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LENTEN MEDITATIONS

Come to me, all you who are very weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11: 28-30

INTRODUCTION
Lent started on Wednesday 22 nd February with Ash Wednesday and would continue until
Saturday 8 th April, a day before Easter Sunday. Originally, Lent was kept as a pre-Easter retreat:
a prolonged period of time when Christians would “tone up” spiritually. Their “spiritual
aerobics” were not unlike the intensive training an athlete undergoes before an important race
or the strict diet a person goes on in order to lose weight for medical or cosmetic purpose.
The reason why Christians took Lent so seriously from the days of the Early Church onwards is
that Easter Day was the highlight of their year. On this day, like us, they celebrated the amazing
fact that Jesus’ body was not left in the grave. He rose from dead! But on this day, they also
welcomed converts to Christianity into full fellowship of the church and welcomed back people
who had once believed in God but whose faith in Him had grown dim and whose love for Him
had grown cold. Throughout Lent, these people would prepare for Easter by becoming familiar
with the basic teaching essential to understanding of Christianity. They would be encouraged to
repent of the past failures and be shown how to live life God’s way. Committed Christians did
not escape the rigours of the Lenten season. They, too, took Lent seriously and used it as a time
to examine their life-style, to turn their backs on the sin that so easily creeps into their lives and
to re-dedicate their lives to God.
Lent means to sacrifice our most precious commodity, time: quality time for God. During Lent
we should devote our time to extra prayer, extra Bible meditation, extra reflection and serious
repentance. Such dedicated time to God would make a difference to the way we worship when
Easter Day arrives.
LENT IS THEREFORE:

  1. A time for spiritual spring-cleaning; a challenge to combat evil in our lives. And Lent
    is a time to turn back to God. The Prophet Joel puts the invitation this way: ‘Rend
    your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious
    and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from
    sending calamity.’ (Joel 2:13 NIV)
  2. A time for new beginnings. New beginnings start with repentance. Repentance is
    not negative. True repentance is an active, positive attitude which effects real and
    deep changes. Repentance involves recognizing the wrong, and, where possible,
    putting it right. And when we repent, we are determining in our minds that we will
    live differently. John the Baptist said ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near’
    (Matthew 3:2). Repentance means to face up honestly to the past and turn from
    it… Our own repentance conjures up feelings of being sorry or guilty for something.
    The biblical meaning is far deeper and richer. In the New Testament usage,


repentance turns us from sin, selfishness, darkness, idols, habits, bondages and
demons both private and public. Jim Wallis puts it this way: ‘We turn from all that
binds and oppresses us and others, from all the false worship that has controlled
us. Ultimately, repentance is turning from the powers of death. These ominous
forces no longer hold us in their grip; they no longer have the last word’.
Repentance and receiving God’s forgiveness go hand in hand. The Apostle John
writes: ‘If we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise…He will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.’ (1 John 1:9). After we have
confessed, we must move on to receive and embrace God’s forgiveness and love.
To fail to do so implies that we give greater importance to our sinful self than to
God’s goodness. We must learn to accept that God’s goodness is greater than our
‘badness’; that there is joy in God’s heart in extending to us the forgiving love
which sets us free from past sin. So, we must refuse to nurse a sense of guilt and
accept the healing God offers.

