Month: August 2024

 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” - Judges 11: 30, 31

As the wealthy oil tycoon lay on his death bed, his pastor talked of God’s healing power. “Pastor.” he gasped, “if God heals me, I will give the church a million dollars. Miraculously, the man got revived. When we come to God like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22. we are faced with the things we have to give up for the sake of God. Wealth, we have built by our strength, by theft, by lies as Habakkuk 2: 18 – 20 says:

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver.
    there is no breath in it.”
20 The Lord is in his holy temple.
    let all the earth be silent before him.

So, when we raise idols built by our hands i.e. mammoth, that teaches us to lie to gain wealth, we will seek guidance from inmate things because it builds your image (how you see yourself) BECAUSE your trust is in its creation (man, man’s voice and what man creates). When we build idols from ourselves, from things other than Gods hands it will lead or guide us to sin through pride. Hence the scripture, if the lord doesn’t build a house the laborers labor in vain. Psalm 127: 1. Everyman has a builder (God, himself or other things) and he builds based on what builds him. If wealth builds you, you will build others by wealth.

 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.  Hebrews 3:4-6

Jesus came and saw the temple made/built with precious stones, he said I will tear down this building and in 3 days I will rebuild it. Do you have buildings you have to tear down. So, the lord will rebuild you. John 2:19, Do precious stones build you, does bloodshed build you, Habakkuk 2: 12, Nehemiah was a rebuilder of walls and Jerusalem. Who build you, is it what builds your city? or is it the cornerstone that was rejected that build you, or will you say like the men in Genesis 11: 4 Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. What builds you creates your image; would you destroy the image that speaks lies and ask God to rebuild you?

Sometimes, people hide their broken images behind precious stones, some money, some lies and others Jesus.

Back to the story, Miraculously, the man who was revived as some believers when they fall out of sin, was out of the hospital. One day, several month later, he and the pastor chatted on the sidewalk in front of a hardware store. “You know,” the Pastor said, “when you were in the hospital dying, you promised to give the church a million dollars if you got well. We haven’t got it yet. “Did I say that?” the tycoon asked. “I guess that goes to show how sick I really was!”.

In our passage, we are confronted with the story of Jephthah, who vowed that if he defeated the Ammonites, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house to God when he returned home. His daughter, who was his only child, was the one who greeted him on his return. This was highly regrettable to Jephthah, as his only daughter remained unmarried and knew no man till her death.

Today, there are many people who in the heat of emotion or personal challenges have made hasty promises to God, which they later found difficult to fulfill. However, once they get what they want, they forget or pile up excuses why they would not be able to keep their vows.

It is instructive to note that though the vow was difficult for Jephthah, but as a man of integrity, he fulfilled his vow. God is them. We must not make rows we find difficult to keep (Deuteronomy 23: 21; Ecclesiastics 5: 4). Always be thoughtful and patient before you open your mouth before the Lord. Avoid making rash vows based on emotions.

We are only as Good as our words and our words are to be built in God. So, our builder can build us.

Matthew 7:24-29, Psalm 9, Psalm 13-18: So, today I ask as with Galatians 1 who builds you? whose voice do you hear? where do Gods word ring when in doubt, worry and fear creeps in? See more scriptures relating to building here: 15 Bible verses about Builders (knowing-jesus.com)

When God chooses people, from the face of the earth as he treasured possession. you are the children of the Lord, your God. Deuteronomy 7: 6-11.

This tells us that when we are to be clean based on:

1. separation decided by God: when he said what was clean and what was unclean Deuteronomy 14: 11, hooves that are separate; God decides which animal with hooves are clean. Then he calls what is ceremonially unclean, what you eat that is unclean, Deuteronomy 14:21, but if what you want

Set apart by God makes us clean as we do his will. Romans 14:2 clearly tells us that ‘One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.’ So, Daniel 1: 8 – 11 “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” we see here two things from Romans 13 and conclude on one. The conclusion is Romans 14: 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is Unclean. the two things we see is that according to Romans 14: 2 Daniels faith was probably weak because he wanted to eat vegetable. Secondly, the scriptures say in our second observation Romans 14: 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. So, if one decides something/someone is clean i.e. all things God created are clean but if in eating it, causes someone else to stumble then don’t eat? why because it is not eating in faith. The idea of segregation is like a calf hoof (the split of it) spoken about in Number to denote separation or consecrations for the work of God. Not because it one hoof was bad, and the other was good. It simply meant God had to make something or someone better for his use.

