Friday, October 11, 2024

October 11, 2024

LIVING FROM CONTENTMENT


Hey friend! Let's see some realities about this world:

'Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.' - Ecclesiastes 1 vs 2 {KJV}
  • all is vanity

'Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11 {KJV}

Pay attention to what you are reading!

'But when I turned to look at all that I had accomplished and all the hard work I had put into it, I saw that it was all pointless. It was like trying to catch the wind. I gained nothing from any of my accomplishments under the sun.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11 {GW}

'Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard I had worked doing it, and I realized that it didn't mean a thing. It was like chasing the wind—of no use at all.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11 {GNB}
  • it didn't mean a thing
  • It was like chasing the wind

Pay attention!

'For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 22 - 23 {KING JAMES VERSION}

'You work and worry your way through life, and what do you have to show for it?
As long as you live, everything you do brings nothing but worry and heartache. Even at night your mind can't rest. It is all useless.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 22 - 23 {GOOD NEWS BIBLE TRANSLATION}

'What do we really gain from all of our hard work?
Our bodies ache during the day, and work is torture. Then at night our thoughts are troubled. It just doesn't make sense.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 22 - 23 {CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION}
  • It just doesn't make sense

'Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless.' - Ecclesiastes 5 vs 10 {GW}

Pay attention!

'If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless.' - Ecclesiastes 5 vs 10 {GNB}

Seeing these things, how then should you live your life?

'But godliness with contentment is great gain.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 6 {KJV}

Living from contentment! See this:

'We have a “profit” that is greater than theirs—our holy awe of God! To have merely our necessities is to have enough.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 6 {TPT}

To have merely our necessities is to have enough. What a statement! Do you believe this? Think about it.

Living from contentment! Approaching life from the place of contentment. This is will be the beginning of your peace from fear, uncertainties and anxiety concerning life. You don't have riches? Unbothered! No wife? Unbothered! No husband? Unbothered! No luxuries which your friends have? Unbothered! You are content with the necessities of life that God has given to you, because you have an understanding that you came into this world with nothing, and certainly you will leave this world with nothing!

'For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 7 {KJV}

'I walked through the fields and vineyards of a lazy, stupid person. 
They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down. 
I looked at this, thought about it, and learned a lesson from it...' - Proverbs 24 vs 30 - 32 {GOOD NEWS BIBLE TRANSLATION}
  • I looked at this...and learned a lesson from it

Learn to observe and learn lessons from life, just like Solomon. Observe the rich: they excel in wealth and influence, then they die and are forgotten! Their chapter in the earth comes to a close, their wealth enter into the hands of another, and they are buried with empty hands. Observe and take lessons from that your friend or colleague who was of the same life's pursuits as yourself who is now dead. That could be you! Observe and learn lessons. A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things that he has - so the Lord Jesus taught:

'And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.' - Luke 12 vs 15 {KJV}

  • a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth

Live with the superior goal in mind. Eternity! When you live from contentment, I tell you, you will be unaffected by this life, absolutely unfazed about the cares of this life. Undaunted! You may appear small, but you have Eternal Life! Your eyes and your gaze are on that one thing which is needful, eternal life!

'And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.' - Luke 10 vs 41 - 42 {KING JAMES VERSION}

  • one thing is needful

Of course, go about your work, go about your business, make money, but do all you do from the place of contentment. You don't have this? No worries! You don't have that? No worries! You are grateful to God for that which He has given to you, you are grateful to God for that which you have. And you are even more grateful to God because He has given you the Kingdom. Glory to God forevermore.

'There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.' - Luke 16 vs 19 - 25 {KING JAMES VERSION}

It didn't matter that Lazarus was poor! He achieved the ultimate prize. But the rich man, of what use was his riches ultimately? Observe and learn lessons!

Heaven is the goal!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel

Saturday, September 21, 2024

September 21, 2024

THE DOCTRINE OF CONTENTMENT


'I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.' - Philippians 4 vs 12

  • I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound

Waow!

