The word is supreme Week 14, 2013

The Lord Jesus had many tools available to Him on earth, and I want you to note one in particular: the word. When he was tempted it was the scripture hidden in his heart that he relied upon at each turn to overcome. Every response was laced with “It is written...”. This was no head knowledge alone; I say this because Satan said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you…” Mt 4:6(ISV). Jesus had enough word store to realise Satan was quoting out of context. He interpreted scripture with scripture knowing true application of scripture does not contradict scripture. What of you? Do you have the true sense of the word? Apart from the wilderness notice when he drives out the moneychangers it is because of what is written (Jn 2:17, Lk 19:46): written concerning God’s house, and written concerning Him. When faced with life issues and questions about conduct he points us to what is written originally: They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" He answered them, "Haven't you read that the one who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female..? What God has joined together, man must never separate." Mt 19:3-5(ISV). On such issues it was not a question of what majority of the people believe now. He was not working based on the Gallup poll or any consensus of ideas by anyone. His was no attempt at modernity but a rooting in the ancient, irreversible mindset and plan of God. He said to them, "It was because of your hardness of heart that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives. But from the beginning it was not this way Mt 19:8(ISV) . It is so for every issue for the faith undergoes no revisions. The word of God does not change; His standards are not altered by “modern realities”. Modern man carries an ancient sinful nature. Doubtless Jesus saw a lot before he became incarnate, yet he bases his assertions on the word, not dreams or visions. Consider the Sadducees’ question about the resurrection. In responding Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? Mk 12:24(ESV) and he finishes off by pointing them back to another scripture (Mk 12:26). Even Peter who was with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration does not make what he saw as an eyewitness the ultimate: we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place 2Pt 1:18,19(ESV). The word is above dreams, visions and science; it is supreme.

He is alive Week 13, 2013

“Definitely so: With all the yearly celebrations, and weekly memorials in church services the message and teachings of the greatest man that ever lived has been kept alive. To live on in people’s memory is not to die.” Are you crazy or something? Jesus being alive today is not like Shakespeare or any of his characters. Julius Caesar is well remembered today but he is dead. Not alive like Jesus Christ. I mean Jesus is really still living, His spirit is in me “Yes of course. The spirits of the dead are alive in the spirit world. They do not simply exist in our memory but are active in the spirit world. Even Moses demonstrated in the story about the bush that the dead are raised, when he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all people are alive to him Lk 20:37, 38(ISV). So yes technically Jesus is alive just as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still alive.” My friend, you are wrong. Unlike other religious figures He actually rose bodily. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God Act 1:3(ESV). He ate fish and people touched Him. “Well even if it was so then, what of now. It has been over a thousand years these events took place. Surely you are not suggesting Jesus is bodily alive for over a thousand years and none has seen him in Jerusalem?” Jesus is alive in flesh and bones right now we are talking here. He is sitting at God’s right hand in heaven (Mk 16:19) and has been bodily there for millennia. “You are the one that is crazy. A man alive in outer space? How is he surviving? What space-suit is, he wearing what food is he eating? Wake up man. This is pure fantasy.” The resurrection body of Jesus Christ is different from this one we now have. That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever 1Cor 15:42(CEV). In time to come when he returns this body of mine will be like that. He has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body Phil 3:21(CEV). This fact you call fantasy is what makes Christianity. “I hope you realise what you claim is unscientific, irrational and fantastic.” Science. It was unscientific way back to say the earth is round when scripture referred to the circle of the earth. How many things today were unscientific decades ago? Jesus Christ is alive bodily. Every eye will see him when He returns. Rev 1:7

