KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:43 KJV “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive”.

The Lord reveals in the key scripture a common error of many. On many occasions those who speak the truth are rejected, whiles those who come with sugar coated lies are swallowed hook, line and sinker. When men fail to accept and acknowledge the truth, then the bible says, God gives them over to lies. Romans 1:28 KJV ” And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” In this very chapter, the bible said God gives up those who receive the truth and decide to forsake it and rather believe a lie.

It is very unfortunate to hear intellectuals say that Christianity is an European religion to enslave the Blackman. These people claim the religion of the African is idol worship. History and archeology reveal that Christianity and the bible came from the Middle East. It migrated into some parts of Africa and later spread more into Europe, who’s dominant religion then, was idolatry or sorcery. It was the power demonstrated by the fathers who brought the faith to Europe that soon made it to topple the worship of idols and sorcery in Europe. Men like St Patrick of Ireland and others demonstrated the power of God to the point that, many were converted from idol worship and sorcery to Christ.

The story of Africa is also not different. Christianity will never have stayed or thrived in Africa if it did not prove to be more powerful than the power of the gods here. The practice of African traditional religions was not just ideologies and empty believes with no manifestation of supernatural powers. For Christianity to have taken roots and so much grounds, it means, these powers were subdued. In spite of this historical background many go round saying Christianity just came to brainwash the Blackman. This is a big error and do not allow yourself to be deceived. Europe has fallen away from the truth of Christianity today, not because there was any greater power, but ideological persuasions like Darwin’s theory of evolution and other theosophical doctrines that promote sensual liberties. These teachings appealed more to the egos of the people, and so they fell for it. Well, the bible said this is what would happen in the last days. 2nd Timothy 3:1-3.

The bible maintains its consistency in speaking to the hearts and minds of men for complete transformation. It does not attempt to defend itself, does not attempt to defend anyone or people. It continuous to appeal, warn against rebellion, and encourage men to yield to God.

CONFESSION

The bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers, its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it, to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy.

FURTHER STUDIES

1st Thessalonians 2:13 KJV” For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

1st Thessalonians 1:5 KJV” For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:42 KJV “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.”

As a reminder to all patrons of this devotional, we are still looking at a walk with Jesus through the gospels. We are now considering the gospel of John. In our key scripture, the Lord Jesus tells the Jews that, he knows that they have no love for the Father in their hearts.

Loving God is the highest duty of man. In fact, it is the first commandment of God Matthew 22:36-37. Anyone who sincerely loves God above all things is a high flyer in life. Experience and history have proven that all those who have the love of God in their hearts stand out among all others.

True love for God is the foundation for victory in all the challenges of life.

1 John 4:17 KJV “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” This word ‘judgement’ is the Greek word “krisis” out of which we have the word crisis, or trying moments. Love for God is what makes us bold or gives us an unyielding faith to overcome all difficulties in the times of crisis. The man without this kind of love in him, lacks that ability to oppose challenges in boldness. This kind of boldness cannot be worked out if one does not have the love of God in Him. Why do we have so much failure around us? It seems Satan is in charge of the world. Evil, diseases and death seem to be the order of the day. Why is this so? The answer is, many lack the faith to challenge and stop the onslaught of the enemy. There is so much we hear about God and His word, yet only a few are really stopping Satan. This should not be the case.

Dear brother, it is the will of God that every child of God is, and lives as a devil master always.

For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our Faith. 1st John 5:4. Dear one faith works by love. (Galatians 5:6)

What is stealing your heart from loving the Lord? Take some time and consider that thing which is competing with God for your heart. That thing is your real enemy. It is the real canker that weakens and deprives you of your real authority to be free and win in life. Take some time off to pray in tongues till your heart is free of all those things that compete with the love for God in your heart.

 Your love for God is your real access to power.

Never bargain it for anything. Cut off every sin, habit or person that take God’s love from your heart.

