Of God and Mankind

Matthew 4:4 (AMPC) “ But He (Jesus) replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every Word that comes forth from the mouth of God. [Deut. 8:3.]”   Dear people of God, when lawyers present a case before a judge, they make reference to the laws of the country as part of their submissions.   When lawyers comment on issues concerning their nation whether on radio or television, they equally cite portions of the country’s laws to buttress their points.   Whether in the court or out of court, lawyers are conscious of the laws of their country and it shapes their thinking and behaviour.   For Christians, the law that shapes their thinking and behaviour is the Word of God in the Holy Bible.   God Almighty and Father of my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ is the One Who has given these laws.   Just as a human judge decides cases on the submissions before him guided by the country’s laws, God Almighty lis...

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (AMPC) “Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]–your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.   13 And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”   Dear people of God, in our lead Holy Bible text for today, Christians are commanded to show respect for their spiritual or religious leaders and to hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in appreciation of their work.   I am referring here to all spiritual leaders – pastors, teachers, prophets, apostles, evangelists, etc.   Now, if you take time again to look at 1 Thessalonians 5:12 above, God’s Word gives detailed description of the attributes of the spiritual leaders we are to hold in high esteem – those w...

2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMPC) " For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.”   Dear people of God, there is a popular saying that “seeing is believing” and many choose this statement without realizing that it means walking by sight.   As Christians, we are called to walk by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary for us.   God has made it clear that nobody can please Him except the person walks by faith in Him, believes He exists and is a rewarder of anyone who diligently seeks Him – Hebrews 11:6.   It is when we diligently seek God by faith that we would become more intimately aware of His great power and how to appropriate it in our daily lives for our spiritual and material benefits.   Speaking about our Messiah Jesus Christ, we are told in 1 Peter 1...

Romans 8:9 (AMPC)   “ But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God] .”   Dear people of God, you can find God’s opinion on any matter of life in the Holy Bible.   Now, there is a common worldly saying that every man must be involved in at least one of three habits:   (1) Cigarettes or marijuana smoking (2) Alcohol consumption (3) Womanizing or flirting with women as a single or married man   Unfortunately for those who believe in this false statement, this is man’s opinion or worldly wisdom so it cannot hold in the court of heaven.   For anyone to insist that every man by nature should indulge in one of these 3 despicable behaviours is to state that God made a mistake in creating man but I know for ...

  PROVERBS 3:5-8 “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.   6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.   7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. [Prov. 8:13.]   8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.   Dear people of God, one of the greatest tragedies of this world is when humans believe they can exist on their own without the guidance of a Supreme Being Who created them.   Many people whilst enjoying the universal goodness of God (Matthew 5:45b) chase the pleasures of this world and some eventually are able to create wealth by legal and illegal means, just and unjust ways and even destroying and causing pain to their fellow...

Matthew 10:32-33 (AMPC) “ Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me (Jesus Christ) before men  and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven  and confess [that I am abiding in] him.   33 But whoever denies  and disowns Me before men, I also will deny  and disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.”   Dear people of God, a few days ago I watched a video where a young Christian man of North Eastern Nigeria origin testified how his father, a Christian also, was brutally murdered by the evil Boko Haram Islamist terrorists in September 2014.   He said his father was captured by the Boko Haram terrorists and asked to deny Jesus Christ, which he bluntly refused.   The terrorists then cut off his hand up to the wrist and asked him to deny Jesus, which he still refused. They then cut up to his elbow but the man refused to deny Jesus.   They then went ahead to shoot him twice i...