Evergreen Word of Life Ministries

THE DANGER OF SILENCE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:52:00 +0000

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me

(BY PASTOR MARTIN NIEMÖLLER)

All the ethnic profiling in Nigeria should worry all of us. You may not be me but you may look like me and that may make you me as far as the mob is concerned. Hence whatever they do to me, they will do to you whether they are in positions of power or they are in the streets. The explanations and voices of victims of the mob are heard after the actions, that is, if they survive to be alive.

You may be getting some benefits from the perpetrators of the ethnic profiling now, but when the mob action starts, you may lose all those benefits just in one moment, that is, if you survive to count the cost. Alas, for many, it's other people that count their cost because they are no longer around to do the counting.

Religious leaders who don't speak out against injustice are accomplices with the perpetrators, it does not matter the reason they give for keeping silence. They are supposed to be like the conscience of the society, but alas, many are tribalists and even perpetrate the same ethnic profiling in their religious places. Pastor Niemoller was a German Protestant Pastor but regretted after the World War II about the complicit silence of the German Church that contributed to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime. I encourage every pastor to check his history out and read and watch documentaries on Rwandan Genocide and the role of the church.

This is a call to everyone to speak up, not because you like the people whose lives, properties and means of livelihood are broken and destroyed, but for your own sake or the sake of your children and children children. For a people that are focused on building a nation, responsibility, responsiveness, empathy and compassion are required in dealing with the issues that concern the lives and livelihood of everyone, for greater good, not vindictiveness

BOOK REVIEW – AFFLICTION, THE SANCTIFIER’S CRUCIBLE BY MARK NEMIEBOKA

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 11:18:00 +0000

Affliction, The Sanctifier’s Crucible is a book written by Mark Nemieboka and published by the Scripture Union (Nig.) Press & Books Limited Ibadan, Nigeria in 2021.

The book focuses on the concept of affliction, the challenges it poses and its benefits to the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. It has five (5) chapters and is made up of ninety-six (96) pages. It is arranged in a seemingly logical sequence starting with the meaning of affliction, the origin and types of afflictions, the benefits of affliction and what the response of the believer should be when in affliction. The author has dedicated the book to the school ministry of the Scripture Union (SU), where Christ was first introduced to him as a teenager and to Karen Barrett, whose testimony about her wheelchair experience, the author considers to portray the Christian’s story. Sir Mark Nemieboka is a seasoned teacher of the Word of God and I have the privilege of hearing some of his amazing testimonies on a personal basis.

Affliction is presented to be, as it were, the crucible that God, the Sanctifier, uses to refine His people. The author makes bold to say that “no believer can rightly claim exemption, though the degrees may vary”. In fact, the picture is that the time of affliction is like a season in the life of a child of God. Hence, that one does not have affliction today does not mean it will not come tomorrow. The whole essence, I perceive, is to educate believers and prepare them for this undesirable and unpleasant but definite season of life. Today, people are taught that they will never suffer and that bad things happen to only those who don’t have faith or those who have evil foundations. Health and wealth theology is spread all over the place because it gives good feelings and brings in revenue to the preacher. The question is “how is the Christian, who is inundated with health and wealth teachings, going to face life and his faith in the face of pain, death, sickness and other ills orchestrated by the fallen nature and the fallen world in which we have found ourselves?”. The author posits that while some afflictions may be judicial, that is as a recompense for sin or evil, there are a world of other causes of afflictions that are beyond the control of an individual believer. Examples given in the book include natural afflictions, national afflictions, social afflictions and some afflictions orchestrated by God Himself for some divine purposes. In quoting from the Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, there is “the hatred and affliction that follow the witness and holy life of God’s people in a hostile world”. We must all bear this in mind as we relate with the world that is in opposition against God and His will. It is commendable to note that much of the pages of the book are dedicated to dealing with the benefits of afflictions. Affliction induces humility, makes us seek God, transforms us and proves our faith. The lives of the prophet Jonah and the prodigal son were illustrated and summarized with the words of Isaac Newton “affliction, though they seem severe, in mercy oft are sent. They stopped the prodigal’s career, and forced him to repent”.

There are some typographical errors here and there, for example on page 28, instead of “hear” you see “here”, on page 35, “to” is omitted while introducing the quotation by John Grill, on page 95, Isaiah 26:3 is quoted but (Isaiah 56:3) is written and finally some mixtures of versions of the Bible when it is stipulated on the copyright page that all Bible quotations are from the New King James Version (NKJV). Having said that, the book is written in contemporary English and is so interesting that once you start reading, you will likely not drop it until you finish it, like what happened to me.

The book is short considering the topic dealt with but just like John Mark that wrote the Gospel of John, the author, whose name coincidentally is also Mark, seems to be rushing to pass across a fundamental truth which is a burden on his heart. One of the responses proposed by the author is “expect suffering”. This is not a popular recommendation but it is the reality of our existence here on earth. This book is a must read for every follower of Jesus Christ who wants to run and finish well. It will answer some questions of some people who may be looking for answers because of what they are going through. It can be purchased from any of the Scripture Union (SU) Bookshops nationwide. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I conclude this review with the biblical quote used by the author at the end of the book, “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope…You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Psalm 119:49, Isa.26:3 NKJV).

DECLARATIONS OR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 08:32:00 +0000

It was quite a great coincidence for the Independence Day, October 1^st, to fall on a Sunday this year, 2023. It offered many churches the opportunity to pray and declare many good things for and over Nigeria. I was in church and participated. But that was where my heart was stirred up to write this piece. A question kept disturbing my heart throughout the session, “is a nation built by these declarations or by doing what is right?”

I think that the answer is that a nation is built by doing what is right by the leaders and the people and not by declaring what we think is good to happen. Declaring what is good to happen does not make those good things to happen, no matter how loud we make shout. Good things are not somewhere hanging in the air. Good deeds are done by men. They are actions that are seen, actions that impact and actions that have consequences.

Doing what is right is like applying principles. Principles don’t look at the faces of those applying them. When they are applied, the results follow.

The nation of Israel was not built by the declarations done by the high priest on the days of their annual convocations. A nation is built by human beings that decide to do what is right and just. It is possible for a priest to conclude his declarations and yet go home to do violence to the “wife of his youth”. This was one of the offences God accused them of in Mal.2:13-17. In fact, God’s complain in verse 17 is that they have wearied Him with their words but the people asked, “how?” Look at God’s answer, “By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?" Mal 2:17 NIV. The people have become so corrupt that they are saying that those who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord. The priests and leaders say that even God is pleased with them. Yet because of their experiences, they are also asking “where is the God of justice?”. What an irony! Does the picture look like Nigeria?

