"MAISHA NI NYUMBA NA NYUMBA NI MSINGI"

Luka 6:46-49

Sehemu ya I

Bwana Yesu asifiwe!

Ndungu msomaji wangu nakusalimu katika Jina la Yesu. Ni muda mrefu lidogo tangu niandike ujumbe wa kukutia moyo katika blogu hii ya ONLY BELIEVE! (AMINI TU!). Hata hivyo namshukuru Mungu kuwa nimerejea tena.

Upo msemo mmoja ambao umekuwa ukitumiwa sana na shirika moja la umma nchini Tanzania katika kunadi bidhaa zake. Msemo huo husemwa hivi: "Maisha ni Nyumba"- wakimaanisha kuwa kama hujajenga nyumba basi maisha yako yako katika hati-hati ya mahangaiko ili-hali wao wanaweza kukupatia nyumba ya bei nafuu kabisa, ukaishi maisha yenye utulivu, ukapanga mipngo yako na kuendelea mbele kimaisha. Kwa hali hiyo wao hujinadi kwa kusema : Maisha ni nyumba!

Katika hali ya kuutafakari msemo huo ndipo nilipopata nafasi ya kulitafakari Neno la Mungu lisemavyo na kuona kuwa maisha ya mtu wa Mungu, mtu wa roohoni yaani Mkristo ni Nyumba inayojengwa kila siku na Numba inakuwa Nyumba kutokana na Msingi wake. Hivyo Nyumba ni Msingi. Kulianagali jambo hilo kimaandiko na kuona ni jinsi gani tunapaswa kuyajenga maisha yetu ya Ki-kristo, tuangalie Maandiko Matakatifu katika Injili ya Luka 6:46-49.

Yesu alifundisha akisema maneno haya:

"Na kwa nini mnaniita, Bwana, Bwana, walakini hamyatendi nisemayo? Kila mtu ajaye kwangu, na kuyasikia maneno yangu na kuyatenda, nitawaonyesha mfano wake. Mfano wake ni mtu ajengaye nyumba, na kuchimba chini sana, na kuweka msingi juu ya mwamba; na kulipokuja gharika, mto uliishukia nyumba ile kwa nguvu, usiweze kuitikisa; kwa kuwa imejengwa vizuri. Lakini yule aliyesikia ila hakutenda, mfano wake ni mtu aliyejenga nyumba juu ya ardhi pasipokuwa na msingi, mto ukaishukia kwa nguvu, ikaanguka mara; na maangamizi yake nyumba ile yakawa makubwa."

Kwa kuchukulia ule msemo wa 'maisha ni nyumba'  na kwa kuyaangalia maandiko hayo yaliyonukuliwa hapo juu, utaona kwamba nyuma ni MSINGI. Bila kuwepo kwa msingi imara nyumba yoyote ile inayojengwa itaanguka tu- kama si leo basi baada ya muda si mrefu! Hili latufundisha nini basi?

Maisha yetu ya Ki-kristo yanafananishwa na nyumba inayojengwa. Mjenzi ni wewe au mim mwenyewe. Kila siku tunaijenga nyumba hii lakini ujenzi huu uko wa aina mbili , yaani ipo tofauti katika kujenga kwetu.

Kwa upande mmoja wapo wale ambao wanajenga maisha yao ya kila siku juu ya msingi ulio imara, usioweza kutikiswa na kitu chochote- yaani wanajenga juu ya NENO LA MUNGU. Neno la Mungu yaani "Biblia" ni mwamba ulio imara sana ambao hauwezi kutikisika au kutikiswa na jambo lalote au halitabia yoyote. Hii ni kutokana na tabia ya Neno lenyewe.

Kataka Zaburi ya 12:6 Biblia inasema hivi kwa habari ya uthabiti wa Neno la Mungu. Inasema, nami nanukuu:

"Maneno ya BWANA ni maneno safi. Ni fedha iliyojaribiwa kalibuni juu ya nchi; iliyosafishwa mara saba."

               Mithali 30:5 inasema

               "Kila Neno la Mungu limehakikishwa.       

                Zabiri 18:30  yasema:

               "Ahadi ya BWANA imehakikishwa".

Katika kujenga maisha thabiti juu ya NENO la Mungu, Yesu alifundisha pia juu ya mambo kadhaa muhimu kuyazingatia na kujipima kwayo kadri tunavyoenenda siku kwa siku. Moja ya mambo haya ni 'Kusikia Neno' na 'Kulitenda Neno'.

Kusikia Neno : hii ni hatua ya awali sana katika kujemga maisha ya Kikristo yenye matunda, kwa mtu anayemjia Kristo, yaani  mtu aliyeokoka. Ni vizuri, tena ni muhimu kulisikia Neno linavyosema na maisha yako au yangu , tena tulisikie kwa 'sikio la ndani' sana, yaani sikio la rohoni. Biblia inasema tulisikiapo Neno huleta kuliamini au Imani.

Warumi 10:17 inasema:

           "Basi imani chanzo chake ni kusikia, na kusikia huja kwa Neno la Kristo".

