₦airaland Forum

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

--Hebrews 9:27-28

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission."

-- Hebrew 9:22

The Story of Nicodemus
November 13, 2009

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." (John 3:1)

The man named Nicodemus appears only on three occasions in the New Testament, but these three reveal a most remarkable character. In a way, he has become a "type" of all those who come to Christ for salvation. This was not easy for him, both because he was a member of the Pharisees who vigorously opposed Jesus, and also because he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the governing council which would eventually vote to have Jesus executed.

First, Nicodemus was an interested inquirer, coming to seek an understanding of Jesus and His mission. Similarly, those who come to Christ today must come with an open mind and heart, willing to take the time to learn of Christ and of their own need of salvation.

The Lord told Nicodemus his need of regeneration and then of God's gift of eternal life to those who would receive Christ and His sacrificial death.  Nicodemus evidently believed, for we next see him as a confessing convert, defending Christ in the midst of his own peers as they were seeking to arrest and imprison Him. "Nicodemus saith unto them, . . . Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" (John 7:50-51). This was perhaps a weak defense, but Nicodemus was a new convert, and even this stand was resented and identified him with Christ in the minds of these powerful adversaries.

Finally, we see him as a devoted disciple, willing to suffer the loss of position and riches for Christ's sake—for this is undoubtedly what his action at the cross entailed. "And there came also Nicodemus, . . . and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus . . . for the sepulchre was nigh at hand" (John 19:39-42). HMM

Mister Osi:
Abuzola you are blind to the truth. Jesus is not God. God is not Jesus. Jesus IS God's son. Together with the Holy Spirit and God, they make the Divine Holy Trinity

Mister Osi:
A lot of Christians think the same thing(My sister used to think the same also) but they are just misinformed and or new to the faith.(They just need some guidance)

Mister Osi:
From USA, but I'm Nigerian(Igbo)/British/American. It does not negate it. Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit=Divine Trinity. The Divine Trinity is God. If Jesus was truly God do you actually think that He would ask Himself for power He already has? (btw it's just a song.which does not go into a deeper meaning, just lyrics) You just need an open mind

Mister Osi:
Sorry for replying so late and sorry for making this "little arguemnt" so long. What I'm trying to get across is that Jesus is the Incarnation of God. It can be summed up as this:

With all these mixed messages, can you simply tell us what you mean?  Is Jesus Christ God or not?

m_nwankwo:
Hi Nezan. I do believe in God. But I do not believe that blood of an animal, human or even that of Jesus, the son of God is required for the remission of sins. I have in several threads given my reasons why I believe that the blood of Jesus did not atone for any of mankind sins but rather burden mankind with a sacrilege. I will not repeat them here. My question is simple "Is the blood of Jesus Christ divine or rather is the blood of Jesus Christ God" Stay blessed.

This verse answers your question.

"Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood." -- Acts 20:28

The highlighted phrase in the verse above is another proof that Jesus Christ is a member of the Divine Trinity. His precious blood is being described here as the blood of God! That is why it is sufficient to pay for the penalty of mankind.

"And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was." -- John 17:5

Here is Jesus' unique words when He declared that He was with the Father before the world came into existence, and that the Father loved Him before the foundation of the world (verse 24).  Hebrews 7:3 tells us that He had no beginning.  He not only existed before Abraham (John 8:58), He existed before the creation of the world (John 1:1-3).  QED.

@Vortex™ and other members of the Grail message,

Here is the infallible Word of God for you:

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission." -- Hebrew 9:22

We can see in the verse here that forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood.  God was the first Person to kill an animal, as recorded in Genesis 3:21.  As Adam and Eve sinned and lost their righteousness, God shed the blood of an innocent animal to provide a covering for them.  The fig leaves of self-righteousness will not cover a sinner on the Day of Judgment.  God alone can provide the covering through the shed blood of the Saviour (see 1 John 1:7-10).

alex0026:
What did jesus christ redeem you from, has anything changed.Still the same old story about truth,justice and love.

secondly,what adam and eve is to the israelites(not christians) is exactly what oduduwa is to the yorubas.

Christ was a fearless voice,very bold and confrontational in his approach,but respectful.That singled him out.

Listen modupe,jesus said as reported in the bible that if you believe you can do greater things even more than what he did .Aren't you equally the child of the most high God?

