FAITH. (Part 2)
Joseph the son of Jacob ( Israel).
We started our discussion on faith with the life of Abraham.
Today we are going to look into the life of Joseph.
I had to distinguish this Joseph from Joseph the foster father of Jesus Christ.
Joseph was the son of Jacob which his beloved wife Rachel, bare to him after years of barrenness.
Joseph was the first child of his mother Rachel, but the eleventh son of his father Jacob, out of twelve sons. He was loved by his father who made him a coat of many colors.
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him".
Gen 37:3-4 KJV.
Of course in such a large family there has to be rift, so Joseph's family was not an exception, his brothers hated him because their father loved him more than them and because he brought evil report about them to their father and they hated him even more because of his dreams.
"These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report".Gen 37:2 KJV.
Just like everyone of us, was created with destiny and purpose. Although as a young growing man he did not understand this.
He was gifted in dreams but didn't understand, so he shared his dreams with his brothers. It is important to know who you share your dreams with, some people may pretend to be happy for you but in sincerity they are not. I've been a victim a few times, sharing dreams with someone I regarded as a very close friend but was spiritually attacked afterwards and I learned a great lesson from it, thank God our Lord Jesus Christ delivered me.
"And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more". Gen 37:5 KJV.
"And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words".Gen 37:8 KJV.
Joseph's brothers hated him so much that they conspired to kill him. What wickedness will make one want to kill his own brother.
Yes, they were bitter towards him, they were envious of him and his dreams and they said let's kill him and see what will become of his dreams.
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.Gen 37:18-20 KJV.
They had it all planned out but Reuben stopped them saying, don't kill him, let's not shed blood instead let's throw him in the pit, he intended to rescue him afterwards.
Can you imagine that Joseph was seventeen years old at this time, a teenager with bright future ahead of him and yet his wicked brothers out of jealousy decided to kill him. Thank God we serve an awesome God who said he will never leave us not forsake us. God saw the innocence of Joseph's heart and decided to deliver him from his brothers.
Rom 8:28 says, "......all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Joseph's brothers eventually threw him into a dry pit and when they some merchants passing by, they got a bright idea to make money out of their younger brother, so they sold him to the Midianite traders who took him to Egypt.
"And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days".Gen 37:31-34 KJV.
How heartless they were, after selling their brother, they covered their wickedness with a lie to their father.
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, the captain of the guard. God being with Joseph showed him favor with Potiphar.
He was dedicated in his duties that Potiphar put him in charge of everything in his house.
"And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand".
Gen 39:2-4 KJV.
God is always good to his children.
There is nothing impossible with God.
Imagine Joseph at the prime of his youth being sold into slavery by his brothers whose wicked intention was to silence him and his dreams forever.
How many people in our world today are facing similar situations?
They are uncountable and many cannot even speak out about their plight for fear of further victimization.
Thank God for Divine intervention. Our God is alive, he never sleeps nor slumbers.
We shall continue next time with the challenge, Joseph faced at Potiphar's house and his imprisonment.
To be continued.
We started our discussion on faith with the life of Abraham.
Today we are going to look into the life of Joseph.
I had to distinguish this Joseph from Joseph the foster father of Jesus Christ.
Joseph was the son of Jacob which his beloved wife Rachel, bare to him after years of barrenness.
Joseph was the first child of his mother Rachel, but the eleventh son of his father Jacob, out of twelve sons. He was loved by his father who made him a coat of many colors.
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him".
Gen 37:3-4 KJV.
Of course in such a large family there has to be rift, so Joseph's family was not an exception, his brothers hated him because their father loved him more than them and because he brought evil report about them to their father and they hated him even more because of his dreams.
"These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report".Gen 37:2 KJV.
Just like everyone of us, was created with destiny and purpose. Although as a young growing man he did not understand this.
He was gifted in dreams but didn't understand, so he shared his dreams with his brothers. It is important to know who you share your dreams with, some people may pretend to be happy for you but in sincerity they are not. I've been a victim a few times, sharing dreams with someone I regarded as a very close friend but was spiritually attacked afterwards and I learned a great lesson from it, thank God our Lord Jesus Christ delivered me.
