The Challenges of Christian Leadership

‘…The gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.’ (Gal 1:11,12).

Christian leadership is the most honorable responsibility any one could ever be given, its fruits and rewards are eternal, reaching far beyond life on earth (Mat19:29). However, it does not come without trials. David was the greatest king of Israel by all accounts. However, his leadership was not without trials. ‘During David’s lifetime, one of David's sons raped his sister, a different son killed another, his wife turned her back on him, his best friend betrayed him, they took his kingdom, his mentor tried to kill him and his family rejected him’, not forgetting the adultery and murder he committed (UCB- Word for Today). Through all these trials David grew and his leadership became a great blessing to Israel and a trans-generational standard of leadership.

Below are some keys to effective Biblical Christian leadership:

1. Love: Many ministries have been destroyed because; at a point the visionaries’ primary focus shifted from God to the vision and loved the work of the Lord more than the Lord of the work. The temptation to value ones vision more than his relationship with God is one of the devils strongest baits against Christian leaders. He used it on Christ and failed and is still using it against Christian leaders today (Mat 4:8-10). Your visions and accomplishment can only be fruitful and fulfilling in an atmosphere of true worship. I pray that you can declare like Paul did that, ‘I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ’ (Phi 3:7).

2. God’s Calling: Christian leadership has its foundation in the call of God and not a mere appointment by men, Prophet Jeremiah and Apostle Paul who lived thousands of years apart were both declared to be called from their mother’s wombs. (Jer 1:5, Gal 1:15)

3. The anointing of God: It is the anointing that breaks the yoke (Isa 10:27). Christian leadership is being at the forefront of spiritual warfare, and without the anointing of God one is bound to be a spiritual casualty. The seven sons of Sceva received some good beatings from a demon possessed after they tried doing the work of God without the anointing of God. If Jesus fasted for forty days and nights for the anointing before He started His public ministry, then you dare not try doing the work of God with only human strength and intellect. All leaders in the Bible were anointed before leadership (Mat 4, Judges 3:10).

4. Character: Charisma without character lead to chaos. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne and Christian leaders can’t try leading without them either (Psalm 89:14). The gifts of the spirit are only fruitful in an atmosphere of the fruits of the Spirit. Humility, Integrity, and the other fruits of the spirit are major keys to longevity and fruitfulness in leadership. ‘Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace’ (Psalm 37:37, Job 1:1, Titus 1:6, 1 Timothy 3:2).

5. Faith: This comes by understanding or revelation that comes by loving God and seeking His face. People reveal their secrets to friends that love them most and God does the same, He reveals Himself to those who love Him. Hearing from heaven and acting in faith on earth is the key to fruitful leadership.

6. Wisdom: Jesus had to grow in wisdom to fulfill His leadership on earth (Luke 2:52). God’s strength is manifested through his wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing especially when it comes to Christian leadership, without it ministry accomplishments become only temporal. The devil does not have any power over a Christian, his only access into our lives is through the wrong choices we make (Eph 3:10).To the world a man’s wisdom is determined by his words but in Christendom it is mainly determined by his works. Paul said ‘my message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (1 Cor 2:4).

7. Diligence: Successful Christian leadership demands hard work. It requires diligence in prayer, planning and execution of plans. Spirituality is no excuse for laziness. God planned His work and worked for six days before He rested on the seventh during his creation. ‘Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts’ (Proverbs 24:3-4)

8. Ability to teach: A Christian leader should be a student of God’s word and be able to teach it (2 Tim 2:15). It is important to note that without been an embodiment of what one teaches, his teaching and studying will be fruitless. It is easier to preach ten sermons than practice one of them (1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Tim 4:12).

9. Faithfulness: Finally, God rewards faithfulness in stewardship. Growth in leadership only comes as a result of faithfulness in little things. ‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much’ (Luke 16:10)

The Blessing of the Lord

'How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all...I will sing praise to my God as long as I live' (Psalm 104:24-33 NIV)

If God's workmanship wouldn't make you praise Him and want to know Him better, what would? John Stott said: 'Our greatest claim to nobility is our created capacity to know God, to be in personal relationship with Him, to love Him and to worship Him. Indeed, we are most truly human when we are on our knees before our creator.’

