JESUS, THE ESSENCE/FOCUS OF THE SCRIPTURES

TEXT: JOHN 5:39-40

TOPIC: JESUS, THE ESSENCE/FOCUS OF THE SCRIPTURES

The topic will be studied with the following sub-headings:

Introduction

Definition of terms

Foreword

Some reason the scripture is explored

Jesus the essence of the scripture

Conclusion

Introduction

People study and use the scriptures for a wide range of reasons which are often personal, spiritual, religious, incorrect, non-balance, human and often fallible. To get the best of the scriptures our, eyes, focus and heart must be on Jesus Heb. 12:2.

Definition of terms

JESUS: the Old Testament was majorly written in Hebrew as such the name Joshua in Hebrew mean almost the same that the name of Jesus means in Greek which is God is salvation, God saves and saviour.

Scriptures: The scholars defines it as the sacred writing of Christianity as contained in the bible, the holy book, also used as synonym for the Bible.

Foreword

The scripture is opened and closed: opened in the sense that it can be got in any book shop, can be bought and sold by anyone without restrictions, has been translated wholly into 683 languages and the New Testament into 1534 languages. Closed in the sense that it is written with the ink of the Holy Spirit. John 6:63

Any message that is not focused on or connected to Jesus is not a balanced message or not the gospel at all it can be any other thing.

You can be looking for the wrong thing in the right place and vice-versa. Just like the women in Luke 24:5 looking for the dead among the living.

Some reason the scripture is explored

Looking for a comfort for our wickedness/weakness: Matt 4:6 even the devil knows the scriptures and uses same to carry out is wicked enterprise. John 9:10-16, 35-41 the Pharisees, Sadducees and teachers of the law in Jesus’s days used the scriptures both wrongly and with wrong intentions. 1 Sam 15:3 ff.

To prepare a sermon/listening to a same: this is a very good but shallow reason, it is and will always produce artificial, superficial, synthetic, simulated, specious results and always produce an orator not a carrier of the spirit, God must have spoken to you before he speaks through you. A microwave approach to a serious spiritual exercise.

Following a reading pattern: the word best studied systematically and this approach really exhibits this. This when taken religiously shows some discipline and commitment that the word of God deserves. Josh. 1:8.

Anxious to know more of and about God: God is expressed, modelled, revealed, and unveiled in all the pages of the scriptures for those with spiritual eyes Luke 24:31, Eph. 1:18.This is the best approach to the scripture with which the best can be got.  

Jesus the essence of the scriptures

(a)    The old testament fore-shadowed him. Matt 5: 17, offerings and sacrifices Heb. 10:10, Prophets and Prophecy Is.9:6-7, Priest and priestly engagement Heb.5:6-10, 6:20, 7:1-21, Creation John 1:1ff.

(b)   The New Testament is about His genealogy, purpose, works, persecution, death and resurrection also known as the gospel. His blood is referred to as the blood of the new covenant/testament Heb. 8:8, 13, 12:24.

(c)     He is bringing the end of it all. Rev 22:13.

Conclusion  

The scriptures shows us the way/door to the father and that is Jesus. John 14:16, John 10:7.Accept Him as your Lord and saviour, surrender to His leadership/Lordship, focus on Him when studying or having an encounter with the scriptures. There are unquantifiable blessings now and in eternity.

for we know in part

WHERE ARE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE 2

Biblical anchor: TEXT: Matt.3:1-10, 1 Sam3:1,

Title: WHERE ARE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE 2 (A two series Poem) 

Continued from last episode

This generation is in dire need of men whose message and lifestyle doesn’t not have love of money/grace that is not Christ like/subdue or dogmatic control of God’s sheep (Men whom Christ has set free) and all other forms of selfish and personal reason as its usual fulcrum, Men of God with a balanced view, understanding, training and inspiration anchored on and supervised by the Holy Spirit. DO WE STILL HAVE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE...?

Men who by their relationship and loyalty to God are enjoying the New Testament version of a grace that Abraham enjoyed, “I will not do this without letting my friend Abraham know”, they are by grace privy to both God’s plan/voice and also not unaware of the machinations of the devil and his cohorts, are not caught unaware of off-guard, DO WE STILL HAVE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE...?

Men who like patriarchs’ of old are always in pursuit of peace with everybody but will not keep silent for one second at the face of outright wickedness displayed even in high places, the prestige/honour/honorarium and other privileges accruable to affiliations with the throne will not make them silence God’s spirit within them, it is like fire burning in their bones that can’t be kept DO WE STILL HAVE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE...?   

I desire to be one of such father, whose life ambition is to please you, with eyes and focus on you and things that are yours, exhibiting the gospel even when silent, being a voice that Heaven can count on when palatable or otherwise, a channel unveiling God to a sick and dying world, speaking comfort to the helpless and caution to the recalcitrant, God help me to be GOD’S MOUTHPIECE.  

WHERE ARE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE

Biblical anchor:  Matt.3:1-10, 1 Sam3:1,

Title: WHERE ARE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE (A two series Poem)

We live in era where everyone seems to be in a hurry, attempting to/acting like they are saying things, doing things and going places, this rush has even caught up with those that are supposed to be His mouthpiece, we are busy with rosters, meetings, duties, programs, paraphernalia of office with the high possibility of not being in sync with heaven per time, knowing His mind which qualifies us to communicate same, DO WE STILL HAVE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE? 

