SPIRITUAL STEADFASTNESS - 1

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." 1 Cor.15:58

Steadfastness is an essential principle in the kingdom of God. There can be no success nor prosperity in your spiritual life when this principle is wanting. The Psalmist said, "My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." This is true steadfastness, when your heart is fixed on the things pertaining to the kingdom. It is cleaving to God, let the storms rage as they may. It is resting and abiding in Jesus though the trials of life may be the severest possible. It is a firm, fixed, settled decision to abide in doctrines of the Bible. It is to rest confidingly upon the teaching and promises of the Holy Scriptures. Just as a man lies confidently down to rest upon his bed, so a believer, in his steadfastness, rests confidingly, rests without fear, upon the never-changing Word of God.

Now, we must understand that through Jesus Christ, we are made partakers of the divine nature. We received the imprint of divine character in our spirit. Among the different principles in the character of God is found steadfastness. When God delivered Daniel from the lions, Darius the king said, "I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever." Dan.6:26. If God is steadfast and we have his DNA as a believer, then we ought to manifest this attribute as true sons and daughters.

Just as the believer's fortitude is noble, manly, and pleasing to God, so a lack of steadfastness is ignoble, unmanly, and highly displeasing to God.

Some (it may be many) are led by their feelings. We, as the children of God, are to be led by the Spirit of God; but not all fully understand what is meant by "being led by the Spirit." I would rather be led by a sense of duty than by my feelings. You must understand that in order to be led by the Spirit we need always to have a strong inward impression or almost audible voice speaking to us. The Spirit of God has illuminated the Word and enlightened our mind as believers to know what is our Kingdom duty; hence when you go forward and discharge your duties faithfully, you are truly being led by the Spirit. You know it to be your duty to help the poor, to support the weak, to comfort the sorrowful, to witness for Jesus, to study the Scriptures, to pray, and diligently to follow every good work for kingdom advancement. You may sometimes feel a strong impression to pray, but you do not need to have this feeling always in order to be duty -bound to pray. It is your duty to pray, to give of your means, etc., oftentimes just as much when you do not feel impressed to do so as when you have strong inward impressions. You do not need to wait for such impressions before you act, for a knowledge of your duty makes you responsible.

A man can have no true steadfastness who is influenced by his emotions or impressions. The man who is steadfast, unmovable in the Word, goes forward to a discharge of his known duties, no matter what his feelings may be. Whatever may be his impressions to do a certain thing, if it is not consistent with the Word and the Spirit and his knowledge of right, he persistently refuses to obey.

How the true principle of steadfastness abides in the will of God and the doctrines of Christ is demonstrated in the teachings of Barnabas to the church at Antioch. There was some contention in the church over circumcision, and heavy persecutions from without, and many were being moved from the true faith. Barnabas exhorted that with purpose of heart they cleave to the Lord. Steadfastness is a firm, fixed purpose of the heart to cleave unto God, to attend strictly and promptly to every Kingdom duty. It is a decided, unchangeable, unshaken purpose of the heart to obey implicitly the teachings of the Christ, regardless of the feelings.

You will find that, if you attend to every Kingdom duty, you will often have to go contrary to your feelings. How often the enemy of your soul will, if he can, cast indifferent feelings over you concerning prayer. That is the time to show your fortitude and steadfastness. It is weakness and laziness to neglect prayer simply because we do not feel inclined to pray. To yield to indifferent feelings is to encourage them, and they will grow stronger and stronger, so that we shall feel less and less inclined to pray. The more we pray, the more prayerful we feel; likewise, the less we pray, the less prayerful we feel. When we have yielded to indifferent feelings for sometime and have sadly neglected prayer, we have a hard struggle to get through to the glorious light and victory and sweetness. But you must get out where the blessings fall; you must get where you have sweet tastes of love and the satisfying blessings of the presence of God. You must be courageous, manly, and decided. The way to enjoy serving God and doing our full Kingdom duty is always to do our duty and especially at those times when doing it seems to be the least enjoyable.

Next, we shall consider the framework or structure for STEADFASTNESS. What you and I need to know and follow to achieve this spiritual attribute.

Amen.

Musings on the BOOK OF LIFE - 3

There's some debate around names being removed from the book of life.
Is it possible for someone whose name is written down to have it erased or removed? Some say yes based on Revelation 3:5 – “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.”

