Category: Christian blogs

“… Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not …” Luke 22:31-32

1. SEASON OF INTIMIDATION is creeping on us as shadows; shadows of appointment of the present world with the SON OF MAN. And as to the SEASON, we have His Word, “But as the DAYS OF NOE were, so shall also the COMING of the SON OF MAN” [Matthew 24:37] SON OF MAN is God in Jesus Christ reconciling us to Himself before appointment date; God became like us in Jesus Christ that we may be like Him, “For IN HIM DWELLETH all the FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD bodily” [Colossians 2:9] His COMING is fulfilment of His Promise to return and receive to His heavenly abode all who received the GOSPEL preached in His name, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that WHERE I AM, there YE MAY BE also” [John 14:3] As many as have their APPOINTMENT with Christ make themselves ready, diligently searching Holy Scriptures His WILL and leave no stone unturned to be received of Him, “Looking for that BLESSED HOPE, and the GLORIOUS APPEARING of the GREAT GOD and our Saviour JESUS CHRIST” [Titus 2:13] As many as are so minded take more than cursory interest in “DAYS OF NOE” searching for precepts and clues of His “GLORIOUS APPEARING”

2. DAYS OF NOAH, NOE is the same as NOAH, were times of such WICKEDNESS, God resolved to wipe the slate clean, “And GOD saw that the WICKEDNESS of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART was only EVIL CONTINUALLY. … I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; …” [Genesis 6:5] GODLINESS was virtually extinct and “EVIL” ruled in the hearts of men and such WICKEDNESS as was far beyond human nature; there were GIANTS on earth in those days, a “MINGLED SEED”, “There were GIANTS in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the SONS OF GOD came in unto the DAUGHTERS OF MEN, and they bare children to them, the same became MIGHTY MEN which were of old, MEN OF RENOWN” [Genesis 6:4] They were “SONS OF GOD”, FALLEN SPIRITS who took the form of men and sired an army of “MIGHTY MEN”, who through INTIMIDATION took CONTROL of the earth and forced their will on men, “But NOAH FOUND GRACE in the eyes of the LORD” [Genesis 6:8] A similar but worse scenario is playing out in our time as “MEN OF RENOWN” fight, no holds barred, for CONTROL of the earth. Prophet Daniel saw it coming, “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MEN: but they SHALL NOT CLEAVE ONE TO ANOTHER, even as iron is not mixed with clay” [Daniel 2:43] They are here, call them what you like, ALIENS, EXTRA TERRESTRIALS, etc.

3. As we slipped from LAST DAYS to END-TIMES when Israel retuned to the PROMISED LAND, the “MINGLING” foretold in Daniel 2:43 became evident. A clutch of nations with help from “ALIENS” as they are now called, went from powerful to SUPER POWERS. Today, five nations own more than fifty percent of the world’s wealth! MEN OF RENOWN sired by fallen spirits are in our midst, and the agenda is GLOBAL CONTROL; exterminate all traces of GODLINESS through INTIMIDATION and establish on earth a “NEW NORMAL” where GOOD is EVIL and EVIL is accounted GOOD, “Woe unto them that CALL EVIL GOOD, AND GOOD EVIL; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” [Isaiah 5:20] SOFT INTIMIDATION comes first, through MANIPULATION of AIRWAVES; you will be shocked to know how few the people who CONTROL access to what we SEE, HEAR and READ. We now live in a GLOBAL VILLAGE, KNOWLEDGE is much increased and wired as FILTERED INFORMATION around the globe by TITANS having monopoly of SEARCH ENGINES and SOCIAL MEDIA, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the TIME OF THE END: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED” [Daniel 12:4] We are gradually slipping into a “NEW NORMAL” in preparation for the MAN OF SIN, “Even him, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN with all power and signs and lying wonders” [2 Thessalonians 2:9]

