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True Biblical Friendship

On Mission
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True Biblical Friendship

Joke: If anyone needs an ark, I happen to Noah guy.

Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man that has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” There is a key to having loyal friends or making friends in the first place. You have to show yourself friendly.

Discussion

Is the narrative about male and female friendships true? Men make friends easily but it’s shallow? Women struggle to make friends but when they do its deeper?

With social media, friends are more common but more shallow?

The First Problem in the World Was Not Sin but Solitude

At each step of the way when God created the world, he pronounced that everything was “good.” But then once he created Adam, a statement startles us: something is not good. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18). This was before the fall — before sin had entered the world. Adam was not yet complete; he needed community. 

What does this show us? Although our deepest problems are sin and idolatry, our first problem was social isolation. Therefore, even today, in a world filled with society, Proverbs warns that the one who “isolates himself. . . breaks out against all sound judgment” (Prov. 18:1).

Friendship Is a Whole-Bible Theme

The Bible tells the story of the creation, fracturing, and ultimate restoration of true friendship—friendship with God and also with each other. In the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed the fullness of friendship. But their sin led them into hiding (Gen. 3:8), and we’ve been hiding behind our own fig-leaf masks ever since.

Yet God is restoring true friendship. He restores friendship with himself, as he did with Enoch and Noah, who “walked with God”—a Hebrew expression of friendship (Gen. 5:24; Gen. 6:9). Abraham was called “a friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8). Moses spoke with God “face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Ex. 33:11). He drew near to all who called upon him with true faith.

Picking your Friends

First Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

We must choose carefully who are friends since “bad company ruins good morals” (1st Cor 15:33) and “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov 13:20). That’s because we tend to become like whoever we are around. 

If those are people who live in sin, then that’s what we’ll tend to do. It’s not guilt by association but sin by participation because James warned us that “that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). 

Solomon wrote about many friends verses a best friend in Proverbs 18:24 by writing, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  

That one is worth more than many for that brother or sister in Christ knows not “to slander one another” or gossip (James 4:11) but rather, build up one another. There is no room for talking about your friends sins since “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends” (Prov 17:9).

How does “bad company” ruin the morals of others?

A Godly Friendship

There is nothing better than having a best friend, next to having a saving relationship with Christ of course, but we need friends and they need us. We’re made for relationship and when your best friend is a Christian, it can hardly get much better. Your friends will go out of their way for you (1st Sam 18:1-5). A friend loves you regardless (Prov 17:17) and loves you enough to tell you the truth, even if it hurts (Prov 27:6) and try to give you good advice because they’ll be honest with you (Prov 27:9). That’s why we must see the value in our godly friends and why, no matter what, we must never forsake them (Prov 27:10).

Refection

  • Why do we need friends?
  • What about having friends who are not Christian (2nd Cor 6:14-18; James 4:4)?
  • What’s the hardest thing you ever had say to a friend?
  • What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to hear from a friend?

Here are 4 characteristics of true friendship:

Unconditional love – A true friend loves at all times. Regardless of what you do, what happens, or where life takes you, a true friend loves at all times. On your worst day—when you aren’t even fun to be around—a true friend still takes you to lunch. (And likely pays.)

Unwavering support – True friends are in it for the long haul. Even when you’ve fallen—or agree with you completely—a true friend is in your corner. When you call—even when you’re in trouble—they come. True friendships may only be for a season. I have many of those. But if we run into each other again we pick up where we left off. Trust is already established. The relationship is just as strong. True friendships are consistent.

Willingness to challenge – Love and support is not ignoring the words you need to here. A true friendship makes you better. The Bible says “iron sharpens iron.” True friends will correct you if needed. Proverbs 27:5 says, “Better an open rebuke than hidden love.” Friends won’t let you injure yourself or others if they can intervene. They won’t remain silent with what you need to hear—and it will be shared in the deepest of love.

Full of grace – True friendship weather the sometime difficulties of relationships, forgiving when needed, and loving each other even when it hurts. A true friendship isn’t one-sided. Both friends are willing to lay down their life for the other. Grace is freely and generously given.