So why then did Daniel believe eating the meat would defile him. The Israelite under the law had many ceremonial laws. In Nehemiah 5: 14-15 “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ATE the FOOD allotted to the governor. ¹⁵ But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels^[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.”

The Jews at the time were making an outcry that their leaders were selling their people out as slaves (Nehemiah 5 vs 8), they were asking King Artaxerxes to charge their people more interest and tax leading to the Jews having to sell vineyards, field and homes during famine. Therefore, they had no food this would lead to heavy burden being placed on the poor. so, Nehemiah would not eat the food nor wine because it was from heavy burdens of people where they lorded it over the people. He believed it would defile him and out of reverence for God he did not eat from the king’s food.

In verse 18 of Nehemiah 5, he says this “Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.” The long and short of the story is he made the Jewish leaders to take an oath not to sell their people.

Romans 14: 23 tells us what is clean and unclean, “But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” why you may ask because of the way we consider things. Romans 14: 6 tells one person may considers eating certain food (my friend used to say its sexual appetite because its food, but I tell him as long as its according to Gods will) as bad and another doesn’t. (perspectives). Someone may consider one day more sacred than another, and someone will consider every day alike. Also, Romans 14: 13 passing judgments on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister, can change one’s perspective. The devil did this he cast doubt on what God said to Eve, telling her if she ate, she would not die (the example has a negative connotation on what clean and unclean is) but it shows the effect of doubt. Even Judas doubted Jesus. So, there is an unhealthy doubt and healthy doubt but when it causes one to stumble when its healthy (what one eats and drinks Colossians 2: 16) it’s not good as it causes someone to fear and SIN, but when it’s an unhealthy doubt as with Satan asking eve to eat and disobey God, it caused her to stumble. The long and short of the story, God gave Eve an instruction not to eat the apple because it was not good for her, and she would die. It is only God who tells us what is good and what is not Good. This is why he gave the same ceremonial laws to the Israel because he was trying to test their obedience (Deuteronomy 14) for outward cleanliness (see Hebrew 9). However, if you don’t hear God say its unclean then it is not unclean, and we see this in Acts 10: 13 – 17. God said the wild beast is clean.

Excerpts:

God’s word is truth. Grace and truth appeared to all men and that truth is Jesus. the works he brought to us by the cross is GRACE. The voice of truth is the word of God made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ; the truth does not cause us to stumble it preserves us. The word became flesh and dwell amongst men, the truth preserves the work Jesus wrought for us and preserves us but telling people what to align with; what to choose brings condemnation, this is why the scripture says let no man insult you in what you eat or drink. so, when something is aligned with the truth of God’s word that all things is good and not unclean but brings condemnation to that person (stumbling) it is sin on the other person’s end. However, if it’s aligned with God instruction or words, it preserves the person. Doubt not confounded in truth leads to a lie and thus stumbling. This is why Thomas doubt had to be verified by the one who is true, and that truth is Jesus. So, he did not stumble but believed. I guess no one is as clean or should we say as holy as the lord, therefore one decides who is clean or unclean but the lord. For he is the Lord who sanctifies – Jehovah Mekoddishkem.

SONGS:

W.F Kumuyi

Deuteronomy 34: 10 Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

Catherine Millard wrote, ‘The Inner Courtroom of the US Supreme Court shows four marble bas-relief panels beneath the ceiling on each of the four walls. (much like the inner court of the temple called the sanctuary, where our conscience judges or convicts us) Each has particular story to tell. The pane directly above the bench where the Chief Justice and the eight Associate Justices are seated depicts “The Power of Government” and “The Majesty of the Law”. Between these two allegorical figures, the Ten commandments stand out in a position of prominence. ‘Justice, the Guardian of Liberty. ‘Is the title of the East pediment of the building, a stark reminder of the origin and basis for our American legal system is depicted in the central figure of Moses holding the two tables of the Old Testament Law, one in either hand. “A relief plaque of Moses is in the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives. It is one of twenty-three marble plaques placed there during the remodeling in 1949 – 1950.