CONFESSION

I love the Lord my God with all my heart. My love for God, is my strength. Nothing will compete with my love for God. My love for Him liberates me from every evil power of darkness. My love for God means honouring Him in all I do. Thank you, Lord.

THOUGHT: STRONG FAITH IN GOD, IS BUILT ON STRONG LOVE FOR GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 22:37 KJV Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

1st Corinthians 2:9 KJV “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:41 KJV” I receive not honour from men.”

The Lord declares a very important statement in our key scripture: He says He does not seek honour or praise from men. It takes one who truly knows God to make such statements.

 Seeking the praise and honour of men drives people into all kinds of errors, vanities and foolish actions.

 One of the very serious effects of seeking the honour of men is that, they do various things only to get men praising them. Anytime one acts to receive the praise of men he loses God’s rewards Because he’s received his rewards from the people who praised him.

 Looking for men’s honour is the simplest means of short-circuiting God’s power. It is one of the reasons many ministers do not see the manifestation of the power of God in their lives. He is faced with someone, with a very serious health condition, and ask himself, how will this turn out after the condition refuses to change. Wouldn’t it be very humiliating before the congregation?

When a man begins to enjoy or seek the honour of men, he will easily compromise God’s place in his life. King Herod killed John the Baptist, because he chose to honour men than God. When he was torn between saving John’s life or pleasing Herodias daughter, he rather chose to please man and killed a man. Mark 6:26 KJV” And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.”

Now where does the exaggeration in preaching come from? All these proceed from the place of honouring men before God, or seeking men’s honour What drives certain pastors to get involved in evil rituals to enable them perform false miracles to attract multitudes? It emanates from that fame that men would offer him. In Jesus’ day, He spoke so much about the Pharisees who constantly regarded the praise and honour of men, to do all kinds of things that dishonoured the Lord.

What is the root cause of people seeking to honour men or seeking men’s praise rather than praising God? Such people do not truly know God, and so have lost any

sense of fear for God and His judgement for people who live in such ways. To come out of such lifestyle, take time to consider the reality of God, and how terrible it is to face His wrath. 2nd Corinthians 5:11 KJV” Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

CONFESSION

God my father created me to bring Him honour with my life. I live to honour him alone. I do not seek men’s honour or my honour, but to bring God pleasure by honouring Him and Him alone.

THOUGHT: TO SEEK MAN’S HONOUR IS CLEAR FOOLISHNESS, FOR NO MAN WILL JUDGE OR REWARD YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 1:10 KJV” For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

1st Samuel 15:22 KJV” And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:40 KJV “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”.

Religion specialises in producing adherents to various doctrines, teachings and observing certain ordinances. It is the aspiration and actually the demand of the teachers of such religions that, to be acceptable to God or the supreme being, your good works must exceed your wrongs. The Lord Jesus gives a different view outrightly. He said He came to bring man life. Man had a fundamental problem from the beginning. In Genesis 2:17, the Lord said to our first parents that, they could eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree that gave knowledge of good and evil they should not eat. On the day they ate it they would die. This death was a departure of the presence or life of God in them. They did eat and so they lost this presence of God. The presence of God is also called the glory of God. Romans 3:23

 The need of man is a restoration of the life of God.

Jesus said, you would not come to me, that you might receive the life of God. The Lord Jesus gave His life to give men life or the glory of God.

 He said I came that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly.

Men are lost. Let’s consider a condition that shows how men are lost. The apostle Paul writes as follows. Romans 7:9 KJV “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” He says the absence of divine life in him, exposed his weakness. There are even some people who call themselves Christians, yet are struggling with all manner of sins.

 The mystery of Christianity is Christ living in you. (Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20)

Dear reader these things I am discussing are for real.  We are not just talking about following certain doctrines or teaching, but Jesus personally walking, talking and living through you.

 He said I stand at the door and knock, if any man would open the door of his or her heart, I will come in and eat with him and you with me. Revelation 3:20. It is a life of power over sicknesses, sin and Satan.

