KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:10 KJV” Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus”.

Our key scripture reveals an incident that has been the view of some Christians. They believe in some cases we must take arms and fight for our faith. Simon Peter was also nicknamed Zelotes in Luke 6:15 because he belonged to the political wing called the Zealots, who were the radical Jewish sect, that opposed the rule of the pagan Roman government. They even opposed their fellow Jews who sounded conciliatory seeking peace. It was this sentiment in Peter that made him aggressive and offensive to the point of striking the ear of one of the assailants of the Lord. Should the church take such a tangent when occasion demands?

Church history recorded periods when Islamic Jihadists attacked certain communities, forcing them to convert to Islam. This led to the uprise of the Crusaders which was a Christian military body that fought to defend the Christians. Was it scriptural for the Christians to take weapons to fight and defend their territories? The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. A few years ago, the church in Nigeria found themselves in a similar web, where Islamic Fulanis attacked churches and murdered Christians in cold blood. The church was torn between forming armed Defense groups to fight and protect their brethren or trusting the power of God to protect them.

I believe Christians should strengthen their faith to trust in God for His protection. History teaches us that, the early Church was persecuted without any retaliation, yet the strength and expansion of the church grew because they did not fight back. They trusted God and held to their faith in the midst of the persecution. Our Lord Jesus who is the Lord of the church is able to fight for His glory. The church must get to know the Lord and stand stronger for Him, and He will turn the situation to His glory.

THOUGHT: MAY THE CHURCH LEARN TO SEEK THE SPIRIT’S COUNSEL IN ALL SITUATIONS

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Sam 22:31 KJV “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.”

Psalms 4:5 KJV” Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.”

KEY SCRIPTURE Joh 18:9 KJV” That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them, which thou gavest me have I lost none.”

In our previous study, we learned that leaders must be very responsible to keep their followers and lose none. The welfare of the followers should be of great concern to the leader. Every one of the followers is very important and must be protected as much as possible. God does not want any soul to be lost and everything must be done to preserve them. As Christian leaders, whether we are pastors or any responsible role, our concern is to make sure none of the brethren loses his faith or commitment to the Lord. It is the agenda of Satan and his demons to keep the children of God out of the faith.

In Philippians 2 :15, Apostle Paul says he desires all the brethren of Philippi be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke. He added the following words in the next verse. Phi 2:16 KJV “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” He says he does not want to run in vain, that is in the day of Christ He finds that those he won for Christ fail to get to the presence of the Lord. The sad truth is that many pastors and church workers do not feel anything wrong altogether when a brother or sister falls off concerning his or her faith in Christ. Jesus was to lose none, and we must do everything not to lose any.

What can we do to keep the souls?

1. The first thing is to take heed to yourself, so you would be strong enough to help others stand. Acts 20:28

2. Agonize in intercession for the brethren 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.”

3. Take care of the souls by teaching them the word and every other assistance that would help them get along.

4. When they seem to fall or to be overtaken by wrong teaching, or a life condition that threatens their faith, make time to know what is making them fall and seek a solution to make them stand one more time.

5. Get in touch as often as you can. That is what Jesus did, he was constantly in touch with His disciples and apostles.

THOUGHT: THE SUCCESS OF SOUL WINNING, IS TO SEE THEM IN HEAVEN.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 20:28 KJV “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Phil 4:1 KJV “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:8 KJV” Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way”:

Leadership is all about being able to influence your followers to go a particular way. One of the strongest means of giving a positive influence is to lead the way with a good example. Such examples are often seen in his selfless acts or loving deeds that show great care for his followers. Any leader who lacks selflessness is a poor leader and cannot be called a leader because he has nothing in him to stir his followers to follow.

After Judas and his men fell to the ground in their mission to arrest the Lord Jesus, He told them, I have told you, I am Jesus that you have come to arrest, then do no harm to my men with me. The Lord did not hide his identity, nor attempt to use any of his men as bait so he could escape. He readily gave up himself. He made sure His men would be left out. The Lord bore His own responsibility.

