(Thursday, 18 October 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
Spiritual Union => One of the conerstones of this truth of Grace, is understanding God's divine plan in living His life through us. At the new birth Our old spirit nature was swallowed up in the Spirit of Christ. We become one spirit, no longer us but Him in us (the hope of true Glory). We are the vessels through which God manifest Himself in the earth. Each one of us a unique manifestation of an aspect of His being and thereby a display of His glory. When we catch the revelation, that it is no longer our spirit in us but His and stop trying to live the illusion that we have a seperate identity that God helps, we will truly begin to manifest the divine nature that indwells us.
But God's angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives.
(Romans 1:18-21 MSG)
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(Wednesday, 10 October 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered..." (John 14:6 CEV), "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ..." (Colossians 3:3-4 GNB), "so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me." (Galatians 2:20 GNB)
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"Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that GOD had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman's wife. One day she said to her mistress, "Oh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease." Naaman went straight to his master and reported what the girl from Israel had said. "Well then, go," said the king of Aram. "And I'll send a letter of introduction to the king of Israel." So he went off, taking with him about 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothes. Naaman delivered the letter to the king of Israel. The letter read, "When you get this letter, you'll know that I've personally sent my servant Naaman to you; heal him of his skin disease." When the king of Israel read the letter, he was terribly upset, ripping his robe to pieces. He said, "Am I a god with the power to bring death or life that I get orders to heal this man from his disease? What's going on here? That king's trying to pick a fight, that's what!" Elisha the man of God heard what had happened, that the king of Israel was so distressed that he'd ripped his robe to shreds. He sent word to the king, "Why are you so upset, ripping your robe like this? Send him to me so he'll learn that there's a prophet in Israel." So Naaman with his horses and chariots arrived in style and stopped at Elisha's door. Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: "Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you'll be as good as new." Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, "I thought he'd personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I'd at least get clean." He stomped off, mad as a hornet. But his servants caught up with him and said, "Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn't you have done it? So why not this simple 'wash and be clean'?" So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new. He then went back to the Holy Man, he and his entourage, stood before him, and said, "I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no God anywhere on earth other than the God of Israel. In gratitude let me give you a gift." (2 Kings 5:1-15 MSG)
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When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!"
(Romans 4:18 MSG)
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(Wednesday, 03 October 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
"What we do see is Jesus, made "not quite as high as angels," and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory "bright with Eden's dawn light." In that death, by God's grace, he fully experienced death in every person's place. It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn't hesitate to treat them as family," (Hebrews 2:9-11 MSG)
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"What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." (John 1:4-5 MSG)
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(Saturday, 29 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 MKJV)
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(Tuesday, 25 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
(Psalms 139:13-15 MSG)
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(Monday, 24 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
"Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too--the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ." (Colossians 3:3-4 MSG)
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(Saturday, 22 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.
(John 14:27 CEV)
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(Thursday, 20 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 14( click here to read part 14 ), we discovered that Christ was the key to unlocking the hidden mystery and that through spiritual rebirth both Jews & Gentiles would access the life of God by faith. Here we explore this further.
(Wednesday, 19 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 13 ( click here to read part 13 ), We looked at how Saul, a man through whom God was going to reveal the best guarded secret since time began had to be transformed from a "Hebrew of Hebrews" of the law to Paul an Apostle of grace. Here we begin to unlock this mystery.
The Mystery Revealed (13) Preparing the messenger
(Tuesday, 18 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 12 ( click here to read part 12 ), We looked at how God began to implement His plan to make salvation available to all of mankind without discrimination. We were also introduced to a man name Saul, who was to be a major part of this master plan. Having converted to Christianity, we explore his transition from a "Hebrew of Hebrews" to Paul an Apostle of grace.
(Monday, 17 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 11 ( click here to read part 11 ) , we saw how God had hidden His plans until they were in advertently executed by the religious leaders of Christ's day. We began to see the clues to God's plan to make salvation available to all of mankind without discrimination. Here we will look at how, as part of this plan; God began to extend His gift of life to the Gentiles.
(Friday, 14 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 10 ( click here to read part 10 ), we discovered that Christ had a full revelation of God's ultimate plan, hatched before even time began and God sent Him to begin to reveal His true nature; knowing fully well that the religious leaders would view Him as a threat and seek to eliminate Him. Here we explore God's plans further.
