BE COMPASSIONATE

 

TEXT: PROVERBS 21: 13

“If a man shuts his hears to the cry of the poor, He too will cry and not to be answered.”

There is a saying that “One good turn deserves another. Another says, what goes round comes round.” This means, whatever you do to others will come back to you in full measure. This is what is referred to as the law of KARMA.

Karma means, that whatever we do; be it in words, thoughts, or actions either positive or negative will have corresponding effect on us- it will come back to us either directly or indirectly.

The scripture emphasises this with the principle of sowing and reaping. In Galatians 6: 7 it says, “Be not be deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” We are in the end time where OPPRESSION has replaced COMPASSION. The wealthy are not bothered about the needy around them, all they want to do is to oppress them with their wealth and looking forward to being worshipped by the less privileged. This is what the Social Scientists called “Social Inequality.” Gone are the days of empathy and selfless services to humanity.

The days where believers used to “break bread” with other less privileged believers had long gone. What is seen in churches and the society at large these days is “survival of the fittest” in which no one cares about the poor, the needy or the less privileged amongst us,

In the days of Jesus Christ, he had feeling and compassion for the sick, the oppressed and the poor. He did not only lead them to God, but he ministered to their physical needs.

The “god” of these age has blindfolded some believers to the point of not having human feeling anymore. They preach the word to win people to the kingdom of God, but they cannot minister to the physical needs of their converts.

“suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food, if one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? (James 2: 15- 16). Your act of welldoing and benevolence would go a long way in winning souls for Christ than your empty word without corresponding action.

Our text says, if you refused to listen to the cry of the poor, that you also will not be heard on the day of trials. As believers, we should let our light shine in every dimension. As believers, we should be agent of positive change. If the world is oppressing the poor and the less privileged, they should be able to come to the midst of believers to find comfort and solace. Let us be our brother’s keeper, let us not be weary in doing good, for in proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

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MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOUR EYES.

TEXT: JOB: 31: 1-6.

1 I made a covenant with my eyes
    not to look lustfully at a young woman.
2 For what is our lot from God above,
    our heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not ruin for the wicked,
    disaster for those who do wrong?
4 Does he not see my ways
    and count my every step?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood
    or my foot has hurried after deceit—
6 let God weigh me in honest scales

The above passage was the account of Job the faithful and blameless follower of God. When calamity befell him, he lost all his wealth and children. In his quest to know why that should be his lot after he had followed the doctrine of righteous living.  He started to soliloquise recounting how he lived a good and holy life, how he made covenant with his eyes not to see what would cause him to sin.
Job mentioned that he decided not to allow his eyes to cause him to sin, why did he mention his eyes out of all his body parts and out of all the five senses? The answer is simple. Our eyes play a vital role in our lives. No wonder the scripture says in the book of Matthew 6: 22 says " The eye is the LAMP of the body."
The verse means that the eye is the metaphorical window in which light enters into your body. The eye is the channel  that communicate ideas ( either good or bad) to the rest of your body. The rest of your body or the remaining four senses takes action according to what your eye sees.
When your eye sees, it sends signal to your brain to evaluate what the eyes saw, then your mind takes over by thinking of what to do, the next step to take. If the thought lingers on and becomes established in your heart, then action follows with the use of other body parts. This act, either good or bad came as a result of what the eyes saw!
Can you see why it is very Important to make a covenant with your eyes not to see evil that would cause you to fall?
"  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." (1John 2: 16).
If you do not caution yourself to "discipline" your eyes, you may fall to the sin of the lust of the eyes which will lead to other sin like lust of the flesh (fornication/ adultery/theft) and pride of life (amassing wealth even in an ungodly way just to boost your status/ seeing yourself better than every other person as a result of the blessing of God that is evident in your life.).
Do not let your eyes and what you can see around you cause you to miss eternity. Be disciplined in your spirit, ask God for the grace to live above lust of the eyes. Make covenant with your eye which is the lamp of your body, that it will not cause you to fall into temptation and evil. There are tempters and temptations everywhere around the world, your immediate environment,  the social media and so on are places that can cause someone to fall into the sin of the lust of the eyes. We need the grace of God to abide with us to sail through the voyage without wrecking our ship. Many glorious destiny had been destroyed through lust of the eyes. You will not be an addition to this list in Jesus name.  Make a covenant with your eyes, activate your spiritual sight more than the physical. Shalom!