Let's take a look at this verse in some other Bible translations:

'I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.' - Philippians 4 vs 12 {GNB}

  • I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough
  • anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or little

'I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little.' - Philippians 4 vs 12 {GW}

  • I know how to live in poverty or prosperity

'I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.' - Philippians 4 vs 12 - 13 {TPT}

  • I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance

If you paid good attention as you read the verses, you'll agree with me that for the Christian, there's no room for ungodly compromise due to lack or suffering.

I KNOW HOW TO LIVE IN POVERTY OR PROSPERITY
The above heading is the statement of the Apostle Paul which you've read above, that shows to us that there is a way to live in the condition of poverty and in the condition of prosperity. That means, when poverty sets in, ungodly compromises is not an option! We don't begin to do ungodly things to take care of our needs. Rather, we are informed that there is a way to live in times of poverty. Think about that. So, how should the Christian live in times of poverty? What conduct does God expect of the Believer when he is in poverty?

'But godliness with contentment is great gain. 
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 6 - 7 {KJV}

CONTENTMENT
Contentment simply means 'to be satisfied'. So, to be content means 'to be satisfied'. The word 'contentment' doesn't necessarily apply to being satisfied with only little things, but rather, it means to be satisfied with whatsoever you have, whether little or abundant. So again, see what Paul says:

'I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little.' - Philippians 4 vs 12 {GW}

  • I know how to live in poverty or prosperity

So, how do you live in poverty or prosperity? With Contentment! He is saying, be satisfied with whatsoever you have, in whatever state you are, whether you have too much or if you have too little, be satisfied. Then he gives us a revelation that fuels that satisfaction, he said, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." You see that... Until you come to this revelation, until you come to the acceptance of this truth, ungodliness will still have a place in your eyes - every now and then you will find yourself lying, cheating, stealing just to get money that perishes! - Think about that

There is something God has said concerning every situation of man, this is what God has said concerning the Believer in poverty! We stay satisfied with just what we have. That means, we will adjust our lives to our economic levels at every point in our lives. No compromises! No ungodly indulgements! We stay satisfied. Hallelujah! Now, see how satisfied God wants His children to be irrespective of their poverty:

'And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 8 {KJV}

This translation is clear enough, but let's see the verse in the God's Word translation:

'As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied.'

Uhmmmm! You see, it's not to say I'm a Christian; the question is, Do you live by the Word? As long as we have food and clothes, God says to us, Be satisfied!

'Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.' - Psalm 49 vs 16 - 17 {KING JAMES VERSION}

  • For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away

'Don't be upset when someone becomes rich, when his wealth grows even greater; 
he cannot take it with him when he dies; his wealth will not go with him to the grave.' Psalms 49 vs 16 - 17 {GOOD NEWS BIBLE}

  • he cannot take it with him when he dies
  • his wealth will not go with him to the grave

These are fuelers of our convictions! These are truths to realise, and your convictions will be strengthened to walk with God uprightly irrespective of the condition or poverty you are faced with - they are only temporal, in that you are a sojourner, a traveler on earth, you will be out of here soon. Think upon it.

PASTOR, I DON'T WANT TO BE POOR
The desire to be rich in a man is a risky desire! Such cravings are dangerous. So should Christians be poor? That's not the point being communicated. The Bible warns us about the desire to be rich, let's take a look at it:

'But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 9 {KJV}

You see that? The desire to be rich in itself is a trap, and men hardly escape the trap of the desire to be rich. We are admonished that the desire to be rich will lure a man into foolish desires which drown men into destruction, and eventually, eternal perdition. So what do we do? We stay satisfied! Satisfied with what you have. If you have little, be satisfied with it. Even as you work hard and make money, you do that without fleshly cravings; you pursue your life's course from the place of contentment, satisfaction. If you have plenty, be satisfied with it. Even as you work hard and make money, you do that without fleshly cravings; you pursue your life's course from the place of contentment, satisfaction. This is it.

