THE FEAR OF THE LORD 2

 

 

Nigerians are some of the most religious people on the planet. On any given Sunday and indeed several days during the week pews are filled to capacity and church buildings are bursting at the seams, hard pressed to accommodate the teaming faithful. In most churches the crowd in the over-flow sections out-number those in the main building.

Church members attend programmes, conferences and crusades religiously, sometimes travelling for miles to attend these meetings. Almost everyone professes to be 'born again'. Christianese is a common language spoken by all and sundry. 'It is well', 'I am more than a conqueror', 'Greater is He that is in me', 'I receive it IJN!', 'I am blessed and highly favoured!'. The list is inexhaustible.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

 

 

This is a subject I have thought about a lot in recent years. What is the fear of God? Is it a feeling of terror that one would expect to have in the face of danger? Is it that out-of-control feeling when faced with an uncertain situation? Is it the expectation of certain punishment when we're guilty of wrong-doing?

 

These all describe different aspects of fear. It is normal to be afraid when faced with danger, to be anxious when things are going on of which we do not have full control and to dread exposure or punishment when we are guilty of an offense.

 

FAITH HEALING, ORTHODOX MEDICINE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE?

There are some stories that are just too surreal to believe! This couple, Catherine and Herbert Schaible from Philadelphia, USA, are currently serving a 10 year probation for the death of their 2 year old son in 2009. They had opted not to seek medical help, instead resorting to prayer.

They have since broken the terms of their probation after a second child , this time an 8 month old, died last week for the same reason!

This is just so sad on many levels. Innocent babies have died unnecesarily and these unfortunate parents have lost 2 children in a short space of time. One cannot begin to imagine the sense of guilt and loss they must feel.

It brings to the fore once more the issue of faith healing and orthodox medicine. Being a Christian and believing in faith healing in no way negates the efficacy of orthodox medicine when the need arises. The two positions are not mutually exclusive.

God can heal sicknesses and diseases in whatever way He chooses. Afterall He is the source of all wisdom and without Him there wouldn't be any of the knowledge used by doctors and other medical professionals to bring cures to the humankind.

Such a tragedy brings reproach to Christianity, I believe, as it exposes a lack of wisdom and sound teaching which makes us more objectionable in the eyes of the world.

I pray for the grace and healing of God on that family!

TELEVANGELISM GIMMICKS

I watch a lot of Christian tv. There are many annointed ministers who preach the word of God and are a blessing to the listener.

There are others that I am not so sure of.  When these come on, I instinctively change channels.
The common theme of these ministries is prosperity. There is absolutely nothing wrong with biblical prosperity.  Several passages in the Bible speak of God's kind of prosperity and how to go about partaking in it.

REFLECTIONS 2

This is a beautiful song by Don Moen, one of my favourites. It's a bit old but still so poignant. Really love.
Great indeed is the measure of our Father's love. He has promised never to leave nor forsake us and His promises are sure.

Hope it blesses you.

REFLECTIONS

Call on the Lord while He may be found
Call on Him while He's near
Call on the Lord while He may be found
He'll wipe away your tears

(from Isaiah 55 vs 6)

ASSOCIATION OF WITCHES AND WIZARDS IN NIGERIA GIVE VERDICT ON 2015 ELECTIONS!

This story had me in fits of laughter, lol! What?! So there's such an association in existence in Nigeria and they have the boldness to make public statements like this.
It would be interesting to know how many members they have on their register. Maybe they represent a significant voting bloc. Read the story HERE!

RED SEA / REED SEA, WHATEVER!

I'm watching a documentary right now titled "10 Things You Didn't Know About Tsunamis".

For years experts have been trying to discredit the biblical account of the Red Sea crossing by the children of Israel.
They claim that the crossing didn't actually happen on the shores of the Red Sea, which is a deep body of water, as the word sea would imply. Rather the Israelites crossed the Reed Sea, which is an ankle-deep pool of water over marshy ground.

They claimed there was no miraculous parting of the water since it was just ankle deep. These arguements fall down however when you consider the fact that the whole Egyptian army drowned during this incident, which historians attest to.

GENERAL OVERSEER OF MFM GIVES OUT N500,000 EACH TO FIRST CLASS GRADUATES

Read original story HERE.

Apparently Pastor Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry has given cash gifts of 500,000 Naira each to 77 individuals who have graduated with first class degrees from different universities. This, in my opinion, is a commendable move by Pastor Olukoya who began the awards scheme 3 years ago. Another photo when you continue...

WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THIS?

Mr Solomon Akiyesi, a Nollywood actor, today had his secret wedding to his mistress foiled by his first wife, amidst much drama.

He has now gone on Facebook to declare his right to marry someone else because he felt his first wife was a source of retrogression to him
In the eyes of society I guess he is free to divorce his first wife and go with some one else. Not so in the eyes of God though.

The issue is, he did not divorce his wife, though he claimed they are separated. Another big issue for me is how his friends and family could be complicit in this whole saga while leaving his wife in the dark.
Finally why should a man drag his wife's name in the mud and blame her for his woes, when she had stood beside him for years through thick and thin, simply because he wants to trade her in for a new model?

We could come up with different reasons, right or wrong, for these chain of events, but bottomline is this:
There is a pervasive lack of the fear of God throughout society. Ecclesiastes 8:11 tells us,

"When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong."

Hmm... but we should also remember that even though God might be slow to anger, His rod of judgement is sure!