Hurricane Euroclydon Week 47, 2014

It is a fact that wrong decisions in life do not always have immediate bad consequences. Unfortunately the result is that many dive deeper into sin. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil Eccl 8:11(KJV). The glee enveloping many a wrong doing is temporary. Consider the decision by the centurion to set sail from the Fair Havens; flagrantly disregarding the warning from the man of God: A soft wind from the south began to blow, and the men thought that they could carry out their plan, so they pulled up the anchor and sailed as close as possible along the coast of Crete Acts 27:13(GNB). Sailing with the anchor down in the waters is cautious, moving with restraint. Satan cashes in on the fleeting pleasures of sin also to trap many people. Has it happened to you? With a soft wind blowing many pull up anchor, let themselves loose on the wrong way. Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living Lk 15:13(CEV)  . Unrestrained sexual appetites, sensuality, greed, and deceptive income are but a few examples.

It is not stated how many days the soft wind blew, how long the prodigal “enjoyed” reckless living, but as sure as night follows day the joy ride must end, and the bitterness come. O how bitter. It simply was the calm before the inevitable storm. But not long after there came down it a hurricane called Euroclydon Act 27:14(Darby)  . Have you cast off restraint? Have you ignored God’s warning on the direction of life you are living; given by men? Is your ride of sin appearing pleasurable? Ah, a hurricane experience awaits you! A violent wind lurks imperiling not only your property but your life and those under you: turn back. Turn back now before like Samson you grind in prison, as the prodigal you begin to be in want. And you will say, "How I hated instruction, and my heart rejected correction. I did not obey my teachers and did not listen to my instructors. Now I am at the point of utter disaster in the assembly and in the congregation." Prov 5:12-14(ISV) 

Did someone say life is filled with ups and downs, so reverses are natural and no punishments? Consider this: the pleasure is short lived; the torments exceed and wipe out the pleasure and last much longer. The more you fight it, the worse it gets. The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship… We had a hard time holding the lifeboat in place, but finally we got it where it belonged. … The storm was so fierce that the next day they threw some of the ship's cargo overboard. Then on the third day, with their bare hands they threw overboard some of the ship's gear. For several days we could not see either the sun or the stars. A strong wind kept blowing, and we finally gave up all hope of being saved Act 27:15-20(ISV). For those who die in sin it lasts forever. Please look to God now and repent. He waits to have mercy on you.

Decision taking week 46, 2014

How do you take decisions as an individual, or as a leader? What guides you? Consider the issues before the centurion. Even though Paul, a man of God warned "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship Acts 27:10-11(NIV).  Whose advice do you follow at the crossroads of life? Young king Rehoboam was advised to become a servant in the day of his coronation by elders. "If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever." 1 Kgs 12:7(ESV). It was unacceptable to him. He preferred the type that showed him a tough guy, a strong man: he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."1 Kgs 12:14-15(ESV). It was tragic and irreversible in its consequence. Absalom also pandered to advice that made him appear great (2Sam 17:1-14). It cost him his life. Would listening to Paul the prisoner, Paul the preacher, make the centurion look weak? Does it make you look weak to listen to the counsel of Jesus and the Bible? “You are a man (woman) of your own now. Decide as you please.” O how many lives have been ruined because one did not wish to appear weak, dependent on parents or elders! Please listen to the word: consequences of disregarding God’s word are terrible: how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Heb 2:3(ESV). God says “Choose life!”

The pilot and owner of the ship had a different opinion, on the surface it might appear to be sincere; but the next verse throws more light on that advice: Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest Acts27:12(NIV). The right choice (listening to God) is often inconvenient, even unsuitable to many. Indeed when it is put to vote democracy cannot be assured to give the right answer. That saying the voice of the people is the voice of God clearly is wrong in this case. This majority were not listening to God, how would they then be His voice? Never rely on democracy or convenience to tell you God’s mind. After all Jonah’s solution to the storm was also outvoted to no avail. Jonah said, "Throw me overboard, into the sea. Then the storm will stop..." But no. The men tried rowing back to shore. They made no headway. The storm only got worse and worse, wild and raging. Jon 1:12-13(MESSAGE)

Take no decisions based on what is convenient, egoistic, or on the majority decision in a godless society. Decide based on God’s word and spare us all the Euroclydons.