  1. A glorious forty-day retreat. A retreat is a time to stand back; to ask; ‘what have I
    been doing with my life?’ What has God been teaching me? Where have I
    succeeded in living life God’s way? Where have I failed? What do I need to
    confess to God or to change?’ Lenten retreat is a time to recognize our
    wanderings and to determine to go back to God. Like the young man in the story of
    the prodigal son, we are to make a calculated choice to come back to our Father: ‘I
    will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and
    against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son: treat me as one of your hired
    workers.’ (Luke 15: 20-24) : and enjoy our Father’s joyful restoration.
  2. A time to hope. Unending love is what God is. Lent is a time to experience that love
    all over again. For this reason, God ‘woos’ and assures us that though we have
    failed Him, He will not forsake us: ‘How can I give you up?… How can I abandon
    you?… My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong.’ (Hosea 11:8).
    Now is the time to make a personal response to God invitation: ‘Return to the Lord
    your God and let this prayer be your offering to Him: “Forgive all our sins and
    accept our prayer, and we will praise you as we have promised”’(Hosea 14:2) .
    Because God’s love is perfect, when we return to Him, we enjoy security. He has
    promised that He will never abandon us nor banish us from His presence — ‘Does a
    woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb? Yet
    even if these forget, I will never forget you. See, I have branded you on the palms
    of my hands.’
  3. A time to re-focus; to turn away from the business which pre-occupies us for most
    of the year and concentrate on Jesus.

END NOTE
Lent is a wonderful time we should not miss. Let us go through the rigours of the 40 days
spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayers and enjoy prolific change and growth in our walk with
the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remain Blessed!
Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays
5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM
88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymns and their Stories.

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LENTEN SACRIFICE

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises
offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise Him up, even from the dead; from whence also He
received Him in a figure. – Hebrews 11:17-19


INTRODUCTION
The story of Abraham’s testing in Genesis 22 is one of the most famous stories about his life.
After waiting for years for God to fulfill His promise of a son, imagine Abraham’s shock when
God asked him to sacrifice his “only son” to him. Immediately Abraham set off to obey God in
faith, but as Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, God stopped him and provided a sacrificial
ram in Isaac’s place.
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God reminds us how God has done
the same for us. God gave His “only Son”, Jesus, to die for us a sacrifice for our sins. If God is
willing to sacrifice the one He loves most, why would we not offer everything, even our lives, as
living sacrifices back to Him?

WHAT IS LENT – THE MEANING OF TIME SET ASIDE
Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death, and
body resurrection.
From its start on Ash Wednesday (February 22 nd , 2023) until its conclusion on Easter Sunday (9 th
April, 2023). Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence.
Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and
ultimately celebration.
The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where He fasted
and where Satan tempted Him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar
fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and
resurrection.
Honouring the Sacrifice of Jesus
During the Lenten season, we are expected to make sacrifices, as children of God and followers
of Christ. The sacrifices should remind us of the one made by Jesus through which He saved us
from sin and won for us salvation of our souls.
Many Christians traditionally give up (sacrifice) something they value or enjoy in order to
honour His sacrifice and to prepare themselves for His coming death, resurrection and victory over Satan.  The sacrifice does not have to be something extraordinary. It may mean cutting
down on our excesses on a daily basis and allowing God’s grace to reign in our lives.
These Lenten sacrifices can end up becoming traditions instead of acts of spiritual commitment
and focus. Like all spiritual practices it comes down to the motivation in our hearts. Are we
doing this for God or are we just doing this for ourselves?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:17-18, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is
unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Jesus reminds us
that when we fast or sacrifice for Him we do not need to let others know or announce it in a
way that brings attention on ourselves. 


PRACTICING LENT TODAY
Here are some of the key elements of the Lenten season, along with some of the symbolism that comes
with it. Many of these practices can be celebrated both individually and as a community:

