Gratefulness of Christ to the special six…continuation of The Six Special Marys, Christ will ever remain grateful

As is typical of man, whoever does you a great deal, you shall ever remain grateful… so is Christ. For the motherly role Mary the virgin played in his life, she continues to wear the enviable crown of being the mother to the saviour of the world.

She had no mean a person, but God the almighty to be her spokesperson. Remember the said decision of Joseph to part ways with Mary, his to be wife after he has identified her to be pregnant? No amount of explanations could have saved such a situation, but for the timely intervention of an angel of the Lord to Joseph in a dream. Matthew 1:20 but while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mary the virgin in modern times could have been taken for one of the gleeful mothers of her generation. Many a time; I have seen and heard parent express an opened delight, amidst praises from family friends, neighbours and the lot, all in cognise of one thing, “a genius performance by an offspring”. “This is out of your child’s generation” is but one of the numerous expressions of delight that might crown such assertions. Little Jesus, per the records, was such a delight. Teaching in the synagogue, asking mind boggling questions; challenging doctrinal deficiencies of Teachers, proving and exposing the hypocrisies of the perceived “paragons of virtue”, the Pharisees… the list continues.  This is the joy of motherhood every child can honour her mother with, and Mary certainly was not denied it.

In our today endeavours, if only we would delight ourselves in the lord, keep a sanctified life; we shall also be the ever pleasing mothers of children bringing us honour, instead of shame.

Our children shall save the world from the numerous challenges facing it in modern times. I believe this because, Christ attests to the fact that, whoever that believeth in him, shall do greater than he came to do.

For Mary, sister to Martha; her brother Lazarus did not remain in the grave after his death. He was raised from death. She had the honour of an enviable visitation by Christ to her home.

This is what it means to be a friend to Jesus Christ. Their friendship (Mary and Martha) alone warranted them a visitation from Jesus Christ. And it wasn’t a mere visitation, but one that led to the resurrection of their brother Lazarus who was dead for some days.

Being a friend of Jesus Christ means resurrection. He is the same Jesus of the Mary and the Martha days. He changes not, Jesus give him the chance to be part of your life and your situations (Hebrews 13:8).

 “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” Luke 5: 32, Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17…

The above proclamation of Jesus ushers us into a discussion on our next character, Mary Magdalene. A prostitute and a demon possessed fellow who in our current times wouldn’t have befit a close association to any of us, holier than you Christians. Her meeting Jesus Christ was a miracle and deliverance. She was purged of anything demon, filthiness.

Her zealousness for Christ propelled her to want to be the first, in meeting Christ after his resurrection from the dead.

She availed herself to be the mouthpiece for announcing Christ’s resurrection to his disciples…Not only this, but even his subsequent ascension to his father.

Jesus was a man of practice. Whatever he says, he exemplifies that practically. And Mary Magdalene was the beneficiary and a perfect example of his coming not being for the righteous, but the lost.

No matter how critical you may have subsumed your situation, it is absolutely not critical beyond the remedy of the saviour, Jesus Christ.

Bible history may have not expatiated enough on the other Marys, but nobody serves Christ whole-hearted and goes unrewarded.

Take a clue…

The Six Special Marys, Christ will ever remain grateful

Mention Mary in any claimed Christian environment, and what first comes to the table is the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ; the saviour. In this my latest of write ups, I walk you through five other Mary’s apart from the known, Virgin Mary.

What’s worth emulating, apart from their individual contributions to the growth of the Christ ministry is their individual moral attributions.

First to discuss is the Virgin Mary. Obviously, she is the most popular among the lot for her role played in bringing into being, what arguably will be taken as the largest religion in the world, Christianity. As captured by scriptures; she is mother to Jesus Christ, the saviour of the universe.