(Thursday, 13 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 9 ( click here to read part 9 ), we see the religious leaders trying to pitch their knowledge against Christ, the only one who had a full revelation of God. As one would expect, they failed miserably but did not submit to the truth He bore. Here we explore this further.
(Wednesday, 12 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 8 ( click here to read part 8 ), we contrasted how the simple see the obvious and respond in faith while the presumptuous religious leaders seek only to suppress the truth by putting pressure on others. Here we will look at the limitations of man-made knowledge independent from God.
The Mystery Revealed (8) It's plain to the simple
(Tuesday, 11 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 7 ( click here to read part 7 ), we exposed the agenda of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, who knew the truth but would not submit to it, but rather sought to suppress it. Here we will contrast their response to that of the simple and sincere person who is open to the truth.
(Monday, 10 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 6 ( click here to read part 6 ), we looked at further evidence that God reveals his plans to those who would receive with simplicity and humility and not to those puffed up by their religious status.
The Mystery Revealed (6) They still don't get it
(Sunday, 09 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 5 ( click here to read part 5 ), we discovered that God chose to declare the birth of His son to wise men from the east and simple shepherds and not the religious leaders of the day.
[I]. The hierarchy of the Jewish priesthood having missed His birth, when Christ was ready to be circumcised, had the Pharisee’s discovered the newly born Messiah yet? Let us see:
(Saturday, 08 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 4 ( click here to read part 4 ), we looked at how those with personal agendas seek to pervert the inconvenient truth of God's existence in the face of undeniable evidence. Here we look at how the religious leaders of Christ's day, missed the arrival of their long awaited Messiah, being side-stepped by God.
[I]. We will now consider how the Pharisee’s (the top religious leaders; teachers of God’s law to the people) had an agenda to customize the scriptures to suit their own ends. To create a religious system where they controlled the agenda and made people submit to them.
(Thursday, 06 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 3( click here to read part 3 ), we started to look at why God keeps His mysteries away from the religious leaders and proud and presumptuous religious people. Here we look at an example of how people deny inconvenient truths.
The Mystery Revealed (3) The blindness of personal agenda
(Wednesday, 05 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 2 ( click here to read part 2 ), we explored the consequences of not understanding precious life changing truths that God has recorded in the bible to give us access to all He has provided for us to enjoy. We also began to see that God intended those who presumed wisdom apart from Him not to understand these truths. Here we explore this further.
The Mystery Revealed (2) The consequences of biblical dyslexia
(Tuesday, 04 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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In part 1( click here to read part 1 ), we looked at a condition of spiritual learning difficulty, where the sufferer is unable to understand spiritual truth that is clearly presented in the revealed word of God. Here we look at the consequences of this condition.
The Mystery Revealed (1) Spiritual Learning Difficulty
(Monday, 03 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. (Ephesians 3:1-6 MSG)
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I had been a christian for about 20 years before discovering certain basic foundational truths that set me free from religious bondage. What has never ceased to amaze me is that these truths were there all those 20 years but I just did not see them and the fact that they were not taught in the majority of christian circles did not help my cause. I have since discovered that the mystery of "Christ in us the hope of glory" of which Paul spoke is not readily apparent to everyone. My purpose in this series is to explore the factors that close or open us up to such life changing revelations.
(Sunday, 02 September 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
In parts 6 ( click here to read part 6 ), we established that our love is a response to His amazing love and when it is perfected in us, it casts out fear. Here we look at how all that we have considered so far about His love, fits together into the manifestation of a stress-free love walk.
To unlock the puzzle of love, let us re-arrange the text in the 1 John 4 love puzzle within the new covenant context.
In part 5 ( click here to read part 5 ), we discovered that we already had God's love deposited in us through spiritual rebirth, but we needed to renew our minds with this knowledge to manifest it. Here we look at our response to the revelation of God's love for us.
(Wednesday, 29 August 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
In part 4 ( click here to read it ), we discovered that we cannot of ourselves, love with God's kind of love, but He can through us. This is the new covenant way of walking in love. Here we look at how to walk in the certainty of His love that is in us.
In part 3 ( click here to read part 3 ), we looked at God's love in contrast to our love. Here we look at walking in God's love within the context of the new covenant.