  1. Purple: Like Advent, the official color for Lent is purple. Usually, churches that celebrate Lent choose
    the deepest, darkest shade of purple for this special season. They may also strip their churches bare of
    some of the usual decorations adorning the walls. Purple is the color of repentance for sins and also
    symbolizes the state of our souls outside the light of Christ. During this time, pray for those who do not
    know Christ and for those who have sinned gravely against Him.
  2. Confession: The 40 days are set aside to really examine areas of recurring sin in our lives that prevent
    us from being conformed to God’s Will.
    Keep in mind the idea here is not to be overly scrupulous or to deceive ourselves into thinking we can
    earn heaven through our own goodness. The goal is to honestly examine our lives in light of God’s Word
    and to make a commitment to change in any areas we have not submitted to the Lord. A good way to
    start an examination of conscience is by praying Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my
    heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
    everlasting.” Then, hold up your life to the Ten Commandments. Confess, perhaps even to your pastor
    or an accountability partner (James 5:16), the ways you’ve sinned against God, thank Him for His
    forgiveness, and ask Him for the grace to change.
  3. Fasting and Prayer: Fasting is a practice that has really gone by the wayside in many Christian circles.
    Yet, if done correctly, it can be a powerful time of renewing our relationship with God. Fasting can be
    found in both the Old Testament and the New, with Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9,18 ), Elijah
    (1 Kings 19:8), and our Lord (Matthew 4:2) all participating in 40-day fasts. Fasting is a way of denying
    ourselves the excesses of life so that we might be more attuned to the Lord’s voice. It is also a way of
    disciplining ourselves, strengthening our “spiritual muscles” so to speak so that when temptations arise
    in life, you are already used to saying “no” to your desires. And finally, fasting is also a way of
    participating, in a small way, in the sufferings of Christ and can be particularly powerful when
    accompanied by prayer and confession.

  1. Meditating on Christ’s Sacrifice for Mankind: In addition to periodic fasting and prayer, our scriptural
    meditations typically turn to the salvation offered to us through Christ’s suffering. Read Old Testament
    Scriptures prophesying the suffering of Christ and the New Testament Gospel accounts.
  2. Charity/Almsgiving: A very important element of the Lenten season is becoming aware of not only
    the suffering and sacrifice of Christ but also to the suffering of others. Between now and Good Friday,
    choose one way you can increase your giving to those in need. It could be through extra financial
    offerings, donating goods you no longer need or use to charity, or increasing your personal time
    commitment to a ministry or cause close to your heart.

Conclusion
 So let us honour God this Lenten season by giving up the sin in our lives “that so easily
entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1) so that we can “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of our faith!” (Hebrews 12:2) Let us focus on prayer and being obedient to His commands
instead!

Stay blessed!

For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org

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GOD’S UNCHANGING WORD: HOPE FOR ALL – PART 2

Last week we published Part 1 on ‘GOD’S UNCHANGING WORD: HOPE FOR ALL’, theme for the
celebration of Bible week 2023 by the Bible Society of Ghana. We studied some scriptures
which offered guidelines on how God’s unchanging Word directs and positively transforms our
lives in a rapidly changing world.
Please enjoy and pass it on!

6a. Nations are also blessed when they return to God’s unchanging word.
All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the
teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded
for Israel.
So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly,
which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud
from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the
men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the
Book of the Law.
Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him
on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were
Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and
as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people
lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped
the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita,
Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were
standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the
meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were
instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or
weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have
nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.” – Nehemiah 8:1-10.

6b. God’s unchanging word needs to be taught, studied and obeyed with diligence.
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to
teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. – Ezra 7:10
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with
all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in
your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – Colossians 3:16-17
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15.

6c. We must submit to the searchlight of His unchanging Word.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates
even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart.  13  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare
before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. – Hebrews 4:12-13
  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who
listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a
mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks
like.  25  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in
it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. –
James 1:22-25
6d. Rejection of this unchanging word can spell doom for families and nations.
This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they
have rejected the law of the Lord and have not kept His decrees, because they have been led
astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will
consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.”
This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the
innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as
on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In
the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. – Amos 2:4-8
To be continued!

Stay blessed!

