Serve the Lord with gladness Week 6, 2026

 

What kind of work is this? It has so many mistakes! My friend, you can do better than this.

Sorry nnayi for the hassles, no offence intended. I was in a hurry and failed to notice them.

Now we have to do this work all over again. We cannot use it.

Why? There are mistakes, alright, but it is manageable. Let’s use it

Manageable! Is that fitting for your private practice or a governor, and you offer it to the king of kings? Is that how you serve God? Mal 1:8(GNB)  When you bring a blind or sick or lame animal to sacrifice to me, do you think there's nothing wrong with that? Try giving an animal like that to the governor! Would he be pleased with you or grant you any favors?" The other day, you were so late, I wondered if the work would be done at all.

Look, I am not being paid for this job; it is entirely voluntary, and I expect your thanks and appreciation, not this kind of harsh rebuke.

I see. Mal 1:13(GNB)  You say, 'How tired we are of all this!' and you turn up your nose at me....Because you are not being paid with naira and kobo, you treat it anyhow. No skin pain, no sacrifice, you must be begged and cajoled to fulfill the role God Himself endowed you to do in His church. Let me tell you: It is for your own good that you serve the Lord. If you think you are doing me a favour by doing this work (let me not say doing God a favour), please stop. Ps 100:2(ESV)  Serve the LORD with gladness!

You mean you don’t want me to do the work? There is no one here who will do it well. You need to encourage people and not discourage them.

I laugh. Listen, and listen well. No one is indispensable. Not I. And certainly not you. Mat 3:9(ESV)  And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. There are still stones ready to be made into sons of Abraham. In fact, the cry of Hosanna will be deafening should you keep quiet! Lk 19:40(ESV)  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” God can never, hear me, can never ever be overcome in His purpose for anyone who holds steadfastly to Him. Est 4:14(ESV)  For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place... And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Not every offering will God accept, and I hope you know this is an offering to God. Stop doing God a favour and start giving Him the very best with all joy. Perhaps you should simply stop.

Nnanyi, you are too hard, too harsh. I thought you were meant to bless me, not curse me.

But I am blessing you. Blessing is not all about sweet words. If you don’t hear these words and progress in error, I would have failed in my duty to you. You need to wake up and move properly. I am sure you have the capacity to do so much better and so gain a full reward from the Lord. Even though I speak like this, I have faith you will do much better from now. Heb 6:9, 11-12(ISV)  Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, things that point to salvation. But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience. 

Homosexuality Week 5, 2026

 

It is called alternate sexuality. Gays are human beings like you who do a whole lot of good and help lots of people. They just love men like you love women

My friend that is very wrong. It is a practice which attracts God’s wrath and judgement Rom 1:27(ESV)  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 

See this your bible is outdated and outmoded. What harm are they doing? They are merely vulnerable people who need protecting

They need protection alright. Protection from themselves. The practice breeds illness. Were they not the ones who bequeathed the world with AIDS? That pandemic is still on.

Watch your words, these are unproven allegations. Your oath is not to discriminate. Life has risks, simply work to reduce the risk, and not force people to change who they are.

Aren’t you being hypocritical? My oath is that my patient’s welfare should be my first concern. What is the threshold of banning a substance for health reasons?

Well, it depends on several factors like clear evidence of harm to humans, the risk-benefit ratio, and availability of alternatives. Those causing cancer have greater restrictions.

Correct. Ano-receptive sex greatly increases the risk of so many diseases. Such persons have 50 times more likelihood of disease entities, including cancers, in that region than those who do not practice it. Of course, HIV transmission is far more common with such behaviour. Monkey pox occurs much more readily in such behaviour.  Gay and lesbian couples report 6 times greater intimate person violence than hetero sexual couples. All these are science proven and reported facts that are in public domain!

Is that so? We need to cut the risks for these vulnerable people…

Listen to yourself.  You called the behaviour alternate sexuality, so clearly the way out is the alternative. You said when a substance is dangerous you go for an alternative…

We are not dealing with a substance here, but the very persona my friend. This is who they are. Just like being black puts you at risk of keloids. Will you stop being black now?