Every human being is a leader in a particular way. Everybody has a level of responsibility and therefore some level of influence. You therefore need to be selfless to sustain your sphere of influence. The market woman who is not disciplined with the use of her business earnings, but reckless with money, would soon realise her business is dead or has left her. My father Opanin Kofi Somuah of blessed memory said, ‘Be a servant to your business, and it will ever be there for you’. Nothing would stay with you if you were not responsible, disciplined, and selfless. Unfortunately, most African leaders find themselves as the worst culprits. Every leader should never allow a desire for personal comfort to be his longing, but rather the comfort of his followers. It is in securing their comfort, that you would receive the comfort that your followers would willingly bring to you.

THOUGHT: LEADERSHIP IS SACRIFICE THAT CHALLENGES FOLLOWERS TO GIVE THEIR BEST.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 5:14 KJV” For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

1Corinth 4:9 KJV “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.””

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:6 KJV” As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground.”

Words always carry a level of impact. The way a word may be spoken also determines the effect of those words. Each occasion demands a particular approach to what is to be said,  and how it is said. When Judas and these men enquired about who Jesus was? The Lord responded boldly; I am He. The whole gang that was coming for Him was pushed back by a power and they fell down. What pushed them down? I believe it was the power of the Holy Spirit who also spoke forth the words through Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is simply fearless. We must always speak out fearlessly. That does not mean we should not be gentle and polite when the occasion demands that. The scripture cautions us to let our words be seasoned with salt Col 4:6 KJV” Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

When do we speak boldly and maybe more firmly?

1. When warning the unruly.1 Thess 5: 14

2. When speaking to a demon in a person.

3. When the Holy Spirit leads you to speak that way under any condition, He deems fit.

4. When sharing God’s with an audience. Titus 2:15 KJV” These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

5. When answering an evil opposition, An example is when people under the influence of Satan say negative demeaning words to you. Do not keep quiet over such words, speak back, and say it boldly.

THOUGHT: WORDS ARE INSTRUMENTS TO BUILD UP AND WEAPONS TO DESTROY, USE THEM WELL

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 14:3 KJV Long time, therefore, abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Eph 6:20 KJV “For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:5 ISV ” They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.” Jesus told them, “I AM.” Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.”

Judas has always stood with Jesus, throughout the period of Jesus’ ministry in the region. This time the bible said he was standing with the wicked. How come a holy man could end up standing among evildoers? Dear readers, evil never occurred only on that occasion. He had carried the seed of iniquity in him all the while. It only matured at that very hour. What would have happened, if the betrayal of Jesus had not occurred, yet he died with his greedy lifestyle? He would have ended up in hell but would say to the Lord, I was one of your trusted disciples, why am I here? Please note, it is not the so-called one big sin, but the little secret sins; they are the real Waterloo. Always remember this statement, small sins grow and when they grow, they kill.

Where are you standing today? What do you do when no one is looking? Please note, that the man who is tempted to commit a particular sin, but does not yield to it, should not feel guilty concerning this line of study. I am talking about the man, who secretly practices error or sin, yet presents himself to all as a genuine person. Dear one, if you are living this way, then you are standing with the devil. Psalm 1:1 says, blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful, but his delight, is in the law of the Lord” You do not belong to the way of the wicked, refuse to walk that way.

You can leave that wrong location of your life. The story of the prodigal son, says, he came to himself and started asking himself questions. Ask yourself, where and who am I standing with? If your answer says you are in the wrong location, then ask the Lord for forgiveness and leave that secret life of sin. Break that wrong association too. Go to your master and build a better relationship with Him. Please do not postpone your decision or corresponding actions. Do not walk in the path of the wicked. If you do not stop today, you may miss the ultimate destination, which is heaven.

THOUGHT: DO NOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER MOMENT, TO REPENT FROM A SINFUL LIFE, IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 7:21 KJV” Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Gal 6:7 KJV” Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:4 ISV “Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”

Judas and his accomplices came to take Jesus captive, yet He did not move the least about the threat they posed. He fearlessly confronted them and asked, who are you looking for? The Lord knew they were looking for Him, yet He asked, who are you looking for? The Lord Jesus would always expect men to say what they really want. He took charge of the situation. Anything you take charge of in faith, cannot unleash what Satan may intend for you to do. It is always one thing, what the devil may do and there is also how you respond, whether in faith or in fear.