Hivyo,  kulisikia Neno la Kristo huleta kujengewa imani ndani yetu. Lakini kusikia tu haitoshi maana imani yapaswa kuwa na mizizi ndani ya mtu kwani tunakua na kuongezeka toka imani hata imani! Katika hili la kusikia kuna hatua ya ziada ambayo inaambatana na sio tu kusikia bali pia kulielewa Neno. Mtu aliyelisikia tu Neno la Mungu lakini asichukue hatua zaidi ya kutaka kulielewa Neno alilolisikia na kulipokea hatafaidika au halitamfaida kitu.

Yesu aliliweka bayana jambo hili katika Injili ya Luka 8:4-15 aliopoutoa mfano wa Mpanzi aliyekwenda kupanda mbegu. Mistari ile ya 11 hadi 15 Yesu anatoa ufafanuzi wa mfano alioutoa kwa wanafunzi wake. Katika tafsiri ile Yesu anaonesha waziwazi kuwa mtu anaweza kulisikia Neno la Mungu nalo likamfaidia au lisimfaidie kabisa.

Luka 8:11-12  Yesu anasema hivi:

"Mbegu ni Neno la Mungu. Wale waliopandwa karibu na njia ndio wasikiao kisha huja Ibilisi akaliondoa hilo Neno mioyoni mwao wasije wakaamini na kuokoka."

Kama utakavyoona hapo juu, lengo la Neno la Mungu ni kumwokoa yule anayelisikia. Humpa mtu msaada wa kuvuka toka ng'ambo moja hadi ng'ambo ya pili. Yaani kutoka mautini kuingia uzimani (Yohana 5:24). Lakini ili hilo litimie kuna kuliamini Neno, jamba ambalo hija kwa kulisikia lakini si tu kulisikia bali na kutafuta kulielewa ili kuendelea kukaa katika hilo lililosikiwa bila kulionea mashaka. Kama mtuakisikia tu halafu asiendelee nalo, Yesu alitahadharisha kuwa "huja yule mwovu akaliiba, akaliondoa moyoni mwa mtu huyo" ili asije akaliamini na kuokolewa.

 

Kwa hiyo basi:  'Kusikia tu neno hakutoshi, tafuta kulielewa Neno la Mungu!'

 Tutaendelea tena tukijaaliwa neema!

Barikiwa sana na Bwana.

Ni mimi nduguyo katika Kristo, Mchungaji Dkt.Deo John Nangela

 

PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT


(Jude 1:20)


Prayer is a fellowship with God. In this fellowship there is a humble submission of our needs and petitions  before the Lord. Prayer is also a means through which we receive form the Lord, grace, mercy and favor.  It is in this fellowship we develop our intimacy with Him. It is in this intimate relationship that God, our Father, reveals His divine plans to us.


In James 1:15, the Bible tells us that we do not receive from God because we do not ask or seek from Him. In other words, we fail to receive from Him because we are lacking in terms of not having sufficient time with Him. We have forsaken that fellowship, that intimate session with Him. 


It is important for us to know that God is more than ready to provide to us all that which we need for this life. In fact He has given us an open door policy which we can base our confidence in it if we will put aside our disobedience. He says in Mathew 7:7 that  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." The fact is that God is much eager that we receive from Him what we ask from Him. In John 16:24 Jesus said: "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."


We have been given a very wide opportunity to approach God and receive from Him not only our needs but also our joy! If you are feeling lonely and forsaken, draw near to the Lord for comfort and joy. We have been given a room before His divine presence and so come to His presence through prayers and fellowship with the Mighty King! So many times have we forgotten that prayer is an opportunity that God created before us to receive from Him all our essential needs.


But you may say: Oh, wait, but I do not know how to prayer. How can I have a fervent prayer? Correct indeed! God knows us very well. In Rom 8:26-27 the Bible says: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." So, God has given us His Spirit in us to assist us in prayers. Why? The reason is that real things and real life is in the spiritual realm. If we can overcome and succeed in the spiritual realm we will have a breakthrough in the physical realm. The spiritual realm can only be penetrated through spiritual means and it is only the Spirit of the Lord who can help us attain that breakthrough. Knowing this fact, Jesus did not leave us as orphans. He gave us His Spirit, (John 14:13-21) so that we can reign with God and have dominion over all that is in the physical realm. Remember that our common understanding of things is limited. It is only the Spirit of God who has no limitations in terms of knowledge, wisdom and power to do things or make things happen. As we learn to fellowship with God through His Spirit whom He has given us, we do go beyond the limits of our human nature and are vested with the Creator's power to make things happen. Any word uttered in the Spirit will always come to pass! Have you ever read Psalm 82: 6? It says: I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ So, if that is, when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and decree things in our intimate prayer time with God, things come to pass! Job: 22: 27-28 says:
    "You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
    and you will fulfill your vows.
     What you decide on will be done,
    and light will shine on your ways."


So dear brethren, we have this opportunity before us. Let us learn and cultivate the habit of appearing before His presence for a devoted fellowship of prayer,  the Holy Spirit being with us.