"And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more". Gen 37:5 KJV.
"And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words".Gen 37:8 KJV.
Joseph's brothers hated him so much that they conspired to kill him. What wickedness will make one want to kill his own brother.
Yes, they were bitter towards him, they were envious of him and his dreams and they said let's kill him and see what will become of his dreams.
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.Gen 37:18-20 KJV.
They had it all planned out but Reuben stopped them saying, don't kill him, let's not shed blood instead let's throw him in the pit, he intended to rescue him afterwards.
Can you imagine that Joseph was seventeen years old at this time, a teenager with bright future ahead of him and yet his wicked brothers out of jealousy decided to kill him. Thank God we serve an awesome God who said he will never leave us not forsake us. God saw the innocence of Joseph's heart and decided to deliver him from his brothers.
Rom 8:28 says, "......all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Joseph's brothers eventually threw him into a dry pit and when they some merchants passing by, they got a bright idea to make money out of their younger brother, so they sold him to the Midianite traders who took him to Egypt.
"And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days".Gen 37:31-34 KJV.
How heartless they were, after selling their brother, they covered their wickedness with a lie to their father.
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, the captain of the guard. God being with Joseph showed him favor with Potiphar.
He was dedicated in his duties that Potiphar put him in charge of everything in his house.
"And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand".
Gen 39:2-4 KJV.
God is always good to his children.
There is nothing impossible with God.
Imagine Joseph at the prime of his youth being sold into slavery by his brothers whose wicked intention was to silence him and his dreams forever.
How many people in our world today are facing similar situations?
They are uncountable and many cannot even speak out about their plight for fear of further victimization.
Thank God for Divine intervention. Our God is alive, he never sleeps nor slumbers.
We shall continue next time with the challenge, Joseph faced at Potiphar's house and his imprisonment.
To be continued.
FAITH. (Part One)
What is Faith?
Faith is defined by online dictionary as:1.complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
2. strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.
The Bible defines faith as, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
There are so many accounts in the Bible of great men and women, who exercised their faith and saw great things happen as a result.
Starting with our father Abraham, who followed God without fully understanding who he truly was. He was told to leave his father's house and his kindred to an unknown land and he did.
"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran". (Genesis 12:1,4. KJV).
Abraham who was called Abram at the time obeyed God.
The journey was not easy for him at all, but he remained faithful to God, and was rewarded with God's promises.
His wife Sarah conceived in her old age and gave birth to the child of promise, Isaac when Abraham was a hundred years old.
"And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. (Genesis 21;1-2,5.KJV).
Abraham believed God so much that when he was told by God to sacrifice Isaac this same child of promise, he agreed to do so.
I once had a course mate who is an unbeliever and she referred to Abraham as "schizophrenic Abraham".
Not many people who are not Christians belief the Bible, but that is not surprising because they don't know any better. We don't argue with such, rather we try to lead them to the truth if they are willing to listen. Even some Christians don't believe the whole Bible, some try to choose the part they feel comfortable with, but it shouldn't be so, because the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
Back to our topic, faith, Abraham believed God, almost sacrificed his son Isaac and God called him and said in Genesis 22,
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of". (Genesis 22:2 KJV).
I wonder if there is any one in this our day and age that will willingly agree to sacrifice his son.
Abraham waited twenty five years from the time of promise to the actual birth of Isaac, and God told him to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Who would believe that it was actually God speaking at the time. God in his infinite mercy did not allow Abraham to carry out such. It was a test of his faith and Abraham passed the test. We were not told if Abraham argued with God or tried to reason with him. What we were told was that Abraham rose up early in the morning and took his son Isaac and two of his young men and embarked on a journey to sacrifice Isaac his son.
I'm almost convinced that he didn't tell Sarah his wife what he was going to do. He might have told her later but not before.
Remember Sarah who tried to help God bring the promised child when she gave her maid Haggai to sleep with her husband Abraham, which led to the birth of Ishmael which has caused so much havoc in the world today. She felt she was too old to conceive and since God had promised them a son, she felt it could happen through her maid.
