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THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT

Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy
Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. – Acts 2:33


INTRODUCTION
As Jesus had promised, the Father empowered the disciples with the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus
Christ has the power to pour God’s Spirit into people’s lives. Christians receive the Spirit and
call others to accept Christ. We have been commissioned to witness about Christ to the world
and are dependent on the Spirit’s power to accomplish this task.
To be “exalted” is to be lifted up by another. Jesus did not place Himself at God’s right hand.
Paul explains that He didn’t try to take God’s position or glory. He humbled Himself to the point
of death in the most humiliating, dishonouring way. It was God who exalted Jesus.
In Peter’s powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost, he declared that Jesus had not only been
raised from the dead, but that He had been exalted to the right hand of God – the highest
position of honour in the universe. Because of His exaltation, God ‘gave’ the Holy Spirit to
Jesus, who now poured out the Holy Spirit on the disciples.
We will celebrate the day of Pentecost on Sunday 28 th May, 2023 and I pray that we will find
this article relevant.
PETER ADDRESSES THE CROWD
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews
and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what
was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all
people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men
will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in
those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on
the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and
the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by
miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with
the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised Him from
the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep
its hold on Him. David said about Him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my
right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because
you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and
his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on
oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he
spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the
dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of
it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit
and has poured out what you now see and hear.
For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my
right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be
assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” – ACTS
2:1-36

Note that Peter referred to “the promised Holy Spirit”. The reference goes back to the words of
Jesus in Acts 1:4-8:   On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this
command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have
heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this
time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the
times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”, and even farther back to the prophecy of John the
Baptist in Mark 1:8: I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”.
Ultimately it stretches back hundreds of years to the new covenant God promised Israel in
Jeremiah 31:31-24: The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new
covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
Conclusion
Dwelling in our hearts today by faith alone, this Holy Spirit unites us with Christ in His death and
resurrection. He who was born, who ministered, gave His life, rose, and ascended – He is the
one who walks with us and empowers us by His Holy Spirit. He unites our life to his.
Our fears and struggles and weaknesses will surely always overcome us unless we have
received and rely upon the outpoured Holy Spirit.
The courage of Peter to preach among the enemies of Christ must also be ours as we witness in
this world. We serve a higher power, the highest power, a king whose power unites heaven and
earth together for us. Though we are on earth he enables us to act as those united to heaven.
He makes us fearless followers of his and powerful workers in his kingdom. We should know
Christ as our exalted King because He has poured out His Spirit on us. He will enable us to live
for Him courageously and to speak of Him graciously and powerfully.
What was promised has now arrived. Is it possible that we have taken the Holy Spirit for
granted? Has our spiritual bounty made us ungrateful to God? The great news is this –
Pentecost is past. The Holy Spirit has come. Let the people of God rejoice.
Father when I am ungrateful, remind me what life would be like without Your Spirit. 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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FOUR GOOD GIFTS YOUR SUFFERING CAN GIVE YOU

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4


INTRODUCTION


All of us go through some form of suffering – whether bearing persistent pain, hurt, sickness,
handicaps, broken relationships or insufficient resources. Some of it is by chance, others by
neglect, still others by sin or by design. Whatever the source of our suffering, we all feel its
dark shadow. We came across this article below by Jen Thorn, a blogger at jenthorn.com.
Please enjoy and pass it on!
“As I look around there seems to be a lot of suffering in the lives of my friends. Maybe even
more than usual. Mother in laws that are terminally ill, a mom who is dealing with the news
that her little son has cancer, another mom who has just miscarried twins, a couple who long
for a child and yet their arms remain empty. Suffering and sadness is everywhere.
Whenever I think of suffering I think of the puritans. They knew what it meant to experience
hard times and loss in their life. I think this is why they wrote so much about it. Suffering was a
normal part of life for many of them.
John Bunyan lost his first wife, had a daughter who was blind, and found himself incarcerated
for 10 years for preaching in public. Spurgeon’s mother had 17 children of whom 9 died in
infancy. “I love my suffering because it comes from God.” These words were spoken by a
woman who lived a coupled hundred years ago. Can you say this? Do you love your suffering
because it comes from God?

God has given us many precious gifts; but I believe, that next to the unspeakable gift of His
beloved Son, we shall thank and praise Him the loudest in heaven for the gift of suffering. –
Octavius Winslow.
Gifts are given out of love, kindness, and affection for another. The gift of suffering is given to
us by a loving God who only wants our best and his glory. This can be hard for us to wrap our
brains around, so here are a few reasons why seasons of suffering and loss are God’s good gifts
to his people.