Be blessed,
Your brother in Christ, Dr. Nangela

SIFA ZA UFALME WA MILENIA

Sehemu ya II.

Karibu tena ndugu msomaji wa blogu hii ya AMINI TU! (Only believe!) Katika somo lililopita tulijifunza juu ya Ufalme wa milenia na sifa zake. Habari za ‘Ufalme wa milenia’ zipo katika kitabu kile cha Ufunuo wa Yohana ukianzia Sura ya 19 hadi ya 20. (Tazama pia Waefeso 1:10)

Kwa leo tunaendelea na sehemu ya pili baada ya kuona kuwa sisi kama Kanisa la Kristo, tu mawakala wa ufalme wa Mungu.  Tuliona kuwa moja ya sifa za Ufalme wa Millenia ni Yesu mwenyewe kuwa mtawala kwa kipindi cha miaka 1000! (Ufunuo 20:4). Katika kipindi hiki sifa kubwa sana ni kwamba kutakuwa na amani kuu!

·         Amani Kuu- ni sifa ya ufalme wa MILENIA.

Katika Mika 4:1-2 na Isaya 2:4; na 51:11 Biblia inaweka wazi kuwa kipindi cha milenia kitakuwa kipindi cha amani tele tele! Tena inabaibisha wazi kwamba huzuni zote “zitakimbia”.

 ·         Ufahamu wa Ki-mungu- ni sifa nyingine ya kipindi hiki.

Kutakuwa na kunjua Mungu kwa namna ambayo kutaijaza dunia yote kipindi chote ambacho Mfalme Mkuu Yesu Kristo atakapo tawala pale Yerusalem –Israel. ( Isaya 11:1-9) (Dunia itajawa na kumjua Bwana kama maji yanavyoifunika bahari!)

·         Watu wote watayafanya mapenzi ya Mungu maana watamjua.

Hii nayo ni sifa ya kipindi hiki. Bwana atatawala kutokea Yerusalem na atatawala “kwa fimbo ya chuma” ikimaanisha atatawala kwa haki na hukumu. (Isaya9: 6-7; Mika 4:3).

Mwisho wa Ufalme wa Milenia ni baada ya miaka 1000 ya utawala wa Kristo hapa duniani. Baada ya miaka hiyo ufalme wa milemnia utachukua sura mpya ya “Ufalme wa Mungu”. Huu utadhihirika kwa matukio makuu matatu:

a)    Shetani atafunguliwa baada ya ile miaka 1000 ya kifungo chake (maana kipindi cha Millenia hatafurukuta) (Ufunio 20:1-3). Wakati huo atajipanga kufanya vita (a final show down) dhidi ya Bwana Yesu Kristo na watakatifu (wateule) lakini atashindwa kabisa katika vita hiyo kuu sana. Yapo mataifa ambayo yatashikamana na Ibilisi kupigana na Kristokatika kipindi hichi cha mwisho baada ya milenia lakini watashindwa – Ufunuo 20:7-10 inabainisha haya.

b)   Shetani (Ibilisi) atakomeshwa kabisa na ufalme wake utaondolewa na kukoma kabisa!

 

c)    Waovu wote watahukumiwa na kutiwa hatiani kwa yale yote yaliyotendwa katika mwili. Hii ni hukumu ya mwisho (tz.Ufunuo 20:11-15). Haya yote yatatokea wakati wa mwisho baada ya kipindi cha milenia kumalizika. Watu wote ambao hawataonekana katika “Kitabu Cha Uzima Cha Mwana-kondoo” watatupwa katika ziwa la moto, nah ii inaitwa “mauti ya Pili” maana watatengwa na Mungu aliye hai milele na milele!

Ni muhumu basi, ndugu msomaji wangu mpendwa, kuzingatia sana habari za wokovu huu tuliopewa. Maandika yanasema  sis je tutapata je kupona tusiojali wokovu huu? Kumbuka kuwa pazia la wokovu lilianza pale Eden na kudhihirika pale Golgotha! Baadae litakunjwa au  kufungwa baadaye – yaani Mungu ataufunga ukurasi wa maisha ya dunia hii. Je umesha fanya maauzi ya wapi utakuwa umeangukia? Je ni katika ziwa la moto au ni katika Paradiso ya Kristo? Katika hayo mawili unapaswa kuyafanyia maamuzi. Uamuzi wa kumchagua Yesu na kuingizwa katika kitabu cha Uzima cha Mwanakondoo ni wa maana zaidi kuliko kuishi bila uhakika wa maisha ya sasa na yale ya baadae.

Mungu akubarikie kwa kusoma na kuchukua hatua. Kwa maswali zaidi, niandikie: nangela04@yahoo.co.uk au fuatilia katika blogu hii.

UFALME WA MUNGU: SIFA ZA UFALME WA MILENIA

Utangulizi

 Karibu tena ndugu msomaji wa Blogu hii ya “Amini tu!” (Only believe!) . Salamu nyingi za Mwaka 2013! Ni mapenzi ya Mungu nikuandikie tena na samahani sana kwa kutokukuandikia katika kipindi cha takribani mwaka mzima wa 2012. Hata hivyo, namshukuru Bwana wa uzima wetu kwa neema yake nimerejea tena. Kipindi hiki naomba tishirikishane kweli za Biblia kuhusu –“UFALME WA MUNGU –KIPINDI CHA UTAWALA WA MILENIA- yaani miaka 1000”. (Ufunuo 20:3) Katika kipindi hiki shetani atakuwa amefungwa.

