Let the Dead bury their Dead

 

In Matthew chapter 8, Jesus Himself did majorly two things – He first ministered to God and He then ministered to the people. The first verse in that Matthew chapter 8 said “then he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.” But in our day and time, there is a triviality in our own as against the template the One Who is the author and the finisher of our faith. We will rather minister to the people first and thereafter minister unto God. Or probably just ministering to the people without ministering to the Lord at all.

Meanwhile in Acts 13: 1&2, it says “now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” This scripture made us understand that it was as they ministered to the Lord that the Lord spoke on how the work should be done. I’m only saying this so that we can fully understand the essence of ministering to the Lord before ministering to the people.

It must be clearly understood that the former before the latter is intentional. The former enables, directs and empowers on how, where, when and to what extent will the latter be done. Having the latter ones former or rather not having the actual former in plan will result in underperformance and an unacceptable deeds. More so, it must be said that ministering to the Lord is receiving life and all other spiritual blessings from the our Source. It is in the fellowship with our Source that the precise words to say will be given. Without having to constantly receive from the Lord, especially before ministering to the people is a sign of self-sufficient and independence. I just have explain all these before going to what focal scripture.

I’m sure you remember John 5:19 that says “then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” This scripture in itself explains all that has been said previously.

Now to our focal scripture, Matthew 8:21-22 that says “and another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” The very first thing that must be said and established is that all that Jesus said and did were deliberate. I was wondering why Jesus said unto the centurion (a commander over a hundred soldiers) – “I will come and heal him.” I later realized that Jesus wanted the level of faith in the man to be made known unto the people around. He was probably the first person in the book of Matthew to believe in long distance prayer, I guess.

Pardon me for diverting a little bit from the focal scripture. Now we will look into it carefully. What brought about that phrase was that one of Jesus’ disciples came to him supposedly professing to have made of his mind to TOTALLY follow him henceforth. But Jesus knew the state of his heart, He said to him to “follow Him; and let the dead bury their dead.”

Our focus on this phrase is particularly in its meaning and the implications of making this kind of statement. The spiritual meaning of this phrase is that that particular disciple of Jesus had access to life or probably already have life but wants to do a thing that is potent enough to make him lose the life he has or can access to. I’m not saying that having a very funeral ceremony for ones bereaved older person (s). Even Joseph had a befitting funeral ceremony for Jacob his father. We should celebrate our bereaved older person(s) much as we can. But considering the contextual emphasis of this text, he wants something entirely physical to disrupt the continuous flow or access of life.

The implications of adhering to this kind of statement is that the continuous flow of life pauses or even stops. Such a person will be disconnected from God, the Source of all things. Another implication is that such a person will completely lack the present revelation position of what God is saying at the moment. There could be certain circumstances that will require us to decide whether to cling unto life and things of its nature or things that either kill the life received or even repels one from things that have life in themselves.

Shalom!

The Circumspection Walk for Believers

There is JUST that right way to walk.

Of course, there are many more ways to walk.

Believers walk with precision, not presumptuously.

The 'how' determines the category.

Either as fools or as wise.

And the other 'how' and 'why' answers to its methodology and result.

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Time redemption is to 'buy up time.'

How?, by being filled with the Holy Spirit.

A circumspection walk is quite demanding.

Not the walk in the order of drunkards.

Nor of those ignorant of what the will of the Lord is.

Circumspection walk requires submitting one to another in the fear of God.

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Acceptable and Holistic Approach to God

His mercy and grace have we been able to come boldly.

Solely on the basis of the blood of the Lamb- Jesus Christ.

We are then privileged to call Him “Abba, Father.”

The bible revealed more names in His diverse manifestation.

In the likes of- counsellor, healer, wonderful and a host of others.

Just as a biological father is approached with respect to what he’s known for.

In like manner, this explains in relation to our Heavenly Father.

But our first approach to Him must be as our Lord and God.

You remember the tone of God while going the ten commandments?

It strongly says “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

The moment we override and/or overemphasize an approach of God over another/others, profanity or blasphemy takes place.

Haven’t you noticed that some people don’t reverence God in an area or another?

They’ve probably limited their sight in seeing Jesus as ‘the son of a carpenter.’

Forgetting that He transformed before selected disciples on the mount of transfiguration.

Neither did they remember that He was the same Person the writer of Revelation described His awesomeness as much as he could.

Such that he fell as a dead man before Him.

Jesus as three forms contextually.

Revelation 19:13 to 16 captures it all.

First, He’s known as THE WORD OF GOD.

Then “the Word was made FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

And the last form for context purpose is the JUDGE OF ALL THINGS and/or KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.

Psalms 138:2 establishes that “…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

How then did God the Father magnified His word above His name?

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”

We must not forget Psalms 24- clean hands and a pure heart. 

We must invariably approach God has who He is and not as our own limited and/or restricted view point(s).

In all things, remember “GOD IS WHO HE HIS.”

He tells us who He is, we don’t define who He is nor who we want Him to be.

Lest we blasphemy His holy name and glorious nature.

Shalom!

The Prerequisite of Walking in the Way

Way contextually talks about the UNIQUE  and PECULIAR features or methodology attributed to a particular thing.

One can be in the way (Jesus) but not adhering to His ways.

Likewise, one can be in the other way yet cleaving to the dictate of Jesus.

Both are considered inappropriate; therefore, unacceptable.

Path A spells it out that it strictly adheres to methodology 1.

Path B openly proclaim to uphold methodology 2.

Mixing or intertwine of either the paths or the methodologies makes each and both mediocre, inappropriate and unacceptable.

Christians have come up with STRANGE identities.

