KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:18 KJV” No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him”.

Our key scripture informs us that no one has ever seen the father at anytime, except Jesus. In certain portions of the bible, certain individuals have been reported to have seen God.

Exodus 33:11 says, he spoke to Moses’ face to face but in Exodus 33:23 the scriptures said the following “And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen”. Comparing these two encounters we realise Moses could not have seen the real face of the Lord as a man. As He said in Ex 33:23, no one could see His real face and live. John 1:18 establishes that, no one has ever seen God, the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father He has declared Him. He is one with the Father.

I wish to establish that there is no contradiction in the scriptures.

Secondly, our key scripture reveals a truth about our Lord Jesus that we have to see clearly. It says He dwells in the bosom of the Father. John 1:1 introduces the book of John by saying, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the word was God. Jesus is the eternal word of God. The words of every man dwell in his bosom. The word of every man is also one with that person. Our key scripture shows us the real state of Jesus. As the word He proceeded from the father. He was not begotten as a man begats his son. As the word He has always lived with His Father. No one creates his or her words. It is ever with you. I wish to establish the fact that Jesus is one with the Father. When the scriptures use the term Son of God, it simply means a divine being. The Jews took stones to stone Jesus because when he called Himself the Son of God, they understood it as He making Himself God.

John 10:33 KJV “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

Our Lord Jesus is not created as other creation was. He is the eternal word of God, who has dwelt in the bossom of the Father. He is the only one who has revealed God to us.

 Jesus is the only true evidence of the invisible God.

Satan has fought so much about the identity of Jesus but to no avail. The United Nations does not want the name of Jesus to be associated with various relief services, why? This is a world system under the influence of the Prince of the power of the air. (Eph 2 ;2)

He said if you have seen me you have seen the Father. John 14:9 KJV “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” Dear child of God be very confident in your faith. Jesus is the ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED. There is no other name under heaven given to men to be saved. Acts 4:12

THOUGHT: JESUS IS GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 9:6 KJV” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

1 John 5:20 KJV “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

KEY SCRIPTURE; John 1:17 KJV “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.

At the end of the era of our Lord Jesus, he began a new dispensation called the grace of God. A dispensation is a rule that governs or determines God’s relationship towards men. God’s word shows us different dispensations that God has related to men. Every dispensation has had a related covenant to enforce that dispensation. The following are a list of the dispensations from the beginning of time

1.Dispensation of innocence- Edenic covenant

2. Dispensation of Conscience- Adamic Covenant

3. Human Government-Noahic covenant

4. Patriarchal Dispensation- Abrahamic Covenant

5. Dispensation of Law – Mosaic Covenant

6. Dispensation of grace –New Covenant

7. Dispensation of Kingdom– Everlasting Covenant

Our key scripture referred to the dispensations of law and grace. The dispensation of the law spanned the period of Moses till the Lord Jesus was crucified. This means the Lord Himself lived under the law. (Gal 4:1-4)

The law was promulgated in Exodus 24:6-8. The scriptures said the following in Ex 24:8 “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.” The law was a covenant between the Jewish people and their obedience to the law. The law demanded that everyone obeys all its requirements yet there was no divine provision to help men honour or to obey it. The law exposed the weakness of man to face or overcome sin. Romans 7:9:” For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died”. The law was holy and upright yet man was dead unto God and His holy demands.1 Cor 15:55 says, “the stink of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law”. This is explained in the above description of how the law functioned and the weakness of man’s flesh to stand up to its requirements.

NOW the grace of God was given by Jesus. Under the grace Jesus takes over the heart of the person and expresses Himself through that individual (Gal 2:20). The Lord Jesus is an embodiment of the fulfilling of the law. Christ in us makes the righteousness of the law fulfilled in us. (Rom 8:3&4) The dispensation of God’s grace is a moment when men could function with Jesus’ authority to make all devils, including Satan to be subjected to them (Matt 28:18). Dear child of God you have no excuse for not living a victorious life under the grace of God. Remember, sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Rom 6:14)

THOUGHT: GRACE ACCELERATES PERFECTION

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 2:8 KJV ” For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

1 Corinth 15:56 KJV “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:16 NHEB “For of his fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.”

God is full of all goodness. Our key scripture. reveals to us the supplier and the measure of God’s grace he provides. Jesus is actually the grace of God personified. Please note that, grace is not earned but is received by faith (Roman 4:2,3) How much grace have been given to us? The scripture said out of his fullness, have all we received, grace upon grace. What does this mean? Col 2:9,10 teaches us that In Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily, whiles we are complete in Him who is the Head of all principalities and power. The word complete is the same word replete, or to be made full. We are made full of what? We are made full of God (Eph 3:16). Please pause and reflect over it.