When we call evil good because of ethnic bias; when we support evil people and clean them up with spurious reasons because of gains, whatever it may be; when we keep silence and shy away from speaking out against evil because we don’t want to offend someone in power even though he or she is an evil man; when we as church leaders are perpetrating evil even within the church hierarchy against our subordinates, sabotaging the system to favour our ego and hold on power, enriching ourselves and loyal associates to ensure we live the good life even at the expense of the poor both within and around the church, dishonoring the marriage bed and living as settlers on this earth; when the wickedness some politicians do does not concern us as long as we parley and have access to their generosity whenever we want; when we participate in the corruption in our offices and market places because we think, “am I the person that will correct Nigeria?”; yet we look at how the country has become like a laughing stock in the comity of nations with the increase in the sufferings of the masses almost on a daily basis and you still ask “where is the God of justice?”, are we being truthful to ourselves? We shout and declare these good things, feel good in ourselves and yet we leave the gathering to go back to our corrupt lifestyles, do we think that that is the way a nation is built?

Righteousness builds a nation. Doing right is the only thing that will bring a change to our nation. Every nation that applies the right policies sincerely, does the right things for the benefit of their people, whether with religious declaration or not, will see results, no matter their religious leaning. Principles are blind, they don’t have sentiments, emotions, or bias. They are just there. Anybody can apply them and get results. So, while shouting and declaring good things over the country may make us feel good and stir up wonderful expectations, what will bring actual results is doing the right thing wherever we are.

THE LETTERS OF LAW AND THE FACE OF JUSTICE

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:47:00 +0000

Credits: NIV website

There must be a strong connection between the letters of law and the face or presentation of justice. For societies to develop and progress, there must be a link between what the makers of the law graft, what the interpreters of the law decides and declares, and what the seekers of justice and the onlookers perceive about what is grafted and interpreted. Justice, they say, must not only be said to have been done, it must necessarily be seen to have been done. There is no development and progress if the makers of the law claim to have done a good job, the interpreters and declarers of the law claim to have done wonderfully well but the wider members of society are seeing injustice. When these makers and interpreters of the law claim to have done the right thing but the average person in the society, including the intelligent ones, perceive injustice because they suspect that someone must have removed the blindfold from the eyes of the lady of justice so that the judgment given was done with her eyes open, trust is eroded. Why will someone summarize a judgment with the words of the late Russian Writer, Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, “We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, but they are still lying”?

It is possible that the perception of the wider society is wrong. It is possible that there is no such desecration of the temple of justice and there is no such violation of the lady of justice. However, why is it possible that the makers of the law and the interpreters are doing one thing but intelligent people in the society are seeing something else? What is creating the gap between what is claimed to have been done and what is seen and perceived to have been done? What is causing this trust deficit? Is it because of what someone has termed “implausibly undeniability”, that is, when a person struggles to explain away something that’s actually true, because the truth has suddenly become inconvenient or politically incorrect?

The danger of having this kind of unsettling situation is that it opens up the ugly doors of oppression, suppression and autocratic tendencies. The reason is not far-fetched, what the makers of the law have done and what the interpreters of the law have declared are considered the letters of law, but and unfortunately so, because it is entirely different from the face of justice, what is seen, perceived and felt about the judgment by the wider society, people will express themselves in different ways and the intelligent ones especially, will make efforts to bring the declared judgement out to the open court of public opinion for discussion, arguments and a “second trial”. They will try to bring out facts missed either by the makers of the law or its interpreters. This in most cases does not go down well with the executors of the law because as Denise Diderot noted, “those who fear the facts will forever try to discredit the fact-finders”. Efforts then will be made to silence those discussing the judgment and connecting the dots with what is seen and felt. Clampdown will set in and more actions, which the wider society will consider as further injustice, will be taken by those who want to execute the interpreted law. At the end, the conclusion will be that the government is an oppressive government. The society retrogresses. How can a society where this exists redeem itself?

There are no simple recommendations. But two things ae on my mind now. The first is that there should be humility on the sides of the executors of the law to listen to the discussions going on in the public space and engage with them with the assurance of reforms that will correct whatever has been perceived to be wrong. This will give hope to the populace that the future will be better. The second thing is that truthfulness should be embraced in all the dealings of the government with the citizens. Truth is the thing that can heal a wounded conscience and sets the society free.

When God Wants To Drill A Man

noreply@blogger.com (Evergreenword) — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 06:44:00 +0000

When God Wants To Drill A Man

When God wants to drill a man,

And thrill a man,

And skill a man

When God wants to mold a man

To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart

To create so great and bold a man

That all the world shall be amazed,

Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects

Whom He royally elects!

How He hammers him and hurts him,

And with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay which

Only God understands;

While his tortured heart is crying

And he lifts beseeching hands!

How He bends but never breaks

When his good He undertakes;

How He uses whom He chooses,

And which every purpose fuses him;

By every act induces him

To try His splendor out-

God knows what He's about.

– Anonymous

MEN AND EMOTIONAL LOADS

noreply@blogger.com (Evergreenword) — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 09:34:00 +0000

MEN AND EMOTIONAL LOADS

Men are not good emotional load bearers. Men always snap and break in a prolonged emotional drag.

There are five responses:

1. Some men under an emotional load will abscond. They just walk away. Walking away can present in many ways - drinking, unnecessary relationship, divorce etc. This response makes us vulnerable to snares that ordinarily we would not fall into if not for the emotional load.

2. Some men will become violent under emotional load. They hurt people around them in an unconscious effort to set themselves free. This response makes the man irresponsible, you cause wounds and afflictions that can last longer even after we are gone, and can land you in prison.

3. Some men under emotional load will just succumb to any demand in a bid to have peace. Many girls use this a lot to manipulate men. Even some wives equally use this to get what they want from their husbands. This response makes you a man without principles. You remain a puppet.

4. Some men under emotional load will simply engage the person creating the load in a battle and fight. They quarrel, sideline the person, stop talking to the person, punish through delays and denial of privilege, compete and make efforts to subdue and control. This response makes you a wicked man. Because the male gender does not often have the skill to deal with dragged emotional load, your fight will make you do things that when people hear it, they will not realize that you are struggling. They will just conclude that you are wicked. You will make several costly mistakes.

As a Christian man, your emotional loads can only come from your girl-child or married wife. Men are generally not good in playing this game. No other girl or woman should place any emotional load on you. That leads me to the only response I recommend.

5. (Recommended). Ask God for strength. Stand strong. You often learn a lot when you sincerely and humbly engage your wife with the mind of resolving the issue at stake and diffusing and relieving yourself of the emotional load. Seek to discover the need behind the emotional load and determine to meet it. Once met, the loan goes away. God often uses this to deal with our ego as men. This ego must be pruned if you are to make eternal impact and your wife is often the tool, and sometimes in the crudest ways.

Be humble and seek to know what your Master wants to achieve in every situation. I pray you succeed.

Remain blessed 🙏

#justthinking #justthinkingoutloud #justmythoughts #chrisekwedam

THE TEST OF POWER

noreply@blogger.com (Evergreenword) — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:21:00 +0000

Possession of power tests all of us. If you have not been given power, especially positional power, you cannot really say how good you will be in handling power.

Power is used to heal, to protect, to provide, to build, to grow, to unite and to influence generally unto effective delivery. Unfortunately, because of our inherent human ego, we tend to frequently use power more to destroy, break, trample, pull down and make others cry in pains.

That's why every power handled by or handed over to humans must be checked. If there are no controls established around exercise of power, abuses set in. I have found out that it's also very difficult for a possessor of power to set up controls while in position. The best thing is to set up controls when nobody is in the office or position.