Ni nini maana ya Ufalme wa Mungu?

Moja ya mambo ambayo Biblia imeyasisitiza sana ni juu ya ujio wa Ufalme wa Mungu. Ufalme wa Mungu ni utawala wa Mungu kati ya/juu ya Wanadamu na uumbaji wa Mungu.  Katika dhana ya Ufalme wa Mungu ipo dhana ndogo ya Utawala wa Kristo wa Milenia. Huu ni ule utawala wa Bwana Yesu katika dunia hii kwa kipindi cha miaka elfu moja (1000) yaani milenia moja. Katika kipindi hiki:

                                i.            Kristo Yesu atatawala ulimwengu wote.

                              ii.            Israel wote watarejeshwa pale mashariki ya kati kikamilifu- yaani katika nchi yao ya ahadi (Palestine).  Twajua ya kini kwamba Mungu alishaanza haya tangu mwaka 1948 mara tu baada ya Israel kupata uhuru wake. Hata sasa Mungu yu kazini kuhusu kutimiza haya ambayo Neno lake lilisha yaweka wazi.

Maandiko

Tuanze na Nabii  Isaya 11:10-12. Hapa Bwana nasema atawatwekea mataifa bendera na wana wa –Israeli waliotawanyika watakusanywa toka pande zote nne za ncha za dunia. Kama tulivyobainisha hapo juu, Bwana alishaanza.

Yeremia naye hakuacha kusema juu ya jambo hili. (Yer.16:14-15). Mara ya kwanza Bwana aliwatoa Misri. Mara hii anawatoa katika utawanyiko pande zote za dunia.

Yer. 30:10 anasema Yakobo atarudi na kutulia.Maana Bwana ndiye aliyewapanda, nani atawang’oa?

Nabii Ezekieli naye analo la kusema. Ezek.36:24, na Ezekie 37 inasema wazi kuwa pamoja na kuwa Israel ilionekana kama bonde la mifupa, bado Bwana alitangaza maona haya kwa Ezekiel kwamba atawafanya kuwa Taifa kubwa na lenye nguvu.

Kipindi tuishicho

 Kipindi tuishicho sisi ni kipindi cha kipekee sana maana twayaona kwa macho ya nyama na damu (wazi-wazi) mambo mengi ambayo Mungu aliyasema kwa unabii siku za nyuma. Kuzaliwa kwa taifa la Israeli, kwa mfano, ni jambo ambalo Mungu alilitabiri miaka mingi hata kabla Yesu hajaja. (taz. Isaya 66:7-8). Tayari tunamwona Bwana aliwarejesha Israel toka nchi nyingine, mfano toka  Ulaya ya Mashariki, Urusi ya zamani , Africa (Ethiopia) n.k. Hata hivyo, Waisraeli walio wengi bado wanangojea Masihi arudi. Lakini pamoja na kutoamini kwao kuwa Yesu ndiye, Mungu ameahidi kuwa wao nao wataokolewa na kusamehewa uovu ule wa kumkataa Yesu ( Warumi 11 :25-26).

 

 Yer. 31: 31-34- inaonyesha matengenezo mapya kwa wana wa Israel. Tena watatubu kama taifa na kumkubali Kristo kama Bwana wao! Ezekiel 36:24-29 pia inashuhudia juu ya kuwepo urejesho wa wana wa Israel na kufanywa kwao upya.  Mambo haya yametabiriwa pia katika Zekaria 12:10-11. Maana nyumba ya Israel itamwona Yesu nao watamwombolezea kama taifa zima. Hivyo liko taraja kwa taifa la Israel kihusiana na kumwamini Yesu . Kipindi hicho neema ya wokovu itawageukia zaidi wana wa Israel. Watu wengineo (wa mataifa) wataokoka LAKINI kwa dhiki nyingi!  (Rom.11:25-32) Zamu hii ni zamu ya watu wa Mataifa. Neema ya wokovu imefunuliwa (Tito 2:11-13) Atakaye ipokea atasalimika. Atakaye ikataa ataangamia maana hukumu na gadhabu ya Mungu itamkalia (Yoh.3:36).

Baada ya utangulizi huu, sehemu inayofuata ataangazia juu ya Utawala wa Kristo katika Millenia utakavyokuwa.

 Je utawala wa Kristo wa milenia utakuwa je?

·        Utakuwepo wakati wa AMANI kuu na baraka pote ulimwenguni katika kipindi cha utawala wa Yesu wa Milenia.

·        Dunia itageuzwa na kubadilishwa maana viumbe vya asili vitafunguliwa katika kifungo kilichotokana na dhambi. Ukisoma Warumi 8:19-22, inasema viumbe vinayoshauku (matarajio makuu) ya kufunuliwa  kwa Yesu Kristo. Kwa sasa vinaumia kwa sababu ya dhambi. Maana navyo vitawekwa huru katika utumwa na uharibifu.

