THE WARRIOR IS COMING HOME!

Commentary on the Parable of the lost Son luke15:11-32

• The controversy

Papa was wondering what has happen to his boy to demand for his portion of the family inheritance when he is still alive and better still there is older son in the family! Looking at this boy who must have been a torn to his flesh and terror to the entire house-hold, if his demand is not honored heads will roll and there might be no peace at home. Anyway he is a son and it makes no different, quick his demand was honored.

• The Decision

Not many days after, he sold all and left with the money to live in a very far country, there is no ill in leaving home, but a ‘very far country’ connote a meaning that this young man don’t want to have anything to do with the family anymore.  He spends all with prostitutes and wasted his life on lawless living.

• The aftermath

With time he was in lack, but he has to survive at least to eat, though a great famine has risen in the land but anyhow man must hustle, hence it landed him in slavery to feed swine. This is a young man who in all his life wanted to be his own boss, only to be slavery to swine. Oh! How often has we wanted to be on our own outside our MAKER only to be slavery in one ill habits or the other. NO ONE GAVE HIM! Indeed he was suffering for his decision.

 

• The home coming!

‘I will arise and go back…’ He can no longer continue to deceive himself, without the Father he can do nothing. He started running back home, afar off; the father saw him and had compassion on him, oh what a home coming, what reconciliation! Everyone was happy, though the older son shows his displeasure but the father convince him to accept his only brother back. He was dead and is alive again, was lost but is found. There was merriment! The story of the prodigal son, you remember? _Luke15v11-32

The message

You may have missed it somewhere, what has happened to your faith, your fellowship, prayer-life and dedication? What is this ungodliness in the burner of your heart? You now quote more of shes-spire than the scripture. You no longer find pleasure with the spirit than you found with the flesh! what happen to your vision and dreams when you were burning with zeal for the Lord? Yours might be a family and good relationship you abandon. Indeed it is time to come home! The arms of the father are wide open to receive and forgive you. Amen!!!

‘Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’ Isaiah 55:7.

 

 WHEN LIFE DOES NOT MAKE SENSE 

 

Few nights ago in my night vision, I saw a man who came with his family to offer some gifts of Thanksgiving. Each member of the family was carrying a gift. Wrap on each gift were certain tags like: holiness, righteousness, love, long-suffering, purity, kindness, forgiveness etc, up every one were ready to present his/her gift to God. Then suddenly someone ask a question " what if after all these present and gift to God, God decides not to bless, heal or deliver us, what shall we do, then the man of God answer I don't know but all I know is that God is faithful and we shall continue to do his will whether he blesses or not, for we do his will because we love Him!

 

Most times not the best brain makes the best result.

At times a virgin-maiden might experience delay in child-bearing unlike her way-ward friend who just married few days ago.

A conserve maiden might had difficulty in getting married even in her late 30's while her loose friend got married in her 20's.

Do you know that the richest man is not a born-again Christian.

Your boss were you are working might not be as godly and prayerful as you are.

The most prayerful person might even suffer misfit in certain areas of life!

The wisest king of his generation: king Solomon has this to say ' HERE IS AN INJUSTICE I HAVE SEEN IN THE WORLD- AN INJUSTICE CAUSED BY RULERS. FOOLISH PEOPLE ARE SET IN PLACE OF AUTHORITY WHILE THE WISE ARE SET IN LOW PLACES. I HAVE SEEN SLAVES ON HORSEBACK WHILE PRINCES GO ON FOOT LIKE SLAVES!! Ecclesiastes 10v5-7.

Do not be discourage by all these even I shall never be frustrated by this. Yes of a truth life itself is a mystery; most times it doesn't make sense.

Do you know most Christian homes are in a mess while families of certain unbelievers are in peace and harmony!

Life happens to all persons whether righteous or wicked! The maker chooses to bless whom he chooses and there is no question to His decision!! This is because your service to God and humanity is not prerequisite for blessings and open doors but a prove of your love for God and humanity.

Finally keep walking on the right path and doing the good works even when it doesn't make sense.

THOUGH THE RIGHTEOUS MIGHT LOOSE THE BATTLE OF LIFE BUT WILL CERTAINLY WIN THE WAR OVER HIS SOUL!

You will win at last!!!