 Colossians 2 :10 informs us that we are filled with the fullness of God. Each one of us has also received a full measure of His grace. Let’s consider the following. In John 10:10, it says He gives us life in abundance Eph 3:20 teaches us that God is able to do far more exceedingly, abundantly and above all that we can ask or think. God always gives us His best in a full measure.

Just consider the following verse. James 1:17 KJV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” The word says there is no variableness with God, that is God does not change and there is no uncertainties with Him like shifting shadows.

He always gives His best to every one who would believe Him.

Dear one as many who can receive or believe God, God has His best for them.  Grace is a supernatural power made available to us to excel.

This power comes from His very ability and of His fullness. Now, although it is of   His fullness, what you carry away depends on you How much would you carry? Dear one, you can change your state by taking of His very fullness.

How do we partake of this fullness? In whatever you are involved in   do it with a consciousness of a total supply of every divine provision to make you come out as the best. See yourself as greatly privileged, no matter the difficulties that prevail. Eph 3:16 KJV “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” The Spirit is our ever-abiding strengthener.

THOUGHT:  HE MAKES MY CUP OVERFLOW

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 9:8 KJV” And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”:

2 Corinth 3:6 KJV “Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:15 NHEB “John testified about him and shouted out, saying, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”

Men would naturally seek their own honour and advantage. When King Saul realised God had appointed David to take over the throne after him, he fought the will of God for about three decades till he finally died in a battle he was not supposed to die. God brought David into the palace to prepare him for kingship and to fight the battles for King Saul. King Saul had fallen out of favour with God. David was a vessel of grace sent to complement the shortcomings in his reign so he could finish his term in peace. Instead of Saul acknowledging that David was God’s chosen vessel to succeed him, He rather fought against God’s choice.

 Every choice God makes for us, is the best for our ultimate good.

John the Baptist escaped the error of King Saul. He came before Jesus. The whole communities were flocking his baptism, and he had the recognition of every body. Inspite of this when he was aware that Jesus although younger was the appointed one, John never tried to let any pride get into his way. He accepted the will of God and said the following about Jesus. “This was the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” John put Christ first. He was ready to put his fame down and honour Jesus. God gave him that clout because he had been fulfilling the purposes of God almost all along. If he had become self seeking and had refused to honour Jesus as expected, he would have lost every honour.

In our lives as children of God, every thing about Jesus should come first. The word says, that in everything Christ must have the pre-eminence (Colossians 1:18). God is the one who chooses, anoints and promotes. We must always accept God’s choices no matter the colour, age or the background that the individual may have. So long as everything points to God’s approval over that individual, just get along with God’s choice. If it means submitting to that individual so the name of the Lord be glorified, just do it. Our delight is to always put the master first.

 In God’s equation we are only significant when we glorify Jesus.

THOUGHT: GOD’S CHOICES ARE ALWAYS FOR OUR ULTIMATE GOOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Col 1:18 NHEB “He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.”

John 3:30 NHEB “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:14 KJV “And 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”.

Our key scripture announces that the word is incarnated and appears on the human scene.  As a man, Jesus reveals His glory to all men as the only begotten Son of the Father full of grace and truth. In our previous study we learnt that, the Lord Jesus was the only begotten of the Father, yet we likewise were begotten by the Father as well. (John 1:13). We were born again by the word .1Pe 1:23 KJV “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”  Jesus is the word of God, and we were also born again by the word of God.

 Everything gives birth to its kind.

 Every child of God is the word of God in the flesh.

As the Lord manifested His glory, we must also reveal the glory of the word that gave birth to us.

To maintain that life of manifesting the glory of the word we must fully acknowledge who we are. Unfortunately, many Christians see themselves as weak sinful human beings full of errors. This is one of the biggest lies of the devil. The scriptures which is God’s mirror reflects our true identity.

Who are we?

1.Amplified Bible, Classic Edition Ephesians 2:10″ For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Amazing! A pen is designed and have every ability to write on a piece of paper. You have been designed for good works or the glory of God. Believe it, say it and live it out.

2. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition 1 Peter 2:9″ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.

We are a chosen race, God’s own special people, called to demonstrate the perfections of Him. We are no longer in darkness, but we are light.

 Never again call yourself a weak helpless sinner.

You are a bundle of God’s priceless investment. Made very capable to reveal His glory

3. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].” Hallelujah!

There are many more glorious pictures about ourselves from the word of God. Each of us must take time to meditate on these verses so much that they become our very consciousness.

 The glory of God is to demonstrate the love of God, the purity of God and the miraculous power of God in healing and blessing mankind. Every child of God possesses this ability in himself or herself

THOUGHT:  TO REVEAL GOD’S GLORY, WE MUST BELIEVE AND ACCEPT OUR GLORIOUS STATE

FURTHER STUDIES

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition Ephesians 3:10″ [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.”