·        Isaya 35:1-2 inaonesha jinsi ambavyo katika kipindi hicho Bwana atafanya mambo mengi kuwa mapya. Ezekieli 34:26-27 nayo inathibitisha pia. Maradhi yataondolewa na miaka ya wanadamu itaongezeka. Isaya 35:5-6; na Isaya 65:20-25 inaonesha hilo! Hata mtu wa miaka 100 moja ataonekana kuwa motto. Maandiko yanasema kama zilivyo siku za mti ndivyo zitakavyokuwa siku za watu wa Mungu katika kipindi cha milenia ya Kristo!

 

(….itaendelea sehemu ya pili….)

Ni muhimu kutambua mambo haya kwani Kanisa ni wakala wa Ufalme wa Mungu. Wokovu wetu uliandaliwa na Bwana mwenyewe.Ufalme wa Mungu ni wa milele na si wa kitambo kama zilivyo famlme za kidunia! Kanisa , kama wakala wa Ufalme wa mungu, lipo kwa kipindi tu hata ajapo Mfalme mwenyewe, yaani Kristo naye atatawala pamoja na watakatifu. Swali kubwa ni je? Umejiweka tayari? Kama wewe umesoma sehemu hii na ukajiona kuwa umepungukiwa mbele za Mungu, bado iko nafasi kwani mlamgo wa neema uko wazi . Unaweza kutengeneza maisha yako na Mungu kwa kutubu na kumwamini Yesu! Unaweza kuokolewa tu kwa toba na Imani katika Kristo Yesu. Ukimpata Yesu umeupata ufalme maana mwenye ufalme ni Mfame mwenyewe! Leo fanya maamuzi. KUOKOKA NI UAMUZI WAKO!

LESSONS FROM THE SONS OF RECAB -Jeremiah 35:1-19

Dear Reader,
Many greetings in the Name of Jesus. I give glory to God that once again we can share some truths from the Bible. The Bible is a unique book. It has so many treasures that can richly benefit us. Today I would like to meditate on the life of a particular family in this wonderful book. The family we are visiting is of a man called 'Recab'. The Recabites have special lessons which are useful in our Christian walk.

The story runs from the book of Jeremiah 35:1-19. In short, Jehonadab, son of Recab, a man of God,( see 2King 10:15-28) had instructed his descendants never to taste wine nor build a permanent house, but they should rather live in tents as sojourners in the land. In that way, he said, they would increase their days on the face of the land. One day, well after 200 years or so, the Lord spoke to the Prophet Jeremiah telling him to go to the house of the Recabites and bring them to the temple's inner rooms and urge them to drink wine. Jeremiah did so and brought jugs full of wine and cups urging them to drink. The Bible tells that to his astonishment the sons of Recab recounted to Jeremiah all what their ancestor had urged them in the past and how they have faithfully obeyed their father's words in their generation until that time. So they refused utterly to drink the wine set before them by Jeremiah. Now the Lord told Jeremiah to speak to the sons of Israel how they have disappointed the Lord for not obeying his commands and for not sticking to their covenant while the Recabites have been able to faithfully keep their vows which were made to their ancestor intact.

We have a lot to learn from this story.
1. The FIRST Lesson regards FAITHFULNESS . This is both: to our promises we make to one another and the Covenant we have with God. Faithfulness in keeping promises is an important thing in a Christian's life. God wants us to be faithful to ourselves, to him, and to his word or instructions. That is a sure way to successful Christian living. A faithful person never misses or loses a friend. In fact, he adds more friends to his side because many people consider him to be a trust worth person. God found the Recabites to be trust worth persons in whom he could invest. In Jer.35:19 the Lord told Jeremiah that Jehonadab, their ancestor would always have a person to serve before the Lord because of this. What a favour from the Lord!

The Recabites were faithful to the voice of their father, a mere fallible man. Their ancestor, Jonadab, had restricted them from indulging in wine-drinking business, and they were not hypocrites to this! Even when Jeremiah brought them in the inner chambers where no other people could see them drinking, they said in one voice: 'NO'. How many times many of us have failed to say 'NO' to sin and temptations when we are in secluded parts where no one is seeing what we are doing? To the Recabites, they knew that their vow and the voice of their father was still alive even if he was long dead! So they strictly adhered to the word of their father!!!

God is pleased by people who are faithful even when they are put in a corner of the boxing ring. In the book of Revelation 2:10, speaking to the Church in Smyrna, the Lord admonished them to be faithful unto death! This was a faithful church which, though considered poor in the eyes of the world, their faithfulness to God was a great treasure which the Lord was proud of. Perhaps, coming to the Recabites story, many of their peers were astonished why they do not drink wine and they might have considered them the poorest and miserable people who do not know how to socialize. But in the eyes of God, these people had a great treasure in their lives. Their faithfulness was more than riches and wine!