All that man enjoys on earth are as a result of God’s blessings. The details of God’s creation were all made for the benefit of man. With all the scientific developments of the twenty first century, a small alteration in our climate leaves man helpless. The recent natural disasters around the world in places like Japan and U.S.A attest to the fact that it takes the blessings of God for our world to be sustained.

‘It’s said that if the earth were as small as the moon its gravitation wouldn't sustain our needs. On the other hand, if it were as large as Jupiter its extreme gravitation would make human movement almost impossible. If we were as close to the sun as Venus the heat would be unbearable; if we were as far away as Mars every region would experience snow and ice nightly. If the oceans were half their size we'd get only 25 percent of our present rainfall; if they were one-eighth larger, annual precipitation would increase 400 percent, turning the earth into a vast uninhabitable swamp.

Water solidifies at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But if the oceans were subject to that law, the amount of thawing in the Polar Regions wouldn't balance out and we'd all end up encased in ice. To prevent this, God put salt in the sea to alter its freezing point. How's that for a day's work? So the psalmist said 'How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all...I will sing praise to my God as long as I live' (Psalm 104:24-33 NIV, UCB Word For Today - A Sense of Awe)

Total dependence on God is the key to having a fulfilled life. In Him we live, move and have our being. He is our source and without Him we can do nothing (Acts 17:28, John 15:5). Today, surrender your life to God if you are going through life without a relationship with Him. Jesus is the bread of life, without Him there is no satisfaction in life.

A Life of Giving

‘Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28) 

'More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world and more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christians than by all the doubts in the world’ (William Barclay). It is said that people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Giving that is rooted in love is an indispensable virtue in the Christian faith. Both in the Old and New Testament, it is taught that Love is the most important commandment (Deut 6:5, Luke 10:27). Abraham’s decision to offer his only son, and God giving His only begotten son for the salvation of mankind are two stories that every Christian should draw much inspiration from.

James said that, ‘pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you’ (James 1:27). His words were a confirmation of what Jesus said that, those that will have an inheritance in His kingdom are those that love and give their time, resources, etc to the needy. Jesus said that in that day ‘the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matt 25:34-40). It is said that willing to forego our own comfort, our own preferences, our own schedule, our own desires for another's, brings us back to Christ.

Clearly, Paul’s prediction to Timothy in 2 Tim 3:2 that, in the last days people will be lovers of themselves is being fulfilled. As individuals and as a church, we have to be watchful. Selflessness that is rooted in Love is the test of real Christian maturity. Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 people offers a remarkable lesson for the Church today. Unlike His disciples, Jesus cared about both the physical and spiritual needs of the multitudes. It is important to note that, the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 was birthed out of Jesus’ compassion for the people, it wouldn’t have happened if He did not care about them and He sent them away, realizing that they were hungry (Mat 14:14-17). Healthy churches play a major role in their communities. Churches whose leadership genuinely care about the needs of the people make a greater impact. ‘If one would start out with the idea of giving instead of getting he would succeed (Finis Dake).

May God grant us the grace to have people focused ministries, but not ministries that are solely based on numbers. Ministry is not only about numbers but individual lives. The details of every single person’s life really matters to God. Be reminded of the words of Peter, ‘Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood’ (Acts 20:28).

‘The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions’ (Rick Warren). 'A day lived without showing love for others, is a day not worth living' (Mother Teresa).

The Worth of a Soul

'Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?' (Mat 18:10-12)

No price tag can represent the value of one's eternal life. Jesus died to pay the ransom for our souls, so every single soul is worth the life of the son of God. Describing the worth of our souls; Jesus said that, as a shepherd, He laid down His life for the sheep, meaning he laid down His life for the souls of men. He came ‘to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’ (Mat 20:28, John 10:11). Regardless of one's nationality, gender or age, their soul is priceless and precious to God. No wonder heaven goes into wild jubilation when one soul is won for Christ.

With this backdrop of knowledge, how serious should a Christian take the work of evangelism or witnessing? ‘According to the original Greek, ‘martyr’ means ‘witness’. Therefore, Jesus’ words to the disciples in Acts 1:8 can read ‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses (martyrs) to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’. The New Testament martyr not only personally testified to the truth and the power of Jesus Christ, but was instructed to take that witness to others regardless of the cost. In the book of Acts we read about the stoning of Stephen, making him the first to pay the ultimate price for that witness. It is at this time that the word martyr took on a much stronger meaning, as one who is not only a witness but as one who is willing to give his life or to be martyred for that cause. The very truth to which we bear witness comes at a great cost - it can cost us our reputation, popularity and prestige. It may even cost us our families, friends and lives (Tom white).

