The price of truth Week 22, 2017

It was becoming too much – this sycophancy. God would not be pleased at all. I was privileged to pastor the wife of the military administrator back in the early 1990s.  We had a fellowship group there in the government house meeting on Thursdays. I would bring many a Pentecostal minister to come and preach the word and participate in fellowship. To my amazement, even though there was much suffering of the populace under the army, they would all praise her husband and tell her he was the best thing that happened to the State. These people are complainers and faultfinders, following their own desires. They say arrogant things and flatter people in order to take advantage of them Jud 1:16(ISV). They made a lot of money out of her. A lot.

I was careful not to take anything from her. What I may say I gained from there financially is that when I wedded I was helped with transport during the traditional rites and assisted also for the white wedding. Yes her tithes were in thousands, which was a lot of money in those days, yet I was particularly careful to maintain integrity. None of the tithes ever went home with me; they were duly submitted to my General overseer. That did not seem to be the same with the ministers of the gospel around me. Once when I invited her over to my church during the program my general overseer praised her husband so much. My eyes met with hers in the midst of it all: we both knew it was insincere.

Her husband never joined us in the fellowship. He would pass us by the corridor and laugh mockingly at us. I never had audience with him until 6 months after the fellowship started. Their only son took ill with a high fever and very late at night an official vehicle was sent to bring me to Government House. I stood in his presence in the bedroom and he asked me, “Man of God what do we do?” The boy was whisked out of the country the next day.

When I couldn’t take the hypocrisy again I openly told her in the fellowship “Please ma if you can talk to your husband do. The people are suffering, salaries have not been paid. This government is the worst!” That was the last fellowship I ever attended. I waited in vain for the official vehicle to pick me the next Thursday and none came. I had a pass to the government house, the one with which I had been entering all this while. I went with it on my own and presented it at the gate. I was informed, “This pass is no longer valid sir”. I could not enter. Others went for the fellowship and that is how it all ended, but I give God glory as I left the government house with virtually nothing. Our appeal to you is not based on error or impure motives, nor do we try to trick anyone. Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives1Thess 2:3, 4(GNB).

What price are you willing to pay to speak the truth? What risks are you ready to take as a minister to preserve your position or be true to your calling?                    Victor is a missionary in the southeast

That which is born of flesh week 21, 2017

When making clear to Nicodemus the unchanging law of becoming part of God’s kingdom Jesus said “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” Jn 3:6(ESV) . Now whilst it means a person is born physically of human parents, but is born spiritually of the Spirit Jn 3:6(GNB), there are deeper meanings, and several messages God conveys by that statement. One of them makes me tremble. Each time it comes to me I fear. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: any action, any activity, any service born of the flesh, is flesh. It won’t get into the kingdom of God. Its fate is to be burned by fire. That which is born of the spirit is spirit: all activity and inactivity, all service and worship springing from and motivated by the spirit is spirit. It will get into the kingdom of God and be rewarded. What does born of the flesh signify but born of the sinful nature? Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God Gal 5:19—21(ESV).

Consider such activity as giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. Jesus clearly indicates they may be born of the flesh or of the spirit. "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” Mt 6:1(ISV). Do you recall when Jesus said not all who call me “Lord, Lord” will enter into the kingdom? They were workers of iniquity. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!'" Mat 7:22, 23(ISV).  Their works sprang from the flesh. Therefore, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise from God 1Cor 4:5(ISV).

Even such tasks as preaching are not spared. Listen to this: Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment Phlp 1:15, 17(ESV). Yet we are warned in Phlp 2:3(ESV)  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. Nothing. I would like to ask you beloved, “What prompts your activities”?

Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward1Cor 3:13, 14 

The secret of contentment Week 20, 2017

When Satan asked Eve "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" Gen 3:1(ESV)  it was not because any of them doubted the answer. There is a complete difference in his approach and thrust from God’s own when He made His statement. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Gen 2:16, 17(ESV). When God spoke the focus, the things that get to you are the many things you have. You may surely eat of every tree of the garden ...That only thing which is kept from you has a terrible consequence. Think of what you have. Satan’s words direct you who have been given enough, and are well protected, towards what it is you do not seen to have. Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree...’ Lack of contentment naturally follows. Once Eve’s attention was taken away from all she had to what it seems she doesn’t have Satan goes ahead to convince her she needs it, and the attempt to deprive her of it is unjust, a lack of love. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God Gen 3:5(ESV)  He also claims no ill consequences will follow. You will not surely die Gen 3:4(ESV).

Lack of contentment is bred in the soul that looks away from what God has freely given to enjoy to that which God has in love kept away. Have you noticed God wants us constantly to look at that which we have and give thanks? Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb 13:5(ESV)  What is it that we have in this passage? It is not ‘just enough money to get by’. It is not material. What we have is the abiding presence of the all sufficient God; the promise never to leave us by He who cannot lie. "I will never leave you nor forsake you." It’s not a what, but Who. Never lose sight of that. The secret of contentment is never what we have but Whose we are and Who we have.
God, to whom I belong and whom I serve Act 27:23. That’s what lack of contentment says of God “You are a liar, your promise is not true”. It agrees with the devil’s statement at the Garden of Eden. Friends this is why God says to the soldiers (reputed to be poorly paid) when they repented in Palestine to be content. Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."Lk 3:14(ESV).  This is why we can say truly I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content Phil 4:11(ESV).

So when next you feel discontent count the things God is doing and has done concerning you. Then ask “is God still with me?” How will we know the answer to this? Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him Jn 14:23(ESV). What has God said to me in His word? Am I doing it still? Have I neglected any of it? The secret of contentment is not what I have but who I have and whose I am! Once I am keeping His word definitely He is with me.

A new Earth Week 19, 2017

Scientists have predicted the sun will burn up the earth in future. By their calculations the earth will become hotter and hotter, and as the sun ages the heat will destroy the earth. The lifestyle of man on earth is also a great threat to its continued existence. Both these scientific facts make it clear we cannot continue here forever. We also know there is a search for inhabitable planets, for a new earth. Recently new planets about the size of earth 40 light years away have been discovered. We know from science man cannot stay on this planet forever, and the future of the human race lies in a new home.

But the Bible has said this so many centuries ago. Centuries before science accepted the earth is global and the earth moves round the sun, or that the universe is expanding the scriptures had made all this clear.  It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in Is 40:22.  Hear what is prophesied about the fate of the earth in the Bible: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up 2Pt 3:10. It also tells us we need a new earth where attitudes and behaviours are different. But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells 2Pt 3:13.

What else does the Bible say about the end of the world? The Bible records the earth was once deluged by a worldwide flood, and by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly2Pt 3:7. Since the Bible has so truly and accurately predicted these we must take its message seriously.

In the new earth that will really come only righteousness dwells in it. And though we die all of us will be gathered for judgement before the just creator of the universe. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment Heb 9:27.  On that day no one will be excused. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done Rev 20:11-12. 

The only righteousness any one can have is that given as a gift. A gift obtained by Jesus Christ by taking the punishment due each of us for our wrong doings and wickedness. For if, through one man, death ruled because of that man's offense, how much more will those who receive such overflowing grace and the gift of righteousness rule in life because of one man, Jesus the Messiah! Rom 5:17.  Come to Jesus Christ today, turn from evil, and ask Him for this priceless gift of righteousness He died and rose again to provide for you.