God's Word explains the dilema of religious people here:

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God." -- Romans 10:3

It has been well said that religion is man's way of trying to deal with his guilt. Diffferent religions have different ways of attempting to rid their adherants of sin and its consequences. They fast, pray, deny themselves legitimate pleasures, or chasten themselves, often to a point of inflicting pain. They do this because they have a concept of what they think God (or the gods) is like, so they seek to establish their own righteousness, being ignorant of God's righteousness.

The Good News (Gospel) of the Christian faith is that no one need suffer the pains of religious works. Christ's blood can cleanse our conscience from the dead works of religion (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus took our punishment upon Himself, and He is the only One who can save us from sin and death (see Acts 4:12 and John 14:6).

na2day?:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ0-kJW3nz4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&border=1[/flash]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ0-kJW3nz4 great message, plz listen to it

Powerful message from an uncompromising man of God.

The Absence of Sin
November 12, 2009

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13)

For thousands of years the followers of God have battled against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12) led by Lucifer, that old serpent, the arch rebel and self-appointed accuser of the saints of God. Although assured of the ultimate victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, Christians have often suffered cruelly at the hands of Lucifer and his followers.

As Christians, the aching longing in our hearts for peace is really none other than the Holy Spirit, Himself, grieving at sin, and our own new, holy nature "groaning" to be free in its expression of the divine nature. It is the nature of the child of God to "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matthew 5:6). It is the normal thing for one "raised" up and already seated "in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6) to long for the shackles of the "body of this death" (Romans 7:24) to be loosened. Under ordinary circumstances, our spiritual being--"the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24)--knows that we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). Such knowledge openly declares that we "desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (v. 16).

If we have lost sight of the place that Jesus has gone to prepare for us, we become both forlorn and despoiled. But if we treasure the great truth that we will spend eternity with our Lord in His "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," we are comforted and encouraged, recognizing that both sin and all its effects will be absent. HMM III

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

-- Hebrews 4:16

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"Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:23)

The verse above shows that Jesus was God in human form.

A simple analogy of how Jesus was God in human form:

If I give you a small slice of cheese from a large block (the taste being constant throughout the whole block of cheese), and you spit out the cheese saying you hate the taste, then you reject the whole block. Jesus was God manifest in human form. If the Jews, Muslims, pagans and atheists rejected Him, they rejected the Father also. He who is of God hears God's Words. QED

@ alex0026,

I guess that you are still hooked up on this religious thing.  In addition to Analytical's point, Jesus did not have to take up humanity and die for our sins if it was just to set up a religion, we could do that by ourselves.  As I said earlier, Adam and Eve were the first religious people on earth.  Jesus had to come because were all on death row and He came 2000 years ago to pay the eternal penalty to redeem us from the claws of death, that is, eternal separation from God.  The price He had to pay was His Precious Blood which He shed on the cross of Calvarly for you and me.

In the world of Physics we see an example of the trinity.

If you shine light on a cube that is in three dimensions, the reflection you will get on a wall will be a square which is in two dimensions. The square is in two dimensions and the cube is in three dimensions.

God who is in three dimensions (Father, Word and Holy Spirit) created man in His own image which is (spirit, soul and body) stepped out of eternity and stepped into time as a man (not as an animal or tree but as a man), who is in the image of God or a reflection of God and we beheld His glory as the Only begotten of the Father. Jn.1:14

Just as the square is a reflection of the cube when you shine a light on it so Jesus is the reflection of God. Jesus said "if you have seen me you have seen the Father"

fundi:
thanks for message it so uplifting

You are very much welcome to bless and be blessed on this thread.

the_seeker:
For God so loved the world that he mudered his only begotten son

Do you now believe that God has a Son?  Whether He murdered Him or not is not the question.  In your religion you celebrate the "kubani" forgive me if I spelt it wrong.  What I mean is the sacrifice you celebrate in three parts regarding the sacrifice of Abraham's son.  One part is for self, the second part is for friends and family and the third part is for the poor.  Can you tell me the princple behind this kubani? (or ed  el lata) you may correct the spelling if you can.

alex0026:
Hello modupe,

today,judaism is still the national and major religion in israel. and even jesus throughout his life was a judaist.

It's a shame so-called christians go on pilgrimage(tourism) to see things for themselves.