Whiles teaching about the value of every single soul, Jesus used the parable of the lost sheep to prove His point. He said that in the same way that a shepherd who looses one out of his hundred sheep will leave the ninety nine and go in search of the only one that is lost, it is the will of the father that not a single soul will perish (Mat 18:10-14).

There are many souls around you that do not know Jesus as their personal savior, and until they come to the saving knowledge of Christ, the Bible says they are headed for eternal damnation (John 14:6). Will you value their souls like Jesus did, and avail your self to be used of God to snatch them from eternal torment? Please do. All you need to do is share your Christian faith with them and pray with them and for them, the gospel is the power of God for deliverance. Witness to a dieing soul today, you may save him from eternal damnation.

The Battle is the Lord's

“Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chron 20:15). 

The earth is a spiritual war zone, and the wars being fought spiritually have their physical manifestations in our lives in diverse ways. Rev 12:7 clearly reveals this truth, it says that there was war in heaven and the devil and his angels prevailed not. The twelfth verse says ‘… Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time’. Paul the Apostle confirms this truth in Eph 6:12 that, ‘we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers….’ The truth is, regardless of your race, gender, age or vocation, you are at war with the devil and his kingdom, and his motive is to steal, kill and finally destroy you. Thank God the Bible says, ‘whatever is born of God overcomes the world…’ you are already a winner (1 John 5:4).

It is important to note that, our earthly warfare is a lifelong one. In every war there are different battles. The Second World War for instance, was made up of different battles. So the fact that one particular battle in your life has ended does not mean that the war is over, another battle will surely come, but the Bible says the weapons of our warfare are not canal but mighty pulling down strongholds (2 Cor 10:4).

2 Chronicles 20 gives an account of Judah being ambushed by several nations from various directions. Sometimes, the troubles of life and our enemies come in multitudes and from various directions. King Jehoshaphat got news that, "a vast army is coming against you from Edom’. Judah’s enemies were the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites. Interestingly, these enemies were distant relatives of Israel. Edom is another name for Esau, Jacob (Israel’s) twin brother. Moabites and Ammonites descended from Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew or Israel’s cousin (Genesis 19:36-38). Sometimes, the people closest to us are the people the devil uses against us. The good news is that, finally Jehoshaphat led Judah to defeat these enemies.

They keys that led to Israel’s victory and will lead to yours are;

1.    Listen to the word or guidance of God, every battle is different and should be approached as such (2 Chron 20:15, Prov 3:5).

2.    Realize that, the battle is the Lord’s and hand it over to Him, don’t rely on your own strength (2 Chron 20:15, Heb 2 :16).

3.    Do not be afraid nor discouraged by the fierceness of your battle, you have won it in advance (2 Chron 20:15, 17, Isaiah 41:10).

4.    The winning principle is the triumph of faith not the principle of the survival of the fittest (1 John 5:4, D. Oyedepo).

5.    Take a step of faith, go out to face the enemies, and the LORD will be with you (2 Chron 20:17).

6.    Stand firm (persevere) and see the deliverance the LORD will give you (2 Chron 20:17).

7.    Celebrate your victory and give glory to God after the battle is won (2 Chron 20:17-22).

8.    Remember, strength is born out of struggle, through the battles we fight in different aspects of our lives, our spiritual strength and character is built up (James 1:2-4).

He will Direct Your Path

‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John’ (Rev 1:1).

‘The words Revelation and Apocalypse are synonymous and are derived from the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning “to unveil, reveal, or uncover” (Finis Dake). The book of Revelation came from God, through Jesus Christ to the Church via John the Apostle. God gave the book of revelation to show His servants things which must shortly take place. A revelation is an unveiling or disclosing of a reality that previously has not been perceived. Consequently, God does not only reveal the past and present but also the future unto his children. Are you a servant or child of God? Then know for a fact that God desires to reveal Himself and His purposes unto you on a personal level. He desires to give you revelations about your personal life, your family and friends, not forgetting revelations about His church and the world as a whole.