4. Be not deceived, there are MINGLED SEED in our Churches, “But while men slept, his ENEMY came and SOWED TARES AMONG THE WHEAT, and went his way” [Matthew 13:25] They are MEN OF RENOWN celebrated for perceived “SUCCESS”, in reality wolves in sheep clothing. With larger than life stature and humongous riches, they pile EMOTIONAL PRESSURE on the poor to accept their poisoned chalice of “WATERED GOSPEL”, “… they are the ENEMIES OF THE CROSS of Christ: Whose end is destruction, WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY, and whose glory is in their SHAME, who MIND EARTHLY THINGS.)” [Philippians 3:18-19] When they speak of Christ, it is a false Christ that abhors the CROSS and conforms to the NEW NORMAL. They are full and ripe before harvest, ready to “FALL AWAY” and be received by the MAN OF SIN, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for THAT DAY shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that MAN OF SIN be revealed, the SON OF PERDITION” [2 Thessalonians 2:3] The growing rally of diverse RELIGIONS to foster GLOBAL PEACE through UNITY of all “FAITHS” is the religious arm of the NEW WORLD ORDER earnestly preparing for the SON OF PERDITION. All we have standing between us and MAN OF SIN is the appearance of Christ. When he does come out of hiding, SOFT INTIMIDATION shall be replaced with NAKED FORCE. Beloved, Christ’s appearance is ever more imminent than ever, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and stand firm till the end, amen

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” Ephesians 5:17

“… If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:23

“… behold a PALE HORSE: and his name that sat on him was DEATH, and HELL followed with him. …” Revelation 6:8

Let no man deceive you with vain words … Ephesians 5:6

“And walk in love, as Christ also …
Ephesians 5:2

What a world we live in, CONFIDENCE IN HOPE is what you need

“… A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” Revelation 6:6

1. TESTIMONY OF DEVILS, invokes a seeming mismatch of words; TESTIMONY, meaning affirmation of TRUTH and DEVILS, embodiment of FALSEHOOD. The contradiction underscore popular but erroneous understanding of operation of devils; not a few will speedily conclude devils do not believe in ONE GOD, they do, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, and tremble” [James 2:19] Take note, Satan is not at war against God but against you. Yes, there was in heaven, it was between ANGELS, “And there was WAR IN HEAVEN: MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS fought AGAINST the dragon; and the DRAGON FOUGHT and HIS ANGELS” [Revelation 12:7] Satan is errant Son, convicted and his incarceration delayed [Revelation 20:10-14] He has a little time left and does come around to present himself to God!, “Now there was a day when the SONS OF GOD CAME TO PRESENT THEMSELVES before the LORD, and SATAN CAME ALSO among them” [Job 1:6] If you will not acknowledge these basic truths, how shall you see through and prevail against TESTIMONY OF DEVILS, “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? …” [Jeremiah 12:5]
2. TESTIMONY OF DEVILS is best illustrated thus, “And there was in their SYNAGOGUE a man with an UNCLEAN SPIRIT; and he cried out, SAYING, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou JESUS OF NAZARETH? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the HOLY ONE OF GOD” [Mark 1:23-24] Watch closely, the UNCLEAN SPIRIT seemed to have TESTIFIED of Jesus, saying, “JESUS OF NAZARETH and “HOLY ONE OF GOD”. It was vintage demonic manipulation; presenting FACT as TRUTH as BAIT to DECEIVE. And how quickly Jesus shut him down, “And JESUS REBUKED HIM, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him” [Mark 1:25] DEMONS are incapable of confessing TRUTH. Compare with Jesus’s entrance to Jerusalem and the inspired chorus of the people, in agreement with Luke 2:14, “Saying, Blessed be the KING that cometh in the NAME OF THE Lord: PEACE in heaven, and GLORY in the highest” [Luke 19:38] Whereas Jesus sharply rejected the TESTIMONY OF DEVILS in Mark 1:23-24, He endorsed the WITNESS in Luke 19:38 as true reflection of the mind of God. TESTIMONY OF DEVILS promote the VISIBLE above the INVISIBLE; miracles, riches, fame, etc., above revelation of TRUTH of the FATHER in the SON which alone SAVES. It is unfortunately so through the ages that witness of TRUTH was never popular in top echelons of the Church even Jesus’ time, “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the STONES WOULD IMMEDIATELY CRY OUT” [Luke 19:39-40] And TESTIMONY OF DEVILS had never been louder than now.
3. TESTIMONY OF DEVILS is WITCHCRAFT in the Church, working multitudes are into a frenzy of delusion, to believe LIES. The charade of falsehood is promoted and justified by enthusiastic expression of approval by victims and vaults filled with filthy spoils of earthly possessions, “… Ye are they which JUSTIFY YOURSELVES BEFORE MEN; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly ESTEEMED AMONG MEN IS ABOMINATION in the sight of God” [Luke 16:15] Is it possible to be approved of men and justified by God? I think not. We have today, as in the days of Noah, “MEN OF RENOWN” in our churches who profess to be Sons of God but speak in contrast to prophetic truth of the age even as their predecessors rejected Noah [Genesis 6:4, 13-22] When they speak, it is of earthly things, inflaming their prey with LUST, “For when they speak great swelling WORDS OF VANITY, they allure through the LUSTS OF THE FLESH, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error” [2 Peter 2:18] When they make mention of Christ, it is not to draw men to Him but to themselves; their victims are become like them and not as Jesus, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. Do men gather GRAPES of THORNS, or FIGS of THISTLES?” [Matthew 7:15-16] Look around, the harvest is ripe, FRUITS are the congregations we raised in the last 20 to 30 years; are we not as our Pastors?
4. TESTIMONY OF DEVILS is demonic power masquerading as the power of God in the Church. The classic case was Simon in Samaria, who “… BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they ALL GAVE HEED, from the least to the greatest, saying, THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD” [Acts 8:9-10] As long as they believed him, they were bewitched to think to approach God with abomination of TESTIMONY OF DEVILS. If I may ask, is the same tragic drama not playing out before our very eyes? Multitudes in search of deliverance and comfort are daily ensnared with sorcery to believe LIES and prophecy is fulfilled, “But evil men and SEDUCERS shall wax worse and worse, DECEIVING, and being DECEIVED” [2 Timothy 3:13] Beloved, let no man deceive you with miracles, promises of earthly riches or predictions contrary to scriptural prophetic dateline. Hold on to your profession of Christ, who is God revealed and do due diligence to be established in PRESENT TRUTH. Watch and pray, the Lord will appear without further notice to receive His BRIDE, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? and in thy name have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” [Matthew 7:21-23]

