Author: olabumblebee55

When he was eighty-eight years old, the late Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, once found himself on a train. When the conductor came by, Justice Holmes could not find his ticket; and he seemed terribly upset. He searched all of his pockets and fumbled through his wallet without success. The conductor was sympathetic; “Don’t worry, Mr. Holmes,” he said. “The Pennsylvania Railroad will be happy to trust you. After you reach your destination, you’ll probably find the ticket; and you can just mail it to us.” But the conductor’s kindness failed to put Mr. Holmes at ease. Still very much upset, he said, “My dear man, my problem is not, “Where is my ticket?” The problem is, “Where am I going?”

As this year ends and another begins, we know everyone is in some kind of rat race: a fierce pursuit to make ends meet, acquire certificates, build wealth, climb the ladder of success, improve standard of living, make a mark in life; but after all is said and done, where do these pursuit lead you? Do you know if the pursuit takes you closer or farther from God.

Amidst your daily hustling and bustling, sometimes, take a minute to ponder about the two eternal destinations of man; or are you one of those who believe that life ends here on earth? Friend, the bible tells us that there’s life beyond this realm. When you close your eyes here on earth, they open up in heaven or hell; these are two eternal destinations awaiting all humanity. Examine your life today; are you on the path that leads to eternal rest in heaven?

In Matthew 7: 13 – 14, the Lord counsels, “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The ‘strait gate’ is the narrow WAY; the way of salvation that leads to eternal life in heaven. It accommodates those who try to walk in holiness and righteousness i.e. liberated from their heavy weight of which they have offloaded at the cross of calvary.

The ‘wide gate’ on the other hand, is the broad way. it is the way of ease and self-indulgence; it accommodates excesses of all sorts, and sin, it has the widest range. it is the way of destruction. Which way are you headed? You may claim you are on the path to life – the narrow way, because you bear a Christian name, and you go to church regularly; or because you are a dedicated worker in your local church, pay tithes, do charity, donate to Christian projects and the likes. All these are commendable; but when you do all these good deeds, and still remain a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a fornicator, a cheat, or indulge in any sinful habits or acts, you are on the path to destruction – Hell.

The only way to eternal life in heaven is the way of repentance from all sins, and faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior. Good works do not make a good person, and Jesus did not come to die to make us good with God he came to die to make us right (righteous) with God. Jesus has already completed the work of redemption. All we need to do is go to him and get this saving grace. He says, in Matthew 11: 28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy burdened/laden, and I will give you rest”. There is an eternal rest awaiting you, if you sincerely repent, accept the lordship of our lord Jesus, to walk in the narrow way till the end.

adapted by me, curled from Deeper Christian Life Ministry

www.dclm.org

Jesus says more about the ways of God. In fact, scripture say the ways of God the father is unsearchable. Romans 11: 33. Some go on to say the method and plans are mysterious. As we enter this festive season, we ought to remember why he came to show us the way.

Jesus preceding his coming spoke in Isaiah that he sent is messenger to go before him. Isaiah 40:3 why did he send a messenger to go before him? TO PREPARE THE WAY. Jesus says, ” I AM THE WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE “. The way to the father is Jesus, the ways of God the father will always be unsearchable. It is only by walking in the way of Christ we find the path to God. The wise men followed the stars to find their way to Jesus, when he was born. Not all ways lead to God except in Christ. I love what Genesis 28: 20 – 22 says “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this WAY that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, ²¹ so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. ²² And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a ^[a]tenth to You.”

Jesus came to be God with us (Emmanuel), to show us the way and the stone the builder rejected. Yet he is the foundation and pillar of our faith. It is when we realize God has been with us and has been showing us the way that he gives and we give.

