Excuses Week 44, 2012

Are you going for ward evangelism? “No.” Why not? “I have an urgent task to perform after service...” Is it so urgent that you cannot spare ten to fifteen minutes to share with those in the ward? You know that is why we are primarily set up: to minister to those in this environment. “And we are ministering to them now. Are they not free to come to church, don’t we pray for them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord? Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord Jas 5:14(ESV). Do we not get testimonies of their healing? And I think we may even help some of them occasionally materially. We reach out to them.” It is true we are involved in these things, but that is not the primary focus. “What do you mean?” God expects us to cater for their spiritual needs, specifically for their need to be born again. They need to hear the gospel by their bedside. “Listen: you cannot force the gospel down anyone’s’ throat, after all the bible says: The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price Rev 22:17(ESV), so let as many of them come and they will be ministered to. All are free to come; I have never driven anyone away from church.” Look brother: the same Bible which says to them come asks us specifically to go to them: Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: Mat 28:19 (GNB). When the bible says they should come it is not actually the church building it is referring to but to Jesus... “And is Jesus not here?” He is, but we are commanded by Christ to go to them with the message again and again. "Go and stand in the temple and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life." Act 5:20(ISV). “Well I don’t need to be there for the message; you people just go ahead without me. There are more than enough people to go round the wards and minister. If I went with you I may not even get to speak to one person at all.” Haba now, don’t you realise your coming along alone makes you a partner. David said: For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike 1Sa 30:24(ESV). “In that case I really need not come.” What do you mean? “These David’s men did not go along but got equally rewarded, so I will just stay back, look after your stuff and be praying for you.” Stop giving excuses man!

Who are you working for Week 43, 2012

It is this federal medical centre in town. Is that so? How come? My former employers were private people. Very unappreciative human beings like this! They wanted to milk everything out from me and give me peanuts. How do you mean? My conditions of service were just bad. What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes… and you have changed my wages ten times Gen 31:39- 41(ESV). I dumped them fast. It is like you don’t want any sacrifices for this work. Why should I? Is it my father’s work? Whoa, what of your new employer? The pay is better, but the demands on me are too much I beg. No free time. This olu-oyibo sef! You know what I mean; you work for government too. No, I have never worked for the government. What are you saying? Have you changed jobs or what? Are you not working at the teaching hospital? I work at the teaching hospital all right, but I am working for my father. Ah-ah, is your father the minister of health? No. The chairman of the board? No. So what are you saying then? Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people. You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you are serving! Col 3:23-24(ISV) It is a mistake when you term your work olu-oyibo (white man’s service); there is no white man there. We should not work for men... Are you saying we should all set up private practice? Even those in private practice must be careful. The location of your job does not dictate your employer. What do you mean? Some people in government employment are working for their bellies just like some in private practice. For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things Phil 3:18, 19(ISV). What you say is giving room for people to exploit labor, be careful. You are a Christian. I want you to realize that it is impossible to cheat the uncompromisingly righteous who walk by faith. Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people…everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free Eph 6:7-8(ISV). Take your mind beyond the director and see this service for what it really is: an opportunity to serve Jesus Christ. Who will you work for henceforth?

How do you know week 42, 2012

How do I know what? That he’s a highly rated man of God; you seem very excited about his ministrations. Ah the signs are there. What signs? His prophecies are very accurate. Are you sure he hasn’t inside information? With technology now, and a little bit of psychology, I could tell you a lot about yourself which would surprise you. Uncle this one is for real. Is that? He had prophesied increase for me this year, and guess what? My long delayed promotion has come through. You don’t say! Ah wait now. He had prophetic unction about babies to be born to people in our congregation and a childless couple is getting ready to dedicate their new baby. This is for real uncle! Well the details are impressive but accuracy of prophecies is no proof he is a man highly rated by God. You have started again! Is it not written in Act 2:22(ESV) "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst ? What is the sign you need? Do you remember Balaam? Were not his prophesies accurate about Israel, and did he not clearly prophecy about Jesus? Indeed it is written the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." in Num 23:5(ESV). Yet he was given to divination and sorcery (Num 24:1). Balaam was a prophet of God gone astray. None who never knew God could speak from Him. Perhaps you do not know of Caiaphas. The High Priest who arranged to kill Jesus? Did he prophesy? Haven’t you read Jn 11:51(CEV)? Caiaphas did not say this on his own. As high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation. These two accurately prophesied about Jesus yet were disqualified. So how do we tell if not by these? Jesus clearly told us how we know a man is from God: "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheeps' clothing but inwardly are savage wolves. By their fruit you will know them Mat 7:15, 16(ISV). Check out the fruit of his life first. What is happening in his relationships with fellow workers? By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Jn13:35(ESV). This is the way God rates people: not by the measure of unction they display, or the miracles that flow from them, but the measure of Christ- the measure of love- manifesting. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing 1Cor 13:2(ESV). How do you rate in heaven's guage?