It's true that everyone has some level of power, but positional power can be very strong because it can be very visible.

The questions we should always ask ourselves while in positions of power include:

1. Do I have people around me who can boldly ask me questions? Do people around me think that they can air their views and they count? Or is everyone around me singing my praise?

2. Am I causing people to cry and weep, though I know from my heart of heart that I am right and working hard to do the right thing?

3. What's my sincere estimation and value for those who are "poor" or those available to me for getting things done? Do I think I'm better than they? What is my attitude towards them? Do I tend to be irritated at every little provocation, use abusive words or shout at them?

4. Do I review my actions everyday, making changes where necessary, apologizing where I've wronged people under me or do I explain things away? Have used the word "I don't care" when a complain is brought to me concerning someone helping me to get things done or concerning my actions?

5. Finally, do I seriously ask myself, what would Jesus do in this situation? What would He use this position to do if He were here?

Power corrupts. Power can make monsters out of us. Power can destroy relationships and crush lives. Exercise of power can bring regrets when we're done with the position that conferred the power on us.

A lot to say but may God grant us the wisdom to use power to build, restore and heal and not to destroy. May we join God in using power to bring about His redemptive work in this broken world.

Remain blessed 🙏

#justthinking #justthinkingoutloud #justmythought

Martyrdom is still real today - The story of Brother Leviticus Makpa

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 15:17:00 +0000

He served Jesus till the end. Do you love Jesus?

Many stories when highlighted by the main stream media, sounds like just statistics until it hits close home.

Watch Leviticus ' documentary here: https://youtu.be/tvZzhdi2qbA

May God help us to finish our course and finish strong whether in long or short life. All I want from Him when I see Him face to face is "well done"

Remain blessed 🙏

Urgent need for Relief materials for the flood victims in Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra and others

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:43:00 +0000

That this flood has caused humanitarian disaster in Nigeria is no longer news. Many people have lost their lives while for many, their lives have changed forever. I watched with tearful eyes as corpses were carried out from houses in Anambra West. Below are just some of the pictures from Ogbaru, Anambra State.

Flooded roads. Can one imagine the force of this flood? Credit: Izunna Okafor, Onitsha (The Nigerian Voice)

Bishop's Court overtaken by flood. Credits: Izunna Okafor, Onitsha (The Nigerian Voice)

Bishop Prosper Amah in one of the flooded areas. Credits: Izunna Okafor, Onitsha (The Nigerian Voice)

According to the Bishop, they need assistance in the area of food items, speed boats to enable the church access the hinterlands to rescue survivors as well as funds to help them rebuild since even some farmlands are already damaged which will affect next year's harvest.

What can be done by Christians and the churches as corporate bodies in Nigeria?

1. Prayers: This is a time every family altar must be burning prayer incense remembering these victims. Pray for God's intervention so that the flood will recede. Pray for miraculous deliverances for the families. May God grant them the resilience and providence to stand and survive this period. Comfort and fortitude for those who lost their loved ones. Pray that God will stir the hearts of the leaders to respond appropriately to these victims with all the necessary help they need.

2. Prayers: Please pray for the Federal Government to urgently complete the counterpart Dam in North East which when completed will help to accommodate this body water when released from Cameroun instead of being allowed to flow into River Benue to cause this kind of disaster.

3. Churches and religious NGOs must raise reliefs for these affected areas. Philanthropists and well meaning individuals can do well to synergize and help.

We have contacted the Admin Secretary of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbaru and he gave out his phone number for those that may want to contact him: The Reverend Peter Udenabor 08033309357 while online support can go directly to the Diocesan fund. Just tag your giving: Flood Relief Fund.

Donate Here.

Sexual Purity

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:52:00 +0000

According to the presentation, Sexual Purity has to do with ensuring that everything that relates to my sex life is clean, unmixed, not faulty or defective and is free from dirt and stain which includes my heart, my conduct and my relationships. The standard for reference and definition is the Word of God, the Bible.

This is good for teaching in the Church both for men and the youths. Download the presentation using the link below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fShM5gXSzKucbt6cH8Bbd6chTLY7wpcf/view?usp=sharing

Download here

Download, share and enjoy.

Question, Questioner and Questionee

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 23:20:00 +0000

Asking questions is very important and we must be prepare to give answers as Christians.

May this presentation both bless and challenge you. Our young people are asking questions but unfortunately, many of us are not ready to answer them. This attitude has to change if they are to be established in this holy faith. Time is running out. Remember, any question you don't give an answer to does not go away. Instead, someone else will answer it and you may not like their answer.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1igfRoPglfsPybR8WvHcU15pbvrWdBt3B/view?usp=sharing

Download here

Download, share and enjoy.

The Gospel Music Minister and his Sexuality

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 13:03:00 +0000

I shared this with the Evangels Gospel Band of the New Covenant Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

I did not just deal with the sexuality of the Gospel Music Minister (GMM), I equally explored the Gospel Music Ministry and the Gospel Music Minister. I believe it will be a blessing to you and your music group.

You can Click and Download it here: The Gospel Music Minister and his Sexuality.

The NEW BIRTH by Chris Ekwedam. pdf for Free Download.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 15:08:00 +0000

Is it possible to preach on "born again" without even mentioning the word "born again" and yet the message of new birth is communicated and lives are transformed? Is it possible to jump up and down, shout "born again", use the word "born again" most frequently in our preaching, yet without communicating what "born again" really means and lives are not transformed? YES.

Download my book on the NEW BIRTH here where I made a case for "born again" as a prerequisite for sonship. No matter what your view may be now, you will not regret you read it.

Remain blessed.

Celebration of a life well lived...

noreply@blogger.com (Evergreenword) — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 14:14:00 +0000

When someone dies, it is the end of an existence on earth. The person has finished his or her sojourn. The earth suffers a loss. For Christians, we believe that the person goes to give account. Whether old or young, believer or non-believer, pastor or parishioner, christian leader or the led, it doesn't change the facts. It is a sober moment because it is a loss to our common humanity and no matter what we claim, we CANNOT tell how the person's account is before God. There are many secrets about people we don't know. We can only assume and believe and hope because of what we have observed in the person's life while here on earth but real certainty belongs to God alone.

The Bible says that he that believes will have eternal life. If someone believes and dies, he or she has eternal life. Now the same Bible says that many who are first shall be last and the last shall be the first. He who endures till the end SHALL be saved. Hence, how a person finishes is as important as how he or she started. In specific terms, only God actually knows how someone finished. Only on rare occasions does He give a glimpse to the living. It calls for soberness.

What I see in the scripture is that the dead is mourned, old and young, and it's a time for the living to reflect, because we shall also all lie in state one day and stand to give accounts too. Burials are not supposed to be a celebration. If you want celebration, go to a feast but not in a burial. To buttress the point, we are admonished not to mourn like those who have no hope, hence depicting what the atmosphere should be like when one dies. When reflection has gone, soberness is relegated and not encouraged, and funfair and pump are embraced, then it presents us as worldly and an evil generation.