Identities that aren’t after nor in the express image of the Father, Jesus Christ.

Hybrid specie or tribe whose classification is not of the twelve. 

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us…

They would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Way from the above statement means ACCESS.

Truth from the above statement means the METHODOLOGY.

While life implies RELEVANCE, IMPACT and ESSENSE.

One cannot decide to access the Father without using the mandatory methodology- truth.

“The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

Jesus said but by me; meaning His terms.

We don’t decide the terms and conditions, the way- Jesus Christ does.

We simply strictly obey and adhere to His percepts. 

There are certain world standard doors that have their respective way of unlocking and accessing it.

Else, no way forward.

“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Let’s all check out the way (methodology) and the way (path in which we trend).

Shalom!

An Exegesis on Matthew 24:12

Matthew 24:12 says that “and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

If you’ve taken out time to patiently read and meditate the whole of Matthew 24, you will realize that there aren’t any good news in it. But the peculiarity of the chapter of this book is that it centers on the happenings in these last days. This chapter has its witnesses from other books of the bible like Joel(2), Isaiah(60), Revelation, I Timothy and II Timothy and others. 

Our focus of discussion isn’t the whole of Matthew 24 but verse 12. Although it is doctrinally unacceptable to seclude a verse from previous or next few verses for “isolated” interpretation or meaning. We will try as much as possible to make very few references to previous or verses after or even references from other books of the bible. Carefully look at verses 10, 11 and 12, these three verses starts with the word “and.” 

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

That is to say that the beginning of these three verses (10, 11 and, 12) especially is at least from verse 8 or 9 which says  “8 all these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”  Just as verses before verse 8 meant the all these in verse 8, likewise is verse 9 downwards a revelation of the second phase of what to expect before Jesus’ appearance in the sky. 

Verses 9 to 12 told us what to expect in its full strength. They are afflictions, killings, hatred, offences, betrayal, increase in the number of false prophets, deception, increase in iniquity and lately, adverse effect on ones love.  Almost all these 9 influencers in the last days are unutterable except for the last one. The first seven influencers are very certain and unchangeable simply because they were in days of Jesus and His disciples/apostles. 

What I meant by being certain is that they cannot be stopped or changed. They will happen as prophesied, but the last influencers can be changed or otherwise. There are six determinants to how ones love will be. There are 3 positive and 3 negative determinants. The 3 positive determinants are: conviction, commitment and contention. While the 3 negative determinants are: compromise, complacency and convenience.  Each group of three determinants whether in the positive or negative side work hand in hand. 

Let’s examine the positive determinants first, thereafter we will look into the negative determinants. The leading determinant among these three positive determinants is conviction while the other two determinants follow suit. As conviction leads, to contend wouldn’t be a problem neither will commitment be unattainable. It’s those that don’t have a conviction primarily that will either struggle or their love for God is zero. 

Convenience leads the other 3 negative determinants. It is when one is at ease that the other two negative determinants express themselves effortlessly. A Christian that does his responsibilities when he’s at ease, certainly, the quality of what is done will reduce with time. The dangerous thing about convenience is that the activities will still be evident but the quality of what should be done will deteriorate gradually until nothing is left. 

In conclusion, let’s ensure we are on the positive determinants side and we can do this by taking hold on God’s helping grace for those of us whose love is already cold. Then, we push through with the help we’ve received. The Lord will help us to make our love for Him relevant in Jesus name, amen.

Shalom!!!!

Wishes, Ditches and Riches

Wishes are totally free.

Ditches are undesirable and probably consequential.

Riches are desirable but demanding.

Men will rather choose two of these three- riches and wishes.

Who then wants or has ever imagined falling into a ditch?

Though ditches aren’t pleasant, are they without purpose?

Job(a bible character) had riches.

He made so many wishes.

But fell into his own ditch.

Job uttered statements of wishes like “may”, “why” and “Oh.”

Words like “touch”, “strike”, “potsherd”, “scrape”- are all pointers to Job’s predicament.

“For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me.”

“And what I dreaded has happened to me.”

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;”

“I have no rest, for trouble comes.”

Take it or leave it- ditches are purposeful and necessary.

Haven’t you ask yourself this question?

Why should Jesus learn obedience by the things He suffered!

That implies that there is positivity in every negativity.

Despise your ditches and forget about its glory.

Embrace your ditches and in the right time, its glory will show forth.

Joseph accepted and embrace his.

Other patriarchs took theirs upon themselves.

So why won’t you?

Accept your ditch(es), stop making wishes and you will enjoy its riches.

Shalom!

Lesson Learnt From Plants

Looked closely and openheartly to see and know a great lesson from plants.

The plants were and/or are basking in the overflowing presence of light.

They supposedly look like they don’t need the life in light at maturity.

But at their tender days, their growth, life and existence solely depends on the proportion and direct of light tapped into.

If a plant were to be put in the middle of a dark room, or close to the window.

Such plant grows in the direction of (sun)light. 

They(plants) care less about the direction in which they grow.

As long as they are growing in the direction of light, satisfaction is obtained and achieved.

That’s why we see some plants bending even at full maturity.

It’s simply because without light, there is no life.

You remember John 8:12?

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The point is that we literally have so called Christians that don’t pursue and seek God’s light.

We do so many things in darkness of all shades.

Little wonder, people are not glorying our Father in heaven as before and as expected.

We constantly need to seek for God’s light, for therein lies life.

(Life) circumstances may necessitate it that one grows in a particular direction. 

What’s important is growth in the direction of light.

Of course, one can grow in the absence of light, such growth is called stunted growth.

In summary, there is life in light and there is light in life.

Jesus is both the light and the life I speak of.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Shalom!