48 hours to the exit week 41, 2012

It was towards the last week of August that I went to see a friend’s sick mother at Ntasiobi ndi no nafufu hospital in Trans Ekulu Enugu; precisely on Monday the 20th evening. After seeing her I was led to minister to other patients around. The LORD guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him Ps 37:23(GNB). In doing so I saw this lady lying on her bed. She was young looking but quite ill. I feel she was from a good back ground for she was well painted, and looked psychedelic. A young man was with her whom I thought to be the husband or brother, but on inquiry he smiled and let me know she was his mother. He was the first son and was really taking care of her for in my presence she was coughing out and foaming whilst he cleaned her up. I decided to minister to her. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good Eccl 11:6(ESV). I took time with her and read scriptures of healing to her. I told her life isn’t permanent, that even if one were not to continue in this life there is a higher one above. I shared with her the gospel benefits; that if she gave her life to Jesus her eternity would be assured and that Jesus would also heal her. I took time with her and asked her to pray along with me to receive Jesus; she did because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:9(ESV). Her son claimed to be born again so I asked him to continue praying for her, covering her in the blood of Jesus. I assured them that within two days she would be whole and took their telephone number. I prayed with her over the phone the first night, but by the second night being Wednesday 22 I could not reach her. To my shock first son told me she died that second day. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints Ps 116:15(ESV). I had told her in two days she would be healed, little knowing in two days she was meant to die. What would have happened if I failed to reach her, to preach the word to her and lead her to Jesus? She was buried by the penultimate weekend in September. In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly appeal to you to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach 2Ti 4:1-2(ISV). Monique is an evangelist with the AG

Love is patient Week 40, 2012

How can you say I don’t love him? I give him money... I know you give but love is not equal to giving you know. What! Let me hear. Have you not read: For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son Jn 3:16(MKJV)? But you speak to him as if he were a child, nay as if he were a parasite. How do you mean? Let’s look at this giving of yours. Was it in this ministry you started giving this year. You know the answer to that already. I was giving in EPN ministry before but we had a disappointment so I switched over. What kind of disappointment? I felt the funds were being misappropriated. In what way; was the minister converting the money to his pocket? It was not that kind of misappropriation. You see I was led to believe there was a certain project on hand which needed funds and after 3 months of sacrificial giving, having seen nothing, I gave up on them and started sowing elsewhere. “Started sowing elsewhere”... what do you mean? Well, when I give I have 2 expectations: one is that the project for which I am buying into begins to manifest immediately (You know the saying “ego ji oru” i.e. it is money that holds up the project), and two that I begin to see the effect of the giving on my finances pretty soon. And so when after 3 months you saw nothing of the two you decided the money was being misappropriated? Of course if it was not being diverted to some other assignment how come within 3 months that “urgent project” had not taken off? And why couldn’t you wait to find out if after a while the project would start? Perhaps enough funds hadn’t come in; perhaps it was still in the gestational phase. You could have waited longer. "For three years I have come looking for figs on this tree, and I haven't found any yet. Chop it down! Why should it take up space?" The gardener answered, "Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow. Maybe it will have figs on it next year Lk 13:7-9(CEV). And perhaps that was not a fertile field to sow my money into! Is it not you who shared the testimony of giving in church and God doubling the amount back to you within two weeks? I distinctly remember you saying the minister said all those who give will receive double in two weeks and that it was happening. And in this minister I am seeing the same delay despite my sowing precious seed. My brother the Lord of the harvest has long patience when He sows Jas 5:7. You give all right, but are yet to manifest true love: Even if I give away all that I have…but have no love, I get nothing out of it. Love is always patient, Love is always kind 1Cor 13:4(ISV). Walk in love.

