Of God and Mankind

Ephesians 6:16-17 (NKJV)    “A bove all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one.  17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;”   Dear people of God, in the first part of this post, we saw how faith determines the outcome Christians experience in their daily lives.   We also saw that faith comes from hearing the Word of God and this means the Word of God is non-negotiable for the Christian who would make significant progress in life.   In today’s main text above, Christians are advised to take the shield of faith with which they would be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one, the devil.   How does the devil shoot his fiery darts? Through negative thoughts that take root in the heart when accepted from a spoken negative word externally, through dreams and even incantations. As long as the Christian is alive in this...

1 Corinthians 10:14 (AMPC)   “Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).”   Dear people of God, in the minds of very many people idolatry is known as the worship of other gods other than the Almighty God and Father of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.   This definition is correct; however, I want to draw your attention to today’s lead Holy Bible text above, whether idolatry also means loving or venerating anything more than God.   All Christians need to be aware of this expanded definition for them to examine their lives to see that they are not engaged in idolatry.   I will give a number of examples to buttress my point via questions.   (1)  Is it right for a pastor during church service at any time to stop the service to take a phone call? (2)  Is it right for anyone to take his mobile phone into a church service? (3) ...

Romans 2:1-8 (AMPC) “THEREFORE YOU have no excuse  or defense  or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges  and condemns another. For in posing as judge  and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practi si ng the very same things [that you censure and denounce].   2 [But] we know that the judgment (adverse verdict, sentence) of God falls justly  and in accordance with T ruth upon those who practi s e such things.   3 And do you think  or imagine, O man, when you judge  and condemn those who practi s e such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God's judgment  and elude His sentence  and adverse verdict?   4 Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with  and presume upon  and despise  and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful  or actually ignorant [of the fact] t...

Mark 8:36-37 (AMPC)  “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?   37 For what can a man give as an exchange (a compensation, a ransom, in return) for his [blessed] life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?”   Dear people of God, the scourge of the coronavirus sweeping across China and other countries in the early months of the year 2020 was a stark reminder of the need for people to know God.   As of Tuesday February 11, 2020, it was reported that about 1,018 people mostly in China had died while over 40,000 people had been infected with another over 100,000 under medical observation.   In fact, in one day alone, it was reported that 109 people had died from the virus.   There was palpable fear amongst the citizens in many countries the world over.   Even in the United States, a citizen infected by the virus and outside of the country said she had received death threats not to come ba...

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (AMPC) “ Herald  and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favo u rable or unfavo u rable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking  and correcting, warning  and urging  and encouraging them, being unflagging  and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.   3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound  and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking  and to foster the errors they hold,   4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths  and man-made fictions.”   Dear people of God...