The Secret Of A Triumphant Life – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
05 April 2020 | 4:10 am

In preserving himself holy and acceptable to God, while training in Babylonian school and living in the world’s pagan city, Daniel’s purpose of heart was to keep himself pure, free from all defilement. Daniel’s definition and understanding of “things that defile” was based on the scriptures he had been taught from childhood. For the Israelites, unclean animals and birds, meat sacrificed to idols and wine, part of which had been poured as libation to an idol, were all defiled and defiling. These provisions from the king’s table were thus defiled and Daniel’s conscience would not accept such free provisions. So, he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.”

“That which defileth man” goes beyond idolatrous food and drink. Daniel knew this and we ought to know it as well, so that we can be cleansed and remain free “from all filthiness (defilement) of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). “To keep himself unspotted from the world” and “undefiled in the way” (James 1:27; Psalm 119:1), the believer must be free from the “abominable customs” of the world (Leviticus 8:30; 1 Peter 4:3,4), from any involvement with “familiar spirits, wizards” (Leviticus 19:31), from “all evil” and “transgressions” (Ezekiel 20:43; 37:23); we must be watchful over ourselves so that we are not “defiled with our own works” or “our own inventions” (Psalm 106:39,40). Christ’s teaching ought to be taken to heart, as we purpose in our hearts not to be defiled.

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23). The Son of God can make us free and keep us free from all defilement – from all sin. His power can make you what you ought to be. His Blood can cleanse your heart and make you free. His love can fill your soul and make you live a victorious and triumphant life.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself … therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel’s aim in all things, in all places, in all situations and at all times, was to have “a conscience void of offence toward God.” His was a noble pattern of life, based on a noble principle of conviction. Whatever the cost or consequence, God’s glory was the focus of his life. His great and noble desire was to be pure, to be free from every form of defilement, to please the Lord, and no pain, peril or possible persecution could bend his will to Babylon’s culture or religious practice. His constant aim was to do whatever God demands and to avoid whatever God forbids.

He had been well-taught in the Scripture of truth. His spirit was responsive to God’s still, small voice. His heart was pure and holy. His motive was God-honouring and self-effacing. His conscience was enlightened and sensitive. Not even an appearance of evil would he excuse or allow in his life. His private life was to be as pure as his public life. Even in Babylon, Daniel refused to allow anything into his mind, his spirit, his heart, his body, his life, anything which would offend God, anything contrary to God’s truth, purity or His pure worship and excellence. Oh, that we might live such a Christ-honouring life today.

Dare to be a Daniel; dare to stand alone. Dare to have a firm purpose. Dare to make it known. Many mighty men are lost, daring not to stand. Dare to be a Daniel. Have a firm purpose to stand for truth and righteousness. Be faithful in small things, as well as in great things. Purpose in your heart to be undefiled and pray for grace to live as God commands.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 1:8; Acts 15:22-29; Mark 7:20-23; Hebrews 12:15-17; James 3:6; Matthew 15:10,11,18-20; Psalm 119:1-3; James 1:26,27; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:27; Acts 24:16; Hebrews 13:18; 1 Peter 3:15,16; 1 Timothy 1:5,19; Psalm 24:3,4; Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:9; 2 Timothy 2:21,22; Ephesians 5:25-27.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/the-secret-of-a-triumphant-life-part-2/

Remaining Faithful During Trial – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
12 April 2020 | 3:06 am

It is no child’s play to be a true and devoted worshipper of God, to be a true soldier of the Cross. The true believer lives under the banner and laws of Jesus Christ, his Captain, but the world expects him to follow its rules. The god of this world is the devil and he wants to claim implicit obedience. Satan sets up himself to be worshipped. If we would not worship him or his image, the fierce tyrant would remind us that the burning fiery furnace has not yet cooled.

To be a real Christian, you must decide to cast off the bondage of this present evil world. Your resolve must be taken to bear all consequences, rather than worship the idol of the hour. The music of the world will sound and the threats of its prince will be heard, but the true believer would disobey the evil one and obey God. That which commends itself to your conscience as true and pure, you must do, but that which is false and sinful you must quit with firm resolve. The loyal subject of King Jesus will not try to serve God and mammon.

The question came, “Is it true?” The tyrant asked for a reaffirmation of their resolve. Would they reconsider and change their decision, or were they ready to prove it true at the expense of their lives? In his hands lay their liberty and their lives, their progress and their prosperity, their happiness and their hope. He was their benefactor, employer and emperor. He could not believe that anyone could disobey his orders. We must be ready to answer without any hesitation or fear; it is most certainly true.

Nebuchadnezzar’s call to idol worship was universal and non-negotiable – the command extended to all people without exception. The penalty for refusal was death, painful death in a furnace of fire. His full tyrannical authority was behind the edict of this supreme dictator. The threat was to force everyone to become fearful and forsake their character, conviction and their Creator. What a lamentable sight to see all the people, except the faithful few, bend and bow to the will of tyranny! The creatures of God were forced to worship the creation of man!

Nebuchadnezzar himself did not notice that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had refused to worship his idol. Some informants had reported them to the king. The king’s fury rose with his pride. The information that three believers in the true God had the boldness to disobey him and disregard his idol came upon him like a thunderbolt out of a cloudless sky. It was unexpected. He devised the greatest form of persecution he could imagine.

The persecution was a fiery trial of their faith, but their faith was strong enough to neutralise the fear of fire and to remain “steadfast and unmoveable.” They were strong in their commitment to God and would rather suffer than sin. During the persecution of the early Church, a heroic saint was summoned before the Emperor of Rome. The Emperor threatened him with banishment if he dared remain a Christian. ‘Me thou canst not banish, for the world is my Father’s house,’ was his noble answer. ‘But I will take thy life,’ said the Emperor. ‘Nay, but thou canst not, sire, for my life is hidden with Christ in God.’ ‘I will deprive thee of thy treasures,’ continued the Emperor. ‘I have no treasures that thou canst seize,’ was the response, ‘for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.’ ‘I will drive thee away from men, and thou shalt have no friend left.’ ‘Nay, that thou canst not,’ replied the bold and faithful witness, ‘for I have a Friend in heaven from whom thou canst not separate me.’

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 3:13-18; Daniel 3:13-15; Exodus 5:2,10-19; John 15:18-22; Acts 8:1-4; 9:1,2,13,14; 1 Peter 2:19-23; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6,14-16; 2 Timothy 3:12-14; Psalms 119:86-93,157; 143:3-10.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/remaining-faithful-during-trial-part-1/

Good day my brother. Do GS still preach Monday Bible study during this lockdown? If he does, please you can also post it here. Thanks.

etinanguy:


Good day my brother. Do GS still preach Monday Bible study during this lockdown? If he does, please you can also post it here. Thanks.