For someone who calls the bible outmoded you have quoted it. Jer 13:23(ESV)  Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. I completely agree it takes a personality change to stop homosexual behaviour. The power to do so cannot come from the homosexual. Repeated attempts result in frustration and sometimes self harm. But we have records of successful change

O wow. Let’s have the records. How?

1Cor 6:9, 11(ESV)   Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality...And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Come to Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit will free you

This harsh tax Week 4, 2026

 

I’m not going to pay it at all, am I a tenant paying rent or what? No announcement or sensitization, just a notice that has technically expired on delivery. This is unacceptable..

My brother the matter is biting. The way the amount is increasing one wonders the motive of the government. I guess we still have to pay. Rom 13:7(ESV)  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 

Why? Are you one of these weak, passive citizens who swallow just anything? 2Cor 11:20(ESV)  For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. This is an unjust tax. In fact I know someone in there who will get me a reduced pay with some arrangement Lk 16:5-6(ESV)  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 

Don’t try that! Do not try that at all. What will become of your witness to the world and that man who joined you? You know nothing remains hidden forever. Just tax or not, the gospel witness is at stake in our response. 1Pt 2:12(ESV)  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Look, brother, I don’t have the money. My finances are so stretched; I can hardly breathe.

Jesus Christ met a situation where the tax demanded was unfair. Mat 17:25, 26(ESV)  And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. He also did not have any money with Him at the time to pay. Mat 17:27 (ESV)  However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” It is correct to point out when policies are wrong and unjust, but like Jesus Christ we must also consider how to avoid putting a stumbling block on people’s path.  2Cor 6:3-4(ESV)  We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions...

So how do I imitate Jesus now? There is no stream or fish here. And I am no fisherman.

Don’t you see? Fishing was Peter’s former occupation, and God miraculously provided by it. God will bless your business abundantly such that through it this tax will be fully met. In fact, since Jesus paid for Peter as well, I prophesy to you a double portion.

Amen! I really have many things to do with the double portion. I receive it in Jesus’ name.

Ah, no. like Jesus Christ that extra is to help another person. Make no mistakes about that

Delivered from cancer Week 3, 2026

 

Some weeks after I had surgery in June 2022, I noticed my stomach was bulging. A gynaecologist advised I allow some months and then do exercises to flatten it. Some folks thought I was pregnant and many assumed I had gotten married and congratulated me. I was scared but the word of God that came repeatedly to me that time was “Though the fig tree does not blossom and ..... Yet I will rejoice.” Hab3:17, 18.Somehow, meditating on that verse caused fear in me. I was wondering what that fig tree that will not blossom is. On Monday 16/12/2022 I dashed off to Good Shepherd Hospital, Enugu to see the surgeon, but he did not know the cause of the protrusion. He sent me for an ultrasound scan which suspected a ruptured ovarian cyst. There was much fluid in the abdomen. My right ovary was said not to be in good shape and its removal recommended. Everything was pointing to surgery which was really scary especially as I am single. Which brother will want to marry a sister with multiple surgeries? I did not know that this was still the beginning of the journey! Thank God my ovaries were not removed hastily. An ultrasound guided aspiration of the fluid for GeneXpert to rule out abdominal tuberculosis, and a chest X-ray were ordered to find a diagnosis and what was causing the fluid. At a point cancer was suspected, and the ascitic fluid taken for cytology. The test revealed it was positive for malignant (cancer) cells. I was also sent for CA-125 (it came out higher than normal) and CT abdomen and pelvis which further confirmed cancer. How would I tell my mum? I walked like a moving corpse back home. Chai, I'm finished. Is this how my own has ended?  My whole life changed instantly. All I saw and perceived was death.

