PENTECOST 

 THE PRIZE FOR A HIGHER LIFE

BY VEN STEPHEN WOLEMONWU

Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

Pentecost, the beginning and birthday of the Church, is an annual feast that closes out the Easter season 50 days after the resurrection is celebrated. The word Pentecost has its root in the Greek word that means five. (One can see where the word pentagon comes from.) It is also a word that was used in Judaism during the time of Jesus, as Pentecost was the word used for the harvest festival Shavuot.

According to Britannica; Pentecost, (Pentecost from Greek pentecostē, “50th day”), major festival in the Christian church, celebrated on the Sunday that falls on the 50th day of Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2), and it marks the beginning of the Christian church’s mission to the world.

The Jewish feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) was primarily a thanksgiving for the first fruits of the wheat harvest, but it was later associated with a remembrance of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The church’s transformation of the Jewish feast to a Christian festival was thus related to the belief that the gift of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus was the first fruits of a new dispensation that fulfilled and succeeded the old dispensation of the Law.

When the festival was first celebrated in the Christian church is not known, but it was mentioned in a work from the Eastern Church, the Epistola Apostolorum, in the 2nd century. In the 3rd century it was mentioned by Origen, theologian and head of the catechetical school in Alexandria, and by Tertullian, Christian priest and writer of Carthage.

In the early church, Christians often referred to the entire 50-day period beginning with Easter as Pentecost. Baptism was administered both at the beginning (Easter) and end (the day of Pentecost) of the Paschal season. Eventually, Pentecost became a more popular time for baptism than Easter in northern Europe, and in England the feast was commonly called White Sunday (Whitsunday) for the special white garments worn by the newly baptized. In The First Prayer Book of Edward VI (1549), the feast was officially called Whitsunday, and this name has continued in Anglican churches. In Catholic and other Western churches, priests often wear red vestments during Pentecost to symbolize the “tongues of fire” that descended on the disciples from the Holy Spirit; members of the congregation also wear red in some traditions, and the altar is commonly dressed in a red frontal cloth.

This Christian celebration has its origins in the Acts of the Apostles, (Acts 2:1-12), when the early disciples experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit as promised by our LORD Jesus. Acts also states, “While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5).

In Christian theology and teaching, the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the God head is known as the Paraclete. The word ‘Paraclete’ means educator, intercessor, teacher, helper and comforter. These names describe the role the Holy Spirit plays in the Church and is in the lives of God’s people. The Spirit is sent to remind us of all that Jesus said and taught. The Holy Spirit makes everything possible. Like the early Church it is our duty to pray: come Holy Spirit come in your power and might.

THE VALUE OF THE POWER –Acts 2:14-16

Power is essential for survival in this world. Jesus knew this and told the apostle (Jn. 16:7) to wait. The reason is clear. When the Holy Ghost came, power came. When power came, they were empowered for service. The Holy Spirit is that which guarantees effective service.  

On this period of festivity; the disciples separated themselves in obedience to the LORD’s command to wait.  The festival is held on the fiftieth day after the second day of Passover. Pentecost as the celebration of the wheat harvest held mid of May or early June. People ate and drank; in the midst of the eating and drinking, the early disciples separated themselves, denied themselves certain pleasures, and began the first ‘novena’; sought the face of God for power. From the Ascension to Pentecost was a period of nine days; in this nine days the disciples prayed daily and earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit. There is always a prize to pay for power to come.

When eventually this power came; they witnessed the following:

Their tongue changed: there is no one who the Holy Spirit would touch whose language and way of communication would not change. This is because the mind becomes renewed. It was from mother tongue to a spirit filled tongue.  This also showed a change of identity; they became different; they were now bold to witness and became agents of positive change.

THIRSTY FOR GOD (Psalm 42:1)

Man’s hunger is insatiable. Never satisfied, our quest for physical needs and wants will always grow; man will always want something more and more and more (Prov. 21:26; Eccl. 5:10, Pro. 27:20.). “As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?

Man ordinarily was created with desire, hunger and thirst” – Prov. 27:20

Let’s look at these words:

• TASTE: The sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.
• THIRST – A feeling of needing or wanting to drink something. Here, we got the word ‘thirsty’ meaning: feeling a need to drink.

Inside man is an emptiness wanting to be filled. This hunger could be physical or spiritual. Most at time, our desire to fill this physical hunger make us blinded to filling the spiritual hunger.

What is hunger?

A strong desire, craving, displaying the need for food or something. There are physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual hunger. Man is a needy being. Beside food and water, man needs money, knowledge, security, approval, achievements, fulfillment, satisfaction etc. Eccl. 5:10. No matter how man gets these things, he may not be fully satisfied because satisfaction outside of man’s source of existence brings under satisfaction.  God is our sources. (Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 58:11, Psalm 17:15, 1 Timothy 6:6, Matthew 6:33, 5:6, Romans 14:17). Believers must beware of worldly cares. Mk. 4:19, Luke 12:13

THE NEED TO HUNGER FOR GOD

(Matthew 5:6, John 4:14; 6:35; 7:37-38, Isaiah 55:1-2, Psalm 63:1, Rev. 22:17)

WAYS TO SEEK GOD

• Call upon Him – Jer. 29:12
• Serve Him whole heartedly – 1 Cor. 28:9
• Cast your cares upon Him – Ps. 55:22
• Turn from evil and do good – Ps. 34:12-16
• Forsake evil ways & thoughts – Isaiah 55:6-7
• Have a clean hand in all you do – Ps. 24:4-6
• Be humble and do right – Zeph. 2:3

THE NEED FOR POWER

(John 1:12, Psalm 110:3, Romans 8:19)

Power is essential for survival. The devil like a hunter is looking for souls to capture, lives to slay and destinies to destroy.

1Pet. 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.

GOD HAS MADE HIS POWER AVAILABLE FOR ALL BELIEVERS – LK. 10:19

You can gain access to this power through faith – John 1:12, Romans 8:14

BENEFITS OF POWER – Isaiah 40:28; 31

• Strength to the weak and in the weakness – 2 Corinth 12:9-10
• Able to do all things Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ”
• Able to do the humanly impossible – Psalm 18:29-36
• Run through a troop (a group of soldiers)
• Leaped over a wall (obstacles)
• A defense to those with His power
• Saves in trouble – Psalm 18:31
• Girds with strength
• My feet like hinds’ feet.
• A hind is a female deer that can place her back feet exactly where her front feet stepped. Not one inch off, she is able to run swiftly. In time of danger, she is able to run securely and not get off track. She can scale unusually difficult terrain and elude predators. God’s power helps us to overcome life circumstances with grace and win the race and overcome predators.
• Jump over obstacles
• Climb without falling
• A hind can place her back feet where her front feet is; that you can only see two foot prints rather than four.
• Able to run with endurance – Heb. 12:1

Remember men like Mordecai – before Haman, Moses – before Pharaoh, Daniel – in Babylon, David – before Saul

How to gain power – Acts 2:1-ff

• Wait
• Believe
• Demonstrate
• Maintain fellowship

With God, nothing is impossible. LUKE 1:37

STRETCH (1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19)

Success is never accidental. Men who fear heights never go higher. Until you step up higher than the height of life, you may never see far. Until your height is abnormally stupid, you will end up seeing the normal distances.