The Old Testament speaks of the ways of God Genesis 13: 1 Lot and Abraham parted ways, God spoke to both lot and Abraham, yet they parted ways, it tells me one can be in a relationship with God and yet not walk in the way of God. Deut. 5:33 to keep the commands of YHWH in his ways. So, YHWH ways are bounded by his commands, and his command is bounded by his love for us. Hence, Jesus says if you love me keep my commands. Deut 10: 12, Deut 11: 12, to love YHWH and walk in ALL his ways. Deut 19: 9, 26: 17, 28:7, 28:9; 25:29 to walk by faith in Christ is to obey YHWH Commands. Deut 28: 33, 30:16, Deut 32:4. All YHWH way is justice, a God truth and without injustice, righteous and upright is he. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145: 17. One way king Solomon he showed he was a righteous king was the way he brought justice to the two women who claimed a baby was theirs. He sought justice and I believe as a righteous person we ought to seek justice but never let it overwhelm us as in the case of Job, ultimately there is a greater judge who is more righteous than we will ever be. Judges 2: 22 he tests us to see whether we will keep the ways of YHWH to walk in them. Joshua 22:5, I Samuel 8:3 shows us ways we are not to walk in. I Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 18: 14 and to Daniel in all ways he behaved WISELY and YHWH was with him. 2 Samuel 22: 22 for I have kept the WAYS of YHWH and not departed wickedly from God, I kings 2: 3, I kings 3:14, I kings 8: 39, 8:58, 11:33, Isaiah 57: 10 that people can weary themselves in the greatness of their ways. Isaiah 57: 14 says in the path of John the Baptist, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out the way of people (that’s what JOHN came to do). Isaiah 57:17 says the forwardly goes in the way of his heart, God sees his ways, and he will heal him and lead him also and restore comfort unto him. When we repent as John preaches, he restores comfort to us. Truth is we all need repentance in one way or the other. King David one of my favorite bible characters says ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts²⁴ and see if there be any wicked WAY in me and lead me in the WAY everlasting (truth). Psalm 139:23 – 24. The ways of God leads to truth and truth brings Justice (light), and justice brings peace. YHWH saith in Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Sometimes it is good remember this that only by walking in the way of Christ which he came to show us can we be in the line of his will. As this festive season goes remember he came to show us the WAY, the way Jesus appeared was not the way we thought a savior would appear, he was fashioned as a mortal man for you and I, suffered on the cross for you and I, born in a manger for you and I to show us the way. Remember the light the magi followed that led them to Christ, is the light of the gospel of Christ Jesus that reflect in us to show us the way. Happy Holidays. I don’t have time these days.

The Ark of the Covenant stayed in the house of Abinadab in Kirjath Jearim for about twenty years after being returned from the Philistines. When King David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, it was temporarily kept in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months before being moved to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:10-12). This pause allowed David to regroup and prepare for its proper transportation and placement in Jerusalem.

Some have argued because Obededom valued the presence of God more than Abinadab, God blessed him more. Others say “the Ark of the Covenant prospered in Obed-Edom’s house because Obed-Edom was a righteous and God-fearing man who treated the Ark with reverence and respect. Unlike in Abinadab’s house, where the Ark had been for about twenty years without recorded blessings, Obed-Edom’s proper stewardship and wholehearted acceptance of the Ark led to God’s blessings on his entire household, crops, and possessions (2 Samuel 6:11-12, 1 Chronicles 13:14). His home became visibly prosperous, which was so evident that the news reached King David. The key difference was Obed-Edom’s attitude of honor and his faithfulness in caring for the Ark, which attracted God’s favor and blessing.”

Truthfully, it could be a combination of these reasons, why I believe their names settled it Abinadab name means a generous one, he was an embodiment of the father – ab means Father, Nadab means “willing to give”. Abinadab life was an epitome of the father’s nobility and love, whereas Obededom name translates to “a hired servant to the red one”. Not only is a flame red, but it also signifies servantship and embodiment of one who serves. Abinadab name is a state of the fathers being whereas Obededom is servantship. Truly, there is no way they could act as priest in the Old Testament without true worship to God, because the ark of the covenant could be brought out (i.e. signifying the presence of God) they had to worship and praise to offer sacrifice, it was that strict. And King David was king as of this period.