A known scholar sometime ago, talking about this verse, refers to one particular custom in ancient Athens according to which the names of condemned criminals were erased from civic registers before their execution. The Greek word translated “to erase” (exaleiphein), “was the technical term for such degradation”. As insightful as this may be, it is more likely that we should look for a biblical background to this imagery.

On the one hand, Jesus may be saying that it is possible for a sinning, unrepentant Christian (such as were many at Sardis) to fail to overcome or conquer and thereby to forfeit their place in the book of life. Their names, already inscribed in the book, will be erased, signifying the loss of their salvation.

Some persons suggest having one's name "blotted out" is not about salvation. Others suggest that to have one’s name blotted out refers to something other than salvation. In Revelation 3:1 Jesus referred to the people at Sardis as having a “name” for being alive, i.e., they had a reputation for spiritual vitality. This is not referring a name as in "Philip". The idea, then, is that such people are saved, but will forfeit any hope of an honorable position in the coming kingdom of God. They are saved, but will experience shame at the last day. It is not the loss of life, per se, but the loss of a certain quality of life that otherwise could have been theirs. Thus, what one loses by having their name erased from the book of life is eternal rewards in the kingdom.

Several factors lead me to conclude that John does not envision the possibility of a true Christian forfeiting salvation. Follow Closely...

We should begin by noting that all of the other promises to the “conqueror/overcomer” all portioms of the scriptures in the book of Revelation are coined in positive terms with no threat (implied or explicit) of losing a salvation once gained.

Fro example
Revelation 2:7
[7]He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7,11
[7]He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
[11]He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

And so on

This isn’t to suggest that Christians can’t backslide and sin badly. The rebukes in these seven letters indicate otherwise. Nevertheless, the evidence of the reality of true saving faith is perseverance (i.e., “overcoming” as in disclosed by John the Beloved in his epistle
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

If it is asked why this promise is couched in negative terms, the answer is obvious: Jesus couldn’t say “I will write his name in the book of life” because the names of the “overcomers” (i.e., the elect) were already written in the book from eternity past as discussed in the previous part of this teaching. There is no indication in Scripture, least of all in Revelation, of additional names being inscribed in the book as a reward for faithfulness or perseverance. Rather, faithfulness and perseverance are the evidence or fruit of having had one’s name written in the book. Many prayers like "O Lord, write my name in the book of life" are futile and biblical nonsense. No one has ever prayed that prayer throughout the entire bible. It is time to come to knowledge.

Two groups of people are shown in Revelation. It is clear from Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 that there are two and only two groups of people. On the one hand are those whose names have not been written in the book of life from eternity past. They “worship” and “marvel” at the Beast. The second group consists of those whose names have been written in the book of life, which constitutes the reason why they refuse to give their allegiance to the enemy of Christ. Nowhere does it suggest a third group: people whose names had been written in the book in eternity past but, because they worshiped the Beast, failed to overcome or conquer and thus have their names blotted out. So where do we get such teaching from? Having our name in the book of life from the foundation of the world mean that God will keep you from falling and grant you to persevere in allegiance to God. Being in the book means you will not apostatize” Or again, being written in the book means that God is committed to guarding your heart so that you will “conquer” and “overcome” the Beast by not yielding to the temptation to worship his name or receive his mark.

“This fits with Revelation 3:5, ‘He who overcomes . . . I will not erase his name from the book of life.’ The triumph required in 3:5 is guaranteed in 13:8 and 17:8. This is not a contradiction any more than for Paul to say, ‘Work out your salvation . . . for God is at work in you to will and to do his good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:12-13). It is not nonsense to state the condition: " if you conquer, God will not erase your name" and to state the assurance later in the same book of Revelations: "if your name is written, you will conquer". God’s ‘written-down-ones’ really must conquer, and really will conquer. One side highlights our responsibility; the other highlights God’s sovereignty.”

His word is a promise of security to overcomers, not a threat of insecurity to those who lapse. Therefore, this declaration of Jesus is a promise to the elect that nothing will ever, by any means, prevent them from possessing the eternal inheritance to which they have been ordained. In other words, we must take note of what Jesus does not say. He does not say that anyone will be erased from the book of life. Rather, he says the overcomers will not be erased. His word is a promise of security to overcomers, not a threat of insecurity to those who lapse. And wait a minute, who are the overcomers?

1 John 5:4-5
[4]For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
[5]Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Hallelujah!!! Overcoming though is our responsibility, but yet a function of our faith in Christ Jesus!! Glory!

So again, Jesus nowhere says he will erase names previously inscribed in the book of life. What joy! What comfort! What incentive to love him and praise him and serve him. Jesus will never blot my name out of the book of life!