Why Christians should fight to #EndSars

Toye Akinoso
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Why Christians should fight to #EndSars
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The year 2020 marks one of the most historical periods in all of human history. This year, the rallying cry to the fight against injustice and police brutality galvanised an entire generation across the globe. The most recent being the #EndSARS movement. SARS (Special Anti Robbery Squad) is a police unit in Nigeria which was set up in 1992 and since their inception, the unit has been riddled with cases of theft, abuse, rape, extortion and extrajudicial killings. Amnesty International published a report detailing at least 82 cases of “torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial execution” by the SARS unit between January 2017 and May 2020. Since this report, protest across the nation of Nigeria have begun as well as protests in Nigerian Communities round the world. SARS has since been disbanded and SWAT ( Special Weapons and Tactics) has been announced to “fill in the gap”. Although this seems like progress, many people in Nigeria fear that this is history repeating itself and thus, protesters have once taken to the streets to #EndSWAT.

To find out more about #ENDSARS, watch the video below:

Jesus sets our standard

Standing up against injustice isn’t a ‘political’, ‘liberal’ or ‘progressive’ thing, it’s a Christ-like thing. I have seen far too many evangelicals aim to divorce Jesus’s ministry from its cultural context. Jesus didn’t just share the Gospel in a vacuum but instead, He purposefully addresses the very specific cultural issues. Take the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), the healing of the leper (Matthew 8), Jesus’ ministry to the Gentiles and Jesus meeting the woman at the well (John 4). All of these stories (and I can spend the rest of the article listing more) aren’t just nice religious platitudes but instead, Jesus was intentionally addressing socioeconomic, political and racial and gender issues at the time and frequently came to the aid of those who were oppressed and abused. Jesus provides us with a blueprint to follow. As Stephen Mattson brilliant puts it:

Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Samaritan lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Children’s lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Gentile lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Jewish lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Women’s lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Lepers’ lives matter.”

Times like these are not when Christians should be quiet. We should not cower in fear but instead, our voices should be the loudest. Our hearts should break for the people in Nigeria at the sight of these atrocities and we ought to stand behind any movements such as #EndSARS and #EndSWAT which aim to fight the injustices which we see around the world. Moments such as these are when we should “speak up, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9). We are called to be the voice for the voiceless and when we see evil, we expose evil (Ephesians 5:11). Jesus didn’t just preach a generic message of salvation and go home, He went above and beyond to meet the needs of the alienated and downtrodden. Furthermore, we serve a God who hates injustice,  “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord (Prov 17:15).To turn your back to the #EndSars movement is to turn your back to God’s calling and right now, Nigeria is crying out for justice louder than ever. We cannot and must not remain silent. We cannot look away. Therefore, we should stand united with the people of Nigeria against any form of police brutality and condemn these actions carried out by SARS.

The war beneath the war

As Christians, we believe that there is a war beneath the war for justice. We believe that the only solution which can bring about everlasting change is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, as mentioned in my previous article regarding social injustice, “when faced with injustice, the Christian response is not merely to bend our knee in protest but to also do so in prayer.  The battle against the injustices of the world is not fought solely by creating and signing petitions here on Earth but also making prayers of petition to Heaven“. As Christians, we care about all suffering, especially eternal ones. So in moments such as these, we must go into the world and seek to be light but we must not forget the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In these instances, we advocate for police reform and we also advocate for the Gospel message as we believe this is what will bring the change we want to see in the world.

So dear Christian, stand up and fight to #EndSARS. Peacefully protest, sign petitions, give to the causes fighting against police brutality and most importantly, pray. Pray that God, the lover of justice, in His sovereign power would move to relive the aches and pains of injustice in this world that have corrupted our systems. But above all pray that God, through this, meets people at their truest need- eternal relief, not just from the results of sin, but from sin itself through believing in the soul-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why Should I Care About Theology?

Toye Akinoso
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Why Should I Care About Theology?
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One of the most daunting themes I’ve observed in my few short years as a Christian is how little most believers are impassioned to know the deep truths of God. Typically I often hear people share the sentiments of ‘theology just really isn’t for me’, ‘ I just want to love Jesus’ or ‘ isn’t theology just for pastors and preachers?’. This is a sentiment I’ve shared in the past and one which often comes from a good place, however, it is one which robs us from the joys of worshipping, beholding and magnifying God for who He is.

Everyone is a Theologian

We make theological statements every single day. We can’t avoid it. To say that theology doesn’t matter is to make a theological statement. Whether you have a BSc in systematic theology or whether you’ve never seen the inside of a Bible, you have theological views. It is inescapable. The word theology is made up of the words Theos (God) and logos (word), therefore theology simply means meaning “words about God”, “God-talk.” or “the study of God”. We all have views and opinions about who we believe God to be. To say that God is Love is to take a theological position and in a similar vein, to say that God doesn’t exist asserts a theological view. We all talk and think about God. What separates the believer from the atheist is how accurately our various theologies line up with God’s revelation of Himself as revealed in Scripture.

