One Man, One Mission, One Message

 “That the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”Acts 26:22-24 

“That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

John 3:16 must be the most known and quoted verse of the Bible, yet people seem to have lost its meaning. God was still interested in reconciling the world he created back to Himself, so He devised a mind-boggling, sacrificial and unthinkable plan. He sent His only begotten Son to come and pay the price that a sinful humanity owed. Actually, since Jesus was God in flesh; it only means God took it one step further and took on flesh to come Himself. Kind of puts a new spin on the notion that: ‘if you want something done, you do it yourself’.

The understanding of the technicality of the mystery that is the trinity, is not what God has called us to unravel. We are simply to believe like little children, on the finished work of Calvary. That a holy God the Creator, Who also sits as the Judge of the world took of His robe of righteousness, stepped over to the other side where the guilty abode and propitiated the consequences of sin. Then He stepped right back to His throne and judgement seat put on His robe of righteousness once again, and proclaimed “It is finished”. The debt had been paid and the ultimate Judge was satisfied.

Today, unbeknownst to humanity, creation yearns for the inhabitation of its Creator. The vacuüm created by our separation from the only One who satisfies is gaping and ravenous. Man is in an endless and hopeless scamper for an answer. The solution remains the same; it is found in one Man who trod this terrestrial strip over 2,000 years ago (Jesus Christ, the Son of God), with a mission to save us from our sins and a message of reconciliation.

Would you let someone know the ‘good news’ that is the Gospel today?

“Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.” Acts 13:25-27  “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” Ephesians 1:12-14

NEW YEAR, NEW ERA, NEW METHODS…

WELCOME TO THE SECOND YEAR AND PHASE OF ‘OFGODTHEGOSPELANNDGRACE’. THANK YOU FOR THE PAST YEAR AND THANK GOD FOR ALL HE DID. THOUGH THE JOURNEY CONTINUES AND THE INTENT REMAINS CHRIST EXALTING, THE METHOD AND MISSION IS SLIGHTLY ALTERED. ALL IN ALL THE AFTER TASTE LEFT IN OUR SPIRITUAL PALETTE WILL BE OF GOD THE GOSPEL AND DEFINITELY OF GRACE.

BE BLESSED AS WE JOURNEY TOGETHER MY FELLOW SOJOURNER.

CHIDIWE

How Good was that Friday? (Really, from my heart to yours)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-9

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-11

Never mind the horrendous activity that took place down that miserable road to Jerusalem (The Way of Suffering). The road that led to Calvary, the cross and the ultimate unravelling of the mission of the greatest man who ever lived and walked this earth. Because the mission was the greatest acceptance and only atonement humanity would ever receive, that day was sanctified.

 In fact, it is the greatest gift we as individuals would ever receive. It is the gift of love, hope and a life after this one ends (eternal life). Today, give it a second thought. Did you know that if you had been the only one on earth, He would have still gone through all that so that you might spend eternity with HIM! A great sacrifice indeed, of which the following video can only skim the surface of what truly transpired on that very first ‘Good Friday‘.

Watch this; and do not forget to come back and pray with me.

“http://www.youtube.com/embed/QZYCtOXcT1U“  

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3-4 NIV

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for loving me enough to pay the ultimate price of sin that I could not pay for myself. Thank you for the atonement that was made at the cross of Calvary for me. The bible says that; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:22-24. ‘All’ includes me, but because of your sacrifice I can be cleansed and made new. Therefore, I believe in my heart that You are the Son of God and repent of my sins; and I confess you to be my Lord and Saviour. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me! Amen.

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3-4 NIV

“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

With all the good stuff we acquired from heaven that fateful day and the subsequent two days that followed; I dare say it was a very, very ‘GOOD FRIDAY’ indeed!

THE RIDICULED, REVILED AND REPROACHED RELIGION

A man is never more God conscious than when he is in touch with his humanity and relevant to his world. He is able to translate the in filling of the Holy Spirit to bread for those that hunger, light to those in darkness and salt for those on the verge of losing their thirst. Any other use of that revelation is ‘redundant religion’, confined to the four walls of the church and its only effect is the thumping behind the pulpit. Christ Himself inquired of the multitude, was accessible to them and then fed them… I have never been more aware (than at this time) of my inspiration which directives are from the ‘Holy of holies’. CHIDIWE 

 ”He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.” Mark 8:5-7

“He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets.”
Deuteronomy 4:12-14

Image via Wikipedia

God Bless America,
Land that I love. (And land of my birth- Chidiwe)
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home  

Do these words sound familiar? Oh well, they are now fading sentiments, as America kicks and thumps her nose at the God on which she was founded and blessed. From the mockery of the Christian church and spiritual activities as was portrayed in an unnecessary and over-the-top performance in the GRAMMYS to the new show on T.V. that cast shame on being a Christian woman and even gone as far as rewriting the ‘Ten Commandments’.

Once when someone made a comment about Mohammed that was not in line with the Quran, all hell broke loose. A few burnt buildings, cars and flags later; the offender recanted. Right now we are in the throes of a riot and unrest because of the (unintentional) burning of the Quran in Afghanistan last month. Here are some of the headlines so far; (1) The recent burning of Qurans at a NATO base in Afghanistan involved five American servicemen and a local translator, according to a NATO official familiar with the investigations. The Qurans burned were among religious materials seized from a detainee facility at Bagram Airfield last week. Throngs of outraged Afghans took to the streets following the incident, prompting U.S. President Barack Obama to apologize to his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, calling the burning an inadvertent error. Furor over the burnings have fueled a string of protests and attacks that have left at least 39 people dead, including four American soldiers. Hundreds more have been wounded in the attacks. CNN (2) A suicide bomber blew himself up at an entrance to Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield on Monday, an attack the Taliban called revenge for the burning of Qurans by U.S. troops there last month. CNN

Christians have their special guidelines from God re-written and mocked. The only person that even raised an eyebrow or moved a muscle as far as I know, was a councilman in Queens,  New York. He called for the show to be boycotted. While we have been subject to a certain sphere of influence and no further as some within and without the body might think, the bible is being ridiculed as Christians cower and shuffle in the closet for more prayer time. Which I must say serves as great convenience for the devil. That is as long as Christians remain in church comparing ‘holy notes’, then he (Satan) can saturate and do with the world whatever he wants sans interference.

Children are being taught ‘diversity ‘ in school alright, but it has nothing to do with accepting someone of a different race or economic disposition. Deafening silence. In California,  “where two or three are gathered…” is now against the law;  more silence and extra prayer time. I wonder what would have happened if when Jesus came into the temple as the people converted the house of God into a place of commerce, He had taken some more time to pray about the pigeons defiantly flying and flapping around the temple roof to avoid being sold. Or He had gone to the corner to find out what God would have Him do as the goats urinated on the altar, ate the ‘shew bread’ and bleated loudly in His (listening-to-God) ears.

“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-14

I guess the religious leaders would have hung Phinehas for being overly zealous, even though that zeal of his, stayed a plague that had devoured almost 25,000 people. And in the end God had blessed him and made a ‘covenant of peace’ with him. The well-meaning conservative commentators that would attempt to make a difference regardless of their spiritual state are either shut down and criticized by the church itself or they are dead. Slowly but surely I as a lover of Jesus Christ have become a target and an endangered citizen. Anyone can take a swap at me, dishonor my beliefs, use my Saviours name in vain, mixed along with a string of profanities and go scott free…

“When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. ‘… Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped;  but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. The LORD said to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal.” Numbers 25:7-12

Yes I am called to pray for my enemies, but what will it take for those that call themselves Christians to be proactive as opposing to sitting back as children are subject to try anything and experiment with everything to find their identity. Below find out the creed patterned after this new tv show titled GCB: Good Christian B—–. I hate to pollute my page with such travesty, but you have to see this to believe it. And if it just makes you shrug and move on to the next thing, then I suggest you check  the temperature of your ‘assumed’ relationship to Christ.

‘The Ten ‘GCB’ Commandment as recited and published by the new tv show: Thou shalt add bling to everything, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours husband… unless he’s really hot, Thou shalt love a C cup unless you fit into a D cup, Remember the spa and keep it holy, Thou shalt know it is wrong to expose your thong, Honor thy manis and pedis, Thou shalt not bear false designer labels, Thou shalt not wear it if it’s under a carat, Thou shalt match the volume of thy hair to the size of thy handbag, Thou shalt not mess with Texas.

That is what God’s Holy word has been reduced to. Since they did not want it in government buildings, classrooms and public places, they can re-write and irreverence it. This is exactly why the Lord is saying we have to permeate and saturate our society with Christ. If people are not beating down our doors to come and hear us in church, then we have to make sure our life and message is powerful and bears relevant light and salt to the world we live in (specifically).

Go ahead and chew on the messenger…

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine! 

“http://www.youtube.com/embed/hPKvKwIZUCM“

The ISAAC and ISHMAEL ISSUE

“He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
Genesis 16:11-13

I dashed into that sandwich shop (that one) the other day with frozen limbs and blood drained extremities. I had to get a hot soup or coffee or something that would thaw my iced vessel. The real feel of the weather was a far cry from the actual temperature and once again I was caught of guard. As I waited on-line, I rummaged furiously inside my handbag, for what exactly I do not remember. Maybe the money to pay for the expected warming element…who knows? Anyway when I finally lifted up my head, there were two young men more than happy to take my order. The one on my left had a broader smile and the managers cap on. So naturally off to my left I scooted. No sooner had I done that than recognition dawned on me. He was an avid blog reader from months back who had recognized me at this same store. A very remarkable and hard-working College student I must say, of whom the Lord had started to do a work in his heart.

As he ladled soup into the bowl for me, we chatted about the weather, his school and of course God. He thought I was funny and was able to pinpoint his favorite blog moments as he informed his co-workers that indeed this lady was a star as far as he was concerned (bless his heart!). I was a tad bit worried that I had given him that impression, but was relieved to hear him say (to another co-worker), she comes in acting like a nobody… As he packaged my loot (to go), he asked me what I thought about the ‘church burning craze’ in Nigeria, West Africa. He said he was very disappointed when he read about it and would like to know my thoughts about the situation. My real thoughts are actually more heated, lambasting and thorough. But I would spare humanity my vent, simply because it cannot handle it. But this is the biblical, refined and edited version of what I feel. And I dedicate it to that fine soon-to-be Ambassador for Jesus (even though he does not know it yet). Every worker behind the counter stood and waved me off as I left with my bag of soup, sandwich, coffee and chocolate chip cookie all for no charge at all. Hey, do not hate, it is called favor…

I cannot tell you how many times I have faltered at believing God to come through with what He promised. One second I believe and my faith is strong, the next second I take my eyes of the Lord as I suddenly sense the absurdity and impossibility of ‘walking on water‘, as I begin to sink. Thank God for His tenderness and mercy, that picks me right back up again. Sarah must have felt the same way and besides her self in anxiety, when she suggested Abraham go in into her maid. One wrong decision in moment of doubt, and the world is still held hostage thousands of years later. Yes Sarah faltered, but no where in the bible was it recorded that Abraham vehemently refused to comply with an action that in no way collaborated with what God had initially or previously told him as the head of the household. Anyways let us move on.

“He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.”
Genesis 16:3-5

In the ‘triangle of trouble’ a son is born and he is named Ishmael. In a little over a decade of existence and satisfying Abraham’s desire for an heir (howbeit not completely). I say that (not completely), because nothing can quite fill you up and bring you to a place of peace aside from the will of God for your life. At the appointed time of life as promised by God, Sarah is pregnant with the child of promise and covenant. “But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” Genesis 17:20-22  But before that while Ishmael was growing up, Hagar became confused about her real role so trouble begins to brew in Abraham’s household (polygamy will do that to you). God wasn’t confused though and He gently told Hagar to resume her calling and stay in her place. He would take care of her son, but she could not eclipse the vessel bearing the seed of covenant that was Sarah her mistress.

“Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” Genesis 16:8-10

The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16:9-11

Eventually, Isaac the covenant son is born, Abraham is happy, Sarah is fulfilled and Ishmael is in a heated state of bitterness. The bible does not tell us if he actually expresses what irks him, but could it have been having to be circumcised as a teenager, who knows? Well Sarah the matriarch catches him in a disdainful glare towards Isaac and tells Abraham it was time to clean house (which she caused to be overloaded in the first place). Abraham is distressed. They are both his seed therefore: “can’t we all get along?” Well one seed was the work of the flesh and impatience which is often heralded by conflict. The other seed was the work of the Spirit of God and patient obedience, the result of a covenant (symbolized by circumcision) and the fulfillment of a peaceful promise. Flesh and Spirit cannot dwell peaceably together, because each one wants to be in control and lead. Although God will not strive with flesh (it has to die), He (God) will not share His glory with another.

“The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring^] will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”  Genesis 21:8-13

Also Ishmael is always around to act as a deterrent, heartache and a vehicle of derailment for the chosen of the Lord, as in the case of Joseph. “So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.” Genesis 37:27-29  Well, seemingly happily ever after, God makes a nation out of Ishmael and multiplies his seed also. You see God had initially blessed Abraham, and blessed he remained. Provision had been made in advance for human error, but that did not erase the fact that there would be grievous consequences for disobedience and sin. Ishmael would live forever like Abraham had foolishly and unwittingly prayed. “And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Genesis 17:17-19

Ishmael knew and still knows that Isaac was the long-awaited heir of covenant and that he was and is still irrevocably blessed. Ishmael believes that he came first, therefore Isaac was unnecessary and deserves to be extinct. To aggravate Ishmael even more is the fact that because the covenant of innumerably seed lies with the child of promise, he is indeed being increased rapidly. You see apart from the natural seed, there are the spiritual seed being grafted in by faith. In fact when God showed Abraham the stars in the sky as an example of the vastness of his future seed,a huge percentage of those were going to be grafted in by faith. Abraham had been called the father of faith. His blessing was to come by faith and keep growing by faith.

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,” Romans 11:16-18

Now Ishmael had a major predicament and another group to contend with; the heirs of Abraham by faith. It appeared the furious lad could not catch a break. He was there before every one else, and would be there after everyone else was eliminated, or so he thought. Like the prophecy in the beginning verse; Ishmael’s hand will be against everyone… To pretend this is a fairy tale and skirt through the issues in this day and age in order to be ‘politically correct’ is the ultimate foolishness. Ishmael is angry and bitter and does not know nor propagate peace. He has only one desire; to extinguish every one else but his descendants. And he believes he is doing it as a warped and sick favor to god. Actually now more than ever before, Ishmael is planning his biggest attack yet as the ‘infidels’ blindly and stupidly give him grounds, opportunities and leeway.

Why would God not protect Isaac and the non-Ishmaelites alike you ask? Always in the scripture God has allowed and used the enemy to correct and discipline His children. So one more time, Ishmael will be allowed to create incredible havoc and untold chaos of which the Prophets of God foretold. Then maybe, just maybe natural Isaac will unite with spiritual Isaac as the non-Ishmaelites run to and fro for answers and for much-needed deliverance and respite…

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”  Matthew 23:33-38

.“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.“ Luke 21:19-2

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord/ Baruch haba bashem Adonai/  אשרי מי שבא בשם ה ‘

The Attractiveness of Holiness (L-IN GOD We Trust, Therefore TE-BOW To Pray…)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:13-15

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-17

I have adopted a pet project, or so I thought. Until the Lord reminded me that it was His burden initially and only His grace  would make it happen. YES SIR!!! was my reply, but I still intend to live vicariously through the process and celebrate the everyday victories as hell fumes along. What is the project you may be asking? Well actually what is not the project? We have been invited like the church of the new testament to be an example to the world, not to run from them to prove our holiness. But to live a life worthy of Christ, that no matter our vocation all would acknowledge that we are indeed a ‘peculiar people’ who eventually bring honour to our God!

“…Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” 1 Samuel 2:29-31

NEWSFLASH: make no mistake about it, the biggest and coolest names in Sports today are two wonderful young men whom the world describes as devout Christians. Note that the Church did not call them ‘devout’, it is the media and the secular world that describes them thus. That goes to show you that people know what the real deal is. They could have easily said they go to church occasionally, they profess to be Christians or every now and then we see them praying. They were clear about what they had observed and confirmed, they knew ‘devout’ when they saw it. Jeremy Lin (Lin-sanity) and Tim Tebow are making headlines quicker than the National debt is rising.

It started out with Tim Tebow unashamedly bowing down to acknowledge the One who made it possible for him to be born in the first place. He was almost a still birth and his mother refused to have an abortion. Talk of the devil starting early. God intervened and viola, we have a preacher and a missionary to the Philipines (his birthplace) and also one who supports scores of missionaries. He was last sported in a pre-Oscar event in Hollywood the other day. According to the reports, Hollywood has opened its hands to him in acceptance. Mm hmmm…

“The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.” 1 Kings 10:23-25

That is all good and well, because those that truly and honestly love the Lord are always attractive! And the favor of God in their life attracts the favor of man. Let us hear it for not playing hookey and church with the Holy Spirit. Great job parents of these, do not stop covering your famous seeds in prayer. Let us pray that the Lord will give him wisdom to stay clear of the adulterous and wayward woman in Proverbs Chapter two. For whenever she comes calling with her manipulative and seductive words, it most often than not, ends as a destructive wrap and a hopeless downward spiral.     

“It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”  Titus 2:11-13

Then there is Jeremy Lin, who reminds me so much of the last day church and what God is getting ready to do. That is ‘the latter being greater than the former‘. For years and seasons on end, Jeremy endured rejection sitting on the side bench as draft after draft he was not picked. Meanwhile he was getting a stellar education and training in an Ivy league college (oh I looove this!!!). And then what appeared to the rest of the world as suddenly ( not suddenly to God and two coaches that bothered to pay close attention), ‘Linsanity was born. Need I say more? The race indeed is not to the schemeing and the swiftest but to he who trusted and waited on God. The first shall indeed be the last … Oh, and better still he gives the glory to God while speaking to reporters. He says he was in a hard and difficult place and God delivered him! That sounds like the God I serve also.

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-6

The tide is getting ready to turn in favor of those who labored in obscurity, love and diligence for the LORD. And those that were not ashamed of the King of kings and were not offended in waiting for Him. The Great and Mighty One, the Just and True Judge and Incredibly Awesome Redeemer has found Himself a bunch…that He may show Himself strong on their behalf***

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “… I said nothing in secret”. John 18:19-21

As always let me bring this home and explain how I arrived at my current state of euphoria for these lovely lads or should I use the words godly lads? When the Lord gripped me, not the ‘salvation kind of grip’, but the ‘thou shalt be holy as I am holy kind of grip,’ I winced in fear and despair. I was so sure that the only way I could survive my Christianity was to be locked up in a barn, far away by the country side farm or put in bible school for the rest of my life. But God said no I will do my work in a ‘strong city’ and surrounded by every temptation possible, but my grace will be sufficient for you. He said: “I do not need to pull you away from the world,” (some He would have to). “But I will keep you in spite of the world and yourself.”

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:14-16

Then the LORD said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you.”  Exodus 34:9-11

The commission still remains the same of what must be done: ‘L-in’ the name of the LORD, ‘Te-bow’ to worship our KING!

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  Mark 16:15-18

If These Walls Have Ears… (They Would Speak!!)

“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out-of-the-way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

Prologue: We praised and worshipped as we walked around the house. After about twenty minutes, we stopped in front of the room as I knelt down and bowed my head; asking My God the Deliverer to give me wisdom and direction on how to proceed. He would empower and give the grace for the issue at hand. After about ten minutes in His presence, as my friend and her mother looked on (praying right outside the door). I walked in with a bottle of ‘annointed oil’… “So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel.” Ezekiel 8:9-11

Technically, there really is no vacuüm in nature. If there is, then nature abhors it. Even in the bible, we are warned about leaving an evacuated space vacant or as a vacuüm. I found out personally the effect certain activities which takes place in a particular space can have on that space.  If the activity is good, it has a good after effect. Like wise if the activity is bad…

I was once invited to a suburban mansion by a dear friend and her mother. It was an incredible honor coming from this well-to-do and private family. The fact that they trusted to have me in their specially kept secret of a haven. As the weekend commenced and we got ready to retire for the night, My friend said I could stay with her in her room or go to the elegantly prepared guest room. I told her I would stay in the guest room, so she could have her space to rest after a long hard week. Her mother ran off to inspect the guest room before I got there and exclaimed in disappointment that the maid had not done it quite the way she wanted. My friend and I went along to see what she meant; from our point of view, we thought the room was perfect and needed no more adjustments. But Lauren’s (not her real name) mother was an impeccable hostess and would have it no way less than her standard. In her disappointment and unnecessary embarrassment, she insisted I spend the weekend in her room (master’s bedroom).

My hostess’ room was like a page out of an upscale interior design magazine. It was as classy as it was spick and span. And I was genuinely touched by her love and desire to honor. So after a long hot shower, there I lay in the mass of feather-filled luxury as cozy as a princess floating away in the clouds. I contentedly drifted off… I must have slept for about an hour and a half, when it happened. Now I don’t claim to see or hear things from the spirit world (thank God!!!). If you hear and see that on a regular basis, then you do need serious deliverance. It is not right, natural or of God. Needless to say, every now and then God may reveal or show something to His servants as need be. Well back to my reverie before I detoured. So as I slept, I felt somethings climb over my body and run across the bed. I was stunned to say the least and shocked stiff to bewilderment. I could not move at all. I began to hear what sounded like the pleading cries of LITTLE CHILDREN AND INFANTS!!! As the cries went on, I felt little feet pattering all over me, from one side of the bed to the other. I thought I would die and evaporate all at the same time. I was so flabbergasted that I could only managed some muffled and strained prayer up to JESUS my Saviour and Rescuer. Three hours later of muttered pleas to heaven, I was able to get a shut-eye of about two-hours before dawn broke.

“Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,” 2 Kings 20:1-3

I was stressed and visibly shaken and worse of all, I did not know how to tell my hostesses about what transpired without embarrassing or startling them. So as we sat to eat the sumptuous and lovingly prepared and spread breakfast, I mulled over my next action and prayed to God for grace and direction. Having gotten the green light from the Lord, I went ahead to regale my hostesses on what transpired the night before. As I spoke,  my friend’s mother began to shake in uncontrollable sobs… That room in particular: I later found out had been used by the previous occupants for unspeakable demonic acts, sacrifices and practices.

“Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; …” 2 Kings 3:26-27

For quite sometime my hostess said she had not been able to sleep. Countless nights of torment and disturbance such as I had experienced also the previous night, but even at a larger scale. She just chucked it up to personal issues, problems and an unfortunate existence. No one else slept in her room since her husband had died, so no one else experienced that problem. She let me in because God had put a love and a trust for me in her heart and God had asked her specifically that weekend to see that I was blessed and very comfortable. She saw no greater honor than giving up her physical comfort. She did not expect that I would also share in her long-term burden. Well as a result of her obedience, God allowed me to experience her distress and indeed deliverance would come to her and her abode that weekend. 

What is the point of this story? Check the bedding in your room, what do you think? No, actually on a more serious note; I think that evicting these churches from using the empty school buildings during the weekend for a small fee is baseless. It in no way represents the ‘Seperation of Church and State‘, which was mainly instituted and derived from the ‘First Amendment‘ and intended to protect the Church and the people’s religious right from being governed or controlled by the government (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” ). Interfering with physical location or physical existence might be: ‘impeding the free exercise of religion‘. The Church’s use of those building is not law making and might actually be God’s final way of protecting and preserving our children from going completely haywire. The reverberation of the Word, the Worship and Wholesome communication might be doing those school buildings some needed good and soothing the effect of inviting and ushering in evil. With the removal of prayer and anything that might even set some moral boundaries and adherence in those buildings every Sunday; I wonder what could be the replacement that would help to keep complete decadence at bay during the week.

“Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.” 1 Samuel 25:15-17

In a society where every one is on some kind of prescription or another (exempting of course those that genuinely need it). I have friends in the Pharmaceutical industry who say everyone is popping pills (except me of course). They are popping it to sleep, they pop it to stay awake and they have to pop it to think and act right (not lose it as they put it in their own words). Why not? People are naturally distressed, as the Church takes a defensive nap and the devil mounts up his equipment unhindered in and out of the church as he awaits show time. ‘Principalities and Powers’ saturate the air as no prayer of the righteous is forcefully hindering or pushing them back.

“On the seventh day the priest shall return to inspect the house. If the mold has spread on the walls,  he is to order that the contaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean place outside the town.  He must have all the inside walls of the house scraped and the material that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the town.  Then they are to take other stones to replace these and take new clay and plaster the house.” Leviticus 14:39-42 

So go ahead dear Mayor and evict every thing holy or anything or person that alludes itself to Christ. Surely in all of seventy years, you must have observed that there is more to this life than billions of dollars and the good life (not lambasting ‘La vida buena’ at all, had my fair share and still do). There is this fact that no matter what we choose to do with GOD Almighty, it does not take away His sovereignty or minimise His power. The Bible still remains the infallible word of God and what it says will take place at the appointed time. Prayer happens to be a mode of communication to the one Who owns it all including your life. And the gathering of the Church He has ordered for the sake of fellowship and the visitation of His presence.

“The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.” Proverbs 18:10-12

“This sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.” Isaiah 30:12-14

Epilogue: Lauren’s mother has slept like a baby, ever since then (my visit). She is ever so grateful, that she humbled herself and obeyed the Lord. That goes to show that we never know from whence out deliverance might come. It just might be drapped in a designer suit, a sack cloth or no cloth at all. One thing we do know for sure is that obedience is the key that unlocks it.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Babylon’s thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.” Jeremiah 51:57-59

“‘I the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign LORD.’” Ezekiel 24:13-15

In The Land Of The Living… (Jesus Christ Is King!!!)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:31-33

All Jesus Christ ever asked us to do was to allow His light to shine through our lives and in the ‘glow’ of that obedience, He would draw men unto him. Knowing the frailty and weakness of our frame, He provided the adequate grace needed for the place He had called us to be and what He had called us to do. As we walk in relationship and obedience to Him; our lives would be the light and salt that leads the lost back to Him and glorify His name on earth. God in His mercy, love and kindness promised to make a way when we humbly came to Him in repentance. To an honest and a diligently seeking heart, God is ever ready to honor, reward and refresh.

“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:10-12

Before Samson (the Book of Judges) was born, the Angel of the LORD was sent to his mother (she was barren) and subsequently his father with the good news of his coming, and specific instructions for his upkeep. Due to the call of God on his life and the purpose Samson had to fulfill, he was to live with the ‘Nazarite Vow‘ and its specifics. Unfortunately, no sooner had Samson came of age, than he went about his own fleshly business.  Most treacherous of all, he married strange and idolatrous women of which God had strictly warned about. Needless to say that acted as a catalyst for his highway to destruction (but for the mercy of God). The dangers of unequal yoking are more detrimental than we care to consider. Unequal does not just mean saved and un-saved; it just means God is not in it and it was not a divine union. Should that not suffice an explanation for anyone who claims to love God?

“His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” Judges 14:2-4

“Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” Genesis 27:46

“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. ² They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love… As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God… The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.” 1 King 11:1-25

There is no way around it, God’s standard of holiness cannot be attained by humans. We need the ‘corporate grace’ that He provides for us to live in constant obedience and holiness. And also the ‘specific grace’ embedded in our calls, gifts and destiny that should ultimately bring glory to His name. However, if we rebuff God’s provisions we end up bereft and a ‘siting duck’ for the encroachment of darkness and destruction.

God was the one who designed Samson and gave him to His parents. God gave him his strength and might and every other thing that made him Samson. When he strayed from God, he paid the price (make no mistake about that). He lost his peace and joy and was constantly at war with himself and his enemies. The man had no respite in the ‘land of sin‘. Eventually, his enemies got a hold of him. They put out his eyes (vision and hope) and cut of the source of his strength (special gift). Then they put him on display and mocked incessantly. I believe they especially looked forward to ridiculing Samson because they had found out he was not just an Israelite, but a ‘Nazarite’ consecrated to God Himself. That calls for turning up the heat of mockery. But one day (BLESS GOD for ‘one days’), he arose like the prodigal son and said…

“And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Luke 15: 15-20

Then in one split second of repentance, God brought an eternity of redemption and infused His child one more time with (though now for a short while) the original gift. But this time a creative and wise God would take a different route, to show the ‘powers and principalities’ of darkness that He was still the Almighty God and was still in control. So God answered Samson’s final plea, and the bible says; (not this writer said) that he killed many more when he died than when he lived. Let me translate that to modern language; he brought even more glory when he died than when he lived. The end justified the means. The end of a matter is better than the beginning. All is well that ends well… need I say more?

“Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:27-29

“Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.” Judges 16:29-31

Let me bring this home and get personal. A few years ago; I was under a life long burden and culmination of hatred, jealousy, envy and ultimately abuse that had gone on for most of my life. These were presumptive and assumptive strangers, some of which were grafted into my family and some I met along the way. If they were not intimidated, then they were one thing or the other. In the long run, I was harassed and hit very hard. So I went to the Lord and told Him that it appeared that what He gave as a blessing had become a curse and a burden. Some people had refused to allow me to even breathe or serve my God, and I was constantly in sorrow and distress. God was not amused with the state I had worked myself into. I was made for His delight, if I was not functioning right, then He was not delighted. So He had to set things straight with me once and for all. Here is what the Mighty One of Israel told me and I have since then been incredibly not only delivered, but strengthened, refreshed, encouraged, equipped and further enhanced . God said: “I have given you the grace to endure and eventually OVERCOME. I am God and I know that if I had given your persecutors the magnitude of what I gave you, they would not be serving me… So let them claw and rail at you, it will come to nothing. I give gifts and create as I see fit, because I know every heart and I know how it will end.”

Two days ago, a friend, a sister, a fellow sojourner was laid to eternal rest. A few hours after she was found dead, the tabloids blew up with all her wrongs, ills and weakness. In a matter of hours, thirty years was eclipsed by pockets of struggles. And it went on and on as if she invented debauchery. But God spoke clearly to me, because He is faithful to His own. The world and some Christians promised that this would not go down well in history and I got some flack for being so blind. On Saturday February 18, 2012. One beautiful girl with a powerful angelic voice WHO LOVED JESUS took the whole world to Church in a non-glamorous and crime ridden city. Atheist, Catholics, Muslims, Occultists, Satanists and Church-playing professing Christians alike were confronted with worship, the word and truth in its simplicity. The glory she brought to her Heavenly Father in her death was greater than in her life. And someone is tied up in angst. Hmmm…

There are two types of people who the enemy will use to attempt to taint and distort the work that the Lord is doing in these last days. There are those that have played church so long that they have actually seen the approval of their sins in the Bible. They have made peace with living a lie and making up their own righteousness as they go along. They will see the move of God as an opportunity keep playing their games and pleasing the flesh. So instead of being an example to the world they continue with the world to play. Then there will be those who have been in the church for ’300′ yrs and have been plastered in the same section and seat for just as long. They have not impacted, influenced or moved anyone to seek God by their conduct of what they profess all these years. They will balk at anyone else coming home or seeking God who do not look like them, sound like them or have been more privileged than them. To both I would advice, be very careful. The consequences of being a ‘stumbling block’ or ‘rock-of-offence’ are eternal.

The victorious one is the one that had beauty, talent, charisma and was thrust out into the lion’s den that is the world and they still were able to love the Lord. Most people with a combination like that would invent sin by the minute. And then they would not only deny God, they will claim to be a god. This one did not exalt satan or start a self-glorifying movement. They did not invite demons into themselves as alter-egos and give them names. They did not attribute their performance to satanic worship, they just loved Jesus and He knew it. And in the end He honored them. Yes there was struggle and stumble just like ‘YOU’ are going through right now. 

As for the rest that still do not know or have not heard I will do within my area of influence what I am called and supposed to do. I would venture to ask that you do in your area of influence what you are called and supposed to do. With such devotion and dilligence, we would have reached the ends of the earth with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Do not feel that any human is too little or too much for God the Creator. He made them all, gave them life and He is in absolute control. In the end every life whether saved or not, billionaire or beggar, known or obscure, beautiful or not so beautiful will/must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and He is God.

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:10-12

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” Philippians 2:9-11

God Bless You Specially!!!

“http://www.youtube.com/embed/BsWMGfyZLJ8″

 

A Half-Time and A Hellish-Trip

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8:35-37  (NIV)

The entertainment world or the world in general, is made up of two kinds of people; those who are talented and hope to be famous, and those who have little or no talent, but want to be famous. Unfortunately, the latter have been very successful, in the sense that: what and where they wanted so badly, they were also willing to do whatever it took to get it and get there. Therefore their heavy and ultimate sacrifice and its maintenance process, made up for their very little or unnoticeable talent or the complete lack thereof.

Most often than not, the sacrifice looks smaller or insignificant compared to the expected rewards. And ironically the rewards borders on three very things that God allowed the devil to tempt Him on as ‘the Son of man’, so that being touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and having been tempted as we are so often tempted, we would know that provision has been made for escape and victory.  

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-16  (KJV)

The devil challenged and tempted Jesus Christ on three levels; the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And on each temptation, Christ had an answer and a response that eventually shooed the devil away if only for a season. Today on every level and in every way the devil is still making the same offer and most of humanity, a sad but considerable amount is falling for it: ‘hook, line and sinker.’ 

I am writing these things from an insiders point of view. I cannot tell you how many times I was approached and made an offer, that would make me an overnight sensation, in whatever way I desired (not for lack of talent as the world would have it). And it often came in a grand way and when I was in between making a decision and obeying God. Notice the devil came after Christ just finished a forty days fast and his flesh was tired and weak. No matter which way you cut it, the offer is still saying the same thing these days:

“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” Luke 4:5-8

Remember, the Son of God Jesus the Christ (God in flesh) went into that wilderness, fast and time of temptation led of the Holy Spirit. The scripture tells us; He was full and empowered by the Spirit of God. How then can we mere mortals expect to resist the lure, temptation and the proposal made by the prince of darkness without such armour? Thus you have millions of people bowing in worship to Satan and his disguised paraphernalia to gain beauty, youth, wealth and power for the price of their souls.

Needless to say that is why Jesus Christ established a body of people called ‘Christians’. What that word actually means is ‘ the followers of Christ’. Christ is the only one who has professing followers either divided in their devotion to him or going the opposite way of what they profess. That is not found in the kingdom of darkness. In case you have not noticed, his followers are very diligent as they inundate the earth with their demonic agendas. Which brings me to the heart of this blog.

On Sunday marked the most watched television event in the history of the United States. That means that for 236 years, nothing like it had ever been seen. Rightly so because we are quickly approaching the end and the scripture tells us that the mystery of iniquity is steadfast in its dalliances:

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out-of-the-way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

So now under the auspices of the Holy Spirit, let me venture to go where the lovely, non-provoking and sweet christians dare to thread for the sake of love, peace and what have you… Every activity, action and symbol that entertained 111 million (and counting) was of occultic rites. The outfits, the structures the choreography, the flashing pictures represented and honored every pagan God from Talmud of the Babylonians in symbols and vehicles of Kabbala (Jewish mysticism) to the secret society called Illuminati of which most music superstars belong and often honour with specific symbolic hand gestures. And of course, definitely not excluding the Free mason.

“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.”  1 Corinthians 14:9-11

No action was devoid of meaning; for approximately thirteen minutes, that many people (figure above) partook in occult worship, replicated gestures and symbolic meanings and paid homage to the High Priestess that officiated the whole event. I would give you picture and proof of every step, ritual and symbol as my expert source deciphered, but I choose not to pollute this blog site any further. A word is always enough for the wise.

So meanwhile, we live in a nation that abhors everything Christlike. The name of Jesus could start a riot, prayer offends people whose very lives were probably spared by exactly that. People who openly exercise or practice their christian faith are mocked for same reason (thank God for Tebow). And yet millions of souls whether knowingly or unknowingly ushered in darkness into their homes and subsequently their lives. If you say it is no big deal, it was just a show and the symbols mean nothing, then why do you need to move the ‘Ten commandments’ and Bibles away from court rooms and public places? Why are people offended when someone erects the Cross and what it stands for? Exactly, symbols invoke and usher in what they represent. But I will  not go there today.

So what is the state of your heart today, are you among the last day remnant being prepared by God to face of darkness, yes by prayer and certainly by action also. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” James 2:14-22

 Or are you the one that holds back the church, because she (the church) has to deal with and carter to your flesh at every turn, which in the end produces nothing that honors Christ. I have a word for such a person from the Lord Himself: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” Mark 8:32-34  ”Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess.” Judges 11:23-25

For the rest of us that desire to see the kingdom of our God come on this earth, let us get to work as the Spirit of God leads. First and foremost receiving deliverance first in ourselves: ”let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 

Here is a quote by the High Priestess (Madonna) a week before the Super Bowl. You can tell by her stage name that all ‘these things’ did not start today. It has been in the making for years! She who took a nation through some religious rites, initiation and activity. This was her statement about the spiritual importance attributed to the show. She said this on CNN the Anderson Cooper Show (for those of you that swear by that station)

“The Super Bowl is kind of like the ‘Holy of Holies’ in America. I’ll come at halfway of the church experience and I’m gonna have to deliver a sermon. It’ll have to be very important.”

Only one entity; God the Most High and Creator of heaven and earth dwells in the ‘Holy of Holies’. And by the blood of Jesus Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit do we dare to approach in awe-filled worship to the only One who is worthy. “That troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known),” Deuteronomy 13:12-14

Wake up Church of Jesus Christ; there is war at your doorstep!!!“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:10-12

Let’s Talk About… (What You Would Like To Hear)

19,905… (20,010)

 

UPDATE: Due to popular demand and response to this article, I will refrain from an update till further notice. Thank you for reading.