In our lives as saved people, faithfulness is a vital virtue to propagate in all times. God is never pleased by a double-minded person. God himself is not double-minded (see Malachi 3:6). A person who would drink wine in his closets while pretending to be a non-wine-drinker when he is in the company of others is a double minded, or a double standard person. You either be hot or cold but not lukewarm. Luke-warmness is never entertained in God's presence. To the Church in Laodicea, in Revelation 3:15-16, the Lord told it he wished that they were either hot or cold but not lukewarm.

We must understand that our covenant which was sealed with the blood of Jesus is a serious covenant- and we must be serious about it! It is a covenant of Peace and FAITHFULNESS just as the Lord said in Malachi 2:5-7.

2. The second lesson from the Recabites is about OBEDIENCE. These people demonstrated obedience to the voice of the father even if some did not know him in person but were only told about him. There are people who doubt the word of God because they want to see and prove his presence physically. This 'Thomasism' life is displesing. The doubting Thomas was told blessed are they who believes even without seeing (see John 20:24-29). For we move not by sight but by faith. The Recabites were obedient. The Bible in Mathew 5:20 says that our righteousness as the followers of Christ must go well beyond that of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. In other words, our obedience must go beyond the worldly standards. The big problem we have in Christian churches today is people who confess the Lord with their mouths but in their hearts they are at variance with him!! The Recabites were men of one standard throughout. Their standard was unwavered no matter what. They were not a kind of people who could be easily moved by what others are running after.

In John 6:26-27 Jesus was able to see people who never keep standards and are easily moved by whatever, even things that are temporal! In this life and world of technology and modernity, there is a possibility to run after things of 'the things of this world' which many are now running after to the extent of disobeying God and his everlasting word (bread). The Recabites could be enticed by the wine which was, by the way being freely offered by Jeremiah, (and in the inner chambers anyway!) But, alas! they did not water down their standards! Why? They had a word of their father in their heart. In the similar manner, though the world may try to impose its standards in our lives, as true followers of Christ, born in the family of God by an incorruptible seed, and purchased by the blood of the Lamb, we have the voice of our father, the Holy Spirit's voice and the word of God in our hearts!(1Corinthians 6:19. This word is our light and our standard. We have to measure everything in the light of it. (See Psalm 119:11, 105). The Recabites put the word of the father in their heart and walked in it. They rejected being unequally yoked with the unbecoming practices of the day which their father had renounced.

3. The third lesson from the Recabites is KNOWING WHERE TO REST OUR HEARTS. As we so in the preceding point, many have been and are being taken captive by the things of this world and its pleasures- the drinking, eating, sexual immorality etc. Many have rest their lives in such a temporal and materialistic life. But the sons of Recab were admonished to shun away from all these. They were reminded that they should live as people who are mere sojourning this world. They even did not build a house but lived in tents. Well, I am not saying we should live in tents. But we must understand where we should rest our lives for there shall we seek to invest most. The Bible in Hebrews 11:9-10 talks of those warriors of faith and what they knew about this life. In this life we are only passing by. We came with nothing and we will leave with nothing materially. So rather than spending much of our energy on materialistic life style we better invest in God and the welfare of the needy and the under-privileged. In 1John 2:15-17 we are told not to love the world and the pleasures therein. For he who loves the world he does not have the love of the Father in him. This means also that 'once the world and its affairs swallows a person's heart, God has no place in such a heart any more'. Remember Paul's words to Timothy in 1Tim.6:9-10.

4. The fourth Lesson: The Recabites were SATISFIED BY WHAT THEY HAD. 1Timothy 6:9-10 teaches us to be contented by what we have. God is all satisfying and our sufficiency is of him. We should not kill and fight for wealth as though when we depart from this world we shall part with anything. In fact not even a cent will be worth taking, if taking anything could be possible! For that which is of the heavens is far better than what is of this earth. Only what we have to take care in this life is our relationship with God, in Christ Jesus and with one another as beloved of God. In 2Corithians 7:1 the Bible says that since God has given us precious promises we must 'cleanse ourselves from anything that can defile our body, soul, or spirit. And, let us work towards complete holiness because we fear God.' Other translations of the Bible says we must walk while minding our salvation and in fear of God. Why? Hebrew 2:2-4 gives us the answer. It says that if the message God delivered to the Israelites through the angels stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished, what makes us think that we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus Christ himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. We must therefore watch lest we fall trap by constant worrying about the cares of this life to the extent of being caught off-guard by the Lord (see Luke 21:33-36). The Lord said, that is how it will happen to the people of the world. We must know that we are not of this world and so we should not force ourselves into its pleasures.

5. The Final Lesson, at least for today, is that the Recabites were READY TO PAY THE COST. Being ready to pay the cost of protecting our salvation and its virtues such as faithfulness, holiness, godliness etc., is an important thing. The Recabites sacrificed pleasure for obedience and faithfulness to their father's word. The offered a sacrifice by denying their body that which it desired- the wine, the pleasure etc. The Bible also tells us who believe in Christ to 'present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy to God. It further discourages us being conformed to the standards of this world but rather we should transform them. (See Rom 12:1-2). The Recabites were such a people. People who would never be conformed to the world and its standards. People who were ready to pay the sacrifice of obedience and faithfulness to what they believe in. People who are true to their convictions and who would live to pursue them even when scorned by others! They were the overcomers! And do you know what the Bible says about the overcomer? Read the book of Revelation 2-3. There are sever promises to all overcomers!

