APOCALYPSE The revelations of St. John; an exposition of the truth of God which is revealed by Christ, who Himself is the Truth. The Apocalypses goes across the entire of human experience and beyond; the revelations of events to occur at the end of time and the hope of a future salvation. It is a literature of hope and consolation. What is at present an age of suffering will be transformed into the joys of paradise; a land dominated by the devil will become a world rewarded with the Glory of God! No doubt, we are in those times that the Bible talks about! “Another horse appeared, this one red. Its rider was off to take peace from the earth, setting people at each other's throats, killing one another”... Revelations 6: 4 (THE MESSAGE). “And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River. Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth”. Revelations 9:14&15 (NLT). Research confirms that the river Euphrates flows through Iraq, which is in the Middle East. There are lots of conflicts around Iraq in these last days. No twenty-four hours go freely without the news media transmitting flashes of bombings and slaughters there. These have overtime duplicated in different regions of the world, Nigeria inclusive. These bloods will no longer be spilled when all prophesies are fulfilled. Bible Prophesies explain the accuracy of God’s message, there is guarantee that none of them is mere babble. They will no doubt manifest in reality. The Word of the Lord came to the Prophet Ezekiel: "Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision he {Ezekiel} sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future. "Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord." Ezekiel 12:27&28 (NIV) The gospel of St. Mark chapter thirteen records the prediction of Christ’s second coming- the rapture to take away true followers of God, but this will be only after the sufferings and conflicts we see in our days. Surely, no one has God’s permission to predict when exactly this phase we experience will end! Then will be the harvest of judgment- a contrast to the harvest of souls commanded by Jesus. …“The harvest is ripe and waiting... for it is full to overflowing with the wickedness of these men. For the Day of the Lord is near, in the Valley of Judgment" Joel 3:13&14 (TLB) The same three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry on earth will be duplicated by the satanic trinity- satan, the anti-Christ and the false prophet to dominate the earth and torment ‘the church’ that will be left behind unto death - this will be the great tribulation. After this will be the New Jerusalem descending from Heaven – the millennial reign. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared… I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them” Revelations 21:1-3 (NLT) Also, those who have been through the great trial and prevailed with the price of their lives will wash their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb. They will not hunger or thirst again because the Lamb will be their shepherd and guide them to the springs of life and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. “Everyone who conquers will inherit all these blessings, and I will be his God and he will be my son” Revelations 21:7 (TLB). Have you heard what The LORD has done? Who can reveal the true meaning of what God has prepared? There is none in Heaven, on earth or under the earth, worthy to reveal the true meaning of what God has prepared. Behold, The Lamb! Behold, the throne of Heaven, on it is the scroll sealed with seven seals. ONLY The Lamb on the throne of Heaven is worthy to break and open the seven seals of the scroll. The secrets of all things are protected in God’s hands; all that is to life, deliverance and breakthrough are detailed in that scroll. Because Christ lives, this beloved of God has hope for life! There is a tomorrow! Only the love of Christ, who gave His life for our REST, can stop these series of pain, worthless wages, hunger, misery and injustice- the fruits of selfishness that we experience. All evil shall be defeated forever. Death will not have the last word, for God’s victory over evil is the word of our faith! “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it… I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books… Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” Revelations 20:11-15 (NLT). Secrets will be opened; it is only you that have Jesus will your records be blank! "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book." Revelations 22:7 (TLB). Let the dew of Heaven fall upon my thirsty soul. Let the dew of Heaven fall on me. Blessed Holy Spirit, come and take control. Let the dew of Heaven fall on me … O Lamb of God! Impact these souls with your truth! …“Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”. Revelations 19:10 (ESV) ayanfeLAMPROS. NOTE: NIV (New International Version) NLT (New Living Translation) TLB (The Living Bible) ESV (English Standard Version) Phone Contacts: 0802 828 6163, 0803 5100 530.

