I was editing the ‘confidence 2’ offering when I got carried away with the following thoughts and thought I should send them
1. LOVE
When you are in love with somebody, it never matter how bad they are or even how bad they treat you. I remember warning some ‘goodie’ sister from church about an old friend of mine she loved because I knew his life and what he says about her. The girl would not listen to anything I say. One day he spent a night with some girl but he told her some story but she loved him more. She even saw him high on drugs and stuff but that never stopped her from loving him. The guy was in love with somebody else, I did not tell her but even if she knew, that would not stop her from loving this guy. He doesn’t do anything for her but just from the short seconds he gets to see her, she would be blown out of her mind.
My point is that THE GIRL JUSTIFIED EVERYTHING THE GUY DID IN ORDER FOR HER TO KEEP LOVING HIM. If we can love someone like this, what about God?
Here are the scriptures that made me conclude on the points below
• Zechariah 3:2-3 NLT And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire." 3 Jeshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.
• Romans 8:38 NLT And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.
• Luke 15:10 NLT In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."
• Romans 3:20 ESV For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
• Jude 1:24 NLT Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault.
• Colossians 1:22 NLT Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.
Points :
• • Guys, There is nothing that the devil or anybody can say or do that will make God not to love you.
• • Even if you are filthy sinful beyond doubt, God justifies you (through Jesus).
• • We are not justified by what we do but by the love of God that produced grace.
• • God’s love is not based on what you do. I am not saying He is not pleased by good works but our works are not the ones making Him love us. Allow me to use a silly example for the sake of illustration. Have you ever had someone love/like you so much but you have absolutely have zero feelings for them. It doesn’t matter how good looking or good, perfect, sensitive, rich, holy, caring e.t.c they are. You just would not like them. Usually they would spend so much effort to get you to love them. That is religion or Phariseesm. Most of us find it hard to accept God’s free and unconditional love because of religious mentality. We spend most time trying to earn it through the law of Moses which was not given out of love (as I showed previously). You can not earn God’s love. YOU CAN ONLY RECEIVE IT AS GIVEN TO YOU THROUGH JESUS.
2. FAITH AND UNITY
I was driving to Limpopo over the festives when I reached a point on the highway where there was a fog. Earlier on, I overtook a car because it was slower than mine ( in fact all cars are but anyway…). I reduced speed because I could not see properly (it was the middle of the night + foggy) but I kept driving even though I could see only about 3 meters ahead. Then the guy I passed earlier came and overtook me. Then a thought came that I need to follow him since I could not see the way. I drove faster at his pace and just turned where he turned. If he had crashed, I would have definitely crashed too.
Thoughts
• Faith. We do not need to see the destination but by taking little steps in the right direction would get us there. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.)
• Some of you God has given a lamp to show the way. God laid ability and responsibility on you. When you fall, many others would fall too Paul said
Romans 12:5-11 NLT so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
o Some are in the lime-light and some are attractive like eyes.
oSome look useless, attractive or funny or not good looking e.g. knees, toes, nails. Nobody says you got nice knees ( I know some guy who liked necks but that’s not a norm)
o Some are overwork like hands.
o Some work in clean environments (eyes) and some in dirty ( you know what… I’m trying to be a Christian here, help me out).
o Some only work during emergency but are shut over the time
o Some are in pairs (feet), group (fingers) and some are solo (mouth)
o ABOVE ALL : ALL BODY PARTS ONLY DO WHAT THE BRAINS TELLS THEM TO DO. THOUGH SOME BODY PARTS MAY GET CREDIT OR PLEASURE (MOUTH WITH FOOD) AS THEY FUNCTION, THE MAIN AIM OF EATING IS NOT TO GET THE MOUTH ENJOYING THE FOOD BUT NUTRITION (TO FEED THE BODY) AS WILLED BY THE HEAD. WE ARE GIFTED EVERY GIFT NOT FOR OUR SAKE (FAME, WEALTH, GLORY E.T.C.) BUT FOR GOD’S SAKE AS THE HEAD. GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND EVERYTHING IS FOR HIM AND ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER HIDES IT THAT HE IS A JEALOUS GOD WHO WOULD SHARE HIS GLORY NO MAN. GIVE PRAISE TO HIM AND USE YOUR ABILITIES FOR HIM. EVERYBODY MUST PART WORK TOGETHER. When your toe itches , the bones bend the back, arms stretch, eyes locate the exact position, hands, fingers and nails scratch politely.
2. No body part should feel useless or wish it where the others
3. No body part must despise it’s function.
Guys, do you know that some people could be called to be just to be house wives. Guys the only reason why I would not enjoy being a house wife it’s because it’s hard work and I am lazy …. (and a man). One thing I have learnt about God is that He is in the business of building people’s characters. If He wants me to be patient He would take me to environments to build and test my patience i.e. He would bring slower people than me to work with me or get me to stay in Midrand so I can travel through the N1 highway to Johannesburg everyday or to graduate He might have to get me to consult with any government offices like home affairs. (and some of you who don’t need that character according to your function, you do not have to go through this exercise. That’s why we must not judge one another or try to get people to be as strong as we are in our fields, or try to be like others while we don’t know what they had to go through to get there).
4. No body part must feel more important or special.
5. No body part SHOULD BE ABLE to ignore other body parts
6. All body parts have the same blood (Holy Spirit) that is the source of life and must be united.
1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NLT 23 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
When you succeed, many others will succeed too. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WALK WHERE OTHERS HAVE WALKED TOO. Jesus walked this earth blameless and He overcame showing us an example...
• Guys, do not rejoice when your things take off and others are behind. Last week, Pastor Ray Mccauley preached that we are not created to survive independently of each other. Your life would be dependent on the very same people who seem useless today. Today it’s me tomorrow it’s you.
I thought of the following about body parts :-
o Some parts are hidden (arm pits) , internal ( heart, lungs) and some are external like ‘eyes’.
o Some are in the lime-light and some are attractive like eyes.
o Some only work during emergency but are shut over the time
Based on the different body parts function , environment of operation, looks e.t.c.
1. No body part must judge other parts
Guys, do you know that some people could be called to be just to be house wives. Guys the only reason why I would not enjoy being a house wife it’s because it’s hard work and I am lazy …. (and a man). One thing I have learnt about God is that He is in the business of building people’s characters. If He wants me to be patient He would take me to environments to build and test my patience i.e. He would bring slower people than me to work with me or get me to stay in Midrand so I can travel through the N1 highway to Johannesburg everyday or to graduate He might have to get me to consult with any government offices like home affairs. (and some of you who don’t need that character according to your function, you do not have to go through this exercise. That’s why we must not judge one another or try to get people to be as strong as we are in our fields, or try to be like others while we don’t know what they had to go through to get there).
Jesus could not have been born in Jamaica. Everything about Him including His character had to be built in the right environments - breast fed baby and natured by Jewish humans to well-function as human for His purpose- no short-cuts! So if God need somebody that need a character which can be built through daily relationship with a mother… there has to be a full time mother. Same with full time dad. Guys do not underestimate or judge your function according to the standards of this world. As children of God we need to treat each other with equal respect understanding that all we are is what He made or gave us for His purpose and that we are family:- the only commandment given to us is to Love God and one another, there is no love without respect.
4. No body part must feel more important or special.
Be blessed!
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