For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org

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THE HOLINESS OF GOD

THE HOLINESS OF GOD

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” – Isaiah 6:3


INTRODUCTION
The word Holy in Isaiah 6:3 was carefully repeated three times. It is the only description of God
repeated in the three-fold formula, a literary device to lay great emphasis to God’s Holiness. 
This is precisely what God gave to Isaiah; a dramatic revelation of His holiness. He saw the Lord
sitting enthroned, lofty and exalted. The angels who stood above Him were magnificent, and
they called out to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full
of His glory”. The earth quaked, and the temple was filled with smoke. 
In the awesome presence of the Lord, the prophet Isaiah stood in awestruck wonder, yet the
holiness of God caused him to recoil in reverential fear. Similarly, the prophet Daniel and the
apostle John demonstrated the same emotional mixture of attraction and dread when ushered
into the presence of their majestic Creator (Daniel 8:17; Revelation 1:17).
God is beyond full human comprehension. Indeed, our language lacks the superlatives and
precision necessary to justly describe Him. Drawn to Him for His unequaled goodness and
majesty, we will fall down in Holy reverence to His Majesty.


A. The core idea behind holiness is absolute moral purity. God is not only perfectly good; He is
the very source and standard of goodness. In this regard, goodness has a permanence to it
precisely because it is rooted in the eternal and everlasting God. Goodness does not change
because God does not change.
B. God is holy. In Him, there is not even the faintest trace of evil. He is impeccably pure, wholly
without fault, and uncompromisingly just. God cannot lie. He cannot make wrong decisions. He
is blameless, timeless, and sinless.


C. When we lose a vision of the beauty of His holiness, then there is an ugliness that creeps
from the inside out, touching our relationships, churches, workplaces, buildings and ways of
life. In the Old Testament, there were holy places and holy spaces. The ground around the
burning bush was holy (Exodus 3:5). The temple was holy (Isaiah 64:11; Habakkuk 2:20). There
are holy utensils (I Chronicles 9:29), garments (Exodus 29:21; Lev. 16:4), foods (I Samuel 21:4;
Nehemiah 7:65), oil (Exodus 30:25, 31; Numbers 35:13; Ezekiel 42:13).


D. The holiness of God sets apart concrete things as holy. Though we are not bound by the
ceremonial law (fulfilled in Christ), we are to now set apart all aspects of our lives as holy unto
the Lord. There is for us a holy meal (the Lord’s supper), holy baptism, holy hands (I Timothy
2:8), and a holy calling (II Timothy 1:9). We are now to be holy in body and spirit (I Cor. 7:34)
and to offer our bodies as a holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1). 
Unlike His created beings, God is eternal, preeminent, omnipotent, omniscient, and
omnipresent. He was, is, and will be before all things. He is ageless, tireless, and faultless. He is
beyond full human comprehension. Drawn to Him for His unequaled goodness and majesty, the
Prophet Isaiah wrote,
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
‘I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15, ESV).

To the lost the holiness of God is a dreadful matter, but to the redeemed the holiness of God is
our greatest good.
Christians may rest safely in God’s promises because He is faithful not only in his intentions but
in his nature. By nature, He is unchangeable. God swore by himself. He is immutable and,
therefore, His oath/promise is immutable and reliable.
The Dangers of Ignoring God’s Holiness
Ignoring God’s holiness brought deadly consequences. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu, acted
contrary to God’s commands in their priestly duties and he killed them with fire. Many years
later, when King David was having the ark of the covenant moved on a cart, in violation of God’s
commands, it tipped when the oxen stumbled, and a man named Uzzah touched it to steady it.
God immediately struck Uzzah dead.
We ought to offer absolute reverence to His holiness
Reverence for God is a quality missing in much of what masquerades as Christianity today.
Instead of the kind of reverence we see demonstrated throughout the Bible, modern
Christianity has adopted a “a posture” in their prayers that seems to command God. Our
attitude grossly downplays the holiness, power, and righteous wrath of the Sovereign Creator.
When the worshipers enter the place of meeting, they should do so with decorum, passing
quietly to their seats. We should not be indolent, careless, and inappropriate in our attitude.
Common talking, whispering, and laughing should not be permitted in the house of worship,
either before or after the service. Ardent, active piety should characterize the worshipers.


