Wash your hands Week 34, 2014

Are your hands clean? If you look at them now they may appear so, especially if you have had your bath. They may look clean but there are unseen germs which cling to the hands. Everyone has them no matter your profession, gender, educational background or wealth. It is estimated the average individual has 1, 500 germs on an area the size of a sugar cube in the palm of the hand. More germs on the surface of your body than people in the United States of America! Wash your hands.

Diseases often spread from contact with hands and hand washing has been identified as the single most important practice in breaking the cycle of disease transmission in health-care facilities. Clean hands however require not only water but soap as well to truly get rid of germs. A thorough lathering of all the hands with soap and rinse with running water are recommended by the WHO for a standard wash. In the wake of infectious diseases hand washing is being strongly promoted.

Scripture also talks about cleaning our hands. Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded Jas 4:8(ISV). This however refers to something deeper than the hands you see, but our inward beings which are defiled.  Just as our physical hands have germs, everyone has sinned. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Rom 3:23(KJV). Everyone has no matter your profession, gender, educational background or wealth. It is irrespective of the faith you were born into. This germ of sin is worse than Ebola virus; it leads to eternal damnation. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death Rev 21:8 (ISV). Since you have been careful (and rightly so) to observe precautions not to contract diseases have taken time to deal with the more lethal germ of sin? Is your heart clean?

Proper hand washing requires soap and water. God promised a proper heart washing for all who come to Him. The word of God is referred to as water [That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph 5:26(KJV)] and the blood of Jesus is what cleanses the heart from sin. But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death Heb 9:14(CEV). You have done well in promoting hand washing: you need this heart washing too, but only much more.

It is a foolish thing to ignore health warnings and live as though disease transmission is not real: wash your hands. It is deadly to ignore the Bible’s warning – wash your heart. Do it by acknowledging you have impurity within you cannot remove before God, and then call upon Jesus to wash your heart in His blood. You will be clean from the inside out, a candidate of God’s heavenly kingdom.

A pilgrim’s prayer Week 33, 2014

My hands are on the plough O Lord, I cannot look back. Whatever holiness can’t give me, may I never receive. What love, self control and humility keep out of my grasp, may I never obtain in Jesus’ name. Thou hast said “Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself.” Rom 12:10(ERV).  I will do so   my Lord. If that means elective positions and the prime places of honour elude me I welcome it. The life of a man does not consist in the abundance of his possessions or positions. You are my life and my portion forever: Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words Ps 119:57(KJV).

When my money, property and other rights are trapped, and truth with patience and godly sincerity fail to release them, may I forever let them go rather than employ a little compromise; proven though it may be to unlock them for others.

Grant me boldness to speak for the truth with godly wisdom; may I never be silent in hope of receiving favours from any who spurns your precious name. May I stand with Moses: He thought it was better to suffer for the Messiah than to have all the treasures of Egypt. He was waiting for the reward that God would give him Heb 11:26(ERV). Help me to stand alone with you uncompromising with the world’s standards, and yet always realize I am never, and can never be alone in walking with you. I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal Rom 11:4 (GNB). As long as the earth stands there shall never fail to be witnesses unto the Lord who fear His holy name.

May I desire nothing; love not anything, as a close walk with you. All I yearn for is that in the Day you bring forth your treasures I shall be one of them. "They'll be mine," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "in the day when I prepare my treasured possession. I'll spare them, just as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Mal 3:17(ISV).  Yes Lord, for did You not so promise all your obedient ones? And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you are to be my special possession out of all the peoples. For the whole earth belongs to me Ex 19:5(ISV).

