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September 2018 Newsletter
Message of The Month:
You Have The Words of Eternal Life
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"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Gal 1:3-5)."
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1. WORLD ISSUES
So much evil: the saints are beginning to despair. But hear what the Lord said to His disciples in the parable of the Unjust Judge: "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ... Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:6-8) The Lord's question has prophetic implications: He will find very few faithful followers; many Christians would love the world more than Him—"Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold" (Matt 24:12 NLT).
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A. Environment
Devastations like earthquakes, forest fires, hurricanes and floods in more and more areas of the world on the increase.
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B. Political
In almost every country in the world today, there are alliances by religious leaders of all stripes with the political establishment.
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C. A Disordered World:
The world order engineered and led by the United States of America at the end of the Second World War came to an end in 2016 with the election of an American President who ran on a racist and xenophobic platform. As more and more parochial interests take center stage, a more chaotic world is emerging—(worldwide trade wars, realignment of nations and the emergence of Russia and China as power players in the world)—one that is ripe for the antichrist to takeover.
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D. The Overthrow of Truth
So much lies masquerading as truth in our time. Fact-based news are in decline, what with the proliferation of news organizations and the use of some of them by racists, anarchists, religious leaders of all stripes, politicians and thieves to advance their parochial interests and the rise of the social media (Face book, Twitter, YouTube, Whatsapp, Instagram, Snap Chat, etc).
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2. THE MESSAGE: YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE
As I reflected on why many do not hear (by hear, I mean understand) God's words, I was reminded of an incident during the Lord's earthly ministry when many of His disciples deserted Him. This occurred when He was teaching that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:53-63). Many of His disciples did not understand; they took offense at His words. They did not hear (I mean understand) what Jesus was saying. As a result, they left the Lord and the ministry. But the apostles remained. In the midst of that desertion (a grave disappointment no doubt), the Lord asked the apostles, "Do you also want to go away?"(John 6:67) Simon Peter's answer was both inspiring and reassuring: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68)—those words echoed, and will continue to echo, throughout eternity.
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Question
Why did many of the Lord's disciples abandon the Lord Jesus and His ministry and only a few remained after His teaching on the Bread of Life? Hadn't they all been witnesses to the miracles and healings? In answering that question, we must ask why is it that everyone in the first world perished in the flood except Noah and his family. We should ask also why is it that everyone perished in Sodom except Lot and his two daughters when God rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah?
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Answer
Those disciples who deserted the Lord and those who perished in Noah and Lot's generations had something in common: They did not have personal relationship with God; their minds were on earthly matters. It is impossible to have a relationship with God and with the world at the same time. And without that relationship with God, it is impossible to apprehend spiritual matters. "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honour Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me." (Matt 15:8). If the Lord Jesus comes today, how many of the billions who claim to be Christians will be found worthy like the apostles, Noah and Lot? It is impossible for anyone without a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour to be chosen. The criteria of being chosen remains having a personal relationship with Him who died for our sins and rose for our justification. We are not here to make anyone feel guilty. Our ministry is here to encourage those who already have a personal relationship with Jesus to deepen that relationship with Him and for those who are uncertain to make certain of the relationship with Jesus and for those who are seeking to develop a personal relationship with Him.
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3. REFLECTION
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:22-23) Every human being must make a choice between death and eternal life: there is no intermediate place after death. Whoever is not a slave of God (i.e. child of God—John 1:12-13) while on earth is doomed. God's children act and talk differently from those who have not believed. I encourage you to go into your closet, search your heart and answer the questions below in God's presence.
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A. Do You Know Jesus?
Having a relationship with someone involves knowing something about that person. The more you love the person, the more you want to know more. How can we then say we love God if we don't know Him and His Son? Those who love God spend a lot of time in His presence. And where is that presence more if not in His word (the Bible). "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success"
– (Josh 1:8).
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"
– (2Tim 2:15).
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B. Who Owns You—Jesus or Yourself?
If indeed Jesus is your Lord, your life is no longer yours. Your life belongs to Him. So, you can't do what you like. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me
– (Gal 2:20)
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C. Are You Ready To Suffer For His Name's Sake?
Can you say with conviction what Brother Paul said in Philippians 3:10? "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (Phil 3:10)" If you can't say the above with conviction, ask for God's grace and cry out to Him for help.
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May the Lord God open your eyes of understanding as you read and reflect. May He guide you and sustain you as you walk this walk of faith in Christ Jesus, Amen.
(All Scripture quotations have been taken from the New King James Version unless where otherwise indicated).
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