mark you “household” implies more than blood relations, but also friends and servants that may be living there. It is the life not just the genes. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people who were listening to his message Act 10:24, 44(ISV) . Salvation is beyond family inheritance like we know.
“So it happens because the man is the head of the home?” It happens with women also. Women’s lives can win unbelieving husbands to Jesus 1Pt 3:1-2. The first household conversion in Paul’s missionary journeys was of Lydia, from the city of Thyatira …The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." Act 16:14, 15(ESV). “This must be isolated.” No way! I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well 2Ti 1:5(ESV) .Have you forgotten Rahab through who her father's house hold and all who belonged to her were saved? Jos 6:23-25.

Partnership or Rivalry week 11, 2012

What have you done? You just destroyed his credibility in public! “Don’t look at it that way. I simply used the opportunity of a large audience to correct his error. I spoke the truth didn’t I?” Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ Eph 4:15(ESV). I think you were more after his hide than the truth. “Look these half baked people go around boldly peddling error. They speak utter nonsense and deceive people. They must be silenced, because they are the kind of people who ruin whole families by teaching what they should not teach ... Tit 1:10-11(ISV). He should have come to our school of ministry. ” He neither is rebellious nor was he asking for money. Why glorify your school above the need for networking?
“So what should I have done?” Don’t you think a better approach would be to call him aside? Consider Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John Act 18:24-25(ESV) he was not in Paul’s group, or trained by the Jerusalem apostles, yet when he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, … when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately Act 18:26 (ESV)
They did not see him as a rival despite his not being of their group; what today would be called a denominational rivalry. They did not cut him down publicly or privately though he clearly was in need of correction, they took him into their home.
“Well he became a disciple under them”. I would not see it that way. Jesus never insisted on that. John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you."Lk 9:49, 50(ESV). They simply partnered with him: When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote and urged the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had believed Act 18:27(ISV).
There is a potential in everyone who speaks up boldly for Jesus which must be harnessed. Petty rivalry and glorification of denomination must die.

Attacks after midnight Week 10, 2012

I was trapped in a cell, the bars of the prison held me captive as I struggled. I seemed powerless to break free. The name “Jesus” wasn’t coming from my lips though I summoned them to say it. I said it in my mind forcefully. Slowly I realized it was a dream. I cannot be imprisoned; I am a child of God. “Jesus, JESUS!” startled my wife as I called out in the dream. Coming awake I looked at the time; these oppressive dreams kept coming about 1am. They had become frequent. They were regularly dreams of bondage, or approaching insanity. At another time I jerked awake, “We are under attack!” I told my wife. I could not tell how I knew this as I went straight to the children’s room and laid hands on each of them. Praying; covering each of us in the blood of Jesus. No instrument of war which is formed against you will be of any use…This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness comes from me, says the Lord Is 54:17(BBE).
It had become far too frequent to be ignored. As we prayed, in one dream I saw our house help in a cultist meeting. Did she have anything to do with it? Initially she denied it, and then later accepted. Upon questioning she accepted their meetings were about the times the attacks in dreams occurred. She gave the names of those who gather at the meetings with her. She had been asked to slay one of our unborn children then. I recalled my wife had been unusually ill in that pregnancy. It was definitely the most turbulent. One day I came to the house during working hours in search of something I forgot and met her on the floor. She had suddenly developed severe diarrhea and vomiting. Her cousin said, “Have you prayed?” We did, and got the victory. Despite all attacks the baby had been born well and fully formed, but developed deep jaundice thereafter which later resolved.
What do we do with her now? Do you think I enjoy seeing evil people die?" asks the Sovereign LORD. "No, I would rather see them repent and live” Ez 18:23(GNB). Our pastor counseled that if she showed genuine repentance she could stay otherwise she should go back home. One of her aunties, a deacon, took her to a minister for prayers. A lot of things manifested and she renounced the group, was led through the sinner’s prayer and came back to us. “She cannot hurt us now that we know her history” we reasoned. And so she slept as before with the rest of our children, and continued in family devotions and Bible fellowships for a while. As with all our house helps we allowed her home on some holidays with her folks. Her father returned after the New Year without her. He testified that on the bus station she suddenly refused to return to our house, and he thanked us for looking after her. When I went to collect her transcripts I met one of her classmates who bore one of the names she confessed went on nocturnal meetings with her. The name had sounded strange then.
I still awake about 1am quite frequently; but this time to pray or do other things.