A foothold to Satan Week 35, 2015

Just hearing of it was painful. After all night prayers the minister entered the vehicle with members of his family to drive a long distance. On the way they crashed into a stationary vehicle. What happened? He had slept off on the steering wheel. Precious lives were lost. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints Ps 116:15(KJV). Several years back a man of God with members of his family crashed whilst in a private airplane. An inquiry discovered the plane was carrying well beyond what it should. It had been overloaded. Lives were lost. Was it Satan? Does God protect His own no more? I recall the woman of God who was pouring kerosene into the chamber with the fire still on. It exploded leaving her badly burned. She died from the injuries and went home to be with the Lord; as did all the others. 

May be it was the time to go home, but could that be how God intended for them to go? No act of sabotage on any vehicle, no terrorist throwing bombs either, but such are clearly avoidable. If it was Satan then I guess we gave him a foothold, an opportunity to wreak havoc and bring anguish on all: and do not give the devil an opportunity to work Eph 4:27(ISV). A man handling a faulty gas cylinder in the living room didn’t heed the advice to do it outside. It exploded, drew flames from the kitchen and wiped out his family and guests. Some blamed it on idols burnt about 30 years back. We had a hand in it please.

It is not only when angry that we give an opportunity to the devil. When we deliberately ignore safety precautions we court danger.  When petrol explodes in naked flame it is merely doing what God created it to do. It doesn’t need a demon to get it to do that. When an overloaded vehicle with bad tyres is on top speed and suffers a burst tyre and casualties I would put the blame on man. Squarely.

Safety precautions were observed by Jesus Christ, and no man can dare accuse Him of faithlessness. After this, Jesus traveled about in Galilee, because he didn't want to travel in Judea, since the Jews there were trying to kill him Jn 7:1(ISV). The word is repeated in Jn 11:53-54(ISV). So from that day on they resolved to put him to death. As a result, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he went from there to a town called Ephraim. Was He afraid? Definitely not. He had this balance of faith and watchfulness. 

Recall His response when after fasting for forty days Satan wanted Him to jump off the highest point of the temple and quoting the promise of God to protect Him. He told Jesus, "Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, because it is written, 'God will put his angels in charge of you,' and 'With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'" Jesus responded to him, "It is also written, 'You must not tempt the Lord your God.'" Mt 4:6-7(ISV).  Now I mean not that these brethren sinned against God and listened to the devil. How dare I pass judgement on the Lord’s servant? But beloved I mean that we need to observe safety precautions lest we give Satan an opportunity.

Tychicus Week 34, 2015

We first hear of him in Acts 20:4 on Paul’s fateful journey to Jerusalem as one of his companions. Sopater (son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia accompanied Paul Act 20:4(GW). His name means fortuitous (or fortunate); we shall be blessed and indeed fortunate having such a believer about us. A close confidant of Paul’s; indeed the closest of all those we know.* This is he that Paul wrote of saying Tychicus will tell you everything that has happened to me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.  I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts Col 4:7-8(ISV). 

Many a minister has been betrayed by close confidants.  Some fear to give other up and coming believers the pulpit or the charge of the congregation in their absence fearing a “coup”. How many trusted men of God have secretly nursed the congregation under them for the take-off of their personal ministries when the occasion became “ripe”, as when an imminent fallout with the overseer and superintendent looms. Is this why so many ministries require a separate oath of allegiance not only to Jesus Christ but also to the founder/bishop/overseer? Would God more follow the example of Tychicus. Entrusted with the details of Paul’s struggles and imprisonments he did not set about to displace Paul from the headship of the churches. David had his 3 mighty men; unselfish valiant soldiers who laid down their lives and exercised their faith to accomplish the work of God through David. Paul was blessed (fortunate) to have men like Titus, Timothy, and Tychicus. I see no struggles for supremacy or authority recurrent among the 12 apostles whilst Jesus walked on earth. But they kept silent, because they had argued on the road with one another about who was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve, and told them, "If anyone wants to be first he must be last of all and servant of all."Mk 9:34-35(ISV).  Nor was he like Demas, abandoning the service for the love of this world. A versatile minister at home with ministering to Paul and capable of handling churches in diverse cultures and challenges. He was safely sent to Ephesus, Colossae, and waiting on the wings to get to Crete [As soon as I send Artemas to you, or perhaps Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis Tit 3:12(ISV)]; and in the closing days of Paul’s life back to Ephesus. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus 2Tim 4:12(ISV).

Doubtless we shall see more of him in heaven.