Lessons from the virus week 39, 2012

The virus is an inter-phase between living and non living. On its own it cannot reproduce; it only does so inside living tissue. How does it enter the host? Much the same way sin enters into a man. It has a coat which has receptors that interact with the host cell membrane. Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it Jas 1:14(ISV). If there are no receptors on the host cell the virus cannot enter. The virus presents the coat with the receptors which is attractive to the host. It doesn’t present the enslaving poison inside it. How deceptive! For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me Rom 7:11(ESV). Many people say, “I could never do that! How could someone commit such heinous crimes?” When a cell has been infected by a virus, it takes over the manufacturing arm of the cell. This makes the cell behave like the virus wishes, producing more and more virus cells. But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness Rom 7:8 (ESV). In some cases, as in the cervix, it results in the cell becoming disobedient to controlling signals, multiplying uncontrollably and becoming cancerous. Is a virus the personification of evil? Not at all! Like the virus does not force its way into any cell, so God will not force Himself on anyone. Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together Rev 3:20(CEV). If you have never let Him in He remains outside. When He does come in there is an interaction between His word and our wills which leads to a transformation of our lives: just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him Phil 2:12, 13(ISV). It is by the Spirit He puts inside us we begin to reproduce His kind of life. No one who has been born from God practices sin, because God's seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God 1Jn 3:9(ISV). The greater the viral load the faster the transformation; the more of His Word in you the faster your renewal to be like Jesus Col3:16. Unlike in biology, something controls people always. It could be the Spirit, or the lower nature of sin. So which virus is infecting your life- the seed of God or sin? The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. Gal 5:25 (GNB) Note: This analogy does not mean God and sin behave alike or are equal in any way

True love waits week 38,2012

We love each other and my parents know we intend to marry. In fact my mum supports the engagement. I’m not sure we can wait much longer. Did you not hear yourself just now? It is engagement not marriage. But what can be wrong with it at this level? No one is using or cheating the other and very soon we shall be married. The desire we have for each other is an expression of the true love we feel inside. If you truly loved each other you would wait and not sin. Why?
Was it not Ruth’s mother-in-law that encouraged her to get married to Boaz? Naomi said to Ruth, "I must find a husband for you, so that you will have a home of your own. Remember that this man Boaz, whose women you have been working with, is our relative Ruth 3:1, 2 (GNB). Yet Boaz wouldn’t take advantage of Ruth though they were alone: she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."Ruth 3:14(ESV) and... Aunty that was an arranged marriage; there may have been no passion between them. It was just a sense of duty he felt towards her. See how he repeatedly calls her “my daughter”! Is that what you think? Live as though Jesus will return before your wedding lest you be ashamed at His coming. Besides what will you do if (God forbid) one of you is called home to the Lord before this wedding? Where will the dead spend eternity? What kind of embarrassment will it be for the other? Don’t wish us bad o!
What of Jacob and Rachel? They were in love. Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, "I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel." Laban answered, "I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me."Gen 29:18(GNB). Rachel’s family knew and approved of Jacob, they lived and worked near each other yet true love kept them from seeking intercourse for seven whole years. In fact those years looked very short to Jacob. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her Gen 29:20 (ESV). These few days and months that is looking very long to you such that you want to break bounds; can it be the same love between Jacob and Rachel? Jacob explicitly desired her in bed, for Jacob said to Laban, "The time is up; give me my wife! I want to sleep with her." Gen 29:21(GW) it is natural for such desires to arise when love is there in intending couples... Now you understand me! I don’t. Even though Jacob desired her, had parental approval, saw her regularly for seven years, and was paying his dowry dutifully, he never demanded sex from her. Love exercises self control. It is lust that can’t wait.