My idea of being head and not tail is standing always with you the head. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2:10(KJV)  After all what makes the throne is where the king is seated; not the size or material of the chair.  It is not a promotion to be in any office un compromising righteousness cannot give; no sacrifice to give up what holiness cannot hold. And Lord, if ever I begin to believe I know it all, trusting in my little wisdom or experience, quickly grant me to see again that “If anyone thinks he really knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it”.1Cor 8:2(ISV)  in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Christian fundraising Week 32, 2014

Whatever happened to walking by faith in ministry? Is something wrong with the models of faith ministry in Christian history such as George Muller who raised an orphanage by faith without soliciting funds yet they never lacked? Are those methods outdated, impracticable in 21^st century Christianity with an explosion of ministries crying out for funds, or have we lost faith in God and baptised our lack of faith “aggressive fundraising”? Does God still direct ministers to Zarephath women He has spoken to before time to cater for welfare? Then this message came to him from the LORD: "Get up, move to Zarephath in Sidon, and stay there. Look! I've commanded a widow to sustain you there." 1Kg 17:8, 9(ISV).  Or does God expect you to scatter your needs on several soils praying they land on good soil and grow? I thought it is supposed to be seed i.e. the word of God: The seed is God's word Lk 8:11(ISV). Perhaps you will remind me that God spoke to Moses to ask an offering from His people for the tabernacle. The LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to make an offering to me. Receive whatever offerings anyone wishes to give Ex 25:1, 2(GNB).Is that what we do? How can we explain ten to twelve offerings in a single service?

From a congregation (name withheld) comes this story as told by the former caretaker: “I was there when the minister in charge, curate and guest speaker were agreeing that the goal of this meeting was to raise money. The word of God came alright, but the meeting had a shadow cast on her by the bid to raise money. At the start of the fundraising the speaker requested all those who would sow N100, 000 to stand. Thereafter he asked for fifty thousand, and then twenty thousand. He then said he would stop at ten. Only he didn’t stop. On then until one thousand; and then whoever had not given was urged to go ahead and bring something. Thereafter the names of people who pledged were taken. Money was raised. The way we raise money has given cause for offense. In fact one day during a fundraising a woman cried out “Stop deceiving us!” Ministers sometimes go to give Holy Communion to wealthy men at home (and go back with money in their pockets) whilst sick people who need communion are left out.

But I also know another speaker in the same church who did not do like that. At the end of his message he asked people to decide what they would give, and restrained those who wanted to write down their names. He said that was what God laid on his heart in the hotel room. I testify we raised more money this way.”

Even where less money is raised the second way, which of them better represents the gospel standards? Or can we no longer say with Paul “I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my cause for boasting”? (1Cor9:15)

We do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry. Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities; 2Cor 6:3, 4(ISV) 

Admitting your emotions Week31, 2014

Some Christians believe by acknowledging emotions such as fear, uncertainty, and unhappiness their faith walk will be spoiled and their victory lost. But Paul shared similar concerns with the Corinthian believers: For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about the suffering we experienced in Asia. We were so crushed beyond our ability to endure that we even despaired of living 2Cor 1:8(ISV). If we should never admit negative emotions how come Jesus acknowledged them? Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Mt 26:38(NIV). Certainly Jesus walked by faith. He acknowledged them, and then brings them to His father in prayer. Indeed He asked the apostles to pray with Him! Imitate Jesus: that is Christianity. “How can I admit such to younger believers? Will they not be discouraged?” You may ask. Remember He was making disciples of them and they all looked up to Him as the Master. When we refuse to acknowledge such in our lives how can we help those who face the same things? Admitting to fear need not erode faith. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Ps 56:3-4 (NIV). Admit them before your Father and receive strength; call up faithful brethren who will support you in prayer.

What of unexpected turns of events? A well known evangelist once handled sexual immorality among her staff by denial. She pretended it didn’t happen. Sadly that never made it to go away. Even Jesus acknowledged the reality of problems but trusted in God. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead! I am glad that I wasn't there, because now you will have a chance to put your faith in me. Let's go to him." Jn 11:14-15(CEV).  What of Abraham the father of faith? Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Rom 4:19-21 (NIV). Faith faces facts squarely; faces them with the promises of He who cannot lie. Faith acknowledges the reality of the problem and presents the oft unseen certainty of God’s involvement.

It is not lack of faith to admit uncertainty about events. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. 1 Thess 3:5(NIV). What is faithlessness is when we express uncertainty about the love of God. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love Rom 8:38(CEV).

Do you ignore problems in your home and relationships’ saying nothing is amiss?