  1. SUFFERING MOVES US TO HOLD TIGHT TO JESUS
    We take our eyes off of Jesus much too easily and quickly. Instead of fighting the good fight we
    pitch our tents on the sidelines and try to create for ourselves a life of comfort and ease, filled
    with things that the world tells us we need. Jesus is quickly forgotten, the word neglected and
    sin indulged.

When suffering comes into our lives we are roused out of our sleep to see reality that earthly
blessings do not satisfy or save. That we must cling to Jesus for all our needs and for life itself.
That we must take up the armor of God and join in the battle against Satan and evil in the world
that seeks to ruin us. We are reminded of the gift of Jesus that we already possess; a Gift that is
truly all we need.

  1. SUFFERING HELPS US SYMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS
    We can say kind words to those who are suffering. We can give them a meal or give them a
    hug, but until we have experienced suffering ourselves we cannot fully sympathize with a fellow
    sister or brother who is going through some tough times. Our suffering makes us sensitive to
    the afflictions of others. And if we have found peace through our trials, we are able to comfort
    others with the comfort we ourselves have received.
  2. SUFFERING IS GOD’S TOOL FOR OUR SANCTIFICATION
    The process of becoming more like Jesus is not an easy transformation. Sin digs in its heels and
    doesn’t want to let go. Our pride says that we know better and selfishness is constantly pushing
    Jesus aside. In order to look more like the humble, selfless Son of God we must go through
    some fire so that our impurities can be burned off – Isa. 48:10. While it is not pleasant at the
    time we will shine more brightly once we make it through – James 1:24.
  3. SUFFERING EXERCISES OUR FAITH
    During many of our hard days of difficulty and uncertainty, when we may not understand why
    we are suffering, it becomes necessary to exercise our faith in the truths we know about God.
    The truths that never move. Truths of his person like his wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty.
    We must be careful that we not react like the world does to loss and hardship. Such times are
    not occasion to shake our fists at God who has somehow let us down, as if we are entitled to a
    life of ease, free from conflict.
    Nowhere in scripture have we been promised an easy life. In fact we have been told that life
    will be hard and that afflictions will be many. But God has promised to never leave us or forsake
    us – Heb. 13:5. That he has a purpose for all that takes place in our lives, both the good and the
    bad. Our suffering is not only tests our faith, but it works it out and makes it stronger.
    Only the gospel can teach us this truth, that suffering is a gift. Jesus suffered on our behalf, for
    our sins, for our joy. But not only for our own joy, but for the glory that was set before him –
    Heb. 12:2. Through Jesus’ suffering we have life, and we have an example of the Son of God
    who suffered well and saw it as a gift.
    For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer
    for him. Phi.1:29. “

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 LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp
and put it under a peck-measure but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let
your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praise
worthy, noble and good deed, and recognize and honour and praise and glorify you Father
who is in heaven” – Matthew 5:14-16.


INTRODUCTION
It may be well said that this is the greatest compliment that was ever paid to the individual
Christian, for in it Jesus commands the Christian to be what He himself claimed to be. Jesus
said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” – John 9:5. When Jesus
commanded His followers to be the lights of the world, He demanded nothing less than that
they should be like Himself.
We must shine with the reflection of His light. The radiance which shines from the Christian
comes from the presence of Christ within the Christian’s heart. We often speak about a radiant
bride, but the radiance which shines from her comes from the love which has been born with
her heart.
When Jesus said the Christian must be the light of the world, what did He mean?
I. A light is first and foremost something which is meant to be seen. So, then, Christianity
is something which is meant to be seen. As someone has well said, “There can be no
such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the
discipleship destroys the secrecy.” A man’s secrecy should be perfectly visible to all
men. Further this Christianity should not be visible only within the Church, it should
even be more visible in the ordinary activities of the world.
Our Christianity should be visible in the way we treat a shop attendant over the counter,
in the way we treat our employees or serve our employer, in the way we treat motorists
on the road, in the daily language we use etc. Jesus did not say, “You are the light of the
Church”; He said, “You are the light of the world,” and in a man’s life in the world His
Christianity should be evident to all.
II. A light is a guide. On the estuary of any river we may see the line of the lights which
marks the channel for the ships to sail in safety. We know how difficult it is to drive
when there are no street lights. A light is something to make clear the way. So then as
Christians we must make the way clear to others. One of the things which this world
needs more than anything else is people who are prepared to be foci of goodness.
There are many people in this world who have not the moral strength and courage to
take a stand by themselves, but if someone gives them a lead, they will follow, if they
have someone strong enough to lean on, they will do the right thing.
III. A light can often be a warning light. A light is often the warning which tells us to halt
when there is danger ahead. It is sometimes our duty to bring to our fellow believer the

necessary warning. If our warnings are given, not in anger, not in irritation, not in
criticism, not in condemnation, not in the desire to hurt, but in love, they will be
effective. The light which can be seen, the light which warns, the light which guides,
these are the lights which the Christian must be.
ARE WE STILL A LIGHT TO THE WORLD
If we are not living as light of the world then, there could be at least four reasons for the
breakdown:

  1. Lack of Doctrinal Clarity or Authority
    The light of Christ was intended to illumine the truth about God – John 7:16-18; 8:3-32, but if
    we ourselves are still in the dark about what we believe, how can we then persuade others to
    believe. We cannot give what we ourselves do not have.
  2. Moral or Ethical Compromise
    It is impossible to sustain a credible message about a pure and holy life if we ourselves are
    living in moral darkness – 1 John 1:5-6. God wants us to live a lifestyle that is morally attractive
    to unbelievers – Matt. 5:14-16; Titus 2:9-10.
  3. Disunity or a Lack of Love for Other Believers
    Perhaps nothing undermines the mission of the church more than internal conflict. The world
    would never believe in Christ’s message of love if His followers are at war with each other.
    Jesus was fully aware of this when He prayed for the unity of His people “I have given them the
    glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are. I in them and you in me, all being
    perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you
    love them as much as you love me”- John 17:22-23 (NLT).
  4. A Lost Passion for Evangelism and Mission
    The task of bringing the message of God’s salvation is still unfinished. We should not be
    satisfied that the mission has basically been completed, or that someone else will do it, or that
    the message has become irrelevant. If we do that then the light of Christ will go no further.
    Never forget that someone brought Christ into the midst of your own spiritual darkness. Is
    there any credible reason why you should not introduce someone else to His grace?
    Conclusion
    When Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others,” that wasn’t the whole sentence. He went
    on to give the reason why it’s important to shine: “so that they may see your good works and
    give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16b). Our goal should never be to
    bring recognition to ourselves, but to bring glory to God. There’s a fine line between being a
    light and putting on a show to get attention. It’s a matter of the heart.

We are the Light of the world. We should let our light shine!

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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A CALL TO HOLY LIVING

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard
me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified
to teach others. 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 2:1-2, 15

INTRODUCTION
In 1 Peter chapters 1&2, Peter wrote to encourage his readers to persevere in their faith and to
prepare for future attacks. These teachings have implications on our lives as Christ followers
today. The basis for Christian hope is Jesus’s resurrection and the promise of eternal life. In light
of eternity, our trials are temporary and serve to refine our faith.
As we await Jesus’s return, we are to live holy lives. In obedience to God, we are to seek to
reflect His holiness in our behavior, which is possible because we have been redeemed from
our old, sinful way of life. We have been given the Holy Spirit as our Helper as we read in
Philippians 2:13 – For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what
pleases Him.
In Chapter 2, Peter uses several images to help us understand how we have been changed by
Christ. We have been given a new diet (“pure milk of the word” that helps us grow
Christlikeness), a new house (the church), and a new family (God’s children). God made us
such in order that we will tell the world about who He is and what He has done.
Please enjoy and share with others.

1 PETER 1:1-25
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to
Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new
birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an
inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who
through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be
revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may
have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of
your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result
in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of
your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you,
searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to
which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah
and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who
have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look
into these things.
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought
to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the
evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be
holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as
foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as
silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from
your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was
chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your
faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for
each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of
perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,“ All
people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the
flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached
to you.

1 PETER 2:1-25
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to
him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,
offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See,
I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will
never be put to shame.”


Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is
also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that
you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received
mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war
against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing
wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as
the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong
and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence
the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-
up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,
fear God, honour the emperor.
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are
good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears
up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your
credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good
and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” When they hurled their insults
at Him, he did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted
Himself to him who judges justly.
“He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for
righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,”
but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 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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JESUS’ SEVEN WORDS ON THE CROSS

“….at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” Romans 5:6

Jesus Christ shed His blood on the Cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His
atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for our salvation. The
Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates
sinners, and we are baptized in Him into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family
of God. The Holy Spirit also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for
Christ-like living and service.
What Does Easter Mean to Christianity
Easter is the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. God
sent His Son to earth to die as a sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus died on the cross to forgive
everybody for all the sins we have committed. Jesus’ blood covered everybody from the
beginning of time and to the end of the world. He died for all of our sins. On the third day,
Jesus conquered death, and rose from the death. Jesus is the only God who has ever Risen
from Death. He is the Saviour of the world. Without Jesus, we could not have ever been
Christians. He died so that everybody could live forever; and everybody on the face of the
earth can become a Christian. All you have to do is accept Him as Lord and Saviour, confess
your sins, obey Him, and live your life for Him. We have all sinned and have fallen short from
the glory of God – Romans 3:23. However, because of Jesus, we have been saved! For the
Christian, Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Before Jesus’ Death

  • They slapped Him and pulled His beard;
  • They spit on Him;
  • They pushed Him around;
  • They stripped Him and flogged Him and tore out His skin;
  • They pushed a crown of thorns on His head – it drew blood;
  • They put a heavy cross on Him to carry to the place of His execution;
  • To Calvary He went.
  • There they pierced Him with nails and hang Him on the cross – naked!
  • Even at this stage, at the stage of absolute agony and humiliation, they sneered at
    Him and mocked Him!!
    He had done no wrong. On the contrary, for my sake, for your sake and for the sake of a
    sinful world – He accepted the will of His Father and endured this very shameful, painful,
    death.
    He said very little during His trial BUT on the cross He said seven things.
    SEVEN WORDS ON THE CROSS
  1. The Word of Forgiveness Luke 23:34: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” What an extraordinary love and mercy! I am saved – you are saved because Jesus asked for forgiveness for us!
  1. The Word of Salvation
    Luke 23:43: – “I tell you the truth; today you will be with me in paradise.” Even in
    such an excruciating agony Jesus reached out to a sinner. The songwriter Frances
    Jane Van Alstyne popularly called Fanny Crosby, the blind prolific hymn writer says it
    well. “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon
    receives.”
  2. The Word of Love
    John 19:26-27: “……Dear woman here is your son, and to the disciple, “Here is your
    mother.” Even in the agony of dying, Jesus is concerned about the welfare of His
    mother and appoints the “disciple whom He loved” (John?) to take care of her.
    Then, and even now, children have a responsibility to take care of their dependent
    parents as stated in 1 Timothy 5:8 – “If anyone does not provide for his immediate
    family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” When we refuse
    to take care of members of our families, especially the immediate ones, we are
    worse than unbelievers. Jesus is a perfect example of obedience to God’s word. He
    has given us power to do this as He did.
    Then three hours of darkness – noon to 3p.m.! Silence! Even nature is overwhelmed
    by the level of wickedness and sin of mankind.
  3. The Word of Spiritual Suffering
    Mark 15:34: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? These words mark the
    climax of Jesus’ suffering for a lost world. Jesus experienced separation from God the
    Father as the sinner’s substitute. Here the sorrow, grief and pain were at their worst!
    He was pierced for our transgression – “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He
    was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
    and by His wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) and gave Himself a “ransom
    for many” – Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6. God made Him who had no sin to be a sin
    for you and I. Jesus died, forsaken that we might never be forsaken – Psalm 22. Thus
    we are redeemed by the suffering of Christ – 1 Peter 1:19.
  4. The Word of Physical Suffering
    John 19:28: “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture
    would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Jesus nearing death goes through the
    agony of thirst! The fountain of living water desires earthly water and is given vinegar
    – sour wine! which He rejects.
  5. The Word of Triumph

John 19:30: “When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished” – mission
accomplished. The work of redemption is done! Jesus did not say “I am finished”.
Rather He triumphantly made a declaration that He had completed and accomplished
His work on the cross.

  • He had accomplished the earthly mission assigned by the Father;
  • He had fulfilled the important Old Testament prophecy about the suffering Messiah –
    Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53.
  • Completed the work of redemption as the sacrificial and Passover Lamp of God –
    John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7 involving blood atonement – Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews
    9:12 & 22.
  • The decisive moment of victory over Satan and his network of demons – Colossians
    2:15
  • Jesus has achieved the means of reconciliation of God with His creation and sinful
    humanity. – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 & 21; Colossians 1:20-22. It is worthy to note that
    nothing can be added to the finished work of the cross for salvation. The way of
    salvation is now open to all who believe and draw on Jesus finished work on the
    cross – Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46. The debt for our sin has been paid in full and the plan of salvation established.
  1. The Word of Committal
    John 19:30; Luke 23:46 “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands
    I commit my spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last.”
    Father into your hands I commit my spirit – Jesus voluntarily committed His life into
    the Father’s care – He went in spirit to His Father in Heaven.
    For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in
    Him shall not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16 (NIV).
    HAPPY EASTER!!!

 Stay blessed!

For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243409108 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org

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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.

Posted on

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!

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