THE ISRAEL OF GOD Funny how people; Christians especially, grab at blessings written in the Bible and are quick to reject curses marked in the same verses. Blessings and curses are an important part of Bible teachings. We need not live in a world of turmoil, but we can know the good things that God delights to give. On the other hand, evil will not go unpunished. All of God’s promises are firmly rooted in a covenant setting. Every child of God is in a state of blessedness only by a covenant relationship with The Father. What usually disrupts this status is the issue of identity. In his letter of exaltation to the Church in Rome, Apostle Paul points out, “Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people!” Romans 9:6 (NLT).Being physical descents of Abraham do not guarantee God’s blessings. No one becomes God’s children through human parentage but only by faith. God’s election is His invitation, for humans to enter His promises- He requires your response, whether you are ‘Pastor’s kid’ or not! The Jews were the most prepared than any other nation to receive Jesus Christ- they had plenty of the Torah and other religious books; they had a chain of prophets like you have Sunday services, Bible studies, Discipleship programs, prayer meetings, every emphasis is laid of this message of salvation- Of course, people fill up Churches for various reasons. It is only the chosen that are distinct. God calls us to salvation, only those that have received Jesus by faith are not part of the mixed multitude. To those who apply to God’s teaching, “Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and regulate their lives by this principle], even upon the [true] Israel of God!” Galatians 6:16 (AMP). Every physical Church has a mixed multitude- the passion with which ministers of God give God’s message is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their stubborn way to perdition. Only those that are the true Israel of God, receive as God’s manifestation of His power. Jesus is God’s Wisdom personified- a wisdom that was very different from what the philosophers of the time thought to be. Righteousness, Redemption and Holiness are definitions of what Wisdom is and the accompanying qualities. Christ embodies all three! The Israel that God is referring to as His own are those that their hearts had been a highway for the gospel of salvation; the good ground; those who hear the Word and bear good fruits of Righteousness! The faithful remnant; whether Jew or Gentile is the chosen of God to occupy and dominate this Promised Land. Same descents that were privileged of the Law at Mt. Sinai, they were called to be a blessing to all the rest of the human race and the Torah was the collection of instructions by which they would work out this calling. Those that had the guts to sing even though they were held captives in a strange land, by the rivers of Babylon, they saw their faith in the One God as that which should be propagated among other nations. Only the true Israel of God is the Church that Christ is coming for, those that will never compromise their stand on things of God, those that do not care what benefits they stand to forfeit would look eyeball to eyeball at their tempters and say NO, act it and mean it! SELAH…. Not all that ever had Abraham as their grandfather, but the true Israel of God, who will put God’s divine plan into effect. The Church of God universal are inheritors of His covenant promises, with the vocation to be a blessing to all mankind. Abraham’s true sons are not Jews who claim relationship with him, yet live by the law (for mere knowledge of the Word kills), but Christians who live by faith, those that God’s Spirit has given life. “Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham” Galatians 3:7 (AMP). …“do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ' We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham”. Matthew 3:9 (NASU). Hath thou an Israel of God? I am not contesting that you are an offspring of Abraham, neither is Moses available to go bring tablets from God. Grace has made God to write His instructions on our hearts. There is no pretense before God that you cannot tell between good and evil. “It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it”. Deuteronomy 30:12-14 (NIV) Are you an Israel of God? The Truth that you already know will set you free and will nullify those malicious facts of your life. “It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense?” 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 (THE MESSAGE) Are you an Israel of God? Whatever state you are, sing the songs of the Lord. Even while in a foreign land, Sing only the songs of Zion, do not hang your harps, never allow any form of distraction from giving God your true worship. 'The nations will realize that I, God, make Israel holy when my holy place of worship is established at the center of their lives forever.'" Ezekiel 37:28 THE MESSAGE "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT) To the twelve tribes scattered in every nation of the world: Greetings! ayanfeLAMPROS. NOTE: AMP (Amplified Bible version) NIV (New International Version) NLT (New Living Translation) TLB (The Living Bible) NASU (New American Standard Bible)

TALITHA KOUMI… Death is presumed when all signs of the natural human life have ceased to exist. Jesus rebuked the mourners in Jairus’ house - “The child is not dead but sleeps”. Death is but ‘sleep’ to the believer; for the body rests until the time of resurrection- This truth is great encouragement to all of us who have had Christian loved ones depart in physical death. Arise from the sleep of death! When the Master of life gives forth a verdict for life, there is nothing the recipient of the message can do but to comply! And having laid hold of the hand of the child, he says to her: Talitha Koumi (Mark 5: 41); which is interpreted, Damsel, I say to thee, arise. It was easier for Jairus to trust God while his daughter was still alive, and whilst Jesus was still walking with him to his house. But Jairus was just about to lose his faith when Jesus stopped to heal the woman with the blood issue, and someone from his house came with the bad news of his daughter’s death. Fear is an enemy of our Faith in God. What we experience is beyond our understanding but long as we trust Him, The Lord “delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken” Psalms 34:19-20 (NIV). The presence of mourners in Jairus’ home is proof that the girl was actually dead, for the family would not have called them if there had been even the slightest hope that she was still alive; the professional Jewish mourners were always summoned when a death occurred. It was traditional for them to wail loudly and lead the family and friends in a dirge. We have probably given way to doubts when circumstances overwhelmed us. Sometimes God has delayed and we have wondered why. "The child is not dead but sleeps!" were Jesus' Words of hope to Jairus and his wife. Now, we need that special "Word" from God; we only receive it as we spend time in His Word. Unbelief laughs at God's Word, but faith lays hold of it and experiences His power. The Word of love and power- Talitha Koumi! Jesus added, "I say unto thee". It was by His authority that her spirit returned to her body. Jesus holds authority over all conditions of life that threaten peace! The girl not only came back to life, but was also healed of her sickness, for she was able to get out of bed and walk around. God is the conqueror over danger, demons, diseases and death. This illustrates and assures us that He is able to help us today. This does not mean that God always must rescue His people from danger or heal every affliction but it does mean that He holds the ultimate authority and that we need never fear. God seeks to re-establish a covenant relationship with Nigeria, the reason that He has led us to this point in history again. We remember our independence, same time that our amalgamation as a nation was initiated 52 years ago! This valley of Achor, of troubles, death, scarcity and travails will hence become our door of hope (Hosea 2:15)! Nigeria will be utterly transformed; even our nature will work agreeably. "On THIS DAY, I will answer your prayers," declares the Lord. "I will speak to the sky, it will speak to the earth, and the earth will produce grain, new wine, and olive oil. You will produce many crops, (Nigeria)”. Hosea 2:21 &22 (GOD'S WORD). The light that God has graciously given to her will blend with His Glory to form a light that will banish the entire stigma that the world has known Nigeria with. God will cleanse her of the reproach of corruption, terrorism and all these stains from hell! With the blood of Jesus, this beloved will be given a brand new slate. But "Come, let's talk this over!" says the Lord; "no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!” Isaiah 1:18 (TLB). God’s promise results into prosperity, peaceful faithfulness to God and His absolute defense. Like the Heavenly Jerusalem, God will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, lay your foundations with sapphires, construct your towers with rubies, your gates with jewels, and all your walls with precious stones (Isaiah 54: 11-12). O (Nigeria), you suffering, helpless city, with no one to comfort you, “All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings”. Psalms 36:7 (NLT). Nigeria, "ARISE, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you” Isaiah 60:1 (TLB). Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded her helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for her deliverance! Beloved, ARISE from this sleep of death! ARISE from the depression that circumstances have kept you! Be radiant, for your light has come, God’s Glory rises upon you! Jesus is saying to you in your language: Tashi ka haska! Dide tan imole! Bilie Chakee! Talitha koumi! ayanfeLAMPROS. NOTE: AMP (Amplified Bible version) NIV (New International Version) NLT (New Living Translation) TLB (The Living Bible)