My thoughts 🙏

#justthinking #justthinkingoutloud

My Testimony - Deliverance from Unknown Gunmen at Orsumoghu - Azia Junction, Anambra State

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:12:00 +0000

I considered sharing this testimony after reading other similar encounters of different people with the *Unknown Gunmen (UGM)* same weekend of 18th - 20th February 2022. Unfortunately, a man in one of the encounters lost his life. Peradventure this may help to save more lives and stir up the governments, both states and federal, to do the needful.

On the 18th of February 2022, I travelled from Port Harcourt to *Akwaihedi,* a town after Amichi for the burial of my late cousin who stood as my mother during my wedding. My own mother died two years before my wedding. I was advised by the husband to avoid Orlu - Ihiala axis. In his own words "there's war there between the UGM and the Security Agencies".

I got to Okija along the express way and encountered a heavy traffic jam. Vehicles were turning and following Ezego Road inside Okija. We were told that a trailer fell and blocked the two lanes of the highway. We came out of Ezego Road and branched off to Nnewi road through Ihembosi. From Nnewi, we entered Akwaihedi through Utu, Orsumenyi, Amichi.

On our way back after the burial, we were advised not to follow Orsumoghu - Azia road because of the Unknown Gunmen but to follow Utu, Ukpor, Orsumoghu, Mbosi, Ihiala. As we were climbing, approaching Orsumoghu - Azia Junction, it's hilly with two big road bumps on either side. I noticed two men from afar. I assumed them to be Policemen. Though the one with gun was wearing what looked like army camouflage trousers with sweater tied to his waist, nothing alerted my suspicion because most of our Policemen often dress that way.

But something remarkable happened. As we approached, he seemed to be distracted toward what was happening on the other side of the road. He left to that side. When we arrived, I climbed the first bump, still slowing down in case "the policeman" would want to come over to check me. But my wife said, "continue moving since they're paying attention to the other vehicle the other side of the road" But I noticed that he threatened to pull the trigger two times towards the driver of the other car. The gun is a locally made type the vigilante use. I just continued to move slowly without any suspicion. When I climbed the second bump, through my rear mirror, I noticed that he began to pursue me with the gun. It was when a trailer coming from the opposite direction and two other cars suddenly began to turn and reverse with speed, it dawned on me that these guys must be armed robbers. The turning vehicles delayed me a bit while the gun man increased his speed in pursuing us. Thank God I was able to find a way to bypass the trailer, a Sequoia SUV and a Corolla and escaped. I literally jumped the two bumps across the other side.

It became obvious to me and my wife that God sent His angels ahead of us to distract the gunmen to enable us to pass. By the time they paid attention to us, like a bird, we had escaped from their net. Glorify God with me🙏🏿.

*My advice is that people should stop using this Ihiala, Azia, Orsumoghu Ukpor, Utu road until further notice.*

Thank you🙏🏿. Pls share let more people be alerted. It may help to save more lives.

The Danger of Self-Conceit

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 23:31:00 +0000

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Luke 22:31-34.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 NIV

Self-conceit is an exaggerated opinion of one’s own qualities or abilities. It is an over-rated or inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance. Self-conceit is when you have over-confidence in yourself, what you can do or what you have done. You do not put into consideration your fallibility and vulnerabilities; you just feel you can and there is no reason for fear or caution. It is a manifestation of complex and a deception someone may feel secure in. Gal. 6:3-4 warns that “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” NIV. Self-conceit is a feeling, a thinking and an opinion that is exaggerated, it may not be the reality but the person bases his behavior on it. The passages we quoted above are filled with lessons and instructions. Peter missed an opportunity to ask for mercy and grace because he was self-conceited. What has his answer in verse 33, expressing strength, got to do with the warning the Lord gave to him in verses 31-32? It is only self-conceit that will make a man to hear warnings from the Lord of all the earth, but only to ignore it believing that he has strength and can do “mighty things” for God.

What makes us self-conceited?

1. The strength we think we have, whether perceived or real can make us to be self-conceited. What we can do or what we have done. Peter in our text above trusts in what he can do. It blinds us and hinders us from depending and seeking for the help we need either from others or from the Lord.

2. The knowledge we think we have. Self-conceit makes us unteachable because we think we know and have no need of learning. There is this “I have arrived mentality” when we are self-conceited.

3. Our gifting, talents, special abilities, possessions, and achievements can make us to be self-conceited. We may be tempted to overrate ourselves, which makes us to foolishly cross some common-sense boundaries which definitely will land us into trouble. As gifted men and women, we need to continually submit our gifting to the Lord. When we can pray, teach, or prophesy, the temptation is that after a long time of practice, it is possible to leave the Lord behind while we continue the use of the gifting. It just dawned on me that God has not asked me to trust on my prayer life or the quantity of scriptures in my head, He has asked me to trust Him. Prayer becomes empty and ritualistic when the Lord is absent and scriptural passages without the Spirit only become letters that kill.

4. Good compliments and praises from people around us can be deceptive and can make us to become self-conceited. Men’s praise can make us forget from where God picked us up and our estimation of ourselves becomes bogus, knowingly or unknowingly. Fame and popularity fade, time renders both hollow.

5. Lastly, position of power and the privileges of an office can make us to become self-conceited. We are often tempted to equate an office to the person occupying the office, which is a lie. Positions of power are transient. You can be in power today and out of power tomorrow. Every position of power expires. King Saul overrated himself and got destroyed. In 1 Sam.13, Prophet Samuel delayed from coming to the camp in Gilgal. Saul felt he could perform the same sacrifice like Samuel and asked them to bring him the animals for offerings even when it was not in his office to do. Again, he came back from a battle where obviously he didn’t do what God had asked him to do and the first thing he did was to go and erect a monument for himself at Carmel and moved on (Sam.15:12).

What is instructive is that the points listed above are not bad in themselves but can get us corrupted except if we don’t walk wisely.

Why is self-conceit dangerous?

I will summarize the dangers of self-conceit with five points:

1. When we have an exaggerated opinion of ourselves, it makes us to put up a “bold face”. We can cover things up because we do not want others to know how weak we are. We can either give ourselves some reasons why we ought to live the way we do or assume some level of familiarity and favour with God.

2. Self-conceit means that we are egoistic. We are loud and want to always be heard and want to have our way. We always have something to prove and show though we may be empty. It is all about impression. Because the opinion is exaggerated, the image of the person so produced is like a balloon which can easily be busted anytime.

3. Self-conceit is a complex, a lie and a deception which makes it very dangerous. You cannot underestimate the level of low one can descend when you are self-conceited. Someone who is vain and egoistic can do terrible things. Because self-conceit is about false pride and bloated self-importance and worth, the person will have this sense of importance and indispensability which breeds impunity. It has produced tyrants, self-righteous men, traitors and men you cannot trust when the chips are down. Haman in Esther is a case in point here.

4. When we are self-conceited, we hurt people around us and often find reasons for that. We may not care because we may feel it is inevitable for us to hurt them. The world must revolve around us and we must be the “celebrity” at the center of every conversation.