If i may ask you,what is wrong with the ogun,ifa,etc religion ?if you observe anything wrong correct it and move on instead of running away or digressing.you remain your parent child for life despite the indifferences you had with them on several occasion.

----------and i shudder to think to hear you comment that christianity is not a religion.Then what is it?

Have a great day.

Christianity is not a religion.  I know this may be a shock to you because many people have the misconception that because they were born in a bakery they then consider themselves to be loaves of bread.   The fact that you have a Christian name, born into a Christian family, a member of a Christian church does not make you a Christian than being born in a bakery will make you a loaf of bread.  Christianity has to do with the self realisation that we are depraved sinners who have sinned against the righteous God and the wages of sin is death, this is the eternal Justice of God, "the soul that sinneth shall die" God being a righteous Judge will not compromise His Justice otherwise He will no longer be a righteous and Just Judge.  If a Judge here in one of the courts here on earth will be counted as corrupt if he lets a murderer go scot free how much more of the righteous God be Just in executing His eternal Justice.  This He did without compromising His Law by becoming a man to die our death and give us life as He is the resurrection and the life.  Through Him we have all died and through Him we shall all live if we believe this truth.

Analytical:
Modupe01 I couldn't agree with you more! You are right there.

Even in the time of Jesus, they took stones to stone him because they said he was making himself equal to God. You see, they quite understood the import of His claims about His divinity. Once they accept His divinity, they would be equally admitting his Godhead!

I really find it hard to believe anyone will doubt that Jesus is the very God after reading John 1: 1-14. The Word that was in the beginning with God and was God Himself became a human being and they named Him Jesus and dwelt among us as human being. He has been God and created all things by Himself ever before he became Jesus the man! That was why he said he had been before Abraham (and even David as Abuzola kept hammering!) That he became the Son, didn't nullify his being the Eternal Word!

Oh, I guess people just won't read or they read and don't understand or simply refuse to believe what they read.

@Analytical,

You have rightly summed it up.  He is the Eternal Word of God.  Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 that "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Only if these religious people could read and see what God has revealed in His Word they would not be saying what they are now saying.  Satan has definitely blinded the eyes of those who have wilfully ignored God's Word.  This is what John MacArthur wrote on the verse above: "If the sinless Christ, who is literally God in human flesh and Lord of all, would so humble Himself for us, we dare not denigrate humility or aspire to self-esteem instead of lowliness . . . If Jesus can step down from His glorious equality with God to become a man, and then further humble Himself to be a servant and wash the feet of twelve undeserving sinners--then humble Himself to die so horribly on our behalf, surely we ought to be willing to suffer any indignity to serve Him. "

The Scriptures Teach Christ
November 11, 2009

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

This challenge was posed by the Lord Jesus to the Jewish leaders when they objected to His healing a hopelessly crippled man on the Sabbath day. Rather than attempting to justify this Sabbath miracle, however, Jesus realized that their real objection was far more serious, so He proceeded to preach a long message to them (29 verses), assuring them that, not only was He doing the will of the heavenly Father, but that they had no right to judge Him. Instead, He would some day be their judge, for the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).

Furthermore, this ability included the right to impart resurrection and everlasting life to all who would believe on Him as Son of God. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26).

The Jews, both Pharisees and Sadducees, had placed supreme emphasis on the five books of Moses as their chief source of guidance toward salvation and eternal life. These were their holy Scriptures, absolute in authority. But, as Paul much later told young Timothy: "Thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).

To those who have spiritual eyes to see and hearts to believe, the Old Testament Scriptures can speak clearly about the coming Messiah and Saviour, both to the Jews of Jesus' day and to open-hearted people of our day. He is both Creator and redeeming Saviour, as well as Judge and coming King. To those who honestly search the Old Testament Scriptures, even the books of Moses, there is abundant evidence there of Christ. HMM

@ alex0026,

Good morning to you. Christianity is not a religion. All religions are man made. Religion is man's way of covering up his short coming and trying to reach out to God/gods by his own makings. You can read more about this in Adam's attempt to cover up his unclothedness with leaves and Cains vain attempt at pleasing God by making a sacrifice not acceptable to God. God's way was to reach out to man as He did to Adam and Eve by killing and shedding the blood of an animal and using its skin to cover their unclothedness, the shed blood as an atonement for their souls. Abel was obedient as he followed this example in offering his sacrifice that was accepted to God but Cain practiced his own religion as we are proned to practise today.