Could you imagine that after Sarah eventually conceived and gave birth to Isaac in her old age, that Abraham would wake up one morning and say to her that God told him to sacrifice their only son as a burnt offering to Him, and Sarah would say, Yes! by all means, go ahead.
I personally think she would have taken Isaac to hide him or run away with him, or she might say, sacrifice me instead. She would say you are mad, you didn't hear from God. God cannot give us a child after so many years of barrenness and then turn around and have him killed.
From all indications, Abraham did not even tell the young men that were with him.
"And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you".(Genesis 22:5 KJV).
When you seriously want to obey God, you don't reveal any information to people who will talk you out of it. As long as you are convinced that you heard from God and you are determined to obey him by his grace, you will do what he says, unless he stops you on the way and provides you with an alternative as he did with Abraham.
"And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." (Genesis 22:10-12 KJV).
The Bible says in Romans 4:3, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3 KJV).
From human point of view, I can say that this obedience was not easy for Abraham at all. Even if he had ten sons, each one would be unique, to ask him to sacrifice one would not be that easy.
From the question Isaac asked his father it would seem he understood a lot about sacrifices.
"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" (Genesis 22: 7 KJV).
Again Abraham's answer to his son portrayed great faith. He told Isaac that God will provide and God did indeed provide. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22 :13).
Our God is an awesome God. All He wants from us is obedience and total surrender to His Divine Will. He said He will never leave us not forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5).
Prayer: Heavenly father, thank you for your love and mercy towards us. We praise you, we worship you. We surrender our lives and our all unto you. Help us oh Lord to be obedient to your Word, increase our faith in you in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Are you ready to meet your Maker?
In our last blog we dealt with (Matthew ch;25:1-13), today we are moving on from verse 14.
Here, Jesus continuing with the parables, told of a man who before embarking on a journey into a far country, called his servants and delivererd unto them his goods.
The Bible recorded that he gave five talents to one and to another two, and to another one. These talents were given to each according to his ability.
This master must have been with his servants for a reasonable amount of time, to know their abilities. He left on his journey immediately.
Verse:16; tells us that he who was given five talents went and traded with it and made five extra talents. Likewise he who was given two talents made two talents extra, but he that was given one talent went and buried his in the earth.
Wow! Quite interesting! I wonder how many of us today have buried our talents in the earth or hidden them under the cloak of fear, I can't, it's too hard, I'm too young, I'm too old, there's still time, it can wait till tomorrow or next week or next month or next year.
Let's continue reading, verse:19; "After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them"
I'm using king James version(kjv) for anyone who is not familiar with the cometh/ reckoneth.
During the time of reckoning he that received five talents presented to his master five extra talents making it ten, and his master of course was happy and congratulated him with such beautiful words,
vs21; "well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord".
He that was given two talents also told his master that he made two extra talents, a total of four talents, this also impressed his master who also congratulated him with similar words as of the first, then came the servant that received one talent and said to his master,
Vs 24-25, "I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo there thou hast that is thine".
Here was a servant who was an employee that didn't trust his master at all, he is in it for the monthly paycheck.
How many of us are truly enjoying our jobs?
I will be honest, I have been in one those jobs where you are there for the pay check at the end of the month, every day you say to yourself, if I have an alternative I will not go back there.
My consolation in those moments was to encourage myself in the Lord like David did and Ask God for strength and courage for the day ahead.
We are told in Matt:24; 13, that he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved.
Sometimes it's easy to sit in one's comfort zone and pass judgement on others. Earlier in the chapter we read about the five wise and the five foolish virgins. It's easy to say I won't do that if I was there. I would have taken everything I needed. Let me ask you one question, how ready are you now for the second coming of Jesus Christ? The answer to this question, gives you a better understanding.
I have heard preachers condemn Sarah for trying to help God fulfill his promise to Abraham, some blame Rebecca for preferring Jacob over Isau.