We serve a God who is real and desires to communicate on a personal level to his children. As a father talks to his children, so does God talk to his sons and daughters.  God cares about every detail of your life and He desires to guide and instruct you. It is every Christian’s birth right to develop his relationship with God to a point where he will know the voice of God one way or the other. Jesus said, ‘my sheep know my voice’ (John 10:27). Whether through, a vision, a prophetic word, an inward confirmation, a dream, the counsel of men or circumstances, God uses every means possible to guide and direct His children daily. The key is being sensitive and seeking to know His will in our day to day decisions. Prov 3:5-6 says, ‘trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths’. 

In Exodus 7:1 when God was sending Moses to deliver Israel, His instructions to Moses about his mission were preceded by the phrase, ‘Pay close attention to this’. Many Christians miss out on God’s guidance because they are not seeking to know God’s will for their immediate and distant future and therefore do not pay attention for God’s guidance. The truth is we save ourselves a whole deal of troubles when we seek God’s guidance in all we do.

The heroes of the Christian faith, both in the Old and New Testaments had a habit of constantly seeking God’s guidance in their daily endeavors. In 1 Sam 30:1-8 ‘when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; …They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone… Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” Even though the normal human instinct was to pursue his enemies straight away, David paused and sought God’s will before making any move. Through God’s guidance David pursued and recovered all that his enemies had taken from him and his men. One of David’s secrets to the numerous victories he lead Israel to, was his habit of seeking God’s will before taking decisions (1 Samuel 23:2)

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The safest place for you to be is in the perfect will of God. ‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ (Romans 12:2). God desires to reveal his perfect will to you. Today, seek Him through prayer and His word and He will direct your path and bless you far beyond your imagination.

The Keys to a Ground Shaking and Chain Breaking Miracle

‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loose’ (Acts 16:25-26). 

  

There is no record of Jesus teaching the Apostles how to preach, but He definitely taught them how to pray, both practically and theoretically.  Unquestionably their lessons on prayer paid off in the first century of the church and it’s still paying off today. H. Mac Gregor  said, "I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach; a minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray." We live to pray and we pray to live. ‘Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God’ (Arthur W. Pink).

The sixteenth chapter of the Book of Acts gives an attention-grabbing account of Paul and Silas’ life and ministry. For preaching the gospel and delivering a demon possessed slave girl who was a fortune teller, the masters of the slave girl who were the main benefactors of her trade managed to get Paul and Silas some severe beatings and a room in a maximum security prison. For no fault of theirs, but for obedience to the great commission, these righteous men were in chains in a maximum security prison. This lesson focuses on their actions in that prison, that preceded their ground shaking and chain breaking deliverance.

To begin with, Paul and Silas were righteous people. Jesus once told the gentile woman who needed Him to pray for her daughter that, ‘It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs’ (Mat 15:26).  Jesus meant, the gentile who was basically a sinner did not qualify for a miracle. It is said that, the only prayer of the sinner that God listen’s to, is the prayer of repentance. So James 5:16 says, ‘the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results’. Righteousness is the first key to experiencing God’s power’.

Secondly, Paul and Silas praised God regardless of their imprisonment, pain and grief. Instead of complaining to God for being flogged and imprisoned for doing His work, they praised Him in their midnight hour. Those that learn to praise God in bad times, experience chain breaking and ground shaking miracles. Anyone can praise God when things are going well, but it takes a person of understanding and faith to offer a sacrifice of praise – that which is flowing from a heart of gratitude regardless of the present hardships. A sacrifice of praise moves heaven, God has no choice but to tap His feet to it. When God taps His feet in heaven, there is surely a manifestation on earth in the form of an earthquake that shakes the foundations of the enemy’s prison and breaks his chains and doors. 

Finally, Paul and Silas prayed. They understood the mystery of prayer – that, anything God will do, prayer can do. That, until one invites God into their circumstance through prayer, God will not bypass their dominion to operate on earth. Today, God is waiting for you to invite Him to intervene, by simply asking Him in faith. His word is, ‘until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete’ (John 16:25).

As Paul and Silas prayed, suddenly they received their deliverance. Through their righteousness, praise and prayer, they experienced the power and salvation of the Lord, together with the other inmates and prison officials. May the Lord grant you the grace to hold onto your purity, regardless of your seemingly hopeless situation. May He grant you the strength to sing, even though the strength to speak might even be gone. Finally, may the Holy Spirit empower you to lift up your eyes unto the Lord in prayer. ‘I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go’ (Abraham Lincoln)

Eight Marks of Divine Wisdom

‘But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness’ (James 3:17, 18).