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VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S

TEXT: PROVERBS 20: 22

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.” (Proverbs 20:22).

The dictionary defines vengeance as the punishing of someone for harming you, your friend or your family. It is an action against someone to punish them for hurting you (dictionary.com).

The scripture made us to know that as human beings living together in a community or a society we cannot do without offending each other. Offence and conflict resolution is part of living. That is why the Bible admonishes us that we should not pay evil with evil, we should live in forgiveness. If you think someone offended you and you want to retaliate or you will not forgive, have it in mind that you are not perfect, you might have offended some in the cause of your relationship with people. This is why we should find excuse for people and let go of any record of wrong you have against them.

“So watch yourselves.” If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” (Luke 17:3).

Only God can fight a perfect battle- He is the best avenger. Have you been maltreated or cheated unjustly? Try to forgive and move on, let God avenge and vindicate you. It is not in your place to take revenge hence you don’t fall into sin yourself.

The Bible tells us to pray for those that persecute us (Matthew 5: 44). Don’t get me wrong, it is not easy to forgive and let go; it takes the grace of God. To fulfill the commandment of God, you must learn to forgive.

When you avenge yourself you are saying “God is not capable of fighting your battles” you are therefore replacing God in your life.

In “normal circular society where laws and orders are respected and followed, no one is allowed to take laws into his or her hands by punishing any offender. Protocols have to be followed by calling on the law enforcement agents of the society.

Consequently, in the kingdom of God, there are rules and regulations (commandments). If you cannot violate the laws of your society you shouldn’t violate God’s decrees. When God avenges for you, you will marvel at the extent He would go to avenge for you. You will be pleading with God to be lenient in His judgment over your adversaries because He will give them more than their requests!

LET GO AND LET GOD. Shalom.

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WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?

TEXT: MATTHEW 6: 19-21.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
What is treasure? The Merriam Webster dictionary definition for treasure is "something of great worth or value."valuable (such as money, jewels, gold, or silver) that is hidden or kept in a safe place. something that is very special, important, or valuable.
What does it mean to store up? It means to keep a lot of something so that you can use it later.( Macmillan Dictionary).
Now that we know what treasure and storing up means. I will like to ask you as a child of God that what are your treasure? What do you place priority on?  What do you place value on? Are your treasure based on the worldly possessions or do you mind the things of God.
As God's children, your treasure or what you place paramount importance on should be what will add value to your walk with God. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean you should not aspire to be rich and be great in life, but do not forsake God in the quest to amass wealth. The scripture says in Matthew 6: 33 that we should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall be added into it. Some have forsaken God in their adventure of treasure seeking. It is the blessing of God that gives riches without adding sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22).
Our text says we should store up our treasure in heaven where nothing will destroy it. What does this mean? It simply means that you should engage in positive things that can be credited to your "heavenly bank account." Where it will be preserved and be remembered for good reward when we get to heaven.
Remember that the scripture made us to know that whatever we do here on earth will be accounted and rewarded accordingly. Therefore, do good to people, help those that are in need, ask for the grace to live godly life without spot or wrinkle, do not forsake the assembly of believers so that your spiritual life can be lifted.
Let your life be pleasing to God.
Make sure that your name will be written in the book of life. That is the greatest place to store up treasure in. Making heaven is the best treasure, the most valuable treasure that every believer should desire.
Worldly treasure cannot stand the test of time. What you see as treasure this year, will be out out date over time. If it does not go out of trend, it may be broken, stolen or destroyed. That is what our text is talking about. It does not worth it to run helter skelter over Worldly treasure that last but for a moment, and lose our heavenly treasure.
1st Timothy 6:9-10 says " Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11.But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
 None of the wealthy people that died, took their wealth with them. All the treasure in keep will automatically becomes someone else's. If they did not do any good work while living, their "heavenly safe" will be empty without any good things to be rewarded for. What will their testimony be when they get to heaven?  What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? ( Matthew 16:26).
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1Timothy 6:17).
These worldly possessions or treasure are not eternal but temporary. Desire the eternal treasure, store up treasure in heaven, be good to people, love the "unlovable" touch lives positively, walk and be blameless before God (ask for the grace). Live in the consciousness of heaven so that the worldly pressure and pleasure will not swing you off course. Shalom.

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ARE YOU THE PERMISSIVE PARENT?

PROVERBS 19:18

“Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” (Proverbs 19: 18).

The Cambridge dictionary defines discipline as “The training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, and there will be punishment if these rules are broken.”

Many things have gone wrong in our society today as a result of “civilisation, modernisation or Westernisation” or whichever name is given to the moral decadence in this new age.

Moral values, decency and respect are things of the past; they have long gone into extinction! Our policy makers devised rules and regulations in favour of moral decadence. Laws are in place to make parents to become handicapped in inculcating moral values into their children. Parents are afraid of their children being taken away from them if 911 are called.

Through the policy makers the devil has planted “designated persons” that children can report the “misconducts” of their parents to.

The irony of life is that these policy makers were brought up with standardised moral values and proper decorum. Hence, their opportunity to be among the high calibres in the society.  Surprisingly, these people are now advocating against the values that made them to become voices to reckon with.

As parents, are you going to fold your hands and watch the society to take over your parenting obligation and your divine mandate from you?

When the chips are down, when the unwanted happens, who will fill the heat the most? It consequences falls on the parents and the child. Although in the long run it will bounce back on the society at large.

Parents do not let your children be among the negative statistics of your society. Train them, in still godly fear in them.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6).

Correct them in love then they go wrong, punish them if need be. If the law of the state can punish an offender, I don’t see any reason why such state should pass any law that would make parents to become permissive to allow the children to do whatever they like, even when they know it could lead to their destruction!

Punishment shouldn’t only be beating and flogging, you can deprive them of some things they like playing with, time out or sitting them down to talk to them and encourage them from the scripture. Don’t always be in approval of everything they do, just to be in their “good book.” They need to be corrected when they are wrong, we are in their lives to guide and direct them to greatness.

Our text says “You should discipline your child for there will be hope in them- if you raise them properly and they amount to greatness in future, you can be sure that your old age is safe and secure.

The later part of the verse says “Do not be a party to his death!” this implies that if a child is not trained in the right way, it can lead to an untimely death. The child may engage in drug, drink-driving, and other dangerous things that can shorten his or her life.

The Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is destruction (Proverbs 14: 12).

Permissive parents always allow their children to have their way so that they can avoid trouble or problem. This parenting style may not end well because it is not good for children to have their ways at all times.

Let there be a time that you will say “NO” to the children. Do not allow your children to take the driver’s seat in your home.

Put your feet down firmly and train them in the way they should go.

Be an authoritative parent- strike a balance between what the children want and what you as the parent wants for them.

I pray that our children will not bring shame and reproach to us in Jesus name.

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ASK UNTIL YOUR JOY IS FULL

TEXT: JOHN 16: 24

“Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.”(John 16:24).

The scripture tells us that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus shall be given to us (John 14:14). Matthew 7: 7 also promised that we should ask and it shall be given to us.

As sweet as these promises are, they do not come to pass at our own timing but according to God’s timing.

God is not a God of “promise and fail.” Whatever He says He will do, He will surely do- He is not a man that he should lie- He’s too faithful to fail, Hallelujah!

However, God’s ways are not our ways; he does things as He pleases, without permission from us or without explanation to us.

God can never make mistakes or commit blunder- Never! He is a good God. Whatever he’s doing (even if it doesn’t make sense to us) will always be in our favour in the long run.