Theology is Transformative

I’ve often seen many people dismiss theology as this abstract discipline which has no effect on the day to day life of a believer. But on the contrary, biblical theology is the heartbeat of the Christian. True theology is not a theoretical exercise but a transformational practice. Knowing God and being known by God changes you. If your theology leaves you unchanged and apathetic towards God, then it is not biblical theology.

Your theological framework affects your worldview which in turn dictates how you live your life. If your theology leads you to the conclusion that God doesn’t exist and thus there is no life after death, then how you spend your 80 or so years on earth drastically changes. Alternatively, if you believe in God’s existence and life after death, how you spend your short time on earth becomes all the more important. In the same way, what you believe about God, His nature, His character and how He has revealed Himself in scripture, drastically affects not only how you live your life, but also how you worship, how you interact with God and interact with His people. None of which can be done rightly in the absence of correct theology. Let’s take the example of the sons of Aaron in Leviticus 10. The two sons tried to raise an offering to God which seemingly is a good thing and something they ought to be rewarded for right? The story plays a different tune. Although their motives may have been pure, because of their lack of knowledge of who God is, they gave an offering before God which was described as ‘foreign fire’ and consequently they were consumed by God’s fire.

This same issue is still present in many churches today. Due to apathy towards biblical studies and theology, many people, although their hearts are sincere, sincerely worship God in a way which is antithetical to the teachings of scripture. In some instances, some people end up worshipping a completely different god as opposed to the true God revealed in the scriptures. What you believe about God matters! What you think and believe about His nature and His desires for you affects every part of your life. We need theology to know God rightly and to also live rightly.

Loving theology is loving Jesus

As Kevin DeYoung brilliantly puts it, “those who say that ‘I don’t care about theology, I just love Jesus, don’t have either”. Loving Jesus and loving theology aren’t mutually exclusive options for a believer, the two are inextricably linked. Let’s imagine for a moment that I told you that I love mother, that she is my entire world and she’s all I care about. Imagine you were to ask what colour her hair was and I was unable to give a correct answer, you would very much question whether my affections for her were true! In a similar fashion, if you claim to love Jesus, you would not only want to make Him known but you would aspire to know Him. Not in a generic and vague sense, but to know Him intimately.

If you love Jesus, you will be able to explain why you love Him and what it is about Him that you love. Who is He? What did He accomplish? What does His resurrection mean? Why did He die? Who is His father? All of these are theological matters! Loving Christ and caring about theology are two sides of the same coin.

Theology should always end in worship

Theology may start in your head but it should end in your heart. True theology ends with you, savouring, cherishing and magnifying Christ. This is what we examine all throughout the Psalms, David when reflecting on what he learnt about God from the Prophets and the Torah, would fall on his knees and cry out in worship! Biblical theology ought to stir within us the same response. The more we immerse ourselves in biblical doctrines such as the imputation of Christ’s righteousness on us, the only true and right response is to fall on our feet and cry out ‘ABBA!’. As Matt Capps brilliant puts it :

Theology engages our emotions and shapes our living. It is not an exercise in head-scratching puzzles, but a discipline that should lead to heart-stirring emotions, which in turn leads to worshipful obedience in every area of life. It is by knowing God that we come to love Him, and by loving Him that we come to know Him.

Matt Capps

So should you care about theology? Absolutely. Not to become lofty in our intellect and wiser than the next man, but to instead grow in our understanding of God so that we can, powered by the Holy Spirit, reflect and conform to His image and His will. The pursuit of theology for the Christian is not an intellectual pursuit, it is pursuit to know Christ so that we can make Him known.

God’s Power In The Everyday

Joe Reeser
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God’s Power In The Everyday
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Your normal life is the most important thing about your leadership. If the people around you buy into something you can only produce once a year when the stars and planets are in perfect alignment, you won’t be followed for long. But when people buy into your normal, leading becomes like breathing—natural and life-giving. This means that creating your normal as a leader is the most valuable activity you can do. It’s your most rewarding investment. How do you normally handle finances? What about conflict? Do you take initiative? What about responsibility—do you own your mistakes? Time management? Self-awareness? You get the picture.

Perfection isn’t possible and will never be your normal.

So how do you deal with your imperfections? Do you cover them up through rabble-rousing (like a demagogue or emotional racketeer)? Or, instead, do you humbly and wisely admit your imperfections and surround yourself with other leaders whose strengths help cover your weaknesses?