The Comforter Then came that spectacular moment at the River Jordan, when Jesus, coming up out of the baptismal waters, looked up and saw the Holy Spirit descending upon Him in the form of a dove! The Christ had come to earth with a mission to save the world; born in a manger and grew to manhood with the same commission, yet He was powerless even though, the very son of God! Now at the Jordan, He became endowed with power from on high, to heal the sick, minister hope to the down-hearted and to establish the manifestation of the power of God in the lives of men- it was a time for miracles, in the variety of signs and wonders. For three years, they never seized and at the end, He fulfilled His earthly mission, surrendered Himself in the ultimate sacrifice for mankind as a supreme proof of God’s love. The Bible accounts that He gave up the ghost and the Spirit returned to the Father (John 19: 30). The mighty third person of The Trinity; The Holy Spirit returned after Jesus was in the grave for three days. Jesus gave the greatest promise of all the Bible- it was the promise of The Comforter! The same Holy Spirit who lived in Jesus would return to live in all who open their lives to His power. The same things Jesus had done, even greater would God perform through those who belief- The Holy Spirit would be free to enter all those that receive Him. The essence of The Comforter is to glorify Jesus and the fact of His personality is crucial to every child of God. Ours is the age of The Holy Spirit- His core is to represent The Trinity on earth until Christ returns. The surety of our salvation is represented by the indwelling of The Holy Spirit- …“repent, and be baptized… in the name of Jesus…and ye shall receive the gift of The Holy Ghost” Acts 2: 38 (KJV). He also dwells in our collectiveness- He is the Light of The Church; The Spirit of Truth- He stays only in gatherings where the Word of God is strictly adhered to. He is the agent of the missionary zeal of the Church. He is Paraclete (Greek) - advocate, comforter, defending counsel to promote our understanding of the Truth concerning Christ (John 14: 26), God’s power by which He created the universe, He enlivens the community with hope; the ultimate hope of the New Covenant! …“you will be rebuilt, O (TNCBC), again you will… dance with the joyful… The time is coming, declares The LORD, when I will make a new covenant”… Jeremiah 31: 4, 31 (NIV). The Bible beats through with the influence, the power, the workings and the ministry of The Holy Spirit, from the opening chapter to the closing verses of the Scriptures. No Christian can go very far in achieving anything without His power; He guides and endows individuals with a diversity of gifts for service- ignorance of the subject will result in serious weakness and failure in endeavors. This comfort we have received has long been God’s agenda for us- His pardon for sin, preservation and the direction He provides at life’s cross-roads, a highway for our God, that is devoid of all of satan’s deliberate confusions. Long as a beloved of God allows his heart to be the good soil for God’s counsels, He makes his ways plain, for He will instruct and teach him (Psalms 32: 8) and God will be glorified. The Comforter soothes the wearied; when life seems dark and dreary, when you meet with great temptations, when your heart is overburdened, when your soul is bowed in sorrow and sore trials come upon you, He rests the weary! When you are convinced that you are all alone, He is closer to you than your skin! Even while the words are not yet formed, He bears the scorching effects of the fire with you. Perhaps the situation is milder than fire, you are bathing against the waves of a river, He won’t watch you drown! The Comforter! He breathes life into dry-bones! Is there any sick among you? The river of the water of life flows freely from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22: 1). Dead bones will yet live; all you need is a breath, just a breath! Are you yet a trespasser of God’s laws? You cannot escape the influence of His Spirit. Take a cue from Jonah! He could not flee from God’s long hand. Also did David confess that he had no hiding place from God. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? …If I say, ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me’ even the darkness will not be dark to you”… Psalms 139: 7-12 (NIV). God wants to fellowship with His creature, come back home. Quit paying the price of unhappiness and eventual hell. There is that void in you that The Comforter wants to fill. Great Comforter, just as I am without one plea, no defenses, no excuses! My walls are continually before you! This day, I approach your throne of grace so that I will receive mercy for comfort, O Lamb of God, I come! ayanfeLAMPROS.

