Tag Archives: manna 4 success

Jun 28

Separation From Defilement

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The cases of separation from defilement which we find recurring in the book of Leviticus must be correctly understood and interpreted in a wider sense of doctrinal teaching. The book is a record of the dealings of the priests with the people. Both groups are expected to be undefiled in their relationship with God, the Holy One of Israel.

Any speck of uncleanness led to separation from the assemble of the children of God, just as sin cuts one from God who cannot “behold iniquity.”

 

“And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even” (Leviticus 15:19).

 

Our text today LEVITICUS 15:19-33 reveals the levitical laws on uncleanness and separation from defilement. Running issue in women was regarded as a sign of defilement. Anybody who touched her bed would need to bath and wash his clothes and remain unclean till evening.

This is ceremonial uncleanness which women observe due to issues of blood. This made a woman unclean, and everything she touches unclean also.

God’s desire for all His creatures in every generation is to be holy and free from pollution and sin. This is because sin is deadly and damnable. It is clear that many people are defiled in our generation not because of their own sin alone, but because they are lured into sin by others.

Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, made full atonement for sin. Sinners and backsliders can come unto Him for cleansing and purification.

By this law, we are also taught to preserve holiness and purity of life and keep ourselves from all sinful and moral pollution.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Impurity separates us from God.

 

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Jun 25

Strength For The Weak

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The frontiers of God’s grace can hardly be comprehended by finite human minds.

Victories attained in life are not directly attributable to man’s inputs, even though it may be so to some extent. Such victories are derived through divine intervention.

“And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host…” (Judges 7:11).

God’s explicit command eventually came to Gideon to storm the vast army of Midian that was spread like grasshoppers in the valley. Yet, it was not a command without the enabling grace. God understood that in spite of all assurances, Gideon would further require demonstrable proofs that He had indeed delivered the hosts of Midian into his hand.

 

On getting closer to the enemy’s camp with his servant, Phurah, Gideon became aware of the startling disclosure from the lips of a Midianite, that God would deliver Midian into the hand of Gideon.

This revelation came to pass with pinpoint accuracy. It was more than enough to strengthen Gideon and to send him on his knees in worship and adoration of a peculiarly faithful God.

As we march through life, it is possible to come across emotional, spiritual and physical battles that we have little or no strength to contend with. In such situations, we need to be persuaded of the ability of God to supply the needed strength to overcome every battle.

God hardly gives a command without the corresponding grace. He appreciates the frailties of man and readily provides power to the faint and strength to the weary.

 

Those who choose to wait on Him can always renew their strength in the power of His might. God’s interventions come through various channels. When they come, ours is to be spiritually sensitive and be willing to follow the Lord as He leads.

It is only through obedience and trust that we will find the courage and boldness to surmount every difficulty.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God is our refuge and strength.

 

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Jun 24

Retributive Justice for The Proud

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Many people today believe that “success is hard work plus opportunity”. They do not think that God has any role to play in their achievements in life. No wonder Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and Goliath etc. could not help but defy the God of Israel.

Consequently, they all fell from glory because “pride goeth before destruction” and God hates pride and arrogance (Proverbs 16:8; 8:13).

 

“Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks” (Isaiah 10:12).

In the bible passage above, we see how God determined to use the king of Assyria to punish the rulers of Israel for their oppression of the poor and their hypocrisy. Unaware that God was just using him as a rod of chastisement, the king of Assyria determined to totally destroy the people of God, which was not part of God’s plan.

He even thought that it was by his own might that he was able to conquer all his enemies. This pride attracted God’s indignation against Assyria and determined to severely punish her.

 

Whatever pleases God to allow us to do or achieve in His service, we must remember that it is not by our might nor power but by His grace. Everyone that is put in a position of authority should watch not to overdo what God expects him to do. Let us learn to give glory to God for every success in His service, as He hates pride.

Believers should be wary of the sin of pride which sometimes appears subtle, but has the capacity to destroy an otherwise buoyant spiritual life.

At the summit of accomplishment, watch out for that disguised trait of Lucifer, which has the capacity to separate you from God.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble.

 

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Jun 22

Life, Not Religion

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Israel had been a backslidden nation. Several years back, a righteous king, Josiah, had arrived the stage with sweeping reforms to restore righteousness in the land. He enthroned true worship by removing the idolatrous priests who had been burning incense in high places at the instance of the past kings of Judah.

He broke in pieces the images of idols and drove away the workers with familiar spirits and wizards to enable the people return to the true God and His worship. Sadly, at the death of King Josiah, the people returned to their old ways.

In the book of Jeremiah 9:1-11, Prophet Jeremiah itemized the abominations prevalent in Israel for which God was not pleased. The prophet said that the people were “all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men” (verse 2).

Today, our society is in the same lamentable situation Israel was at that time. There is corruption in high and low places, idolatry of all kinds, and immorality is at its peak.

The values that were held sacrosanct years ago have been thrown overboard. Even in unlikely places, worship centers, evils abound. These things that made Jeremiah shed tears are also the concern of genuine men of God today who labor day and night to draw men from the scourge of sin.

The redeemed of the Lord must warn sinners of the imminent judgment of God as did Jeremiah. The purity of one’s Christian faith should be seen by doing what is right; loving others and ceasing from sin.

So, the practice of the Christian faith must not be limited to a mere church attendance. Our changed lives must be righteous and holy, a sure signpost for others to take after.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The reality of man’s religion is evident in his character.

 

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Jun 19

Breaking The Yoke

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An old believer once testified that what has kept him through in his moments of adversity was an ever-recurring phrase in the scripture, which says, “It came to pass”. His belief was that whatever problem that came his way would surely pass away… and it came to pass.

 

Israel was chastised of God with the rod of His anger – Assyria. But with a  few out of many returning to God in truth and righteousness, God was to remove the burden and yoke of the oppressors from the neck of the remnants and then turn His anger on Assyria, just as He once did to Egypt and other enemies of His people.

 

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing” (Isaiah 10:27).

 

Sin in the life of any believer attracts the indignation of God. Consequently, He may permit the devil to buffet the backslider with sickness, problems and even calamity. Whenever the penitent backslider is restored unto God, the yoke of the devil upon him will be taken off and even destroyed.

 

If you have erred from the faith, and as a result you are going through a difficult time, why not come back to the Bishop and Savior of your soul, Christ the anointed! He was anointed to break the yoke. He will surely destroy all the works of the devil in your life.

 

His invitation to you now is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You need to respond to this great invitation.

 

Whatever the “Assyrians” have done in your life to punish you for your sins, God says the yoke shall be destroyed and that can be now!

 

Beyond this however, saints must believe that we will not live a trouble-free life on this side of eternity. The Savior left no one in doubt also that saints will pass through tribulations as He did.

 

His assurance however to all is “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Anointing breaks the yoke.

 

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Jun 16

Reflect On Your Past

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King Hezekiah had 15 years added to his life by reminding God how he had served Him faithfully all his life. If his past had been a mess, he would not have gotten the divine favor.

Taking a look at the past at times has a lot of advantages, especially when it is not intended to make one just dwell in the past glory. The past, we are often told, helps us to understand the present and charts the path for the future.

 

“Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him” (Job 29:12).

Job, in his present suffering condition, reflected on his past. He recalled his past prosperity, glory, honor and security, and found out that all these were tied to his character, because he put on “righteousness and it clothed me, and my judgment was a robe, a diadem”, and because he lived for the cause of others – the poor, helpless, widow and downtrodden. His was a righteous and selfless life.

This exercise then explains that his present condition of suffering and trial is not as a result of a past life of unrighteousness, selfishness and wickedness.

 

Recalling our past lives has a lot of advantages. It helps us to understand our present condition. We are able to find out if our present unpleasant condition is as a result of a past life of sin and wickedness.

If this is so, the way out will be genuine repentance and restitution. It helps us to gauge our present spiritual life by asking such questions as: are we better than who we were in the past or have we lost our first love, gone cold or lukewarm? It provides a check for our spiritual life.

Remember your humble beginning, how that you were little and nothing in your eyes before the Lord found you and made you who you are today.

 

In moments of trials, temptations, difficulty and hardship, recalling past testimonies of God’s faithfulness, gives us the assurance and confidence that He will yet deliver us.

Reflect on your past today and receive solace and comfort in the goodness of the Lord.

 

Thought for the day: The totality of a man’s present life is determined by his past.

 

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Jun 14

Superiority of Prophecy

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It simply boggles the mind how vain men easily turn God’s glory into vanity fair.

God’s gifts are not for showmanship; they are for edification. Wonderfully enough, the folly of man can never subvert God’s standards.

Here was a very seemingly thorny issue that Apostle Paul had to deal with in the Corinthian Church. Speaking in tongues has been preferred and lifted to a point of making a show of it. To speak in tongue is to speak in an unknown language.

It is unintelligible and makes no sense to an unlearned hearer except it be interpreted and understood. When the disciples first spoke in tongues, it was principally to act as a convincing sign to the unbelievers who became “amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:7,8).

Words that are devoid of meaning will make no impact upon the mind. To speak in an unknown tongue without due interpretation in an assembly is to reduce both the speaker and the hearer to barbarians.

 

In churches today, the central objective should be the understanding of every aspect of worship. Obtaining applause for oneself in preference to ministering to the souls of the members, is not a mark of a true Christian. We should rather “speak five words with understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4, 19)

Speaking in tongues or even praying in tongues when Christians come together for worship is out-of-place when ministering one to another. Christians today should covet the more earnest spiritual gifts of charity and prophecy. But the gift of prophecy in its use should not be an invitation to confusion.

Prophecy from the Lord should be for the edification of the body of believers. We ought to watch carefully over the gifts we think we have and how we use them. How we need to pray that the Lord will guide us in the use of the gifts He has given us.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A meaningful word is better than ten thousand words without meaning.

 

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Jun 10

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God

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The world has made many attempts to deny the existence of the Living God who is in charge of the whole universe and to Whom everyone is responsible and accountable. In spite of the very many undeniable evidences of the existence of God, modern-day atheists through their secularism, liberalism and modernism, have refused to acknowledge Him. They have tried, though with no success at all, to disprove all that points to His reality.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good” (Psalm 53:1).

The scripture above reveals that this denial of the existence of God is not new and only describes such people as fools. It further shows the reason for such denial and the obvious outcome of a world and life without God.

Those that deny the existence of God do so because they don’t want to be answerable to Him. They are obviously afraid of a God that would hold them accountable for all their deeds and practices.

This is an attempt to free their minds from the thought of a possible future judgment where they would have to account for their sinful lifestyle. Denying the existence of God means that man is only accountable to himself and so is at liberty to live whichever way he chooses.

The ever increasing rate of sinful practices today is an evidence of a God-rejecting age. The world may call it “civilization”, “liberalism”, “enlightenment”, or whatever but it is nothing but sheer backwardness and a movement to the primitive age of bondage.

What makes this even sadder is that many Christians who seem to profess faith in the existence of God also live as if He does not exist.

As Christians, we need to continue to prove to the world that our God is real and in charge of our lives and universe by making the world see God in us and through us.

When we manifest an incorruptible life of holiness and righteousness in the face of the wanton decay and pollution that mark our world, they will come to believe.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Those who deny the existence of God only do it to their own hurt.

 

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Jun 08

Conditions For Divine Partnership

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Everyone is promised bountiful benefits on earth and later in heaven by God on a non-negotiable condition of holy living. Man’s relationship with God is always ruptured the moment he commits sin. Thus, he forfeits his peace and manifestation of all the precious promises of God.

The wars Israel lost in Bible times were the punishment for corporate or individual sin. God is holy and demands holiness from all those who want to have and maintain a continuous relationship with Him.

A prophet was sent to Asa and his army when they returned victorious from the war with the Ethiopians. Surprisingly, he did not come to congratulate them on their success but rather to quicken them to their duty.

“And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2).

The spirit of God came upon the prophet both to instruct and enable him to declare the message with clarity and boldness. He made them to realize that there is nothing like eternal security for any sinful person or nation.

“The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him, and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.”

God wants to maintain a loving relationship with man. But before anyone can have any meaningful relationship with Him, he must repent and believe the gospel.

Moreover, he needs to follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Holiness of life brings us into a closer relationship with God.

Then, we must daily walk by faith, pray without ceasing and make obedience to God in all things a daily lifestyle. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land”.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The true test of your holiness is what you do when no man but God is watching you.

 

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May 27

The Broken Tooth

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Futility! This seems to be the one word which can be used to summarize the thoughtless action of Hoshea the king of Israel who rather preferred affinity with the King of Egypt as the weapon needed to shake out the yoke of the Assyrian King, instead of doing the right thing by leading the whole nation back to God. He revolted against Shalmanesser’s control, only to discover that their ally, So, the Egyptian King, was no more than a mere “broken tooth” which can’t be trusted for desired coverage.

 

Had the king and people of Israel applied to God, made peace with God and directed their petitions to Him, they might have recovered their liberty, peace and honour.

 

“In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” (2 Kings 17:6).

 

But they preferred to withhold their tribute, and trust  the king of Egypt to assist them in their revolt, which of course merely changed the banner from one oppressor to another.

Their wrong approach in looking for a solution only aggravated their problem.

 

King Hoshea was bound and imprisoned. Since they were suffering as a result of sin (2 Kings 17 verses 7,8), their king should have led them back to God rather than deeper into the mud of sin by having affinity with the king of Egypt.

 

Sincere repentance and unconditional return to God remains the only solution to what every suffering sinner needs (2 Chronicles 7:14). Any attempt to cut corners would end in disappointment and worsen the case.

 

Are you pressed under the heavy weight of divine judgment because of your sin? Has the “Assyrian king” brought you under servitude because of your backsliding and compromise?

 

Well, don’t pack it up, there is still hope, if only you can humble yourself before God, and return fully unto Him like the prodigal son.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Trusting in man ends in disappointment.

 

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