Several brethren encouraged me, prayed for me and pointed me to God’s word. At one meeting  I was praying and cancelling the “positive for malignant cells” that was written on my lab result: I trusted that as I was cancelling it with my biro, God was cancelling it in my life. After praying, I took the result to the altar and spread it there. I thought in my heart to leave it there all night for God to read and attend to it, but in the morning, I decided to leave it at the altar till after the program. I went for Peace House Prayer Watch on 2/1/2023 - 4/1/2023. As the word of God kept coming forth, I was appropriating it to my condition. It was a battle. I kept confessing and believing God, “I will come back here next year and testify.” By 11/1/2023, the doctors were already discussing the surgery and the urgency of doing it. They explained the implications of the results and the extent of surgery. My two ovaries, uterus, and part of my intestine were to be removed urgently before the cancerous cells spread to other areas of the body.  The gynaecologist asked if I was married and done with childbearing. That was a Bomb shell! Every possible thought flooded my mind- “So I am now a man, my dreams of having ejima (twins) are cancelled, no marriage for me again. Did I do wrong to pray for God's will and want conviction before I say yes?” My mother cried on hearing these tidings. We prayed together. We called on several people who joined in prayer.

I went for a job interview the next day, but hardly was myself. In my mind, I went there to distract myself. During one of such break periods, I went on to Peace House Radio, and Bro Gbile was preaching “Behold I will do a new thing..”Is43:19 and later, I had a call with the lead Gynaecologist. During it, he suddenly became uncomfortable with the proposed surgery. He began to question, “What if this is not cancer?” This was indeed the turning point. The possibility of repeating the cytology and some of the tests that I had previously done was raised. That was how the results, which were positive before, started turning negative. During the ultrasound, my right ovary, which was never seen all the while, was visible and fine: both ovaries are fine. “What did you do?” the radiologist asked. It was the same one who did all the scans. What did I do? What did I do that I know? Nothing. All I remembered that I did was that I prayed. I was told to be doing routine monthly scan for monitoring in six months' time. Over 2 years have passed, and I remain healed. Hallelujah! Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mk11:24 (ESV)     

Chinenye is a lecturer living in Enugu

An appropriate response Week 2, 2016

 

Have you heard? Apostle has been deceiving us, he's been sleeping around with women o. Ah, this news coming after Evangelist’s saga! Shame! Wicked, false brethren..

Jud 1:4, 13(ESV)  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ... wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. 

Why are you telling me about them? I don’t think you are responding properly. You are so excited, even happy at their downfall.

How will I not be happy? All these people who spoil the name of Christ must be exposed and disgraced. For too long has the way of truth been blasphemed because of them.

Is that the way you see it? Gal 6:1(ESV)  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Shouldn’t we rather seek their restoration?

Restore what? Don’t you know how many so-called restorations have swept sin under the carpet and exposed sincere sheep to ravening wolves? Wait, are you sympathetic to sin?

I doubt it, my sister. Have you considered 1Cor 5:2(ESV)  And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 

Now you are talking. All such must be removed from among us!

Don’t jump. The first thing is for us to mourn, not be excited and rejoice. Evil has overtaken someone and enslaved them. Mourn. You know, in hindsight, those who rejoice over the downfall of these ministers, and trumpet it, have quite frequently followed suit in falling...

Those ones were in secret sin as well, brother. Their own day came.

Can you listen to me? Our attitude is guided by Gal6:1. The command to keep away from their company in 1Cor5:11 is designed to bring them to repentance, not showcase my own holiness. 2Th 3:14, 15(ESV)  If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. We must mourn, fast and pray, talk less to man and much more to God. Then launch into what will both recover the fallen soldier and protect the sheep. When the Corinthian disciplinary action made the offender sober and repentant, we were told in 2Cor 2:6, 7(ESV) For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow

That is it, when he repents. They probably were never believers in the first place.

Let heaven be the judge of that. I know that, but for grace and mercy, I also would have fallen like them. No, don’t look at me like that. He has kept me from such all my life. I just know repentance is a work of grace and mercy, which are released as we mourn and pray. Shaming, though necessary,  can’t by itself bring a permanent change 2Cor 2:11(ESV)  so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 

Rest for the Spirit of God Week 1, 2026

 

I don’t understand this concept of giving God rest. It is us who need rest. Jer6:16(ESV) Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 

Yes, we indeed need rest, but God also rests. The very first-time rest is mentioned in the Bible, it refers to God Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work... 