It is a life of love for all men, even those who hate you. It is a life of peace because He comes with His peace. These have been proven experiences, over and over again. I am a living witness to these things and there are many who can testify to walking in this realm of life. What you need is the very life of the resurrected Jesus Christ in you. Religion without Jesus is a mirage, you need reality.

CONFESSION

 My life has been supplanted by the life of Jesus. He is presently at home in me. I am victorious over sin, sicknesses and Satan. I am a Son of God, a servant of men, and a *master*over Satan.

THOUGHT: RELIGION WITHOUT JESUS IS A MIRAGE, YOU NEED REALITY

FURTHER STUDIES

John 10:10 KJV “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

Matthew 20:28 KJV “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:39 KJV” Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

During the Lord’s discourse with the Jews, He asked them to search the scriptures for that would make them know how to have eternal life, because the scriptures testify of Him. The scriptures the Lord spoke about was the Old Testament. From Genesis to Malachi in summary, talks about Jesus. One has to search in order to find all that has been said about Jesus. The whole message of the scriptures is about God’s plan of redemption. The Father introduced this redemptive program right after the fall of man. In Genesis 3:15, He talked about the seed of the woman, (Jesus was the seed of Mary and not with any other man) who bruised the head of the serpent at the place of the skull John 19:17. In Genesis 3:21, the Lord made coats of skins to cloth them, after they sinned against Him. This was the sacrifice of an innocent animal to cover their nakedness. This act was a symbol of the substitutionary work of Jesus to save mankind.

The scriptures indeed testify and reveal our Lord Jesus in its pages. God’s focus in presenting the scriptures to men is to show to man the way to eternal life. He says that we must search the scriptures. Searching involves a sense of longing to find. It will also call for discipline and an attitude of openness. One attitude that has blinded most people from seeing the amazing truths in the scriptures is approaching the scriptures with preconceived notions. Some approach the scripture with a made-up teaching or concept that they hold to. When one comes to the bible with such attitudes, or views he would hardly see the many nuggets about our Lord Jesus redemptive work.

The Lord instructs us in the opening scripture to search the scriptures. This requires attention and patience. We live in a period that information abounds so much that, people have so much to look at and so cannot be patient to spend quality time with the scriptures. The audio and video posts and films easily take people away from reading. Reading and studying requires total attention. So long as you are able to give that needed attention you are able to discover certain hidden truths that could have easily escaped your awareness. Please heed to the master’s instruction and search the scriptures, for it is in doing that, that you know you have eternal life, for they would reveal the Saviour Jesus to you.

THOUGHT: GOD’S REDEMPTION OF MANKIND THROUGH JESUS IS THE GRAND SUBJECT OF THE BIBLE

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 4:20 KJV “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”

2nd Timothy 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:37 KJV” And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.”

God our father has testified about His Son throughout the scriptures. The bible is basically a testimony of the Father about His Son Jesus. The testimony about Jesus is a revelation of God’s redemption for mankind. It is the revelation of God the Saviour. This is the name of our Lord Jesus. His name is “Jehoshua” in Hebrew. This name means Jehovah is Saviour or Salvation. The bible is a progressive revelation of God and His ways and acts. He revealed HIMSELF to Abraham in Genesis 17: 1 as the Almighty or “Shaddai” in Hebrew. He revealed Himself to Moses as “Yahweh” or Jehovah (Exodus 6:2-3) This name Yahweh or Jehovah is the English form of the Hebrew non vowel form of the name “YHWH.”

God revealed Himself to the various individuals at specific occasions as follows

1. Jehovah Rapha -The Lord the Healer. Exodus 15:26

2. Jehovah Nissi -The Lord our Banner. Exodus 17:13-15

3. Jehovah Mekadishcum -The Lord that sanctifies. Exodus 31:13

4. Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace. Judges 6:24

5. Jehovah Saboath – The Lord of host.

6. Jehovah Tsedkenu -The Lord our Righteousness. Jeremiah 33:16

7. Jehovah Shammah- The Lord is present.

We realise that God has revealed Himself in ancient times under various names. In these last days, He has revealed Himself as the Saviour. Act 4:12 KJV” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Our Lord Jesus is not just a lesser being to the father, but indeed one with the Father. (John 10:30) He is the Lord the Saviour. This is the last and final revelation of God to men.