The metaphor of an athlete is often used to discuss leadership performance. Although inspiring, one major difference makes this metaphor unhelpful: Athletes train every day to reach peak performance for a specified time and event. And life doesn’t work that way. Most of us are not judged by how we perform during a dozen specified events throughout the year. Our normal defines our performance.

Which means that our best days and our worst days are not what we need to be most concerned about. It’s our normal days that matter.

What does your normal look like?

By normal, I don’t mean unintentional. Normal is not the right word for that—sloppy, lazy, and haphazard are better words for unintentional. I mean the state you operate at when huge opportunities and massive setbacks are not fueling your actions.

Most of us rise to the occasion when faced with giant open doors or huge challenges… it’s the average day we struggle with. And it’s the average day we have the most of, which means we better be intentional about seizing it.

What you build as a leader is based on your normal moments, your average state of being.

You will manifest—in the lives of others, in the culture of your community, and in the systems and procedures that form around them—that which is typical for you.

If you tried to enforce your best day as the standard for everyone else’s normal day, people will see straight through it as the hypocrisy it is. Or, if you impose someone else’s best or normal day onto your community (which happens more than leaders are willing to admit when they use another leader’s ideas like a coat of paint over rotting plasterboard), the scent of inauthenticity can be picked up from miles away.

Quite simply, your best days and someone else’s strategies will never create lasting change. Your normal is the primary template in what you will build. The good news is this simplifies your life and leadership. Your primary task no longer feels like spending all your time, energy, and efforts seeking some magical leadership formula like hunting for the Holy Grail

Here’s the formula you need: Always start with you.

  • How are your normal study habits?
  • How is your normal prayer time?
  • How are your normal relationships?
  • How is your normal financial life?
  • How is your heart’s normal state? Humble or proud? Self-ambitious or God-submitted? Size-focused or fruit-focused? Integrous or cutting corners to get ahead? Image-first or substance-first?

Before we launched Ramp Church Manchester, one of my closest advisors and a seasoned church leader told me that if he could do his leadership journey again he would focus more on his heart and less on what he was building. He was trying to drive home the reality that you can’t build a healthy community or organisation from an unhealthy heart.

King Solomon expressed the same sentiment from his own leadership journey:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV; emphasis mine).

The Apostle Paul also practised this principle:

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us… What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practise these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 3:17; 4:9 ESV).

Even modern life coaches shout about it:

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently” (Anthony Robbins).

Have you ever tried to build something that you, yourself, didn’t even live? How did it work out?

My wife and co-pastor, Stacie, recently gave a powerful message on something we talk a lot about at Ramp Church: lifestyle leadership. It’s a great place to start in your journey of reshaping your normal to look, sound, and, most importantly, be a life others want to follow.

Stacie’s message, “5 Marks of a Life That Can Be Followed”, is available on all platforms: YouTube, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else.

Are You Frustrated?

Matidaishe Mupfacha
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Are You Frustrated?
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Maybe you’re single, increasingly lonely, and nothing would make you happier than receiving that message from a special someone. Maybe you’re engaged and that wedding date just keeps being moved further and further down the year. Maybe you’re in a job you absolutely loathe and the job hunt is proving fruitless. Maybe you’re stuck in student halls, growing more irritable by the day because this is not what you envisioned for your first year of university. Maybe you’re sick of this pandemic. Maybe you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.

In all of these maybe’s, there is one common feeling- frustration. It’s not necessarily a bad emotion, but if left unchecked, it’s confusing, consuming, and constricting. It is an emotion that breeds a multitude of negative thoughts and feelings. Some of the worst being doubt and discontentment.

Did God Really Say?

Doubt is defined as a hesitation to believe. It is a deadly deterrent to our awareness of God- and one of the strongest weapons in Satan’s arsenal. He uses it unsparingly and seeks every opportunity to plant it- take a look at what happened in Eden (Gen 3). When planted, you start asking yourself, “Did God really say, “I am with thee”? Did He really mean it when He said, “I can do far more abundantly than what you can ask or think?” Was He just phased out when He said, “Cast all your cares onto me for I care for you?” 

Doubt weakens us to extend our hand to our only lifeline. It creates iron-clad walls for us to not see Jesus and brings about some unknown bout of amnesia to the promises of God. It endorses the fear of the unknown when we could trust in the Creator of all knowledge. Doubt says, “God is not here”.

However, God is never absent, in fact, HE is the “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  He is so near to the point where David, in an attempt to capture the depths of this closeness, says, “Even if I make my bed in hell, You are there” (Psalm 139:8). His existence itself is all-encompassing and self-sufficient. Apostle Paul asserts that all things, including us: come from, belong to, were made by, and exist through God alone (1 Corinthians 8:6). Some of us, like Thomas, want to see or feel physical results before we are willing to accept that His presence is more valuable than the answers we want to our questions.