5. Finally, when we are self-conceited, sooner or later, we will have a big fall. It can be a fall into sin or into some other serious life’s troubles. Why? Because, the person will not listen or give heed to warnings and warning signs; a near-miss is not a reason to reflect instead is an opportunity to boast; the person will depend on exaggerated abilities and his or her strength instead of depending on the Lord; there is this sense of false security, “I can handle it”, which will ensure the person continues to live dangerously until destruction comes.

The poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley tells it all on the outcome of vain glory:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;

Look on my works, ye mighty and despair.

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

The poem is believed to be about Pharaoh Ramesses II who was once considered very powerful and even divine, however, his once intimidating monument lies in ruins in an unoccupied and abandoned desert sand. How time renders the glories of yesterday's men to nothing. Our glories today will become tomorrow's abandoned relics and nothing.

In this time of Lent, may we all seek the Lord in humility. May we inculcate His mind and be clothed with His life. When we humble ourselves, it is possible to avoid Peter’s fall.

Ravi Zacharias’ Scandal: My Lessons Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 09:46:00 +0000

The final report released by the independent investigators concerning the accusations of sexual misconduct levelled against late Ravi Zacharias just came out on the 11^th of February 2021 and the revelations are very disturbing and disappointing. Personally, I was heart-broken. When the news first came out in 2017 about how Ravi Zacharias groomed a woman named Lori Anna Thompson online, almost nobody believed the woman. The lame explanation given by Ravi Zacharias was swallowed hook line and sinker by the senior leadership of RZIM and by most of us who followed the ministry. I remember in April 2020 when Christianity Today wrote a tribute after his death and elaborated the accusation, I was among those that were not happy with the author and questioned the motive behind elaborating on an accusation which Ravi had denied and the couple have settled with him out of court. But with everything that has come out from this report, I was dead wrong. I really apologize for making negative comments concerning the writer’s efforts to dig out the truth. I now understand that keeping records, truthful records, is one of the duties of a faithful scribe.

In September 2020, Christianity Today ran a follow up story on the confessions of three women who worked as Massage Therapists or otherwise at a Spa co-owned by Ravi Zacharias. With the testimonies of these women, I began to sense that something was seriously flawed in the narrative given to us by Ravi and the Ministry Leadership. I eagerly awaited the result of the investigations. However, all my hopes were shattered when the interim report came out in December 2020 and suggested that valid evidence was found confirming some of the accusations. The final report details the testimonies of the victims, the methods used by Ravi to gain the trust of his victims and eventually abuse them, and the enabling toxic environment within the RZIM ministry which ensured that Ravi was not confronted with his sins, and dissenting voices who were asking difficult questions were labelled and marginalized. He was found to be guilty of “Sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse and rape”. The RZIM Board has released an open apology to all the affected victims and repented of their ineptitude in the whole affairs and is taking several steps to right all the identified wrongs. Also, they are praying to know which direction the ministry will take going forward which may include changing the name of the ministry.

Now one may ask, why all the attention being paid to spilt milk? Why not let the sleeping dog lie, especially since the accused is dead and is not here to defend himself? The truth is that God does not work that way as long as it has to do with His work. While I was meditating on the whole thing, God, I believe, began to expound in my mind the importance of being faithful in keeping records, the work of faithful scribes. It re-dawned on me that many of the biblical writers were faithful scribes. If they picked and selected the stories they wrote about, we would not have the Bible the way it is today. I learnt once again that records matter even for the next generation. It is not about Ravi or any of the journalists who are doing their jobs. It is about keeping truthful records. Christianity Today has a statement on this. Ravi had the opportunity to respond when Lori Anne Thomas accused him, and he denied all wrong doing, sued the woman and the husband, accusing them of racketeering and extortion. He played the victim while the woman was painted as the person with a criminal intent. You can only be moved to tears when you listen to the woman’s testimony. She lost almost everything because of the power and influence Ravi wielded while alive. How else can these women be healed if not when the truth comes out? Again, how else can the living learn if not when the truth of the whole matter comes out?

There are also Christians who are hurting secretly because of this scandal and the only way they can move forward is when all the perspectives are made clear, especially by Christians who will give the whole discourse a biblical approach. As I wrote in my tribute when he died in April 2020, I came in contact with Ravi’s messages at a point in my life when I had crises of belief, even as a Christian leader. Apologetics is not common in my part of the world. Biblical truths are declared but not explained, hence those in troubles, especially lingering ones, never have the opportunity of having explanations. It’s rare to see any church in Nigeria having Q&A sessions to answer questions. When I listened to Ravi, God used his teachings to resolve my confusions. I enrolled and did the Core Module Course and have also downloaded and bought many of his books. I have quoted his works in most of my researches and presentations and introduced many people close to me to his works. One pastor friend, who got to know Ravi's works through me, called some days ago asking to know the truth about what he was reading on the internet about Ravi. I think I will be doing a disservice to them if I keep quiet as if nothing happened. I am disappointed but not devastated because it’s been long God taught me not to put my trust in any man, no matter how greatly the person has been used of God. God has taught me that all the earthly power that we wield, whether spiritual or political or otherwise, is transient and may not count to our advantage when we stand before Him. The treasure is in breakable, weak, earthen vessels of clay. (2 Cor.4:7). All of us are vulnerable and can fall, even to our own surprises. Our regalia and powerful positions do not insulate us from temptations, but can only ensnare us. What can we learn from this scandal both as individuals and as Churches and ministries? I want to lend my voice to many others who have kick-started the discussion. That is my focus in this write up.

As an individual,

I have been having serious personal introspection. It has come clear once again to me that I have to watch my conscience to ensure I maintain a clear conscience. 1 Tim.1:19-20. As noted by Michael Brown, any one of us can lead a double life.
I have to live transparently as much as I can because whatever I cover now cannot be covered forever. Luke 12:2-3. If you control the narrative when you are alive, what happens when you die?
Living in secret sin and laboring in the ministry is like building on sand. It is obvious that Ravi Zacharias built a magnificent great edifice on quick sand. Everything is crumbling and collapsing. Many of the partners all over the world are severing themselves from RZIM. Some publishers have pulled his books from their shelves. There is suggestion that RZIM may consider changing the name of the ministry entirely and downsizing the workforce to barest minimum. Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA), the Denomination that ordained him has revoked his ordination. The church is suffering, the family is suffering and everyone of us is suffering and we all need prayers.
I have to open myself up to accountability, especially to my wife who is my closest friend and partner even when it is difficult and painful.
I don’t have to be afraid when I try to respectfully hold a loved one accountable, especially those in positions, yet watching my own heart. If I suffer as a result, that is ok.
Don’t easily dismiss the complain of the weak against someone in a position of power.