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition Colossians 1:12 “Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:13 KJV” Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Man made up of flesh and blood is a product of his mother and father. The word speaks of another kind of people, whose lineage is not a product of these natural ways. Our key scripture, says those who receive Jesus are born of God.

 This kind of birth process shows who they are and how they ought to live.

They are born of the Spirit, for God is a Spirit. John 3:6 KJV “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. We are Spirits and must live in the Spirit. Rom 8:9 KJV” But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Living in the Spirit simply means living by the word of God.

The Spirit of a man is the real man. The flesh is a house in which he lives in this earth.2Corinth 5:6 KJV” Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:” Natural men are ruled by the dictates of the house in which they live, that is their bodies. How does one abide in the Spirit? Rom 8:5 KJV “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” What one’s mind dwells on determine where he or she lives. The mind is the doorway that brings a man into either the Spirit or the flesh. Please when one is described as being in the Spirit, many think this is an ordinary expression. It is a real state or world that he or she dwells. The state of one in the Spirit realm is determined by the particular word of God he has believed. When one believes the word about God’s security, he comes under the power of God’s security. If you believe the word concerning healing, you come under the power of healing.

A sister testified about an incident that happened to her. She was sharing the gospel to a group of passengers in a public transport. Some armed robbers stopped them and demanded that everyone in the bus got down so they could rob their belongings. This sister said, she reasoned, how can I who is sharing the gospel be afraid and get them. These robbers insisted she came down, lest they would shoot her. She did not give any attention to them, but kept speaking in tongues. These robbers pointed their guns on her and pulled their trigger yet the fully loaded guns with bullets could not fire. They tried it a second time but failed and so had to run away. By placing her mind and heart on God’s word, she was transported into the spirit. Those robbers saw a physical girl but in the Spirit she was kept under the shadow of the almighty. We are of the Spirit, and must live by the word which is Spirit.

THOUGHT:  FISHES ARE BORN IN WATER SO WATER IS THEIR HABITAT.WE ARE BORN OF THE WORD AND THE WORD MUST BE OUR HABITAT.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 6:63 KJV It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Rom 12:2 KJV” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:12 KJV “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

Jesus did not come just to raise followers, but to raise a family for His father. He came to make men like himself. Heb 2:11 KJV “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” The preceding verse says the one who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one. The word ‘of’ is the Greek word ‘ek’ which shows the origin of a thing. This means the one who made us whole and those of us who are made whole come from one source. As a result, we have become brothers. Now the process of making us His brothers was that He gave His life for us (John 3:16, John 15 :13, 1 John 5;12)

Jesus gave His life by dying for all men. Anyone who believes in Him receives that life.1Jn 5:12 KJV “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” It is that supernatural life which was in Jesus, that becomes the life of anyone who receives or believes in Him. The scripture said as many that received Him, were given the power, or ability to become, sons of God. This statement has been treated very trivially by a number of Christians. To be given the power to become Sons of God, automatically changes everything about us.

 It means to be given the right or power to become like Jesus.

It is not to be enlisted among a group of people with certain identities, no. You become one with Jesus. Please note this, Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, but after He died and resurrected, we also became begotten sons of God. He has ceased to be the only begotten to become the FIRST BEGOTTEN. (Col 1:15)

Many Christians look powerless, fearful and weak because they do not understand what took place when they become children of God. They are still subject to diseases, demonic harassment and what have you? Please understand that anything that cannot overpower Jesus Christ cannot overpower you. You should not allow it to over power you. By your decision to accept Jesus you have been given that right or power to enter the class and status of Jesus our Lord. This is what the grace of God is about. Now if there is any work of the devil in you, rise up in faith and declare you have received the divine ability like Jesus and you put that thing off from your life. Break the power of disease and every demonic harassment right now.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you died for me, and I believe in you. I confess you as my Lord. I am a son of God, with the authority over every evil work of darkness. In the name of Jesus, I break the power of every disease or evil spirit over my life, right now.

THOUGHT:  WHEN YOU RECEIVED JESUS, YOU BECAME A SON OF GOD LIKE HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 8:29 KJV “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

1 John 4:4 KJV “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:10 KJV “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”

Do you know Jesus? Do you know that the world was created by Him? Have you experienced Him in your life? If your answer is no to all of these questions, then you are lost in your sins. It means you have no personal relationship with Jesus. Dear reader you can have that personal and growing relationship with Jesus. You can be saved from all your sins.

Jesus is actively working and living among us. Jesus is in the life of everyone who is truly born again. He is still working miracles in healing all forms of incurable diseases. He is transforming lives from every kind of evil ways to Holy, well-behaved individuals. There was a boy of about ten years, who would steal His parents’ money, run to game centres and misuse the money, then after a number of days come back home. I shared the gospel with this boy prayed for him, and to God’s glory, that was the end of that wrong lifestyle.

