Skip to main content

MOSTLY READ

JOSHUA

  MEANING :  Jehovah is salvation or God's Help. ALTERNATIVES : Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Jeshua, Jesus SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES: Joshua was a 1. slave - Joshua 24:15; 2. soldier - Joshua 5:13-15; 3. servant - Numbers  11:28; Josh. 1:1; 4. spy - Numbers 13:1-16; 5. saviour; 6.  stateman, and 7. Saint for the following reasons: He was filled with the Spirit of God (Deut. 34:9). He enjoyed the presence of God (Josh. 1:5; 6:27). He was indwelt by the word of God (Josh. 1:8). He was ever obedient to the will of God (Num. 32:12; Josh. 5:14). STORY IN BRIEF: His first name was "OSHEA" or "HOSHEA" meaning " HELP" . Joshua was the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Born during the weary years of bondage his nation suffered in Egypt under Pharaoh, Joshua knew something of the lash of the whip, the almost impossible task in the brick-fields, and the deep sigh of liberty. Joshua had also witnessed the moral and social degradation of his countrymen brought about by the ter...

RIZPAR

Rizpar was one of Saul's concubines. She stood and witnessed the gruesome murder of her two sons -  Armoni and Mephibosheth.  More disdainful to her is the fact that the two were not burried; they were left to rot contrary to the prevalent tradition of burrying the dead within the next 24hours.  With sorrow, Rizpar spent days and nights with the corpses ensuring that they were neither swamped nor dragged away by any animals. Soon enough, King David noticed her discomfort, and was moved by her attitude; David ordered for the burrying of Rizpar's sons, the remains of their father, Saul and that of Jonathan. BACKGROUND:  Joshua promised that Israel would be at peace with the Gibeonites. But Saul broke that oath, killing as many Gibeonites as he could in his time. In retallating, the Gibeonites asked David for seven of Saul's son whom they murdered in the presence of Rizpar. LESSONS:   1. Customes can be broken; protocols are skipable. If only we consistently...

QUEEN JEZEBEL

HER NAME : Where is the Prince ( Baal)? JOY :  Jezebel realised her evil ambitions by killing Elijah's Prophets and initiated her subjects into idolatory. SORROW : Her arrogance and twisted heart brought her disgrace. STORY IN SHORT: Jezebel was a daughter of Ethbaal, the King of Sidon and the priest of the god, baal. She was also the wife of King Ahab. Jezebel reigned as Queen over part of Israel, 100years after David's death but 60years after the death of Solomon. Like her father, Jezebel would force all, including the Israelites into idol worship for she believed baal was the one causing the rains to pour. She did not only initiate her subjects into idolatry and witchcraft - spirits that dominated the princess herself, but also killed all of God's Prophets except Elijah. One day, Elijah summoned Jezebel's 850 false Prophets for a match to find out if baal had the supremacy over God. But Elijah won as he successfully called down fire from God to consume the sacrificia...

UNDERSTANDING THE WILL OF GOD !

" Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's WILL is." Ephesians 5:17. The WILL of God is basically WHAT God wants us to do or say at a point in time. It is also HOW He likes us to do or say WHAT He wants us to do or say. The WHAT refers to the OPTION He wants us to pick out of the lot; the HOW stands for the WAY or METHOD by which we carry out His recommended OPTION. The Lord Jesus, God's Living WILL , did not say He is The WAY and The TRUTH only. He actually said,  " I am the WAY, and the TRUTH, and THE LIFE..." John 14:6. So you see, God's WILL is beyond WHAT and HOW. It includes THE LIFE as well. God's WILL also shows us the lifestyle He wants us to live. And that, definitely must be His Life as lived by The Lord, Jesus , during His earthly Ministry ! Immediately following are explanations on the two classifications of God's WILL - His GENERAL WILL and SPECIFIC WILL: God's GENERAL WILL is God's plan or purpose recorde...

THE GRACE OF GIVING

 

“…see that you also excel in this GRACE OF GIVING.”

2 Corinthians 8:7.


It’s an indisputable fact that our walk with God is strictly a walk of sacrifice or giving. We are either giving of our strength, possessions or money. But the seeds we sow, in the form of tithes, firstfruits, or thanksgiving often yield below the peak for some christians. Such are they that are advised by Apostle Paul to excel in The Grace of Giving.

One may ask, “what extra Grace do we need for giving?” ; “aren’t we supposed to simply give and wait for results?” Emphatically, NO !
Giving is disciplined by principles. There’s the need for spiritual privilege – a reconditioning of The human Spirit so one can passionately, continuously and comprehensively offer of his or her own unto The Lord. And it’s only the Grace of Giving that positions us in this state.

By this Grace, we first submit ourselves (our hearts ) to God; because our hearts are now governed by God, He alone – by His Spirit, determines how, when and what we give. Having learnt lessons from how Saul and Uzziah missed God in offering their sacrifices, this Macedonia church, by this Grace of Giving, rather sacrificed themselves to God before they offered many more gifts to Him.

This Grace of Giving recognises neither afflictions nor poverty. Again, the Macedonia church was so heavily engraced for giving that their penury and troubles couldn’t bar them off. They would rather give joyously for their hearts had been given to God with whom they’re in love. Their love for God made them proritise GIVING over all other personal needs. And when they did, they gave their best, avoiding the mistakes of Eli’s sons regarding sacrifice !

Beloved, The Grace of Giving isn’t only a supplier of seeds; it’s also a renderer of harvests to the sower so he or she may continue giving to the kingdom. It’s my prayer that The Lord helps each and everyone of us grow in this Grace also. Hallelujah !

FURTHER READING:
1 Corinthians 13:13 ; Matthew 13:23.

Comments

DONATE