You May Try To Run

Frustration breeds discontentment. We may run from God and seek other means to make us feel better or to forget about it. Weed, masturbation, pornography, alcohol, sleep, or a shameless binge of Friends on Netflix whilst scoffing down a tub or two of Ben and Jerry’s never hits the spot. We may even resort to live in Fantasy Land, where we relive past glories and loves.

All these means of escapism are short-lived. The pleasures they offer have a 100% dissatisfaction guarantee. They strip us of our joys and leave us naked and ashamed. It’s His grace that the emptiness we oft feel points to our need for Him and prayer is the instant vehicle that will transport all our sighs and groans right to His ears. Prayer is the applicator in which He rubs in a soothing balm on our frazzled, inflamed hearts.

The return of the prodigal son (Luke 15:17-24) is an embodiment of how we look when we come to Him in prayer. It is His grace that He waits on us, to come crawling to Him, when all has failed, to confess our brokenness, casting all our cares and anxieties on Him. It is His grace that He sees us from a mile off, runs towards us, receives us, forgives us with the readiness of a loving father, embraces us with such warmth it breaks down the walls of shame, and clothes us with robes of His love and favour. As Isaiah puts it, “His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:28). 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

You caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes,
but you will revive me again.
You will bring me up again,
even from the depths of the earth.

Psalm 71:20

Again I say, Rejoice

In the midst of our being frustrated on being held up at Stagnancy Station, God is still good to us. Rather than lay up in our one-man pity parties and bop to DJ WoEISMe’s latest set, we must recognise that our hearts are a gardening site – with God doing the work, anticipating the unveiling of His masterpiece that is producing all sorts of healthy fruit- namely patience, love, joy, faithfulness…etc (Galatians 5:22). These seasons that we experience are not for nothing. Once we submit to God’s purpose, only then will we realise the benefits of the work He’s doing and echo the same sentiments as David, “Who am I that you’re mindful of me!?” (Psalm 8:4).

 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

Paul’s words here are not in vain. This was a man with every opportunity to scream and revel in frustration. However, he regarded all the trials he faced with pure joy because he knew the prize that awaited him in eternity was much greater than any shipwreck, beating, snake bite or imprisonment he could face on this earth. He had a great awareness of the transcendental nature of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and what it meant for Him as a believer. He knew that in this life happiness was not promised. He knew the earthly life of a Christian was one of serious difficulty, one not left unmarked by frustrating seasons. But above that he chose to dwell on and set his thoughts on all that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy— God’s promises (Phillipians 4:8). 

Be Still and Wait

With God, all things are possible to those who believe. God is the one who gives us the saving faith that we possess and HE is the one that is able to supply the faith that helps us hold on. We can freely cry out, ” Lord I believe but help my unbelief!” like the helpless, doubtful father in Mark 9. Pray for strength to wait on Him- as the Scriptures say, “He acts on behalf of those who wait on Him” (Isaiah 64:4). However, He acts according to His will, not ours. Therefore, we must be still and know that He is God who is all-wise and all-knowing, receiving all that He brings with thanksgiving and trust.

Preach the Gospel

Above all, preach the Gospel to your heart. The Gospel opens our minds to eternity, forgetting the fleeting interests of this vaporous life. The High King of heaven, who did not spare His Son, but sacrificed Him on the Cross for the sins of prodigals like us, in order for us to spend eternity with Him should speak volumes of His dedication to us. If He managed to do this, how will He not sustain us? How will He not keep His promises? How will He not give us all things when He has given us Himself? (Romans 8:32).

A Radical Call To Consecration

On Mission
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A Radical Call To Consecration

Joke: Whats do most religions have do during a recession?– They have to make sacrifices 

In the Bible the word consecration means “the separation of oneself from things that are unclean, especially anything that would contaminate one’s relationship with a perfect God.” Consecration also carries the connotation of sanctification, holiness, or purity.

The word consecration isn’t a commonly used word, but even so, we might have an existing concept about what it means. In religion, the word consecration has been used in relation to the official ordaining of a person to be a preacher, a priest, or a missionary. This use implies consecration is for a special category of people

But the consecration revealed in the New Testament is for every believer in Christ. It’s not something only for knowledgeable Christians or spiritually mature ones. In fact, as we’ll see, we cannot subjectively know the life of Christ in us or reach spiritual maturity without consecrating ourselves to the Lord. This is because consecration is the basis for every spiritual experience.