J1. Life is a marathon we all RUN with keen desire to WIN. It is a marathon like no other, the race is not won by the SWIFT or STRONG, “… the RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT, nor the battle to the STRONG, neither yet bread to the WISE, nor yet riches to men of UNDERSTANDING, nor yet favour to men of SKILL; but TIME and CHANCE HAPPENETH TO THEM ALL” [Ecclesiastics 9:11] Whereas SWIFT, STRONG, WISE, SKILL and UNDERSTANDING are fine qualities, much desirable to RUN TO WIN, TIME and CHANCE overrides them all. TIME, in this context, illustrates the SEASONS of God’s PLAN for the present world and CHANCE, the intrusive manipulation of Satan in human affairs. If you will RUN TO WIN in the New Year, acquaint yourself with “CERTAINTIES” of DIVINE AGENDA and determine not to be distracted by disruptive activities of the WICKED ONE. As we step into the New Year, I challenge you to RUN with confidence in CERTAINTY of God’s infallible TIMETABLE to prevail over all disruptive UNCERTAINTIES, “… I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the END from the BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, and I will do all my pleasure” [Isaiah 46:9-10]

2. Factors that affected every age and year were predetermined from the foundation of the world; the interplay of God’s AGENDA to make man the jewel of creation and doomed antics of Satan to derail it. There is a time allotted and it is fast running out, “… Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a SHORT TIME” [Revelation 12:12] Mounting instabilities of previous years will not go away, they are signs the “SHORT TIME? Is finally running out. The race is now more urgent than ever before, as Satan rides the PALE HORSE for his last stand, “… a PALE HORSE: and his name that sat on him was DEATH, and HELL followed with him. And power was given unto them over the FOURTH PATH of the earth, to KILL with SWORD, and with HUNGER, and with death, and with the BEASTS of the earth” [Revelation 6:8] As you settle into the New Year, RUN as one who knows the LAST DAYS of this dying world are here; governments and government leaders will chorus peace but the SWORD will be relentless, FAMINE shall trigger HUNGER riots and long-forgotten “BEASTS”, I mean viruses portend PESTILENCE. Here is the GOOD NEWS for those who will RUN TO WIN, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and LIFT UP YOUR HEADS; for your REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH” [Luke 21:28]