All men are to receive this final revelation of God in their hearts. John 5:38 KJV “And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.” This is the era of God’s great salvation of mankind. If men would accept God who has come to us as the Saviour, there would be great peace and restoration from all kinds of calamities and dangers 2nd Corinthians 6:2 KJV (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.).  God’s testimony about His Son is all about His Salvation. Receive Him into your life and give an end to the life of pain and sorrow.

THOUGHT:IN JESUS, GOD SAVES ALL MEN

FURTHER STUDIES

2nd Corinthians 5:19 KJV” To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

Hebrews 2:3 KJV “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:36 KJV” But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”

There is a proverb, that says ” Your actions are so loud that, I can’t hear you, when you speak”. Your actions define who you are. They are a sum total of all that you know and can do. Your actions do not err about who you are and what you can do. The Lord said, the very works which the Father has given me to finish, that will testify of who I am. The Lord could boldly appeal to His works to testify of Him. He said His real meat or food was doing His father’s work, and to finish it. There was no tendency to please Himself or to be sluggish about the father’s business.

No one could say that the Lord Jesus was irresponsible about that heavenly task. His undivided attention and dogged commitment drew the father to approve of His works with mighty signs and wonders. Act 2:22 says ” Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:” When Peter was testifying about Jesus in the above verse, he added that ‘and all of you know these things’ In the light of this the Lord could appeal to His very works to stage a true, undeniable defense for Him. Nobody could challenge the many evidences of His works.

Can your works stage a defense for who you are? Can they authenticate your Credibility? Apostle Paul said, we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, and commend ourselves to the conscience of all men in the sight of God.2 Corinth 4:2. Apostle Paul was indirectly testifying that his works in the service of the master can testify of him. What does it mean for your works to testify of you? It means what people know and have seen you do is the real fact about you. It also means that, there are no hidden works that may cancel all that is known of you in the open. Who are you? What do you do for God? Are you what people see of you in the open?

THOUGHT: YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS

FURTHER STUDIES

Mat 7:20 KJV “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them”.

James 1:22 KJV “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:31 KJV” If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.”

The Jews put up a lot of arguments to challenge, the authenticity of Jesus. The Lord made sure he did not appeal to His personal defense of himself. When he said, if I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true, he did not mean I will be telling lies. The bible says, He is the way, the truth and the Life. Jesus is called the truth. John 14:6. He answered Pilate, I came to witness to the truth. John 18:37

Even at the moment of being killed or crucified, He never shrank from saying the truth. What the Lord meant by my witness will be a lie simply means ‘I will not defend myself ‘ I will allow another to make a defense for me.

The Lord is teaching us a very important lesson over here. We should not strive at proving how right we are. He left his defense to the witness of John. Joho 5:32 KJV “There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.” John’s witness is basically the witness of the scripture. It was prophesied that John would make certain statements about Him, which has all been fulfilled. What the Lord was saying here is that, I appeal to what the word says about me, that is the truth. John only echoed the scriptures. Isaiah 40:3 KJV” The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

From all that we have said above what and who should witness to our Credibility? The word of God. Our lives ought to be patterned after the order of the word such that, we do not have to strive to prove our truthfulness or genuineness. When people read the word, they have to see our reflection in the scriptures. We should be able to say, My witness would be false but the witness of the scriptures is forever truth.

How could this be done? Apostle Paul gives us one of his philosophies to life. Acts 24:16 KJV “

 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

A life without decision is a life without any direction. Apostle Paul says I have DECIDED to maintain a conscience void of offence before God and man. This is what makes his action patterned in line with the scriptures.