Now quickly, as I round up, compared with having your name written in Christ, everything else to you is nothing... In what do you take deepest delight? What is it that brings the greatest and most intense joy and happiness to your heart? I’m sure that many of us would point to our families, perhaps our children. Others might say that their greatest source of joy is their good health and good friends and a robust bank account. Of course, if Christians give much thought to the question they would eventually say something like, “My greatest source of joy is in knowing Jesus and being assured that I will spend an eternity in intimate fellowship with him.” Others might point to the truth of our adoption as God’s children, or our being justified or declared righteous in God’s sight through faith in Jesus, and the list of answers could go on almost without end. The disciples had misplaced joy too, there was an event in the lives of the first-century followers of Jesus that brought this question very much into play. It’s found in Luke 10. There Jesus sent out 72 disciples, not apostles, but average believers like you and me. He told them to heal the sick and proclaim the presence of God’s kingdom. When they returned to Jesus to give him a report of what happened, we read this:

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you’” (Luke 10:17-19).

I can understand why the disciples of Jesus were so excited and filled with joy. To exercise the authority of Jesus himself in subduing demonic spirits is a wonderful thing. But then Jesus said this:

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Jesus isn’t saying it is wrong to rejoice that we have authority over demons. This is a standard way of speaking in biblical times. His point is that compared with having your name written down in heaven exercising authority over demons is next to nothing.

Glory be unto Jesus, if you're a believer, your name is written in the book of life eternally. You and Christ had been fused to be one forever. Rejoice in this truth forevermore!

Amen.

The End.

Musings on the BOOK OF LIFE - 2

Alright, since we have discussed the identity and function of the "book of life", let us now move on to attend to certains doctrine flying here and there concerning it.

1. There was an Old Testament "book of life."

In the OT the “book of life” (or its equivalents) was a register of the citizens of the theocratic community of Israel. To have one’s name written in the book of life implied the privilege of participation in the temporal blessings of the theocracy, while to be erased or blotted out of this book meant exclusion from those blessings. In other words, this book had reference to the rights of citizenship for the Jewish people. This was recorded in Ex. 32:32.

Also, we have it recorded again...

“So Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin – but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.’ But the Lord said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book’” (Exod. 32:31-33)

2. Not all of God's "books" are the Lamb's book of life.

The concept of a “book” was also used to portray God’s all-inclusive decree; i.e., the very days of one’s life are ordained and written in God’s “book” before one of them occurs:

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:16). But this does not appear to be the same as the Lamb’s book of life. There is also the notion of “books” of judgment in which are recorded men’s deeds. They serve as that by which or from which one shall be judged as recorded in Rev. 20:12. But again, however, this is not the same thing as believers having their names inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world.

3. The Lamb's book of life lists those who have been (and are to be) saved.

On most occasions where the Lamb’s book of life is mentioned it refers to the register of those who have been chosen for salvation from eternity past. It is not temporal or earthly blessings that are in view, but participation in the eternal kingdom of God as recipients of eternal life. For example:

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Heb. 12:22-23).

“But nothing unclean will ever enter it [the New Jerusalem on the New Earth], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27).

4. Only the elect are written in this book.

It would appear from several texts that not all are written in this book, but only the elect. In Revelation, the terminology of “earth dwellers” or “those that dwell on the earth” is a standard designation for non-believers. These are the ones who “worship” the Beast (Rev. 13:8a). They are the ones “whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 13:8b). Thus it would appear that to be one whose name has been written down before the foundation of the world is simply another way of saying that he/she is elect (see Eph. 1:4).

5. Paul makes an important reference to this book in Philippians.

The Apostle Paul spoke of his co-workers as those “whose names are in the book of life”. See it here...“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche, to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:2-3).

This appears to be the grounds on which he makes his appeal that they all learn to get along in love and unity, especially the two women in Philippi who were in some sort of conflict (Euodia and Syntyche). Those who are the objects of divine election, who, in spite of their well-deserved damnation nevertheless have been sovereignly and graciously chosen by God to inherit eternal life, should respond to such an immeasurable blessing by doing everything they can to get along and to work in harmony for the sake of the gospel.

6. All the names written in the book of life were inscribed in eternity past.

We see this in Revelation 13:8 and 17:8. There are two ways of translating Revelation 13:8, both of which are grammatically possible:

(1) “whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (ESV); or,

(2) “whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain from the foundation of the world.”