Cleansing the temple week 12, 2013

I see you jumping around saying Hossana. Do you realise what you are doing? “I know what I am doing. I am welcoming Jesus afresh as king of Israel and my life too. He’s done great works I know very well. He’ll do more (Mt21:14)” Don’t be surprised Jesus brings a cane to your life as he did at Passover. “Well it might be because it was the Passover feast that made several merchants to come there. Or perhaps that year they were unusually many.” I doubt it. Let me tell you a sermon I got from this. Jesus indeed had been there at Passover before, indeed the first time he got to the temple, there was no pursuing of merchants. Instead there was rejoicing the saviour had been revealed in his temple. “At last!” Simeon said “the promise is fulfilled”. What of Prophetess Anna? She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God Lk 2:38(NLT) .The Lord went yearly to the temple at Passover yet drove no one out. The next time he is recorded to speak he is 12 years old and then he doesn’t pursue them either. Instead he is asking questions. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions Lk 2:46(NIV). “Eh it is because he had not started public ministry.” Wait my friend. Did he not perform a miracle when he said “My time has not yet come” (Jn2:4)? Now after the “Hossana” he pursues them. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there Mk 11:15(NIV). There are things God hates in your life until you make him King indeed and he inspects all things you may not realise how much he hates them. After inspecting the temple notice he could not stay there but left. Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany... Mk 11:11(NET). “I see. Well I have crowned him King of my life. He rules everywhere.” You’re his temple; get ready for your own cane: When he whips you, it proves you are really his child Heb 12:6 (TLB). When Jesus is born in a life there is praise and rejoicing, and as the word grows in you he begins to question you and listen to your answers. The conscience becomes alive and sharper. Accepted worldly practices become uncomfortable and there are questions in the heart about them. You may defend them but be amazed at what the Lord is revealing. He is growing in you. When he looks round at all things in you would he will start throwing things out. Have there not been things you had been comfortable with initially the Lord is raising questions in your heart about, how unscriptural, how ungodly and unChrist- like they all are? Following cleansing there is healing Mt 21:14. Expect it also.

The aftermath week 11, 2013

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him Matt 4:11(NIV). There is something I have noticed in scripture and in life. It is that severe temptations and tests precede a promotion by God. This understanding has encouraged me at times of temptation and encouraged me to hold on, not to fall or give in. Jesus held on to God in the wilderness despite temptation. The hunger remained while the tempter was there, but when Jesus remained firm the tempter inevitably had to leave. Many a night has this revelation sustained me: no matter how strong the urge to sin the tempter must leave once you steadfastly refuse to give into him, but submit your heart, mind and body to the Lord. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you Jas 4:7(ESV). It is also true for the tempting season which runs into weeks. Turn your face to the sunshine of the word of God, the shadows of darkness must fall behind. Nay they must flee! But there is more. With every success in resisting the enemy so comes an advance for the overcomer: a crown. When he was through with the tempter not only did angels come to attend to him, but also Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit Lk 4:14 (NIV). Was this an incidental or is it a pattern? Consider Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego. Following their overcoming the test of first privately , and then publicly refusing to bow to an idol at the risk of death, after being delivered from the fiery furnace the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon Dan 3:30(ESV). What of Joseph? After overcoming the repeated temptation of Potiphar’s wife and enduring the prison, he stood before Pharaoh as the next to the throne. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Gen 41:44-45 (ESV). Note the order however: the resolve not to sin, first privately and then publicly, then the fiery furnace (the prison in Joseph’s case), and finally the promotion. Consider such tests promotional interviews. Child of God, are you beset with a tempting and testing season? Refuse steadfastly to give in as you submit your thoughts, heart and fate to God. Focus on Jesus. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. Heb 12:2 (THE MESSAGE). It was this same attitude he had in overcoming all that came his way as temptations and adverse situations. I guarantee you there’s a crown waiting for you. Know this: after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you 1 Pt 5:10(ESV).

Hannah- woman of virtue week 10, 2013

A lot of people talk about The God of Hannah. Perhaps I should say the Hannah of God is also worth talking about. “Why would you want to say that?” you may ask “is there anything special about the woman? I thought God is the one who did it.” It is very true God is the one who did give the child Samuel but consider many virtues in Hanna, virtues I have not seen in some godly women. From the sequence of introduction it is clear Hanna is the first wife and Peninnah the second. He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children 1Sam 1:2(ISV). The Hebrew words used here are also properly translated “the first was Hannah and the second Peninnah”. Often times the second wife is taken for the purpose of childbearing when the first is barren, as with Hagar for Sarai: so Abram's wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant, Hagar, and gave her as a wife to her husband Abram Gen 16:3(ISV). Sarai could not stand the insolence of the maid turned junior wife, and after complaining bitterly to Abram harshly treated Hagar to the extent the pregnant woman fled (Gen 16:6). Hannah bore all the insolence silently. No complaint to Elkanah, God, or the man of God. The most she would do was weep and not eat. This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the LORD'S house, Peninnah would make her miserable, and Hannah would cry and not eat 1Sam 1:7(GW). Imagine being provoked in God’s own house every blessed year. O how many today would demand death or punishment for she who wickedly provokes them to fret. In Rachel’s day Rachel was very jealous of Leah for having children, and she said to Jacob, "I'll die if you don't give me some children!" Gen 30:1(CEV). Not Hannah; no threats or tantrums. No calls for fire either. Hannah’s barrenness was not as a result of sin on her part. Many a virgin has expressed disappointment with God when the fruit of the womb delayed. “God is this how you pay me back for keeping myself pure unto marriage?” some have complained; as though anyone kept herself. It is God who keeps all who stand. Hannah neither left God or charged Him foolishly, or cursed her day. Consider that the sinful excesses of Hophni and Phinehas were well known, but the sins of priests and men of God of her day did not make this radiant example of virtue excuse herself from following Jehovah and seek help from idols and Satan. Instead she makes a vow. "LORD…. If you give your maid servant a son, then I'll give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and a razor is never to touch his head." 1Sam 1:11(ISV). In it she places herself as a bondservant of God; her affliction drives her to God not away, from Him. Her deep need drove her to meet God’s need for a man in Israel. Is it so with you? Are you a Hannah of God?