The world was created by Him. He is the creator. Colossians 1:16 says ” For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” The closing statement said all things were created by Him and they were created for Him. How do you see Jesus? Is he   just like one of the prophets to you?

Despite all that Jesus is doing everyday, many have not received Him. Our key scripture said although He made all things yet many are still rejecting Him. Any man who rejects Jesus cannot know true peace of heart. Be sincere to yourself, do you have real peace of mind, are you filled with fear, uncertainties and inner turmoil? Jesus is real and would calm every troubled heart.  He is very present with you right now, and would deliver you from all troubles. You would only experience all that I have said about Him if you would repent of your sins today and make Him the Lord of your life.

THOUGHT:  JESUS IS STILL THE ANSWER

 PRAYER

Lord I repent of my sins today. I make Jesus the Lord of my life. Come and live in me .

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:16 KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2Corinth 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.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:9 KJV” That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Jesus is the true light which lights up everyone in the world. This means God’s saving power is opened to all humanity. God has put the sins of all humanity on Jesus and not counting anyone’s sins against him. He is rather calling on all men to repent. (2 Corinth 5:18,19) The saving power and the mercy of God is revealed towards all men. The truth is all this light is poured out unto all men, yet men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. (John 3;19). The key scripture also said, this is the true light. To have a true light means there is a false light, for the devil himself is transformed into an angel of light. Satan has deceived the whole world, especially through religion. (Rev 12:9)

We see a problem here. Jesus the true light shines on everyone who is born into this life, yet the god of this world, blinds the mind of them that believe not, so that the glorious light of the gospel, might not be seen by them (2 Corinth 4:4). There is a role for us to play. This is to intercede in prayer till those blinding effect will be stopped.

 Intercession is standing in the gap.

 To stand in the gap means to bear the burden of the victims and call on God for a relief.

The bible described one man who played this role so vividly. Col 4:12 KJV” Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” He described Epaphras as one of them. He was just like any of them. He was not unique in any way, yet He committed himself to make a difference in the lives of the brethren through agonising in prayer. A similar description is made about Elijah. He was described as a ‘ man of like passions’ James 5:17. He prayed earnestly that it should not rain for a period of three years six months. It happened. God did that as a way of turning men’s heart to him. According to the bible Epaphras and Elijah were just like us in every way. The only difference is they gave themselves up to be used by God.

 Please note, until you decide to make yourself available to be used of the Spirit you remain ordinary.

The moment you commit yourself to bring the purposes of God to pass in the lives of men, God takes over and achieves great things through you.

The light of the gospel shines so brightly yet no spiritually blind man would see it. Naturally, the sun shines so brightly daily, yet, every blind man or woman lives in absolute darkness until their eyes begins to see. Dear child of God, God desires the salvation of all these spiritually blind folks, yet He can only save them when you stand in the gap.

THOUGHT:  YOUR AGONIZING PRAYERS WOULD BREAK THE BLINDNESS OF MEN TOWARDS THE GOSPEL.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 4:4 KJV” In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

James 5:17 KJV” Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

KEY SCRIPTURE Joh 1:6 KJV “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”

When John the Baptist, was asked by the priests, the Jewish leaders sent to enquire of who he was, he said he was a voice of one crying in the wilderness; make straight path for the Lord (John 1:23). In effect he admitted that, he had been sent on an assignment. Men are always God’s means of achieving His purposes on the earth.

 Every man saved by the blood of Jesus is also a man or woman sent from God.

You have a mandate to execute a particular task. We are all generally commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt 28:19 &20)

The sad truth is that many Christians have a misunderstanding of the task given to us. The church to some is a place of entertainment, where they go to listen to music and dance. Others consider the church as a place with a superman in charge, whose prayers are very powerful to help them come out of their problems. They do not consider or accept that they are people sent from God to save men.

Dear brother or sister you have been sent from God. Don’t lose sight of your task. You would one day be required to give an account of what you did about what God asked you to do. (2 Corinth 5:10)

A story making runs on social media, is about a young boy who was SENT by the father to go, buy some food from a restaurant for Him. This boy bought the food alright, but when returning home, he came across some boys playing football. His friends asked him to join to play the game. Without hesitating he left the food with some boys and joined to play the game. He played very well and was hailed by all who watched the game. The game ended only to find out that his father’s food had been eaten. He was faced with the real challenge of going back home to face the anger and disappointment of his father. He cried and dreaded going home. Dear one, one day the game which has taken you from your assignment that God gave you, would be over, and you would go home to meet your father, who SENT you. Would you joyfully meet your father or you would be filled with fear.?

THOUGHT:  WHEN THE GAME IS OVER YOU WOULD GO HOME

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Timothy 4:7 KJV” I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

2 Corinth 5:10 KJV” For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.