3. This year, determine to RUN as one who knows we are on the LAST LAP; the race is not won and may be lost at the slightest distraction, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth TAKE HEED lest he fall” [1 Corinthians 10:12] First thing, you want to get kitted for victory, the only chance you have of overtaking the disastrous conspiracies of the adversary is to be BORN of God, “For whatsoever is BORN OF GOD overcometh the world: and this is the victory that OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, even our FAITH” [1 John 5:4] If you are not BORN AGAIN, the weariness and frustrations of previous years would be child’s play as the days go by, “If thou hast RUN with the FOOTMEN, and they have WEARIED thee, then how canst thou CONTEND WITH HORSES?” [Jeremiah 12:5] If you are in Christ and He in you, raise your antenna to discern fatal deception circulating on social media and highest echelons of religious leadership. The LIES are aggravated by global distress and heightened expectations of the appearance of the Lord, “Let no man DECEIVE you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY first, and that MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition” [2 Thessalonians 2:3] Beloved, it is the LAST LAP, keep your eyes on the finish line and the crown that awaits us at Christ’s appearance , “Beloved, now are we the SONS of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see him as he is” [1 John 3:2]

4. it’s a New Year and all are rearing to RUN, one thing is certain, the days ahead will try our hidden thoughts and secret desires of the heart. I charge you to add tons of PATIENCE to whatever you already have; not a few shall lose PATIENCE along the way and “FALL AWAY”, “For ye have need of PATIENCE, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might RECEIVE THE PROMISE” [Hebrews 10:36] Our FAITH in Prophetic WORD of TRUTH, it’s going to be a busy year and many things will happen that would seem to contradict the order of DIVINE AGENDA, you must not be deceived or distracted, “STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the WORD of TRUTH” [2 Timothy 2:15] If you will RUN TO WIN, prepare your heart for ill-treatment, the time has come when those who persecute you will saying they are doing God’s work, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever KILLETH YOU will think that HE DOETH GOD SERVICE” [John 16:2] Finally, prepare your heart for all eventualities, not the least betrayals by family, false brethren, close associates and governments; pray for GRACE to ENDURE to the end, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” [Matthew 24:13]

DILEMMA OF CHRISTMAS, many questions and many answers befuddle the TRUTH

“… be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” Matthew 9:2

1. "SKIN FOR SKIN” are fighting words from a formidable foe and we do well to be vigilant, “Be SOBER and VIGILANT; because YOUR ADVERSARY the DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” [1 Peter 5:8] The battle was joined and lost through DISOBEDIENCE, “But of the TREE of the knowledge of GOOD and EVIL, thou SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: for IN THE DAY that THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU SHALT SURELY DIE” [Genesis 2:17] Adam and Eve “ATE OF IT” and in the same day “DIED”! When God said, “THOU SHALT SURELY DIE”, physical death was the least of the problem; man lost God’s GLORY by which he exercised dominion over the earth, “For ALL HAVE SNNED, and come SHORT OF THE GLORY” [Romans 3:23] “THOU SHALT SURELY DIE” also meant cruel BONDAGE to the one who “OVERCAME” with SIN with promises of “LIBERTY of gods” in Genesis 3:4-5, “... for of whom a MAN IS OVERCOME, of the same is he BROUGHT IN BONDAGE” [2 Peter 2:19] SKIN FOR SKIN is the mantra of the oppressor, a challenge, stating in clear terms the conditions of our deliverance, “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, SKIN FOR SKIN, yea, ALL THAT A MAN HATH HE WILL GIVE FOR HIS LIFE” [Job 2:4]

2. SKIN FOR SKIN is crystal clear; the ransom must be paid in like and it is ALL or nothing. Satan demanded a man that had no prior experience of SIN and willing to GIVE ALL including his life in full payment for SIN. Sadly, no man through the ages met his demands and those he felt came close; he afflicted viciously to prove their candidature. Satan took of Noah, “... Noah was a JUST MAN and PERFECT in his generations, and Noah WALKED WITH GOD” [Genesis 6:8-9] And moved quickly to expose his ineligibility and got him DRUNK, “And he drank of the wine, and was DRUNKEN; and he was uncovered within his tent” [Genesis 9:20-21] When God made mention of Job’s uprightness, he went after him, Job 1:13-19, and not satisfied, “... Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and SMOTE JOB WITH SORE BOILS from the sole of his foot unto his crown” [Job 2:7] In all his suffering, Job did not sin against God, Job 2:10, but he was not the candidate because of FEAR of losing ALL, “For the THING WHICH I GREATLY FEARED IS COME upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” [Job 3:25] Abraham was so “GOOD”, God called him His friend; he was prepared to give ALL his possessions including his precious son Isaac, Genesis 22:2-16, yet he was not qualified because he was afraid to DIE, “... when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and THEY WILL KILL ME, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me ...” [Genesis 12:12-13]

