₦airaland Forum

Friends please read and share with other Christians

Also share your thoughts on this article

Share your thoughts on this

Please share

Read and share

As much I could remember I grew up listening to a Jamaican reggae artist by name Buju Banton. And in 1997 Buju Banton released a song titled: Destiny. This song was played repeatedly over the air waves across all radio and television stations in Lagos that its lyrics latched onto my memory. I'm sure the reader could relate if he or she was born before the year 1997.

However, there's a line in the lyrics of that song that resonate to the challenges facing many Christians, particularly some pastors in the body of Christ. The lyrics I'm referring to in that song is this: "... The rich man's wealth is in the city, yeah Destruction of the poor is his poverty..."

You see, for many years after the release of that song I grappled with the meaning of that statement. I knew that statement was gotten from the Bible, nevertheless, Buju Banton's song, Destiny, greatly re-emphasizes and/or influenced my thoughts along that line. But over the years I have come to understand in-depth the meaning of that statement as it resonate to humans, particularly Christians.

The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty is a text in the book of Proverbs the tenth chapter, the fifteenth verse. Reading it from the King James version is a little blind to us because poverty cannot be the destruction of the poor. Why? Poverty is a state of being. And as all state of being it is influenced by either internal or external or interaction of internal and external factors.

While I was meditating on that text, I was impressed in my spirit to write: "The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty in knowledge." This is more accurate because scriptures says that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Now here are my two witnesses to corroborate my claim:

Hosea 4:6
[6]My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.


Isaiah 5:13
[13]Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

We can clearly see from both texts that people are led into captivity and eventually destroyed because they lack Knowledge and not poverty, so to speak.

Now this brings me to the discourse in the front burner about the ignorance of some Christians and pastors. I almost weep writing this article when I saw these likes exhibiting their ignorance of scriptures on Tik Tok. I mean I saw a pastor on Tik Tok right on the pulpit, he called few of his members who can speak in tongues that AI can interpret the gibberish that they claim to be tongues. And many of his congregation were misled.
As if it was a sequel, the next day on the same Tik Tok, I saw a lady testifying that she thought she was speaking in tongues but never knew AI was able to interpret the gibberish she claimed to be tongues.

You see, these people, bless their hearts, are in error because they know not the counsel of God concerning interpretation of tongues. Tongues and interpretation of tongues are two out of three vocal gifts amongst the nine gifts of the Spirit.

Paul writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit declared altogether tongues and its interpretation as equivalent to the gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:5). And prophecy is for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the church. Now if tongues and interpretation of tongues are spiritual gifts, then they can only be manifested in the spirit by the Holy Spirit. For example, 1 Corinthians 14:14 says, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." It is through the spirit by the Holy Spirit utterances are given and it is through the Spirit the interpretation of tongues is given also.

In the gospel of John chapter sixteen verse- thirteen and fourteen the Lord Jesus says, "The Holy Spirit shall not speak of himself... he shall glorify me." Therefore, every tongues and interpretation of tongues shall glorify Jesus when it is interpreted because it is by the Holy Ghost.

Paul in first Corinthians chapter fourteen verse thirteen and fourteen says:

1 Corinthians 14:13-14
[13]Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
[14]For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.


Interpretation of tongues is done by faith through the Spirit. Notice that text says, "Let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret". And when one pray in an unknown tongue, one's spirit prayeth, but one's understanding is unfruitful.

AI cannot interpret tongues because for it to do so, it must pray to interpret by faith. Now AI cannot pray to interpret tongues by faith through the Spirit because it's a programed machine devoid of neither soul nor spirit. And since faith works by love, and AI is incapable of expressing love then the faith needed to interpret tongues cannot be found in AI.

Now I know AI is capable of partial-filtering of certain words from tongues to make a coherent thought. However, here is the litmus test for any such bogus interpretation: since interpretation of tongues is equivalent to prophecy, whatever an AI interprets and it does not edify, exhort, and comfort and glorify Jesus Christ that is a deception.

In the final analysis, never give in to the bogus cliché that an AI can interpret tongues. That idea is false and it's from the pit of hell.