Wisdom is the master key to a life of fruitfulness; it is described as a tree of life. Basically, it is sound judgment - knowing what to do, at the right time and in the right way. By it God laid the foundations of this world and without it no one can be successful on earth (Prov 3:18, 19). Proverbs, the book of wisdom teaches that wisdom is the most important thing, therefore seek it with all your heart and get it. It is the means by which kings reign. Without it no Christian can exercise dominion or rule on earth as God has ordained. There is therefore a need to seek it more than one seeks silver and gold or material things (Prov 2:4). The Bible also says, ‘do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom’ (Prov 4:6, 7).  The All wise God is the source of all wisdom and the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). The Bible teaches that the wisdom of God is the true wisdom, whereas wordly wisdom that comes from the devil is false wisdom. This lesson focuses on the difference between the two. 

Below are eight characteristics of false wisdom in James 3:14-18 as outlined by Finis Dake.  False wisdom that comes from the devil:

1.    Leads to bitter envying or jealousy (vs 14, 16)

2.    Leads to selfish ambition or strife in the heart (vs 14, 16)

3.    Leads to glory in profession or boasting (vs 14)

4.    Is earthly, having this life only in view (vs 15)

5.    Is sensual, living only to satisfy the animal appetites (vs 15)

6.    Is devilish and inspired by demons (vs 15)

7.    Leads to confusion (vs 16)

8.    Leads to every evil work (vs 16)

On the contrary ‘True wisdom’ that comes from God is:

1.    Pure; chaste, holy and clean (vs 17)

2.    Peace loving (vs 17, Heb 12:14)

3.    Gentle at all times – meek, modest and kind (vs 17)

4.    Easily entreated, not stubborn or obstinate but yielding to others. ‘It readily yields to the superior judgments and stronger reasoning of others; and are easily induced to hope and believe all things, and entertain a good opinion of men’ (vs 17) - Barnes

5.    Full of mercy - always forgiving and performing acts of kindness (vs 17)

6.    Full of good fruits and deeds (Gal 5:22-23)

7.    Without partiality or favoritism - having no respect of persons (vs 17, James 2:1-10)

8.    Without hypocrisy- open, honest, genuine and true (vs 17)

The wisdom of God that can be acquired from the Bible – the Word of God, is the way to a life of fruitfulness and fulfillment. Many have forsaken the wisdom of God and embraced the wisdom of the world to their own detriment. The truth is, the wisdom of the world only offers temporary solutions and pleasure, but the wisdom of God is the only way to a long term life of fulfillment. Today examine yourself; are you living by the wisdom of God or the wisdom of the world? James 3:13 says that, ‘If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom’.

The Power of the Tongue

‘…Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you’ (Mat 12:34-37).

"Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of" (Matthew Henry). Death and life lies in the power of the tongue and the world has witnessed many leaders that have impacted millions by the effective use of the tongue. Effective orators have changed the world, for both noble and ignoble purpose; examples of which are Adolf Hitler, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Barrack Obama, not forgetting Jesus of Nazareth, the all time most effective orator. The Bible teaches that the tongue is a small thing but can do enormous damage. It is a flame of fire that can set a great forest on fire by one tiny spark. It is full of wickedness and can poison every part of the body.  Literally, people can experience hell on earth because of their tongue or the tongue of others. The tongue can turn our lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster (James 3:2-8). The lives of many people have been destroyed because of some negative words that were spoken to them during infancy. It isn’t surprising Jesus said that, ‘everyone will give an account on the judgment day for every idle word spoken’ (Mat 12:37). This lesson focuses on the importance of controlling the tongue.   

‘If anyone controls his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way’ (James 3:2). The control of one’s tongue is a great test of one’s discipline. It is not every thought that passes through the mind which should come out of the mouth. As a sign of integrity you are supposed to believe whatever you say, but it is not everything you believe that you have to say. Saying everything you believe regardless of the place or time can cause a lot of trouble for an individual and others. Below are some important keys to controlling your tongue.