Don't get me wrong, I agree hundred percent that the birth of Ishmael has wrecked havoc on earth and we Christians are still suffering tremendously as a result, but life goes on, we need to do our best by God's grace to make it into heaven and perhaps when we get there we can question them starting from Eve, why they put us in so much pain, that's if the joy of being in the presence of our father will allow us to remember such. I believe once we enter heaven the sufferings we encountered on earth will not matter any more.
Facing life's challenges and frustrations daily, we need to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Let's read the master's response to this servant.
Verse 26; "...... Thou wicked and slothful servant,........... 27; thou oughtest to have put my money with the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury".
After this, the master ordered that his talent be taken from him and be given to the one with ten talents, and that he should be cast into outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, life is full of challenges but please don't give up, don't compromise at all, yes there is suffering and pain in this world but the Bible tells us in the book of Rom: ch8;18,".......the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us".
Jesus said, we shall have tribulation in this world but we should be of good cheer because he already overcame the world.(John: 16;33). We must not give up.
I pray we will not regret when it is already too late saying if only I had known, I would have done things differently. Remember there is no repentance in the grave. We have all the time now to make things right with God and with our fellow human beings, while we are in this mortal body relying absolutely on the Grace of almighty God.
Hebrews:12;1 tells us, " ........ let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, vs 2; Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. "
Let's make good use of our God given talents in Jesus name.
With God all things are possible. Matthew: 19;26b.
We shall make it in Jesus mighty name.
As you read feel free to add your comments.
God bless you in Jesus name.
In our last blog we dealt with (Matthew ch;25:1-13), today we are moving on from verse 14.
Here, Jesus continuing with the parables, told of a man who before embarking on a journey into a far country, called his servants and delivererd unto them his goods.
The Bible recorded that he gave five talents to one and to another two, and to another one. These talents were given to each according to his ability.
This master must have been with his servants for a reasonable amount of time, to know their abilities. He left on his journey immediately.
Verse:16; tells us that he who was given five talents went and traded with it and made five extra talents. Likewise he who was given two talents made two talents extra, but he that was given one talent went and buried his in the earth.
Wow! Quite interesting! I wonder how many of us today have buried our talents in the earth or hidden them under the cloak of fear, I can't, it's too hard, I'm too young, I'm too old, there's still time, it can wait till tomorrow or next week or next month or next year.
Let's continue reading, verse:19; "After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them"
I'm using king James version(kjv) for anyone who is not familiar with the cometh/ reckoneth.
During the time of reckoning he that received five talents presented to his master five extra talents making it ten, and his master of course was happy and congratulated him with such beautiful words,
vs21; "well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord".
He that was given two talents also told his master that he made two extra talents, a total of four talents, this also impressed his master who also congratulated him with similar words as of the first, then came the servant that received one talent and said to his master,
Vs 24-25, "I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo there thou hast that is thine".
Here was a servant who was an employee that didn't trust his master at all, he is in it for the monthly paycheck.
How many of us are truly enjoying our jobs?
I will be honest, I have been in one those jobs where you are there for the pay check at the end of the month, every day you say to yourself, if I have an alternative I will not go back there.
My consolation in those moments was to encourage myself in the Lord like David did and Ask God for strength and courage for the day ahead.
We are told in Matt:24; 13, that he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved.
Sometimes it's easy to sit in one's comfort zone and pass judgement on others. Earlier in the chapter we read about the five wise and the five foolish virgins. It's easy to say I won't do that if I was there. I would have taken everything I needed. Let me ask you one question, how ready are you now for the second coming of Jesus Christ? The answer to this question, gives you a better understanding.
I have heard preachers condemn Sarah for trying to help God fulfill his promise to Abraham, some blame Rebecca for preferring Jacob over Isau.
Don't get me wrong, I agree hundred percent that the birth of Ishmael has wrecked havoc on earth and we Christians are still suffering tremendously as a result, but life goes on, we need to do our best by God's grace to make it into heaven and perhaps when we get there we can question them starting from Eve, why they put us in so much pain, that's if the joy of being in the presence of our father will allow us to remember such. I believe once we enter heaven the sufferings we encountered on earth will not matter any more.
Facing life's challenges and frustrations daily, we need to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Let's read the master's response to this servant.
