Delivered from death Week 49, 2025

 

“You don’t understand me, doctor,” she said. “I cannot stay here.” “Why?” We inquired. She was a trauma patient in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, having suffered an acute kidney injury complicated by sepsis. A while before this, she was rushed to the hospital following being crushed by a heavy vehicle. The impact was mostly on the left lower limb, which was temporarily trapped. There was no apparent bone breakage, but the muscles were badly crushed. When she came, we did our best to save the limb, but it became clear the measures were not working. The injury was too much for the survival of the limb. We had also gotten talking about spiritual matters, and she would not give consent for amputation; however, a few days later, when it became clear her own life was threatened, she gave consent, and an above-knee amputation was done. We must separate the dead limb from the living person lest the living move towards death. Since the consent to amputate was given late, complications had set in. The kidneys were shutting down acutely, and infection had also set in, hence her admission to the Intensive Care Unit.

Rather than improve, her condition worsened with bleeding from the rectum noted. When the General Surgeon reviewed her, he decided to explore her in theatre urgently and stop the bleeding. We urged her to consent to this surgical procedure to save her life. Instead, she said,” No! I must get back to the ward.” I pleaded with her that this was a life-saving move, that the ward was not the right place for her now. She still needed to be in intensive care.

“I cannot stay here,” she insisted, “I have dreams that I died here, and there is no one to pray with me. All my relations are kept away from me here. I must leave this place.” The anaesthetist said to her, “He is a priest: he will pray with you.” Having received such an opening, I then led her to Christ in a sinner’s prayer. The anaesthetist and her mother joined in the prayer. I rejoiced not only that she was being led to Christ (whatever happened now, she was safe for eternity), but the anaesthetist whom I had occasionally witnessed to and longed to lead to Christ was praying to receive Jesus also. 1Jn 5:13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Then I boldly laid hands on her and requested her recovery. Mk 16:17-18  And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name ... they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. Before I left, we decided to grant her request to return to the ward since her oxygen saturation in room air was acceptable. The rectal bleeding stopped. Within two days, the General Surgeon reviewed her and decided there was no further need to operate on her. Jesus had stepped in. She had a new birth and was delivered from premature death also. 3Jn 1:2  Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 

She spent some weeks in the ward to be fully healed of the amputation stump wound and was discharged. She has continued to do well post discharge

An Entitlement mentality Week 48, 2025

 

What’s that? Big, big grammar is your middle name.

Let me put it like this from the internet: it is the belief that one deserves special treatment or benefits without earning them, so that the person is convinced he must get things like money, material goods, and the help of others.

Wait, hold on. Don’t we all deserve help? Isn’t that what Christianity is all about?

Special treatment. Special treatment that you have not earned. Christians see what they have as mercy and not deserved. 1Cor 15:9-10 (ESV)  For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.

You are accusing me of an entitlement mentality because I asked for your help!

Why? You help me also, I was going to read out the characteristics for you. Do you believe you are owed certain privileges or are exempt from rules that apply to others?

Sometimes 

Are you thankful for what you have, or do you take the kindness and efforts of others as a must and not a favour? Are you disappointed and angry when your expectations aren't met?

Lk 4:23. 27-29 (ESV)  And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”  When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.  And they rose up and drove him out of the town...

 I think you need to be careful.

Do you strongly focus on your own needs and desires and not care how your actions affect others? Do you refuse to take personal responsibility for failures or mistakes, and instead blame external circumstances or other people? You know, the village people...

Whether you accept it or not, we have enemies. Jesus says so. And it is not good for your mental health to keep blaming yourself now. Guilt is a well-known source of depression.  

Unresolved guilt. The repentant acknowledge their fault Lk 23:41(GW)  Our punishment is fair. We’re getting what we deserve. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 

Finally and importantly, do you want the rewards of success without putting in the necessary work, preparation, or process? 2Th 3:11, 12(ERV)  We hear that some people in your group refuse to work. They are doing nothing except being busy in the lives of others.  Our instruction to them is to stop bothering others, to start working and earn their own food. It is by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ that we are urging them to do this. 

I think you are misunderstanding me and are making it difficult for me to ever ask for your help again. Even you, are you sure you don’t have an entitlement mentality?

Why did you decide it is you I am referring to? Is there some attitude you must correct?

Grow your giving Week 47, 2025

 

Thank God for givers like you. We are blessed to have you around. God will reward you.