 Luke 1: 30, 31, 34 and 35… “The angel said to her, don’t be afraid. Mary, for you have found favour with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and will call his name, “Jesus”

She is the only lady, apart from fictionist characters who in history conceived, and gave -birth still a virgin.34- Mary said to her, “how can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”35- The Angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most high will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the son of God

Mary, the virgin as known was also a relative or sister to Elizabeth (the wife of Zacharias, a chief priest) Luke 1:36 “…Behold, Elizabeth, your relative…

 The sixteenth book of Romans also gives an account of a Mary who also lived in bible times. Much was not said as to whom she was. But she for the purpose of this write up deserves the mention. She was by way of recognition mentioned by Tertius, a servant of Christ, in an epistle to the church in Romans as someone who really laboured for the course of the kingdom work. Romans 16:6, “Greet Mary, who laboured much for us”

The book of Acts also gives another account of a Mary, mother to John, whose surname scripture says is Mark. Acts 12:12, “Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark”. It was in her house, the saints gathered in the observance of their prayer activities during the arrest of Peter the Apostle by King Herod.

She is the first to meet Christ after he has risen from the death. She took responsibility for the announcement of Christ’s resurrection, and subsequent ascendance to the father to his disciples. One of her most remarkable experience with Christ was the opportunity of having been delivered of seven evil spirits. She is none other than Mary Magdalene.

Another Mary worth noting is Mary, who is sister to Martha and Lazarus, The one Christ rose from the dead. She exemplified a soul whose delight is in sitting under the feet of Christ to listen to the message of life, the gospel of the kingdom. Mary, unlike her sister Martha, was a typical of that who took no interest in many a fleeting thing of the world to the neglect of the gospel of Christ’s kingdom.

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas …, Luke 24:13-32

The final but not the least, the Mary identified as being wife of Cleophas; also a follower of Christ in the early church days.

BREAKING NEWS: Jesus baptised at the 10th Iron sharpeneth iron Conference

Wonders indeed shall never end...the bible times John baptising the saviour Jesus Christ has miraculously taken placed at the 10th iron sharpeneth iron conference; an annual even by the Light House Chapel International.

The details are in the write up below.

... before a fall comes pride; humility begets honour...(Proverbs 18: 12)

Arch-Bishop anoints Dag-Heward Mills

In-mid January this year, I happened to lead a team of Young Christ enthusiasts; and executives of the Campus Christian Family (CCF- GIJ chapter) to the Sheepfold Ministry, Spintex Road Accra.
The visit was purposely in-line with the leadership goal of the family to on a periodic ground, visit and fellowship with a chosen church; per as agreed on by the family’s executive team.

The maiden visit was very great and worth attending in my opinion.
“The one thing I took with me on that visit is to remember where Grace took me. And remain humble”
Overseer Bishop Titi Ofie stressed the need for humility, and the adverse effect of the opposite of it; pride.

The epic summon summarised is, remember where grace found you and remain humble. For before a man’s fall comes pride, but humility begets honour.

The message, almost three months on; has been explicitly and practically exemplified by two great ministers of the gospel in the annals of our nation. These Ministers are, Arch Bishop Duncan Williams and Dag-Heward Mills both of Action Chapel International and Light-House Chapel International respectively.
Posted/ shared on the facebook page of Dag-Heward Mills are photos of the Arch-Bishop anointing he; Heward Mills at the underway 10th Iron sharpeneth iron conference- (Proverbs 27:19).

It is not the picture that strikes my attention, but the calibre of persons and the level of humility being exemplified by them. It is such an awesome sight for one’s viewership.

 “They have done what only Jesus can do, and have far convinced me that, if we believe and trust in Jesus, we shall do exceeding above what he Jesus did on earth.”

“The sight was really a modern day graphical presentation of the Biblical John the Baptist, baptising the saviour Jesus”

No wonder the extent at which their Ministerial callings having experienced the global recognition.

The morals I have personally mopped is, if only up and coming ministers shall  let go their ego’s and learn from those w ahead of them in the ministry, the proverbial sky shall be the limit for them.
secondly, up and coming ministers have to reason that, seeking counsel is a receipe for achievement of any kind.