Anything working is surely connected to a power and to worsen the already bad case is the uprising and prevalence of gods of men being mistaken as men of God using diabolic powers to do their work which many (even the elect) confuse as God’s work (all in a bid to make their work work), impatience for God’s time,the be like them syndrome, attack of the devil and his agents, signs of the end time and the confused on-lookers who applaud any form of arrival without probing while down -talking/grading any true call waiting in God’s factory whose time of “arrival” is yet to come ,waiting on and in God, Are major contributors to this bad omen as if God who made the heaven the earth, parted the red sea, stopped the sun and the moon, lived in and through all great generals both dead and living, who were/are mightily used of God for ear tingling salvation, exploits, signs and wonders. 

Has He gone on terminal holiday/dormant, is He short of power or stingy in its release or can He no longer release it, or more like there are not too many men consecrated enough, waited enough, paid/paying the requisite price and fit by His standard to convey His power? Remember He said greater things will ye do, DO WE STILL HAVE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE?

Some men of God speak to the head, others speak to the body only a few are graced to speak to the spirit, only the deep calls unto the deep, this are people who have been/still go to God in prayer, fasting, studying, meditation &waiting where they contact the spiritual stamina it takes and also receive the word from the throne of grace, straight from the heart of God, not fast-food microwaved from the internet but the intent of our father, where are our prayer champions? DO WE STILL HAVE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE...?

To be continued.

ESTHER BOOK SERIES 4 KING XERXES

 KING XERXES

Powerful king

Esther 1:1 says these events happened in the days of king xerxes who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia .The number of provinces which can only be likened to countries in modern parlance. (Not anything near what we refer to as kings today with very small land mass, powers that are checked and tributes that can be question or avoided altogether) Civilization and modernisation has eaten away a good portion of the awe and powers that royalty wielded, in the dark ages, when kings speak ONLY GOD can change what they say Esther 8:8d says for the writing in the king’s name and sealed with king’s ring may no man reverse, nonetheless kings like emperor having one hundred and twenty seven province that reports to them. He reigned from 486BC-465BC.

Baby King

Some signals which points to immaturity can be found in the exhibitions of this king we will briefly examine some of them:

High spirits: Prov 20:1 says wine produces mockers, alcohol leads to brawls, those who are led astray by the drinks cannot be wise. The king is supposed to be a custodian of wisdom so as to make good and fair judgment, also proverb 31:4-5 says it is not for kings O Lemuel to guzzle wine, rulers should not crave for alcohol. Verse 5 for if they drink they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. But the contrary happened in Esther 1:10 which says on the seventh day of the feast, when king Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine. Little wonder he requested for the queen to come and dance, although God rules in the affairs of men and sincerely without creating an alibi for women disobeying their husband, the disobedience of Vashti might not be unconnected to the fact that she knew that the king was drunk before requesting for her. Today’s kings can be drunk or possessed in power/money/women/bigotry/wickedness/selfishness among others may God save us from any drunk king and may we not be one ourselves or may God give us wisdom and grace be free from its grip in Jesus mighty name Amen.

Always holding or being hosted to a feast: A king who celebrates for one hundred and eighty days which is also six months and half of a year does not really strike like a serious one Esther 1:4, as if that was not enough a seven days banquet was added Esther 1:5. In a semblance of Heaven’s foreknowledge of this as the king’s weakness, Queen Esther was inspired to request the king to come to a banquet even after the whole Jew had prayed and fasted for three days. Esther 5:4 says And Esther replied if it please the king let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.

He doesn’t seem to have a mind of his own: Proverbs 11:14 says without wise leadership, a nation falls, there is safety in having many advisers also Proverbs 15:22 says plans go wrong for lack of advice many advisers brings success. These scriptures clearly states the irreplaceable and highly placed impact/value of wise and right counsels/advices but if all that a king does is take advices his subjects are in great danger. This king was found seeking and taking all advises/counsels. It is also said that two sets of people are ultimately routed for failure those who listen to everybody and those who listen to nobody. He was advised on the following:

-To evict Vashti Esther 1:19a so if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persian and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of king Xerxes …. A situation he regretted latter Esther 2:1,there are better ways to settle family affairs even when they were/are public figures, than following inputs from ungodly outsiders not minding how wise they claim or are tagged.

-To look for a new wife/queen: Esther 1:19b, 2:2-3.

-To exterminate the Jews: Esther 7:8 then Haman approached king Xerxes and said, there is a certain race of people scattered through all provinces of your empire who keep themselves from everyone else, their laws are different from those of any people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the kings interest to let them live. Vs 10a says the king agreed. Even without any verification, a yes man.

- To repay Mordecai for his vigilance and loyalty: Esther 6:6 so Haman came and king said what should I do to honour a man who truly pleases me? Vs 10 says excellent the king said to Haman  quick take the robes and my Horse and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, As if Mordecai consulted another person before being vigilant and loyal.

Rich king          

King Xerxes was a very rich king, judging by the number of province that was under his control which paid tributes to him. This is reinforced in Esther 10:1 which says king Xerxes imposed a tribute throughout his empire even to the distant coastland. 

One of the major essence of the banquet which lasted for one hundred and eighty days was to show his rich status Esther 1:4 says that the celebration lasted 180 days – a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty. Except for grace of self-control when human have some money/wealth the next thing usually noticed is a bid to make a statement with such, dresses, occasions and fleets of automobile and airplane/jets are easy adverts.

The decorations and apparatus for serving also lends credence to the kings affluence Esther 1 :6 talks about the decorations,1:7 which says drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs and there was abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s wealthy status.  

The numbers of days of the feast plus another seven days and with the quality of drink(royal wine according to 1:6) which was also said to be in abundance, a rich king he was.   

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