'But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 9 - 10 {KING JAMES VERSION}

  • THEY THAT WILL BE RICH
Meaning, those who desire to be rich! He shows us that these ones get into hurtful desires, which brings about ungodly actions, which ultimately sends them to hell. Read the verse carefully, you will get the point.
Then the next verse tells us that the love of money, the excessive desire for money is the root of all evil. Then he tells us that those who stretched themselves for it erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Uhmmm
To covet after money is to put your Salvation on the line, because such inordinate desire for money will always lead you to do things that are inconsistent with the righteousness of God, all because of money! You can't escape that trap if your desire is to be rich! This is the reason why we are thus admonished to be content with what we have. We came into this world with nothing, we will certainly leave it with nothing.

'But those who crave the wealth of this world slip into spiritual snares. They become trapped by the troubles that come through their foolish and harmful desires, driven by greed and drowning in their own sinful pleasures. And they take others down with them into their corruption and eventual destruction. 
Loving money is the first step toward all kinds of trouble. Some people run after it so much that they have given up their faith. Craving more money pushes them away from the faith into error, compounding misery in their lives!' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 9 - 10 {THE PASSION TRANSLATION}

  • Some people run after money so much that they have given up their faith
  • Craving more money pushes them away from the faith into error

You see... It's impossible to crave for riches and not slip off the faith. Does this mean that Believers should be poor? No! That's not the point. The point is, desiring to have more money (riches) will cause you to fall into temptation, which will drown you in destruction and perdition. Rather, live in contentment! Grow with contentment! Earn money with contentment! Grow rich with contentment! No desires to have more! No extravagant desire to make wealth! No crave for more money! We are content with whatsoever we have at every point in our lives! No rush, no pressures, no excessive desires! Just Jesus and His kingdom established in the earth - this is our desire, this is what we crave to see, this is what we long for! Amen.

Hey friend! We won't be here for long. Hold on, we will soon be out of this world. Contentment is beautiful. Walk in it. May the Lord strengthen your heart with these words. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel

Friday, August 23, 2024

August 23, 2024

FAITH IN SALVATION - PT. 2


Concerning Salvation, does Faith mean the same thing for the Believer and the unbeliever? Find out in this teaching. Listen attentively.

FAITH IN SALVATION - PT. 2


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August 23, 2024

FAITH IN SALVATION - PT. 1


Concerning Salvation, does Faith mean the same thing for the Believer and the unbeliever? Find out in this teaching. Listen attentively.

FAITH IN SALVATION - PT. 1


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August 23, 2024

THE SAYING 'GOD TOLD ME' - KNOWING WHAT GOD CANNOT SAY


In a generation of so many voices claiming God said to them, it is important that as Believers, we know from the Word what God can say and what God cannot say. This will help us with good discernment in such a generation as this. Listen attentively to this teaching.

THE SAYING 'GOD TOLD ME' - KNOWING WHAT GOD CANNOT SAY


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Wednesday, August 21, 2024

August 21, 2024

JESUS: THAT ONE MAN YOU CAN RELATE WITH


'And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?' - Mark 2 vs 16 {KJV}
'And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.' - Luke 19 vs 5 - 7 {KING JAMES VERSION}

'And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.' - Luke 7 vs 36 - 39 {KING JAMES VERSION}

'For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.' - Matthew 11 vs 18 - 19 {KING JAMES VERSION}

  • They grumbled saying, why does your Master eat with sinners
  • He went to Zacchaeus' house
  • The prostitute came to Him
  • He associated with the publicans (tax collectors) who the people hated because of their fraudulent extortion from them
  • He drank wine with sinners
Beloved, the Lord Jesus is your go to person, He knows exactly your struggles and weaknesses, He has a perfect understanding of your humanity. Don't run from Him anymore because of your sins; He wants to be involved in your life, let Him in! Zacchaeus' fraudulent business didn't stop Him from having a meal with Zacchaeus and spending the night in his house - though the people murmured and complained about that, Jesus didn't care. This Jesus, you need Him! I tell you, you really want to know Him. Let Him into your life, there's no judgment nor condemnation in His person.

Think on these words.

God is with you.

- Jenning U. Angel

Sunday, August 18, 2024

August 18, 2024

FOUNDATION, ANCESTRAL CURSES & FAMILY PATTERNS - PT. 2


What does the Bible say about this subject? Find out in this teaching. Listen attentively.