WHAT IS STRETCH?

Webster’s New Enclopedic Dictionary defines it to mean:

• To extend (as one’s limbs or body) in a reclining (to bend) position.
• To reach out: Extend
• To extend in length
• To enlarge or distend especially by force, to strain
• To amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits.
• To extend to an extra base

It also mean

• An exercise of something beyond ordinary or normal limits
• An extension of the scope.

Life ordinarily and under normal circumstance has a boundary, limit which it places on every individual which you may never cross until – YOU STRETCH. Only those who are courageous enough to stretch, even in the face of stiffness can achieve blessedness.

Saul’s father lost his donkeys and Saul was asked to go in search of it.

Saul in search of the donkeys crossed from the mountains of Ephraim through the land of Shalisha to Shaalim to the land of the Benjamites and finally to Zuph. In Zuph, he felt like this is the much I can go. But a voice said to him, “Don’t give up. Stretch more, give more trial, try the seer, go beyond the ordinary, and add extra to the ordinary, you need to discover the supernatural within this matter.

Until you go out of the ordinary to do the extra, your ordinary cannot become extra ordinary, until you exercise the super in your natural, you cannot become supernatural. Everyman has greatness hidden within him. Some discover it and achieve it and are celebrated while some do not and die and waste like every other man.

IN STRETCH, WATCH THIS: ‘ELASTICITY – FLEXIBILITY’

Until you stretch, you cannot be elastic. When you become elastic, you will be able to add length to your ‘human assessment.’

SWITCH – People who stretch are able to switch from normal position to a greater, better, bigger length.

S – Strong enough to pull

W – Willing and wise enough to adjust

I – Intelligent to understand

T – Technical to handle

C – Courageous to endure

H – Honest in judgment

RIGID– Life is dynamic. Any man who is so rigid may never attain productivity. Rigidity is an enemy of productivity. To gain higher in life, expect:

• Blockage – what do you do with them?
• Obstacles – How do you handle them?
• Challenges – When do you give attention to them?

When you stretch, you discover the king within and gain the kingdom waiting for you. Hear this:

• It is not how many times that you fail that matters but how many times you are willing to stand up again.
• When life obstruct you add a comma not a full stop, move on.
• Every story of life is a chapter, is a page they are never forever therefore stretch, pull it further.
• Your pain today could be your praise tomorrow therefore, don’t retreat never surrender.
• When life gives you a blow refuse to take a bow, to every life blow, gain a bullet for your weapon, because the journey past is less complicated than the journey before.
• You can make beauty out of the beast
• Scares of the story is the sacrum of the glory. (sacrum is the last bone of the spine, the bedrock of the vertebra – the Holy bone)
• Succeed without struggle are samples of attractions without durability.
• The fire brings out the shinning part of the gold.

WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD

 –THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

BY THE VENERABLE STEPHEN WOLEMONWU

Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre Agbarha-Otor

(Revelation 1:4- 18)

Verse 8 reads:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” Says the Lord “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”

Here the bible text reveals:

• God speaking of His personality
• God is the Alpha and the Omega
• The beginning and the end
• God is; who is, who was and who is to come
• The Almighty

God is God; God is not man and man is not God. What are your experiences; what are your stories; what do you think of the future considering the indices of the past and the present? God’s word is to raise hope in us.

In Ezra 10:2 the scripture said:

 “And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this”.

THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

In four occasion in the book of Revelation, God referred to Himself as the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8, 11, 21:6, 22:13). When God said He is the Alpha and the Omega, He was saying:

• He is in the beginning of all things
• He will be in the end of all things
• He alone is the reason to all existence; without Him nothing exists.
• He knows the beginning as well as the end.
• He opens it from the beginning and will not forget to lock it at the end.
• He does not begin it and will fail to end it.
• He controls the beginning and as well as the end of all powers.

This is exclusively God’s to own. This shows the sovereignty of God as father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 44:6; 48:12 “thus says the Lord, the king of Israel, and his redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no other God”. 48:12 – “Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, my called: I am He, I am the first, I am also the last”.  

This is the position of God, which no one can contest.

GOD AS THE ALPHA

• He is in possession of the knowledge of how the earth began.
• How you began in your mother’s womb, who truly your father and mother is. Every secret of your life and existence, He is in possession of it.
• He has absolute authority over them.
• He can make all things new again. Rev. 21:5-6.

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new”, and he said to me “write, for these words are true and faithful”. And He said to me, “it is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirst.

In John 7:37-38, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, ‘if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink, he who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of His heart will flow rivers of living water.

NOTE THIS

• God is the one to gives the drink and not man
• God is the one to make all things new and not man
• God is the one holding the key; not man
• God is the one to open that door; not man
• God is the one that will do the washing – Rev. 1:5
• God is the one to offer the mercy and not man

O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like you O Lord?

GOD IS THE OMEGA

• He does not leave you after He has begun with you,
• He holds the key to the future, He alone sir, can tell what is yet to be. Let no man boost.

In Isaiah 44:7, “And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in other for me”. Hear me child of God, God who holds the key to the future has not given it to anyone, He is still with the key.

Therefore: Isaiah 44:8 declares “Do not fear, nor be afraid, have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Indeed, there is no other Rock, I know not one”.

In Daniel 10:2-19; specifically in verse 7, what Daniel was experiencing made everyone with him to flee – that’s man for you. In vs. 16, Daniel was without strength anymore, he was cast down wounded but the Lord touched him (verse 18); when the Lord touched him power came. May God touch you today and may He touch you now!

In Rev. 1:17, the Lord laid His right hand on John to uphold him. Whatever you are passing through, God is faithful, He is not man, and remember; man is not God.

TRUE WORSHIP (NEH. 13:15-22)

God demands true worship from man. This is because only God is ‘worthy’ of worship and only Him ‘worth’ our worship’ (Rev. 4:10-11)

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Worship is a reflection of pure relationship between man and His object of worship. It is the duty and function of the soul. It shows the worth of the object to the worshipper demonstrated through: Bowing, prostrating, making and showing deep respect, undiluted honour (Ex. 24:1, Judges 7:15, 1Sam. 25:41, Job 1:20).

Whatever you have worth for, you worship. Does God worth anything to you?

In every worship, there is already an established relationship. A kind of romance; expectations and response. The book of Nehemiah revealed:

• A people who abandoned their true fellowship with God.
• A people who opened their gate for others to disrespect their God.
• A people whose worship became a carnal thing rather than a spiritual one.
• The arrival of a revivalist who came by Divine mandate to restore true worship.
• The possible challenges true worship can encounter before it can be restored.
• The need for purity, if you must be the agent of change.
• You are never alone in your desire for true worship.

WHO & WHAT DO YOU WORSHIP? Ex. 20:1-11

Israel has developed a relationship with God, they are forbidden from entering into another relationship with any other strange ‘god’. The terms of the relationship were:

• God Almighty is their God
• He brought them out of Egypt (a kind of slavery).
• Therefore nothing should come between them and God.
• The name of God in their lips should be with regard, respect and reverence.
• They should never allow anything come between them and their day of worship and in demonstrating their reverence to God.