Good day bro. Please check out the thread below for the Bible Study. Stay safe and blessed.

https://www.nairaland.com/4821122/monday-bible-study-great-value/5

OLAADEGBU:


Good day bro. Please check out the thread below for the Bible Study. Stay safe and blessed.

https://www.nairaland.com/4821122/monday-bible-study-great-value/5

Thanks bro.

etinanguy:


Thanks bro.

You're welcome, anytime.

I watched the Nairaland Religious section keep discussing other issues other than the stark FACT that all their pompous and arrogant claims of Healing Powers have all but failed to come to light at the greatest global opportunity to SHINE. all of them have been shut by COVID19.

No Healing Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Fibroids, Death, Blindness, Brokenness, Barrenness etc.. all of you and your supporters on Nairaland have continued to ignore reality as usual... when a vaccine is found you will all jump off your scammer-asses and claim God revealed it to one Christian Doctor who saved the world. Una try. - use these somber moments to reflect on your spiritual brain-cleansing instead.

And yes I am sure it was foretold and intervention will notbe necessary abi? good move bros

Remaining Faithful During Trial – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
19 April 2020 | 4:28 am

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three faithful worshippers of the living God refused to worship the image of the king of Babylon. Unafraid of the king’s fury and not intimidated by the terrors of the burning fiery furnace, they refused to give up the worship of God for the worship of the golden image. The king was fierce in his persecution and they were firm in their purpose and principle. He had insulted their God, and they must defend God’s glory with their very lives.

They were unwilling to render unto Caesar the things that are God’s. They were ready to part with their lives, rather than part with their conscience or convictions. They were captives in Babylon, but their souls were not in captivity to the god of this world. God has forbidden His people to bow down to any idol and no reasoning can make that right, which God has said is wrong. As God’s command is plain and direct, so our obedience must be plain and direct. This example of heroism teaches us that we must always say NO, when we are tempted and threatened to do wrong.

The believer, who has pledged and consecrated his heart and life to Christ, is resolved and determined to serve God at all times, whoever is pleased or displeased. The truth has arrested him, and he knows that the love of God and the love of the world will no more mix than oil and water. He stands for truth and righteousness; he refuses even to parley with iniquity. With such brave resolve, we shall be able to endure the trial of the hour.

These uncompromising believers refused to bow to the king’s unrighteous demand because they were sustained by unwavering faith in God’s promises. “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:2). When we believe that God will make all things work together for our good, we will live in constant obedience to Him and leave the outcome of all events in His hands. No sevenfold heated furnace of persecution is hot enough to burn up the conviction of a true child of God. All the fury and power of the most tyrannical persecutor cannot burn up the deep-rooted truth of God’s Word from our hearts, if we trust in His grace and power to keep us.

Whatever God calls you to do or to suffer for, fear not to obey. He will be with you in whatever He calls you to do. If He calls you to enter the fiery furnace, hesitate not for one moment. He will be with you and either sustain you, or deliver you, or make it conducive to your higher good and future glory. With courage and determination, we must act in the light of eternity. We must not judge any situation by the king’s threats or by the heat of the burning fiery furnace, but by the everlasting God and the eternal life awaiting us.

These three conquerors stood their ground against sin and dared the rage of an infuriated persecutor, because they saw Him who is invisible and had respect unto the recompense of the reward. We must constantly live in the reality of the future, or we will miss the chief fountain of holy strength. “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us.” The overwhelming power of their faith dominated their hearts. In times of emergency, their faith sprang to the fore and asserted itself. Faith made them fearless, courageous and persevering. They knew that God’s Will, not the king’s will, will prevail, and that God will be glorified.

Through faith they “quenched the violence of fire” (Hebrews 11:33,34). How about you?

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 3:13-18; Daniel 3:16-18; Philippians 4:6-9; 1 Peter 5:7-9; Isaiah 51:12-16; Acts 4:17-20; 5:27-30; Hebrews 12:1-4; 1 Peter 4:12-19;2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; 2 Corinthians 4:13-18; Daniel 3:17; Romans 4:20,21; 8:18,25-28; Isaiah 43:2,7; 2 Timothy 1:11-14; Hebrews 2:13-18; 7:25,26; 2 Timothy 4:18; Romans 8:31-39; Jude 24,25.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/remaining-faithful-during-trial-part-2/

Divine Protection When Persecuted – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
26 April 2020 | 4:13 am

Unknown to many people, there are some kinds of questions that naturally provoke God to action. Such questions might intimidate the fearful, but they embolden the faithful, whose hearts are full of faith in their God. “But if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” What a question! It is a question that always provokes divine action, a question that produces supernatural miracle, a question that demands the manifestation of God’s supremacy and extra-ordinary power.

When unbelieving despots ask such questions, God always responds to protect His own and to silence the blasphemer. The same boastful king who threatened: “And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15), later confessed that, “there is no other God that can deliver after this sort… Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase” (Daniel 3:29; 4:37). Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, also asked a similar blasphemous question and later received a sudden, shocking and supernatural answer in devastating signs and wonders (Exodus 5:2; 10:16,17; 12:31,32; 14:25,31).

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria during the reign of Hezekiah over Judah also asked, “Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?” (2 Kings 18:35). With one stroke of supernatural judgment, 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians were stricken dead and the king himself was smitten with the sword of his own sons (2 Kings 19:35-37). The Creator of heaven and earth is too great and mighty to be challenged by any of His creatures. The Potter is too powerful and irresistible to be reproached by the clay (Romans 9:20). True believers can rest, unmoved, in the face of any provocation or pressure from our persecutors and our adversaries. “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:17).

God loves faithful, uncompromising believers. Non-conformists who refuse to be conformed to this world are His delight. Yet, we must remember that the world and the gods of this world hate whatever and whoever God loves. Nebuchadnezzar, the Gentile king, was enraged by the refusal of these three faithful, Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego, to worship his image. In his rage, the tyrannical idol worshipper invented a more strange and cruel punishment for these God-honouring saints. And these saintly servants of God remained calm, patient and constant in their devotion to God. They knew that God had power to deliver them from death, or if He so desired, to take them to a better place than this world, to deliver them from the despot forever.

The king was not only furious, he was also infuriated. “He commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.” The great intensity of the heat of his fury could not be satisfied without a greater intensity of heat in the furnace. His anger was visible for all to see. Being “full of fury, the form of his visage was changed” (verse 19). Betrayed in his whole comportment and countenance, he ordered that the heat of the furnace be increased to the highest possible. Passion overdid and defeated its own end, for, the hotter the fire, the sooner were they likely to be put out of pain. Would men in a passion but view their faces in a mirror, they would be startled at their own folly and turn all their displeasure against themselves.

We need not be frightened by the rage, fury and devices of persecutors. Persecution purifies and preserves the true children of God. It revives our dormant faith in some forgotten promises of God (for example, Isaiah 43:2). It brings God’s omnipotence and faithfulness nearer in manifestation. Persecution drives us to prayer and makes us more dependent on God.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 3:19-30; Daniel 3:19-23; 1 Kings 19:1,2; 22:13,14,23,24; Esther 3:3-6; Daniel 6:10-17; Mark 6:17-20; John 15:18-21; 1 Peter 4:3,4; Acts 16:19-26; 2 Timothy 3:12-14.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ibru-ecumenical-centre/divine-protection-when-persecuted-part-1/

Just a Little Talk With Jesus


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m41v7hpppes

HIS BLOOD HAS MADE US ONE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPF1JEo70F4

Divine Protection When Persecuted – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
03 May 2020 | 3:19 am

There are precious promises we can never prove until we encounter some problems and pressures. There is a kind of sweet juice of the grapes of grace, which can only be pressed out by the hand of providence. There are states of divine companionship, which can only be experienced when we find ourselves in situations, where human companionship is impossible. There is a depth of divine love and intimate fellowship known only to believers, who courageously face the opposition of the world against righteousness.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had a fresh understanding, a divine contact and companionship, an intimate fellowship, a new revelation of God’s power, an experience of security and immunity, a fulfilment of an incredible promise, a supernatural sign and wonder in the furnace, which they could not have had outside it. They lost nothing inside the furnace; rather, they gained incalculable spiritual wealth, immediate earthly rewards and heaven’s enduring recognition. We lose nothing in the furnace of persecution; rather, our profit and rewards are abundant in the present life and in eternity.

“Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished.” He was yet to learn that God is able with infinite ease to deliver His children in the most terribly extreme situations. God knows how to deliver the godly out of fiery trials and grant His own perfect triumph over the rage of their enemies. Nebuchadnezzar’s confession is significant and worthy of our meditation. He said: (1) “Did not we cast three men BOUND into the midst of the fire? lo, I see four men LOOSE”; (2) “walking in the midst of the fire”; (3) “and they have no hurt”; (4) “and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” The king and all his men examined them when they came out of the furnace. They all (5) “saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power”; (6) “nor was a hair of their head singed”; (7) “neither were their coats changed”; (8.) “nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” There is both instruction and encouragement in the climax of the king’s confession and declaration: “There is no other God that can deliver after this sort.” Those who suffer for Christ have His gracious presence with them in their persecution, even in the fiery furnace, even in the valley of the shadow of death, and therefore, need fear no evil.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:28). He had earlier said, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15) Now, he has come to recognise the existence and power of that God and His involvement in the affairs of men on earth. He referred to God as “the Most High God,” Who has no equal, rival or comparison, for He said, “there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” (Daniel 3:26,29). The manifestation of God’s presence and the demonstration of God’s power changed the king’s mind. God’s faithfulness in response to our faith can change the attitude and life of the most idolatrous and wicked sinners.

Nebuchadnezzar’s god could not deliver or protect his “most mighty men” (Daniel 3:20,22) but “the highest God” delivered “His (own) servants that trusted in Him” who would “not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” (Daniel 3:28). Dead idols are impotent but the living God is omnipotent. Truly, there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. So, he blessed God for His goodness and for His power.

Nebuchadnezzar’s praise and confession of God was doctrinally sound and widely publicised, but he did not renounce his god, neither did he destroy the image, which he had set up. There was no genuine conversion; there was no decision to worship the living God only. Loud and empty confession without genuine, life-transforming conversion is worthless in God’s sight.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 3:19-30; Daniel 3:24-27; Isaiah 43:2-4; Exodus 3:2-4; Psalm 66:12-16; Zechariah 13:9; Hebrews 11:33,34; Zechariah 3:1,2; Isaiah 26:11-13.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ibru-ecumenical-centre/divine-protection-when-persecuted-part-2/

How Do You Weigh Before God? – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
10 May 2020 | 4:01 am

God has a judicial standard by which He measures and weighs the actions of all men. The divine observation, evaluation and verdict on Belshazzar teaches us that every human being of every class is under the accurate observation of God’s sleepless eye. It is, therefore, of infinite importance to be conscious of God’s watching eye every moment of our lives. On what will our destiny be determined on the day of reckoning? We shall be tried and judged, not by the laws of the land, but by the laws of God. We shall be weighed in the balance of God’s judicial standard. Who, tried in this balance, could hope to come forth triumphant, without Christ’s redemption, forgiveness and salvation? Only through the merit of Christ, Who has satisfied the demands of God’s perfect law, in its minutest detail, can anyone hope to stand before God justified and uncondemned.

Weighed in the balance of human opinion, Belshazzar might have been approved. But while he was being approved and acclaimed by his lords, princes and people, another judgment was going on! He was being weighed in the scales of conscience. “His thoughts troubled him”. Many people, who are accounted good men by their neighbours, are nevertheless accused and condemned by their consciences. Stricken by conscience, the “still small voice” stings them and, dries up the fountain of inner peace and joy. There is in every man’s soul something, which calls him to himself, holds up the mirror before him and puts a check upon the praises of men.

Belshazzar was ultimately weighed in the scales of divine justice and condemned. “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.” These words brought the deepest dread and despair upon Belshazzar. As his soul approached the final day, the scales of the balance were before him. In one scale of the balance was placed the divine moral requirement, in the other was his sinful, immoral, idolatrous life. The turning of the scale fixed his destiny. “Weighed and found wanting”! Belshazzar’s last day on earth had come and those words of divine judgment struck him with indescribable anxiety. His judgment was irreversible. Let men and women of wisdom and spiritual vision anticipate and see the handwriting on the wall and ask for forgiveness, salvation and grace for righteousness before it becomes too late.

God’s watching eyes are looking at our intentions and actions, nothing escapes His attention. The details of the life of everyone on earth, every sinner, every hypocrite, every moralist, every religionist and every worldling are not hidden, but visible to God. No sinful thought or deed is overlooked – nothing is trivialized or made light of, nothing is insignificant on which sin has breathed the breath of hell. “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2). Without forgiveness and redemption through Christ, every sinner is guilty before God and when weighed in His balance, will be found wanting. How little do men think of this?

Our thoughts, our words, our actions, our decisions, our response to God’s offer of grace and divine strength, all will be weighed. When the inspection of heaven shall be carried out on all our acts of commission and omission, what deficiencies shall be revealed! Only through Christ’s meritorious atonement can anyone hope to stand before God uncondemned. At the Judgment Bar, when all our deeds on earth shall be weighed, and if we are found wanting or lacking, what will our prospects be in eternity? “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36,37). The unrepentant sinner, the unregenerated sinner, the unrenewed sinner, no matter who they are or whatever they may be in other respects are certainly wanting when weighed in the divine perfect balance.

Religion without righteousness has no weight or value before God. Those who hold to heartless forms of religion who say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” will hear the Searcher of hearts say, “Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5). All unsaved sinners and all who have a form of godliness, but lack grace and power for godly living will find to their eternal shame and sorrow that when weighed in the balances, they will be found wanting. If all are weighed in the scales of Divine justice and found wanting, who then can be saved? All who have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). All who “with the heart believeth unto righteousness” (Romans 10:9,10). They alone will be saved.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 5:27; Daniel 5:27,5,6; I Samuel 2:3; Romans 3:10-19, 23; Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Romans 1:21-32; Jude 12-16; Romans 2:1-5; Revelation 3:1,2; Galatians 6:3; Mark 10:21-25; Hebrews 4:1,2; Revelation 3:17-22.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/how-do-you-weigh-before-god-part-1/

How Do You Weigh Before God? – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
17 May 2020 | 4:06 am

Belshazzar had no thought or consciousness of the existence of the true God. He sinned freely without thinking of God’s law or God’s judgment. Yet that did not hinder God from weighing or evaluating his acts of infidelity, immorality and profanity. Those who claim to be atheists, deny the existence of God, and live without any thought of divine judgment, when they are weighed in God’s divine balance, they will be found not only wanting but worthless. Belshazzar was a sensual man, addicted to fleshly pleasures. Wine, women and wealth were all he cared for. While the flesh was nourished and satiated, the soul was famished and defiled.

He was a king, but in heaven’s evaluation, the influence of his kingdom was worthless. Graceless, worldly sinners live for the flesh without making any positive impact on the world. “Let us eat and drink,” is their whole purpose of living. Their lives will soon be weighed in the balance and they will be found not only wanting, but also worthless.

Belshazzar was selfish and self-centered. He was forgetful of God’s judgment on proud Nebuchadnezzar. As he was forgetful of the past, he was negligent of present duties and nonchalant about the future. His heart was deadened, his mind was darkened, his senses were dulled, his understanding was dimmed and when he was weighed in the balances, he was not only found wanting, but also worthless. The dishonest man, the intemperate man, the fraudulent man, the corrupt man, the self-deluded man, the gambler, the swindler, the drunkard and the worldling will soon be weighed in the divine balance of righteousness and truth. They will all be found, not only wanting, but also worthless.

The man or woman who lives as if there is no God in heaven to inspect his or her conduct, as if there is no judgment bar at which we must one day appear, says, ‘give me riches, honour, pleasure, fashion, health, friends and long-life. That is all I care for.’ Like Belshazzar, each one of such people will soon be weighed in the balances and be found wanting and worthless. What a day that would be.

Belshazzar was not merely an individual sinner, he was a royal sinner, an influential sinner, a seductive, enticing sinner. He led “a thousand of his lords”, “his princes, his wives and his concubines” into the sin of idolatry, sacrilege, profanity, infidelity, irreverence, blasphemy and perversion. Apostates and seducers are not content or satisfied to sin and dishonour God all alone by themselves, they must also drag others into sin with them. To sin against God is bad and terrible enough to earn us eternal punishment, but to lead others to sin against God is worse and its damnation is greater and more terrifying. Those who, like Jeroboam, the renegade king of the breakaway kingdom of Israel, and who cause others to sin are known to God, and when weighed in the balance, will be found worse than wanting. The damnation of Jeroboam was irreversible because he not only sinned against God but “he made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 14:16; 15:26,34; 16:13,26; 21:22; 22:52; 2 Kings 10:29,31; 13:2; 14:24; 15:9,18,24,28; 23:15). When sinners are weighed in God’s balance of righteous commandments, they are found wanting and condemned. When seducers, tempters and temptresses, who lead others to sin, are weighed in God’s balance, they will be found worse and worthy of “greater condemnation”.

There are those who do not merely sin, “they do evil with both hands earnestly” (Micah 7:3). There are those who “sit in Moses’ seat”, who “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, who neither go in, neither suffer (permit) them that are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:2,13). These are worse than ordinary sinners and they “shall receive the greater damnation” (Matthew 23:14). These influential apostates make those they influence “two-fold more the child of hell than” themselves, and “how can they escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:15, 33). All those who “deny the faith” and then labour to destroy the faith of others (2 Timothy 2:17,18) will be weighed on the final day of judgment and found worse than infidels, and “it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for” them (Matthew 10:15; 11:24; Jude7).

What shall be the final verdict on each of us on the final day? When the secrets of men are brought before God and weighed in His just and righteous balance, shall we be found wanting, worthless or worse than worthless? We can come to Christ today and trust Him to atone for all our moral deficiencies and be clothed in His righteousness. Only then shall we be weighed and found weighty and worthy of life eternal in glory with Christ.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 5:27; Daniel 5:27,22,23; Job 31:6,4-7,13-24,39; Jeremiah 13:7-10; Matthew 22:8-13; 25:24-30; Mark 8:36-38; Luke 12:15-21; Acts 13:27,44-46; Matthew 5:13; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Matthew 10:37,38;Hebrews 10:37-39; Daniel 5:27, 18-24; Psalm 62:9; 1 Kings 16:25,26; 2 Chronicles 33:9-11; 2 Kings 21:9-18; Jeremiah7:26-28; 16:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:13; Luke 11:15-26; Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 2:20-23.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/how-do-you-weigh-before-god-part-2/

Covenant Service January 20, 2019 Adult choir ministration


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PQMTAJb5kI

How To Persevere Under Trial – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
24 May 2020 | 3:35 am

Crowns and thrones perish; kingdoms rise and wane; nations rise and fall, but God’s Kingdom is from generation to generation. His dominion is everlasting. He reigns on high and He rules uninterrupted in the affairs of men. Change in human government is inevitable, but believers continue to trust in God and live for His glory, whatever the circumstances around them may be. Change of government and administration, alteration in the economic conditions of nations and of the world will not affect the faith of God’s children in His promises.

The church of Jesus will remain constant, in conviction, and commitment to God’s Word.

The Babylonian empire had fallen and the Medo-Persian empire rose in its stead. Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain and Darius the Median took the kingdom. “And Daniel continued.” Darius appointed an entirely new administration, but he still retained Daniel because of his excellent character, integrity, wisdom, self-renouncing devotion and experience. Daniel was now advanced in age – an old man approaching 90 years – but he was still active in service. As his days, so was his strength.

As he grew older so he grew in faith, grew in knowledge, grew in wisdom, grew in leadership skill and ability, grew in courage and steadfastness, grew in spiritual insight and revelation, grew in usefulness to the kingdom of God. The thought of retiring to a life of ease and idleness was not given any consideration. Faithful and devoted to God, righteous and trustworthy before men, he was being considered for greater responsibility by the new king. Envy led others to plot against his life, but he continued quietly in prayerful devotion to God. Neither the favour of the king nor the frown of the presidents and the princes could change his conviction, consecration and commitment to his God. Men who aspire to ascend to positions of greater responsibility and usefulness must be willing to pay the price of purity, integrity, accountability and dependability in times of difficulty. It is always the highway of self-denial, the way of self-forgetfulness in service that leads to success and promotion. Those who intend to wear the crown must be willing to bear the cross. Daniel did not seek recognition or greatness. His only desire was to serve God and man and he saw promotion as another opportunity for doing good and a larger opening for greater usefulness. If we have such an attitude as Daniel had, God will put us where we ought to be.

Daniel did not reach this high position by any sudden spring. He moved up gradually through various levels of service and usefulness. His “excellent spirit” won for his extraordinary success, his truthfulness won trust, his faithfulness won favour and his integrity won the interest of kings. “This Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes BECAUSE AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT WAS IN HIM, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” Scripturally sound convictions, high and holy principles of living, integrity and transparent righteousness will not go unnoticed. The eyes of the King of heaven are on such people as Daniel to set them over soul-saving ministries, so that the Kingdom of God will “have no damage.”

Even earthly leaders seek such Daniels to occupy strategic positions, so that “the king should have no damage.” An excellent spirit of genuine piety, a clear conscience in all actions relating to God and man, made Daniel the man of uncompromising integrity that he was. The spirit, not the flesh; godly behaviour, not godly beauty, is the principal thing. Daniel’s clarity of purpose, commitment to purity, constancy in prayer, courage during persecution and contentment without pretence set him apart as a unique man, whose only reason for living is seeking God’s glory.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 6:1-10; Daniel 6:1-3; Exodus 18:19-23; Daniel 5:12-14; Psalm 101:2-7; Acts 6:3-8; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2;2 Timothy 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Daniel 2:48; Psalm 75:4-7.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/how-to-persevere-under-trial-part-1/

How To Persevere Under Trial – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
31 May 2020 | 4:28 am

The Power of God’s transforming grace revealed itself in the virtuous character of Daniel. “He was faithful.” His faithfulness attracted the favour of God and the commendation of the king. But this same faithfulness was construed as a crime by his envious colleagues. Envy will paint a saint as a sinner or regard the righteous as a rebel. Daniel was faithful to his God and faithful to the king. “Neither was there any error or fault found in him.” That was a great testimony to the uprightness of his character. “Concerning the kingdom” or “Concerning the law of his God” his life and actions were above reproach.

Yet they “sought to find occasion against Daniel.” Why? The king was planning to promote him above the presidents. They sought to discredit him and destroy his character, so that they would bring him to a state of disgrace and degradation. He who God favours the world frowns at. The promotion of the righteous excites the envy of unrighteous men. Base and envious men always seek the ruin of good and righteous men. The observation of these most determined enemies of Daniel is the highest testimony to his godly character. “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

They conceived an evil plot through which they intended to destroy Daniel. They flattered the king and exalted him to the position of a god for thirty days. For a period of thirty days, all requests would be directed to the king. Daniel was not consulted about this decree, yet they said, “all the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes… have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree.” Flattery blinded the king’s eyes. Daniel was not there, but the king could not think clearly after hearing that he would be treated like a god for one month.

There is a great deal of evil in the decree. If a child wanted bread, he could not ask the parents or he would be cast into the lions’ den! “Whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” If anyone needed divine help, which could not be rendered by the king, he must not pray to God, otherwise he would be cast into the den of lions. It was an unrighteous law, a satanic statute, a wicked ordinance and a despotic decree. Men in responsible positions should well consider the consequences of a proposed law or edict before they give their consent or assent to it.

Daniel’s life of devotion was marked with conviction, consecration, communion, courage and consistency. Kings rise and fall, persecution arises or peace returns, danger is imminent or deliverance is ascertained, the king thinks favourably toward him or the presidents are furious against him, promotion in the king’s palace is awaiting him or violent death in the lions’ den is to be his portion. Only one thing can possibly be his choice – devotion to God, “as he did aforetime.” “When Daniel knew that the writing was signed,” he made no change in his habits of communion and worship of God on account of the decree.

Daniel had a holy contempt for the unrighteous, God-dishonouring decree and he maintained his holy concern for God’s glory. He knew his God and his first and constant commitment was to honour and glorify Him, whatever the reaction of the world would be. Daniel’s action shows that he would not consent to the wicked decree. Neither because of fear nor desire to please man would he consent to anything contrary to God’s glory. When the honour of God is at stake, we must not conceal our Christian conviction, but boldly and faithfully act and live to please God, even at the hazard to our lives.

Further Reading (King James Version): Daniel 6:1-10; Daniel 6:4-9; Psalm 37:12,13, 32-37; Jeremiah 18:18; 20:10,11; Proverbs 27:4; Isaiah 10:1; 26:11; Titus 2:7,8; 1 Peter 2:9-12; 3:15,16; Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:17; Colossians 4:2-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18; Psalms 112:7,8; 119:51,69,83-87, 109,110,112,141,143,157,161; Matthew 10:22; 24:12,13; Acts 20:24; Revelation 2:25,26.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/how-to-persevere-under-trial-part-2/

Little Things That Kill – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
07 June 2020 | 4:11 am

The Bible talks a lot about little things, many of them with great consequences. We have all heard of the little leaven that leavens the whole lump. Twice, Daniel speaks of the ‘‘little horn’’ (Daniel 7:8; 8:9). Now, we know what great influence that little horn (the Antichrist) is going to have on world history and the destiny of man generally.

We speak here of three little things – little foxes, little follies, little fire. All three have one thing in common: their potency to affect the eternal destiny of man lies in their size. They are all little things and so ubiquitous that they can crawl in imperceptibly. It is the little things that injure man the most. As it is in the physical, so it is in the spiritual life. The things that destroy vital spiritual fibre are the little, little things we allow to work in our lives. And these are the things the Spirit of God is warning all believers about. Along with warning on each of these little evils, the Lord gives us guidance on how to handle each of them.

The foxes never go out alone to seek its food, but always in companies of forty or fifty together. They do not go out for their food in the daytime, but wait until it begins to be dark. They eat plants of different kinds; sometimes roots, and at other times fruits. This is the message of our text, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.”

First, the “little foxes” refer to whatever we permit to eat off the roots of grace and the fruits of the Spirit from our lives. These things enter into our lives slowly. “Our vines have tender grapes.” Secondly, the “little foxes” are those things we permit to rob us of the tenderness of heart with which we started the Christian race (Hebrews 3:12-15). They include:

• Little unconfessed sins, or delay in making restitutions
• Little resistance to divine rebuke
• A little root of bitterness that troubles the heart (Hebrews 12: 15)
• A little carnality that leads to eventual backsliding (1 Kings 11:1-10)
• A little fleshly lust that leads to fornication and adultery (1 Peter 2:11)
• Little false doctrine or false teaching, leading to outright heresy (Ezekiel 13:3,4)
• A little worldly association (Hosea 7:8-11)
• A little ill-temper that leads to hatred and murder
• A little covetousness that leads to stealing
• A little self-conceit that leads to arrogance and pride
• Little prayerlessness, leading to self-management and spiritual blindness.

