Positive Fear

TEXT: EXODUS 9:13-26

Key verse: “He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses” (Exodus 9:20).

The story was told that many years ago, the steamer, christened, “Portland”, left harbour after all the danger signs were switched on for the weather was stormy. Although the ports agents had advised all vessels not to sail out, the captain of the “Portland” did not take heed. He sailed out, saying to the keeper of the lighthouse, “keep your light brightly burning tonight. We may come back”. But no one on board ever came back, because, just outside the harbour, the vessel was torn to pieces from the fury of the mighty storm.

In our text today, God pronounced the plague of hail and graciously advised Pharaoh and his people to send for their servants and cattle out of the field so that they might be sheltered. Pharaoh and many of his people despised God’s word and paid dearly for it. But even among his servants, some hearkened to the word of God and escaped God’s judgment. God again made a difference between those that served Him and they that served Him not. There was peace at Goshen.

Our response to God’s warnings will determine our destiny. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the wise foresees trouble and hides himself. Today, opportunity exists for all who have the dread of God and His word to save themselves from sharing in the imminent judgment of God upon the wicked. God has no favourite: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Unfortunately, many despise God’s warning, to their own peril. “Whosoever comes to me I will in no wise cast away”, declares the Lord. Are you ready to heed the call of God this hour? Why don’t you cast away pride, arrogance and self-conceit and run to the Lord? He will surely receive you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The fear of God preserves from evil.

 

 

RCCG UK donates to Typhoon Haiyan Survivors

One of Africa's biggest Christian movements The Redeemed Christian Church Of God (RCCG), the branch of the church in UK  donates to Typhoon Haiyan Survivors

RCCG UK Trustees and the Executive Administrator of the Central Office hand over funds raised by members of the church to Samaritan's Purse UK in aid of survivors of Typhoon Haiyan which left over 6,000 dead and millions displaced in the Philippines in November 2013. More here

See the photos below, may God bless the church for blessing others.

The relationship between science and Christian faith

Science is the study of the world around us and seeks to develop ways to describe how it works. Usually this is done by developing scientific laws which accurately describe what we see through the experiments that we perform. Science has had a great deal of success in this, and can provide detailed descriptions and explanations of much that we see around us.

As a Christian, I believe that God made the world. Christians have differences of opinion about how exactly God made this world. Whichever view they take, however, they would generally agree that God is the one who is responsible for this universe being here. He brought it into existence and was responsible for the sort of world that it is, and the scientific laws that operate to keep the world going. That God is the universe’s creator is, to me, part of the definition of who God is.

As such science is the study of God’s creation, and his ‘scientific’ laws. When someone makes something, they are by definition, not part of that thing they make. Hence God is outside of his creation, and is not governed by scientific laws. Science, in the most obvious sense, clearly cannot investigate God, or directly tell us anything about him.

Having said this, what someone creates does tell us, indirectly, many things about them. If we look at an artist’s painting, or an author’s book, we can offer see the influence of their circumstances or have a good idea of how they were feeling and what things are important to them etc. As such, studying the world around us does tell us things about God. Some Christians speak of God having written two books, the book of the word (The Bible) and the book of the world. Both teach us something about God.

I therefore see my Christian faith and science as complementary. My faith seeks to know more about God, and it is through faith that I can know him personally. Faith has more to say about ‘meaning’ questions. Why did God make the world? What are we here for? How should live appropriately in this world. Science is more practical, a study of something that God has brought about and cherishes. That’s not to say that all scientists are Christians, or all Christians are scientists – far from it, but the two go together well.

Indeed one of the reasons many Christian scientists have taken up science is because they are filled with wonder at God’s creation and have wanted to look more deeply into God’s works. Maxwell, the famous Physicist requested that Psalm 111:2 be carved into the original Cavendish laboratory, in Cambridge. His request was granted. The inscription was originally in Latin, in English it says:

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. (NIV)

Source:lloydaboutlife.com

IN HIS STRENGTH

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Just as police officers call for back-up when they sense that danger is imminent, the first thing we must realize about spiritual battle is that in our own strength, we are no match for the devil.

I think a healthy respect of our adversary is in order for believers today. We don't want to underestimate him, nor do we want to overestimate him. We want to accurately assess who he is and what his abilities are.

We need to recognize that he is powerful; we don't want to try and take him on in our own strength.

Sometimes, you hear some preachers calling the devil silly little names, laughing at him, or making jokes about him.

But we must remember what Jude 9 says: "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'"

Even the high-ranking Archangel Michael did not dare to condemn the devil with mockery. He simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

There was a respect of the enemy. - The reason we need to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" is that, Satan wants to get us away from that. It is our power base.

He wants to separate us from God, because the moment he gets us away from Him, we become an easy prey. Thus, the devil wants to put a wedge between God and us.

The only power that can defeat Satan is the power of Jesus Christ. Be strong in the Lord. Stay close to Him. Never let anything come between you and the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, draw me closer to you so that I will be strong in you and in the power of your might.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

Please please don't leave your weave for long

This is what happens when you leave your weave in for six months

The lady in the pic leave her sewing weave in for 6 months and see what happen when she decided to take it off :(

Even if you want to for long pls do co-wash your hair and apply oil or hair-cream using your fingers tips to massage in the line of the sewing weave.

HIS TRIUMPH IS YOUR STRENGTH

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 

Jesus lived on earth and experienced the limitations and challenges of human life. He faced the same temptations any young man his age faced yet he was without sin. 

After his baptism and forty days of fasting, he had to deal with the temptations of the flesh, ambition and self-glory. 

• He knows the feelings and appetites of the human body. Jesus did not live in a heavenly cocoon that minimized his temptations. 

If anything, his temptations were more severe than ours because the tempter had a greater commitment to destroying him.

He lived in a human body for thirty-three years and as a young male, all his male instincts were at work yet mastered his impulses and did not allow them to rule his life. 

• He related to people who did not like him. Jesus might have felt the desire to get even with his enemies. 

Many times, his enemies set traps for him and made his life difficult but even whilst they were crucifying him, he forgave them. 

• He was under pressure to take shortcuts to success. Jesus knew what his life's goal was but also knew the price he had to pay to accomplish what he came to the earth for. 

In the garden of Gethsemane, he came under intense pressure to compromise on the process through which he would realize his destiny, yet he prayed to the Father, 'not my will but yours be done'. 

The Lord Jesus understands our weaknesses, and is able to help us overcome all the temptations of the devil. 

Prayer: Thank You, for sharing my experiences so that I can share in Your strength. 

Scriptural Reading: Hebrews 4:1-16

Just for Fun, Prank videos

These two guys pranked their African dads, one dad was step ahead of his son, pls watch the two short video till the end and like/comment and share as well.
 See video below by BigMcOkon and Eman Kellam.