Yes. And since that time God has been resting now.

On the contrary Jn 5:17(ESV) says But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”  and there is such a thing as God’s rest. Zec 6:8(ESV)  Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”  We think a lot about us resting, and that is very, very scriptural. There’s rest that can be given to the Spirit of God. Give it this year

How?

First of all, are we still wrestling with His Spirit? Gen 6:3(GW)  Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not struggle with humans forever, because they are flesh and blood...”  Did you notice the Spirit of God rested on Jesus? Jn 1:32(BBE)  And John gave this witness, saying, I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I believe it is because of what God saw in Jesus that the Spirit not only came but rested. And what was in Jesus? Certainly joyful obedience: Ps 40:8(ESV)  I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. When we do God’s will cheerfully and joyfully, like Jesus, we give Him rest. In Zechariah, those whom God sent accomplished His task. Arguing with Him instead of submitting to Him does not give rest. Job 22:21(NIV) Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

This passage talks about you being at peace, not God resting.

Yes, when we give God rest, we also are at peace. Seek to give the Spirit rest in every place He assigns to you this year. Don’t run away like Jonah, or grumble about His will. Secondly some people do God’s will with imperfect hearts and wrong motives. Wrong motives deny us rewards. 2Ch 25:2(KJV)  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. Php 1:15(ESV)  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. Consider Act 13:22 (ESV)  of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ When God was searching, you might say He was not rested. But having found one to do all His will, all His will, then rest follows.

I see. First: joyful submission. Second: full obedience with a right heart. And the third?

Hahaha. Blessings guaranteed: Gen 2:3(ESV)  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Take note of the “because.” Give God’s Spirit rest, you’ll be blessed.

A Carol of Nine Lessons Week 52, 2025

 

What is the point of this carol service? I do not understand it at all...

 It is singing about the promise and fulfilment concerning Jesus Christ coming into the world

My annoyance with the whole carol business is that people in my town finish carol singing and get going into fornication and uncleanness. It’s made me hate carol singing since.

O dear, we must make a distinction between what is good, and those who abuse it. Jd 1:4 (ISV)  For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Messiah. From the very first reading the promise of the saviour from sin who will destroy the works of Satan is  made in the garden of Eden by God. Gen 3:15(MKJV)  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.  Even His virgin birth is implied by calling Him “The seed of the woman”

Okay, so the lessons recount the promises about the Messiah’s coming through the ages.

 Not simply restating the promises but now giving specific clues, and directions. His identity and events surrounding His birth are clearly stated in prophecy. He would come through Abraham, (Gen 22: 17, 18  (MKJV)  that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And your Seed shall possess the gate of His enemies. And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.) be a descendant of King David, and be born in Bethlehem: Mic 5:2(ISV)  "As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, even though you remain least among the clans of Judah, nevertheless, the one who rules in Israel for me will emerge from you. His existence has been from antiquity, even from eternity. 

From eternity? Which man is from eternity. Is this an exaggeration?

Not at all. This uncovers the truth that the Messiah is divine - not a created being, but the Son of God. The readings then connect up with the fulfilment of these promises in the message of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, and how Jesus was born in a manger in that Bethlehem, a descendant of King David and seed of Abraham. Unfortunately at His birth His people rejected Him as they do today. Jn 1:11-14(ISV)  He came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him. However, to all who received him, those believing in his name, he gave authority to become God's children, who were born, not merely in a genetic sense, nor from lust, nor from man's desire, but from the will of God. The Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father's unique Son, who is full of grace and truth.

Mmmh. Nice history. I appreciate Carol Service better now. Thanks.

History? Living reality. The word of God can be made flesh in you right now if you ask Him in. That’s the whole point. The promised Saviour has come. Let Him be born in us today.