The parallel statement in Revelation 17:8 clearly indicates that (1) is correct. There we read:

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the best, because it was and is not and is to come” (Rev. 17:8).

Also, whereas it can certainly be said that the Lamb of God was “foreknown before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20) and that he was “delivered up [to die] by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23), what can it possibly mean theologically to say that the Lamb of God was “slain from the foundation of the world”? The point of the text is that the people who worship the beast do so because their names have not been written in the book of life.’ That is why they are deceived by the Beast.

7. You don't believe in Jesus in order to have your name written, but because your name has been written. People often ask: “What must one do to have his/her name written down in the Lamb’s book of life? Can someone whose name is not now written in the book do something, such as believe in Jesus, so that his/her name will be written in the book?” The answer to the first question is, nothing. The answer to the second question is, No. Names are inscribed in the book of life before the foundation of the world. This is by God’s sovereign and altogether gracious choice. You don’t believe in Jesus in order that your name will be written in the book. You believe in Jesus because your name has already been written down in the book. To those who do not presently believe in Jesus, we say: “Repent and believe!” If they do, it is because their names were written in the book of life before the foundation of the world.

In other words, one does not have his/her name inscribed at some point in human history or as a result of anything he/she may do or believe. Belief in Jesus is the fruit of having one’s name inscribed in the book of life, not its cause.

8. God has not chosen to reveal to us the names written in the Lamb's book of life.

It is none of our business. We are not free to speculate about it. What he has revealed is the responsibility of each individual to repent and believe the gospel. If a person does not believe the gospel, he has no one to blame but himself. If he does believe the gospel, he has no one to praise but God.

None of us deserves to have his/her name written down in God’s book. We all deserve eternal damnation. The only explanation for why a hell-deserving sinner has his/her name written down in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world is because God is gracious and merciful and wishes to provide his Son with a Bride that will enjoy his glorious presence and love for eternity. Had God chosen not to inscribe anyone’s name in his book, he would have done no one an injustice.

Amen.

Musings on the BOOK OF LIFE - 1

What is the book of life?

There is one popular verse of the bible about the book of life which has been used several times from ages in scary sermons, especially the ones that has to do with eschatology. You know it right?

Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

This has been leveraged upon by many unskilled teachers, teaching and preaching the damnation that is dependent on human works of righteousness which is not biblically logical. In other to understand what this verse mean, we must of course first come to full understanding of its subject  – the book of life. If those who will be eternally damned are those whose names are not found in it, then this “book of life” must be the target of every man since it determines their destiny.

Now, I know that it is commonly taught and that the book of life here is literally spoken of, that is “a book  or a scroll”. However, it is biblically unsound to reason that way. To think that the destiny of mankind is locked in some kind of notebook somewhere is absurd. A student of biblical hermeneutics will disagree apparently with this literal interpretation concerning the book of life. The book of life cannot be a form of our common notebooks or textbooks. It cannot be a paper work can it be written upon by ink. It is very funny to assume that the book of life is some sort of scroll too. That it is called “book” does not mean, it is actually a “book” in that sense.

In terms of biblical language, "the book of life" as used here and invariably other verses of the bible is in figurative sense. It is a symbol of an essential dimension of Christ that hosts the identification of certain persons. Like a bank whose entirety is full of life.

Although the Greek word rendered as "book" is “biblos” which is defined in Strong’s concordance as “properly the inner bark of the papyrus plant that is (by implication) a sheet or scroll of writing.” And in all cases (12 times)  where it was used throughout the entire new testament, it was either referring to a sacred writing by the Old Testament Prophets or the Book of Life itself. It is the same root word for “bible”.  Interestingly, on the other hand, the word "life" is “zoe” which is always attributed to the “life of God” or “eternal life” either literally or figuratively. It is the word used in
 Matthew 7:13-14
[13]Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14]Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto LIFE  and few there be that find it.”

It is also the same word used in Luke 18:18
[18]And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal LIFE?

And many other passages of the scriptures.

Now, if this book is “of” life, and this life is "of" God, then this book must belong to God.  Therefore, it is more than a material book written upon with pen or ink. It is not a scroll. No material book/scroll can contain the life of God. And if names are written in it, then there is no material book that can contain the entire names of generations of mankind. Now, let’s do a little parallel interpretation of the scriptures…

In the new testament, Jesus Christ had depicted his very essence in many ways…in almost all of these ways, he used material things to represent his functionality and dimension in many areas. In some places, he used living things while in some , he used non living things.