As a church,

For the good health of the church and the ministers, boards and councils that have oversight functions should as much as possible be composed, not by family members and friends who are emotionally attached to the minister but members whose qualifications should be their Christian maturity. You are already in a big snare if you are surrounded by men and women who cannot look you in the face and ask you difficult questions at anytime and insist that you give adequate answers.
No assumptions, every suspicious behavior, must be queried and cleared. Why should you set up an office internet network but your own computers and devices are using a different plan? Though we have to be careful not to create an atmosphere of suspicion, the truth is that we have to be our brother's keeper.
The Board must be active and be holding review meetings. Most Ministry Boards do not have annual meetings until there are problems. The best many do is ritualistic just to praise the man of God for the great work he is doing, without asking personal questions. Many of these great men of God are lonely and are looking for trusted relationships they can open up to. If I am not allowed to ask questions, for example, after a financial accounts presentation, then I will better resign, because the reason for my being on the board is already defeated.
We must desist from the cult of human worship. No other man deserves our worship. Once a man is deified, he is exalted and separated to a place that is above criticism. When we do this, we ensnare both the minister and the followers, everybody is endangered; unfortunately, we do it a lot.
Quickly repent of any sin once it is noticed. Sin, especially sexual sins thrive in the secret. If it is not exposed and confessed, you will likely do it again and again. The worst in this category are the sexual sins that do not involve the second person, I mean masturbation, pornography, and all private sexual pervasions. The reasons they are dangerous is that men around you may never notice it as you can still put-up a spiritual outlook and live in this pretense for years. They lead to the public sexual scandals and are very difficult to stop. The lid has to be opened for the pressure to be killed.
As a minister, create time for accountability discussions with leaders who are spiritually sound. Churches, ministries, para-church groups have to insist on this and include it as part of the schedule of every leader, maybe annually or otherwise. Leaders need encouragement. They need shoulders to cry on and need others to listen as they share their personal struggles too.

Finally, God is bigger than all of us. He is bigger than our failures and weaknesses. He is not afraid of the failings of humans and those failings do not threaten Him or His work. We finish, we expire, no matter what He has used us to do, but His work continues. In a meeting a few days ago, a minister shared with us how God encouraged him to move on and run his own race and finish well when some years back he was grieving for another close pastor who had a similar sexual scandal. God told him that He has experienced human disappointments right from Adam and it grieves. But He emphasized on him minding his own race and ensuring that he finishes strong.

So beloved, run your own race, finish well. The Lord Jesus said, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Matt.16:18.

Repentance before God or business as usual?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:36:00 +0000

We thank God for bringing us into the New Year 2021. We come in, full of faith in what our God can do and full of hope in the pictures His promises paint to us. Many of us are seeking the Lord’s face to know what He will have us do. At the end of the day, it matters what we come out with as the word from the Lord. This brings us to the issue this discussion is focusing on today – the matter of false prophecies by Christians, especially when they come from respected Church leaders.

Some days ago, I watched with tears in my eyes, a video clip that contains the several prophecies made by many church leaders in December 2019 and January 2020 concerning what year 2020 would hold. Almost all of them were declaring like the Hananiah and other prophets in Jeremiah 28. In Jeremiah 28, while God was warning them through Prophet Jeremiah and intended them to repent from their sins and pass through the humiliation and burden of serving the King of Babylon, these prophets were declaring bogus peace and restoration and telling them that there was no reason to worry. God said that their prophecies only ended up sealing the people’s fate to be exiled from Judah (Jer.27:14-15). Year 2020 was one of the most difficult years the world has ever experienced, but none of these prophets saw it. They declared a year of peace and laughter when there was none. It wasn't.

Furthermore, many Christians for one reason or another, were very interested in what would be the outcome of the United States Presidential Election. The election has come and gone and President Trump lost. All his efforts to get the results overturned proved abortive. Going through the prophecies from some prominent Christian leaders, it shows that many of them got it all wrong. They said that God told them that Trump would win but he ended up losing. Then I ask, who actually spoke to them? This is because, one of the marks of God’s word is that it gets fulfilled against all odds. Many have tried giving reasons why what they prophesied did not come to pass. But none of their reasons suffices. Michael Brown shared a very insightful thought here. Yes, to all the prophets that normally give prophecies, you are either right or wrong. “There are no middle grounds”, he said. Either God speaks to you and it comes to pass or He does not speak to you and hence what you prophesy will not come to pass. He suggested that at the end, there will be need for “serious accountability, reflection and even repentance.” Already, there are two Pastors that have led the train of apologizing to their followers for giving false prophecies. Pastor Jeremiah Johnson had prophesied that President Trump would win a second term election and be returned back to the White House. It didn’t happen. He apologized to his followers and repented of his false prophecy, “I would like to repent for inaccurately prophesying that Donald Trump would win a second term as the President of the United States”. He took full responsibility. Some Christians are against his repentance but it is encouraging to read the comment of the New Testament Scholar, Craig Keener, “Thank you for your integrity. May many follow your model. And God help us with those who are being so hostile”. Kris Valloton issued his own apology and congratulated the President-elect Biden and promised to be praying for him. He said, “I take full responsibility for being wrong. There is no excuse for it. I think it doesn’t make me a false prophet but it does actually create a credibility gap. A lot of people trust me… I want to say I’m sorry”.

Personally, that is a Christian character. To be a Christian does not mean that you may not sin at any time along your journey, but it matters what you do next when you realize you have sinned.

I believe that we need to repent in Nigeria as a church and not carry on with business as usual. We have seen a lot of false prophecies; people gave their monies and sowed seeds without results; expectations were crashed as many waited for some prophecies that did not come to pass; bogus claims failed to yield results; the faith of many of our young people are shaken as they watch with questions in their minds. Unfortunately, even the questions of young people are not given adequate attention and answer. We have a generation of youths that do not believe in our God because there are credibility gaps here and there and all we do in most cases is to keep silence.

This January 2021 as we pray, I feel very strongly that instead of declaring things we did not hear from the throne of God, we should repent and present the Church before the Lord for His fresh visitation. Peradventure, He will remember us and show us mercy, especially to this our beloved country.

God bless you and Happy New Year.

Amasi Amasi - Incomprehensible God (Audio Video version) by Kesychris

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 13:43:00 +0000

The hiddenness of God

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 02:39:00 +0000

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. Job 23:8-10. ESV.

Does what Job described above look like your current experience?

The hiddenness of God is an experience every godly saint go through from time to time – a situation where like Job, you have a feeling that God seems absent in the midst of your earthly struggles. You feel that God seems to be very far and has suddenly distanced Himself from you. You look for all the exciting experiences you had before with God when you first met Him and they seem to have all gone or not satisfying anymore. It is true that sin separates us from God and makes God to distance Himself from us. However, if it is because of a sinful life style, once you repent from it, God forgives and relationship is restored. But in most of the times when we feel this way, you look into your life to see if there is any active sin that is making God to seem very far away but you cannot pin-point anything substantial, and yet God seems to hide Himself from you. The truth is that the hiddenness of God is not always caused by your sins or any bad thing you have done and you are not alone.