In order to further buttress the fact that AI cannot interpret tongues, I asked AI to answer with a yes or a no if AI can interpret tongues and the answer was just as expected, No!


Jesus is Lord!

Do not hoard knowledge, propagate it!

share with all

Share

Please comment and share

oglalasioux:
I stopped reading where you said Obama and Biden are Republicans.

You are dangerously misinformed.

Thanks bro that was a billion dollar oversight.
I have since corrected.

Thanks again for the correction. I'm grateful.

oglalasioux:
I stopped reading where you said Obama and Biden are Republicans.

You are dangerously misinformed.

Thanks for the correction bro.

You might be wondering why write about the United States of America? Why leave the issues in my own country and write about a country about 11.4 thousand kilometers away? That's because the U.S. as the world power, has some level of influence on every inhabited countries in the world. And as such, whatever happens to the faith of the the citizens in the U.S. will eventually encroach into and influence other countries of the world, particularly Africa.

This article is not an idea whose time has come, but the very idea spoken of and taught by the Lord Jesus in scripture.

In retrospect, before the election of president Donald Trump, the United States was under the administration of Joe Biden and Barack Obama, who were Democrats. And they exacerbated the rate of immorality in the United States to the point of exporting some of their perverse policies to other continents, including Africa. As a matter of fact, the Washington Post described the perversion in the U.S. under Barack Obama as follows: "Our foundation has been shaken. Crime, corruption, immorality, abortion, sodomy, sexual perversion sweep our land."

Notwithstanding, no sooner than Donald Trump was elected as the president of the United States than he began tearing down the high walls of crime, corruption, immorality, abortion, sodomy, and sexual perversion. Donald Trump is now restoring the faith of Americans and her institution unto God. In his own words, Donald Trump says, "America needs God now more than ever!"

Now what am I getting to? As great as it is with the rate at which Donald Trump is turning the minds of Americans to God, the Christians in the United States need to root out the dread of irreligiosity through revivals, fasting and prayers so that majority of her citizens are Intune and well equipped with the wisdom of scriptures instead of the philosophy taught in her institutions.

It may interest you to know that if the faith level of the citizens of the United States is not built up through scriptures after the administration of the Republicans, if the Democrats happens to take hold on power again, then the rate of crime, corruption, immorality, abortion, sodomy, and sexual perversion will be seven times worse than it were before Donald Trump took over power.
Let's analyze the above truth through scripture:

Matthew 12:43-45
[43]When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
[44]Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
[45]Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.


Notice that texts says, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man ... Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

Similarly, like Cyrus the anointed, God is using Donald Trump to sweep and rid out of the United States of all forms of the spirit of perversion. However, just like scripture says, when the spirit come and find the minds of American citizens not built-up in the word of God, Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of the United States is worse than the first.

So I dare say that the United States of America is on the precipice of a great change; and this change could tend towards faith in God or towards destruction through perversion. The fate of the United States rest on the decision to choose either good or evil.


Jesus id Lord!

Do not hoard knowledge.

Share

Share with family

Share with family

Comment and share

Share this insights with friends

Pls don't just read, share also: because you might be blessing someone

Pls don't just read, share because you will be blessing someone

moshoodn:
Another insight into the Prodigal son's story..

I've learnt a new thing!

Glory to God.

There's so much insights in the Bible that Solomon and John concluded their writings in a somewhat similar notion, "in making many books there's no end."

gohf:
Was definitely worth the read, was blessed 🙏🏾

Thank God you're blessed.

GothamCities:
Deep and balanced revelation of the Word! God bless your heart brother.

This shows the elder son to be Israel who although had always been with the Father, had failed to enjoy his full rights as a son. He has missed out of the fat things and wine on lees which the once prodigal gentiles who repent now enjoy. This parable is fully happening today already. Paul said he could testify of them Israelites that they indeed have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. The Father had told His aggrieved elder son "...son, thou art always with me, and all that I have are thine." May the Lord reveal Himself to Israel and grant them salvation.