         The first step to controlling your tongue is controlling the decisions of your heart. Thoughts may come into your mind in the form of temptations but once you accept the negative thoughts or decide on them in your heart you are responsible for them, even if you don’t get the opportunity to act on them (Mat 5:28). Jesus said, ^‘a good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart’ (Mat 12:35). The tongue is a channel through which the intents and desires of the heart are revealed; ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh’ (Mat 12:34). Confucius, the Greek philosopher said, ‘Words are the voice of the heart’.

         Secondly ‘be quick to listen but slow to speak’. God gave us two ears and two eyes but one mouth, so that we may listen and observe more but talk less. There is more hope for a fool than a man that is hasty in his words and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. (Prov. 29:20, Eccl. 5:7, Prov. 17:28).  Sometimes our problem is we want to impress others with our knowledge, but it is said that, ‘better say nothing than nothing to the purpose, and those who know much speak little; whereas those who speak much know little. ‘The empty vessel makes the greatest sound’ (Shakespeare). Sometimes ‘Silence is the best reply to the ignorant’ (Persian Proverb). It takes the wisdom of God to know when to speak and when not to (Prov 26:4,5). Today, ask God for wisdom, Christ has been made unto us wisdom from God.

         Finally, remember that words once spoken cannot be taken back. The damage that a single word can cause may be irreparable. One negative word spoken may destroy lives or a reputation that has been built over a life time. ‘Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles’ (Prov 21:23). Remember, ‘you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you’ (Mat 12:37).

Pay close attention and obey

‘Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh (Exodus 7: 1, 6, 7 NLT)

Those that obey God, He makes them seem like God to their fellow men (Exodus 7:1). Going through the pages of scripture you will realize that anytime God wrought a miracle, it was in response to man’s obedience to his command. Regardless of one’s age, obedience to God always results in an experience of the supernatural.Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they were sent by God to deliver the people of Israel but their old age did not matter. God told them ‘When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 7:5). Today God is still manifesting his power in the lives of his children, but the key is being able to hear His voice and obey Him. ‘Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them’ (Exodus 7:6,20).
Hearing God’s voice demands paying close attention. Before God gave Moses and Aaron the command He said ‘Pay close attention to this’ (Exodus 7:1). The steps to experiencing God’s power are; paying attention, listening, hearing (understanding) and obeying.  Proverbs 4:1 says, ‘Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. It is one’s understanding of God’s word that builds faith and enables him to obey God.

‘Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3). Reading or listening to the preaching of God’s word does not profit anything if the word is not mixed with faith and obeyed (Heb 4:2). The blessings come only through our obedience to God’s word. Jesus said, ‘You are My friends if you do whatever I command you"' (John 15:14 NKJV). Like everyone else, God reveals His secrets or mysteries to friends who love Him. Remember the key to experiencing the power of God is faith which comes through understanding or revelation.

In Isaiah 1:19 God told Judah and Jerusalem, ‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land’. Most people are willing to eat the good of the land but only a few are ready to be obedient to God. What are your needs today? When you're where God wants you to be, He will meet your every need. In your study of God’s word, your goal should not just information, but intimacy and you will surely experience His power in your daily life.

Peace with Men

^‘Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many’ (Heb 12:14-15).

'Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. It is commonly understood as the absence of hostility; peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships' (Wikipedia). This lesson focuses on peace with men as a follow up to the lesson ‘peace in stormy times,’ that focused on inner peace. Until you forgive others God cannot forgive you. It is said that holding a grudge is letting someone live rent free in your head and heart. You don't get to choose who you'll forgive. Love is a command; forgiveness is an act of obedience. You can't be closer to God than you are to the people you love least.

The writer of Hebrews was giving warnings and encouragements in Heb 12 and in the fourteenth verse he said, ‘make every effort to live in peace with everyone’. Note, he didn’t say live in peace with some people but everyone. The key is making every effort to bring reconciliation, as one who understands the importance of peace. In life offenses will surely come but one’s ability and wisdom to go beyond those offences is the key to peace. Many struggle with bitterness daily. Bitterness or resentment is the experience of a negative emotions likeanger or hatred, felt as a result of a real or imagined wrong done. ‘Sitting at supper with His disciples, Jesus said, “One of you will betray me” (Mk 14:18 NIV). Shortly after that, Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Some folks will kiss you today and kick you tomorrow. But Jesus refused to become bitter.