THE OLIVE... Olive tree is an ever-green tree, bearing edible fruits that are often crushed and squeezed, oil extracted and stored in vats. It is still used today for the finest cabinetwork. The tree grows very slowly, but it attains a great age. The Mount of Olives is a hill to the East of Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley. The mount gained its name from extensive olive groves, which were famous in the ancient world. Olive Oil is a substance most commonly produced from the olive berry. Oil was used primarily in cooking, but additionally as a cosmetic for the body, for medicinal purposes, as a source of light and for anointing kings and priests. Governor Zerubbabel of Jerusalem had started to rebuild the temple, so God had a Word of encouragement for him through Prophet Zechariah’s vision: The first object that he sees is a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on its top in which seven lights are burning. The lamp burns continuously because it has unlimited reservoir of oil. Standing on either side of the lamp stand are two olive trees! Noteworthy is the processes that olive goes through before extracting oil. Despite the uphill task that your accomplishment must require, God’s message is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”... Zechariah 4: 6b (NIV). Where the press was used, the pulp initially produced by the press was often subjected to further extensive pressing. Stone presses were set up to process the quantities of berries available at the Mount of Olives. The word for “oil press” was gatt-semen, hence the name Gethsemane. This building task seems like a mighty mountain that cannot be levelled with mere human strength or resources. There is a hand of God working out the strength of a child of the kingdom. In every situation, Zerubbabel can be assured that no height is so great that God cannot level it with the workings of His Spirit. The task will be accomplished despite all difficulties and oppositions he had encountered in the past. “Then the people around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building” Ezra 4: 4 (NIV). No aim at true accomplishment can by-pass the process therewith- Jesus Christ is the process! His sacrifice, His tears, His pains, His denials at Gethsemane is the process! Jesus signifies the bowl that has the graces and the oil: There is no alternative to godliness- the graces to accomplish godliness leads to divine favour! These graces must be processed in your life on a daily basis. The more you are able to submit to discipleship, the more you progress in godliness. The more you behold the teachings at the feet of Christ, the more The Lord’s glory is being transformed in your life into His likeness. Christian, you must allow God through spiritual leadership to massage these graces into you; only by these processes will the spices from the olive trees beautify your life. These graces produce ...“perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint you”...Romans 5: 4&5a (NIV). Friend, human efforts without The Holy Spirit will burn itself out. He alone provides power for the Church, for the individual in ministry. The image of a lamp stand reminds us that we are called to be light bearers as witnesses of God in our world. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.... let your light shine before men”... Matthew 5: 14-16 (NIV). I summon God’s process to be fulfilled in the life of this reader! I summon God’s Word to be sure and His prophesies to come into reality! The workings of heaven for you are coming to manifestation. A life is truly a life when it affects others! Lord, make me a channel of graces. God is the source of the two anointed olives- Your source is divine because at Gethsemane, Christ settled this with the Father! If you have not known Jesus, let Him find you to rescue- He is the bowl. All that pertains to life and godliness is in Him! He is Jesus! ...“there is hope for a tree...yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant” Job 14: 7-9 (NIV). Any man found in Christ receives the true gifts that their glory fades not. ...“Because You will not abandon me to the grave nor will You let your Holy One see decay” Acts 2: 27 (NIV). ayanfeLAMPROS. NOTE: TNCBC (The New Covenant Baptist Church) NIV (New International Version)