What made the master so fearless? Jesus knew His father, and so was very strong. Dan 11:32 ISV’ Through flattery he’ll corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but people who know their God will be strong and take action.” The Lord was deeply rooted in His Father and His mighty power that surpassed whatever these carnal earthlings were. Such fearlessness is not worked out at such critical moments, but an already existing confidence in God. He had built this confidence over a lifetime of association with the Father. He said, I know my Father.

Dear child of God, take time to build your confidence in God. Know Him through His word, through the practice of the word, through meditation on the word, and finally through the abstinence from sin. One of the strongest blockers of faith and confidence in God is sin. The Lord Jesus has always walked in the Spirit throughout His ministry period. On the day of trial, He still functioned in the Spirit.

THOUGHT: A LIFE IN THE SPIRIT WOULD ALWAYS RESPOND FROM THE SPIRIT.

FURTHER STUDIES

Deut 3:22 ISV “You are not to fear them because the LORD your God will fight for you.”

Psalms 27:3 ISV” If an army encamps against me, my heart will not fear.   If a war is launched against me, I will even trust in that situation.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:” John 18:4 KJV “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?”

This verse says the Lord Jesus knew all things that would be happening to him, and so was always ready for whatever was ahead of Him.

He was never taken by surprise by any situation that concerned Him. There were also certain occasions when He expressed that certain matters were in the domain or control of the Father in Acts 1:6, His disciples asked Him, When are you going to give the kingdom back to Israel? The Lord answered as follows: ” It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” This was a matter He expressed ignorance about.

What does the Lord’s admittance of ignorance about certain matters suggest? It shows that by taking on the nature of a man, He had left His glory as God. This meant He had to trust the Holy Spirit to tell Him all things. It also meant He had to work very hard to be always in tune to the Holy Spirit The issue of the crucifixion, was a matter that concerned Himself, and so He had to be on top of it.

One of the biggest challenges of most people of God is that they are always taken unawares about many things, including spiritual matters., relationships, social, and even dangers that may befall them.

How can one develop his or her spiritual senses to know these things? This is done by growing in our fellowship with the Spirit. As one grows in fellowship with the Spirit, his spirit nature also grows. Our spirit nature has eyes and ears as our natural man. It grows through spiritual exercises.

What to do:

1. Decide to be very serious about spiritual matters.

2. Study the bible diligently.

3. Pray much in the Holy Ghost, as you maintain a very calm heart to hear from the Lord.

4. Spend some moments each day, meditating on the word of God.

5. Be prompt at doing whatever the Spirit instructs in the word.

As you do the above steps, you would grow to know through your developed spiritual senses all that you must know.

THOUGHT: GROW YOUR SPIRITUAL SENSES INTO SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 5:14 KJV ” But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

1Corinth 14:4 ISV “The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:3 KJV “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

We see in the above key scripture, Judas a disciple of Jesus, accompanied by armed men and all those who hated Jesus Christ, to arrest and crucify Him. Judas has lost his sense of allegiance and faithfulness, because of a few silver coins. Judas eventually felt remorse and sent back the monies that were given to Him (Matt 27:3). It could be deduced that he anticipated that the Lord would have escaped from their arrest as He had done on a number of occasions., so that He would have had his money. This was greediness.

It is very unfortunate that many who have been expected to be faithful get treacherous. There are many homes fuming with rage and turmoil because partners tend to be insensitive to the real concerns of their fellow associates. How could a friend poison her colleague because of an iPhone? Political leaders who vow to be faithful to the poor deprived citizens, steal state monies and use them for properties they do not live long enough to make use of. How many buildings can you sleep in at a time? If you built those houses with genuine funds of yours, then that is right.

Dear man of influence who has become so insensitive that you enjoy having the citizens line up in your homes begging you for money, that belongs to them. These monies could have been channeled into ventures that would have gotten these citizens into gainful employment.