God has reached out to mankind by allowing Jesus Christ to shed His blood for the remission of our sins and whoever believes Him will not perish but have eternal life which is a free gift. Your religion will not save you from the wrath of God to come on all humanity "for all have sinned and come short of His glory." It is only through Jesus that we can be forgiven and made righteous before the Creator God and not by covering ourselves by the leaves of the religion of our forefathers.

Deep Sight:
1 x 1 x 1 = 1 Can never be an argument for the Trinity as it operates correct for any amount of "1"s which you may choose to multiply.

Thus: 1 x 1 = 1; so why not a duality, and not trinity?

1 X 1 X 1 X 1 = 1; SO WHY NOT A QUADRAPULARITY?

1 X 1 X 1 X 1 X 1 X 1 = 1; So why not a sextupularity?

How does the above disprove the calculation of 1 x 1 x 1 = 1? Have you considered Analytical's proposition (Boolean Algebra) that 1 + 1 + 1 = 1? Do you want to disprove it?

Deep Sight:
Here are the quotes of the apostles:

1Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Acts 2:22 - “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”

Acts 2:36: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

There. So which "Apostles" handed down the Trinity?

The doctrine of trinity is a concept that is revealed throughout the Bible. This is what Jesus said to His Apostles in Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. . "--

This is Jesus here recognising other members of the Godhead as well as Himself, commissioning His disciples to preach the gospel and to baptise by the authority of all three Persons. Who said that the concept of the doctrine of trinity was not passed down from the Apostles?

Deep Sight:
Go back and read the hideous insertion in 1 Jn 5 v 7 (KJV) and see how biblical archaelogy led to the removal of those words from all modern versions of the Bible as they were discovered to be a deliberate insertion not contaned in the Original text.

Krayola, you make it appear a sin to point out this INDISPUTABLE FACT to the Trinitarians?

What fact? 1 John 5:7 has not been removed from the Bible, most versions say that there are three that bear witness about Jesus while a few others went on to specify those that bear this witness in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit; such as the New King James version, the Amplified Bible, Young's Literal Translation, the Wycliffe New Testament, the 21st Century King James Version, etc.

In Matthew 18:16 Jesus said "that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." (see Deut.19:15)

Let us see how the three witnesses about Jesus Christ confirm this at His baptism in Matthew 3:16-17 "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The Father, repeatedly, by a voice from heaven declared that Jesus was his beloved Son. The Word declared that He and the Father were One, and that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. And the Holy Ghost, who descended from heaven and rested on Christ at his baptism; who had borne witness to Him by all the prophets; and gave testimony to his resurrection and mediatorial office, by the gift of miraculous powers to the apostles.

Law prince:
@ Modupe01
I also imagine why so called professors of false religion cannot get it into their heads that 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. Nursery school kids that go to Christian faith schools would surely figure this out, this is no "ABRACADABRA law of mathematics" only if you spent time studying real arithmetics or modern mathematics instead of studying arabic you would have been able to comprehend this simple "formula" Who is the PAGAN now? Tongue

It is obvious and glaring dat Modupe is nothing but an illiterate. Don't u know the difference between Addition and Multiplication? U can still go back 2 skl, it is not late.

And who told you that 1 + 1 + 1 = 1?  Take off those blinders and see the truth that: The Father x The Son x The Holy Ghost = God QED.  

Satan has surely blinded the minds of people who have deliberately chosen to ignore the truth of God's words.  Lets see another simple mathematical fact that you guys can't comprehend.

A helpful analogy of the Godhead is that God is like a triangle that is one figure yet has three different sides (or corners) at the same time.  So there is a simultaneous threeness and oneness.  Of course, no analogy is perfect since in every analogy there is a similarity and a difference.  The difference here is that “sides” or “corners” are not persons.  Nonetheless, the triangle does illustrate how there can be threeness and oneness at the same time.  While there is one God, there are three persons within the One God.  QED.

Law prince:
I still wonder and imagine how the Christians resolved at the solution of the concept of TRINITY.
Imagine: 1 God+1 God+1 God = 1 God, OR 1+1+1=3. Ahhhh. Even a Nursery school kid should be wiser than committing such fallacy. I still can't imagine how they got the ABRACADABRA law of mathematics. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THE FORMULA TO US?
The earlier u realize u are not different from common PAGANS that worship more than one god, d better 4 u.
Wake up.