FOUNDATION, ANCESTRAL CURSES & FAMILY PATTERNS - PT. 2


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August 18, 2024

FOUNDATION, ANCESTRAL CURSES & FAMILY PATTERNS - PT. 1


What does the Bible say about this subject? Find out in this teaching. Listen attentively.

FOUNDATION, ANCESTRAL CURSES & FAMILY PATTERNS - PT. 1


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Friday, July 26, 2024

July 26, 2024

HE JUST GIVES


'That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.' - Matthew 5 vs 45


The above Bible verse is one verse with a lot to learn from as children of God. Those words were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ; God is so good that He gives His gifts to all men, both the good and the evil.

  • He maketh His sun to rise on the evil
  • He maketh His sun to rise on the good
  • He sendeth rain on the just
  • He sendeth rain on the unjust

Waow! This is our God. He gives sun and rain to men (all manner of ungodly men) who don't want Him. Even the one who says there is no God, he enjoys the gifts of God. God is so good that He doesn't check if a man will do good later before He blesses him, He doesn't check if a man has done good prior before He blesses him, He just blesses! He just gives! because He is good! His goodness is unconditional, it is unconditional of men's behaviours, goodness is who He is! And because He is good, He gives.

"God gives as an act of His nature, not as a reaction to a man's good behaviour." - Think about it

'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.' - John 3 vs 16 {KJV}

  • For God so loved the world
  • that He gave

The world speaks of 'the ungodly'. God didn't wait for the ungodly to repent before loving them, He loved them in their ungodliness, and did something about their condition - He gave His only begotten Son! Hallelujah!

'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' - Romans 5 vs 8 {KJV}

  • while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

This is our God! He gives without conditions! He gives as an act of His goodness! He does not give as a reaction, no! He gives because it's His nature to give.

'Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' - 1 John 4 vs 10 {KJV}

  • not that we loved God
  • but that He loved us
  • and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins

This is our God! His loving us was not because we loved Him, but because it is His nature to love. And He manifested His love for us by giving to us (sending His Son to save us).

Hallelujah!

Dearly beloved, we are to be imitators of God as His children,

'Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children...' - Ephesians 5 vs 1 {KJV}

The word 'followers' as used in this verse is translated from the Greek word 'mimētēs', which means 'an imitator'.

So if we rephrase the verse with this understanding, it reads,

'Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children...' - Ephesians 5 vs 1 {KJV}

You see...

We ought to imitate the characters of God as revealed in the Bible.

Beloved, decide today to practice walking in goodness, giving to men unconditionally, loving men unconditionally. Yes! Practice doing good to men whether or not they will behave well after you've given to them; Practice doing good to men whether or not they have behaved well prior. Do good because your Father does good! Do good unconditionally because that is how your Father gives. God gives naturally, giving flows out of God naturally.

When you understand this and begin to live it out, whether or not men are thankful will mean nothing to you, you will not be hurt if a man is not appreciative of your good work to him, you will not feel bad if a man doesn't behave well towards you after you have shown him kindness. Think on these words.

We are born again!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

June 11, 2024

DOES GOD KILL?


In this study, we will be looking at the justice system of God. Clarity will be granted on this subject, 'Does God Kill?' Listen attentively.

DOES GOD KILL?


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Friday, June 07, 2024

June 07, 2024

HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF


'If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.' - 2 Timothy 2 vs 13

Greetings to you dearly beloved of God in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Be blessed and refreshed in the spirit of your mind as you read these words shared in this article. God is with you. Amen.

The aim of this article is to show you one thing about the Lord that you need to know. Now, what does this statement mean "He cannot deny himself" as seen in our opening Bible passage? It means that the Lord cannot deny His nature, He cannot deny who He is, He cannot deny what He is. Even though we are bad, yet that cannot make Him deny the fact that He is good. This means that our unfaithfulness towards the Lord does not change Him into something else. He is good means He is good, He cannot deny Himself, He cannot change the facts of who He is. - Selah

Okay. So now let's take a look at our opening Bible passage from the Amplified Bible Translation:

'If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.'