Why am I bringing this up: Some people associate the presence of God with material blessing, but we have clearly seen in Job that God was with Job through his trail even when he was not blessed and when he was. Some have said God blesses us when we suffer and wait long enough but King David was blessed at age 16, he killed Goliath became the Kings armor bearer. He was clearly favored before he became King at 30. Joseph got blessed at a latter age.

Isaiah 40: 28 says ’28 Hast thou not known? hast thou did not hear that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.’

We may know Gods ways but there is no searching of his understanding. Who he chooses to bless, at what he chooses to bless is based on his understanding. Theres no formular for this. It’s not head over heart or heart over logic (i.e. head). Its Gods understanding and there’s no searching of this, we can only know the way of the father in faith, as scriptures would say who put the thought in man?

Jesus would paint a picture of Lazarus a poor beggar and a rich man who died and went to heaven, the physical state doesn’t determine what a person is in the kingdom of God it’s the heart. And only God searches the heart.

When we think of the word reJOIce, we rarely see the word JOY there. One of the fruits of the spirit is love (Christ), and he brought JOY…peace…. Galatians 5: 22 – 23.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Yet when Christ came, he brought love, joy, peace and all good fruits.

Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Joyfulness always brings good tidings; it did when Jesus was born and it’s the key to praise. Isaiah 21: 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water of the wells of salvation, Luke 2: 30 Simeon says for my eyes have seen your salvation. To see the saving grace of God we joy in the lord and his salvation. Philippians 4:4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is nearby. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians show how the lord gets near when we praise, even Christ birth angels were praising when Jesus appeared physically. Romans 4: 20 Strong in faith giving glory to God. The children of Isreal echoed this statement ” How could we sing to the lord in a strange land”.

Psalms 137:4-6 Oh, how could we ever sing GOD’s song in this wasteland? If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my fingers wither and fall off like leaves. Let my tongue swell and turn black if I fail to remember you, how shall we sing The LORD’s song in a strange land?

John 8: 56

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.

Abraham rejoiced and saw the day of the lord. Scriptures say Job praised God and God restored him. Psalm 103: 1 Let all that I am praise the lord, with my heart, with my whole heart I will praise his holy name.

As we approach the festive seasons, Christmas and Thanksgiving are in full swings. We remember what lead to the birth of Christ, why he had to come and the mood surrounding his birth. Luke 2 gives us a clear picture of the mood that precedes his birth, his parents were to be taxed, so they moved from galilee to the Nazareth where he was born in Bethlehem of Judea (the house of bread, because he was of the lineage of King David).

Scriptures describes the mood that led to his birth good tidings of great joy to all people (Luke 2: 16). In short, I see it as the kingdom of heaven comes then the kingdom of God follows. Luke 2:13 says there was the angels, a multitude of heavenly host doing what PRAISING GOD and saying GLORY TO GOD in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. So, Gods will be peace on earth, and he brought his son, who pleased him to do his good will towards men that the will of God. The amazing thing is leading to his birth, Shepherd watched the flock by night echoing King David, the lord is my shepherd. He made men his shepherd to watch his flock.

1. They were praising God to bring the Kingdom of heaven here on earth and said peace and goodwill to men.
2. Shepherds who watched the flock by night were chosen to witness the good tidings of great joy to all. Luke 2:15 further elaborates that as the angels were gone away from them unto the heavens the Shepherds glorified and praised God for all the things they had seen and heard as it were told to them Luke 2:20. The Kingdom of God comes to men.