“For if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.” Job 32:21-22

The Lord woke me up about three o’clock (3 am) this morning and told me to write this blog. Not to say that He did not inspire the others (actually the uninspired ones never get published, simply because they never get written ). But something about this blog had the ring of urgency to it. Shortly after He put this particular one in my mind, He gave or reminded me of about four other ones. So by 4:30am this morning, my mind was churning, on fire and spewing words. But then again what is new? I thought you should know that the next one the Lord has me to write is entitled ‘TEN THINGS (And Counting) YOU DO NOT (But Should Actually) KNOW ABOUT ME”. I am going to need a ‘huge dose of grace’ to carry that one through but obey the Lord I will. Pray for me for the wisdom to turn a complex and complicated equation into a palatable and simple experience.

Alright, back to the blog at hand. But first and foremost, as always let us see what the Word of the Most high God has to say about this topic or rather the instrument used to perpetuate this situation: 

“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people”. Romans 16:17-19  

I asked a friend of almost twenty years (we met as infants ) to describe me with three words. Meticulous was one of the words she used and it included an intense attention to details. I won’t tell you what the other two words were, at least until the next blog. But I must say meticulous is right on the money. You can add to that squeamish and allergic to dirt! That was my only concern in ‘Medical School’. The text and written part was a breeze, bless God for the DNA and genes he graciously gave. However, I would often be found hyper-ventilating when some practical situations became too gruesome and messy. I envisioned a scenario, where I would have to bark orders to a specifically hired hand to carry out what was in my very saturated head. Once in the second year, I had, had one too many chopped off sections of the ‘cranial lobe’ (brain tissues) in my freezer as I studied the nerves. I told my daddy clipping and squinting at the nerves were getting on my nerves! He said rather than avoid the medical field completely, I could switch to Psychology. For now I will vacate that story and how it ended. But I will tell you that Psychology is a dear familiar, good friend and acquaintance of mine.

Two days ago a psychologist friend of mine, who used to be in the School System, but now has her own practice told me she was going to see a movie that was out and playing. This movie had to do with a child that was a ‘Sociopath’ and all the damages he caused. It had been highly acclaimed and very closely done to what actually transpires in real life. She shared with me certain things she had seen happen when she dealt with some cases in the school system. The sociopath was able to destroy relationships, break marriages apart (even their parents), set parents and children at each others throats, had bosses stalking workers, workers harming bosses and every heart wrenching evil you could imagine. And when all was said and done, they walked away ‘scott-free’ and on to their next victim. I flinched in disgust as she regaled me with tale after tale of deeds that lacked enormously in the conscience department. The sociopath lacked one thing that could even restrain a person without the Spirit of God from committing heinous crimes, a conscience.

That means they knew right from wrong, they could decipher what was evil and what was not. They knew certain actions could bear great and irreversible consequences and might even harm them and other people, but they went ahead anyway with their desire. It was always all about them at all costs. Here is what is most bone chilling and appalling, they do it all with the help of supposedly sane and normal people. The sociopath almost hardly displays a violent nature, in fact they are described as sweet and understanding. Part of their ploy is when a male; ‘explain or do it for me one more time.’ When it is a female; it is most likely ‘damsel in distress’. So the sociopath needs constant compassion and affirmation and every other person is the big bad formidable and unkind enemy. I asked my older friend to glean from her thirty years of experience and study how the sociopath was able to pull this ruse with the support of people who should have known better or been prepared after most had probably been burned many times before. She had one word; manipulation the sociopath told people what they wanted to hear and unbeknownst to them ( or maybe known), employed them for detriment and pure evil.

“With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.” Daniel 11:31-33

I said to my friend as she scurried to the cinema to see the movie, ‘this type cometh out only by fasting and praying in the Mighty Name of JESUS CHRIST!” Therapy would only put the desire for destruction to sleep till the next temptation arose. Shall we pray…?

Here are the words of a famous (non-religious) Psychologist; who wrote a very popular highly acclaimed book on this topic : “1 in 25 ordinary American has no conscience and can do any thing at all without feeling guilty. ‘Who is the devil you know’”. “The ruthless versus the rest of us: the Doctor (author) claims that 4% of the population are sociopaths who have no capacity to love or to empathise… The doctor (author) details the havoc the sociopath wreaks on unsuspecting individuals, marrying for money, back-stabbing co-workers, or simply messing with people for the fun of it.”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, …” Hosea 4:5-7

It is imperative that we also know that we are not so special or cooler than the rest when the sociopath latches onto us easily than onto the others. It just means that they (the sociopaths) have discovered that we are gullible and we are the most convenient for their present messy situation. Also if I find myself as the sole consoler and frequent denominator for the sociopath when others have wisely pulled their bearings, please stand with me in prayer. This is not normal and it is not right. You can ask GOD Himself. You know what they say; ‘you fool me once you are stupid. You fool me twice then I am really STUPID!’ Which category do you fall in. Are you easily susceptible to manipulation? Then you also need God to deliver you from that need to be affirmed by a lie. What is it going to take for us to wise up? Complete destruction of our existence and God honoring reputation? This is serious my people, may the peace and discernment of God go with us all.

Now chances are you have not heard what you like or had your flesh stroked. But you have heard something liberating and enriching. That is how you know I am not a sociopath, and I with the Spirit of God wish that every person would rise up to their full potential and live a fulfilling life that brings glory and honor to our deserving Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6