Friday, September 21, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus, the Friend of Tax Collectors
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the friend and Saviour of all. When he was in the world in did not discriminate. He was rather friendly to all. In the gospel of Matthew 9:9-13 our Lord Jesus Christ called and even visited a tax collector, which for the Jews was considered as an abomination: “At that time: As Jesus passed on, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in the house, behold many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, £I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” With this visit of our Lord Jesus Christ to the home of a tax collector Jesus proved to the world that He was not just the friend of all he was also the Saviour of all. To him be glory and praise both now and forevermore – Amen!
Prophetic Message: You are called to be united
There is an adage that says, “United we stand but divided we fall.” Unity is the essence of the Trinity. It is also the essence of Christianity. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not just preach the gospel of unity in the gospel of John 17 he went as far as praying for the unity of his follower: “That they may be one!” In his letter to the Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 St. Paul appealed to the Ephesians and indeed to all children of God to remain united: “Brethren: I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Child of God, do you know that children of God are one Body in Christ? Do you even know that we all share in the One Spirit, One Lord, One faith and even one God, who is the Father of all? If this is the case we must be united! As you promote the gospel of unity it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus, the Seed of God’s Word
St. John presents our Lord Jesus Christ as the Word made flesh: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1-2). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. In the of Luke 8:4-15 our Lord Jesus Christ used the image of the seed to describe how people receives God’s Word in their hearts: “When a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.”As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”While explaining the parable of the sower our Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples that the seed is the word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself is the Word made flesh. To receive him is to receive life. With him in our hearts we shall be fruitful. Through him God’s name will be glorified forever and ever – Amen!
Prophetic Message: You bear the image of the Man of Heaven
We are not just canal beings we are also spiritual beings. In his first letter to the Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49 St. Paul wrote, “If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” We are not just descendants of Adam we are essentially children of God through Christ Jesus. We are citizens of heaven. Child of God, you are not an ordinary human being. You are not just from a man of dust. You belong to Christ, who is the Man of heaven. As you remain connected to Christ, it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus, the Prophetic Messiah
Our Lord Jesus Christ is a prophetic Messiah. As a Prophet, he knew what the future holds. He even know the evil plans of his enemies. Above all, he knew that his enemies are planning in vain. The enemies, according to him, will do the worst but after three days He will surely rise again. According to the gospel of Mark 9:30-37 “Jesus and his disciples went on from the mountain and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” Our Lord Jesus Christ was not just an ordinary Prophet He was also the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Saviour of the world and above all, the Risen Lord. To him be glory and praise both now and forevermore – Amen!
Prophetic Message: Those Evil Plans are not for you!
The evil ones are always looking for a way to attack God’s children. They are always planning the worst. They are always looking for a way to bring shame to God’s children. The book of Wisdom 2:12.17-20 exposes the evil plan of the enemies: “Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. “Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.” Child of God, your enemies are wasting their time. Their evil plans are not for you. They will never succeed in bringing you to a shameful death. As long as you are connected to Christ Jesus, you will be protected. And it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
Monday, September 24, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus, the Light of the World
In the gospel of John 12:8 our Lord Jesus Christ declares, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Following Jesus is following the way of light. It is another way of saying no to darkness. In the gospel of Luke 8:16-18 our Lord Jesus Christ declares, “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the light that enlightens our world. With him there is no shadow of darkness. He is indeed the Light of the world. To him be glory and praise both now and forevermore – Amen!
Prophetic Message: You shall be Favoured!
A righteous man is a blessed man. An upright man is well secured. A humble man is a favoured man. The author of the book of Proverbs 3:27-34 declares, “Do not say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. Do not plan evil against your neighbour who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; for the perverse man is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence. The LORD’S curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favour.” Child of God, if you living an upright life, your life is secured. You shall live in the Lord’s confidence. If you are righteous the Lord will bless your abode. And if you are humble the Lord will surely show you favour and it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus, the Man of the People
Our Lord Jesus Christ is not as tribalistic as most world leaders. He is the most objective and most influential Man the world has ever known. He does not take side. He carries everyone along. For instance, in the gospel Luke 8:19-21 “His mother and his brethren came to Jesus, but they could not reach him for the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.” I wonder how many leaders will do what our Lord Jesus Christ has just done. The problem we are facing in our world today is the problem of tribalism, racism and other forms of discrimination. Our Lord Jesus Christ was a Man with a difference. He broke every barriers. he is indeed the Man of the people. To him be glory and praise both now and forevermore – Amen!
Prophetic Message: You shall gain knowledge
A wise man is a knowledgeable man. He is a man of understanding. The author of book of Proverbs 21:1-6,10-1 declares “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but every one who is hasty comes only to want. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeing vapour and a snare of death. The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbour finds no mercy in his eyes. When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.” A foolish man does not listen to instruction. The more a wise man is instructed the more knowledge he gains. Child of God, you are born to be wise. The wiser you become the more knowledge you shall acquire. The more knowledgeable you are the more secured you shall be. and it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus, the Master of Missionaries
A missionary is one entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in different parts of the world. A missionary is a messenger and also an ambassador of our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel of Luke 9:1-6 presents how our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned his apostles as his first missionaries: “At that time: Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” With the following instructions and his ability to commission his first missionaries our Lord Jesus Christ gained the title the Lord and Master of Missionaries. To him be glory and praise both now and forevermore – Amen!
Prophetic Message: The Lord is your Shield
They that put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion that cannot be shaken! (Psalm 125:1) The book of Proverbs 30:5-9 describes the Lord as our place of refuge. He is our shied: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full, and deny you, and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God. Child of God, with the Lord on your side you have nothing to fear and nothing to worry about. He is your shield and your place of refuge. As you give yourself to him, He will surely protect and it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Celebration of Christ: Jesus the Most Famous Man
Our Lord Jesus Christ is not an ordinary man. He is a Man with a difference. He was infact the most famous Man the world has ever known. He was so famous that all the kings and leaders of his tiem heard about him. Among them was Herod, who killed John the Baptist, thinking that he has killed the Truth. According to the gospel of Luke 9:7-9 “Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him. Herod was restless because he heard so many good things concerning Jesus. He wanted to see Jesus because He knew that Jesus was the most famous Man in the world. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. To him be glory and praise both now and forevermore – Amen!
Prophetic Message: You shall not labour in Vain
In the gospel of John 15:5 our Lord Jesus Christ told his followers, apart from me you can do nothing. Those who labour without Christ are labouring in vain. The book of Ecclesiastes 1:2—11 declares, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes round to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is not just the Vain, He is also the source of our fruitfulness. Without him everything ;we do here on earth is vanity of vanity. Child of God, with Christ on your side you shall succeed. You will not labour in vain. it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!