THE STRANGER IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY 2

THE STRANGER IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY 2

As believer and follower of Christ, you are that stranger in a foreign country. The foreign country is the world where Satan rules as prince having blindfolded the heart of men not to see the light of the truth. We who has been delivered from darkness to light, Christ who is the king of the great kingdom has sent us forth to establish his kingdom in the heart of men on earth, so that at his return we will be glad we did.

Heb 11v9-10 ‘ by faith he made his home in the promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God’.

The above text will guide our discussion; I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us Amen.

Now from the there are some points we will be discussing and I will like us to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our heart to understanding:

1.     We are stranger in this world: Abraham came to the Promised Land that flows with milk and honey, yet he sees himself as a pilgrim who will soon pass away. I peter 2v11 says ‘dear friends I urge you as strangers and exiles…’ As believers and followers of Christ we must understand that we are strangers in this world, though we are in the world we are not of the world. Oh yes even Abraham was living in tent. For we must know that our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a savior; the Lord Jesus Christ. And so we must admit that we are strangers in this world and so we are.

2.     Our material blessing is not our eternal reward: ‘By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger…’ Abraham was blessed by God in possession, the bible says God blessed him in every way but he was careful never to admit that was his lot forever. He was still looking forward to that city that last forever ‘whose builder and maker is God’.  That was the reason he live in tent. As pilgrims in this world we must appreciate the fact that our hope in Christ is beyond the earthly, our treasure is in heaven. ‘For we look not on the things seen but the unseen, for the things seen are temporal but the unseen are eternal.’2 cor 4v18.

3.     Never take hold of this world: ‘The world is passing away and the things in it’ 1 John 2v17. As strangers in this world, we must not take hold of this earthly life. Our father Abraham lived in tent even in the Promised Land. ‘ he lived in tent even as did Isaac and Jacob…’ which mean we must not be occupied with this passing life that we lose focus of the eternal kingdom, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, but must seek first His kingdom which is our foremost priority. Our Lord Jesus whom we are following His step, while He was on earth, had no place to lay his head. The Lord says ‘be careful or your heart will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. Luke 21v34. Though we are in the world we are not of the world.

4.     Heirs of same promised: ‘Isaac and Jacob who were heirs with him of the same promised’.  The scripture says ‘God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the in comparable riches in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2v6-7. As believers we must come to understand that we are saved through the blood of Jesus and God in his infinite grace has made us to be in union with his son. We must confirm in His Image and lived in His likeness. ‘We know that when he appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see him just as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves just as He is pure. 1 john 3v2-3.

5.     Looking forward: As pilgrim and strangers we must look forward. ‘for he was looking forward. Heb 11v10. We must not set our heart on earthly but on things above for therein comes our eternal reward. We must look unto Jesus; the author and finisher of our faith. We must look upon Him who is the Joy that is set before us, amidst challenges sinful entanglement; hence there is no need to look back unto destruction; hence we must be focus on our calling so ‘ that at last we shall not be as those who shrink back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved’. As it is written ‘ I take no pleasure in the one who shrink back. Heb 10v38.

BEHOLD HE COMETH

BEHOLD HE COMETH

‘Behold he cometh, with cloud of glory and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him and all people of the earth shall mourn because of him’. Rev1v7.

Mr. Okezie has no premonition of what he would encounter on that day. To him it was just any other day of Monday morning. Calling his wife, to tell her he is set for work, he bit her good-bye, till evening when they will see each other. Since they are not going to the same place of work, she gave her husband a peck and reminded him to remember to pick their daughter when coming back, who had earlier left for school with the school bus: Havana private school Owerri. Entering his car, he set his face to his place of work as the wife wish him nice day. Just along PH road, before entering Owerri, he saw an old man waiting for a taxi. As he was about to bye-pass the old man, something pricks his heart to carry him. Suddenly he stop, and bit the old man to come in. The octogenarian hesitantly boarded, off they continue their way toward Owerri. Few minutes later, they get talking. The old man asks him whether he knows what happened in heaven today. Mr. Okezie was surprise and ask the old man what he meant by that. There he told him ‘just this morning, almighty God looked down on earth and saw darkness and wickedness of men. It pricks him in heart that the world is still full of evil and has not acknowledged the love He has shown to them through Christ. He called for the trumpet sound to end it all. All of a sudden, the Lord Jesus started crying with blood dribbling down from His two palms, the Lord said to His father to give Him more time to perfect His Church and empower her for the ministry of reconciliation as His precious blood cannot be shed in vain. He called few of the angels to go immediately to the world and warm the church and sons of men, to repent and turn from their evil ways, even as his coming is very near. So I am just one of the few angels sent, so warn your people and tell them about this, for the coming of the Lord is near’. As soon as the old man said this, he vanishes. The state of Mr. Okezie at that moment is better imagining than experienced.