This crisis is possible to happen in the midst of a dragged problem or a troubling situation you cannot explain, like in Job’s case. When tragedy happens, we all tend to asking God why, seeking for answers. Even those that encourage you not to ask God why, live with the question in their hearts. But not many of us get an answer to those questions of why. The truth is that when we are in the midst of a difficult experience, no matter how terrible it may be, the power of that problem breaks when God speaks. We tend to handle tragedies better with peace when we know God’s perspective. In this case, God seems silent, saying nothing. Nobody can actually tell the number of weeks, months or years that existed between Job 1 and Job 38, but we suspect that it was a long time. The challenge is that within this period, there are these strange voices that will be speaking very loudly, but they do not offer the answer that you seek. It was not easy for Job to fight off the voices of his wife and his close friends who, instead of helping him, exacerbated the situation and hence increased the intensity of his desire for answers. Yes, God eventually revealed Himself and spoke and that brought closure to Job’s questions. I pray that He speaks in your situation today.

This situation can also occur because God is drawing you up to a new level of relationship with Him. He may be up to something bigger than where you are currently. He hides, as it were, and expects you to pursue Him in a closer relationship. In the course of your earnest seeking, He teaches you something new and takes you to a new level of experience. Attitude is developed, patience is learned and childishness is done away with. Who does not want to remain in that first childish experience when God seemed all around you and responded to almost every word you uttered, even when we asked amiss? Who does not want to remain in that responsibility-free state where everyone cared for us and we cared for no one? The truth is that that is what happens when a new baby is born, even spiritual babies too. Nobody wants to leave a baby to stay on its own unattended to. But there comes a time when the baby has to grow, though still being loved and cared for, the person is left with little or no supervision because he or she is expected to be responsible and be able to take decisions according to all that he or she has been taught. God trains us so that we can manifest as sons representing Him in the affairs of this earth. You do not need the pampering of childhood to know that God is with you and loves you. If you continue to follow hard after Him, He will reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways to you.

It can actually be a period of great test of faith to proof something in your life. We often want to permanent a specific experience or even make an idol out of a single experience. We always want to re-invent the experience because that is what gives us the feeling that God is with us. If we do not have the experience, we feel God is very far away and has abandoned us. God may actually be drawing us out of ourselves, exposing the utter hopelessness and helplessness of our strength so that we can wholly put our trust in Him. The fact that we feel He is far does not really mean that He is far. It may truly mean that He is essentially active in our lives. He removes the cherished experience, breaks the arm of flesh and desires that we look up to Him for help.

The hiddenness of God happens because of the incomprehensiveness of God’s nature. Even though God can be known, yet no man can claim to have comprehensively known Him. He is an eternal mystery Himself, hence, no matter your experience with Him, you are still short of knowing Him. The revelation of God we have in nature, in the Scriptures and ultimately in His Son is the extent that is revealed to us, and that is enough for our salvation, but God in His essence is still bigger than what is revealed to us. We know God when we know Jesus Christ. Though the experience of this knowledge is often sensed at the realm of emotions and feelings, it is important to note that we walk by faith in what is revealed and not by our wavering feelings. Good feelings are good and God sometimes grants us those nice feelings as we experience Him. However, our lives should not be lived based on feelings but on faith. That is why without faith, it is impossible to please Him. He that comes to God must first of all believe and that is a prerequisite. Faith is a prerequisite at the beginning of the journey, it is a prerequisite in the journey and is also a prerequisite at the end of the journey. Nobody is discountenancing the validity of your feelings but valid feelings do not mean that they represent truth. Truth is what is revealed and what is revealed should be taken above our feelings. In practical terms, it means that the feeling of God’s distance does not mean that God is very far away because He is ever with us. Heb.13:5 says “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” NIV. The truth revealed is that God is with us, even in every difficult and painful situation. We have to live at the level of faith in God’s written Word and not at the level of our feelings.

Now I want to humbly note that what I share here does not give all the answers to the issue of the hiddenness of God. For example, some have complained and asked why the God of love should make knowing Him very difficult, in spite of all the efforts of some people to sincerely seek Him. I have a brother who many years ago complained to I and my wife how he was willing to give his life to Jesus Christ but in spite of all his efforts, God seemed not to be easy for him to find. It is a real and practical challenge of many people. We led the brother to Christ but nothing seemed to have happened. We continued to pray for him until after many years, God cleared the cloud in his mind and made Himself known to him. He loves to reveal Himself to all who sincerely seek Him.

Firstly, what this teaches me is that I should always respond to God as he reveals Himself to me. Postponing my response is being presumptuous as He is the only One that takes the initiative to reveal Himself. Secondly, we have to trust His heart even when we do not understand what His hands are doing. We trust His heart that He has good intentions and good thoughts for us and will do what is good and right. Finally, as Henry Blackaby said in his book, Experiencing God, when you are confused in the middle of your walk with God and cannot seem to know where He is working currently in your life, continue doing the last thing you are sure God revealed to you and in due course, the cloud will clear. God loves you. Remain blessed.

The argument: A false prophecy and a false prophet

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 13:49:00 +0000

A false prophecy is different from a false prophet as a false teaching is different from a false teacher. A false prophet can give a true prophecy as a false teacher can teach a biblical truth. Someone who is not a false prophet can give a false prophecy as someone who is not a false teacher can also teach something wrong.

A false prophet is deliberate and leads people away from God while a true prophet can make a mistake. A false teacher is intentional and leads people away from God and right living while ANYBODY can make the mistake of teaching what is false. Many factors can be the cause: shear ignorance, level of theological education and exposure, environment, and personal or group interests. A deliberate and intentional person is consistent and will refuse all corrections, even when he is confronted with the truth while someone who makes a mistake repents once he receives enlightenment.

These are the reasons why we MUST all remain humble and hold ourselves accountable. We MUST all be watchful and take heed to ourselves and others as people who are accountable. It is very dangerous to walk alone in this pilgrimage. It is dangerous to destroy structures of accountabilities God creates around you either in the form of old friends and significant relationships who can look you in the face and ask you difficult questions and confront you with the truth or established processes of checks and balances that demands your compliance.

Any man can fall. Anyone can fail. However, God wants all of us to win. God bless you.

God - The Ultimate HERO in all of our stories

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 11:33:00 +0000

"The Bible speaks very plainly about the flaws and failings of even its most heroic figures. The ultimate hero of the biblical stories, and the ultimate hero of our own stories, is not the human being in all of his or her sin but the God who works through sinful people to redeem them and accomplish his purposes." Christianity Today.

Yes, the ultimate Hero in all of our stories as saved and redeemed sinners is not the Papas and GOs, the Bishops and Archbishops, Abraham or David or Peter or Paul. I am not the ultimate hero in my story. The ultimate Hero is God Himself, the God who loved me when I wasn't thinking about Him, sent His Son to die for me, raised Him from the dead, and pursued me like a "good man" wooing the "woman" he loves for a loving relationship, not for His benefits but for my benefits; He won me, cares for me and has made abundant promises to me which has eternal implications beyond this present life. My God, You are the Ultimate HERO! Amen.

Pray for the Assemblies of God Church in Abakiliki

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 08:44:00 +0000

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/416753-robbers-invade-ebonyi-church-rape-girl.html

Please for the sisters in this story for healing both physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. Also pray that the perpetrators be brought to justice and that they may be encountered by the Lord.

The Church must go back to preaching the Gospel of Jesus which transforms lives and cultures and brought the fear of God into the lives of our communities. This "gospel of health and wealth" we have embraced can only make us weaker and weaker everyday because it has no spiritual power. God bless.