To everyone who has been insensitive to others, know that the real person you are offending is God the creator. Every man is a physical representative of the invisible God, for God made him in His image and likeness. Remember He said, if you are bringing your offering in worship, and you remember your brother has an issue against you, then stop whatever you are bringing, go back to him or her, and settle that issue before you bring that sacrifice. Matt 5:23 This means anyone in the church who might have mistreated his neighbour, is offering an unacceptable worship unto God. Go back to that person, or people, and then straighten up those misdeeds, before you come to offer your worship. Until you do that, it is a waste of your time.

THOUGHT: YOU CAN’T MISTREAT MEN, AND BE CORDIAL TO GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Jn 4:20 KJV” If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

Mal 2:10 KJV” Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:3 KJV “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

Judas was, one of the strategic disciples of Jesus because he kept the group’s money. He had gone to negotiate Jesus’ betrayal and now was coming with armed men to arrest the master. What on earth could make a man take such a tangent? Judas had been so loved by the master. The Lord knew he was stealing some of the group’s money. I believe the Lord might have warned him, yet he kept on doing it. It was this tendency of greed that had grown horns that led him to betray his master.  Little sins grow and when they grow, they kill. Stop any wrong tendencies, for it would one day destroy you ultimately

Judas had seen the amazing personality of Jesus, yet he thought of betraying him. What makes men’s hearts so evil? The scripture says the heart of an ‘unregenerated’ man is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can tell? Jeremiah 17:9. The genesis of all this is how one thinks which is influenced by wrong desires If a man should continue living wrongly over time, demons would surely take over the heart of such a person. I believe in Judas’ case the demon who was steering these tendencies in Him, welcomed Satan to take over and do the final kill.

Dear reader, there is no ultimate advantage in doing wrong. To choose evil is to partner with Satan. Now get this point clearly, Satan never uses a thing, and leaves it in its original state. He is naturally destructive. Anything that passes through his hands must be destroyed. It takes the mercy of God to save anyone who gets into Satan’s grip. The end of every evil path is destruction, except God shows mercy, through the intercession of a loved one. Know also that God may not show mercy to save evil workers, unless an intercessor, stands in the gap, for such a one, to be saved. Please dear one who is given to being mischievous, your way is only destruction unless you repent. Judas ended up committing suicide.

THOUGHT: WRONG ACTIONS MAY SEEM REWARDING YET, THERE IS ALWAYS A HARVEST OF ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 4:19 KJV” The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”

Prov 14:34 KJV” Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:2 KJV “And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.”

The Lord had a place where He used to meet with His disciples. I believe this was a place of prayer and fellowship, that is to impart knowledge of the word of God to his disciples. Judas who betrayed Him, knew the place because he was always with the rest of the twelve. What does this aspect of the ministry of Jesus have to teach us of this era of the practice of Christianity?

I consider this place of resort as what we would consider in our era as gathering at a particular location. It is what I believe has evolved as church buildings The Lord Jesus did not have any four-walled building for Him to be gathering with His disciples. (Please this does not mean meeting in a building is wrong) They had to resort to this garden, which could have been owned by one of His rich disciples. The point I wish to draw out of this was that the focus of His activities was not only about this place of a resort but also out there on the fields, where the sinners are. Sadly the practice of the church is concentrated at the place of meeting more than, getting to the world of the people.

In Mark 1:35-37 the Lord returned from an early morning prayer, to be told that everyone was looking for Him. These people were with him the previous day when He healed many sick folks. The Lord answered them as follows: Mark 1:38 KJV “And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.” The Lord’s ministry was about going to find the sinners or souls. His main church was His disciples. The towns, villages, and parks were their mission fields.

Many in this modern church find it strange to be asked to go out to talk and minister to people where they are. I believe this is one of the reasons, the impact of the church is not moving that fast. Remember before He went to heaven, He commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. The principle is to meet to equip yourselves and go out to do the work of the ministry.

THOUGHT: THE REASON FOR EQUIPING THE SAINTS IS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 4:12 KJV” For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Matthew 28:19 KJV “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”