The reason I believe

 Jesus called me

He called me by Name

I left what I was doing, I went to Him

We became good friends, actually He was more good to me than I was to Him

I asked Him how He does it so He showed me how;

He taught me to Love

He taught me to Pray

He taught me to show & to receive Mercy

He knows me; yes poor, needy, undeserving me!!!

I know Him; yes Good, Kind, Humble & Loving Him!!!

He will not let go of me & by His Grace I will not let go of Him

Oh Friend, Saviour & Master remember me when you come in your Glory

Mine own eyes shall behold THE KING OF KINGS

JESUS

What a beautiful Name!!!

Can you hear Him calling you too?

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
God bless you

Jehovah Qanna

Jehovah Qanna is the Name of God which means He is a Jealous God.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God

God reveals Himself to us as Jealous

Remember we worship God who sees what is done on the earth. Every act we do God sees it unless He intentionally turns His face away.

Other gods of wood, gold, silver, bronze etc are fashioned by man and they have eyes carved into them but they cannot see anything, other gods are dead they do not have life in them so they too cannot see anything.

But Ancient of Days, Living God is Mighty beyond understanding; He sees what is done in the heavens and on the earth even under the earth – 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him....

God sees our deeds

God searches the motives of our hearts

God examines our minds

Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, ……

So then when God looks and sees people worshipping false gods, people who worship animals, people who bow to wood and gold images, others who worship statues of saints and those who worship the sun, moon & stars, those who follow satan and demonic spirits and those who inquire of ancestors and false prophets who prophesy by baal and also worship of celebrities or of oneself.

Jehovah Qanna’s anger burns against such – Zephaniah 3: 8 …. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

God is not pleased when people called by His Name fear or revere other things more than Himself.

People move with fear and urgency at the instruction of a president but the instructions of God they mock and ignore

People celebrate and give praise to celebrities. They will speak of a celebrity idol with much passion like a true fan but when it comes to God they feel ashamed to come out and speak about the goodness of God in their lives or share their faith with others

People fear hurricane Irma and yet they do not fear the one who is more times bigger and fearful than hurricane Irma

As a result, the anger of Jehovah Qanna burns and who can deliver anyone from the wrath of God for it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of God.

Yet the Lord will save His remnant who have not gone whoring after idols but have kept themselves pure worshipping and glorifying God out of a willing heart.

Repent and stop worshipping idols but give God proper worship out of a willing and undivided heart, mind, soul and body

Pray and ask God that you be found amongst His remnant

Pain

Even true, faithful and blameless children of God experience excruciating pains (worries, sufferings, trials, afflictions & persecutions) of different forms.
When we are in pain we think all sorts of things and question most things and say all sorts of things.

I have been wondering what to share with you and I'm convinced God wants me to share on pain because sometimes when you go through pain it can be a very distressful time.

I hope this message encourages you and lifts  your spirit

Take heart

Have Peace in Jesus Christ

He who has given you victory before will give you victory now

Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

NOTE: Let me continue to emphasise the need for repentance at an individual level, family level, church level, national level etc because God says there is NO PEACE for the wicked but it is well with the righteous (Those who seek and do the will of God and not their own)
And even though the righteous of God may not see it but The Lord Knows how to save His righteous ones.

God loves you; Shalom

Oh Tree, Where are your fruits?

There is something that scriptures teaches us concerning being fruitful. By the Grace of God and His wisdom I want to unpack the message of being fruitful. To do so I will refer to scriptures on the subject.

Green leaves but no fruits

One day Jesus was hungry and went over to a fig tree so that He may find fruit to eat but there was none. Jesus then cursed the tree and by the next day the tree was already withered. Full story can be found in Mathew 21:18-22.

From afar Jesus could see green leaves on the fig tree. He went to the tree thinking He may find fruit to eat but there was no fruit not even one.

As I was researching about the fig tree I found out that a fig tree forms its first crop of figs before the leaves appear. And so the fruits can appear first before the leaves meaning when the leaves appear, the fruits would already be there so Jesus was not wrong in expecting fruit.

A Christian can likewise show signs of fruitfulness when in actual fact bearing no fruits. A Christian who is only a Christian by appearance is in danger of becoming cursed and withered. The Pharisees are an example, they dressed in priestly garments, memorised scriptures and followed religious acts of Sabbath, tithing and ceremonial duties.

Please hear me well, they were not wrong to do so. What was wrong is that IT WAS ALL FOR A SHOW. IT WAS ALL DONE TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS. They had green leaves which is very good but they lacked fruits which is very bad.

To see the Kingdom of heaven, our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees meaning we should have green leaves but we should excel and have fruits also. Whatever we do should be for the glory of God.

Of Age but no fruits

Jesus told a parable of how a man had planted a fig tree in his vineyard. For 3 years the man looked for fruit from his vineyard but found none. The man told the caretaker of the vineyard to cut down the tree because it was using up the soil for nothing but the caretaker asked that the tree be given 1year so that he might dig around it and fertilise it. If after it produces fruit then well and good and if not then it will be cut down. Full story can be found in Luke 13:6-9

When I was reading I found out that a fig tree usually takes 2 years and then it begins to bear fruit. So this fig tree was late in producing its fruits. Likewise most of us have known Christ for a long time. 