From the above Bible verse, it is evident that our unfaithfulness towards the Lord Jesus cannot change Him; our errors committed against Him cannot change who He is, our sins and rebellion done against Him cannot change His words spoken concerning us; our transgressions cannot change His righteous character, our mistakes cannot change His status of us being one with Him. He cannot deny himself. The Lord is good. Hallelujah!

So you see, one thing we need to strongly know about the Lord Jesus Christ is that He is unchanging in spite of our ingratitude and unfaithfulness to Him, He is forever faithful to His word irrespective of our unfaithfulness to Him. So you can take solace in this, knowing that your place in Christ will never be removed by your imperfections - this should give springs to your steps as you intentionally walk in newness of life. Hallelujah!

WHAT HAS THE WORD SAID CONCERNING US?

Let's see a few:

'In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace...' - Ephesians 1 vs 7 {KJV}

  • We have the forgiveness of sins in Christ

So therefore, you may yet still have flaws, and even have some deliberate sins which your heart despises, nevertheless, the Lord will not change this Word because of your errors. This therefore means that you having the forgiveness of sins will never change! The Lord is faithful to His word. He cannot deny himself.

'...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]' - Hebrews 13 vs 5b {AMP}

  • He will never leave us nor give up on us

What an assurance we have in God that He will never give up on us. Remember beloved, God is faithful to His word, He cannot deny himself, He cannot deny who He is because of our errors. Therefore beloved, be fully persuaded in your heart that you can never miss God, because every good thing He has said concerning you remains forever irrespective of how far you have strayed from Him. All you have to do is 'Return to Him', He delights to see you return Home.

'And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.' - Luke 15 vs 17 - 20 {KING JAMES VERSION} 

Just like this young man (who is referred to as the prodigal son), he said to himself that he would arise and go to his Father. This is the only decision you need to take, arise and go back to God who loves without measure. - Selah

'And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.' - Verse 20

  • But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him

This is the nature and character of God, this is the nature and character of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord evidently gave this parable to show to men the character of God and His Christ which He is. Even when the "prodigal son" misbehaved, his sin wasn't a good reason enough to change his Father's nature of kindness and compassion. This is the righteous character of our God - He cannot deny Himself, He is true to His words, He is faithful to His words even though we are undeserving of Him.

Comfort yourself with these words; know today what a loving God you serve, know what a compassionate Saviour you have in Jesus, and return Home today. God is with you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

May 28, 2024

REMEMBER JOB


'Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.' - James 5 vs 11

Greetings to you dearly beloved of God in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I want us to take a look at our opening Bible passage from the God's Word translation (GW) for a very precise presentation of the verse:

'We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.' - James 5 vs 11 {GW}

  • those who endure
  • You have heard of Job's endurance
  • the Lord ended Job's suffering
  • because the Lord is compassionate and merciful

Waow! Explicit. The context of the Apostle's discussion in this verse, which began from the verse 7 is patience in suffering. You can begin reading from the verse 7 to have a full grasp of the context. Here in the verse 11, he cited Job as an example of patience in suffering - he said, "You have heard of Job's endurance..." He went forward to explicitate the compassion of God, he says, "You saw that the Lord ended Job's suffering..." The King James Version puts it as "the Lord is very pitiful".

Dearly beloved, what are you going through? Beloved child of God, what's that challenge, what's that hardship, what's that condition or situation that you are in that has wearied you so much and brought you to much tears? Beloved, remember Job! Nothing new is happening to you now that the patriarchs of Faith didn't experience in their time on earth. But guess what? They had a good report of faith; they had a good report of endurance; they had a good report of patience in suffering. Remember Job. The Bible is a book that contains our Family profile, family album and family history. If you want to know what happens in this family of God that you are a member of, and what does not happen, look into the Bible, and see how men worked with God! See how your Old Testament brothers and sisters worked with God, see how the early New Testaments brethren worked with God, consider the end of their work with God, it was beauty and thanksgiving. God came through! God will come through for you.

'You, too, must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here.' - James 5 vs 8 {GW}

  • Don't give up hope
  • The Lord will soon be here

This should be your greatest consolation in your hardship, "You won't be in this world forever, very soon you will be with the Lord." This should console your heart every time, as you patiently wait for God to intervene in your situation.