And you also. You can also give. We all ought to…

I doubt if you are correct. In the church, there are givers, and those who pray, and others who support with their physical strength. I support and encourage people.

Goodness! Where did you get that teaching?

It is there in the Bible now.  Act 3:6(GNB)  But Peter said to him, "I have no money at all, but I give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I order you to get up and walk!"  He did not have money, but power. And there were those who had money too. Acts 4:34(GNB)  There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale,

What about those who pray?

Ehmm, I think everyone was praying...

You are making a big mistake here. There is no one God intends that he should sit down and just be receiving money from other brethren and not give also. Even Levites in the Old Testament gave a tithe. Num 18:26(GNB)  to say to the Levites: "When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that the LORD gives you as your possession, you must present a tenth of it as a special contribution to the LORD.

But I pay tithe...

Give tithe, not pay tithe. But that is not the point. If some are meant to be giving and others receiving, why would Jesus say to every disciple, “give and it shall be given unto you”? They were giving to the poor also. God’s plan is for all of us to develop the grace of giving.

I didn’t know you are a prosperity preacher. You have changed.

I have not! I am not preaching that we must all be millionaires or that God’s favour must be seen in money. But you cheat yourself by deciding you are to be on the receiving end, and others will be giving you, while you pray for them and bless them. How will you experience Acts 20:35(GNB)  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Or are you happy to be the weak one for all time?

Like I told you, my giving is in other areas. I am a giver, too. Those who God has blessed with wealth are the ones to give money 1Tim 6:17(ESV)  As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy

That is not exactly so. Your other giving is valid, but have you considered the Macedonian Christians? Poor as they were, they were intentional about helping the saints in Jerusalem financially. And Paul by the Spirit says to all in the church, not just those who are rich: You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking ability, in knowledge, in the willingness to help, and in the love you learned from us. So now we want you to be rich in this work of giving too. 2Cor 8:7 (ERV).  You are intentional about increasing your prayer stamina and witnessing to others. You must intentionally increase your giving, too.

He values your gift Week 46, 2025

 

I notice you are not going out to give; did you make your own contribution online?

Online ke! Please don’t mock me. Not everyone is like you.

Well, no offence meant, everyone is going out to give something, and I come back and meet you still here: no shaking, eh?

See, there’s no point in my going out. I don’t have anything to give... don’t look at me like that. It’s not that I don’t know we should give, but what I have is very, very small. I mean, the money counters are just going to use my offering to make a mockery and tell people, “In this day and age - see what someone brought as an offering”. Let me hold my peace

Excuse me. Are you giving to the money counters or the Lord God?

What I have to give will make no difference at all in the budget. Didn’t you hear the amounts being mentioned as what we need to get for the church for the year? God is raising people who will give the money. My own role for service is elsewhere. I will respect myself, please.

You are getting things wrong here. First of all, we are not actually called to give to the church primarily but to God. 2Cor 8:5(ERV)  And they gave in a way that we did not expect: They gave themselves to the Lord and to us before they gave their money. This is what God wants. Okay? And the lord himself loves your giving from the heart cheerfully!

Even this tiny amount?

Look, God values what you give very differently from the way man does. It looks small in your eyes, but to Him who really matters, it’s quite big. Mk 12:43-44(ERV)  Jesus called his followers to him and said, "This poor widow put in only two small coins. But the truth is, she gave more than all those rich people. They have plenty, and they gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had. It was money she needed to live on."  It’s going to be the biggest offering here today but you aren’t seeing that yet. Go ahead, it will bring God glory and pleasure.

Mmhh, that is not all the money I have to live on shah. It’s just very small. Alright, since you put it that way. I agree God accepts it and sees it differently. But what good will it do among so many needs? It won’t even transport the things from the market … Jn 6:8, 9(ESV)  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 

O you of little faith! God has use for it. Give it to Jesus. Mat 14:17-18(GNB)  "All we have here are five loaves and two fish," they replied. "Then bring them here to me," Jesus said. When He blesses such gifts miracles happen. What if the young lad had withheld his lunch that day? We must never be ashamed to give what we have because it looks small. It is what you have that is acceptable for you. 2Cor 8:12(WEB)  For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

Well spoken, my sister. It’s too late. The time of offering has passed ….

Who said? Bring that amount, let’s send it forward. It isn’t late at all