He arose by Pastor Gbenga Aluko

                                                                                       

                                                          Text: Mark 16:1-9

Topic: He arose 

Agonised about His death

Betrayed with a kiss

Crucified with thieves

His grave was sealed and guarded.

Derivatives of His resurrection

Burdened about His imminent death. 

The death and resurrection of Jesus wasn’t accidental or impromptu 1 Pt.1:19-20,Rev.13:8, yet He was agonised about His sacrificial death, for He saw the ridicule the suffering and the inglorious death that our salvation had to cost Him.He was totally God and man,He had feelings and fears and this had an impact on Him 1 Tim.2:5.

He was in deep agony and He turned to God in prayer for He was agonised.Mark 14:33ff.When we feel troubled, burdened ,agonised, with situations beyond our knowledge/capacity or both happens to us what is our reaction.His word says come to me all ye who labour and are heavy laden I will give you rest Matt.11:28. Go to Jesus in prayers.

Betrayed with a kiss 

Betrayal is not a new concept, the holy bible has some records of betrayal which outlines that this show of shame underscoring human fallibility, and the spiteful tendencies of adamic nature has a long history and can be exhibited by anyone who is not circumcised in the heart irrespective of location,placement and some other times titles.For a brief view:

Joseph was betrayed by His brothers        Gen.37:1ff

Uriah was betrayed by Kind David            2 Sam 11:5ff

David was betrayed by Absalom               2 Sam 15:7-9

Samson by delilah                                     Judges 16:4ff

Jesus by Judas                                           Mark 14:10ff

The betrayal of Jesus by Judas with a kiss is one of its kind and the repercussion is also special as Jesus already pronounced woe and stated that it is better if such individual had never been born.Matt.26:24.

How are we betraying this same Jesus today? Choosing earthly pleasure over and above His standards,word and ways,prioritising earthly desires and approaches over the path of the cross,undermining His name and power.Jesus is still saying woe to unrepentant betrayal don’t be part of them.

Crucified with thieves

Crucifixion was a capital sentence and largely used for condemned criminals by the Romans on the conquered people not their own citizens (discrimination and ill-treatment of people didn’t start today), this type of demeaning death for our Lord and Saviour just because of your sins and mine what a saviour, Thank you Jesus.

More demeaning was His companion at death although as prophesied numbered with the transgressors Isaiah 53:12,company of thieves and rogues for the blameless son of God,whaoh Mark 15:27ff, with them joining in the chorus of degrading comments about Jesus Mark 15:32,Matt.27:44. One of them however retraced his step back to the saviour and was saved, as long as we are still alive it doesn’t matter how far we have gone Jesus can still and is in fact willing to save you, DON’T DIE WITHOUT HIM PLEASE judgement is the next reality. Heb.9:27

His grave was sealed and guarded. 

The enemies of the cross didn’t just raise baseless accusations against Him including but not limited to inciting a mob chanting that He be crucified and Barabbas be released Mark15:6-15, they also pulled together all resources for him not to rise Matt.27:62ff.

The devil and His cohorts failed woefully about Jesus Matt.28:2-4 he will fail over us in Jesus mighty name. JESUS IS RISEN HALLELUYAH Amen.

Are you flying? The devil wants you down, Are down he wants you out, are you out he doesn’t want you to come back and also wants your memory, impact, imprints deleted forever be alert he is like a thief John 10:10 steal, kill and destroy.1 Pt.5:8.

Derivatives of His resurrection 

His cross and resurrection brought invaluable and countless benefits to the human race, lets just enumerate very few of the benefits of His resurrection to the human race:

l Perfected the work of our Salvation                             Heb.9:12-15

l Forgiveness of Sins                                                        Matt.26:28

l Justification                                                                     Rom.5:9

l Reconciliation                                                                     Rom.5:10

l The biggest confusion and victory over the devil          Heb 2:14,1 Cor.8-9,Rev.12:11

We serve a living God , our Jesus is alive forevermore! Celebrate it’s the anniversary of His resurrection.

 

 

 

 

 

Rest for your Soul by Pastor Gbenga Aluko

                                                                               

         

                                                     Text: Matt.11:28-29

Topic: Rest for your Soul

The study will be done with the following sub-heading:

Background to the study

Meanings

Come to me

Conclusion

Background to the study.

The gospel according to Matthew presents Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour as the messiah, the saviour and he came to save us from these three things amongst others:

n Sins                                             Matt1:21,John 3:16

n Devil,his works and agents         1 John 3:8

n Labour and heavy loads              Matt.11:28,John 9:1ff.

The study of this particular chapter of the scripture of refrence Matthew 11 reveals the following among several others:

n John and Jesus’ rejection even by their people vs.18-19

n Lack of repentance rocking some cities inspite of mighty works done in them and judgements awaiting them for same: Chorazin,Bethsaida and Capernaum.vs.21-24

n God through Jesus is the custodian of all wisdom and He easily and freely gives the humble vs. 25

n Jesus the son of God is in charge of all things: access to God,Peace vs.27ff.

Are you rejected for standing for Christ, have you laboured or are labouring over people and they are not repenting yet, relax you are not the first in such shoes.continue to stand for Him keep on keeping on He makes all things beautiful in his own time.Ecss.3:11

Meanings 

Rest, according to the dictionary means to cease from work or movement; it is a state of activity or/and labour.