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE
This is not the time to consider prospering by evil and wicked devices, because you are faced with hardship. No! You have come too far, you have burnt your bridges, there's no going back! It's Jesus till you die! This should be your resolve. Persecution/suffering is the true test of a Believer.

'That same day Jesus left the house and sat down by the Sea of Galilee. 
The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore. 
Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said, “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. 
Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. 
Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep. 
But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren’t deep enough. 
Other seeds were planted among thornbushes, and the thornbushes grew up and choked them. 
But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted. 
Let the person who has ears listen!”' - Matthew 13 vs 1 - 9 {GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION}

Pay attention to verse 5 and 6: THE SEEDS PLANTED ON ROCKY GROUND

The Lord Jesus later gave the interpretation of the parable. So let's see the interpretation of the seeds planted on rocky ground:

'The seed planted on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and accepts it at once with joy. 
Since he doesn’t have any root, he lasts only a little while. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls from faith.' - Matthew 13 vs 20 - 21 {GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION}

  • When suffering or persecution comes along
  • because of the Word
  • he immediately falls from Faith

Waow! Did you notice that the Lord said that the suffering and persecution come because of the Word? Woaw! That's profound. That means, every trial/suffering/persecution that comes at a Believer is a direct attack on his faith, it's a test of his faith, it's a trying of his faith. Think about that. But sadly, this category of Believers fell from Faith into darkness and ungodly practices because the word of God they thought they knew before suffering came wasn't deep seated in them, they were not convinced about those Truths they believed, though they claimed to believe the Truths/revelations of the Word, yet those teachings didn't translate into their convictions. So when suffering came, because those Truths were not translated into convictions in them, they fell off! That's when you'll see a former brother who was on fire for the Lord, now into fraud and drugs; a former sister who served the Lord with a pure conscience now absolutely messed up and far from the church! Why? They weren't really convinced about the things they believed. This is the message the Lord communicated in that parable of the seeds that were planted on rocky ground.

Beloved, this shouldn't be you! Let the word of God become your conviction! See what Job said in his affliction:

'God may kill me, but still I will trust him and offer my defense.' - Job 13 vs 15 {CEV}

  • God may kill me, but still I will trust Him

Oooo! What a man! What a man Job was! A good example of a Believer he is. This is the reason he was used as an example by the Apostle James to exhort the brethren to be patient in suffering. We have read the verses above. God may kill me, but still I will trust Him. Kaiiii!!!

See what he said in another place:

'I know that my Savior lives, and at the end he will stand on this earth. 
My flesh may be destroyed, yet from this body I will see God. 
Yes, I will see him for myself, and I long for that moment.' - Job 19 vs 25 - 27 {CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION}

This Job was willing and ready to hold on to God even till death! His affliction had nothing on him! His suffering couldn't change his faith in God. Even his wife became fed up with the situation; see what she said to Job:

'his wife asked, "Why do you still trust God? Why don't you curse him and die?"' - Job 2 vs 9 {CEV}

See Job's reply to her, the next verse:

'Job replied, "Don't talk like a fool! If we accept blessings from God, we must accept trouble as well." In all that happened, Job never once said anything against God.' - Job 2 vs 10 {CEV}

  • In all that happened, Job never once said anything against God

What a man! What a Believer! This is what a true follower of Christ looks like. Undeterred! Unmovable! Always abounding in faith, hope and patience towards God. Hallelujah!

Dear friend, this is the word of the Lord to you right now. Remember Job! Learn from Job's story, and strengthen your heart in God, as you stay patient, patiently serving the Lord in season and out of season, trusting God still in spite of all odds and discouragements. Remember Job! The Lord will soon be here! And guess what..., even if God doesn't come through for us as we expect, we will yet still trust him till the end. But James reassures our hearts of the Lord's compassion, he says:

'Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.' - James 5 vs 11 {KJV}

  • the Lord is very pitiful

'We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.' - James 5 vs 11 {GW}

  • the Lord ended Job's suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful

Hallelujah! Let these words reassure your heart and strengthen you. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel

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