Human beings were created to worship God, so reverence is the natural response of a heart
that has been transformed by the Holy Spirit. The more we grow in knowledge and
understanding, the more reverence we feel toward Him. Proper reverence is not the same as
stiff, religious formality. The gift of Jesus to us was God’s invitation to draw near (James
4:8; John 14:9). However, familiarity with God should not breed contempt, by making us ignore
the awesomeness the Holiness of the Almighty God.
Prayer point
God Almighty, we have out of total ignorance made you too little. Please forgive our foolish
ways. Help us to tread cautiously in your presence and help us to be holy as you are Holy. In
Jesus name we have prayed. Amen

Remain Blessed!
Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays
5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM
88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymns and their Stories.

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THE CHURCH’S PROPHETIC VOICE IN “SECULAR” SOCIETY (PART I)

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” – Micah 6:8 

Introduction

The community of believers in God through Jesus Christ His Son, are empowed by God’s Holy Spirit to speak forth the Word of God’s salvation to secular society.  Even more importantly, we let the whole world see the transforming power of God in our lives by:

  • manifesting the character of Christ who lives in us;
  • being people of real integrity;
  • being hardworking
  • being diligent;
  • respecting authority (not in sycophancy but as an act of obedience to God)
  • making good use of our time.

Politics

What about the church’s prophetic voice in politics.  We are not called to play God.  What I mean is that we are not expected to bring the rule of Jesus Christ in this world before the appointed time of God.  But let me hasten to say that we are called to be the salt penetrating this rotten world.  We have a moral obligation to be involved in our world.  The Church has to point the society to God’s love for justice, for mercy, for ensuring the well-being of the needy, the oppressed, the widows and the orphans – Micah 6:8; Exo. 22:22-23.  The Church must let the leadership of secular society know that God hates corruption and bribery because this distorts justice and leads to the strong and the rich depriving the weak and the poor – Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19. Rulers must be told of God’s hatred for the sin of idol worship which He considers spiritual adultery – Jeremiah 2:19-20.  The Church must constantly speak against selfishness, violence, nepotism and greed.  If this is deemed politics, then praise God because in pointing out these things and calling people to repentance, the Church will be obeying God.

Dangers

To maintain its prophetic voice, the church must steer clear of the sin of loving the world and making friends with it. Jesus warns us that the flesh is weak even though the spirit is willing.  The world’s allures are many.  They beckon us daily.  Satan is at his craftiest best seducing us in many ways.  Slowly, but with sure steps, the world is making in-roads in to the Church.  We are beginning to measure our success by the world’s standards, that is, by the number of people in the church and their material well-being, the size and beauty of our church buildings.  We look for the acclaim of men by how publicly we do our acts of charity and so on when we should see it as merely doing our duty.  God’s standard of success is only one – total obedience.  The cross of Christ was failure by the World’s standards but to God it was total success as Philippians 2:5-11 indicates: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the letters to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus was very clear about their weaknesses which were mainly the result of using the world’s standards to judge themselves and thus, ignoring what is most important to God.

Empowered by God

It is God who has called out the Church and separated her to Himself so that she will reveal to the world what God wants to do for the world through Christ.  It is God’s testimony that counts.  When He calls, He equips.  The world needs Christ and God has freely offered Him as His gift to the world.  We must proclaim this message with boldness.  But above all our own lives, transformed by the renewing of our minds, will be the only way we can maintain our prophetic voice for then we will truly know and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will – Romans 12:2b.

Yes, through Jesus, God has saved us and given us His righteousness.  He has also given us the power to live righteous and godly lives.  In Titus 2:11 we read: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”  That is why Peter also says in 2 Peter 1:4-8 that “Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cased by evil desires.  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The world must know that through Christ we can all live above our basic instincts.  

The Church, that is the collective of all believers, can faithfully, boldly and with great eagerness maintain our prophetic voice in this secular, decadent sin-filled world, lifting Christ up that He may draw all men to Himself, because God has empowered us, so to do.