The key lies in the way things work in the new covenant
In part 2 ( click here to read it ), we looked at the text in 1 John 4 through the eyes of the new and old testaments. Here we seek to establish God's kind of love and how it differs from ours.
In part 1( click here to read it ) we looked at the call to love and the challenges it presents. We also established the difference between the old and the new testament approach to our christian walk. With that background in place, let us now look at the text in 1 John 4.
Growing up as a Christian, I always knew I was commanded by the Lord to walk in love towards others. In fact the scripture says everything hangs on this.
1. "One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: "Which is most important of all the commandments?" Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these." The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate--that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that's better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!" When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, "You're almost there, right on the border of God's kingdom." After that, no one else dared ask a question." (Mark 12:28-34 MSG)
2. "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?" Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." (Matthew 22:36-40 MSG)
The reality was that no matter how much I tried I always seemed to fall short of the kind of love alluded to in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
(Wednesday, 22 August 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In the series so far, we have established the following:
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In this series, we have explored the old and new covenant and the need to start living in the new and not go back to the old( click here to read part 10 ). In practical terms, there is a large number of Christians who have woken up to the fact that we are no longer to follow the old covenant literally, and would consider they live under the new covenant. The reality is that they still live under the paradigm of the old, merely replacing the old covenant with a new variant of it. Here we explore this phenomenon.
I'm reminded of an incidence in my early childhood. I had my school bag on my shoulders, yet I went looking all over for it. I guess, it must have been rather light for me not to feel it. I was put out of my toil, when someone inquired if the bag I sought was like the one I was carrying. I dare say, I felt a bit foolish. Looking back at the incident, a few observations came to mind.
1. I already had what I was looking for right under my nose
2. Because I had it, I could not find it else where
3. I could not find it because I was looking for it in the wrong places
4. Because I had excluded my person from the list of possible locations, it never occurred to me to look there
5. It was an endless quest
6. It took an external observer to free me from my futile toil
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"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 9 ( click here to read it ), we looked at the fact that trying to live under the old covenant was a backward step. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to want to do so.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 8 ( click here to read it ), we discovered that the old covenant was never given to the Gentiles and that the new covenant was the one that brought everyone together into covenant with God. Here we look at this further and explore the consequences of a gentile trying to live under the outdated old covenant.
[I]. The new covenant is the ultimate, all-inclusive upgrade to the old covenant.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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So far we have looked at the differences between the new and old testament and established that the new has superseded the old and we should live in the power of the new by God's spirit( click here to read it ).
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 6 ( click here to read it ), we established that the new covenant was the preferred and ultimate covenant. God's original intent.
In the new covenant, Christ gave His life to us, to live through us. Led by His spirit, we can live a standard of life that surpasses that of the old covenant.
A covenant paradigm shift - (6) The new (eternal) covenant
(Wednesday, 15 August 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 5 ( click here to read it ), we looked at the wonderful benefits of the new covenant. Here we explore how the new covenant was always God's ultimate objective; the one to end all covenants.
The old covenant was always a placeholder for the new. A shadow of the new(ultimate) covenant to come.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 4( click here to read it ), we looked at the defeciencies of the old covenant. Here we look at the wonderful benefits of the new.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 3( click here to read it ) we looked at why we need to know the covenant under which we live. God introduced the new to replace the old, we can only relate with Him on the basis of the covenant that is in place.
The old covenant demanded that dead fallen man should live according to the standards of a divine life without providing the means by which to do it. Here is why the old has been replaced.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 2 ( Click here to read it ), we looked at the part our thoughts play in determining the quality of our lives and why we had to renew our minds to start living in the new covenant of grace.
Approaching the new covenant while holding the paradigm of the old is a prevalent problem in the body of Christ today. This situation is not incidental neither is it a new one. It is exactly what Christ and later Paul, dealth with during their time on earth. This state of affairs suites the devil to the ground, as it offers him the opportunity to steal from us the benefits of the new by filtering them out through the old.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In part 1 ( Click here to read it ), we discovered that God deals with His people based on contracts(covenant) and that there was are part of the new covenant and not the old which has now been declared redundant.
A paradigm is a collection of thought, very much like filters through which you process information. A paradigm tends to hold some basic assumptions which form the basis on which you accept or reject certain information. It stands to reason therefore, that a wrong paradigm can result in wholesale error with far reaching consequences.