Reflection

  • Have we heard the word consecration before?
  • How were we introduced to the word? Do we think Christians think about the word enough?

There are two places we can see a clear call to consecration and what it may entail!

OLD TESTAMENT

In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was something set apart for God by being put on the altar. When people offered that thing to God, it no longer belonged to the one offering it. It belonged to God, for His use and His satisfaction.

The importance of being consecrated or pure in our relationship with God is emphasized in an incident in the book of Joshua. After forty years in the wilderness, the children of Israel were about to cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They were then given a command and a promise: 
“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you’” (Joshua 3:5).

Upon consecrating themselves, the children of Israel were assured of God’s promises. The Lord promised that He would do amazing things among them

Just as He opened the Red Sea to deliver them from their Egyptian bondage, He would open the Jordan River and take them into the Promised Land. In fact, this was just the beginning of the miracles God would perform for them in the conquest of the Promised Land. It’s no wonder the psalmist declares, “Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples” (Psalm 77:13-14)

Reflection

  • What is the connection between those in the old testament consecrating themselves and God doing amazing things with them?
  • What is the link between sacrifice and Gods move?

The Old-testament gives us a partial understanding of consecration. When we take a look at the new testament, we get an even clearer picture.

NEW TESTAMENT

Consecration is our giving ourselves to the Lord to become “a living sacrifice,” as Paul says in Romans 12:1: “I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

The Bible tells believers to be a holy people, separate from the world: “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Today, when we consecrate ourselves to the Lord, we become a living sacrifice. We give up our own claims on ourselves and put ourselves completely in His hands. Previously, our life was for our use and our satisfaction; now it is for His.

When we present ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice, we’re simply saying, “Lord Jesus, I am for You. I’m no longer for myself, the world, or anything else. I am for Your use and Your satisfaction.”

Reflection

  • How important is it for us to present ourselves to the Lord? 
  • Does it matter whether we do or don’t?
  • What holds us back from doing this? What does a consecrated life look like in Modern Britain? 
  • What are the benefits of consecration?

If we’re saved, we’ve taken the initial step of our spiritual journey. Thank the Lord for that! But we’ve only just begun. The next step for us is to consecrate ourselves to the Lord. When we do, we’ll be kept in God’s way, grow in His life, allow God to work in us, and enjoy the riches of His full salvation.

Conclusion

Whether we’re newly saved or we’ve been saved for a while, every one of us can give ourselves to the Lord. Even if we never heard of consecration, we can still present ourselves to the Lord right now. He is happy and willing to receive our consecration at any time!

Jesus Leaves The 99 to Find The One – Toye Akinoso

Toye Akinoso
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Jesus Leaves The 99 to Find The One – Toye Akinoso

One of the most remarkable things about the God we see in the scriptures is that He actively pursues the lost. There is no sin too great, no mountain too high, no distance we could run, that would discourage God from loving and pursuing us.

Listen to our Editorial Lead Toye Akinoso share the message of Luke 15, showing us God’s heart to find that which is lost.

Boris and Trump Need Our Prayers

Shumi Mararike
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Boris and Trump Need Our Prayers
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BREAKING NEWS: The President and First Lady of the United States have tested positive for COVID-19.

The response on social media has been fascinating, to say the least. The irony of it all does amuse me. I’ve found myself chuckling at memes and tweets over the past few days. But my laughter ceases when viewing posts where people are expressing their pleasure and celebration toward the news. This is wrong. Irrespective of your political synergies, as Christians, we must pray for our world leaders.

Why Should We Pray for Our World Leaders?

We may have many legitimate reasons to dislike our world leaders. They may fail to carry out their God-given authority to protect their people, praise what is good and punish that which is evil (Romans 13:3-4, 1 Peter 2:13-14). Their policies may be to your detriment. Their actions (or lack of) may be the cause of great pain and difficulty in your life.

If this is the case, why should we pray for our leaders? Firstly, God commands it. This alone is reason enough to warrant our intercession for them.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions,

1 Timothy 2:1-2a

God Has Ordained Their Authority Over You

God works through means. What I mean by this is that God accomplishes His purposes through people, things, natural events and so forth. Voting is one example of this.

As citizens of a country where democracy is upheld, you can go to your local ballot box and cast your vote for your preferred candidate/party. It is through this activity that God brings whom He has ordained to hold office. In other words, they are placed there by God through the choices we make on election day. Yes, that includes Trump and Boris.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 13:1-2

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

1 Peter 2:13-15

By Me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by Me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.