For God loved the world that He gave His one only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him!  We need to let the world know this!

To be continued!

Remain Blessed!

Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays 5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymns and their Stories.

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THE SOON AND COMING KING

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6

INGTRODUCTION

In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death. He is both ‘Wonderful Counsellor’ and ‘Mighty God’. This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom. He came to deliver us from slavery of sin.

Great Expectations

Imagine that a message has come about the visit of a great King.  This king who is coming to visit your city is of impeccable pedigree – a line of ancestors known for their great leadership qualities.  This expected King has a reputation for fairness, justice, kindness, wisdom and generosity.  All over town people’s expectations are high.  The people know that the King will not just visit and go along His way without leaving them something that will make their lives better so each person in the village has made their own list of things that they will either directly or indirectly ask from the King.  The issue of not receiving what is asked for is totally out of the question.  The awaited King is not like that.  He not only keeps His word.  He is one who is compassionate and listens to His people and so wherever He goes He leaves a train of fulfilled dreams and hopes.

The Great King

In Isaiah 9:1-7, we read of the famous prophecy at the coronation of either Hezekiah or Josiah as King of Judah “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the  future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” 

The prophecy speaks of the close of the chapter of doom, gloom and melancholy. In verses 2 & 3, Isaiah draws a contrast between the darkness of despair and the joyous salvation which will be ushered in by the coming king, who will be the long awaited Saviour.  This passage in Isaiah is quoted extensively at Christmas time because it is the prophecy concerning the coming of the King of kings and Saviour of the world – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Later Isaiah gives us names which are descriptive of the nature, character and power of this coming King.  These names have a very special meaning to us because we know that Jesus has fulfilled every aspect of the prophecy.

Wonderful Counsellor

This coming king – Jesus, is exceptional because He is the Son of God and Son of man.  He gives the right advice because He is intimately acquainted with the counsels of God from eternity.  In fact John, one of His apostles describes Him as ‘one who was with God in the beginning’ – John 1:1-2. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God He was with God in the beginning.”(NIV) This Wonderful Counsellor is the wisdom of God our Father who has made Him our wisdom.  We can rely on Him for wisdom to handle our everyday situations and solve seemingly intractable problems.  He is our wisdom because He enables us to move beyond our selfishness, greed, unholiness and self-will and submit to God’s direction without feeling that our peers would consider us foolish.

Mighty God

The coming King is a Divine Warrior because He has supernatural skill and strength in battle.  Because He is God Himself, Jesus is able to fight and overcome every scheme of the devil concerning the lives of His redeemed.  But even more, His divine skills in battle are transferred to us through the armour He has provided us which include the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness the gospel of peace; the shield of faith; the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit as we read in Ephesians 6:13-17. “Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. – (NIV)  Through God’s might we are able to overcome one of our greatest enemies – the SELF; the I in us which insists on having its own way even if that way is against God and humanity.  The might of God, given us through the coming King, Jesus Christ, gives us power to resist the world’s seductive attractions.

Everlasting Father

This coming King is timeless; He is God our Father or better put Father for ever, meaning that the King will look after His people as a father looks after His children.  Jesus’ own promise to the disciples (and to us) is that no one can snatch us from His hands because we have been given to Him by His Father, God: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.    I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I am the Father are one”- John 10:27-30 (NIV).

Prince of Peace

As a King, He preserves commands and creates peace in His Kingdom.  He Himself is Peace and therefore brings prosperity and well-being to His people.  He does this by governing with justice, righteousness and equity.  In Isaiah 11:1-9 gives further detail about what constitutes the rule of the Prince of Peace as follows:

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from the roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and He will delight in the fear of the Lord.  He will not judge by what He sees with his eyes or decide by what He hears with His ears, but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.  Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.  The wolf will be with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together and a little child will lead them.  The cow will feed with the bear, and their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  The infant will play near the hole of the cobra and the young child put his hand into the vipers nest.  They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” – (NIV)

Getting Ready for the King

During this period until soon after Christmas, let us all be meditating on the message of Christmas.  It is the message of God coming down to our level so that we will be raised to His level.  It is a message of salvation from sin, the breaking of the bonds of slavery to Satan.  It is a message of God lovingly binding broken hearts and healing diseases.  But most of all, it is a message of restoration – God restoring us to the original relationship He created us to have with Him. 