Verse 26; "...... Thou wicked and slothful servant,........... 27; thou oughtest to have put my money with the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury".
After this, the master ordered that his talent be taken from him and be given to the one with ten talents, and that he should be cast into outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, life is full of challenges but please don't give up, don't compromise at all, yes there is suffering and pain in this world but the Bible tells us in the book of Rom: ch8;18,".......the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us".
Jesus said, we shall have tribulation in this world but we should be of good cheer because he already overcame the world.(John: 16;33). We must not give up.
I pray we will not regret when it is already too late saying if only I had known, I would have done things differently. Remember there is no repentance in the grave. We have all the time now to make things right with God and with our fellow human beings, while we are in this mortal body relying absolutely on the Grace of almighty God.
Hebrews:12;1 tells us, " ........ let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, vs 2; Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. "
Let's make good use of our God given talents in Jesus name.
With God all things are possible. Matthew: 19;26b.
We shall make it in Jesus mighty name.
As you read feel free to add your comments.
God bless you in Jesus name.
Are you ready to meet your Maker?
Are you ready to meet your maker?
I want to start by reading the book of Matthew ch 25.
In this chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus told different parables starting with the parable of the ten virgins of which five of them were ready and prepared to meet the bridegroom, while the other five were unprepared, and when the groom came the five virgins who were prepared went with him while those five who were not prepared were left behind.
Jesus called the five who were prepared the wise virgins and the other unprepared five, foolish.
The wise virgins took their lamps with oil in their vessels while the foolish virgins took their lamps but no oil with them.
While waiting for the groom, they all fell asleep and at midnight there was a cry that the bridegroom had arrived and the ten virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The Bible recorded that the five foolish virgins asked the five wise virgins to give them some of their oil.
What intrigues me in this parable is the answer given by the five wise virgins, they said,
Verse; 9: "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves".
Someone might say, the wise virgins were mean, why didn't they share their oil. That's where the greater wisdom is manifested, not only that they took enough oil but their refusal to share at this crucial moment because it would have resulted in all of them not having enough at the long run.
How do you measure the amount of oil to pour into their vessels?
We are on a heavenly race, we are to help one another while the training/preparation is going on, we encourage one another, we advise one another, we motivate one another, but a time will come when everyone will have to face their individual race, make their own decisions, how to proceed, depending and relying absolutely on the power of God almighty and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
It's like studying for an examination, you may have study partner or group but on the day of the actual exam, you are on your own. You go into that exam with confidence having prepared well or you go in nervous expecting the worst depending on how much effort you put into it.
In all things we depend absolutely on almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Verse; 10: "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut"
When the foolish virgins returned, the door was already closed and they said, "Lord, Lord, open to us".
What was the bridegroom's response? "Verily I say unto you, I know you not"
In verse 13,, we are told to watch because we don't know what day or hour the Son of man, Jesus Christ will come.
Let's watch and pray my brothers and sisters because we don't know when Jesus will return for His Bride the church. May none of us be left behind in Jesus mighty name.
God bless you.
To be continued.
I want to start by reading the book of Matthew ch 25.
In this chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus told different parables starting with the parable of the ten virgins of which five of them were ready and prepared to meet the bridegroom, while the other five were unprepared, and when the groom came the five virgins who were prepared went with him while those five who were not prepared were left behind.
Jesus called the five who were prepared the wise virgins and the other unprepared five, foolish.
The wise virgins took their lamps with oil in their vessels while the foolish virgins took their lamps but no oil with them.
While waiting for the groom, they all fell asleep and at midnight there was a cry that the bridegroom had arrived and the ten virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The Bible recorded that the five foolish virgins asked the five wise virgins to give them some of their oil.
What intrigues me in this parable is the answer given by the five wise virgins, they said,
Verse; 9: "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves".
Someone might say, the wise virgins were mean, why didn't they share their oil. That's where the greater wisdom is manifested, not only that they took enough oil but their refusal to share at this crucial moment because it would have resulted in all of them not having enough at the long run.
How do you measure the amount of oil to pour into their vessels?