Proverbs 8:15-16

Praying For Them is For Our Benefit

Praying for our world leaders is also for our benefit. A nation is largely shaped by the effectiveness of leadership. Strong leadership provides stability. When focused on administering justice and meeting the needs of their people, society as a whole strengthens. This ultimately pleases God as it is for our benefit and for His glory. Therefore, we must do all we can to help our leaders fulfil these duties with prayer being one of many ways we can do so.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Some Prayer Points

It is imperative that we pray for our world leaders. Leading a nation is a mighty task at hand. How much more in a global pandemic? Let’s get on our knees and make intercession for them, so that they may:

  • Have wisdom and understanding – 1 Kings 4:34, 1 Kings 10:23, James 1:5
  • Be humble – causing them to lead cooperatively and collaboratively with authorities, MPs, senators, governors, Congress etc – Ecclesiastes 4:13
  • Health – that they may be physically well, also enabling them to lead effectively – 3 John 1:2
  • That they may fulfil their God-given duty over us – Romans 12:1-4, 1 Peter 2:13-14
  • Be saved – 1 Timothy 2:1-4

In the mighty and precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Sharing Christ in a Non-Christian Culture

Shumi Mararike
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Sharing Christ in a Non-Christian Culture
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Secularism is on the rise. Hostility toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to grow. Post modernism has had a cataclysmic impact on Western Europe, truth is no longer considered objective and absolute. What is the result? Scepticism toward any religion or worldview which claims to be the truth, refusing to bow the knee to subjectivity. Consequently, historic Christianity has been nudged out of the mainstream; we are living in a non-Christian culture.

Suppression of the Truth

This shouldn’t catch us by surprise. This cultural shift in the Western Europe has been in motion since the nineteenth century (subject to debate) and increased in velocity during the twentieth century. Paul’s epistle to the Romans traces the underlying issue further back than the nineteenth century, even predating the mid-first century Greco-Roman world in which he wrote. Humanity in its fallenness has been suppressing the truth since the beginning of time.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

Romans 1:18-19

How Do We Respond?

How is the Christian to navigate a culture which is resistant to their faith and made up people of who suppresses the truth? There are many possible responses but I’ve decided to narrow them down to three:

(i) Scold and Run

In all honesty, this is my reflex response. The state of our culture is a mess. Far too often I’ve viewed this as a licence to criticise and condemn rather than lovingly engage people with the Gospel. Just like every single believer God has saved by grace, I too was once like them. I formerly suppressed the truth of God, exchanging His glory for an incomparable image of my own choosing (Romans 1:22-23).

Romans 1:18-32 is universal. This was not a state into which some people were born into, but is the condition of the entirety of humankind. The only hope for this sorry state of affairs is the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit through the inherent, transformative power of the Gospel. (Romans 1:16)

Paul echoes the same message to Titus. We are to speak gently and kindly rather than throw insults. Be courteous and avoid quarrelling (Titus 3:1-2).

(ii) Accommodate the culture

To accommodate the culture is to deny that Jesus is the only way by which sinful persons may be reconciled unto God. Well this clearly isn’t an option either. Our options are whittled down to one.

(iii) Preach the Gospel

Irrespective of the cultural climate, our assignment remains the same. We have the great privilege of proclaiming the Good News. We can look to the example of Paul in the seventeenth chapter of Acts where he wonderfully modelled how to do so in a non-Christian context.

First century Athens was the intellectual hub of its day. It was a highly educated and cultured city, t home to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Alexander the Great. Each passing day brought a new philosophy which captured the attention of the people. Nonetheless, Paul stood boldly and made an admirable evangelistic effort.  

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 

(Acts 17:16)

The Greek likens this provocation in Paul’s spirit to a feeling of being gripped in his intestines. There was an anguish stirred within the apostle’s soul, yet it didn’t drive him to hurl insults at the Athenians. Contrastingly, he engaged in persuasive dialogue with the Jews, Gentile sympathisers and those at the market place (v.17). Undeterred by the hostility, his subject matter was unchanged: Jesus Christ and the resurrection.

This climax of his visit was his address to the Areopagus at Mars Hill and how he masterfully witnessed before this crowd. Firstly, Paul acknowledged what was commendable among the Athenian people. In expressing “I perceive that you’re very religious” (v.22), breaking the barrier of hostility. He then proceeded to direct his challenge toward their own assumptions, revealing to them the falsity of their gods and the reality of the Creator, Yahweh (v.23-29) to whom they were all accountable. (v.30).