The solution to the numerous defunct ministers at their foundation stage is the pictures shared below.

JOHN BAPTIZES JESUS

Thanks for reading and endeavour to share. Iron indeed sharpeneth iron.

Pictures courtesy Dag-Heward Mills’ facebook account

Leadership 360

There are lots of lay definitions given when it comes to the topic (Leadership).  Attempts to touch the nucleus of leadership have proven futile in my opinion with the lay, secularized definitions. But some 2000 years ago, a personality transverse the surface of the earth whose life-style and the mode of operations, has touched even beyond the prefect Leadership.  This man is Jesus Christ. He was the precise and concise of the definition. Jesus Christ was a leadership 360.

This short article which would be a series, gives you an emphatic definitions of leadership based on the persona of JESUS CHRIST, and his works on earth. 

 He not only epitomizes leadership, but equally has become unto us a standard.

In John 14:6; he defined leadership as the WAY, TRUTH and THE LIFE.

Leadership as the WAY, he by nature emphasized is the path-way/ direction for the led to follow. And in the absence of leadership there is no way/direction.

Leadership is the life-wire to the survival of any group/ organization. Without leadership; the group is dead, and the only way by getting to the live-wire is telling the TRUTH.

John 14:6; crowns leadership as the only way to meeting the goals and aspirations of a group/ organization, without leadership; there is no other way.

“No one gets to the father, except through me”

In John 10:11; Christ defines leadership as DEATH. By death, I don’t mean physical death. It is about foregoing every personal eccentric pleasure for the welfare of the group/ organization led.

Forgo the partying, the sleep and whatever and channel all ones strength into the group’s survival.

In John 10: 14; leadership is being sensitive to the plight of your follower-ship.

The word is Jesus Christ per the description given us by John 1:1. Therefore, if the word which is Jesus Christ is light, and we are focusing on Jesus Christ leadership, then, leadership is supposed to be the light.

If darkness is not able to comprehend the light, leadership (light) is supposed to triumph all troubles of darkness.

Psalm 119: 105; leadership is supposed to be the light that shines, and lightens the path of darkness of its followers.Follower-ship presumably are faced with a lot of challenges which are the darkness. Therefore, Leadership is to be the light the brightens all these darkness.

Finally, leadership is everything that the follower-ship suffers. Whether the followers succeed or fail, it is dependent on the leadership. John 1:3.

   

TO-BE-CONTINUED

MY MEANS; MY END

MY MEANS; MY END

The end justifies the MEANS (The life lived). Ecclesiastes says, better is ones day of death than birth. The moral lesson here forth is, every mystery surrounding our core existence as a people will be demystified…only at death.

Death is a transaction into a period of accountability for any hitherto lived life, whether approvingly or disapprovingly.  

The picture painted of death by Solomon in Ecclesiastes is a joyful journey. Why, probably in his opinion because it marks the end to man’s numerous chases after the wind. The struggle, successes, dejections, disappointments, sleeplessness times and the lots shall all cease.

But I differ strongly with the opinion of the day of death being better than one’s day of birth.

Death which is an end to man’s existence on earth; but, a beginning to justifying and accounting for our means of living can both be sweet, or bitter. If the means is justified in synchrony with the creator’s will… then death is better than the day of birth. Because a justified life is the only requirement that can warrant any soul a befitting place in HIS kingdom. The reversed can’t be ignored.

Means defined: How a result is obtained or an end is achieved. Life on earth is very much result oriented. Everyone is fighting to achieve a certain end. This matters not; however, our means to achieving such ends. Whether godly or not, the means will justify the end.

Note: No man can achieve a good end through an unjustifiable means. If the means to achieving an end is bad, the end cannot be said to be good.

In the mathematical world, to arrive at an answer there are certain procedures one must follow. A student interestingly might arrive at the right answer, but if the means (Procedure) to arriving at the answer is wrong. The answer in itself though correct is wrong. THINK ABOUT IT!