3. SKIN FOR SKIN was the battle cry, God was more than prepared and said from onset, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and HER SEED; it shall BRUISE THY HEAD, and thou shalt bruise his heel” [Genesis 3:15] Again, the challenge was for a Man-Champion, in the place of Adam, who would duel with the adversary. The First Adam was the Son of God, necessitating a New Adam, who likewise must be the Son of God, “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of ADAM, which was the SON OF GOD” [Luke 3:38] The New Adam was born of woman, “HER SEED”, making Him a man yet flawless and in every manner the SON of God in IMAGE and LIKENESS, “For IN HIM DWELLETH all the FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD bodily” [Colossians 2:9] Satan was blindsided by the WISDOM of God and of the MYSTERY which He had hidden even from His angels; how God became like us in Jesus Christ and through His DEATH on the Cross paid in full for our SIN and destroyed the power of DEATH , “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of FLESH and BLOOD, he also HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART of the same; that THROUGH DEATH he might DESTROY him that had the POWER OF DEATH, that is, the DEVIL; And DELIVER THEM who through FEAR OF DEATH were all their lifetime subject to bondage” [Hebrews 2:14-15] SKIN was given FOR SKIN on the Cross, Satan was defeated and we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ, who loved and gave His LIFE for us [Romans 8:37]

4. SKIN FOR SKIN is the piper’s song of the defeated foe, to which many dance along to damnation, BLINDED to the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION in Jesus Christ, “But if our GOSPEL be hid, it is HID TO THEM THAT ARE LOST: In whom the god of this world hath BLINDED THE MINDS of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious GOSPEL OF CHRIST, who is the IMAGE OF GOD, should shine unto them” [2 Corinthians 4:3-4] Listen carefully, the enemy is defeated, only not yet VANQUISHED; present global distress and unprecedented instabilities are tantrums of a depraved adversary who knows he has a short time before he is put away for good, “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. WOE TO THE INHABITERS OF THE EARTH and of the sea! for the DEVIL IS COME down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that HE HATH BUT A SHORT TIME” [Revelation 12:12] His “SHORT TIME” is fast running out; when you least expect, the Lord Jesus Christ shall appear in clouds of glory to receive His own, GREAT TRIBULATION follows and the MILLENIUM, afterwards the JUDGMENT, “Then shall he say also unto them on the LEFT HAND, DEPART FROM ME, ye CURSED, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL and HIS ANGELS” [Matthew 25:41] Accept Jesus Christ today as your Lord and Saviour and join the army of SAINTS that shall be caught up to glory at His appearance, amen