From the time we received Christ, we have been chosen that we may produce fruits. Some people can boast of 50 years in Christ which is noble except if it is just age without fruits. The question is as old as you & me are in Christ are we fruitful?

The saving grace for this tree is the caretaker who pleads on behalf of the tree. This is the Holy Spirit of God, Christ Himself and other believers who intercede on our behalf and as such God has extended mercy but it is time to produce fruits in keeping with repentance and righteousness and Holiness by the Holy Spirit.

A Fruitful Tree

A Christian bearing good fruits can be compared to a fruitful tree.

A Christian who walks in love for God and man, showing kindness without partiality, shunning all manner of evil, hardworking- never idle, disciplined, honest, honouring parents and elders, willing to share all good things with others, obedient to God’s commands, patient, speaking words of encouragement and correcting what is wrong, self-controlled and not addicted to anything, prayerful, fasting often, humble not proud and boastful, ethical, resourceful not wasteful, modest not extravagant, pure, innocent, merciful, bold to declare the power of God, peaceful and not violent, imitating God and not the ways of the world, seeking righteousness and holiness, compassionate, repentant, fearing God, hearing from God, seeking God’s will above one’s will, principled and following what is good.

Whatever is good, whatever is worthy, whatever is just and whatever was commended by God and man of our forefathers; that constitutes a number of the innumerable fruits that Jesus Christ is looking for in today’s believer.

Mathew 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance

Philippians 1: 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

Galatians 5:22 -23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...

Ephesians 5: 9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

On a different note, please read this important message so that you may share with your loved ones, Click here

God bless & help us to be fruitful

Heavenward in Christ Jesus

Paul writes to the Philippians a good message. In chapter 3 he makes known that his confidence is not in his body or the law or any titles but that his confidence is in Christ. He also makes known his goal (the reason for his race) which is to get hold of his price for which God has called him heavenward.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

He then urges readers to have the same view of things.

He urges that we should not put our confidence in our personal good works or acts of righteousness but that we should put confidence in Christ. Having also the righteousness that comes by faith in God.

Concerning righteousness some people have asked me why I teach that people especially women should dress modestly and embrace their natural beauty. Some have questioned this because according to them I’m teaching legalism (righteousness that comes from strict adherence to rules and laws). I want to address this and say that dressing modestly constitutes Holiness. And God requires us to be Holy just as He is Holy.

Peter said that Holy women of long ago did not dress themselves with braided hair, jewellery and expensive clothes but with gentleness and quietness. 1Peter 3:5 For this is the way Holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful….

For me personally it is about pleasing God and I have learnt that it pleases God that He should be glorified in my body as I follow the good example of Holy women in the past. The matter is even serious now that the Lord is calling for complete separation from the world. There must be a difference between Deborah and Delilah. A child of God should not look like those celebrities who do not have the fear of God.

Paul also urges that our focus should be the High Calling of God on our lives. He is saying in all we do we should be heaven focused and not earthly minded.

A child of God cannot afford to live as though the earth is their home. No!

Our citizenship is of heaven

Soon we will be home if we hold on to the truth and press toward the mark of the high calling. Do you know your calling?

Eternal Life is your calling

And as we live in this world waiting for our Saviour to call us home, we occupy until He comes.

This means we do not fold our hands and relax, No!

We continually activate the Grace given to us so that Christ is made manifest in our labour, conduct and speech.

And when He comes, we will receive gifts from Him for He is generous.

We should not copy or follow those who live as enemies of God. Enemies of God and the cross of Christ seek only to fill their stomachs, they glory in shameful things and their minds are on earthly things. Their destiny is destruction.

In these evil days people celebrate what is wrong and they trample on what is right. Many people seek riches without righteousness and holiness. Teachers teach only the blessings of God and make no mention of the wrath of God and His judgement.

But let only Christ be our confidence

Let only Christ be our boast

Let only our trust be in Christ

Till He comes may we run the race to get hold of the prize for which He is calling us heavenward. Amen!

A Faithful King/Priest/Leader/Servant

 In Christ we are a Chosen People, a Royal Priesthood and a  Holy Nation and as such every person can be categorized into one of the following:
King
Priest
Leader
Servant
Whichever category that a person may find themselves in there is a distinction that can & will be made between an Unfaithful King/Priest/Leader/Servant and a Faithful King/Priest/Leader/Servant
A distinction can & was made between  Saul & David
A distinction can & was made between Eli and sons & Samuel
A distinction can & was made between Korah & Moses
A distinction can & was made between Job's wife and friends & Job

The One who makes the distinction is God Almighty Himself. It is God who searches the intentions of a man's heart to see if he fears the Lord. A man who fears the Lord trembles at the Word of God. This means a man who fears the Lord is a doer of God's will.

Saul was a King. He fell short of his glory as King when he disobeyed the command of God to utterly destroy the Amalekites.
And then God chose a King after His own heart (David) to rule the people.