For example, Jesus Christ is the “door”
John 10:9
[9]I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

In another place, Jesus Christ said he  is the light
John 8:12
[12]Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

In the first instance, he used a material thing, “door”, to depict his function as the entrance into God’s kingdom. This was what he expatiated in the book of John by saying “no one comes to the Father by by me”. But in the second instance, he used a matter/particle, “light”.
If we continue to count on and on, there are many of these symbolic depiction of Jesus Christ. But John bore witness of him as the “Life”…and he himself said it in John 14:6 that “I am the Life”!
Therefore, it is important to note that, this same theme was used to communicate the “book of life”…. If he is the life, then the book must be related to him.

He said again in John 6:48
[48]I am that bread of life.
Very simple,
If Jesus is the light of life
If he is the salt of the world
If he is the door
If he is the living water
If he is the way, the truth and the LIFE, then Jesus Christ is also the book of life !

No strings attached! Parallel translation based on sound biblical interpretation. The book of life is simply Jesus Christ. It is his symbol, not a literal book somewhere in heaven.

Amen

To be continued!

© Philip Oklu

The LOVE STORY - 3 (final)

RECIPROCATING THE LOVE OF GOD
March 2020

The Love of God demands that those who are recipient and have benefited from it should respond accordingly.
God’s love is not for show. Christ’s death, which is the Grace of God’s love, was for the sole purposed of adoptions of sons and reconciliation. All humanity has in one way or the other become partakers of the divine love of God. The love of God is for the whole world not for some set of people. Those who think God loves only the saints are void of proper biblical understanding. As a matter of fact God loves both the saints and the sinners. God’s love has no specific measurement for your moral ways. We have discussed that in the previous chapters, that God’s love is unconditional and independent of any man’s merit or qualification. So, we all need to come to this reality, God loves all of us equally. Have you forgotten how Jesus puts it? He said “For God so love the world” he never said, “For God so love the righteous in the world”

It is very unskilled to interpret the Old Testament judgments of God in the same line as the New Testament. Yes! This is because it has been noticed that some unskilled teachers of the word claim that although God is love, he seldom kills or punishes mercilessly. This is not a way of interpreting the scriptures. Covenants are an important principle in a good bible interpretation. Under the Old covenant, one should understand that The Love of God was still 100% active and potent but that Grace had not yet come. Jesus Christ came with Grace, so when Christ died, Love and grace became powerful into overriding every other dimension of God. I do not in anyone mean that God is not a righteous Judge as some have claimed. God is a righteous judge. But the judgment of the whole world was taken care of by Jesus Christ and in turn released Grace unto men. So God’s dimension of Judgment has been put on hold till the final day. God does not judge anyone now, except that those who have received eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus have been judged together with Him on the cross. It is done deal! It is a past tense thing! God loves the world, he is not judging anyone yet, and those who will face God’s judgment are those who reject Grace and Love.

So now that we are lucky recipients and beneficiaries, how do we respond to God’s love?

1. Love God: Loving God seem to be the most impossible task for many believers. This is because the methodology involved is not specifically stated in the bible.

Everyone knows, that when you claim to love someone, you care for such, relate with such in kindness, you become acquainted with such person that they become part of you. Even inanimate things, when loved, has the tendency to still away a great portion of one’s heart. However, loving God is the simplest thing everyone can do. Since God is not seen or visible to us, he gave us another alternative in loving him. To love God, you must love people around you. Simply put, loving God is loving man. Therefore if anyone wishes to respond to God’s love, he or she should respond by loving those who are in God’s Image and likeness. The idea is that, God cannot be loved because your love cannot satisfy him. Also that, you cannot see him, and this barrier would affect your love strength.

Therefore, since Jesus Christ (man-God) bought God’s love and Grace for humanity, therefore, when you love man, you love God.  This is as simple as abc.

2. Love your Neighbours: Neighbours are a fraction of the people that you ought to show love too according to the point one above. Nevertheless, neighbours are closer than any human being to us all. Our neighbours are almost like our families. The love of neighbours is demanded because it is the best way one can demonstrate one’s love. If you claim you love God, you ought to first show that by loving your neighbours.  Amen.

3. Love your Enemies: Loving enemies is like kissing a snake to some people. But only few people have ever thought of it, that there are really no enemies anywhere. Those whom we call enemies are actually innocent human beings under the influence of some evil force or spirit. No one was created or born into this world as an enemy. Therefore, it is demanded that believers love their enemies; those who mock, abuse or despise them. This is the way we can know that we have love. This is the only type of love among these three that is cannot be found among the unbelievers. If one claims to be a believer and does not love his or a he enemy, then such person is has a poor understanding of God’s love for humanity. This is why we are considered that first in the previous chapters. The idea in loving enemies; came from the fact that; we were once God’s enemies when he showed us love. He didn’t love us when we turned to his will; he loved us while we were far away from his will.