WHAT MAN MUST UNDERSTAND

Every live is marked with numerous aspirations. We all seem to chase after an end (The mansions, luxurious cars, the fame, power… and the life of extravagance).

Every end is “a gift of God”. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). These gifts are preserved for those who walk in his path. Even as man as we are, “if it’s time to farm out our prepared gifts, we scrutinize among the multitude keenly, find people who have lived a pleasing life onto us and honour them with such gifts; how much more God! 

The perfect END is Ecclesiastes 12:13…”Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter (END): Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Thanks for reading, equally endeavour to share.

FELIX AKAHO JUNIOR
www.biblicalimpression.blogspot.com
dzidulajunior@gmail.com
0247142215/0572577058

BLESS YOU FOR READING!

Jesus Christ, Our supreme Constitution.

Constitution spells out the dos and don’ts governing any state. If the constitution is the type “adjectivised” with the word “supreme” then it simply means, all other laws must bow to. So is Jesus Christ, the founder and leader of the Christian faith. He is every Christian’s reference point. Meaning, our Christ life is null and void if it fails to validate with the life of Jesus Christ.

Christianity which I describe as a way of life cannot be lived or achieved with mediocrity or compromises. The book of Acts accounts that Christianity as a faith started from Antioch.

Acts 11:26 “and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

There was something peculiar the people of Antioch identified with “the assembled church”. They reflected Christ in all aspects. There are other accounts that said, the people of Antioch could not hide their admiration for the assemblage of the church; because they were Christ in being, hence the name, Christians. Therefore, to be a Christian is to BEHAVE Christ likely. To behave like someone is to live the person in BEHAVIOUR. Let’s not also take sight off the fact that, someone’s behaviour is the person’s way of life. Therefore, Christianity mathematically becomes (Christianity= Christians living + Christ in behaviour)…or Christians living Christ in behaviour.

Living Christ in behaviour admittedly would not come easy. It’s an issue of asking for the grace and the Spirit of Christ. Because there are two spirits that controls the universe ...that of Christ and his direct opposed, the devil. Those led by his spirit are his (Romans 8:9). Paul, then Saul who prosecuted the growth of the kingdom work was led by the spirit of the opposed to Christ, but when he met the Spirit of Christ on his way to Damascus, he experienced a change for Christ. Thus, he entreats all of us of the Christian faith to mimic him as he did mimic Christ. (1^st Corinthians 4:16). Therefore, to live like Christ is to mimic Christ.

 Receiving the spirit of Christ goes beyond the issue of being resolved and desiring. It’s about believing in Christ and who sent him, and requesting for his impact through prayer (Matthew 21:22). Christ has throughout his ministerial life stressed on Believing. To believe is not to be convinced…Believing in Christ is, being Christ in nature and, living him in attitude and outings. So in asking for an experience of Christ’s spirit through prayers, you don’t go out living the distaste of his spirit. (Galatians 5:19-21) 

The argument thereof is this, for one to be able to abide by the dictates of Jesus Christ, the supreme constitution for Christians; one has to be ingrained with the precepts of his being. Believe and behave are the key instructive.

In BELIEVING AND BEHAVING, we shall role model Christ. In remodelling Christ, we shall live dutifully and responsibly. Because in every RoleModelled lived life, there is a duty and responsibility to be lived, and in so doing, we shall become a model (product) of Christ. The duties are numerous; but few will do. Live a life of purity. Distaste the detests of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21)  

 You can’t forever live adrift the constitution of any NATION without being caught someday, somehow. “If you are in Rome and you don’t do what Romans do, you are an alien, not a Roman” …You can’t be a Christian and not live as Christ did…you might be an alien to the faith I guess! 

God be our lead us we out of fear and trembling, work out our salvation… 

DZIDULA JUNIOR @ www.felixscorner.blogspot.com