The heavenly host appearing to men and praising signifies the kingdom of heaven coming to men with peace and goodwill, the kingdom of God appearing to the shepherd where the glorified and praised God for what they had seen and heard. The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God intersect when we praise God, this is how the will of God (Jesus) was brought to us teaching us the ways of God (I am the way), Eloi good tidings (truth) that leads to life in Christ Jesus. As it is written:

John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Christ created that passageway, taught about the kingdom of heaven and that of the father, Eloi. As the Christmas approaches, we should not forget the greatest present we received that is Jesus, we are heir of Salvation and though we do not offer turtle doves and pigeons anymore we offer him praise (Luke 2: 24). When we see the work of Salvation, do we see the lights to lighten us the gentiles, and the glory of his people Isreal (Luke 2: 32). Yes, we have Christmas lights but does our heart still light up for Jesus. He brought good tidings to us all, we saw his great light, and he brought the will of the father to come to pass. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus will you like Mary keep the things of God in mind and ponder on Christ work in our heart. We all our shepherd this season, so we watch the flock, and we are our brother’s keeper: Kindly share the birth of Christ to someone.

I was sitting with my aunt one day and she was saying to her kids that after all she had done for them they did not appreciate her. And I said within myself after all Jesus did for us at the cross, we still do not appreciate it, Jesus knew we would stone him and crucify him yet he still died for us. I heard a street preacher say that a guy asked him for a bible and he was sure if he gave the bible to him, he would have torn it. I said yes that the sacrifice Jesus made too at a bigger level than just a bible. A heartily panned problem stemmed from humans’ helplessness to sin; we as humans take out time to search for things sweet and palatable to our tongue to taste and for us to eat. Matthew 15: 11

A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it." What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.

I heard someone say Japan was saying foreigners are evading their country and they did not want to become the next Great Britain, in all ramification i did not want to talk why because I could see the speck in my country and myself so decided to keep quiet. However, as the issue went on i remembered this verse Proverbs 18: 24

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

I say this with all love, I had a friend chinelo who got fully funded scholarship to Japan and loneliness and she spoke about them not knowing Jesus and how christianity was frown upon there. So it was like agnostic there. Now this is a nation, that doesn’t know Christ, aren’t friendly to even themselves, and thus decreasing population from suicide and self suicide. Yes, UK is messed up but so is every other nation at this point. There’s killing of Christians in Asian countries, sharia in Nigeria. If a nation cannot be friendly to themselves how will they be friendly to other nation. So, if they like they should not take foreigners or take it will not change the nations outlook what foreigners do is increase the reflection of a nation. Inbuilt its the foundation of a country that holds the nation. The image a nation has must reflect Christ else the foundation will erode; scriptures say if the foundation is eroded what can the righteous do. Not much, so it does not matter how many progress any nation has once its foundation is not built on a rock that is Christ it will crumble. Its not whether it bring foreigners its whether the foreigners belief aligns with their see Ruth and Christ flee into Egypt. Bring in foreigners is like having more population that magnifies the problem that was already there. Innately, every nation will pick after its kind. Implying its what a nation is, it will pick. This is my 2cent in the whole discussion.

I was watching this YouTube channel “https://youtu.be/_md5Xw99cac?si=iKXX3bqSQX7TxkGs” bearing in mind that we see things differently, he said we ought to preach the gospel than sing songs that when we get to heaven. That when we get to heaven, we will sing forever which is the truth, right.
But the fact that we should not sing is arguable:
1) the kingdom of God has come nigh or has come unto us. Luke 10: 9 that’s why we have open heavens Isaiah 64:1, when Jesus was being baptized the heavens opened and God the father said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. The open heaven was that similar to what Jacob saw in Genesis 28: 12
2) Jesus could not worship the father but honor him, so in essence, when Jesus came, he came to make disciples of men and honor the father. When he met the woman with the alabaster box, she was the only one who had some sort of worship to him, washing his feet with her hair and tears and using expensive perfume on him in memorial of his burial. Mark 14:3, Luke 7: 37
3) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrew 1: 14 its precisely because worship moves us to repentance that’s why the spirit on God comes upon us and we dance like David danced. When his spirit ministers to us we minister to others to repentance, hence the tears when we worship and the tears of the woman with the alabaster box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxM_n4LnK_M&list=RDPxM_n4LnK_M&start_radio=1.