AS A CHILD OF GOD – Rom. 12:1-2

• You are a sacrifice to God. Why offer yourself again to another?
• He sent His son – JESUS CHRIST to die for your sin.
• He forgave you all your sins through the death of Christ on the cross
• Through His word you have light of life.
• Through Him all things are possible by faith in Him.(Luke 1:37; Heb. 11:1, 6)

HOW ARE YOU WORSHIPPING THIS GOD? John 4:22-24

• Do you know this God you worship?
• Is your knowledge of Him experiential?
• Do you access Him by the philosophy of men?
• Does your worship stem from the stance of the Spirit?
• Do you know what He demands of you?
• Do you know the reward for true worship?
• Do you know the consequence of false worship?

LOVE – THE REFLECTION OF TRUE WORSHIP – 1John 4:6-13; 3:10-24

True worship is reflected by outward love for others. If God worths anything, you will show deep regard to His children, His creation, His service and His house. Do you love God? How can you say ‘we love God if you hate one another?

FATHER- A SPECIE OF PERPETUITY

BY Ven Stephen Wolemonwu

The Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor wishes all fathers a happy fathers’ day especially the Archbishop, Metropolitan and primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev Henry C. Ndukuba (Chairman Trinity Foundation) and all our fathers in God; may God bless all your efforts and may you never lose your reward, Amen.

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, (Joshua 1:1)

Fathers are the most essential part of procreation, development and making of every human being. The bible text shows that Joshua had a father whose name was Nun. The Man Nun is the true definition of what a father should be. Yes! He was of the tribe of Ephraim (Exodus 33:11; 1Chronicles 7:27); his name of Hebrew origin means: ‘perpetuity’ which means something perpetual, endless, durable, uninterrupted, existence. It supposes unalterable. Fathers indeed are progenitors- an ancestor, a being with a lineage, there are always people coming behind him.

Fathers have unique role to play especially in this period of change and challenges. In 2Timothy 1:3; the Apostle Paul boasted of his fore fathers; and testified that he inherited and received from them ‘a pure conscience’.   Children are influenced by what they hear, see, touch, feel and taste. Their first line of contact is the ‘parent figure’ they interact with. Life does not celebrate us based on what we took out of it but what we are able to give. One of the major role the father plays is guidance and counselling.

THE PLACE OF COUNSEL (Exodus 18:19; Jeremiah 49:7)

 The world is in a morally decaying state and needs to be preserved through the family. Every individual is coming from a family; from conception to birth to growth; the responsibility of saving the world morally becomes a task for parents especially fathers; this ‘father’ must not necessarily be the seed donor. In this age molding the infant into a man is best done between the first twelve years of existence; the adult he or she becomes is defined within this years. Counseling through friendship becomes the best tool in the child’s upbringing.

There are different kinds of Counseling:

1. Godly Counsel- (Rev 3:18; 11:2; Psalm 16:7;73:24;Isaiah 28:29)
2. Wise Counsel- (Exodus 18:19; Ikings12:7; Daniel 4:27; Math27:19)
3. Evil Counsel- (Numbers 31:16; Job 2:9, 1Kings 12:28; 12:10)

Counsel can be received from:

• God through scripture or divine revelation via vision, dreams or godly men
• Evil powers through human agents or written materials
• Other means of life style, oral communication, other means of communication: visuals, social media; adverts; meetings, gatherings.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COUNSEL

• Counsel are powerful Proverbs 20:5-8, 15, 18
• Counsel are more powerful than weapons proverbs 24:4
• Wise counsel given in abundance leads to victory Proverbs 11:14
• Not every counsel can help a man Proverbs 26:24-26
• Wise men listens to Counsel Proverbs 12:15
• A counsel may sound very great but can be deceitful and evil Prov. 26:24-26
• Bad counsel comes from the imagination of evil hearts
• Evil counsel are unfruitful and come from philosophy and vain deceit, rudiments and traditions of men. Ephesians 5:11
• Counsel outside God’s word may lead a person to sin Isaiah 30:1
• Blessed is the man who does not walk in the Counsel of the ungodly Psalm 1:1

Note: -ungodly counsel may be logically presented and may sound very correct

                 -ungodly counsel may sound traditionally accurate

    -ungodly counsel may sound very reasonable

However, ungodly counsel will always be contradictory to the word and will of God, and will not promote peace, forgiveness, and does not give peace of mind and takes away the joy of the LORD.

While a good counsel may be painful to accept but has a lasting joy and result.

• Counsel given from a friendly mind brings joy and blessings Prov 27:9
• Good counsel could bring a man to safety
• Good counsel may not always be found in the mouth of the ancient- old age is not always wisdom Ezekiel 7:26 ‘a time will come when counsel will perish from the ancient’
• When God’s anger is upon the people
• When the ancient allows his mind to be corrupted with greed and selfishness and gluttony
• When the eyes of the ancient is darkened and the end is near
• When the ancient allows his mind to turn away from righteousness.

Some man exist and are no more, and no one misses them, but others live and died yet they walk the face of the earth even in death through the seed they sowed on earth. What kind of person are you? Someone said: “live your life in such a way that when you die even the undertakers will be sorry carrying your corpse.”

Know this about life

• Life is a vapour- preserve it
• Life is a seed – plant it
• Life is reward- pursue it
• Life is a task- purposefully accomplish it
• Life is a responsibility- fulfil it
• Life is an investment- pay the price
• Life is a journey- peacefully take the right route
• Life is a blessing – strive to earn it

 Life has made every father a life giver, a care giver and a seed giver. Yes! A seed giver- a seed in two distinct form:

1. Feminine in nature- this is a weak, beautiful, fragile, valuable kind of seed
2. Masculine in nature- a strong, long lasting, progressive, progeny- trans generational kind of seed.
3. Fathers reproduce themselves
4. Fathers preserve generation and destinies

Today many destinies are ruined because of parental negligence and paternal carelessness. Every father has the capacity to decorate or destroy; able to make a beauty or a beast out of life.

THE INESTIMABLE LOVE OF GOD

By THE VENERABLE STEPHEN WOLEMONWU

Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” Hosea 11:8 NKJV

“How can I give you up, Israel? How can I abandon you? Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah, or treat you as I did Zeboiim? My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong.” Good News

Bible text: Hosea 11:8-9

Hosea unlike many bible prophets lived out his ministry; while others spoke their prophecy; Hosea from his marriage to a harlot, to the bearing of children and naming them, up to his prophetic ministerial life was actioned with messages and meanings.

The name ‘Hosea’ means: “salvation”. The first verse of the first chapter noted that he prophesied during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah kings of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam II, son of Joash, King of Israel. (Hosea 1:1); Bible Scholars believed that he must have been a contemporary of prophets Isaiah and Micah.