* Revelation 2:7b says: 'To everyone who overcomes I will give fruit from the tree of Life in the Paradise of God.

* Revelation 2:11b says: 'Whoever overcomes will not be harmed by the second death'.

*Revelation 2:17b says: 'Whoever overcomes I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.'

*Revelation 2:26-28 says: 'To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations . They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give thm the morning star!'

*Revelation 3:5 says: 'All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.'

*Revelation 3:12 says: 'All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to live it. And, I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God - the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.'

*Revelation 3:21 says: 'Those who overcomes will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.'

Wow! what a list of amazing promises! Will you or me be lazy to miss all these? God forbid! Seven precious promises! Remember, number seven Biblically is a number of perfection! These promises are true and perfect just as the one who made them is perfect. I believe that since nothing should be allowed in us which has the potential to separate us from the love of God,(see Rom 8:31, then we are destined to be all victorious in this life. The Bible says in Roman 8:37 we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. In him, with him and through him we can do all things and we cam be victorious to inherit a place before God just like the sons of Recabites. If they managed, why not me or you? Until then, God bless you richly.
In Christ Jesus,
Ev.Dr  Deo J. Nangela.

‘'PRESS ON TO THE END-NO MATTER WHAT THREATS MAY LIE AHEAD'’

‘PRESS ON TO THE END-NO MATTER WHAT THREATS MAY LIE AHEAD’
2Cor.4:8-18.
‘8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’


Dear Friends and readers,
It is my great pleasure again to share with you the living and encouraging word of faith so as to resuscitate our hope that may seem to be engulfed in many tumultuous winds of persecution and affliction. Christian persecution is on the rise at we move towards the coming of the Lord. You do not need to be in Pakistan or Afghanistan where being a Christian is anathema! Right where you are you can experience persecution the very moment you decide to stand with the truth. I some countries, and surprisingly well known for their role in spreading Christianity and Christian morals in the past, things are slowly giving room to modernity and humanism in the name of ‘human rights’. The whole sense of human rights –as a concept, and in its true good intentions- is being lost as some stuff, which contradict the truth revealed in the Bible, are being shielded in the name of human rights. In fact, such stuff should have been labelled ‘human wrongs’ to save the good name of human rights.
And, the drama comes when a true believer questions their moral correctness. Immediately you will be silenced, sometimes with a threat of being put into jail for injuring ‘the feelings of another fellow.’ But truth is truth. It is never sugar coated. The Bible is there to correct, admonish and guide our lives and the lives of those around us. In some countries to-day, if I speak about the incorrectness of homosexuality and the fact that the Bible warns that all who practise it or condone it are sinning against the holy and righteous God, I may be jailed. So, ministers of Truth are now being persecuted for having warned their members who might have been trapped into this devilish, immoral, and un-Christian behaviour.

Persecution is right where you are if you decide to speak the plain truth! Paul, writing to the Corinthians, admonished them to that effect and encourages them to press on. In 2Cor.4:8-9 he says
‘We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.’


However, as it is said, ‘though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of our hope'. So if you are the lover of Truth, Press on, no matter what! For those in countries where Christian persecution is on the acute angle, resort into Paul’s comforting and encouraging message above. During his time and afterwards, Christian persecution was from all corners. From governmental authorities to religious societies of the time and individuals, more to say, from one’s family! But this was and should even to-day be expected to all Saints! The Lord Jesus said (in John 16:33) that ‘[h]ere on earth we shall face many persecutions. But take courage, because I have overcome the world.’ So Paul and those of his time took courage and persisted in their tribulations no matter what the end was. They maintained what we should always maintain:
“I believed, and so I spoke.”

Stories of Christian persecuted during the Roman Era are, on one hand appalling while on the other hand, encouraging. They were falsely accused from all sides and by all manners. Some said they indulged in cannibalism and pervasion. But in the midst of all such false accusations true and faithful Christians steadily stood their ground. And, their accusers clearly saw and acknowledge the precious things in their lives which could be found in no-where else. For instance, in Minucius Felix, Octavius ch. 9 (written in 2nd or 3rd century) one of the accusers, a certain unbeliever in the name of Caecilius, is said to have said the following:
They… love one another almost before they become acquainted.
What an amazing jewel in the Christian family. Despite the present day accusations and persecutions, the brethrens stood as ONE! Press on, they do see even if paying a blind eye. As so Paul exhorts us saying that we should not ‘lose heart.
‘Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.’

Press on,
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’

" Others had trials of mocking and scourgings,yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder,they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheep skins,in goatskins;being destitutes,afflicted,illtreated (of whom the world was not worthy) (Heb.11:36-38).

You, who are in Pakistan, I say PRESS ON!
You, who are in Iraq I say, PRESS ON!
You who are in India, I say, PRESS ON!
So press on and never let down the Lord even by a second!
Best Regards,
Ev. D.J. Nangela.