SING, WE THE KING WHO IS COMING TO REIGN – MHB 116 (verse 1& 5)

1 Sing we the King who is coming to reign,
Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain,
Life and salvation his empire shall bring
Joy to the nations when Jesus is King.

Refrain:
Come let us sing: Praise to our King,
Jesus our King, Jesus our King;
This is our song, who to Jesus belong:
Glory to Jesus, to Jesus our King.

5 Kingdom of Christ, for thy coming we pray,
Hasten, O Father, the dawn of the day
When this new song thy creation shall sing,
Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King.

Stay blessed!

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THE HOPE OF ADVENT

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!” – Acts 2:1-8

INTRODUCTION

“Advent,” says Pope Francis, “is a journey toward the horizon of hope. Does not disappoint because it is founded on the Word of God”. A hope that does not disappoint, simply because the Lord never disappoints! He is faithful!”

During Advent, we are invited to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord – to wait in joyful hope for His return in glory at the end of time and to prepare for the annual celebration of His birth.

REFLECT

The Holy Spirit’s arrival was a fulfilment of Jesus’ promise and also John the Baptist’s words about the Holy Spirit’s baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16 – John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But One who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.), and of the prophet Joel’s words about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29 – And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.).

Tongues of fire were the sign of His arrival.

Why tongues of fire? Tongues symbolize speech and the communication of the gospel. Fire symbolizes God’s purifying presence, which burns away the undesirable elements of our lives and sets our hearts aflame to ignite the lives of others. On Mount Sinai, God confirmed the validity of the Old Testament law with fire from heaven (Exodus 19:16-18). At Pentecost, God confirmed the validity of the Holy Spirit’s ministry by sending fire. At Mount Sinai, fire had come down on one place; at Pentecost, fire came down on many believers, symbolizing that God’s presence is now available to all who believe in Him.

RESPOND

God made His presence known to this group of believers in a spectacular way—violent wind, fire, and His Holy Spirit. Would you like God to reveal Himself to you in such recognizable ways? He may do so, but be wary of forcing your expectations on God. In 1 Kings 19:10-13, Elijah also needed a message from God. There was a great wind, then an earthquake, and finally a fire. But God’s message came in a “gentle whisper.” God may use dramatic methods to work in your life—or He may speak in a gentle whisper. Wait patiently and always listen.

A PRAYER FOR HOPE

Heavenly Father,

Advent is a time for remembering and reflecting on the birth of Your Son and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Father, I pray that You will turn our hearts toward You as Christmas approaches.  Let us not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season this year and miss the chance to celebrate the gifts of hope, peace, joy, love, that You sent to us on that first Christmas day!

Father God, every word in scripture points to the gift of hope that we have because of Christ Jesus.  The Christmas story wasn’t the beginning of that message of hope because the old testament is full of glimpses of Your plan to redeem Your people and restore them into a relationship with You, but we are able to truly begin to see and understand just how great Your love for us is when we read the story of Jesus’ birth in Scripture.

You showed us a glimmer of that hope as You chose to send Your Son into this earth through a family tree that was a little bent and scarred.  We glanced it again as You chose a tribe that was small and a city that was lowly. We are grateful that You didn’t send Your Son to be birthed in a fancy palace among the wealthy and the elite, but our King of kings and Lord of lords was born among common shepherds and livestock in a barn.