Can men share their temptations with me and find prayerful strength and no betraying gossip? Can I be a Tychicus: a confidant and strengthener of men? Who knowing the travails and weaknesses of great men never exploit it but are faithful? Am I ready to be posted anywhere? Are the brethren fortunate you are there?

*Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible

Take off your shoes (2) Week 33, 2015

“I was so blessed by that word you shared on taking off one’s shoes.”

Oh thank God I hope you have been doing so.

“Actually I wanted to share with you some fresh insight on it...”

Something different?

“Yes. You shared on the need to take off our shoes when coming into God’s presence. It is also necessary to take off our shoes before saints and disciples.”

True. We need to trust each other...

“There is more than not needing to protect ourselves. Have you noticed what Jesus did and did not do in Jn 13:4-5(GNB)?  So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist.  Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. ”

He washed their feet. What didn’t he do?

“He never took off their shoes for them. Everyone did that himself. We need to take off our shoes so that we can wash one another’s feet.”

Explain a bit more. How does that work out practically?

“Consider Jas 5:16(GNB) So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. We need to obey this scripture by opening up and sharing what is happening in us so we can get help and be healed; not just physically but emotionally, and even financially. So many of us want to be macho and not allow people realise the struggles and turmoil we face.”

Thank you. The preceding verses tell us to call for the elders of the church. Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders…Jas 5:14(GNB)  It goes well for baby Christians and new converts but how do we do this with mature men who have been in the race for a while? Whoever does this?

“Paul did. He opened up to his children in the faith, not only to elders in the church. My friends, I want you to know what a hard time we had in Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so unbearable that death seemed certain. In fact, we felt sure that we were going to die. 2Cor 1:8-9(CEV) 

In fact Tychicus seemed to have the task of explaining Paul’s situation to others. I want you to know how I am getting along and what I am doing. That's why I am sending Tychicus to you. He is a dear friend, as well as a faithful servant of the Lord. He will tell you how I am doing Eph 6:21(CEV)”

 I get the point. So how do I wash the feet when you have opened up to me? This openness must be to such faithful servants as Tychicus; don’t you agree?

“Oh, easy. Like the James passage says we should pray for one another. Paul also shared it so he could be prayed for among other things. Please help us by praying for us 2Cor 1:11(CEV). It releases much power when we thus pray for each other. Many a Christian have stumbled and become a casualty for closing up.”

When power changes hands Week 32, 2015

I did not have plans for this office. I was one of the younger consultants and the he already had people who deputise for him when he is away. So I was surprised when the Chairman Medical Advisory Council (CMAC) of my Teaching Hospital approached me to cover him during his leave. Initially I was considering rejecting it; I had a lot on my hands. I made it clear to him I could only offer 3 days in a week and requested he inform the Medical Director (MD) as such. He agreed and so I started to act for him. I quickly realised 3 days a week was not enough for the work. It was either I did the work properly and came every day, or not do the work well at all. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men Prov 22:29(KJV).

When his leave was over he didn’t return to his office. Instead he gave notice to leave the hospital (even though he was eligible for a second tenure). I can’t blame him actually. He was on “loan” from a federal teaching hospital and such places were now on a salary scale about twice ours in the state. I continued to act for him without any entitlements, and even though the vacancy had been advertised for political reasons no name had been submitted for ratification. I was the only one who expressed interest in writing. After several months a new board was inaugurated and I requested the MD submit my name for confirmation. A proposal was made to give me a letter backdated to the commencement of my acting capacity. That would mean I was soon to leave the office. I had been doing the work without the benefits and since payments in arrears were no longer done it would mean losing out both ways. When the letter came it was silent on the date. I was thus confirmed as the CMAC.

The MD had an uneasy relationship with the new board, but he would not give me details. In fact I protested to him once that I was being kept in the dark; how would know how to show loyalty to him? He had made a proposal to the board that the MD be paid the same as those in federal institutions, and CMACs 75% of that. It was approved since the institution had begun paying doctors at par with the federal. The crises engulfing the MD came to a head with the staff wearing black and demonstrating against his tenure. He was forced to go on leave and handed over to me since I was the CMAC. He actually applied to have his accumulated leave intending to return to his position when things had cooled down but the board would have none of that. After his annual leave he officially left the office of the MD and I took over in an acting capacity with full benefits.

No compromises, no connections, no god-fathers or appeals to any. Just God.

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him Eze 21:26-27(KJV). 

Chijioke is an orthopaedic surgeon with Imo State University Teaching Hospital