"..Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs,..the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one..By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:6-13 GNB)
paradigm, paradigm shift - From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma),... a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought..A paradigm shift occurs when cultures transform their way of thinking from one thought system to another. For instance, prior to Copernicus and Galileo (ca. 1600), most people believed that astral bodies revolved around the earth (geocentrism); but after the Copernican Revolution (ca. 1600), it became obvious that the earth revolved around the sun (heliocentrism) -- thus, a major paradigm shift occurred from geocentrism to heliocentrism..Simply put, then, a paradigm shift is a pivotal change in humanity's way of thinking regarding a particular worldview.
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In dealing with His people God uses covenants, which spells out the context of His dealings with them and covers expectations, responsibilities, benefits, consequences, processes and so on. Both parties commit to the covenant and it becomes binding. It was effectively a contract of engagement under which God and His people become one entity. He their God and they His people.
(Wednesday, 08 August 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This series has been dedicated to transforming your perspective on life's inevitable trials, tests and adversities. In the introduction ( please click here to read it ), we established that such adversities were a fact of life but we have God's assurance that everything we face will workout eventually for our own benefit. More to the point God delights in turning the table on the devil and having the last laugh.
To verify this, we have been going through the bible to highlight examples of God's people who have come through negative circumstances and in hindsight turned out to be better off ( Click here to read part 9 ). The bible assures us that "...God treats all people alike."(Acts 10:34 CEV) and since "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 CEV), we can expect the same results in our lives.
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This series is dedicated to transforming your perspective on life's inevitable trials, tests and adversities. In the introduction ( please click here to read it ), we established that such adversities were a fact of life but we have God's assurance that everything we face will workout eventually for our own benefit. More to the point God delights in turning the table on the devil and having the last laugh.
To verify this, we have been going through the bible to highlight examples of God's people who have come through negative circumstances and in hindsight turned out to be better off ( Click here to read part 8 ). The bible assures us that "...God treats all people alike."(Acts 10:34 CEV) and since "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 CEV), it is my prayer that you will take comfort from their experiences and expect the same kind of results. Maybe you might even laugh with Him in anticipation of the expected end.
Enjoy
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As far as master plans went, they did not get any bigger than the one Christ came to implement. He was manifested to fulfill God's eternal purpose, to destroy the works of the enemy and restore the whole human race to it's rightful owner, making way for us to be adopted into God's family and be with Him forever. Jesus was to fulfill the Old Testament law and then pay the ultimate price on the behalf of those who could not. For this plan to work, the sinless Son (Lamb) of God had to be unjustly killed. Enter the religious institution of the day, incensed by the truth that exposed their lies. The undeniable miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, proved to be the final straw, the die was cast, and Jesus just had to be destroyed before His fame got out of hand. Betrayed, falsely accused, senselessly beaten and bearing the cross on which He was to be crucified, Christ went without the slightest hint of a fight.
There on that cross He uttered those immortal words "it is finished", God's eternal plan, hatched before the foundation of the earth was now in full swing. The devil and all His cohorts must have rubbed their hands with glee, rejoicing over what seemed an easily won victory. Little did he know that He had just initiated his own worst nightmare, he had just scored an almighty own goal!, as the scriptures put it, "The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross."(1 Corinthians 2:8 MSG). Christ; through His death destroyed the devils hold on mankind, setting us free from any obligations to him, the price was paid, we had been redeemed. Then He resurrected by the power of God to give us His life that we may live it with God forever. He then gave us authority to destroy the works of the enemy as well.
The devil in his rage, by God’s awesome wisdom served God’s purpose and pressed his own self-destruct button, a perfect script for "you have been framed".
This series is dedicated to transforming your perspective on life's inevitable trials, tests and adversities. In the introduction ( please click here to read it ), we established that such adversities were a fact of life but we have God's assurance that everything we face will workout eventually for our own benefit. More to the point God delights in turning the table on the devil and having the last laugh.
To verify this, we have been going through the bible to highlight examples of God's people who have come through negative circumstances and in hindsight turned out to be better off ( Click here to read part 7 ). The bible assures us that "...God treats all people alike."(Acts 10:34 CEV) and since "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 CEV), it is my prayer that you will take comfort from their experiences and expect the same kind of results. Maybe you might even laugh with Him in anticipation of the expected end.