The counsel of the scripture is to “take off, ” remove, separate, flee from the little foxes that destroy the vine. How can this be done? We should carry out a regular character examination on ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28,31; 2 Corinthians 13:5). We should ensure that we have a regular quiet time (Psalms 5:1–3; 119:105). At the slightest prompting, we should quickly yield to the faithful, but gentle warning of the Holy Spirit, especially when we are becoming careless or carefree, when we are letting our guards down, and trifle with things that we are warned against in the scripture. We should also deliberately make ourselves accountable to a spiritual mentor (Luke 22:31,32). At all times, we must be sober, vigilant and prayerful (1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 26:41). We must also ever become self confident, but ensure that we make regular use of the means of grace, which the Lord has provided for all His children. (2 Peter 3:18).

Further Reading (King James Version): Song of Solomon 2:15; Ecclesiastes 10:1; James 3:5; Song of Solomon 2:13,15; 1 Corinthians 5:6; Hebrews 12:14-17 with Genesis 25:29-34; 1 Peter 2:11; Ephesians 5:3-5; Proverbs 10:19; Hosea 7:8-11; Ezekiel 13:3,4.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ibru-ecumenical-centre/little-things-that-kill-part-1/

First, the “little foxes” refer to whatever we permit to eat off the roots of grace and the fruits of the Spirit from our lives. These things enter into our lives slowly. “Our vines have tender grapes.”

Little Things That Kill – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
14 June 2020 | 2:59 am

“A Litlle folly,” a “little” sin, seemingly harmless, not exactly damning, but it is the beginning of damning iniquity. Slothfulness, ease and recreation might not have been damning for David but see what it did to him at last! Little sins make way for great ones. So it has always been. Little sins are as destructive as a little termite that enters the furniture and nobody seems to care. They are as potentially dangerous as a spark carelessly dropped by a lone man on the field.

Little sins sometimes act as burglars do: they take along a little boy who enters the house through a window that is so small it would not admit them in. Then he goes in and opens the door. Fear sin, no matter how small, fear it.

The smallest sin has ten thousand mischiefs sleeping within its bowels. Ask David who, in a mindless moment of ease, at a time the nation was fighting a war, ended up committing adultery and murdering the husband of his sin partner. Ask Achan, who fought gallantly with the army of Israel, recorded a great victory, but was captivated by the beauty of a little Babylonian garment (which he would never wear) and some pieces of money (which he would not be able to spend openly), and turned into a thief whose conduct became a hindrance to the entire nation of Israel.

‘‘A little folly’’ sometimes also refers to a weak or absurd act not highly criminal. It must be an act, which is inconsistent with the dictates of reason, or with the ordinary rule of prudence. It is the act of yours, which embarrasses those who believe in you. It is the careless act, the little indiscretion. And it springs out of a failure to heed the counsel of Scripture to ‘‘Abstain from all appearance of evil’’. Beware of unadvised living on borrowings, an unwise utterance that ruins family or even church harmony (Proverbs 17:28), an unwise but well-intentioned charity that throws a pastor open to suspicion among his church members.

Used very well, fire is a wonderful thing: it warms, cooks incinerates. A little misuse and it becomes a nasty destroyer: it burns, consumes, kills. So is the human tongue. It has great potentials both for good and for evil. Misuse of the tongue in gossiping, backbiting, evil speaking, falsehood, murmuring, has destroyed many relationships.

There is actually a strong connection between the measure of grace dwelling in the heart and the quality of words flowing out of the mouth. Therefore, the tongue of sinners come in various evil forms: They could be flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9), cursing tongue (Psalm 10:7), proud tongue (Psalm 12:3), deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2,3), backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23), sharp tongue (Proverbs 12:18), lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16,17), perverse tongue (Isaiah 59:3) ‘‘What shall be given unto thee? Or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?”

• Bridle it (Psalm 39:1)
• Keep it, that is, discipline it (1 Peter 3:10)
• Submit it to the control of the Holy Spirit {James 3:8}
• Pray on it (Psalm 141:3).

Further Reading (King James Version): Song of Solomon 2:15; Ecclesiastes 10:1; James 3:5; Ecclesiastes 10:1,3,12-14; 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Samuel 11:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Galatians 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 8:19-21; 2 Chronicles 19:2,3; Romans 14:16; Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:11-14; James 3:1-6; 1:19,26; 2 Samuel 10:1-7; Proverbs 18:21; Jeremiah 9:3-8; Psalms 39:1; 141:3; 1 Peter 3:10-12.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ibru-ecumenical-centre/little-things-that-kill-part-2/

The Christian In Civil Society – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
21 June 2020 | 12:29 am

Like every other faithful minister of the gospel, Peter was concerned about the believers’ Christian life. Practical Christian living is as important as the sound doctrine taught in God’s Word. The undeniable evidence that we believe sound doctrine is that we live in conformity to God’s Word. In these verses, Peter instructs believers on their responsibilities as sojourners on earth, as citizens in a nation and as servants working under some masters. He speaks on the believer’s spiritual inner life, his submission to constituted authority in the society and his service, as he earns his living in a legitimate way.

If people around us are to be drawn to the Lord, we must let the light of the gospel shine through us. An unbelieving writer once challenged Christians, saying, ‘show me your redeemed life, then I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.’ Sinners do not understand the gospel; our lives can be the means of seeing the gospel clearly, thereby being drawn to desire genuine salvation. If they do not see any difference between our so-called new life and their conduct, they will not be drawn to the Saviour to be born again.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims.” Christians are not properly citizens of this world, as our citizenship is in heaven. Partakers of the riches of heaven, we are pilgrims on earth. Being sons of the King of heaven, we are strangers here. We are foreigners here on earth and our heart and affection should be on our eternal home. We have no permanent home on earth, we are mere sojourners and we are travelling to our eternal home in heaven. We should not be so attached to anything on earth that we would lose the desire to go to heaven.

We are called to separation. “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). We must not, we cannot be entangled or encumbered with this world’s affairs, which draw souls away from God. A traveller takes along as few things as possible, so that he can make rapid progress in his journey to his final home. “Fleshly lusts,” carnal appetites, sinful passions and desires, sins and works of the flesh, sensual indulgence and pleasures war against the soul, defeat and deaden the soul, defile and disqualify us from reaching the Promised Land. The world is given to the flesh and its pleasures, but Christians must abstain and flee from anything that blunts the moral sense, pollutes the memory, defiles the imagination, weakens the conscience and hardens the heart. The world is dirty, but we must remain clean, different and separate.

