Of God and Mankind

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 (AMPC)    “[For] we are on our guard, intending that no one should find anything for which to blame us in regard to our administration of this large contribution.   21 For we take thought beforehand  and aim to be honest  and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.   Dear people of God, as we see in today’s Holy Bible reading, Paul the Apostle was concerned about his integrity before God and before men.   He was concerned that no one should have cause to find anything to blame him concerning administration of a contribution the church made for another Group of Christians.   What can we say about a number of Christians today concerning administration of funds contributed by others for a particular purpose?   All over Africa in particular, we find people complaining about unemployment. When you dig further, what you see as the underlying cause is the abhorring level ...

Romans 10:13 (AMPC)  “ For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. [Joel 2:32.]”   Dear people of God, it is amazing and sad how many people choose to discuss every other topic under the sun except spiritual matters or the Lord Jesus Christ.   Unfortunately, you also find this practice amongst Christians who are expected to be the light of Christ Jesus to a world darkened by ignorance and sin.   They are quick to discuss coronavirus, cancer, diabetes, other terminal ailments and how they are ravaging different parts of the world taking human lives whilst canvassing different solutions, but they won’t discuss Jesus Christ Who is the Ultimate Solution to all sicknesses and diseases, having taken away our sicknesses and diseases when He shed His precious blood for our sins on the Cross of Calvary – Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24.   They are quick to discuss the ravaging and heart rending insecurity around the world by terroris...

Romans 5:6-9 (AMPC) “ While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.   7 Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble  and lovable  and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.   8 But God shows  and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.   9 Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ's blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation  and wrath of God.     Dear people of God, every Christian born into this world was once a sinner. A day eventually came when in God’s mercy the sinner took the decision to believe, accept and trust in what God has revealed in His Word ...

James 5:16 (AMPC)  “ Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed  and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”   Dear people of God, there are many Christians and other people who run to pastors to pray for them.   Unfortunately, it is only few pastors who understand how to deal with challenging issues affecting a person’s life before such prayers could be answered from Heaven, the Throne of God.   Any time a person commits a sin, the person gives satan a LEGAL right to hinder his or her prayers.   Any time someone operates in unbelief, worry, anxiety, doubt, malice, unforgiveness, resentment, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc the person again has given satan a LEGAL right to prevent God from answering any prayer made o...

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...