Euroclydon: warning signals Week 45, 2014

Disregarding early warning signals and the intuition from the Holy Spirit is devastating. Consider the outcome in Paul’s time when as a prisoner he was headed for Rome from Myra. The journey started out naturally enough, with a well reasoned decision on the part of the officer in charge. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on it Act 27:6(ISV). Since they were headed for Rome by sea, the choice was sound and reasonable.  But danger lurked. When seemingly sound and reasonable decisions could result in unmitigated disaster God grants us His warnings. Remember the wise men and Herod?

The first warning was in the physical indicator. We sailed slowly for a number of days and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus. Then, because the wind was against us, we sailed on the sheltered side of Crete off Cape Salome. Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens Act 27:7-8(ISV). The second was very explicit. We had lost much time, and it was now dangerous to sail, because it was already after the Jewish day of fasting. So Paul warned them Act 27:9(ERV). Notice Paul used the term “I perceive…” It was not something coming from data or experience or fear. Some people call it intuition, others premonition. And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives Act 27:10(KJV). It isn’t always in the negative, about danger. Sometimes it is a certainty of success within when no clear success indicators are manifest. Emotions come from the soul, and reasoning comes from the intellect. It was not “I feel” (emotion) or “I think” (intellect), but I perceive. Another word would be “I discern”.  Perhaps others felt him superstitious or squeamish from the early roughness. A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated1Cor 2:14(ISV). Basically it comes from the spirit man into your awareness of an imminent danger or whatever else God is passing across to you. It is not the emotions or intellect the Spirit within us bears witness with, but our spirit: The Spirit is witness with our spirit that we are children of God: Rom 8:16(BBE) 

I want to ask you, “Have you encountered this before?” You may ask “how can I tell?” This perception must be separated from indecision and double-mindedness; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways Jas1:8(ESV). No, a clear reasoned decision had been entered. It is also no guesswork or suspicion of anyone. The decision may be a voyage, a business venture, or another thing. Reason alone is insufficient in matters of life: we must spend time before God in prayers to get a word from the Spirit on decisions we take too. People who are guided by the Spirit can make all kinds of judgments, but they cannot be judged by others1Cor 2:15(CEV). Has it happened to you? If so speak up. It would be dangerous to move on without doing so.

The rich wail Week 44, 2014

His car appeared so plain amidst the parked cars even though he was the awaited expert. A senior surgeon had recommended him to the patient and he was invited to a high-brow facility in a posh part of Enugu to see this well connected patient. He looked forward to the task and getting paid. Indeed a call came through from his wife who wanted to buy some bread, and he put the request on “Keep in view” reasoning that the consult would rake in money to get plenty more bread.

The first signs of disquiet came when he observed the medical team around his would-be patient. They were his teachers in the medical school, professors of no mean repute. When the patient was raising the voice against them and they remained mute it occurred to him he was expendable, indeed he told himself “You are the most expendable person in this group.” The patient had a need for Plastic Surgery alright, but also had in association an unusual blood condition which necessitated correction before any planned intervention and though it was explained the patient was in a hurry and demanded an accelerated intervention. Showing the handset with personal telephone numbers of prominent politicians insisted “I don’t have time; can’t you see!” Even his teachers there present who should have supported him joined to urge unprofessional practice. That he wouldn’t take. Rich patients can buy the services of the Professors of medicine; you can’t buy health.  He left without demanding any fee. A brother of humble means should rejoice in his having been exalted, and a rich person in his having been humbled, because he will fade away like a wild flower. For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass. The flower in it drops off, and its beauty is gone. That is how the rich person will fade away in his pursuits. Jas 1:9-11(ISV) 

The high profile tpatient was obviously wealthy. Opulence glared at you there. He saw gold bars men! When she dropped one and he exclaimed her response amazed him. She opened the window through where armed security aides could be seen moving about. “I was happier when I did not have money.” She said, and then burst into tears. He said to her “You need Jesus”. Amazingly she had very weighty ministers on her case, yet did not know the Lord. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself or waste your life? Lk 9:25(ERV)  When he got home that day he said to his wife “The rich do not just cry; they wail” So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes. People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them1Tim 6:8-9(CEV). Are we then saying wealth is bad? We say rather seek after God not material wealth. Tell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment1Tm 6:17