Hosea prophesied to call the depraved people of God back to His loving arm and to depict God’s inestimable, unquantifiable, and immeasurable love which may not be explained in human terms and thoughts.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

In the eleventh chapter of the prophecy of Hosea we can see God’s journey with His people- Israel. Mathew Henry a bible commentator in writing on this eleventh chapter summarized it thus: “In this chapter we have,

I. The great goodness of God towards his people Israel, and the great things he had done for them (v. 1, 3, 4).

II. Their ungrateful conduct towards him, notwithstanding his favours towards them (v. 2-4, 7, 12).

III. Threatening of wrath against them for their ingratitude and treachery (v. 5, 6).

IV. Mercy remembered in the midst of wrath (v. 8, 9).

V. Promises of what God would yet do for them (v. 10, 11).

VI. An honourable character given of Judah (v. 12)”

 Our anchor text reads:

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” Hosea 11:8

In this text we discover four personalities: Ephraim, Israel, Admah and Zeboiim. Who were these nations and why are they relevant to what God is saying and will say to us now!

The LORD said: “I will not give up Ephraim and I will not hand over Israel; I cannot make you like Admah and how can I set you like Zeboiim”?

Who were the people of Admah and Zeboiim?

In Genesis 10:19 they were mentioned as one of the cities of the plain; Deuteronomy 29:23 warns Israel that, if they do not follow the Lord, the land may suffer the same punishment as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, “which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger.” This verse implies that Admah and Zeboiim were destroyed in the same manner, if not the same time, as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19:27-28:

“Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.”

To Ephraim and Israel in Hosea 11:8 it seems like there was a persuasion, an accusation and pressure to give up Ephraim and hand over Israel because they were  guilty as the cities of the plain- Admah and Zeboiim but the LORD asked: “how can I give up Ephraim and hand over Israel”.

Ephraim and Israel like the Church of today; and like most people here today:

1. Had seen the great goodness of God towards them, and how great things he had done for them: Can you recall how much of God’s favour you have enjoyed? Whatever you are enjoying now is not because you are the best, but you are: based on God’s benevolence.
2. Despite all of God’s favours man through his behavior and actions exhibits ungrateful conduct towards HIM, notwithstanding.
3. When you see yourself as a ‘god’ to yourself even though you did not know how you were formed you are ungrateful
4. When you rebel against God’s written word with impudence you are ungrateful
5. When you say there in no God you are ungrateful to your creator
6. When you are created a male or a female but you ‘feel’ nature was wrong for making you a male; you should have been made a female instead or a male instead of a female you are ungrateful
7. When you are unthankful, a truce breaker, when you do not have natural affection, when you are a covenant breaker, you are ungrateful.
8. Their ingratitude and treachery opened them up God’s wrath. In Romans 1:18-32. The apostle Paul acknowledged that when people suppress the truth with unrighteousness the wrath of God is revealed.

 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Irrespective of this fact we discover that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us; God’s love stretch from shore to shore in Psalm 103:8-14:

“8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

On the bases of this truth the LORD said: Oh! How can I give up Ephraim, and how can I hand over Israel? 

Dearly beloved, there must have been an accuser of the brethren-

Revelation 12:10: “And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, “Now have come salvation and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night”. There are powers carrying you to judgment day and night before God; but God’s love over your life in inestimable; too strong to give you up.

The Bible says that the devil is shrewd and subtle. First Peter 5:8 says he is our adversary. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (KJV)

Despite this activity of the devil; behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God 1John 3:1

The love of God is so because God is not man. Hosea 11:9b; The LORD said: “for I am God, and not man….”  God is God and not man- men can discard you, forget you, give up on you, hand you over to the enemy, rubbish you, abandon you BUT God cannot. 

The Lord is asking on what bases should I give up Ephraim, on what ground should I hand over Israel? God’s love over your life is with an everlasting covenant; men can give up on you but God cannot; the system of the world and its government can hand you over but God cannot.

This love is not a license to sin but “my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1John 2:1-2.

No power can bring you to judgment if you belong to God: Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand”.

If you are in Christ you become Christ’s own; there is no more condemnation, no more condemnation! Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

LIVING A PURPOSEFUL LIFESTYLE

By Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu

Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre Agbarha-Otor

Then He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them. A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need.

(Luke 15:11-14 AMB)

The fifteenth chapter of the gospel as recorded by Luke has three important parables told by our Saviour and LORD, Jesus Christ- the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son (15:11-31). These parables as told captures the love of God through Christ for sinners, His redemption plan and His willingness to pardon, absolute, absolve and receive back all who come to Him in repentance.

Beyond the father’s love, in the parable of the lost son we could see the importance of living a purposeful lifestyle. The choice we make, the company we keep and the style of life we live has a way it affects us. Sometimes when people lack experience about life they assume life to be all beds of roses and consider life challenges as strange. Someone rightly said that no route to life is rosy. As an old student of Government Army Secondary School, Elele Army Barrack, I remember our school motto: “success is not cheap”.  The road to success may be filled with several distractions.

In Luke 15:12; it is recorded: “and the younger of them said to his father ‘father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me, so he divided to them his livelihood’ (NKJV). There is nothing bad in having a big dream, yes! As a young man, this son referred to as the prodigal son in the parable; before meeting his father to ask for his share of the estate must have known the law pertaining to inheritance (Deut. 21:15-17); He must have known what to say and how to say it to make his father oblige him; furthermore, he must have thought it out clearly on the right time he would ask for his share, the possible invest plan and opportunities, how to grow and double the shares afterward live his dream life. If this young man had all these sorted out clearly; the question then would be: what went wrong and how did he get it wrong in his lofty plan and ambition?

Wilson Mizner once said: “the gent who wakes up and finds himself a success hasn’t been asleep” this is true because no success happens by accident. In Nehemiah 4:1-6; some enemies of the Jews heard  that Nehemiah and other Jews had begun making progress in rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, they were not only angry but took great indignation and mocked the Jews; they conspired and tried everything politically and humanly to stop the work.

Nehemiah, being purposeful was determined to finish the task no matter what it will require. He consciously refused to be distracted rather concentrated on the task, concentration is one of the greatest element of strength. Ralph Waldo Emerson did say: “concentration is the secret of strength”.

TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FOLLOWING:  

1. Know who you are.
2. Know what you want.
3. Overlook distractions and distractors.
4. Kiss the dust- don’t fear mistakes and be ready to suffer even the unbearable.
5. Beware of pleasure no matter the pressure.
6. Do not be a time waster.
7. Be focused on the target even as you depend on divine assistance.

Henry David Thoreau said that the man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest. The eye will never be tired of seeing; life will always have fanciful things around it.

What does it mean to be purposeful?

It can be defined as the act of intending to do something; a resolution and determination. Looking at this closely you discover the following: ACTION, INTENTION, RESOLUTION and DETERMINATION. These four words can also be summed up as-Determination. The firmness of purpose or character, resolution, a coming to a decision is defined as determination.

The Prodigal son, the moment he got his share went abroad, away from home; some would also say that it was a step in the right direction. We must be careful of certain things that will distract us from achieving greatness and hitting our goals.

In Daniel 1:8, we saw the role determination played in the face of distraction and the after result. But this younger however failed to realize and deal with his pleasure and lifestyle. In proverbs 21:17 the bible said: “whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”  Not realizing this truth, the young man began to be wasteful.

Reading Luke 15:13 from various bible versions:

NIV puts it this way; not long after that the younger son got together all he had set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

The message bible wrote: “it wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had.