THOUGHT: MAKE THE SCRIPTURES YOUR DEFENCE, AND YOU WOULD BE AS BOLD AS A LION

FURTHER STUDIES

2nd Corinthians 1:12 KJV” For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

Proverbs 28:1 KJV ” The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:30 KJV “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

Our Lord Jesus said in our opening scripture that, “I can of mine own self do nothing….” What did He mean by this statement? Was he saying unless His father moves Him into action, he could do nothing? Well, this was not what He meant. He was saying, I do nothing to please myself. I have given up my will to Him. He always received an instruction from the Father before He will ever take any action. John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” The Lord Jesus lived out the dreams of His Father. The Father was always with Him.

The Lord added that He does not judge wrongly because He judges from the Father’s point of view. You can never go wrong if you seek to please the Lord in all you do. The Lord Jesus is revealing in this verse one of the highest principles for living, that is humility. The following are some of the portraits of humility as demonstrated by the Lord.

1. The HUMBLE, the greatest in the kingdom. When the disciples asked about the greatest person in the kingdom of heaven. The Lord called a little child and used him as an example of the greatest person. Matthew 18:1-4. True humility acknowledges the superiority of God and always gives Him the first place. We are always torn between doing that which pleases us and God’s way. A humble heart quickly throws away his personal ambitions and chooses God’s way.

2. Humility sees the greatness of God’s might and absolutely depends on it. The proud cannot cast their troubles unto the Lord, because they can’t appreciate the almightiness of God. The humble trusts in the Lord like a little child. God therefore gives grace to the humble. He supplies the ability to overcome, whiles He resists the proud.

3. The humble waits for the Lord’s signal before acting. He said, I do not do, or say until the Father tells me. King Saul could not wait for the priest Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice. 1st Samuel 13:8-14. “Samuel told King Saul, that thou has acted foolishly for not keeping the Lord’s commandment, for now God would have established your throne forever.” Many young people preparing for marriage could not wait to be joined in marriage before mating, destroying the foundation of their marital home. True humility builds fear in the hearts of the children of God for the Lord. Remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

THOUGHT: HUMILITY IS THE BEAUTY OF CHARACTER

FURTHER STUDIES

James 4:6 KJV” But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Matthew 18:4 KJV Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:28 KJV “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,”

We would look at the case of Lazarus and the rich man to have an insight into the state of those who die. Please read through Luke 16:19-31. In that story or parable, the Lord made mention of certain specific names, like Lazarus, Abraham, Moses and the prophets. The Lord Jesus never makes fables of individuals, more so the Patriarchs. This is an event that took place and should not be interpretated as just an illustration of an idea.

The Lord said the poor man Lazarus died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man died and was buried, but he went to hell. It was not His body that went to hell but his Spirit. Anyone who dies without knowing Jesus as his Lord goes to hell, to await for the final resurrection of the dead and subsequent judgement for hell and the devil to be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12.

In 2 Kings 2: 11, the prophet Elijah was taken bodily to heaven (to be in heaven his body would transform into a celestial one 1st Corinthians 15:40). In Deuteronomy 34:5 Moses also died on the land of Moab. Moses was buried on the Land of Moab. In the days of our Lord Jesus Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus and His three disciples, Peter, James and John. Matthew 17:3 KJV” And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.” Please consider this, Elijah went in body to heaven. Moses died and his Spirit was sent to heaven. In Matthew these two prophets of God came to Jesus. It shows, when Moses died, he went to the same place as Elijah. He did not sleep in the grave.

Why would the dead hear the voice of Jesus and resurrect?

Please understand that all these millions of people dead are all in the form of bones, which may even be rotten, or just ashes. On that resurrection day there would be a recreating and a repossessing of the bodies either from heaven, or hell to be finally judged. They will either go into life or destruction in the lake of fire. The resurrection is a great miracle. Presently there is no spirit of anyone in the grave. When the bible uses the word sleep, it is a figure of speech that means to be dead.

John 11:11″These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep”.

THOUGHT: THE DEAD, EITHER GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL; WHERE DO YOU CHOOSE?

FURTHER STUDIES

John 11:11 KJV” These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”

Isaiah 5:14 KJV” Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”