If you ask me, how do I live a kingdom lifestyle? I will ask you to begin with these three. Reciprocating God’s love is equal to living a lifestyle of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God was founded upon God’s love, Christ’ Grace and the Spirit’s Fellowship.

Interestingly, Jesus Christ, once taught these three points and repeatedly informed his disciples to lover God – which the greatest commandment. Also he added, that the only way people can know that they are his disciples is when they live a practical life of love. From records, they did well.

What about you?

THE END.

The LOVE STORY - 2

LOVE, GRACE & FELLOWSHIP
March 2020

When Jesus Christ was speaking in John chapter 3, he said in verse 16 “For God so love the world…” the word “so” is a modification of the word “love”, describing the weight and magnitude of God’s love for humanity. Jesus Christ said God did love us so much. This love was described and then manifested in the work of Grace. Jesus Christ is the custodian of this grace, and this grace gave us an opportunity to become one with the Godhead through fellowship. This is the eternal counsel of God.

Now, Jesus Christ went further in John 3:16 to say “that He (God) gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life”… the phrase “gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him” describes the Grace of Love been made available through faith. The Love of God produced the Grace of Christ. That is, the aim of God’s love is to unleash the grace that will bring about his intention - a kingdom of God in the hearts of men. Therefore God’s love has an end point – a family bound together in love through the amazing grace of the Jesus Christ.
It is interesting to note that, the Love of God is unconditional and does not depend on anyone’s merit. No man has merited and will ever merit this love.

God loved the world because he saw a great value in it. He saw a great kingdom in it. However, the world at this time does not look like it, so he made provision of grace to establish an intimacy through constant fellowship of the spirit with the people of the world. Those who have received this grace are already in fellowship with the love of God. This made Paul said in his benediction “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” These three are the radar of man’s essence in life. All of our becoming is rooted in the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

THE LOVE OF GOD

God is love. He is true love. How do we know? He loved us while were yet sinners. He loved us while we were yet enemies of his will. He loved us while we have gone astray. This kind of love is very uncommon in hearts of mere men. There is only “love” in the heart of God - Only love written upon the tablets of his heart.

Cory Asbury said “Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God…” he is right! The love is a reckless one. Very reckless! God’s love is not the type we see all around today. God’s love compelled him to sacrifice his son Jesus Christ for us, while we were doomed in sin. God’s love made the death of Christ our death that his life might become our life. Love!

William McDowell said “How can I describe a God that’s indescribable, a love that’s unexplainable…?” of course William is right. You cannot explain God’s love.

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be propitiation for us””

THE GRACE OF CHRIST

How do you enjoy God’s love? – the love of God can only be accessed and enjoyed through the Grace of Christ.
The grace of Jesus Christ is the salvation package he gave upon his finished works on the cross. He died that you might live as a Son of God. When God loved the world, the love was not in touch with humanity until Jesus Christ died to make grace available to man. This grace was the channel through which man became one with God. This is the love of God accomplished.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLYSPIRIT

How do you experience God’s love continually? – The love of God can be constantly evident in one’s life through fellowship. The spirit of a believer is joined together with the Holy Spirit for fellowship. This mutual communion is the exercise that unleashes more and more depths of God’s love. Those who are easily fed up of life and God have for a long not been in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Constant fellowship, intimacy and communion with the Holy spirit of God is the key to experiencing God’s love continually in every sphere of life. This fellowship majorly depends on word study and prayers. Always pray in the Holy Ghost.

You would notice that the “Grace” is to Jesus Christ, the “love” is to God and “fellowship” is to the Holy Spirit. The Godhead had planned it long before time began, man and God have an ancient love story that all other creatures do not know about. The fallen angels were vexed beyond measure seeing the abundance of grace that was made available for humanity at the crucifixion unlike thiers. They saw LOVE, Grace and Fellowship been given to the sons of Men.

