....The Night Cometh....

 

From the beginning of all things GOD made it that the sun should rule over the day and the moon over the night. ‘And GOD called the light day and the darkness night ‘Gen. 1:5

We wake up early each morning for daily activities- go to work all day, return in the evening to come and rest for the day and compulsorily a sleep in the night in order to be able to stand with strength for the next day’s endeavours. It is not very common to find people working in the night as if it were the day.

The above is an illustration to make you understand the views that are about to be presented. The physical law of the day and night is only a little different from the spiritual, so, come with me.

The Lord JESUS said ‘I must work the work of HIM that sent me while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work” ‘Beloved don’t postpone your salvation, because the night cometh and no one can work. “for He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation I have succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”-2Cor.6 : 2 There was the testimony of an old man who got born again and started weeping saying ‘Had I known the Lord early in my life‘. This is just because God deliberately spared his life that the spiritual night had not come for him.

What do you do in the day? Do you engage in such unprofitable works such as slander, witchcraft, occultism, strife, envy, drunkenness and the likes of wickedness? This is the ‘day‘, remember, the night cometh when you cannot work.

The night is a time of famine. At this period you will be eating that which you have laboured for and stored up in the day. Please take a look behind you and see if you will be able to sit and eat the fruit of your labour.

The night is a time for judgement; every man shall stand before the judgement throne of GOD to give accounts of his stewardship here below and by this time ‘no man can work to make amends. You cannot say you forgot to win a soul and want to quickly go and do it—no, because man can work. Repentance from sin will no longer be possible.

The night is a time for rewards; for the wicked, ‘he shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time‘-2Peter 2:13

Friend,  I appeal to get converted today because you still have the opportunity to work while it is called the day before the night comes when you cannot work ‘ for the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot praise thee; they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth‘   Isaiah 38:18. This is why you cannot predict the time of your night for it is the time of the Lord and it comes ‘like a thief in the night ‘ meaning- it shall come, it shall be unannounced, it shall be sudden and unexpected, it is anytime. Don’t risk it. Do not let today pass you by, do not let this moment pass as you read these words.

There is the day of salvation but there is also the accepted time and IT IS NOW! The next minute may be too late.

‘Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth; when the days of evil is not yet come‘. The night is the day of the evil, it is the day of darkness, even if you want to work, and there shall be no light provided.

’ Woe unto you the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not light’ Amos 5:18. The night is risky so, kindly prepare adequately for this unavoidable and sudden time. Reason and ponder that suppose there is a sudden darkness and it is the night, the day of the Lord, the darkness, what will be said of you?

Finally ‘whatsoever thy hands finds to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no work, nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest‘ Eccl. 9:10. Friend you were wonderfully and fearfully made by GOD your creator and he has sent you forth into the world. Thus, as JESUS said so I say that ‘I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day; the night that cometh when no one can work‘-John 9:4 what about you?  

To begin, you have to be born again; confess all your sins, repent from them and accept Jesus into your life as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are ready, go ahead and say the following prayers:-

Dear lord, I am a sinner in need of a Saviour. Have mercy upon me and forgive my sins. I accept you as my Lord and personal Saviour. I believe you came, lived for me and died for my sake.  LORD, give me the strength, grace and privilege to do your work. Back me up with your HOLY SPIRIT that I may through him work and live to your glory in JESUS name (Amen).

To grow in the Lord, start attending a bible believing church regularly.

For testimonies, questions and prayer requests and fellowship, contact:

 The departure Lounge remains the only place where those who have prepared for a flight are assembled for boarding.

Before arrival at the departure lounge, a lot of preparation must have been made for the journey to be embarked upon. Such preparations include the careful selection of “approved” materials for the journey; getting an appropriate box/bag  and arranging the selected personal effects into the bag for the journey.

Many things a traveler considers important ordinarily will not make the journey because of constraints such as the maximum allowable size and weight of luggage and other specifications according to immigration laws. Consequently, a traveler is left with no other option than to select what is most important among the very important belongings.

 

Also, the necessary travel documents such as passports, visas etc must have been processed before the journey can become a reality.