MY REDEEMER LIVETH! Heavenly Father, whatever got you to choose to wake me up from sleep this morning shows that you love me and have an agenda enough not to ignore me. It is grace defined that affords me the possibility of the ransom that Christ handed down for my redemption. “He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.”Galatians 1:4. (NLT) This idea of redemption required the payment of a set price or the substitution of one life for another. The death of Christ is atonement for sin; a mystery to redeem me from the curse of sin and death- not only eternal death but His pronouncement at Golgotha means to me an end to hopelessness. When He said: “It is finished”, without an addition of any other thing, He seized me out of the hollow, I had long struggled to break free... “In that day, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight” Amos 8: 9 (NIV). Then, all of God’s creation were at ease and attentive to bear witness between that sixth and ninth hour. And Christ in a show of strength, cried out loudly and gave up His spirit- no one took His life from Him, He gave it as a ransom for mine, He conquered death- Alas! The veil of that curtain had to give way and victory was handed down to me! When God in the Old Testament is spoken of as “redeeming,” he redeems through His might and power. “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments” Exodus 6:6. (NLT). The hope of redemption was very strong during the time when Israel was captive in Babylon. The prophets constantly spoke of God as Redeemer or Deliverer. “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41: 14. (NLT). This hope was to be fulfilled ultimately through The Messiah, who is Jesus Christ. The messianic hope grew stronger during the periods when Israel was exiled and persecuted. John the Baptist described Jesus as the fulfilment of God’s redemptive kingdom and hence, the Messiah of Israel. He came to give Himself as a ransom for many. The concept of redemption has deep meaning for God’s people. In the Old Testament, it illustrates the truth that God is the Saviour of His people. Although Israel fell into sin by denying God’s law, God did restore them to favour when they repented. In the prophets, especially, God’s redemptive work was to be completed through the Messiah and His redemptive sacrifice. Paul expresses the thought that Christ is the sin offering to the Father. He redeems us by giving up His life for the Church of God. Jesus Christ fulfilled the redemption promised in the Scriptures and by His sacrifice provided for our redemption even while we were yet sinners. Along with this, is the motivating force of divine love as the basis for our restoration. Those who believe will be freed from the bondage of sin and find favour again with the redeeming God. “He is not here, He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” Matthew 28: 6 (NIV). He is alive! There were no witnesses to the actual resurrection though; there is indeed an empty grave and the empty shell of the grave cloths that showed the shape of His body …. “The linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.”John 20: 6 & 7 (NLT). Beloved, let us go to Galilee: the place of new beginnings and fruitful ministry- there, He will give us a new commission to launch in His continuing mission to the world. Job, in his distress had to affirm that “I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end, He will stand upon the earth” Job 19: 25 (NIV) Like Job, I dare to believe that this redeemer will vindicate me. Because He lives, He makes me see a brilliant tomorrow; with His blood, He will wash off this slimy mire, this contempt, this sting! This is an echo of a Martha reading this piece- I believe that you are the Christ who was to come into the world, if you had been here, my brother would not have died, but NOW, I know: My Redeemer lives and forever, I will proclaim, I will testify.... “My Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name: He shall thoroughly plead my cause, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.” Jeremiah 50: 34 (NIV). ayanfeLAMPROS.

ALL on the ALTAR, I LAY... Elisha A. Hoffman wrote in his song “You have longed for sweet peace, and for faith to increase, And have earnestly, fervently prayed; But you cannot have rest or be perfectly blest until all on the altar is laid... till our body and soul He doth fully control.... of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet, when our all on the altar is laid” As places for sacrifice, altars were charged with a sense of holiness where people approach God and in some cases, also seek refuge. Altars might be stone, either shaped or natural or of earth or of metal as was the altar of incense. The essence of a physically constructed altar in the Old Testament was for a meeting place with God. When the altar is complete and installed in the tabernacle, the priests must burn special incense on it every morning and evening. This symbolises prayers ascending to God. “Let my prayer be set forth as incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” Psalms 141: 2 (AMP). The continual burning of it symbolizes a frequent gratefulness and dependence on God. ...“and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” Revelation 5: 8 (NIV). The gift of God for mankind; His ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for the redemption of our souls; that the resurrection of Jesus affords us a repositioning with Christ and before God; this rebirth allows us a direct right of entry henceforth to the Throne of Grace. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4: 16 (NIV). The beauty of this grace freely given us is that we no longer need a priest for the purpose of access to God as it was in the Old Testament times. The practical implication of this must be translated into action in the lives of those who have experienced salvation in Christ. The best required of us is to consciously present all of ourselves continually before God. Apostle Paul was very passionate about the response of a believer to God’s mercies. “I appeal to you therefore brethren and beg of you in view of (all) the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies (presenting all your members and faculties) as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship” Romans 12: 1 (AMP). The offering of the living bodies of believers as sacrifices contrasts with the Old Testament offerings of dead animals. Here, the “body” represents far more than just our belongings or money- in very practical terms; it means the totality of our lives, plans and daily activities. This offering of ourselves is the spiritual act of worship that we can give to God, it goes far beyond our physical Church attendances, when we are at school, at home, at work, or at any place, God expects that the totality of ourselves be always committed to Him. We are to commit our thoughts, what we have, how we live, our time, energy, efforts, also our physical bodies, heads, hands, tongues, even our minds, emotions and attitudes. Invite God to think and speak through you, let Him touch lives using you. This sacrifice refers to the renewing of our minds “Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs) but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)” Romans 12: 2 (AMP). This renewing is an internal process, a reorientation of our world view as we seek to live the way Christ lived and to think as He would have us think. Therefore, God wants us to be purified by Him until His reflection shines through us and allow the fire of His holiness to destroy sin in our lives so that we can carry out His work in the right spirit and then, God will accept our offerings. “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?” Psalms 24: 3 (NIV). God requires four things: Clean hands that do no evil; A pure heart- not only must our actions and words be right, but so must be our thoughts and motives, we must harbour no selfish ambitions or worldly goals in our lives. This is what is meant by not lifting up our souls to what is false. Our values and ideals must not be based on worldly patterns of thoughts, reasoning, fashions, rather than by God’s Word. We must be truthful and honest in speech at all times. Aside the spiritual cleansing we get as we place our all on God’s altar, our fears, pains, lack, hopes and aspirations are not by-passed by God in this process. Our dependence on God allows for His intervention even when we find ourselves within stormy seas of life experiences. Friend, the challenges that life presents are overwhelming- you cannot handle your life as effectively as placing its totality on the altar of God and allowing Him in your issues of decision making and living. He must be ultimate and His Word must shape all of your actions and attitudes. God demands absolute surrender to Him. “Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart, does the Spirit control? You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest, as you yield Him your body and soul”. ayanfeLAMPROS. NOTE: TNCBC (The New Covenant Baptist Church) AMP (Amplified Bible version) NIV (New International Version)

THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE!

THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE!

“He has been dead and in that tomb for four days now. If only Jesus had been here, my brother would not have died; If only Christ had responded to our invitation on time, the one that He loved would still have been alive and with us now. But he is gone... So far the counting of days confirms the painful reality that Lazarus is very dead! Could this really be happening to us? Will I ever recover from this? Now, everyone knows that my beloved brother is irreversibly dead”... These were probably the statements that echoed words that two sisters had said to each other again and again, first as they waited for Jesus to show up when their brother ailed and as they mourned his death.

Countless emotions would have ran through their minds: pain mixed with disappointment, regrets and a feeling of hopelessness. It is demanding enough to look after someone that has been unwell, but for all efforts at nursing him back to health to end up in death is heart-breaking. Worse would have been hearsays in the neighbourhood about circumstances relating to the bereavement, news flying all over the place on conceived notions about the absence of Jesus who had been a good friend of the family. Some might have scoffed at Mary and Martha. In fact, this unpleasant situation could have led to the risk that their belief in Jesus be perverted.

But Martha’s faith had not been shaken; for when Jesus showed up with His disciples, four days past Lazarus’ death, she was in the affirmative when she said “and even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, He will grant it to you” John 11: 22 (AMP). Though she was not referring to any hope that Lazarus would be revived, she yet attested to her faith in Jesus that He is the Messiah, He says; “Blessed are you who takes no offence at me and finds no cause for stumbling... and is not hindered from seeing the Truth” Matthew 11: 6. (NIV). Jesus assured her that her brother would live again, though she had no idea that He spoke about the then physical, she thought Jesus referred to resurrection at the last day.

Natural laws and medical assertions are not falsehood in themselves. It is just that, in comparison with spiritual laws, they cannot stand the test of time, so they should not form a basis for final judgement. A covenant child keys into the law of the Spirit of life and he/she is set free from the laws of nature!

Jesus said to Martha “I AM {Myself} The Resurrection and The Life. Whoever believes in {adheres to, trusts in, and relies on} Me, although he may die, yet he shall live;” John 11: 25 (AMP). This is an audacious self awareness; “I AM”… An assurance in firm resolve of the idea that initiated the whole of existence! Eternal and One who has been and always will be! There is a lot of significance in that description than anyone can realize. Yahweh; Jehovah, The Ever present and Living One. There is no single way to explain God appropriately!

A description that is extremely rich in meaning: “I AM {Myself} The Resurrection and The Life”... It expresses the truth of the Omnipotence of God, who is the Living Spring- the Everlasting Life Source. If you believe, Martha??? That these bones that are beginning to rot; that the internal organs of our beloved Lazarus, though already taken over by maggots, would yet live at my command? Only that Martha got a revelational knowledge of Jesus’ assertions and not about His ability to deal with her present situation. Jesus was stating that He has authority over life and over death! …“Yes Lord, I have believed (I do believe) that you are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), the Son of God…. That the world has waited” John 11: 27. (AMP). The raising of Lazarus to life serves as a kind of prediction of the resurrection of Jesus and it signifies the power of resurrection and life that God had given to Him. But the raising of Lazarus was a return to the ordinary mortal existence, until eventual natural death, Jesus’ risen life depicts a transfiguration, a prophetic rather than a historical event. No act of the matchless God can be open to scrutiny as though it was just another event in the course of history!