The table has been prepared and the fat things are ready. Come to Christ, o ye prodigals and find rest for your souls. For in Christ alone is salvation and atonement for your sins, no matter how evil. The Father loves you still and His long arms are ever ready to take you into their embrace. Invite Jesus into your hearts today, confess Him as Lord and you shall be saved.

Well said. I couldn't agree anymore.

Read and share

To all my readers, I'm grateful

Read and share this article

I'm over 36 years of age and had heard the story of the prodigal son preached almost all my life. But a striking detail piqued my attention on the 30th of March 2025.

It all happened on Sunday March the 30th, 2025 as I and my mother was attending church. We came quite late to the service because when we got to the church, the servant of God was already reading the gospel of Luke the fifteenth chapter. While we listened in as the gospel was being read, it was as if the words became animated in my peripheral vision, my imagination. I saw into the story and gleaned hidden detail that I've never heard anyone, in all my life, talked about from that story.

Let's examine the story from Luke's gospel

Luke 15:11-12,14,20,22-24
[11]And he said, A certain man had two sons:
[12]And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
[14]And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
[20]And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
[22]But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
[23]And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
[24]For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now, in all my life, every time that story was taught or preached, the emphasis was always on the repentant son and the ever loving and ever-forgiving Father. The story demonstrate the love of the Father to a lost world. It depicts the Father's love and longing to embrace His repentant prodigal sons and daughters, young and old alike.

Notwithstanding, no preacher or teacher ever revealed to me what I saw in that story on Sunday 30th March 2025. While the preacher was busy preaching away the story of the prodigal son and its significant to a prodigal world, occupied by men and women who were by nature the children of wrath, two questions were posed on the screen of my spirit man. It were as if some unseen being was trying to get my attention while I was inside the church.

That voice asked me, "Did you noticed, in that story, the Father commanded that the fatted calf be killed?" The voice went a step further in asking, "Did you also noticed that the Father did not say: '... My son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found,' until the fatted calf was killed?"

Those two questions piqued my interest; and it were as if the letters of that text became bold and bigger than other texts as I poured over those lines of questions about the fatted calf in that story. And no sooner had those questions were asked that I came to the understanding that the fatted calf that was killed was symbolic of Christ Jesus in reconciling the Father and the prodigal son.

The Spirit of the Lord enlightened my understanding by precepts in the word. The Bible says that by the mouth of two or three witnesses should every word be established. Now let's analyze it by scriptures:

The prophet Isaiah spoke of Christ as the fatted Calf whose blood would reconcile all people unto the LORD of hosts

Isaiah 25:6
[6]And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

Notice that text says, "... The LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things... of wines on the lees..." The fat things and wines are types of Jesus ransoming his flesh and blood to reconcile God and man.

Hebrews 9:22
[22]And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Notice that text says, "... Without shedding of blood is no remission." In the story of the prodigal son, the Father declare the son as "dead, and is alive again; ... was lost, and is found" after the blood of the fatted calf was spilled. indicating that without shedding of blood is no remission of sins.

In the story of the prodigal son, the fatted calf represents Jesus Christ: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we were healed, saved, delivered, preserved, reconciled unto the Father.


Jesus is Lord!

Do not hoard knowledge, propagate it!

I give thanks to the Almighty God in the name of Jesus Christ, who made this article to reach over 10,000 views.

Glory to God in the highest!

Read and comment

gohf:
2Kgs.2.10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-otherwise not."

Jer.32.27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too difficult for me?

You're right brother, and those scriptural principles are right too

Read and share

Was the prophet Elisha greater than the prophet Elijah because he had double portion of the anointing? You might want to read to the very letter this open discourse.

To inform this discourse, we shall be looking at two salient questions, the first being, was Elisha greater than Elijah? And the second being, how can we access the double portion Elisha's order of the Anointing?

Let us carefully consider the first question and scripturally analyze it.
Was Elisha greater than Elijah knowing he had twice the anointing of Elijah? Scripturally the answer to this question without a doubt is no. You see the Bible is a progressive revelation, and as such, you don't get the full import of certain truths 'till you come into the full blaze of enlightenment. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18).
If one would read the entire book of second kings alone, one would conclude that Elisha wrought more miracles than Elijah, which is true. However, that is a poor mirror to reflect the reality of sound scriptural principles.