1. PARABLE OF ONE TALENT, Matthew 25:13-30, settled the WATCHWORD for this age, “WATCH therefore, for YE KNOW NEITHER the DAY nor the HOUR wherein the SON OF MAN COMETH” [Matthew 25:13] In Luke 19:12-27, the same PARABLE with minor variation was recorded before Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The narrative covers the grounds between Christ’s ascension, empowerment of His “SERVANTS” and His return to reward them. The generation that heard Him speak were not so minded, utterly frustrated by present pains and sorrow of Roman subjugation, they longed for what was yet to come, “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a PARABLE, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because THEY THOUGH THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHOULD IMMEDIATELY APPEAR” [Luke 19:11] The times were grim, may be worse today and the PARABLE, with specific reference to TALENTS was to COMFORT them and more so this generation, to HOLD ON till His return, “And he called his TEN SERVANTS, and delivered them TEN POUNDS, and said unto them, OCCUPY TILL I COME” [Luke19:13] TALENTS or POUNDS, as the case may be illustrate GIFT of  GRACE through FAITH in the name of Jesus Christ to OCCUPY and remain standing in TRUTH till He shall return, “And of HIS FULNESS have all we RECEIVED, and GRACE FOR GRACE” [John 1:14-16]
2. GRACE is God personified in Jesus Christ to accomplish His GOOD PLEASURE, “For it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to DO of HIS GOOD PLEASURE” [Philippians 2:13] The NOBLEMAN in Luke 19:12 and the MAN travelling to a far country in Matthew 25:14, signify Christ awarding His CAPABILITIES to His SERVANTS according to their “ABILITIES”, “And unto one he gave FIVE TALENTS, to another TWO, and to another ONE; to EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS SEVERAL ABILITY; and straightway took his journey” [Matthew 25:15] The Lord knows every man’s “ABILITY” and gives GRACE sufficient for each SERVANT’S capacity, with FREE WILL added to choose LIFE or PERDITION, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE and blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live” [Deuteronomy 30:19] Listen carefully, God did not predetermine any man to perdition and will not require any man beyond what he can deliver. The subject of the PARABLE got ONE TALENT, that was what he could handle but he thought differently and wanted more. He had a “better idea” of what he wanted to have and be, contrary to what God wanted him to have and be, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY than he ought to think; but to think SOBERLY, according as GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH” [Romans 12:3]
3. Your TALENT is the measure of Christ in you, to replicate His GRACE in others, “And of HIS FULNESS HAVE ALL WE RECEIVED, and GRACE FOR GRACE” [John 1:16] In Luke’s account, one SERVANT working with ONE POUND got TEN POUNDS and another FIVE POUNDS, “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, HERE IS THY POUND, which I have KEPT IN A NAPKIN” [Luke 19:20] From covering his POUND in a napkin or burying His TALENT in the earth, as in Matthew 25:18, and the tone of his words, we see a SERVANT who had long forsaken his FIRST LOVE, “Then he which had received the ONE TALENT came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an HARD MAN, REAPING WHERE THOU HAST NOT SOWN, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:” [Matthew 25:24] He called Him Lord but in another breathe labelled Him a “HARD MAN”, indicating BITTERNESS arising from “REQUESTS” denied. The Lord does not grant selfish ambitions, which to those who will have their own way makes Him a “HARD MAN” and they sooner TURN AWAY, “And the TURNING AWAY OF THE SIMPLE SHALL SLAY THEM, and the PROSPERITY OF FOOLS DESTROY THEM. But whoso HEARKENETH unto me shall DWELL SAFELY, and shall be QUIET FROM FEAR of evil” [Proverbs 1;32-33] Compare the PEACE and QUIET of those who abide in the Lord to the terror of FEAR in the SERVANT who TURNED AWAY, “For I FEARED THEE, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow” [Luke 19:21]
4. PARABLE OF ONE TALENT is for such a time as ours, “Now all THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR ENSAMPLES: and they are WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME” [1 Corinthians 10:11] We are STEWARDS of GRACE, appointed to replicate the same GRACE in others, transforming the worst offender into the LIKENESS of Christ; the FIRSTBORN among many Brethren [Romans 8:29] In doing your WORK, avoid selfish aspirations; knowing what God wants you to be is the key to success, “… Take heed, and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a MAN’S LIFE CONSISTETH NOT IN THE ABUNBANCE of the things which HE POSSESSETH” [Luke 12:15] Beware of those who have their TALENTS wrapped in napkins or buried in the ground, who are turning  the household of God into a den of thieves; by their fruits you shall know them, “WHOSE END IS DESTRUCTION, WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY, and whose glory is in their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS” [Philippians 3:19] If any man has received the GIFT of GRACE, let him WORK  while there is yet time, the appearance of the Lord is ever so imminent and our REWARD so close, “And, behold, I COME QUICKLY and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to give EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK shall be” [Revelation 22:12] If you have not received your TALENT, have yours today, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, amen