Betrayal is something others do to you; bitterness is something you do to yourself. It’s impossible to go through life without being hurt (Bob Gass). In many churches, families and other organizations, people have been hurt and robbed of all peace. ‘It may be an unfaithful spouse, an employee who slanders you, or a boss who fires you without explanation or a church member that disrespected you or treated you unfairly.

In Heb 12:14-15 the writer admonishes that we should see to it that through bitterness we don’t fall short of the grace of God. Clearly this means if you don’t forgive others God will not forgive you and you can’t see His glory. Secondly the writer of Hebrews admonishes us not to let a bitter root grow up and cause trouble. This means we should deal with offenses in a timely manner and also act as peace makers whether we are directly involved with the offence or not. Dealing with offenses in a timely manner is always easier than waiting till a later time. If you have wronged someone, make peace by accepting your fault and asking the person for forgiveness today. On the other hand if you have been wronged do not be bitter, forgive so that you will also be forgiven. How you handle others determines how God will handle you.

As established in the lesson ‘Peace in Stormy times,’ peace with God through Jesus is the first step to receiving the grace to make peace with men. “Watch out that no…bitterness grows up.” Heb 12:15 NLT.

The Mystery of the Blood

‘In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness’ (Heb 9:22).

According to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia; the average adult has about five liters of blood inside their body. Blood delivers essential elements and removes harmful wastes from the body. Without blood, the human body would stop working'. ‘For the life of a creature is in the blood’ (Lev 17:11).'There are three descriptions of blood in the human body. Blood is the fluid of life, transporting oxygen from the lungs to body tissue, and carbon dioxide from body tissue to the lungs. Blood is the fluid of health, transporting disease fighting substances to the tissue and waste to the kidneys. Blood is the fluid of growth, transporting nourishment from digestion and hormones from glands throughout the body'.

Similarly, the blood of Christ is the fluid of life. The Blood of Christ is central to the New Testament concept of redemption. On the cross Christ shed His blood; to remove our sin and reconcile us with God. John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’. Jesus also said in Mat 26:28 that, ’this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. This redemption through Christ, was fore shadowed in various ways and at various points in the Old Testament, examples are the Passover (Exodus 12:13) and the Old Covenants Temple sacrifices (Heb 9:24-28).

The blood of Christ is also the fluid of health. By His death, He delivered man from Sin and all the consequences of sin. He destroyed sin’s dominion over your life (Roman 8:3-4). By His stripes you are healed. No matter a man’s infirmity, whether it is physical, spiritual, financial or emotional, the blood of Christ is able to heal them all. May every sin, sickness, depression and poverty, in your life be dealt with, because of the blood. Abraham and Isaac prospered in the midst of severe famine. Isaac was blessed until he was envied. May that be your story in Jesus’ name (Gen 12:10, Gen 26:1).

The blood of Christ is also the fluid of growth. Through the atonement of Christ blood, our relationship with God has been restored, and we can grow in all aspects of our lives. The blood of Christ cleanses believers’ conscience, so that we are able to draw near to God and serve Him without guilt, fully trusting him. This is because our hearts have been sprinkled with His blood to cleanse us from our guilty conscience and our bodies have also been washed in His blood. By His blood, our position in life has changed (Eph 1:17-19). Through Christ death, He raised us up with Him and we are seated with Him far above all principalities and powers... In the Old covenant, they lived by the law of sin and death, now we live by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.Therefore, Sin no longer has dominion over you (Rom 8:1, 2).  

With this knowledge, may the last battle you lost be the last you will ever lose; it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1).They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.  The Blood sanctifies, you can be forgiven if you confess your sins today (1 John 1:9). If Jesus is not in control of your life, pray this prayer with me. Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying for me, I am a sinner, save me, amen. Develop a relationship with God through prayer, the study of the Bible everyday and fellowship with other beilevers and your life will be fulfilling.

Jesus did it all for You

‘But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus’ (Eph 2:4-6).

In The Expositor's Bible Commentary C. Truman Davis, MD writes, 'What is crucifixion? A medical doctor provides a physical description: 'As he slowly sags down...on the nails in the wrists, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain…As he pushes himself upward to avoid stretching torment, He places the full weight on the nail through His feet. Again he feels the agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of the feet.

With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath..., He experiences searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over; the loss of tissue fluids reaches a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues...finally he can allow his body to die.' The Bible records it in these words: 'And they crucified him'. What wondrous love is this?