Absolute power is not meant for mortals

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 15:57:00 +0000

Yes, total and unqualified power is not meant for mortals to exercise. Absolute power is power that is independent and autonomous. It is not accountable and submits to no one. An office with absolute power makes laws for other people but lives above the laws it has made. It cannot be questioned and owes nobody any explanation. Absolute power exercises unguarded freedom without boundaries. This freedom is the reason why the occupiers speak freely and often carelessly. They can say anything, do anything and expect nothing else from those listening or watching them but to accept everything without questions. People with absolute power normally do not have good men around them. Praise singers, hypocrites and yes-men are the only ones that can hang around for a long time because they are the only ones that can be accommodated. Good men and old friends can only be accommodated at the early stages of the assumption of office, but once they settle down, they begin to drop their old friends one after the other.

The fact is that some offices, at their creation, do not have absolute power but some demagogues and power mongers can convert it into such by changing the laws and intimidating the people. The power of the office can also be converted into absolute power when they are raised above criticism, favoured and judged unlike other men and some mysteries created around them and their positions. Through this conversion, we have created tyrants on pulpits, thrones and other seats of power.

I dare say that God, the Creator, never made anyone to exercise absolute power. No one, I repeat, no one is endowed with the qualities and character to carry and discharge absolute power. The fallen man does not have the capacity to handle absolute power. He needs a horizontal as well as a vertical accountability in order to discharge justice and do what is right.

Any office that has absolute power will produce unintended monsters as its occupants. Put a saint to occupy an office that has absolute power embedded in it, it will not turn him differently. He may manage to resist at the beginning but give him many years to come, he will become what others before him became – monsters. Any office, be it religious or political, with absolute power embedded in it explicitly or implicitly, is a killer of morality. It is a pit and a grave yard, even for the most pious.

Many that exercise absolute power do not seem to understand what they have turned into until they leave office, if the position has that provision and the occupants allow the transition to continue. Then looking back, many ask themselves, “who did these despicable things? Who wrecked these havocs?” They will see that they have left in their trail broken lives trampled upon, dreams caged or destroyed, crying and weeping souls who could not save themselves from their cruelty and others just crushed because they dared to have an opposing view. There are some who unfortunately do not have the privilege of after-office reflection. They die in the position of power and are only left at the mercy of history.

Every office, whether political or religious, except occupied by the spirits, must have a sort of regulations and laws that guide the actions and or inactions of the occupants. The occupants do not make the laws that regulate the office, they submit to the laws that established the office.

Lord Acton’s words in 1887, contained in the letter he wrote to Mandell Creighton, who later became the bishop of England, are very instructive here. Mandell was writing on “The Papacy in the Reformation Epoch” but instead of presenting history the way it was, he tended to ignore or defend the atrocities committed by the Roman Catholic Popes who used the “papal courts of the Renaissance”, the inquisitions and tribunals to convict people unjustly and tortured and burnt many at stakes. Lord Acton accused Creighton, “you say that people in authority are not to be snubbed or sneered at from our pinnacle of conscious rectitude. I really don’t know whether you exempt them because of their rank, or of their success and power, or of their date… I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favoured presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption it is the other way against holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.” Most of the Popes exercised absolute powers and like already mentioned, they turned out to become one of the worst dictators in the history of Europe.

If we want to live in a decent society, we must not fall into the fallacy that the office sanctifies the holder of it. Because every office is occupied by fallen men, we must create accountability structures that will help the occupiers to do what is right. Constructive criticisms and engagements must be advocated at all times without fear or favour. Though often bitter, but it reminds us that we are mortals. Even when the position is religious or the occupier is pious, we must not pretend or assume that the occupier cannot do any wrong or that the office has sanctified him or her. If you are the person in position, do not destroy the accountability structures you met on assumption of office. Strengthen them instead. Accept your critics as a gift and resist the temptation of increasing your powers, except you want the office or position to destroy your morals and integrity. Because you are a mortal being, absolute power will also corrupt you. Yes, absolute power is not meant for mortals. It is meant for only the Immortal God to exercise.

Finally, we need each other to remain the humans God wants us to be. Our hearts, as fallen men, need to be transformed and tamed. Only the acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and continual submission to the Holy Spirit can do this great work in your heart and mine.

Today it is Southern Kaduna, where will it be tomorrow?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Ekwedam) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:16:00 +0000

What is happening in Southern Kaduna is very worrisome. I watched a syndicate session organized by Southern & Middle Belt Christian Forum and hosted by a social media television channel some days ago and the revelations are disturbing. In this twentieth Century, a people group is being attacked almost on a regular basis, women and children are killed, many are wounded, the remnant are displaced and the attackers come back to occupy the abandoned places of the victims. As one of the contributors alleged, these attackers are enabled by those in government. In fact, he claimed that the grazing reserve that the government created some years ago have been expanded with land belonging to the indigenes and Fulanis of different nationalities come to settle there and almost all the attacks come from this settlement. Islamic Emirates are created by the present State Government over a people group that is predominantly Christians and animists. He alleged that a case in point is the Adara Kingdom whose traditional ruler Dr. Maiwada Galadima was gruesomely murdered after he was kidnapped on his way going home from a meeting he had with the Governor. Though ransom was paid to the kidnappers, yet they killed him and his wife. Instead of appointing a new king for the kingdom, a new emirate has been created that will oversee the area.

Other contributors equally alleged that it is not just that the government is supporting and enabling the attacks, the military and security forces are accused of being complicit in the unfortunate situation. In a situation where the State Government will declare a curfew, every member of the community stays at home with the military manning the check points, yet the attackers will evade all the check points, enter and attack the sleeping communities, murder and maim for hours without any challenge, then when they have completed their mission and gone, the military will yet again enter these ravaged communities to arrest the youths who come out to protest the killings. On some occasions, a contributor alleged, the military will first enter the communities and search and confiscate and arrest those who have bows and arrows, locally made guns and matchets in their homes and almost as they leave, the attackers will come back to ravage the communities. Several reports have been done on these wanton and senseless killings. The narrative presented by the State and Federal Governments is that it is a communal clash, yet the question is “what is the essence of government if not to resolve cases such as this and bring peace?” If they are communal clashes, will the government stand by and see a genocide committed under its watch? The army brass said that it is not a genocide but “activities of criminal elements on both sides and not ethnic cleansing as it is being claimed”. The problem with this narrative is that it is only one side that is continually doing mass burials as reported by CNN here.

However, the question actually is, “must we wait until it degenerates to what can be categorized as ethnic cleansing before the government stop the killings?” Who are the providers of these weapons? Why is every section of the country complaining about the same ethno-religious group?

As Christians, the purpose of this review is for us to earnestly pray for our governments and those in authority. Also, we need to start to speak up and engage at all levels so that security can be restored and we can “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim.2:1-4 ESV). We have to start to speak out because we do not have another life to live than the one we live now. No other time to make impact than now. No other generation will deal with our issues than our generation.

Today it is Southern Kaduna, where will it be tomorrow?

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Proverbs 31:8-9