Paul then arrived at the crux of his message, issuing a call to repentance, casting the spotlight upon the person, work and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What a noble effort, tactfully meeting his audience at their level of understanding whilst faithfully declaring the Good News. You may expect such a presentation to be met with great applause and numerous listeners flocking to him, but this wasn’t the case. Some scorned him, some were intrigued and a presumably lesser number believed and became fellow disciples of Jesus Christ (vv.32-34). Nonetheless, it is an example to follow and implement as we interact with our own non-Christian culture

It won’t be easy

The task ahead is formidable. We must continuously pray for the lost, knowing that effective evangelism begins on your knees. Great boldness is required. Let us learn from the greatest evangelist this world has ever seen. Let us lovingly engage our culture, not scolding the people or their beliefs but bridging the gap in order to point the lost toward the Truth Himself, Jesus Christ.

Living Faithfully in a New Environment

Shumi Mararike
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Living Faithfully in a New Environment
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September is always a month of new beginnings. New schools, new workplaces, new environments. As we embark on these new journeys, we’re confronted with numerous challenges. One in particular seems to emerge wherever we go: how do we navigate these new spaces as Christians without compromising our faith?

Maintain your integrity

Integrity is undoubtedly one of the most admirable attributes a person can have. To be a person of integrity is to have a consistency between your morals and your actions, whether in public or private. There are few greater tests to our integrity than when we find ourselves in a new environment among a sea of unfamiliar faces. Will you dance to the tune of the culture or remain steadfast in your God-given convictions?

This became a dilemma for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego during the Babylonian exile. In possessing physical strength, skill and intellect, they were selected to be trained for service in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace (Daniel 1:1-4).

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

Daniel 1:8-9

The Babylonian’s attempts to lure them away from YHWH and their Jewish faith proved futile. No matter how great the food, education and new names they were given (Daniel 1:5-7), they remained true to their God and resolved to serve Him alone.

They declined the non-kosher foods before them (which had probably been sacrificed to idols), signifying a refusal to conform to the Babylonian cultural system. Their defiance demonstrated their willingness to live as God required of them as Hebrew men. They refused to compromise and chose the path of obedience toward God, knowing that this was for His glory and their blessing. To say yes to God and no to that which displeases Him is to express your contentment in Him.

Lawful but not helpful

With Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, their integrity was tested when asked to do things which God had explicitly prohibited. But what about those grey areas where scripture doesn’t speak directly on a matter? I don’t endeavour to present a list of some sort. This is because we mustn’t approach how we use our Christian liberty as a mere tick-box exercise. Rather than asking “How far can I get toward the edge of the cliff without falling off?”, we ought to ask some alternative questions guided by Scripture.

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

1 Corinthians 10:23

Why not ask yourself  “Does this edify me?” or “Is it profitable for my spiritual growth?” Will finding myself in certain environments and engaging in some behaviours facilitate my sanctification?

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 

1 Corinthians 6:12

“Is there a chance that this may become a habit I am somewhat dependent upon, or worse, enslaved to?” This all requires serious consideration and prayer so that we may be prepared when put to the test.

All this isn’t to say that we should flee from secular spaces, nor am I suggesting that fruitful relationships cannot be developed with non-Christians. That would be absurd. I say this to encourage us not to be satisfied with shallow, minimalistic Christian living whereby we blend in with the world without completely camouflaging with it. Carefully treading the border of that which is permissible and impermissible. God has called us to so much more than this.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 

Philippians 1:27

Although you may not be facing opposition as the Philippians were, you are accountable to God, your spiritual mentors and yourself. We must live in a manner that honours the Gospel. We must live as loyal, patriotic citizens of our heavenly Kingdom, sharing and living out the Gospel.

Living as Ambassadors

One of the worst things we can do is to run away from engaging with the community and people around us. This neglects our duties as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Although we do not identify by the world’s systems and conform to its ways, we are to be the sweet fragrance of Christ – diffusing the Gospel that is a pleasant scent of joy and life to the believer but defeat and death to the unbeliever. We are to be a loving people representing our Lord as we share the good news. This is why Christ prayed that His disciples may remain in the world, protected from Satan, but not be of the world.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:15-17

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

John 17:15-16

Although we have a heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20a), we still have work to do in our schools, universities, workplaces or wherever God has placed us. Work diligently and to the glory of God honouring the opportunity He has given you whilst involving Him in all your labours (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23). Let’s also live as people with integrity, not abusing our liberty in Christ, but being His Ambassadors who faithfully live for Him irrespective of where we find ourselves.

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