Turning stones to bread week 9, 2013

And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread Mat 4:3(MKJV). It might appear all that was involved was that the suggestion came from Satan, and that these stones could become bread otherwise. I believe the matter is deeper than that. These stones had a different destiny by God, and He never wanted them as bread. I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones Mat 3:9(MKJV). Did you notice the phrase “these stones”? They are meant to be raised up as children of faith, not turned into bread. What makes me so sure? See 1Pt 2:5(MKJV): you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The stones are meant to be built up for a dwelling place of God, and Satan wants them turned from their purpose into bread. It was you and I Satan asked to be used as bread. Are you bread or a living stone? How can a man be anointed by the Spirit without measure, following the leading of the Spirit obediently find himself hungry, and have no food available? Yet it happens. Many a minister has been anointed by God, anointed and led by the spirit faithfully. To his surprise he finds himself hungry, hungry for money, and the tempter asks him to turn these stones (his flock) into bread. His messages now equate every spiritual exercise and virtue to money giving. Even seed sowing is reduced to giving money alone (and such must be sown into the man of God, not widows or poor also). Their talk? Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything Eccl 10:19(ESV). Some in loneliness become hungry for affection and find unresponsive unfeeling stones around them, and turn their flock into prey. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions 2Tm 3:6(ESV). Immorality follows. Some are hungry for a name. Their own flock are silent as stones. They turn their flock into bread for their ego. They encourage them to boast in their man of God, and quote “man of God” whilst being ignorant of what God himself says. The anointing upon ministers is so that His people would learn to serve and His body would grow strong Eph 4:12 (CEV). They teach the congregation to depend on them, the minister, rather than build the flock’s ability to independently hear from Jesus and be strong. They give the impression that nowhere else can you find spiritual sustenance. Incessant calls from weak members feed their hungry egos. Stones and bread- which is stronger? Jesus performed many miracles in the bible; He never, never turned any stone to bread. Man of God; are you hungry?

Waiting for God week 8, 2013

Having been in the presence of God forty days and nights he did not eat or drink water, indeed he didn’t need them in the period and felt no hunger. It was at the end that hunger came. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he finally became hungry Mat 4:2(ISV). Hunger makes many a man irritable and rash. It was now time to eat physical food, but where was it? He was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him Mk 1:13(ISV) but none had brought him food just yet. Didn’t the father know he needed food now? Hadn’t the appointed time for the fast been forty days? Surely the father would send bread. Saul had fallen in a similar scenario years ago. Samuel had given the time before he would come. Saul was hungry for action, hungry and impatient. He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him 1Sa 13:8(ESV). After all he was the anointed king of Israel, and anointing is anointing not so? Saul forced himself upon the sacrifice1Sa 13:12 (an indication his conscience warned him not to do it). As soon as he finished Samuel arrived, saw what happened and lamented. You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you… now your kingdom shall not continue 1Sam 13:13-14(ESV). So many years later Satan said to Jesus "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread Mat 4:3(ISV). The time is up, aren’t you God’s son, haven’t you been anointed? What are you waiting for? You are a man you know; you need it to live. Command bread! Noah had been shut into the ark by God and rain fell. Now the earth was dry and Noah knew this. Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry Gen 8:13 (ESV). Yet the One who shut him in had not said come out. So he waited until a full month and 27 days when God said: Go out from the ark…Gen8:14-16(ESV). Similarly Elijah had been fed by ravens and drank from the brook by the word of God. When it dried up he waited for God to speak 1Ki 17:4-8. You know what I believe? The angel that was to bring food to Jesus (Mt4:11) must have been delayed at Satan’s instance, just as the angel to bring Daniel’s answer was delayed Dan 10:12-13. Jesus responded, “I am a man alright, but what I live by is God’s word, and until I get it I am not going to presume and take the initiative.” The Son is not able to do anything from Himself, except what He may see the Father doing Jn 5:19(LITV). “I will wait to see what the father has for me.” When you are in need and God has not arrived with the solution do you take your own initiative or wait for God?