“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles.” The word “conversation” means (in the original) conduct, character, way of living, manner of life. The original word for “honest” means good, lovely, winsome. The Christian, by his life, is to advertise and commend Christ to the world around him. We are to live upright and consistent lives, let our light so shine that unbelievers will glorify our heavenly Father and be willing to receive Christ as their Saviour. They may “speak against us as evildoers,” but our “good works” and righteous lives should be radiant enough to put our critics to silence. The world is watching the way we live out our new life in Christ.

The Spirit of God can use our honest, upright lifestyle to convict sinners and make them “glorify God in the day of visitation” – either in the day, when God visits them to call them to salvation, or in the day when God visits them to bring them to judgment; and they will have no excuse.

Further Reading (King James Version) 1 Peter 2:11-20; 1 Peter 2:11,12; 1:1,17; Psalm 119:19,54; 2 Timothy 2:22; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21,24; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 4:8; Matthew 5:16.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ibru-ecumenical-centre/the-christian-in-civil-society-part-1/

"Practical Christian living is as important as the sound doctrine taught in God’s Word. The undeniable evidence that we believe sound doctrine is that we live in conformity to God’s Word."

The Christian In Civil Society – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
28 June 2020 | 4:10 am

The Christian cannot be lawless, under the pretext that he is not a full citizen of the kingdom of this world. A foreigner living in a country still has to be law-abiding. God’s Word consistently commands us to “submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: to the king, … unto governors, … for so is the will of God” (1 Peter 2:13-15). There must be subjection to civil authority, so that there will be orderliness and security in the society, and so that society itself will be preserved.

Our submission is “for the Lord’s sake” and it is “the will of God.” God Himself instituted governance, so that there will be no anarchy in the society. Civil authorities “are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of them that do well” (1 Peter 2:14). As long as the human authority does not ask us to do anything contrary to God’s law, we must obey. Our upright, righteous lives and submission to the laws of the government will “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men,” will silence mischievous men, who falsely accuse us of being insubordinate and opposed to the government.

“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). Though the Son of God has set us free from sin, our freedom or liberty is not to be used as excuse or covering for lawlessness. We are free to be righteous, not to be rebellious. As the servants of God, we are not free from His restraints. We are not at liberty to indulge in sinful pleasures and practices, but we are to serve God in faithful obedience to His commandments. We are to “honour all men,” “love” the brethren, “fear God” and “honour the king.”

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear.” The exhortation here is applicable to anyone employed in the home, in an office or in any establishment. Servants or employees are to perform their duties in all honesty and faithfulness as Christians. They are to work faithfully under the working conditions with Christian meekness. “Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” Whatever the spiritual condition of the master or the boss, the servant or the employee is to show honour and respect to him and do his work as unto the Lord.

“For this is thank-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” Christians are called to live and work in peace, because the Prince of Peace lives within us. Even if we have to “endure grief, suffering wrongfully” under our employers, we are to be conscientious, hard working, honest and Christ-like in all things related to our duty. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?” Sinners react negatively to corrections and rebukes when they do wrong. Believers are to take rebukes and “buffeting” graciously and with a meek spirit, when they know that they are at fault.

“But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 Peter 2:20). We may sometimes be blamed for the faults of others by our employers. Or we may erroneously be accused of doing wrong, when we have done well with the best intentions. We are to take all rebukes, justified or misplaced, patiently and in the spirit of meekness. That Christian attitude makes our service acceptable in the sight of God.

Further Reading (King James Version) 1 Peter 2:11-20; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; Matthew 22:17-21; Titus 2:7,8; Romans 12:10; John 13:34,35; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Proverbs 24:21; 1 Peter 2:18-20; Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:22-25; Titus 2:9,10; 1 Peter 3:14-16; 4:14-16.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ibru-ecumenical-centre/the-christian-in-civil-society-part-2/

Man’s Greatest Need – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
05 July 2020 | 2:59 am

The greatest desire of those that gathered around Jesus in Israel, and those who troop to church today, is to be happy. The Lord Jesus Christ knew this. He knows all things, even the thoughts and desires of the hearts of men. He knows that happiness is man’s life long pursuit. Surveys have been conducted over and over again to ascertain what people need most out of life.

The findings of such surveys have confirmed that the bottom-line of man’s need is happiness. This is true all over the world. People commit suicide because they are unhappy. Nobody becomes a psychiatry case because he is so happy. People are in depression because happiness is elusive. Jesus, therefore, knowing what the people lacked, told them, “Blessed [happy] are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Man was created in God’s image, with the nature of holiness and righteousness (Psalm 17:15). Any departure from the original creation will make him incomplete, unfulfilled and unhappy. It is like removing fish or other creatures from their natural habitat; they cannot survive there. Jesus knew that His audience was not happy because they had been removed from the original habitat of righteousness, where they had been created. For you to be happy, you have to thirst and hunger after God’s righteousness and then the blessedness of being filled with God’s righteousness will be yours.

People work from dawn to dusk because they want to draw a salary to satisfy their hunger and thirst. The life of a human being, in whatever occupation, profession or place, is to satisfy hunger and thirst. Our relationship and fellowship with God are to satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst. Once we lose this focus, there is no point in wasting time. We attend retreats, church activities, study the Bible, pray and do other things, so that we may learn spiritual things to satisfy the spiritual hunger in our lives and that of other people.

Just as people sell what they have to satisfy their hunger, so Paul, wanting to satisfy his spiritual hunger, disposed of things that were gainful to him in order to gain “the righteousness which is of God by faith.” There were hunger and thirst in his inner being. However, unlike Paul, many people do not dispose of the things that compete with the essential things in their lives. They did not dispose of their self-righteousness, so as to get the righteousness of God. This was why Paul pitied them. Like the Jews, there are many people today, who, though are hungry for God, have been feeding on the wrong kind of food that does not give the righteousness of God. These people think that righteousness must be worked out by their human power. Isaiah had told them many years earlier that in the presence of God, such “righteousness is as filthy rags” because it is not based on the blood of Jesus nor did they trust on the atonement of the blood. Such filthy rags or mere outward righteousness that does not have inward cleansing usually attracts the displeasure of God. What attracts God’s blessing is the righteousness of the heart that occurs, when you believe on the Lord and passionately desire it.

This hunger and thirst in the soul after the image of God are the strongest of all spiritual appetites. It swallows up all the other desires of the heart. Such hunger and thirst become more craving, more importunate until they are satisfied. There cannot be any substitute that will satisfy the soul that truly seeks after righteousness. It will find no comfort or satisfaction in anything else, only in the righteousness that comes from the heart of God to the heart of man.

Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 5:6; Philippians 3:7-10; Romans 10:3,8-10; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 5:20; Luke 16:15; 18:9; Matthew 23:25,28; Romans 3:24; 5:17-21.