Now, this is the definition of God’s love – that he brought us into himself through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ for eternal fellowship in the Kingdom of God. Halleluyah…

TO BE CONTINUED… 

The LOVE STORY - 1

GOD’S LOVE FOR HUMANITY

March 2020

What is man? What claim has one so weak, and frail, and short-lived, to be remembered by time? What is there in man that entitles him to so much notice? Why has God conferred on him so signal honor? Why has he placed him over the works of his hands? Why has he made so many arrangements for his comfort? Why has he done so much to save him? He is so insignificant his life is so much like a vapor, he so soon disappears, he is so sinful and polluted, that the question may well be asked, why such honor has been conferred on him, and why such a dominion over the world has been given him.

Why should a God who is so vast and glorious, and who has all the starry worlds, so beautiful and grand, to claim his attention - why should he turn his thoughts on man? And especially why should he honor him as he has done by giving him dominion over the works of his hands? What was man, as he was originally made, that such exalted honor should have been conferred on him; and what has any one of his descendants become, in virtue of his native faculties or acquired endowments, that he should be thus honored?

David said in the book of Psalms, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visit him?” This was a question by some angels to the sovereign God. They had observed something different about the relationship between God and man. This relationship was built upon a strong foundation of love. God’s thought is always about man! Man!! and man!!! Why is this so? The angels were curious to know. The phrase in the above scripture, “That thou visit him” means God is not forgetting him; not leaving him; not passing him by. The word used here is the Hebrew word - פקד pâqad – which properly express a visitation for mercy; for friendship. Here it refers to the attention bestowed by God on man in conferring on him such marks of favor and honor as he had done - such attention that he never seemed to forget him, but was constantly coming to him with some new proof of favor.
The question is - why is this so? Why did God love man so much? – because man is the apex of God’s creation. Man is the summary of God’s eternal counsel. The kingdom of God was meant to be a colony of man’s dominion.

Interestingly, God created the angels before man. They were created as ministering spirits. But for who? For God and for Man! God had another picture in mind as he was creating the angels - Man was created in the Image and Likeness of God. Man was made to be like God himself in dominion and authority. This is the first clue in understanding God’s love for humanity. Man was God’s offspring brought into physical existence for a purpose of relationship and government. Man evolved out of the Godhead. Before time began, man was in the mind and plan of God. God told Prophet Jeremiah for example, that he (God) knew him (Jeremiah) and also that he (God) ordained him (Jeremiah) before he was formed in his mother’s womb. When God said in Genesis, “Let us make man…” he was only mentioning a concluded agreement among the Godhead. They must have discussed about man long before this time. If I would paraphrase the sentence, it would read “And God said, the man we discussed about and we agreed upon, let us make him in our own Image and Likeness”. So God brought man (already existing in him) into physical existence. God’s love for humanity is vested upon the truth that he created man for the sole purpose of relationship and family. Man was the apex of God’s creation. As seen by John, the twenty-four elders in the book of revelation said “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” Just in case you have never thought of it, all of God’s creation was just because of man. The earth and everything in it was created for man. Man has a special place in the heart of God. Therefore humanity must come to this understanding.

I have taught this many times, that – God performed two experiments with two of his top creations – Angels and Man. Talking about the rebellion of the fallen angels; I have called it the experiment of Holiness. This is because when the angels thought to lead a revolt against God’s kingdom, they were banished, expelled forever out of God’s presence. As close as their leader (Lucifer) was to God, he casted him away. On the other hand, God performed another experiment with man. It is the experiment of Love. He manifested his love through man. God chose to reveal his love nature to all his creatures but through man. See what man did compared to the angles - Man handed the dominion of the earth to darkness (Satan). Yet, God chose to forgive him. Man committed treason, but God chose to love him unconditionally still. “For God so love the world …” This is love! We understand the love dimension of God more than the angels do. They are creatures subject to the beholding of God’s holiness, we are creatures bound together in love with God. God’s family is a family of love.

This love is unconditional, indescribable, intentional, overwhelming, great, superb, unexplainable, awesome, outstanding, pure and powerful! Halleluyah!

If we understand the magnitude of his love, we would be able to respond accordingly also in love. Love is the lifestyle of the new creation. Love is the lifestyle of the Kingdom. John the beloved said "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us..." Take note of the phrases "great is the love" and the word "lavished". They are deeper revelations of God’s eternal purpose demonstrated as a dimension of love towards us his creation - Man.
Dear reader, have you ever wondered if you are loved by people around you? Never mind, God loves you deeply. No matter your background, no matter your wretched lifestyle, no matter your state of poverty, no matter your imperfections, no matter your sins, no matter your criminal acts, no matter your addiction to drugs, no matter your addiction to pornography, no matter your wayward lifestyle, no matter your indulgence in cultism or voodoo, no matter your struggles or shortcomings. God loves you and does so dearly and deeply. He thinks about you just the same way a father thinks cares about his infant child. You are always on his mind. His heart is wide enough to carry your thoughts. He knows what you are going through and he cares for you. God loves you! You need to know this! You don’t need to live right to earn his love. He loves you even in your imperfections. This love is the greatest love ever to be shown. 