All we have to do is to keep trusting him and lean not on our own understanding- don’t try to figure out what He’s doing, just trust and follow him “sheepishly.”

Somebody once told me that to walk with God; you have to leave your brain behind! Yes, you have to leave your brain (Human wisdom) and be dependent on His directions.

The scripture says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that “to everything there is a season, and a TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE.”

If God tells you to ask for anything in His name that He would do it for you- if you ask in His name and the answer is delaying, that does not mean God is not going to bring His promise to pass in your life.

You will receive the answer to your prayer, the only reason why you think it’s “delaying” is that the appointed time has not come (Eccl. 3:1).

When the set time comes, the Lord will fulfil His promise in your life.

Sadly, some people give up on God at their “near success.” At the verge of breakthrough they get fed up of asking and they retrieve to fate- They stop asking for God’s favour while their joy is yet to be full.

The anchor scripture today is encouraging you not to stop asking for divine favour- continue asking, seeking, knocking on heaven’s door till your prayers will be answered and your joy will be full and overflow.

Be patient, learn to tarry in His presence, learn from Jacob that “abandoned” himself with God saying “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26b).

You too can tell God “I will not let you go and I will not keep quiet until you answer me.”

Do not allow the devil to seal your mouth and hinder you from receiving from God, you have no other place to go. Don’t be weary in your request, continue asking and at the appointed time He will bring His promises to pass and your joy will overflow in Jesus name. Shalom!

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ANY EXPECTATION?

TEXT: PROVERBS 23: 18

“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

Expectation is defined as a strong belief that something will happen or be the case. The Cambridge dictionary defines expectation as “the feeling of expecting something to happen.”
Having known the definition of expectation, I want you to earnestly answer this question “what are your expectations in life?”

Ephesians 3:20 talks about how our great and mighty God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above what we can ever think or imagine. Praise God!

Whatever your expectation is, the Lord is capable of multiplying it for you and make it measure up far beyond what you are expecting.

On this note, we should be very careful what are expectations are. Are your expectations full of negativity because of the situation at hand? Have you lost hope and has given in to fate because of your present situation?

Is the devil making you to expect the worst that things cannot get better again?

Don’t blame God when the expectation of your heart becomes evident in hundred folds more than you envisaged.

Some people pray for a change in their situation, but in their inner mind they have lost hope and did not believe that the situation can change for the best. Although they still pray and do other spiritual exercises, but they have the mind-set that the situation cannot improve (The devil made them to be expectant of negativity).

On the other hand, some people may be at the lowest ebb of their lives, yet they will be optimistic that things will get better- they are expectant of positive change even in the midst of calamity and confusion.

As the Lord has spoken in Proverbs 23: 18 that” the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short.” The Lord will honour His word in their lives and bring positive solution to the challenging issues.

Whatever your expectation is, that is what the Lord will work with- He will grant you the desires of your heart.

Although the Lord has the power to do and undo, yet He loves it when we trust Him absolutely. God promised to grant the desire of the righteous (Proverbs 10: 24). If you faithfully believe the promises of God regardless of any situation that is bothering you, all will be well with you (I can testify of this in my life).

When the Israelites complained that they would have preferred to die in Egypt than suffering in the dessert (Numbers 14). The Lord said to them that He would do to them as they have spoken into His ears (Numbers 14: 28).

Guess what? God granted them the desires of their heart and their expectation- they all died in the wilderness!

Conversely, Abraham showed his faith and his expectation in God when he was told to use Isaac as sacrifice. The boy asked the father “Where is the animal for the sacrifice?” The father replied him that the Lord shall provide, and the Lord surely did! His expectation was not cut off as the Lord promised him.

On the final note brother and sisters, what is your expectation from God? I have good news for you today, no matter what the situation is; keep hope alive, be expectant of positive change and the Lord will show Himself in your favour. Be hopeful, let your expectation be positive expectations because God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ever think or imagine. May the peace of the Lord rest and abide with you, may He calm every storm in your life in Jesus name. Amen.

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