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/mans-greatest-need-part-1/

Jesus is greater

Follow in Christ's footsteps.

Man’s Greatest Need – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
12 July 2020 | 3:33 am

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness…”

Hunger and thirst implies asking and praying for righteousness. Hunger makes us to ask for food in the natural. So also, spiritual hunger makes a believer to pray so as to be filled and satisfied with righteousness. Spiritual hunger will always make you to ask and seek the Lord.

Spiritual thirst and hunger drives a true believer to make necessary preparations, so as to be filled and satisfied. He goes into his closet to purge himself from stains as a requirement for receiving God’s righteousness. He first flees and separates himself from things that defile. Then, he follows after righteousness. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:21,22).

Seeking righteousness is by importunate prayer of faith. Following after righteousness also requires commitment and consecration from the believer. These virtues will make the Christian obey God’s instruction to “…flee these things [destructive and defiling things]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Believers must pray for righteousness with focus, fervency and faith, because it is the most indispensable virtue in the life of a child of God.

There have been people who possessed righteousness. If you meet an expert and he tells with facts that you cannot find anybody that has got what you are seeking, you are likely to get discouraged and stop seeking. But if on the other hand, you find those that have lesser privileges and exposure than you who have got it, you will keep seeking. That is why it is important to know about those that have received the righteousness of God. Some saints who have gone before us have had the experience. This knowledge will stir up faith in us to seek God for it. Besides, Jesus never tells any man to seek what he will never get. He knows you will get it. He says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Many years after their death, Noah, Daniel and Job were confirmed possessors of true righteousness of God. Like these people had it, you will have it and live it out everywhere you are. Not only your friends, but also relations, spouse and members of your church will recognise your righteousness. Even your enemies will also be able to confirm it. You can be filled with righteousness now, if you pray to God for it.

Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 5:6; Jeremiah 29:13,12; Zephaniah 2:3; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; Matthew 6:33; 7:7,8; Luke 11:5-10; Psalm 51:6-10; Hosea 10:12; Matthew 5:6; Ezekiel 14:14,20; Daniel 6:1-6,10-23; Psalm 106:28-31; Luke 1:5,6,67-75; Mark 6:20; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-10; Romans 6:17,18; 1 John 3:5-10.

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Believers are fearless.

Shun Hypocrisy – Part 1
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
19 July 2020 | 4:15 am

This Hypocrisy, or pretending to be what you are not, is offensive to God. And yet, this is what many people practise today. It was the same thing during the public ministry of Jesus Christ in Israel. And He minced no words in warning the people: “That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). He similarly corrected the false interpretation of true righteousness.

He also revealed the righteousness of the heart, obtained by faith in Christ, necessary for the citizens of the Kingdom. In this continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ exposes the false practice of self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, and teaches us the true righteousness that pleases God, our heavenly Father.

True righteousness, the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, aims at doing all things only for the glory of God. The desire of the righteous is not to seek men’s praise or to please and exalt self. His desire is to please God and glorify Him in all things. Such acts of righteousness that begin and end with God in view will be rewarded by Him.

The whole chapter calls us to fix our hearts and eyes on our Heavenly Father (6:1,4,6,8,9,18,24,26,32,33). The natural man desires the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43; 5:44), but the righteous seeks only the praise of God (Romans 2:29; 2 Corinthians 10:18).

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, TO BE SEEN OF THEM.” Here, the Lord cautions us and condemns doing any act of righteousness with the motive or desire to be seen and praised by them. Merely being seen by men is not what He condemns, but doing any good thing mainly and deliberately to be recognised by men, to be praised by men, to draw attention to ourselves. Some good deeds cannot be hidden, but they are still recognised and will be rewarded by God, if the motive is only to glorify God (Acts 9:36-39; 10:1-4; 1 Timothy 5:9,10; Galatians 2:10; Acts 20:34,35; 24:16,17; Matthew 26:6-13).

There is no reward from God for those who seek the praise and recognition of men. God knows all things. He does not only see men’s actions, He also sees the motives and the desires too. “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 4:13). We cannot judge others (1 Corinthians 4:5). We can only judge and examine our own hearts to make sure that our motives and desires are right and acceptable before God.

Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 6:1-4. Matthew 6:1,5,16; 23:5,13-15,25-28; Luke 12:1; 16:15; 2 Kings 10:16,31; John 12:43; Acts 5:1-11; Isaiah 29:13,14; Mark 7:6-9.

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Book of life

Shun Hypocrisy – Part 2
By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
26 July 2020 | 3:17 am

Hypocrisy stains corrupts and destroys every good thing it touches. Hypocrisy turns almsgiving, praying, fasting, good works, love, righteousness, holiness, zeal and consecration into filthy rags.

Judas Iscariot was the greatest hypocrite of all times. He pretended to care for the poor, but his heart was not right with Christ (John 12:3-8; 13:27-29). Absalom was also a great hypocrite, who professed much devotion to God, while there was unprecedented wickedness in his heart (2 Samuel 15:1-11). Both Absalom and Judas Iscariot had outward expressions of being good, kind and nice, and those around them did not suspect that they were hypocritical. But now, their condemnation is known to the whole world and their damnation continues till eternity.

There were hypocrites in the Old Testament and there were hypocrites in the New Testament. There were hypocrites in Israel and there were hypocrites in the early church (Acts 5:1-11). There will be hypocrites in the church “in the latter times” (1 Timothy 4:1,2). Hypocrites are compared to leaven (Luke 12:1), to whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27) and to tares amidst wheat (Matthew 13:25), which will be cast into the fire at the time of the final judgment (Matthew 13:40-42).

“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” The expression signifies that our good deeds or almsgiving should be done as secretly as possible. This does not imply that husbands and wives should hide their acts of benevolence from each other (See 2 Kings 4:8-11; Romans 14:15-19). “Let not then your good be evil spoken of.” “That thine alms may be in secret” means that you are not giving to be seen of men, to gain the praise of men, to buy favour from men or to attract attention to yourself.

“And thy Father, which seeth in secret, Himself shall reward thee openly.” There is a definite reward in this world, here on earth, and there will be a sure reward after this life, in heaven. “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17). Also “thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:13,14). God has promised to reward those who help others with truly compassionate hearts and unselfish motives. He will not fail; He is always faithful.

Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 6:1-4. Matthew 6:2; Numbers 10:1-4; Proverbs 20:6; Philippians 2:21; Job 8:13-15; 27:8-10; Matthew 23:5,28,33; 1 Corinthians 13:3; 1 Peter 2:1-3. Matthew 6:3,4; Colossians 3:23,24; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:1-9; Psalms 112:1-9; 37:21,29-33,39,40; Isaiah 3:10; Luke 14:12-14; Matthew 25:31-46.

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