We are on a heavenly race, we are to help one another while the training/preparation is going on, we encourage one another, we advise one another, we motivate one another, but a time will come when everyone will have to face their individual race, make their own decisions, how to proceed, depending and relying absolutely on the power of God almighty and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
It's like studying for an examination, you may have study partner or group but on the day of the actual exam, you are on your own. You go into that exam with confidence having prepared well or you go in nervous expecting the worst depending on how much effort you put into it.
In all things we depend absolutely on almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Verse; 10: "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut"
When the foolish virgins returned, the door was already closed and they said, "Lord, Lord, open to us".
What was the bridegroom's response? "Verily I say unto you, I know you not"
In verse 13,, we are told to watch because we don't know what day or hour the Son of man, Jesus Christ will come.
Let's watch and pray my brothers and sisters because we don't know when Jesus will return for His Bride the church. May none of us be left behind in Jesus mighty name.
God bless you.
To be continued.
Do you care enough, do you love enough?
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Yes, I am serious and passionate about this title.
Many of us so called Christians have been playing church. We think because we go to church every sunday or saturday as the case may be, we are good christians, and if we happen to attend any extra midweek service, we pat ourselves on the back and announce to the world that we are ready for heaven.
May God help us!
The book of James ch 2:17 reminds us that "..faith without works is dead"
If we back up a bit to verse 14 it says, "... what does it profit my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have no works? Can faith save him?
The truth is that there are many out there suffering in silence, even in the churches, yet nobody is taking note of them. They struggle to go to church, they struggle to go home back to their pain and lonliness. Nobody notices their pain and yet we are quick to label them 'antisocial or weird'
It is time for us to wake up and love like Jesus would want us to.
I know you have heard it all before. Yes the pastor preached about caring, the evangelist talked about it even the deacon mentioned it too but what have you done about it?
There are a lot of starving and hungry people all around us.
It may not be hungry for food alone, perhaps they may need someone to talk to, to pray with, to hear an encouraging word, to have the scripture read to them.
One phone call, maybe once a week to say, Im thinking of you, Im praying for you.
Back to our text, James ch 2:15-17; "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16: And one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled; nothwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
Verse 17 says, "Even so faith without works is dead being alone".
Do you care enough for the destitute of our society, for that poor neighbour?
Are you busy criticizing them that they are poor because of their laziness?
May God help us all.
I pray that we will be awakened to start caring and loving like we should, starting from our Jerusalem, that means those around us.
Be blessed in Jesus mighty name.
Yes, I am serious and passionate about this title.
Many of us so called Christians have been playing church. We think because we go to church every sunday or saturday as the case may be, we are good christians, and if we happen to attend any extra midweek service, we pat ourselves on the back and announce to the world that we are ready for heaven.
May God help us!
The book of James ch 2:17 reminds us that "..faith without works is dead"
If we back up a bit to verse 14 it says, "... what does it profit my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have no works? Can faith save him?
The truth is that there are many out there suffering in silence, even in the churches, yet nobody is taking note of them. They struggle to go to church, they struggle to go home back to their pain and lonliness. Nobody notices their pain and yet we are quick to label them 'antisocial or weird'
It is time for us to wake up and love like Jesus would want us to.
I know you have heard it all before. Yes the pastor preached about caring, the evangelist talked about it even the deacon mentioned it too but what have you done about it?
There are a lot of starving and hungry people all around us.
It may not be hungry for food alone, perhaps they may need someone to talk to, to pray with, to hear an encouraging word, to have the scripture read to them.
One phone call, maybe once a week to say, Im thinking of you, Im praying for you.
Back to our text, James ch 2:15-17; "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16: And one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled; nothwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
Verse 17 says, "Even so faith without works is dead being alone".
Do you care enough for the destitute of our society, for that poor neighbour?
Are you busy criticizing them that they are poor because of their laziness?
May God help us all.
I pray that we will be awakened to start caring and loving like we should, starting from our Jerusalem, that means those around us.
Be blessed in Jesus mighty name.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians ...
-
I have been reflecting on the faithfulness of God in my life and family over the past years especially in the past year, 2020. When I think...