You see, in the book of second kings the second chapter, Elisha asked Elijah that he may receive a double portion of his spirit.

2 Kings 2:9
[9]And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.


Unarguably, the servant is not greater than the master. Neither can a man give what he does not have. Elisha was able to receive twice the spirit or the anointing that was upon Elijah because Elijah had more than twice the anointing in him. Logically, it's impossible for me to give a man N2 million if I'm in want of N1 million. That doesn't make any sense.
The fact that Elisha received a double portion of the anointing doesn't make him any greater than Elijah. Rather, it goes to show that Elisha was a benefactor of the benevolence of Elijah.

Let me explain that reality by the scriptures. In the book of Numbers the eleventh chapter, the LORD took some of the spirit who was upon Moses and put him upon the seventy elders and they prophesied. This example is like taking seventy times the spirit that was upon Moses and distributing him among the elders, yet none of them was greater, let alone come close to the greatness of Moses.

Elisha was greater than Elijah in acts, that is in miracles, yet not in spirit: because, like Moses, out of the abundant portion of Elijah's spirit only a double portion was given to Elisha.

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus corroborated that truth when he declared, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). The Lord Jesus just got through saying, the believing ones shall do greater works than He. Now greater works in acts doesn't translate to any one of us believers being greater than the Lord Jesus, because, really, no one is greater. It's out of the fullness of His own Spirit that we have received the ability to do greater works. So evidently, the Lord is greater than all. Evidently also, Elijah is greater than Elisha.

Now how can we access the double portion Elisha's order of the Anointing?
There are three steps that led to Elisha receiving a double portion of Elijah's anointing.

1. Elisha stepped into the office of the prophet
2. Elisha was baptized unto Elijah in Jordan River
3. Elisha received the power from on high when he took Elijah's mantle that feel from him


The Bible teaches that those things which happened to the people of the Old Testament are types and shadows of the things to come. The three steps above we shall explore in the light of the New Testament.

Corinthians 10:11
[11]Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.


Elisha's double portion of the anointing is a type and shadow of the reality of baptism in water and the reception of the Holy Ghost.

You see, Elisha didn't just receive a double portion of the anointing because he was a servant to Elijah, no. There are precedents to him receiving twice the spirit of the prophet Elijah.

We shall look at these precedents, in the light of the New Testament, which galvanized Elisha to receiving a double portion of the spirit of Elijah.

First, Elisha was anointed to be in the office of the prophet

1[b] Kings 19:16,19
[16]And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
[19]So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.[/b]

Elijah's mantle upon Elisha ushering him into the office of the prophet is likened to a sinner confessing Jesus as Lord and stepping into the righteousness of Christ, a new creature (2 Corinthians 5: 17, 21).

Second, Elisha was baptized unto Elijah in Jordan River

2 Kings 2:8
[8]And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.


1 Corinthians 10:1-2
[1]Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2]And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;


Notice the same way Moses parted the Red sea and the Children of Israel all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto him, so did Elijah parted the Jordan River and they two went over on dry ground; and Elisha was baptized unto him.

Elisha's baptism unto Elijah, so to speak, is like the born again Christian being baptized unto Christ by immersion in water. At this point, the born again Christian receive the first portion of the anointing, salvation. (John 20:22; 1 John 2:20,27).

Third, Elisha took hold on Elijah's mantle

2 Kings 2:13
[13]He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

Notice that text says, "... The mantle of Elijah that fell..." The word "fell" is significant because this is symbolic of the Holy Ghost falling down on the Apostles from on high. In the book of Joel, the prophet Joel prophesied that in the last days the Lord shall pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. And in Acts of the Apostles when Peter went down to the house of Cornelius, scripture says, while he yet spake, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

So in the light of scripture, anyone can receive Elisha's double portion order of the anointing by following three sound scriptural steps

1. By becoming a new creature: accepting Jesus as Lord and saviour
2. By baptism unto Christ: immersion in water
3. Being baptized in the Holy Ghost



Jesus is Lord

Don't hoard knowledge, propagate it!

share this article