The truth is, Jesus endured all these brutalities for you. He would have done it if you were the only one He needed to die for (Matthew 18:12-14). Through Christ’s atoning death He has ransomed all creation from destruction and man from eternal torment, giving him an abundant life, now and forever. The benefits of Christ’s death are countless, but five of them are being considered in this study.

By Christ’s death He has:

1.    Perfected those that are being made holy

All men who believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins are instantly cleansed from their past, present and future sins. We instantly receive the righteousness of Christ (Justification). However, it will take a life long journey of a relationship with God for one’s character to be molded through the washing of God’s word (Sanctification) - Hebrews 10:14.

2.    Cleansed the believer’s conscience

Because God sees the believer through the righteousness of Christ, the believer can boldly go into the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God, to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."(Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:22)

3.    Delivered the believer from the fear of death 

Christ died to ‘destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage’ (Heb 2:14, 15 - NIV). To the believer, death is only a time of rest and a transfer into eternal glory.

4.    Sealed the Testament or Will

Every covenant is sealed by Blood, for example Moses used blood to seal the Mosaic Covenant. A Testament or will and its contents can never be enforced until the one who made it is dead. When Jesus died a seal was set on every scripture as concluded for delivery. Whatever is written in the word concerning you has been sealed in heaven (Heb 9:16-19). So the song writer says ‘forever o lord thy word is settled in heaven’.

5.    Raised us up together with Him

At His resurrection Christ raised believers up with Him. Now, we are seated with Him far above all principalities...If by the sin of Adam we all became earthly and canal, in Christ we are no more earthly but heavenly. We have been transformed by His Spirit (Eph 2:6, 2 Cor 15:48).

‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery’ (Gal 5:1). If you have not accepted Jesus as your Master and Savior, do so today. He loves you and did it all for you.

Happy is the Person whose Sins are Forgiven

'Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven... whom the Lord does not consider guilty...' (Psalm 32:1-2 NCV).  

Jesus perfects those that are being made holy. All men who believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins are instantly cleansed from their sins. They instantly receive the righteousness of Christ (Justification). However, many fail to appreciate the power of the cross. Even after repenting of their sins they find it difficult to accept the forgiveness of God and forgive themselves. They hold unto the past, and rob themselves of the future that God has ordained for them. Peter denied Christ three times and Judas also betrayed Christ. Both of them felt sorry for what they did, but the difference between the two of them is that, Peter accepted the forgiveness of God and forgave himself but Judas did not, and ended up committing Suicide.

The truth is, there is nothing that you can do about the past, and you can't walk backwards into the future. For you to embrace the future that God has ordained for you, you need to turn your back to the past, start afresh and move forward. The future God has in mind contains more happiness than any past you can remember. Jesus used the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate the power of the cross; that all who repent of their sins and return to their heavenly father receive the compassion and pardon of the father, not forgetting the restoration of their blessings. This study reveals some important lessons about the prodigal son’s restoration.

·    ‘He came to his senses’: meaning he repented. He had a change of mind and heart (Luke 15:17).

·   ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you’: He acknowledged his sins and confessed them (Luke 15:18).

·     ‘He got up and went to his father’: When you fall down don’t remain there, pick something up and get up. Learn from your mistakes, make an effort and take steps to return to God and redeem your blessings (Luke 15:18, 20).

·     He said ‘I am no longer worthy to be called your son…’: Like the prodigal son, most of us think we are not worthy of God’s blessings, but the good news is God sees us through the cross. Quit seeing yourself through your own lenses and see yourself as God sees you (Luke 15:21) .

·   “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet’ (Luke 15:22): Through the cross, God forgives and restores all men that repent and believe in Christ, no matter their sins (John 3:16).

·   ‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found…’: Heaven is rejoicing and celebrating your repentance so join them. (Luke 15:23,24)

The blood of Christ cleanses the believer’s conscience. So ‘boldly go into the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God, to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:22). Stop punishing yourself with the 'if only's'. After sinning and having God pick him up, David wrote, 'Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven... whom the Lord does not consider guilty...' (Psalm 32:1-2 NCV). Forgive yourself because God has, and you are 'accepted' (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV). If you have wronged others, confess your faults to them and restitute where possible. Learn from your mistakes and allow God to take care of the past.