Every man including you has got a date at the departure lounge of life. The creator brought you to this earth fulfilling one way of the two -way journey at no cost charged to you and, your coming is not an accident but on purpose.

 

You have a mandate and a mission. It is rather regretable that many are already on the departure lounge of life without realizing it (for no one knows the time-Mk 13:33). This is possible because they feel they are still young and have time; they feel they are healthy and cannot depart just like that; they have material, physical and spiritual security that are able to defer arrival at the departure lounge; they just recorded some “major” life achievements (building, graduation, wedding, secured jobs, got new cars, etc) and must enjoy the fruit of their labour……etc. Unfortunately, they refuse to learn from the natural departure lounge where everyone irrespective of age, riches, health status, gender, religion/belief and other social status gather. The departure lounge is no respecter of any such grading. They are oblivious of the fact that the hosts of eternity are already at the port of their destination to usher them into a life without end; they live carelessly, they party on and have no inkling of their closeness to their departure time.

 

Many people despite being faced with the reality of departure have lost focus of what is important. With their baggage full garbage and contrabands, they show up at the departure lounge. Contrary to what obtains on earth where a check on baggage is done before departure may prevent one from travelling if the law is flouted, the departure lounge of life admits you despite your garbage full baggage but the destination is altered and so is the traveler’s eternal destiny.

 

Have you checked your travelling documents lately to ascertain your passport and visa status? Have you made efforts to know what the country of your desire requires for your admission? Are you making deliberate efforts to ensure that your baggage complies with the immigration laws of the nation of your destination?

 

You have limited options. The flight that takes off from the earth only has two destinations and with two characteristics- eternal punishment & suffering and eternal life & peace. The choice is yours to make.

To access the former, there are no restrictions to the content of your baggage, any kind of lifestyle of filth and sin will qualify you. The process of the travel documents has no restrictions. The port is always full and the country is open to all.

To access the city of eternal life & peace, holiness and righteousness will earn you the passport and cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ is the only guarantee for your visa.

 

Dear reader, this is presenting you with the choice of heaven (the city of eternal life & peace) and hell (the city of eternal punishment and sufferings) with a counsel that you choose heaven.

You are also advised to quickly and without further delay, begin to review your preparations and travel documentations because your citizenship status depends solely on them. Are you ready?

 If you are heaven bound you have to check your baggage and get rid of all unrighteousness (sin), you have to completely depend on Jesus Christ by confessing your sins, repenting from them, forsaking them and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. Let His blood wash your filth and guilt away. While you are still on earth, kindly associate with people with like minds and visions (a bible believing church- Heb 10:25)

Are you ready?

 

YES?

Then say the following prayers from your heart:

 

Dear Lord, I am a sinner. Have mercy upon me and forgive my sins. I accept you as my Lord and personal Saviour today.  I believe you came, lived for me, died and rose from the dead for my sake. LORD, give me the strength, grace and privilege to live the rest of my life for You alone.  Empower me with the HOLY SPIRIT that I may through Him work and live to Your glory in JESUS name. Amen.

 

For testimonies, questions and prayer requests contact:

This Same Jesus

 Sometime ago, a man called Jesus was born into this sinful world according to the word of God. His destiny was to reconcile men back to God by using His own blood to obtain salvation for man- “and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins.” Mt 1:21b.

As this man of purpose grew in stature and experience, His ways and acts soon went against the religions of His day and so, He was greatly resisted by the Pharisees and the Sadducees.- Then the Pharisees----------plotted against Him. How they might destroy Him.” Mt 12:14. These two groups wo
rked with government and falsely accused Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was consequently tried and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Before His death, He wrought notable miracles amongst which are opening the eyes of the blind, restoring the withered hand, casting out devils, turning water into wine and even raising the dead of four days; All these He  did in order to preach the kingdom of God and the remission of sins.

 

Three days after His death, He miraculously rose from the dead according to the word of God (- “He is not here. He is risen”) and subsequently He was taken up to heaven in the presence of many people to sit at the right hand of God. While He was being received to heaven, two angels spoke and said “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 2:11

His first appearance on earth was to proclaim the kingdom of God as a Saviour but His second coming according to scriptures will be to judge the world that is, as many as will not accept the shedding of Jesus Christ blood for the remission of their sins.

 

The bible says there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved except by the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ charged all His followers to be holy as God is holy because without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

 

When He shall come again, He will destroy wickedness and cast His enemies into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burn with fire and brimstone… Rev 21:8) BUT His friends will He give everlasting life in Heaven (“….that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jn 3:16) where there will be no more pains, no more tears neither misery nor death.

To be a friend or an enemy of Jesus is a matter of choice. A wise person will choose Jesus whom the bible says is “The Way, The Truth and The Life.”- Jn 14:6

Those who will be the friends of Jesus are those who obey His words and live holy lives but, His enemies are those who are still living in their sins; they are the liars, idolaters, sexually immoral, worldly in their thoughts and actions, immodest in conducts, full of envy, malice, covetousness, robbers, kidnappers, fraudsters, truce breakers… and all who will not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour.

 

Are you an enemy or a friend of Jesus? In what capacity are you prepared to face the judge Jesus Christ? No amount of plea will save once He appears in the sky to rapture His own. Eternity is life after death and it is timeless. You, by the works you do choose from eternal peace or eternal crises.

Do you want to escape the coming doom of all sinners? You must embrace Jesus Christ today by repenting from your sins (Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”. Acts 3:19) and praying the following prayers (to be born again). Subsequently, I advise you start attending a living church where the bible is preached and practiced.

 

Dear lord, I am a sinner have mercy upon me and forgive my sins. I accept you as my Lord and personal Saviour. I believe you came, lived for me and died for my sake.  LORD, give me the strength, grace and privilege to do your work. Back me up with your HOLY SPIRIT that I may through him work and live to your glory in JESUS name (Amen)

For testimonies, questions and prayer requests; contact us at:

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.



Words & Music: Mar­tin Lut­her, 1529 (MI­DI, score); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Fred­er­ic H. Hedge, 1853.
credit: http://cyberhymnal.org/

The State of Today's Church

...In deep disappointment, I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I love the church; I love her sacred walls. How could I do otherwise? I am in the rather unique position of being the son, the grandson and the great-grandson of preachers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and fear of being nonconformists.

 There was a time when the church was very powerful. It was during that period when the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Wherever the early Christians entered a town, the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators." But they went on with the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." They brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contest.

 Things are different now. The contemporary church is often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are.

 But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. I am meeting young people every day whose disappointment with the church has risen to outright disgust.

Any church that shuns the legacies and teachings of Jesus Christ to please the itching ears of her time is nothing but a theatre full of spectators and her alter a mere stage where supposed ministers are turned to actors who after pleasing the audience are applauded. #man’sapplausedoesnotequalGod’sapproval; #churchonmymind-

(By Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

[Taken from A Birmingham Jail Cell Letter to Clergymen) & Bamidele Ala

ANGER- The Danger to Avoid- Part 2

…continued

Anger will make a man vomit words he will later regret.

As believers, we must mind our words.

The angry always take a walk of shame.

Ugly feet are those of the angry.

The angry walks away;

Many women have walked away from their matrimonial homes because of anger

Many people have walked away from lifelines.

Many have resigned fantastic jobs because of anger.

ANGER- The Danger to Avoid- Part 1

Introduction:

 According to Lev 19:17a, God expressly commanded thus:  “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart”. It is also written in 1Jn 3:15 “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him”.

Today we are going to be looking at hate or hatred from the viewpoint of its inseparable pair- anger. Since it is impossible to hate without an element of anger and vice versa.

What is anger?

Anger could be defined as a harsh emotional reaction to an observed wrong. It then follows that if anger is a reaction, there is the option to control it by not reacting or if at all by not reacting harshly because a soft word turns away wrath (Prov. 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.)”

Anger generates destructive heat within us.

Anger unseats reasoning.

Anger can truncate a glorious destiny.

Anger is a spirit and so we must be careful not to allow this evil rule us.

Wherever anger rules, there reign also destruction and contentions.