I also imagine why so called professors of false religion cannot get it into their heads that 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. Nursery school kids that go to Christian faith schools would surely figure this out, this is no "ABRACADABRA law of mathematics" only if you spent time studying real arithmetics or modern mathematics instead of studying arabic you would have been able to comprehend this simple "formula" Who is the PAGAN now?

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

-- Hebrews 4:12-13

The Prayer Warrior
November 10, 2009

"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12)

We sometimes speak of others as "prayer warriors," though we may use the term too lightly, and few of us would claim such a title for ourselves. It is fairly easy to pray for our own needs or those of our loved ones, and we more or less naturally are able to thank the Lord for our blessings. It is much more difficult, however, to pray for the needs of those outside our own circle--that is, to be true intercessors. But those who do are the true prayer warriors.

Epaphras, who was "always" interceding for the Christians at Colosse, was an exemplary prayer warrior. This term is used advisedly, for he was "labouring fervently" for them. The Greek word translated thus is agonizomai, from which we get our English word "agonize." Thus, Epaphras was actually agonizing in prayer that the Colossians might grow and do the will of God in their lives.

What a ministry is prayer like this, and how few are those who pray in such a way! It is significant that this word occurs just six other times in the New Testament, three times translated "strive" and three times translated "fight." Jesus said: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" (Luke 13:24).

The word is translated "fight" in John 18:36 when Jesus said: "If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight." Paul said, "I have fought a good fight" (2 Timothy 4:7) and urged Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12).

Thus the intercessions of real prayer warriors like Epaphras involved striving, fighting, agonizing in prayer! And remember that, greatest of all, the Lord Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for |us|" (Hebrews 7:25). HMM

Watch what Jesus did to a former terrorist who has now seen the light of God.

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Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

-- Hebrews 2:8

Lest We Forget
November 9, 2009

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons." (Deuteronomy 4:9)

This admonition was given by God through Moses as the children of Israel were preparing finally to enter God’s promised land.

God had done mighty things for them--delivering them from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea for them, feeding them for forty years with water from a great rock and daily bread from heaven--and it was important for them to teach their descendants, "lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen."
It was especially vital not to forget the actual words of God. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2). The writer of Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) stressed no less than seven times how important it was not to forget the words of God.

"I will not forget thy word" (v. 16).

"Yet do I not forget thy statutes" (v. 83).

"I will never forget thy precepts" (vv. 93, 141).

"I do not forget thy law" (vv. 109, 153).

"For I do not forget thy commandments" (v. 176).

Our nation has seen God do marvelous things. It was founded by a small band of Christians, and in a short span of history has become the greatest nation in the world. Yet we also seem about to forget, as Israel once did.

We would do well to rehearse again and again the poignant words of Rudyard Kipling, in words written over a hundred years ago: "Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget." HMM

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus

--Philemon 1:6

A Provoked Spirit
November 8, 2009

"They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." (Psalm 106:32-33)

This terse passage summarizes the tragic events described in Numbers 20:1-13. If ever a religious leader had a right to be provoked with an ungrateful and complaining flock, Moses did. Finally, after years of privation in the wilderness, the people complained once too often, and Moses could take it no longer (or so he thought). In anger, he rebuked the rebels and smote the rock, taking credit himself for God's miraculous provision of water. As a result, God rebuked him, and he was not allowed to enter the promised land.

It is all too easy, in times of pressure and inconsiderate selfishness all around us, to rise up in "righteous indignation" and, like Moses, "spake unadvisedly with |our| lips." This is surely one of Satan's most common devices. Such verbal assaults may be well deserved and may seem to give personal satisfaction for a time, but they are usually counter-productive in the long run and very hurtful to one's testimony for Christ to those so assaulted (imagine Peter trying to witness to Malchus after he had sliced off Malchus' ear in anger!). Unfortunately, "the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:.

The Lord Jesus Himself is the ideal example in this difficult realm for "he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). He could have called ten legions of angels to destroy His tormentors, but instead He prayed: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

Let us not be easily provoked to so-called righteous indignation. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). HMM

grace5:
many thanks

Unto God be all the glory.