…“but Lord, by this time, he {is decaying and} throws off an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days!” John 11: 39b. (AMP). This in fact about the hopelessness of this situation, an obstacle to faith but Lord, despite my unbelief; glorify your name in me, that my life may conform with the Prophesy of Jesus. Let the living standing here recognize your resurrection command, this 21-day waiting period, let your Word move me from the sphere of death into life!

I need no other plea… I need no other evidence… It is enough that “The Resurrection and The Life” died and rose again for me! For at Calvary, there is great mercy that surpasses judgment, pardon there still flows and is multiplied to me… My burdened self comes to You, Lord, breathe new life into me and permit no deadness around me!



ayanfeLAMPROS…

MURDER SHE WROTE!!!

MURDER SHE WROTE
Religious observance of the law is slavery because human laws understate the seriousness of slavery. Right from the times of Moses, law in the narrowest sense has been the basis for the administration of justice by human efforts. God handed down a set of rules to give them a prescription of behaviour and guide; the guides against sin pending the fulfilment of the covenant of justification by faith which led to adoption into God’s family. No human effort ever led to perfection in obedience, so this created a system that led to the strengthening of several codes in the law. The codes transform to rules governing slavery, murder and theft together with various provisions concerned which are mere rituals.
The adherence to the law was wrongly interpreted to be conditions of the covenant; to break the law meant the violation of God’s will. However, the coming of Jesus was not to stop the law. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a comprehensive reinterpretation. Apostle Paul did not so much, oppose the Jewish perception of law but did reject the view that its observance was the means of salvation for Christians. “If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from Grace (from God’s gracious favour and unmerited blessing)” Galatians 5: 4 (AMP). The law was basic to membership of the Jewish community. Observance of the law was not in the real terms to gain favour with God but to remain faithful within His covenanted people, so Paul’s aim was to detach the Churches from this belief.
The problems popular in the world today traces back to the consequence that wrong choices produce long-lasting regrets. Abraham had first been given a covenant promise by God that regardless of his old age, a generation as numerous as the stars in the sky would start from him. After waiting keenly for the fulfilment of God’s covenant, he got convinced by Sarah his wife that an inheritance could start from a child that Hagar bore him. The result of this was Ishmael, a son born outside God’s covenant promise. Even before the fulfilment of the promise child, Ishmael had also been given a commission. “And He (Ishmael) will be as a wild ass among men; his hand will be against every man and every man’s hand against him, and he will live to the east and on the borders of all his kinsmen” Genesis 16: 12 (AMP).
For every manifestation of sin are the works of death. The human nature cannot stop committing sin outside total dependence on God’s help. Here, the works of the flesh strives continuously against reliance on God’s grace for obedience. Ishmael represents our human efforts at pleasing God; our conceived idea of “pass-mark” in God’s eyes; this reveals human working for self righteousness. Ishmael translates into murder! The workings of the Egyptian slave girl meant to replace God’s promise of life with its counterfeit! It tried everything to qualify for the promise; even when the legitimate son (Isaac) came, Ishmael hated him; he was in a contest to replace him, so does our human nature fight our reliance on God’s Spirit to please God. “Yet (just) as at that time the child (of ordinary birth) born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him (who was born remarkably) according to (the promise and the working of) the (Holy) Spirit, so it is now also.” Galatians 4: 29 (AMP). Replacing faith in Christ with rules and regulations is murder of the soul, we cannot be justified (pardoned by God) for observing the law. The deeper a person has consciously mastered the procedures of rules and regulations, the more the seriousness of the danger of spiritual slavery and death. The result of a human struggle at pleasing God is “For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am (ever) doing” Romans 7: 19 (AMP). But God had aforetime prescribed the covenant as the only means to reach Him. Isaac had been a promise of eternal reward; ultimately, Jesus Christ is our link to God. In practical terms, He requires that we receive Christ in faith so that we become justified for adoption into His eternal family.
Beloved, a practice of rules and regulations is good in that they serve as guides to proper conduct as Christians but that cannot secure a relationship with God- this is achievable only by faith through Christ. This covenant brings life- the sure way out of the grip of sin and ultimate death. ...“for God’s nature abides in him (his principle of life, the divine sperm remains permanently within him) and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God” 1 John 3: 9 (AMP). Faith in Christ is superior to a legislated life because the more our efforts at keeping the commandments, the more the reality that sin still prevails in our lives, thus the result of sin-guiltiness. The same law still condemns the fellow because the law writes out murder. The promise of Jesus is to set us free from the entanglement of the law and our faith to make us heirs of God through Christ.
This is a parallel. There is an eternal conflict between Isaac and Ishmael. “But what does the scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall the son of the slave woman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman” Galatians 4: 30 (AMP). Let us not again be burdened by the yokes of slavery for the need to obey rules is a state of slavery because it is for true freedom that we receive Christ. Rest in the benefits of “sonship” through Christ; maintain the rights of sonship. This is not a freedom to take satisfaction in sin that God’s grace may “rescue” us; it is a drive into deeper relationship with God which results into eternal rest!
ayanfeLAMPROS.
NOTE:
TNCBC- The New Covenant Baptist Church, Agege Lagos.
AMP- Amplified version of The Holy Bible.