Moses is honored in death. He is remembered as a prophet ‘whom the Lord knew face to face’. Of Importance also is his gentleness, humility and authenticity. God sent him to do unique signs and wonders in Egypt and before all Israel.

Also, Moses and Elijah were the two Old Testament figures who appeared with Christ on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1-6). ‘The song of the Lamb’ (Revelation 15: 3). Notably, a plaque honoring Moses is placed conspicuously in the chambers of the US Supreme Court and the House of Representatives. What more incredible honor could there be? Your life is an open book to others who will read of your impact long after you have departed. You will be remembered for what you have done. The best honor is the one that lasts for all eternity, which God gives to his faithful servants in heaven.

Honour is earned and not imposed!

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”  Romans 13:7

To see a typical example of honor imposed we look at the life of Paul in Act 23:

 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”  (it seems today is conscience day as a pointer to guilt or to God, first David was conscience (2 Samuel 24) stricken and Paul fulfilled his in good conscience). Then the high priest, Ananias commanded that Paul be stricken on the mouth. Paul then says to him ” God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”.

They were violating the law and judging Paul by it! Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” then Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’^[a]”

Noteworthy, while respect physical laws, we honor spiritual laws and stand on it. Because the spiritual laws supercede the physical laws. Spiritual laws are bounded by love and so set us free in Christ however physical laws keeps us in chained as they are bounded in reasoning, we know but cannot do. The story of the bond woman and the free woman. Galatians 4:23-31, Romans 8 for more information.

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷ When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

we see the religious leaders were asking Paul to honor the position of the high priest; however, Paul referenced the scriptures that said one is not to speak evil about their ruler and apologized thereafter. Paul honored the scriptures not the position however they wanted him to do the opposite.

Songs:

By W.F Kumuyi

And he gave some Apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers.  Ephesians 4:11

The telegraph, a British newspaper, reported that a flock of over 1,300 sheep “had to be rounded up by police in the Spanish city of Huesca after their shepherd fell asleep. According to city authorities, the police were alerted to the huge flock attempting to negotiate the streets in the center of Huesca at around 4.30 am on a Tuesday when a resident dialed Spain’s 112 emergency number. The police eventually found the herder, who was still peacefully slumbering. Together, the embarrassed shepherd and police officers finally extracted the sheep from the city and returned them to their pastures.

The duties of church shepherds are fully outlined in the scriptures. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are responsible for maturing the flock of Christ. They are to guide them, away from the danger of false teachers and their false doctrines, increase the congregation through evangelism and teach them the way of God.

The duties of church leaders require a lot of sacrifice. Shepherds do not give birth to sheep but provide the best pasture and nourishment, encouraging them to give birth, multiply and increase. Jesus’ command is ‘feed my sheep’, not ‘feed on my sheep’, as some ministers do today. The job of pastoring is not for the one with the best credentials but the one with the best character.

A lot must be done to keep the flock of Christ clean, pure and becoming more and more hostile to the flock. Thus, those who are charged with this sacred duty of caring for the flock must wake up from their slumber to serve the Master with utmost zeal and commitment.

Lazy men cannot do the work of shepherds.

So, we go to the story of David to see a shepherd who did not leave his sheep: 2 Samuel 24

God’s anger burned against Israel, we do not know why, so he incited King David to do a census count of the fighting men and enroll more from Dan to Beersheba. So, JOAB decides to ask David, why he is doing this but relents by praying that the lord their God multiply their troops a hundred times over, and that the eyes of the king would see it.

Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.” verse 17

So, David made an altar at Araunah the Jebusites threshing floor to stop the plagues. The key thing to note is David did not desert his sheep even though they were being punished by God. Why because from 2 Samuel 24: 1- 3 God was clearly angry with Israel, so he incited David, so Israel would be punished. Every shepherd God chooses never deserts the sheep; more like Jesus who says:

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  John 10:11-13

David did not leave his sheep, Jesus did not leave his ship, Moses did not leave his sheep; they all came back for them. All Shepherd including Jesus who is specifically a good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep did not leave his sheep. David did not lay his life down for his sheep; he just did not desert them. So, he is a shepherd but not a good shepherd like Jesus. No shepherd leaves his sheep, and Jesus is the model example of a good shepherd we can all emulate.

Songs: