co habitation not marriage week 48, 2012

How long have you been married? Oh, for three years now. Thank you for coming sir. Three years now? My, you are mature in marriage. Where exactly did you wed? We do not seem to have the record in our register. Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way, not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don't know God 1Th 4:4, 5 (GW). I did it on my own sir; we didn’t go to church, she just moved in with me three years ago and we have been living faithfully together since. We’re as good as married; in short we are married. I didn’t want to bother you preachers. I see. Well the B part of the ABC seems in place, and I guess it can be commended, but why if I may ask do you assume you are married? Well sir it’s not like I kidnapped her, she came of her own will. Actually I wasn’t all that keen on settling down yet but it’s good to have a woman in the house. Yes indeed, a woman in the house... what of you people’s parents, do they know of your relationship? You mean our marriage. Hers are in Lagos, and my folks live in Abuja. Well sir they know we are adults and initially we had a few quarrels but everyone understands each other now and we communicate with each other. So they consent in a way. But what about God? The woman that had been married 5 times before and then living with another man was clearly told by Jesus she was not married to him. You have been married to five men, and the man you live with now is not really your husband. You have told me the truth Jn 4:18(GNB). What is my offense? I never maltreat her, she is happy; in fact God has blessed us with the fruit of the womb. Her parents also understand and have accepted it. Like I told you I have never slept with any other woman since she came into my home. I never beat her. What else does God want? What else makes a marriage? Young man who joins a man and a woman in marriage? 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Mk 10:7-9(ESV). Is it the parents that join them? But the parents got them from God. May I say that it is the minister of the gospel that represents God in matters of this sort, so you must come before the minister of God and let God join you properly. Faithful cohabitation is no marriage.

Here in my own town Week 47, 2012

I met Jesus today and I really must tell you He didn’t look at all like the pictures It wasn’t even Sunday and it wasn’t in the church but it was Him just as sure He was a hungry child A sick friend of mine A stranger who needed a home He was a lonely old man who needed a friend, A prisoner who needed a coat And suddenly I knew that I had seen Him before So many times before And that I’d let Him down not knowing it was Jesus Here in my own town Here in my own town I met Jesus today and I really must tell you There was no dazzling lights or angel choir And though I’d read His book it surprised me to find Him in the streets among the weak and the poor He was a hungry child A sick friend of mine A stranger who needed a home He was a lonely old man who needed a friend, A prisoner who needed a coat And suddenly I knew that I had seen Him before So many times before And that I’d let Him down not knowing it was Jesus Here in my own town Here in my own town (These words are the lyrics of a song by Mary Mckee and the Genesis) Mat 25:34-40(CEV) Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me." Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."

Can Jesus fall ill Week 46, 2012

Not exactly; He never was sick, but He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to those sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed 1Pt 2:24(ESV). He bore all our sins. It is us Christians that fall ill. “That’s the point I have been making to you. And no inhabitant will say, "I am sick"; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity Isa 33:24(ESV). A true Christian cannot be sick.” So what do you make of Epaphroditus, he has been longing for all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick Phil 2:26(ISV), Trophimus (2Tm4:20) and Timothy (1Tm5:23)? “Epaphroditus was in need of deliverance. Don’t you know his name means “Devoted to Venus”? Maybe the others were under attack, or lacked faith. Stop making Christians accept ill health Jesus suffered for them to be free from. We are saved from sin, sickness and Satan. It’s part of the salvation package!” I believe very much in divine health and divine healing. Indeed I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth 3Jn 1:2(KJV). I am sure Jesus provided for our healing and God wants all of us well. However true believers sometimes fall ill, just as true believers sometimes fall into sin if you wish to use that comparison. For whatever reasons known or unknown to us, genuine Christians have fallen ill and I’m sure Jesus knew this would happen. That is why He said: When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me Mat 25:36(CEV). Now if you refuse to care for the sick you are not caring for Jesus. “I visit them and pray for their healing...” Remember “taking care of” is different from visiting. It implies doing what the Samaritan did for the wounded man. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him Lk 10:34(ISV). In addition to praying for the sick- which we are commanded- do the practical care. “But I am not a trained health worker; I would hate to mismanage anyone.” That’s exactly the point. The Samaritan did what he knew to do on the spot then handed over to a better trained person. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll repay you when I come back.' Lk 10:35 (ISV). He appreciates even cold water given to disciples; what do you do for the sick?

The 2 week miracle week 45, 2012

He was encouraging us to give in the chapel in Enugu and said: “In two weeks God would have doubled it!” “Now, where in the scriptures is that said?” I wondered. He went on to share the testimony of a young boy who had done the giving and received almost exactly two fold in less than two weeks. He made the balance of double for the boy, bringing that word to pass. He is my very good friend. Indeed this minister is someone I have looked up to since I met him years ago, but I didn’t quite take his statement with assurance. Forgive me but the thought crossed my mind that my beloved brother and father in the Lord had missed it. Now I don’t look at God as a money doubler, and I prefer to avoid giving time limits for God’s reward, but since it is good to give into God’s cause (yes you are right) I gave a good amount. I told absolutely no one what I gave. Being a civil servant without private practice it would be interesting to see how the two week issue would happen. But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."Mat 19:26(ESV). Frankly I was not looking forward to it: that was not the reason I gave the money. Well the following week I got a memo to represent my institution in Lagos for an important meeting. The Ministry of Health asked for representatives of the federal health institutions to attend a one day meeting on a Thursday for the Standard Treatment Guidelines being proposed for national use. Heads of clinical services and medical directors were expected in attendance. For some reason my Head of Clinical Services minuted on the document that I represent our hospital and I was paid the per diem ahead of time. I decided to go by flight and return by flight since I had a preaching engagement in Enugu that Thursday evening. When all expenses were done, it didn’t add up to double what I gave, but what did it matter? It was remarkable to get a refund within 2 weeks. I am God, and there is none like me… 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' Isa 46:9, 10(ESV). When we got there for the meeting an unusual thing (at least for me) happened. The ministry officials announced they were going to refund the travel expenses of all participants, and pay for their accommodation. This was despite our sponsorship from our institutions. So I gave them my flight ticket, but since I made it clear I was leaving that Thursday back to Enugu I got slightly less money. I didn’t need to calculate: I had received double what I had sowed into the chapel in less than two weeks! So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it Isa 55: 11(ESV). I have been to several official meetings thereafter, and more than five years have elapsed, but at none have I been given such double funding. Maybe there is something after all in the pronouncements of an ordained minister.