For the lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be  caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with Lord forever. 1Thes 4v16-17.

The coming of Christ is very imminent, so close that believers need to fasten their belt in readiness. If I may ask what was the last but greatest promised in the scripture. You can agree with me that the promise centre on the second coming of Christ. ‘Behold I am coming soon Rev 22v20. And so for this reason those who have this hope must get themselves ready for his coming. The Lord also has given us some signs to let us know that his coming is near. After revealing the signs, He cautioned: ‘watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord will come…’ Mathew 24:42. Someone may ask what Jesus will do when He comes again. Let us consider some of these points:

    There will be separation: the Lord will separate the righteous from the wicked. ‘When the son of man shall come in His glory… He will separate the people one from another as shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Mathew 25v31-32.

    He will usher in the millennium which is the thousand- year period when the Lord Jesus will rein with the saints, on the earth. ‘I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been be-headed because of their testimony for Jesus and the word of God… they came to life and rein with Christ for a thousand years.

The wicked that are living at the time of the second coming of the Lord will be destroyed in the flesh. They along with the wicked, who are already dead, will have to wait until the last resurrection. All of the remaining dead will rise to meet God. They will either inherit the glorious kingdom or be cast into outer darkness with Satan. Rev 20v5.

So blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection… they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

                                HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?

Since everything will be… in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live a holy and godly life as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 2 Peter3v11.

We ought to live a holy live so as to see the Lord, for nothing impure and defile shall take part in His glory. We must lay aside those weight and sins that entangles. Most believers are still in secret sins and such a life does not please God. The coming of the Lord is at hand, hence we must, present ourselves holy unto God, for He is coming to rapture a church without spot or wrinkle. ‘Present your body living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God. Rom 12v1.

Never conform to this world: ‘do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..’ Rom 12v2. We must not love the world, knowing that it is for a brief moment of time. This is one of the problems that made most believers to lose focus about the soon coming Lord. Paul gave a disheartening report about Demas over his devotion to the things of God. ‘Demas has forsaken me having love the present world’ 2Tim 4v9.  Here was a man called by God, one who was an associate of Apostle Paul, he must have a devoted preacher of the word seeing that he an associate to Apostle Paul in the work of the ministry, but Later he departed from faith and the ministry of his calling  ‘having love this present world’.  That is to let us know it is not how you started but your ending is what matters most. Judas Iscariot was another example of backsliding. Therefore let him that thinketh he stands, take heed less he falls. The scripture commanded us never to love this present world. ‘Love not the world neither the things of the world, if any man

(be it a preacher, bishop or Apostle no matter who you are) love the world the love of the Father is not in Him. We must always remember that this present life will soon pass away; only those who do the will of God abide forever and so shall be rapturable on that day!

    Watch and pray: The end of all things is at hand be you therefore sober and watch unto pray.1 peter4v7.  With the recent signs we can see all around, we can attest that the end is at hand! Now is the time for us to be serious with God in prayer.  It is high time for us to awake from sleep; for our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

Preach the word: preach the world; be instant in season and out of season. Be watchful in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. . 2. Tim 4v2,5.  Paul says ‘woe to me if I do not preach the gospel’. The lives of the people around us has been committed in our hands, we are accountable to them if we fail to led them to the truth. On that great day of the Lord, our reward shall be based on the number of souls we were able to won for the Lord. We have been committed with the ministry of reconciliation, so the Lord is counting on us and we cannot afford to fail Him.

Fellowship: Never given up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another: all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10v25.   When we gather together in love and unity, there is always renewal for strength and sanctification. ‘the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin. We are strengthening as we wait for His coming.

Be patient: you too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. James 5v8. We must be patient for His coming; hence we must be weary in well doing and not be like scoffers who became discourage in waiting and said ‘ ever since our ancestors, it has been said that Christ is coming, yet we have not seen any sign of it’. As the Lord’s faithful, we must know that our ways are not His way. For a thousand years is like a day in His sight. So we must not see as men see. Those who endure to the end shall be saved.

‘Behold he cometh, with cloud of glory and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him and all people of the earth shall mourn because of him’. Rev1v7.