REST ON GOD’S SUBSIDY!!!

REST ON GOD’S SUBSIDY!!!



For those of us that are quite frolicsome, a compulsory enclosure of weeks is tough deal! Whether the issues of external consequences like industrial actions or overstretched holidays, aside the weariness it might come handy with, the positive outlook to it is that it always affords a beloved, time of unrestricted fellowship with God…

For every of life’s experiences, the human perspective extracted from them determines largely their contribution of virtues or vices to character. “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” Proverbs 17: 22 (AMP). In this instance that you find yourself within a mandatory health confinement, you would do your heart lots of good to ignore the reality of those “callous needles”, switch your focus to opportunities of God’s kingdom advancement right there! You would be enhancing your social network scheme, creating fun around you and meeting Heaven’s mandate…

Taking a brief view of events weeks back, if the Christmas morning blast was a gift to a bewildered minster, withdrawal of human government subsidy would be a New Year bonus, our response as Christians however need be a deliberate reinforcement of our focus on God! “Unto you do we (Nigeria) lift up our eyes, O you who are enthroned in Heaven… until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us. Have mercy on us, O Lord… for we are exceedingly satiated with contempt” Psalms 123: 1-3 (AMP). The Church universal has been aforetime praying incessantly for our government, for our beloved Nigeria, for God’s will on our land; let us not believe that after all said and done, things will respond by nose-diving! God cannot ignore Nigeria- She is His beloved nation! He says “Fear not, you worm Jacob (Nigeria), you men of (Nigeria)! I will help you, says The Lord: your redeemer”… Isaiah 41: 14 (AMP).

Beloved Nigeria, an insignificant volume measuring our experiences has resulted into irretrievable chaos when replicated in any other organized nation. We can correctly be described as “the happiest people on earth” because despite extreme situations, we always extract the humorous angles of occurrences. I beseech you by God’s mercies, let us refrain from every acts of violence; let us …“the righteous (God’s people) [NOT] stretch forth [OUR] hands to iniquity”… culled from Psalms 125: 3b. Let us not be vessels for national cleansing, our blood is neither meant for purging nor disinfecting the sins of our land. Years back, the precious blood of Jesus had blotted out and wiped away the bond which stood hostile to us. He had set aside and cleared completely out of our way the effects of evil regulations; He had disarmed principalities and powers that were ranged against us; He made a public and bold display of their defeat; He had nailed all these to Calvary! I passionately plead beloved, physical death has a final tone- once dead, judgment follows! The dead has no occasion to change his/her mind about death.

These challenging times, “Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines… and the fields yield no food… yet I will rejoice in The Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army… He will make me to walk (not to stand still in terror…) and make progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility]!”… Habakkuk 3: 17-19. The result of this had been afore prophesied by Prophet Habakkuk. ...“but the [RIGIDLY] just and the [UNCOMPROMISINGLY] righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness” Habakkuk 2: 4b”.

If Heaven can describe you as “Just”, I congratulate you because God honors His word even above His name! Your faith will sustain you for all seasons. Even if the mountains should roll off and the hills removed, O you afflicted and shakened nation; storm-tossed and threatened Nigeria, by God’s mercies, you will be at peace!

Nigeria Christians, let us face this: Ought not Jesus go through the cross, the pains, rejections, the betrayals, beatings and all the extreme measures, that He might enter His Glory? So ugly was Jesus’ sight on the cross; so ugly is this situation, there is no comeliness in this Nigerian condition; so ugly is the outlook of our beloved nation at present, so hideous are the experiences of bombing, corruption in both high, middle and low places, so frightful is the spate of wickedness on our land, so ghastly are the dimensions of violence in Nigeria! There really is no idea of attractiveness to Nigeria especially these times. But Covenant Bond, “After this, I will come back and will rebuild the house of David (I will resuscitate, rehabilitate, refreshen, reposition Nigeria) which has fallen; I will rebuild its [very] ruins, and I will set it up again” Acts 15: 16 (AMP).

This remarkable time, God is calling Nigeria to “Sabbath Rest”; to a constant remembrance that He chose us to bear His identity of a covenant relationship with Him. It is of great abundance of Heaven’s supplies, great enlightenment, and great fellowship with Him.

Lord God of Great Mercies, O that thou shalt hide thy beloved Nigeria in the cleft of thy rock {Jesus}, in the hollow of thy mighty hand of deliverance and healing, O that these times, thou wilt be with her in this scorching blaze heated up severally by the devil, thou wilt pass through Nigeria with thy therapeutic touch and the result wilt be that she wilt experience and be thy Glory!

“And The Lord said [REPLIED] … I WILL GIVE YOU [NIGERIA] REST” Exodus 33: 14 (AMP)

ayanfeLAMPROS