This is the love story that humanity must hear, that God loves man so much and very much than all of us could ever imagine.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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GOSPEL BASICS - 7

CLOSING WORDS OF REFORMATION

What we have seen, what we have heard and what we have experienced is what the Lord has used to draw us to this place of repentance and reformation.

We have many zealous and truthful believers out there that are willing and ready to propagate the gospel. It is a very good thing to hear, considering the many distractions we have in this generation. 

Nevertheless, when the zeal is not backed up by the right motive, we suffer a shipwreck. When these people are not properly brought up in the way of sound doctrine, we see negativity all around. The Kingdom that is supposed to sail forward experiences stagnancy. What I mean is that, if we just jump out to preach the gospel without understanding "gospel basics", we will be "fetching water into a basket". We will be preaching, without getting results.

One of the most disappointing and most painful shipwreck I have ever heard is the Islamization of the nation of Turkey. It is one of the greatest loss the Kingdom has suffered. It was said that at a time in history, almost all the whole nation were believers. Paul the apostle was there to preach the gospel. John the beloved was also there, and In fact, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ died there. Now, as we read this, Turkey is a 100% Muslim nation after over 1000 years of the reign of the gospel.

This is one of the reasons why we need to know what we are doing and the reason why we must do it well. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and all other African nations are barely up to 100 years, and we already have a Contention in statistics. To worse it, not all those who claim to be saved are saved, because what they heard before they joined the Church was not the gospel. Like I said in the previous lesson, the preaching of the gospel is not aimed at competing with other religions. Nevertheless, what has brought us here is the havoc that unskillful preachers have caused us.

Before the inception of any of these religions, the gospel of Christ was the order of the day. Many of these religions came to be when false teachers began to preach and teach another gospel among the people. Religions were rooted in the confusions and errors of the previously existing ones.

Now what are we saying? We are clamoring for a reformation in the dealings concerning the gospel. That anyone who is ready to preach the gospel should preach the biblical gospel. If we can stick to this, the Kingdom of God will expand better and faster than it is doing now. And then we will take over this world for Christ.

Someone may say, how can I preach the gospel in a public area when I am a shy person? Well, there are many shy people out there. That is why we established that street evangelism is not by force. And if you must do it at all and you think you are shy, I must tell you that you are being deceived by your mindset. Most people who are always prompted to preach in a public area by the Holy Spirit are actually "dangerous weapons", and so a plot rises up against them. Dear believer, if you are one, do not give in. The day you open your mouth to begin is the day you will win your first soul. Moses thought like you, Jeremiah thought like you, not knowing the weight of their destiny.

Someone may say, I am not shy, except that I don't know how and where to begin. - Well, from biblical accounts, there is no specific way of beginning a gospel message. There are although, some highlighted "ways to begin with" that are being taught today. Many of them are just theoretical and theological. You begin a conversation with someone based on the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is true that, not everyone who has won a soul was led by the Holy Spirit, but it is more certain that those who are led by the Spirit are more successful than others. We have established it before that, no one can be saved except the Holy Spirit is involved. So it is either you bring the Holy Spirit into the course or He brings you into it, in either ways, the soul is won. So approach the recipient with full confidence that, when he or she gives you audience, you will definitely begin from where God wants you to begin, and it will vary from person to person because it is the Lord who knows the heart of the recipient and knows how to get it. However, do not attempt to force someone to listen to you. There have been stubborn hearts even from the days of Jesus Christ.

Finally brethren, let us encourage the preaching of the gospel in every places and remote areas where Christ has not been named, but let us train ourselves and prepare ourselves that we may produce results as required. Let us frown at the preaching of another gospel. Let us frown at the presentation of a perverted version of the gospel of redemption. This is just how we can save ourselves and others who are outside the borders of the Kingdom. I leave us with the words of Apostle Paul, one of the greatest laborer of the preaching of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; WE DO NOT USE DECEPTION, NOR DO WE DISTORT THE WORD OF GOD. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. FOR WE DO NOT PREACH OURSELVES, BUT JESUS CHRIST as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

(c) Philip Oklu

THE END