1. WHO ARE YOU? That was the critical QUESTION in Eden, “... Yea, HATH GOD SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT of every tree of the garden?” [Genesis 3:1] It is the same QUESTION, through the ages, posed in diverse forms to deconstruct the WORD of God, with intent to DISABLE the IDENTITY of man in God. Eve took the bait and the adversary took advantage, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and YE SHALL BE AS GODS, knowing good and evil” [Genesis 3:5] Weighty issues of this life come as QUESTIONS framed to test and expose your IDENTITY. Eve only needed to assert her IDENTITY; she was made in the IMAGE of the ONE TRUE GOD, far above the “GODS’.  Perhaps one of the most pitiable characters in the Bible was the PRODIGAL SON, pummelled by QUESTIONS into such extreme destitution as to forsake his human IDENTITY and desire the table of pigs [Luke 15:16] The ANSWER he sought with rabid desperation WITHOUT, his true IDENTITY, was WITHIN 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” [Luke 15:17-18]
2. WHO ARE YOU? ANSWER is not your name or status, your real IDENTITY is in God, “According as he hath CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” [Ephesians 1:4] We all have origination in God, who according to His predetermined design desired to make man according to His own specifications, “And God said, LET US MAN IN OUR IMAGE, after our LIKENESS: and let them have DOMINION .. upon the earth” [Genesis 1:26] As soon as God “WILLED” it, we were “BORN” in Him and He BLESSED us, such that SIN and consequences that came after would not derail our God-given IDENTITY [Genesis 1:28] However, we have earthly parents and are wont to emphasise the latter over the former; they deserve our respect but cannot ANSWER for us when the devil says, WHO ARE YOU? The seven sons of Sceva, a Chief Priest, tried to pull the wool over the enemy, “... saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And the evil spirit answered and said, JESUS I KNOW, and PAUL I KNOW; but WHO ARE YE?” [Acts 19:13-16] Listen carefully, challenges of this world are determined by “WORDS” in spiritual realms; if any man has no spiritual IDENTITY in God, whatever he SAYS or DOES will not matter where it matters most, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of God, so that THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN WERE NOT MADE OF THINGS WHICH DO APPEAR” [Hebrews 11;3]
3. WHO ARE YOU? The choice is yours; what men say YOU ARE or who God says YOU ARE. Don’t you ever forget, you were BORN in God before your parents had you, “BEFORE I FORMED THEE IN THE BELLY I KNEW THEE; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ORDAINED THEE A PROPHET unto the nations” [Jeremiah 1:5] Jeremiah’s IDENTITY was settled before he was born and yours too. Whatever it is, it is not of perpetual distress or evil, “For I KNOW THE THOUGHTS I THINK TOWARDS YOU, saith the LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE, and NOT OF EVIL, to give you an EXPECTED END” [Jeremiah 29:11] There is an EXPECTED END for you which was put to test when man fell into SIN in Eden, notwithstanding, God’s original “BLESSING” in Genesis 1:28 prevailed in our favour. God gave us a second chance, offering Himself in Jesus Christ to pay our DEBT of SIN and in Him restored as SONS, “But AS ANY AS RECEIVED HIM, to them GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME the SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name. Which were BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, nor of the will of the flesh, nor OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD” [John 1:12-13] As you may well know, the rich and powerful also cry; diverse afflictions of this world have no respect for what you call yourself or men call you. When push turns to shove, VICTORY is assured to those who are BORN of God, “For whatsoever is BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH the world: and this is the VICTORY that overcometh the world, even our FAITH” [1 John 5:4]
4. WHO ARE YOU? The ANSWER boils down to God in you or not, “Know ye not that YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU? [1 Corinthians 3:16] If any man BELIEVES the GOSPEL preached in the name of Jesus Christ, God dwells in Him and his IDENTITY is as the SON of God; with all POWER and RESPONSIBILITIES, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH ON ME, the works that I do shall he do also; and GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL HE DO; because I go unto my Father” [John 14:12] Our IDENTITY goes with responsibility of “GREATER WORKS”, that is, to continue the ministry of reconciling all men to God. We are enabled with unstoppable POWER to exercise DOMINION over all things on earth, “CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT to the OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST” [2 Corinthians 10:5] Beloved, the excellency of the POWER of God is in you, let no man stigmatize you as poor, sickly, disabled, disadvantaged, etc., remember “If we SUFFER, we shall also REIGN with him: IF WE DENY HIM, HE ALSO WILL DENY US” [2 Timothy 2:12] If you have not done so, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, Amen

How that by REVELATION he made known unto me the MYSTERY; …
Ephesians 3:3