There are many more reasons why worship is a form of ministering and thus gift of the spirit. If your gifting falls as teaching may be then preaching the gospel is your calling but that doesn’t nullify those given with the gift of ministering. After all, he gave us all beautiful garment Isaiah 61: 3, Worship is who Christ is for us, the knowledge that what we could not do in our sinful flesh is what Christ did for us is why we worship and this points us to Christ not to ourselves. And that is evangelism, that all honor, glory to you Jesus.

why worship is a form of evangelism: The psalmist and my alabaster box echoes scriptures from the writings of King David, who comes from the line of Judah which means I will sing. And I will put it to you that worship is about Jesus, the whole story of the alabaster box points us to the memorial of his burial, why we worship him. We can all minister the same way else they’d be no diversity it’s just like having ballad of classical music, but then there are poem and hymn and different forms of expressions of literature all pointing to literature.

Jesus said I have given you power to heal the sick, cast out demon, raise the dead and preach the gospel wherever you go. Just because you preach the gospel and can’t cast out demons does that mean you are not doing Jesus commands. Remember when Jesus disciples could not cast out demon because they’d not fasted and prayed did this mean they could not preach the gospel. So, just because our forms of worship or reverence to God is different does not mean it fails to point us to Christ. Matthew 26: 7

The scripture paints a picture of a woman who brought an expensive perfume, she poured on Christ’s head as he reclined at the table. WHEN WE worship it is the only time, we take away our expensive covers to see the beauty of his holiness. It does not just unveil Christ; it points others to him.

Tears roll because we finally see our unworthiness and Christ worthiness, Psalm 45: 8 That’s why the whole Psalms and hymns exist in the bible. It is the only time where sinners come to Christ as the veil is torn. It is the only time we are living temple offer ourselves as a willing sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God as a reasonable service. So, why wont singing be a form of evangelism, even if it is not a direct preaching.

when we worship it serves as a memorial to Christs work hence Jesus says she wrought a good work. He does his good work in us, and through us. It is God’s goodwill to work and do his good pleasure in us, Philippians 2: 13

I will Psalmist Psalm 45: 1 says my heart is indicting matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. I am fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into my lips there Adonai has blessed me FOREVER.

Songs:

Someone once said evangelism is for everyone, and I use to think oh well surely not but today, we see the woman at the well, who was a Samaritan who was to fetch water from the well met Jesus, Jesus told her about her past and she went on to evangelize that she met a man who told her about everything she did. If a woman at the well can evangelize so can we.

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Sometimes, we do not see the price, Jesus had to pay until we drink of the cup he drank. The price of taking the gospel to the nation and sitting at the right hand with Christ in glory.

And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized me will be baptized”

We envy/admire people and want to be as they are but until we realize the cup we have to drink of?

There is a long list for the requirement for sitting at the right hand of glory where Jesus, so I believe its a venture for only the strong and in this generation. Who would dear, I guess I thank God for his mercy towards the sons of men.

With challenges ever increasing in the world today, there’s no better time to now than to talk about freedom because it is what grace is. If we have no choice in a matter we have lost freedom and thus grace.

Deuteronomy 30: 19 says This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

It always astounds me that lady liberty is a single lady, I used to think when she is blue it stands for Americas freedom and when she is brown its stands for Americas discipline but who knows right.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Even God gives us a choice in every matter and that’s what freewill is and that’s really where justice comes from really that you choose life and get life but you choose death and you die. Unlike my country, where our foundation started from deceit and lies, that plagues, some countries are fortunate that their foundation was founded in truth and justice.

However, the beauty of freedom from slavery or slavery from sin or slavery in any form is the freedom to choose. If freedom is taking away choice is removed and thus a fall from grace. Laughs, discipline is not bad, its just a moment to reflect on why you fall from grace and that’s lady liberty.