Acts 13:22..He raised up David to be their King, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'

Eli was a full time priest in the house of God. He served God to his old age. In Eli's service as priest, he did not serve alone. He served together with his sons since they had been chosen as a tribe for the work of the Lord (Burning incense, receiving & preparing offerings and other ceremonial duties). Eli's sons Hophni & Phinehas did not fear God. They treated sacred and holy sacrifices and offerings of the Lord with contempt.
And so God desired to put them to death. God also raised for Himself a Priest after His own heart (Samuel) to take over from Eli.

1Samuel 2:34-35 This will be a sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die. But I will raise up for Myself a Faithful Priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in my soul; and I will build him an enduring house and he will walk before My Anointed always.

God called Moses and gave him the task to lead the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. 
By virtue of God's call Moses became a leader together with Aaron and Miriam. 
God had chosen the tribe of Levi to be ministers in the tabernacle of the Lord. 
Among those ministering were Korah and Dathan. They were also leaders of Israel chosen by God. They however took action against Moses saying it was not Moses only who was holy but that they too were holy and could therefore perform duties of the Priest and so Korah, Dathan and other community leaders who had been appointed members of the council gathered against Moses.
Moses told them that in the morning God was going to choose who was His Chosen and Holy Leader. The next day God chose Moses and Aaron but Korah and his followers were all swallowed up to the grave alive.

Psalm 106:16-17 In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram

When God was boasting about Job He called Job His servant. Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Job’s wife however talked like a fool asking Job to lay down his integrity. Three of Job’s friends despite being wise men did not speak of God rightly.
So Job remained a Faithful Servant of God who spoke right about God and remained faithful to his God despite losing everything.

Job 42:8...You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

The conclusion of the matter is even in the house of God, God makes distinction between the Faithful and the Unfaithful. Being a King is good but being a Faithful King is excellent and brings glory to God. In the same manner God is glorified and pleased by Faithful Priest/ Leader/ Servant.
Obedience to God is important for every person who wishes to please God and receive a good report and inheritance from God.

God bless

Imitators of God

Oh how wide, how deep and incomprehensible is the love of God.

God is Love – not the love of mere feelings and emotions or mere words but great love to die for the whole world.

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

So sad how selfish and totally ignorant we are of the Love of God. 

We have not come to fully comprehend the love of God because if we had we would not do the things we do, we would not speak some of the things we speak or dress some of the ungodly ways we dress.

We fail to love God back. 

We fail to imitate God in showing love.

The price has already been paid by the Lamb of God and so no one needs to die again but all we need to do is to live our lives for Jesus and yet what do we do; we live our lives for ourselves.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

We do not even spare a second to find out what is pleasing to God so that we may do it. All our time is spent on pleasing ourselves. Most of the things we do, do not even please God at all and so we grieve the Holy Spirit whom we have received from God.

Ephesians 5:10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

What wretched people we are if we trample on the love that God has shown to us. It is a bad thing to repay good with evil. Should we repay the good that God has done for us with evil?

Proverbs 17:30 If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.

Here is what we should do; we should be imitators of God.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

There are many qualities of God to imitate. As I have already shared before in my previous posts; Holiness – God says, ‘Be Holy for I AM Holy.’ For without holiness no man will see the Lord

True Holiness comes from keeping oneself pure. A pure heart that thinks no evil towards anyone. A pure heart that does not habor resentment. A pure mind that thinks pure thoughts not violent thoughts or sexual fantasies or other evil thoughts. Pure eyes that do not allow darkness in. A pure body that is not exposed for everyone to see and lust at. A body that glorifies God, when people see they pass good comments. 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

For more reading on outward holiness click here

 Justice; God is Just and requires us to deal justly. For more reading on Justice click here

Righteousness for the nature of God is righteousness. To imitate God’s righteousness one needs to walk with God. Righteousness is a right walk with God whereby you do things that please God. 

1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For more reading on righteousness click here

God is Merciful and if we want to imitate God we must also be merciful. Mercy pardons, it gives second chances even third or fourth. Those who show mercy will themselves be shown mercy.

God is Love. We must walk in Love, not as the world defines it but as God defines it. There is no love that leads people to sin against God, that is called deception. And loving God means loving my neighbour for anyone who says they love God and yet do not love their brother or sister is a liar.

Many people do not know this but God is a Hard Worker. Jesus imitated Our Father in demonstrating hard work in His mission. Jesus would wake up early to pray. He would even skip food so as to continue ministering because fulfilling His work was His mission.

John 5:17 In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working."

We should also imitate the Wisdom of God. We do this by reading the scriptures to find out more about God and Jesus. We should also ask for wisdom in prayer.

Ecclesiastics 7:12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

God is Sovereign and no one can take His place. We should not desire the Sovereign position of God but we should celebrate it and also take our positions as heirs of God. We are God’s offspring, Royal Generation. Chosen people, ordained by God to produce good fruits. We have Dominion over the earth and dominion over our bodies.

1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

We imitate God and glorify Him with our lives. We do all of it by living our lives by the Spirit of God who is our Helper and by living by faith. The world is groaning for this.

Romans 8:19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.