The family wasn’t ideal.  The surroundings weren’t grand.  The situation wasn’t without its’ difficulties, however, You came in the midst of all of that.  Emmanuel.  God with us.  God in the messy.  God in the dirty.  God in the difficult and the troubled. 

Your plan to redeem and restore mankind was to dwell among us, fully God and fully man.  You chose to come to earth enrobed in the fragile soft skin of a newborn baby and set aside all of the glory of heaven for one purpose.  You came to be with us.  You came to love us.  You came to die for us, so that we might live.

Help us to see that You are with us.  Nothing is too difficult, too messy, or too dirty for you.  Jesus came to give us the gift of eternal life through the salvation that only you, our Heavenly Father, can give when we believe in Your Son, repent of our sins, and confess Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

That first Christmas, You gave us the gift of hope wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.  Thank you, Father, for your immeasurable gift.

We are bold to pray like this because of this precious name of Your Son and our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. With thanksgiving Amen.

MHB 150 – THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE

1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

2 Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,

Proclaiming Thy royal degree;

But of lowly birth cams’t Thou come to earth,

And in great humility.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliot, 1836-1897

Remain Blessed!

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GOD MAKES LIFE GOOD

“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.” – Job 37:14

We live in troubled and uncertain times where basic values and integrity have been pushed aside. Sadly, many people have given up trying to promote a sense of morality and have chosen to just go with the flow.

If you are in this position, then, like Job, you should pause and consider God’s wonders.

Reflect on the wonderful deeds of God. Out of chaos and darkness, He created this beautiful earth. He loved us so much that He saved us from the bonds of sin and death. Through the life of Jesus, He gave us an example of the fullness of life.

Praise Him for all His wonderful deeds and for His indescribable grace.
Lord, You fill my heart with gladness. Thank You for Your glorious deeds I see all around me every day. Amen.

STAY BLESSED
SOURCE: Culled from Grace from Each Moment.

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A NEW YEAR WITH GOD

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” – Psalm 32:8.

The prospect of a new year can be exciting because of many new possibilities and opportunities, but also disquieting if you face the future with anxiety – wondering whether the problems and disasters of the past will repeat themselves.

International crises, financial setbacks, as well as personal problems and disappointments tend to cloud our vision of the future.

Always remember that you can place your hope in the omniscience of God. He truly cares about you and He loves you deeply. Believe in the promises of Jesus and approach the new year in His loving presence. He will guide you through the labyrinth of life because He knows what is best for you.

Prayer: You are truly a God of love! Thank You for sending Your only Son so that I, too, can be saved. Amen.

 

STAY BLESSED
SOURCE: Culled from Grace for Each Moment.

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ONE BIG REQUEST

John 15:16

Yesterday we looked at God’s promise in John 14:14. Too often people take the verse to imply, “If you ask anything, I will do it.” They overlook the most essential phrase: “in My name.”

Asking in Christ’s name has two meanings. First, believers are welcome to make requests that align with God’s purpose and plan. To do that, we need to ask Him if our prayers match His will. God has several ways of assuring followers that they are on the correct path. For instance, He may increase right desires or decrease wrong ones. Another possibility is that He will use His Word to redirect a Christian’s steps or confirm that the believer is going the right way. Either way, God will make a path for the man or woman who seeks to do His will.

Second, invoking Christ’s name means that we desire to glorify Him instead of ourselves. James gives this warning: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). To understand that, let’s consider those who are trying to pray their way out of a financial hole as an example. The question is, Does a person want to get out of debt so that he has more for himself or so that he can use the excess in God-honoring ways? Motives are apparent to God, and He will not encourage ones rooted in sin.

In the name Jesus Christ, there is abundant power. However, calling upon Him in prayer is not a magic charm to get what we want. Rather, it is a signal that we are laying down our personal desires and our own way of getting things done. In so doing, we commit to follow God and bring honor to Him.
Bible in One Year: Luke 2-3

STAY BLESSED
SOURCE: Culled from In Touch Ministries