An Open Door (Revelation 4:1)

Rev.4:1 "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven..."
Luke 19:13 " Before he left, he called ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.'

Dear breathren,
Greetings to you in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savour.
It is another great opportunity to be alive before God and have time to share the truths of the Word of Christ amongst ourselves. Today's message is a reminder that we have a job to do before he comes! Did you ever think about that fact? Indeed we have a task to be accomplished before he comes, for each and every one of us will give an account when he appears.

The portion of the scriptures above reveals great truths. In the Book of Revelation , John was shown an open door in heaven! To me this verse teaches and reminds of the wonderful love and grace which God has bestowed on us! What a privilage to us sinners saved only by grace! The heavenly door is indeed open to all who are ready and willing to repent and turn to God. The Lord is ready to admit you and me once again into his family and waw! the door to enter into this wonderful fellowship is OPEN!

If you read from the book of Genesis 3:23 you will find that after Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were 'banished from the Garden of Eden', and the entrance (the path to) the tree of life was closed out and guarded by a mighty Cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth! What does this mean to us? It means mankind was lost! We lost hope and we were shut out of the life of God. This is the price of sin and it is called 'DEATH' or separation from the living God! But thanks be to God whose love and mercies endures forver! May Glory and honour be unto him! He did not forsake us and did not treat us the way we deserved. By His great mercy and unfailing love he pledged to restore us into Himself, to make us 'His People'! In Gen 3:15 the pledge was made and in the fulness of time Christ came to redeem us from the slavery of sin and destruction!

In Galatians 4:4-5 Paul got this wonderful revelation and writes:
"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman...to buy freedom for us who were slaves..., so that he cpuld adopt us as his very own children.' What a great love! The Bible says it is not we who chose to love him but him who chose to love us! As a loving father, God was (is) so much concerned with our well being. Remeber the story of the prodigal son? It speaks about God's love more openly and better than I could tell it here! (See Luke 15:1-17). Although the prodigal son was suffering out there, the doors in his father's house were open for him to come back, and,indeed, his father was eager to see him back. Perhaps he would stare at the doors hoping and wishing to hear someone calling out! And you can see the joy he had when the son returned home! But one thing in that story is that the son came after thinking carefully and coming to his own senses! Many people today are out of their senses and uncounscious of the deadly effect of being away from God and in devil's territory. They do not know, and if they do, they never mind of the danger of rejecting God in their lives!!

My friend, God is good and loving. He has an open door for you and me to come back and enter into his eternal joy, share his everlasting love and bring others to it too. Since the door is open still, we have the chance to come in and bring others with us to the house. Bringing others in is the assignment we have been given.

For us who have received the invitation to come in, and who have tasted the goodness of the Lord in this land of the living, we have the task, an assignment or a job to do! The Lord in the parable of the ten servants shows clearly that each of us have been given something to use as our capital to bring others to the Kingdom. You and I have something special and which none other than you or me can use it. You are supposed to use it for the Lord. In Ephesians 4:11 Paul talks of the gifts which Christ gives to the Church. In 1Corinthians he speaks of the 'special abilities' which the Spirit gives to an individual. He even talks of 'different services' given by God to individuals . All in all, the crux of the matter is that YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO bu using what you have been given!

Use what you have NOW! For the Master is coming and we will give account! Are you sitting on that 'Investment capital' or investing it? Think as we hope to enter 2011 and ask yourself, 'I am I going to live like 2010;business as usual or I am going to make a difference?' The door is still open. Your are not late yet. You can bring in treasures for the master, even in 2011. For you who might not have had the opportunity to receive Christ in your life, better you do it now when the door is still open. Just imagine. In days of Noah, people were told to build the Ark. Many refused, mocked Noah and were scornful. The Ark was ready, and its door was OPEN. Perhaps Noah called out for people to get in. But, as usual, none gave heed to his call except his own family that was God fearing. The rest of his generation rejected the plea to enter through the OPEN DOOR. And, guess what! The OPEN DOOR was CLOSED! Who closed it? Not Noah but God Himself! And, John,the apostle in the Book of Revelation, much as he was shown an open door, he was also told that when God closes the door none can open it. So, for you who is yet to receive the Lord, did you know that 'He is the that Open Door? (See John 10:9 where Jesus made it clear that he is the GATE (Door). Will you reject him till the door is shut? (when grace is no more there but judgement?) Think and make a sober decision.

If you want to receive him, will you just pray this simple prayer of faith to invite him NOW?
Here we go:
Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I am sorry and repent from my sins. I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you came and died on the cross to pay for my sins. I believe you rose again and can count me righteous as I put my faith in you. Cleanse by your blood and register me in you Book of Life today. Come into my heart and be My Lord and My Saviour for ever. Amen.Congrats! You are now born again. It is by such a simple faith.
You can now find a True Christian Church that believe in the Bible and teaches the truth about it, share with them your experience and learn more about your new life in Christ. You can write to me:
nangela@yahoo.co.uk, Tel.+225 755-654129.

Until then,
God Bless you.
Ev. Deo John Nangela.