Soul is widely referred to as the non-physical or immaterial aspect of a being, man is tripartite in nature, he is a spirit, has a soul and lives in a body a similarity to the divine trinity.

Come to me

Jesus is still calling people today, please answer His call which says come unto me, life occurrences and happenings can be a burden and this may be too heavy to bear alone but not for our God.

( a ) are you battling for survival come to Jesus, a widow whose husband was devout left debts for her and it almost took life and joy from her until the saviour intervened2 kings 4:1ff , come to Jesus.

( b) are you sick in your body or looking for something special, private and personal. Mattew 15:30, come to Jesus.

( c ) Are you looking for the fruit of the womb remember Hannah,1 Sam.1:19-20

( d )need victory over spiritual attacks from the devil and His cohorts,come to Him that has all powers.Matt.28:18

( e ) are you jilted by someone you love and are without comfort, someone loved you and gave himself for you. Rom.5:8.

Conclusion 

Some person may have the capacity to give something that provides rest for the body, we hope they continue to have capacity and they are sincere lets remember the story of Jael and Sisera Judges 5:25ff, he asked for water she gave milk only to kill him  when he was comforted and resting. Only God has the capacity to give free and real rest for the Soul and also always available rest for the body, come to Him today He is calling .

Let the dead bury their dead by Pastor Gbenga Aluko

                                                                 

                                                    Text: Luke 9:57-61

Topic:  Let the dead bury their dead

 

This study will be done with the following sub- headings: 

l Background

l Lessons from the pre-text

l The man’s response

l Learning from Christ’s response 

Background

We live in a world full of distractions and more are still en-route, it is a great challenge to keep focus on our assignments and divine destiny or anything worthwhile. In the words of the Regional Superintendent of CAC Anosike region Dr Simeon Oladokun, the main task is keeping the main thing the main thing.

The gospel of Luke teaches special focus by its set up for both the introduction and conclusion, it begins in the temple Luke 1:5-8 when Zechariah was highlighted executing his priestly assignment and ends in the temple Luke 24:53 where Jesus’s followers were giving thanks to God, this tells a focus of worship, fellowship and service what is our life’s focus, are we pursuing this with all our energy? 

Lessons from the pre-text 

(B1) Vs.49.Although the disciples were still WIP( work in progress) undergoing training by the biggest Rabbi of all time our Lord Jesus Christ, they however at this time exhibited that they either had more zeal than knowledge or were simply myopic.

They were not impressed that a man was using the name of JESUS(their master) or that same was CASTING OUT DEMONS (knowing fully well 1 John 3:8 which says “ he who sins is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning, for this purpose the son of man was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil, clearly underscoring one major thing their master came to do was being done in His name) their perspective on the issue was wrong, personal,restrictive and selfish.

In the same vein some of us don’t see: what we have in common but only what seperates us with others,what God has done only the things He hasn’t done,any good opinion or methodology in and with others wanting everyone to reason and do things our way(monotonous,making everywhere and everything boring and same).lets learn from Jesus.

Jesus cleared the air, he who isn’t against us is for us,admonished the disciples to see the big picture, Jesus was thinking of the assignment and more labourers, they were thinking of bringing everyone under a canopy.May God help us to allign out thoughts to that of the father as it is only that time that we could please Him.Amen.

(B2)Jesus did not just speak the truth,He is the truth.John 14:6 “Jesus speaking I am the way,the truth and the life”, John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth,thy word is truth,John 1:1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God, the truth is the word which is Jesus.

Even with all this credential and more some still didn’t accept him.vs.53.(Not everyone will accept us,our opinion or way of life) the earlier we accept this the better for us.The disciples however wanted destruction for those who didn’t, what a bad display again by His disciples.

Jesus came for salvation, they were thinking of destruction. What kind of disciple are we? Aren't we destroying people with our words, action, inaction/indifference? Jesus came to save lets allign with this divine vision/agenda of our saviour and Lord.

The man’s response

Vs.59 suffer me to go and bury my Father the man exclaimed, in line with Jewish tradition wants to do his father the last honour, is that wrong?

While he is at that, if he was the first-born he will get an inheritance, a double portion, he may also want to wait for a year to rebury his father as the tradition is in some part of the Jewish people says and this cycle goes on and on.

What do we do when the good stands on the way of the best,when the natural/normal stands in the way of the supernatural,when responsibility stands in the way of destiny? What choice do we make?

When buying the lastest designers and gadgets stands in the way of divine and directed kingdom investment, when taking a nap stands in the way of fellowshiping with Gods spirit/Gods people, obeying choruses/voices from influential people or obeying the still voice of God Acts 5:29. 

Learning from Christ’s response 

Jesus responded, let the dead bury their dead,  what can we learn from this Masters assertion:  Typologically Jesus was saying let the dead bury their dead while you

l Know your destiny assignments

l Focus on your destiny and divine assignment

l Prioritise God and His calls: from Salvation to Service in that divine order.1 kings 17:13,(your are not qualified to serve if you are not saved)

l Don’t be busy be productive.

 

May God give us the grace to identify the divine calling and assignment hanging over our lives and to make concrete effort to fullfill it.