The common English bible said: “soon afterward, the younger son gathered everything together and took a trip to a land far away there, he wasted his wealth through extravagant living. 

These versions points us deeper to the problem of the young son-wasteful living, wild living. He lived life as he willed, as the society pressurized and permitted him, after all of this his life, his wealth, his time, his freedom, the sense of independence, destroyed everything and he became wretched.

TIPS OF LIFE

1. The word of God not the philosophy of the world should guide your choice and decisions

2. Everything in life is not forever, it passes away with time, chance and season

3. Be careful of the influence and energy you allow around you; evil company can destroy your good intention. I Corinthians 15:33

4. Be satisfied with what you have as you strive to improve, never live life to impress anyone but fulfilment.

5. Beware of your weakness, many will take advantage of you by the lightest opportunity.

6. Never give people reason to toil with your ‘YOU’- your self-worth is priceless.

7. Avoid things that exposes your weakness, it could be very frustrating.

8. Uphold what is morally right and ethically acceptable.

9. Intentionally avoid places and quarters that can strip of glory and grace.

10. Do not make promises to impress anyone

11. Go to the right place and that also at the right time

12. Learn to say the right things, the right way and at the right time- be mindful of what you do always.

13. Allow the Holy Spirit to control your whole being always.

THE INESTIMABLE LOVE OF GOD

THE INESTIMABLE LOVE OF GOD

By THE VENERABLE STEPHEN WOLEMONWU

Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” Hosea 11:8 NKJV

“How can I give you up, Israel? How can I abandon you? Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah, or treat you as I did Zeboiim? My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong.” Good News

Bible text: Hosea 11:8-9

Hosea unlike many bible prophets lived out his ministry; while others spoke their prophecy; Hosea from his marriage to a harlot, to the bearing of children and naming them, up to his prophetic ministerial life was actioned with messages and meanings.

The name ‘Hosea’ means: “salvation”. The first verse of the first chapter noted that he prophesied during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah kings of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam II, son of Joash, King of Israel. (Hosea 1:1); Bible Scholars believed that he must have been a contemporary of prophets Isaiah and Micah.

Hosea prophesied to call the depraved people of God back to His loving arm and to depict God’s inestimable, unquantifiable, and immeasurable love which may not be explained in human terms and thoughts.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

In the eleventh chapter of the prophecy of Hosea we can see God’s journey with His people- Israel. Mathew Henry a bible commentator in writing on this eleventh chapter summarized it thus: “In this chapter we have,

I. The great goodness of God towards his people Israel, and the great things he had done for them (v. 1, 3, 4).

II. Their ungrateful conduct towards him, notwithstanding his favours towards them (v. 2-4, 7, 12).

III. Threatening of wrath against them for their ingratitude and treachery (v. 5, 6).

IV. Mercy remembered in the midst of wrath (v. 8, 9).

V. Promises of what God would yet do for them (v. 10, 11).

VI. An honourable character given of Judah (v. 12)”

 Our anchor text reads:

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” Hosea 11:8

In this text we discover four personalities: Ephraim, Israel, Admah and Zeboiim. Who were these nations and why are they relevant to what God is saying and will say to us now!

The LORD said: “I will not give up Ephraim and I will not hand over Israel; I cannot make you like Admah and how can I set you like Zeboiim”?

Who were the people of Admah and Zeboiim?

In Genesis 10:19 they were mentioned as one of the cities of the plain; Deuteronomy 29:23 warns Israel that, if they do not follow the Lord, the land may suffer the same punishment as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, “which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger.” This verse implies that Admah and Zeboiim were destroyed in the same manner, if not the same time, as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19:27-28:

“Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.”

To Ephraim and Israel in Hosea 11:8 it seems like there was a persuasion, an accusation and pressure to give up Ephraim and hand over Israel because they were  guilty as the cities of the plain- Admah and Zeboiim but the LORD asked: “how can I give up Ephraim and hand over Israel”.

Ephraim and Israel like the Church of today; and like most people here today:

1. Had seen the great goodness of God towards them, and how great things he had done for them: Can you recall how much of God’s favour you have enjoyed? Whatever you are enjoying now is not because you are the best, but you are: based on God’s benevolence.
2. Despite all of God’s favours man through his behavior and actions exhibits ungrateful conduct towards HIM, notwithstanding.
3. When you see yourself as a ‘god’ to yourself even though you did not know how you were formed you are ungrateful
4. When you rebel against God’s written word with impudence you are ungrateful
5. When you say there in no God you are ungrateful to your creator
6. When you are created a male or a female but you ‘feel’ nature was wrong for making you a male; you should have been made a female instead or a male instead of a female you are ungrateful
7. When you are unthankful, a truce breaker, when you do not have natural affection, when you are a covenant breaker, you are ungrateful.
8. Their ingratitude and treachery opened them up God’s wrath. In Romans 1:18-32. The apostle Paul acknowledged that when people suppress the truth with unrighteousness the wrath of God is revealed.

 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Irrespective of this fact we discover that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us; God’s love stretch from shore to shore in Psalm 103:8-14:

“8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

On the bases of this truth the LORD said: Oh! How can I give up Ephraim, and how can I hand over Israel? 

Dearly beloved, there must have been an accuser of the brethren-

Revelation 12:10: “And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, “Now have come salvation and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night”. There are powers carrying you to judgment day and night before God; but God’s love over your life in inestimable; too strong to give you up.

The Bible says that the devil is shrewd and subtle. First Peter 5:8 says he is our adversary. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (KJV)

Despite this activity of the devil; behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God 1John 3:1

The love of God is so because God is not man. Hosea 11:9b; The LORD said: “for I am God, and not man….”  God is God and not man- men can discard you, forget you, give up on you, hand you over to the enemy, rubbish you, abandon you BUT God cannot. 

The Lord is asking on what bases should I give up Ephraim, on what ground should I hand over Israel? God’s love over your life is with an everlasting covenant; men can give up on you but God cannot; the system of the world and its government can hand you over but God cannot.

This love is not a license to sin but “my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1John 2:1-2.

No power can bring you to judgment if you belong to God: Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand”.

If you are in Christ you become Christ’s own; there is no more condemnation, no more condemnation! Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

LIVING A SOLD-OUT LIFE FOR CHRIST

Understanding Christian Commitment and Service

BY The Ven. Stephen Wolemonwu

Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre,

Agbarha-Otor

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. Philippians 1:21

Success and victory in Christian life, Leadership and pilgrimage is never accidental. Everyone desires to live; in Christ living and dying are intermingled. A man who gives his life to Christ is dead to sin and alive in Christ, and anyone who is alive in Christ has crucified the flesh and the lust thereof.

This topic in Summary is to help the Modern day average Church-man to know the solution to Christian Commitment and service as living for Christ and dying to sin. Furthermore, it is aimed at equipping the church to overcome the menace of nominal Christianity. 

 Living a sold-out life for Christ brings us to the biblical concept of spiritual death experience. During Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem amidst the celebration and the desire of some elites of Jesus’ day to see him, he diverted the attention of the disciples to something very striking: “verily, verily I say to you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone; but if it die, it brings forth much fruit” (John 12:24); this he said concerning His death and resurrection, and theologically laying foundation for the disciples; that until a man dies through the spiritual process of divine encounter with the Holy Ghost such a person will only abide alone- it further depicts a life without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit; but if a man surrenders his all to Christ and is  crucified with Christ; Christ dwells in him through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit which will enable him to bear fruit.

The bearing of fruits are in two ways:

• Having the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22) and
• Being Fruitful in every area of life (Gen 1:26)

To gain deeper insight to the discussion there is need to consider the following words:

‘Commitment’, and ‘Service’.

WHAT IS COMMITMENT? The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity etc

It also means an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action. (Online Dictionary from Oxford). The King James Version of the Bible does not have the word commitment in it but the scriptures contains vast portions that talks about commitment and dedication to God and His purpose. Rather you will get the words like: commit, committed, committest, and committing. In moving forward to grasp the illumination of the word, commitment must be seen in the context of dedication and totally sold out to God.

WHAT IS SERVICE? It is defined as “The action of helping or doing work for someone”. The word ‘service’ appears about 132 times in the bible in about 116 verses. Other words that can help enrich our minds includes; Duty, serve, assistance, help, it could also relate to business, involvement, etc. However, the words servant, service and serve in its various forms occur well over 1,100 times in the new international version.

God does not play with service and heaven rewards it. The Hebrew word for servant in the Old Testament is ebed and it has two key ingredients: action and obedient. God referred to our patriarchs as servants; Gen 26:24-Abraham, Gen32:4-Jacob, Joshua 24:29-Joshua; and others.    

Our coming to God must be total, absolute and with a deep sense of resolve. Looking at the topic and the above meaning you will agree with me on the need for everyone coming to God to see himself as a bond servant

WHO IS A SERVANT? This means a person male or female that attends another for the purpose of performing menial offices for him, or who is employed by another for such offices or for other labour and is subject to his command. The word is correlative to master.

Servant may differ from slave, as the servant’s subjection to a master is voluntary, the slave is not. One can say that every slave is a servant but every servant is not a slave. (Cf Eph 6:5;)

When we come to Christ through the new birth experience we are no longer our own but His (1Corinth 6:19) we are bought with a price (1Corinth 6:20) This sounds more like a servant who is owned by a master- maybe a Slave.  One can boldly say that every true Child of is God’s Servant as well as His slave. This sounds hard but it is the truth. This slave is a slave with great liberty who shares with the heir the master’s inheritance and estate. (Romans 8:17, Gal 3:29;)

A slave when bought by the master is dead to freedom and his previous identity. He takes up a new identity as owned by his master. Whatever he does from then must be for the interest, command and satisfaction of the owner.  When we come to Christ we become new creatures (2Corinth. 5:17). As new creatures in Christ we are supposed to be dead to sin and self Eph 2:1, Rom 6:7-11. And alive through Christ and in Christ (Rom 6:11-13). This can be done through yielding ourselves to God (Gal. 5:16,  Eph 4:22-32, Col 3:8-10).

We are therefore raised to live Christ’s life (Col 3:1). When we have given ourselves wholly to God it will be no big deal to work for God and walk in obedient to His will.

God call us to a life of separation. A life fully sold out to God and unreservedly dedicated to his purpose. The problem of today’s Church is that many profess to be Christ’s yet they are not dead. Some who profess to have dead only entered into spiritual coma.

Are you still alive to sin and self, or have you crucified the old man and the evil desires thereof?

THE NEED FOR GOD TO REVIVE US AGAIN

Wilt Thou not thyself revive us again that Thy people may rejoice in Thee.’ – Psalm 85:6.

Psalm 85 was written immediately after the children of Israel returned from exile. This Psalm was a plea to God to revive His people. To stop being angry with them and to prevent them from returning to their folly. This prayer could be said to have received a great answer at Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:4).

WHAT IS REVIVAL?

Another word for revival is a great spiritual awakening, a bringing back to alive, to make to be active again, to stop being lukewarm, cold and carnal.

SIGNS OF A BELIEVER WHO NEEDS REVIVAL

1. When you begin to love and appreciate the things that you once dislike
2. You are entertained by the things that once grieved you
3. You no longer speak against the ungodly things you once spoke against
4. You no longer have zeal and hunger for evangelism
5. You lack interest for reading and study of the bible
6. You prayer becomes more ceremonial than a communion
7. You become more critic to godly messages than contemplate on them
8. You have excuses to sin and evil habits
9. You lack interest I doing God’s work

THINGS THAT KILLS CHURCH GROWTH AND REVIVAL

1. Lack of team work
2. Poor teaching. Jesus said “Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded” – Matthew 28:20).
3. Immorality and inordinate affection
4. Ignorance
5. Carelessness and laziness
6. Nominal Christianity without spirituality
7. Lack of commitment
8. Prosperity without the spirit of giving
9. Membership without conversion
10. Spiritual birth without spiritual growth
11. Doing God’s work without love

THE INGREDIENTS BEFORE REVIVAL

1. Understanding your spiritual state
2. There must be a true hunger for God
3. Recognize the Desperate Need for Truth
4. Hunger for holiness and righteous living
5. Readiness to turn away from sin to righteousness
6. Hunger for prayer and God’s glory
7. Understanding that man is nothing without Christ

WHEN REVIVAL COMES

1. Sinners will be penitent
2. There will be an atmosphere of God’s glory
3. The joy of the LORD will be the strength of the believers
4. Zeal for the things of God
5. Lively word, lively worship and sound doctrinal messages
6. Believers will no longer be complacent in their sins

THE VESSEL GOD USES FOR REVIVAL

1. A vessel that recognizes God’s sovereignty 
2. A vessel that believes that God’s mercy 
3. A vessel that hungers and revere God’s glory
4. A vessel that is broken
5. A vessel that wills for the repentance of sinful man
6. A vessel with a positive attitude to godliness
7. A vessel with deep affection for God
8. A vessel that is ready to take actions even when it requires sacrifice.
9. A vessel that believes in change.

Conclusion: God is counting on you today. If you have never come to the Lord, he is calling you to him. If you are already in the Lord, God is calling you today to use you. What is stopping God’s glory in your life? Change our ways, that you may become an agent of change in God’s hand.

THE POWER OF WORDS

‘UNDERSTANDING THE SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS’

By Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu

Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

Words are powerful. They mean a lot. Words expresses the state of the mind. Words portray ‘the real and whole man.’  During the last hours of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, His last words are significant and full of meanings.  The last seven words of Jesus before His final death made between His crucifixion and death reveals His humanity as well as His divinity. Careful and prayerful meditation on these words would bring health, hope and holiness to the Christian pilgrim.

The service of the seven words of Jesus Christ on the cross is planned to last for three hours between the hours of 12noon to 3pm or 3pm to 6pm as convenient with the faithful. These seven words were made by Jesus between the time of crucifixion and death. These seven words is commemorated on every ‘good Friday’ – the last Friday before Easter Sunday; and shows the importance of fighting the good fight.

THE GOOD FIGHT (Genesis 22:1-18)

Obedience breeds success and satisfaction. Following God to do His will no matter the cost is demanding, tasking and sometimes stressful. Total and absolute obedience to God’s command is VERY possible.

There are certain factors that can assist every child of God to experience victory:

• Proper understanding of the instruction from God – Gen. 22:2. God’s word is always specific and direct.
• Totally sold out to do God’s will – Rom. 12:1-2, Gen. 22:3-13 (cf – 12:1-4)
• Divine assistance through waiting on God. Psalm 40:1-4, Jn. 18:1, (Matt. 26:36-38). Following the LORD comes with various attacks & struggles – Lk. 10:10; 2Tim. 4:5-7,10,14-16.
• There are both internal and external fight to stop every child of God from doing God’s will.
• We are like sheep in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3)
• Not every good thing you do will attract acceptance or applause. 2 Tim. 4:18, sometimes you may be total forsaken by others– 2 Tim. 4:11.
• To Jesus – He heard enemies among – the people, religious leaders, His disciples and His family. (John 7:5, 2Tim. 4:10-11).

Therefore, set your eyes on the goal: (Heb. 12:1, 1Corinth. 9:24-25, Phillip 3:13-14.)

The grace to finish well is available

THE SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS

1^st – “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  Luke 23:34

2^nd – “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

3^rd – “Woman, behold your son, and son behold your mother..” John 19:26-27

4^th – Eli! Eli!! Lama sabachthani” which means “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46 & Mark 15:34, Psalm 22:1.

5^th – I thirst – Jn. 19:28

6^th – it is finished. Jn. 19:29-30.

7^th – Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46.

1^st Word was To the Father

“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” Luke 23:34

In the midst of pain & suffering, Jesus still had the power to pray for His offenders. Rather than focusing on Himself, He was rather focusing on the salvation and forgiveness of others – it reveals an unconditional love for humanity.

The first word reveals the purpose of the cross – FORGIVENESS! God’s mercy transcends deep even when we know what is wrong and we do it, God in His mercy still forgives and receives us through repentance.  This is reflected in 1Jn. 1:9. God does not only forgive us but removes our sins far from us as the east is to the west. (Ps. 103:13). Lord, teach us to accept your forgiveness. In the midst of pain, hurt, harm, suffering, affliction and injustice, our Lord still had the courage to pray for His offenders to be forgiven. Show care, concern & love to those who wronged Him. Rather than focusing on how to be free or on Himself, He was focusing on the survival of others – What an unconditional love.

PRAYER: LORD TEACH US TO ACCEPT YOUR FORGIVENESS; AND ALSO TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO OFFENDS US.

2^nd WORD was TO THE CRIMINAL ON THE CROSS

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43(43)

Like the first, the second speaks of forgiveness, this time to a sinner. It shows His divinity and ability to open heaven to a repentant sinner, such that is only given to one who asked to be remembered. No amount of sin is beyond forgiving. In this second word, Jesus was sure of these things:

• The request of the criminal was genuine
• The criminal has been granted access to paradise through the finished work at Calvary.
• He has the power to will paradise to whoever he wishes.

The second word reveals that our journey does not end here on earth. There is a place after death. It’s either Paradise or somewhere else-Hell. The soul of man in eternal.

The word translated ‘paradise’ mean ‘garden’ referring to Garden of Eden in O.T; at the time of Jesus, it was associated with heaven, a place prepared by God. A place the righteous will inherit at death. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus; it was referred to as ‘Abraham’s bosom’

The criminal was a sinner all through his life’s time but just a minute to death, his expression of faith in Jesus Christ not in his personal word gave him mercy and forgiveness; which subsequently, opened the gate of paradise to him. The second word also shows Christ’s divinity and ability to open heaven to ANY repentant sinner who comes to HIM for mercy.

PRAYER: LORD HELP ME TO KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER THAT NEED A SAVIOR

3^rd word – TO MARY & JOHN – John 19:26-27

‘Woman, behold your son, and son behold your mother.’

The love of a son to the mother and the mother to the son knows no bound. Jesus even in death had concern for His mother, the disciple he loved was given the duty to care for the mother, hence; all His brothers were no place near the cross.

The third word teaches us not to withdraw from our duties due to any form of challenge. In the midst of challenges and temptation, we as Christian must not abandon the duties we owe our family. Mary’s heart was indeed pearled (Luke 2:35). Jesus still knew His responsibility towards the mother. Do you know your duty towards your parents and family?

Jesus referred to Mary as woman (Jn. 2:1-11), recalling the woman in (Gen. 3:15), anticipating the woman clothed with the sun in Rev. 12. There were four at the foot of the cross – Mary His mother, John the beloved, Mary of Cleopas (the sister to His mother) and Mary Magdalene.

Prayer: FATHER HELP ME TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND ALIVE TO MY FAMILY DUTIES.

4^th Word was to His God

“Eli! Eli!! Lama sabachthani” which means “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46. See (Mk. 15:34, Ps. 22:1)

Loneliness is painful and can kill. The worst experience in life is being forsaken; especially when you need help most. In life, experiences may present itself as if God has abandoned you. But know this, God will never forsake you. Whatever God allows in the midst of our prayers is for the greater good.

Darkness engulfed the world for three hours – Jesus felt ‘forsaken’ by heaven; indeed, heaven kept silent, hence Jesus was suffering from man’s salvation and freedom. God could save Him but did not for man’s ultimate freedom.

Whenever you are passing through challenges – ask to know ‘the divine plan for that experience, and pray for the grace to go through.’ No matter what, God does not forsake His children. The most painful experience in life is the feeling of ‘forsaken’ always remember again and again; God will never forsake you. Despite your position.

PRAYER: FATHER! FORSAKE ME NOT IN MY HOUR OF DARKNESS.

5^th WORD was a human expression

“I am thirsty” John 19:28

This is a human expression. Beyond this; Jesus was also thirsty for love, from His father and thirst for the salvation of the human race. See Ps. 62:21, Matt. 5:6. There is no thirst God cannot quench. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. This also should provoke our hunger for God. How thirsty are we for God, His works, His church? Jesus is thirsty for our wellbeing.

When Jesus Christ said “I thirst”

• He was longing for our salvation
• He was desirous of our deliverance.
• Jesus is interested in your salvation.
• He is not willing that you perish rather that you repent and be converted.

Upon the cross, Jesus was thirsty for your salvation today – He is thirsty of your steadfastness, dedication and fellowship. In the church, there are things He is looking out that we do.

• How do we respond to the master’s thirst?
• Do we give Him sweetness or bitterness?
• Do we quench His thirst or do we increase it?
• Do we help Him or hurt Him?

PRAYER: LORD! HELP ME TO KNOW THE AREA OF NEED IN YOU, GRANT ME POWER TO SATISFY IT.

6^th Word was divine in nature, prophetical and a Victorious cry

‘It is finished’ Jn. 19:30

This was a cry for victory. The cry was in the past perfect tense, in the past tense and futuristic tense. It gives us revelation that the mission of Jesus Christ was not stopped half-way. It was an assignment begun and accomplished.

It further gives us assurance that through Christ’s grace whatever we begin we can finish. God is not the God of abandoned projects. It also reveals that our struggle through sacrifices of ram and bull for forgiveness has come to an end – (Heb. 1:1-3, Rom. 10:4)

When Jesus shouted: ‘it is finished’ it reveals Jn. 4:34

Secondly: Jn. 17:4 – He has glorified the father; no wonder the father could say: This is my well beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Matt. 3:17

By this cry – He totally redeemed us from every curse placed upon us – Gal. 3:3

Col. 2:14-15. There is therefore, no more judgment for you, every condemnation passed against you secretly is destroyed you. “It is accomplished” Jn. 19:30

Everything that has a beginning has an end. Jesus began in the womb of Mary and ended it upon the cross. You began as a baby; one day you will end either as an old man or a young man. The end is important. How will you end?

Jesus begun and finished. The sixth word shows that the task of our redemption is finished. When he said is finished, he was also saying it is over.

That sickness is over!

That sin is over!

That sorrow is over!

That sadness is over!

Only bring it to the feet of Him that has the ability to make all things accomplished. Whatever you are doing, whatever you need and you want to finish and finish well; only Jesus who has the experience of accomplishing things can teach you how to finish it. His word is a lamp and a light to guide and teach you.

PRAYER: LORD! EVERY TASK YOU HAVE COMMITTED TO MY CHARGE, HELP ME TO FINISH WELL.

7^th Word was to the father

 “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” LUKE 23:46

These words which of course was Jesus final words on the cross suggest –

• Total surrender
• Not His will ever, but the father’s will.

He knew like the great Apostle that God is able to keep whatever is committed to His care. 2 Timothy 1:12

Who do you commit your issue to?

At this stage, Jesus was entering the most dangerous part of the price paying – journey to Hades. Therefore, He could not do it on His own hence the serpent has bruised his heel and He was entering into hell to bruise his head and take the key of the kingdom so as to hand it over to man, and reclaim all authority in Heaven and on earth.

Who else could help this mission to be accomplished if not the Father!

What is that difficult task and mission? Have you committed it to the LORD?

Sometimes people could think you are foolish but the things of the Spirit is to the perishing foolishness. Let me show you these;

• For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 1 Corinth. 1:18.
• God made foolish the wisdom of this world – 1 Corinth. 1:20
• The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men – 1 Corinth. 1:25

Jesus knew this therefore, He committed His spirit to God. Do you do the same?

 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46.

Paul said, I am persuaded that He whom I have committed this into His hand is able to keep it against that day. Who you make your keeper determines your safety. Life is full of options humanly and spiritually; we have several options. You have right to choose to hand your spirit to the father or to something else.

Jesus knew that the work is done and the next face is even more tasking. He got the father more involved.  Who is in charge? Who have you handed your marriage, business and future to? If only you will learn to hand it over to the father who is able to keep it.

In everything you wish to accomplish in life, hand it over to the father

PRAYER: FATHER HELP ME TO DEPEND AND TRUST IN YOU & YOU ALONE.

WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS

Those who sang hosanna where the same people who shouted crucify him. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy week. It is also known as: Branch Sunday, Hosanna Sunday or Passion Sunday. It commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as savior and king.

The record of the event appeared in all of the four gospels, it is a moveable feast that takes place the Sunday before Easter. This important Christian service could be date as far back as the late 4^th century in Jerusalem.

The service/ceremony is an act of WORSHIP, WITNESS AND DEVOTION.

Jesus journey into Jerusalem was to fulfill the father’s will. Every believer during this period must learn from this great act and example. The emphasis of the liturgy turns to the days that lie ahead in the Holy week.

We must ask ourselves this:

‘We who hail Jesus as king, are we going to join the crowd in the coming days even as the days unfold to shout ‘crucify Him’ or be among those that will betray or deny Him.

The day of the Palm Sunday is all about the song: Hosanna in the highest (x2); The Angels are singing! Hosanna in the highest.

MOST MISERABLE (1CORINTH. 15:19)

Hallelujah Christ is risen… He is risen indeed Hallelujah!

The message of Easter is the message of hope, love, restoration, healing, salvation, faith, Joy, gladness and reconciliation. It is the message of healing to the ill and wounded. Today, no matter what you are experiencing, rejoice for Christ has done it all for you. (Gal. 3:13, Col. 2:14-15)

Easter took away the judgment past upon mankind. Therefore, by His resurrection, I reverse every judgment passed upon you in Jesus name. God’s word in 1Corinth. 15:19 has two main words ‘miserable’ and ‘most’

What is ‘most’? It depicts greatness in amount, quantity or degree.

What is ‘miserable’? It is defined as wretchedly, unhappy and uncomfortable. Pitiably small or inadequate.

The Greek word translated ‘miserable’ means pitiable. The Igbo translation is – ‘Onye kwesiri ka emere ebere’ meaning one who deserve to be pitied.

The words reveals:

• If all that you need from Christ is only earthly and material – you are most miserable.
• If Christ did not rise, then we are the worst and most miserable to be pitied.
• If all our Christian race, sacrifice ends here on earth, we are the most miserable.
• If all Christ means to you is supply of earthly needs – you are most miserable.

Background:

Corinth was an important and wealthy City on the Isthmus (narrow strip of land) separating the northern and southern Greece. Here Paul spent 18^th months during his 2^nd missionary journey. It was from here that he left to visit Ephesus, Jerusalem, Antioch and Galatia. (see Acts 18:23). He wrote the book to warn the church against sexual sin (1Cor.5:9).

Through this lesson, we should know this;

• Eternity is real – Heb. 9:27, Lk. 16:19-31
• Are you prepared for eternity? Rev. 21:8, Rev. 20:12-13
• What will prevent you blissful eternity? – Rev. 21:8
• Do you know the cost of following Christ? – Matt. 10:11, 25; 10:38, 16:24, 8:22, 19:21.
• Are you saved?  

Today, if you will hear HIS word; do not harden your heart, HAPPY EASTER SEASON AND GOD BLESS YOU

A WARM RECEPTION FOR THE KING (ZECH 9:9; MATT. 21:1-13)

Everyone tries to impress their important visitor. Sometime may go to the extent of borrowing. (Luke 11:5-6). This LESSSON portrays the extent many go in receiving a very important visitor.

What is Reception?

The action or process of receiving somebody or something sent, given or inflicted.

A formal social occasion held to welcome someone or to celebrate an event.

There are certain factors that influences our reception.

• Value placed on what you are receiving
• The method it was sent
• Advent of the reception
• Understanding of the parcel to be received.

Here

What to be received is known. Zech. 9:9-12

• He is your king
• He is dignified
• He has power
• He has dominion
• He speaks peace
• He is limitless – He can move from one end of the earth to another end of the earth (Zech. 9:10).

WHAT DO YOU HAVE? Matt. 21:2-3

It is one thing to have something, it is another thing to make it valuable. Vs 2-3.

• Have you made your provision & possession available for the master? Above all, do you even know that you belong to God? 1Corinth. 6:15,19.
• Are you glorifying God in your body?

See Matt. 21:6-9

• There were the going disciples
• There was the donkey (ass) and the colt (baby).
• There was the owner of the animals
• There were those that had garment
• There were those that had no garment but discovered the branch around them. Provided by nature, they did some work ‘cut the branches’

If you don’t have a garment like the rich man, can’t you use your hand work, use the nature provision around you to do good stewardship for the king?