Enjoy
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Here we look at a new testament example of God's grace and sense of humour in His dealings with a Jewish zealot named Saul, who was bent on crushing the early church. So driven was he that he sought permission to search beyond his own borders for Christians to commit to prison for daring to hold and proclaim their beliefs. Little did he know that God had marked Him as a vessel to bear the same message he was fighting. Then came that faithful day on the road to Damascus, when the Persecuted met His persecutor it became clear who was boss. Needless to say, by the time God was through with Saul, he was transformed to Paul, the most influential leader of the early church and the one through whom the full extent of the message of grace was revealed. As if to add a taint of irony to the story, Paul endured extreme persecution because of the message of grace and on one occasion was left for dead at the hands of his former allies. He must have been a major embarrassment to his former sponsors, making redundant the very laws he fought to uphold.
This series is dedicated to transforming your perspective on life's inevitable trials, tests and adversities. In the introduction ( please click here to read it ), we established that such adversities were a fact of life but we have God's assurance that everything we face will workout eventually for our own benefit. More to the point God delights in turning the table on the devil and having the last laugh.
To verify this, we have been going through the bible to highlight examples of God's people who have come through negative circumstances and in hindsight turned out to be better off ( Click here to read part 6 ). The bible assures us that "...God treats all people alike."(Acts 10:34 CEV) and since "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 CEV), it is my prayer that you will take comfort from their experiences and expect the same kind of results. Maybe you might even laugh with Him in anticipation of the expected end.
Enjoy
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In this installment, we look at Daniel who God promoted to one of the most influential figures in the greatest empire of his time, in spite of the fact that He started out as a slave in exile. He did such a good job that the king was considering putting him in charge of the whole kingdom. This was the point at which his peers decided it was time to put a stop to his ascent to power. In their jealousy they colluded and tricked the king into signing a decree banning prayer to anyone but the king, knowing fully well that Daniel prayed three times a day without fail. Daniel was soon thrown into the lion's den as he fell fowl of the decree. God plugged the lion's mouth and the next morning Daniel emerged unscathed while his enemies became breakfast for some very hungry lions.
(Wednesday, 01 August 2007) Written by Frank Irawo
This series is dedicated to transforming your perspective on life's inevitable trials, tests and adversities. In the introduction ( please click here to read it ), we established that such adversities were a fact of life but we have God's assurance that everything we face will workout eventually for our own benefit. More to the point God delights in turning the table on the devil and having the last laugh.
To verify this, we have been going through the bible to highlight examples of God's people who have come through negative circumstances and in hindsight turned out to be better off ( Click here to read part 5 ). The bible assures us that "...God treats all people alike."(Acts 10:34 CEV) and since "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 CEV), it is my prayer that you will take comfort from their experiences and expect the same kind of results. Maybe you might even laugh with Him in anticipation of the expected end.
Enjoy
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In this installment we look at the most intricate story yet. It revolves around a time that the Jews were in captivity. Mordecai the Jew raised his uncle's daughter, Esther who eventually became Queen in this foreign land, by a sequence of events triggered off by the previous queen's arrogance. Mordecai had uncovered a plot to dispose of the king, an act which was documented in the archives. Enter Haman; one of the king's right hand men to whom Mordecai would not bow. His resulting feeling of indignation drove him to concoct a plan to destroy Mordecai and all his people. After a false start, Mordecai finally prevailed on Esther to intervene and that’s when God's plan kicked in and Haman’s began to unravel. Mordecai's good deed was rediscovered and Haman charged with honouring the one he sought to destroy and was subsequently hung on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai. The decree to destroy the Jews was reversed and Mordecai took Haman's place by the king.
This series is dedicated to transforming your perspective on life's inevitable trials, tests and adversities. In the introduction ( please click here to read it ), we established that such adversities were a fact of life but we have God's assurance that everything we face will workout eventually for our own benefit. More to the point God delights in turning the table on the devil and having the last laugh.
To verify this, we have been going through the bible to highlight examples of God's people who have come through negative circumstances and in hindsight turned out to be better off ( Click here to read part 4 ). The bible assures us that "...God treats all people alike."(Acts 10:34 CEV) and since "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 CEV), it is my prayer that you will take comfort from their experiences and expect the same kind of results. Maybe you might even laugh with Him in anticipation of the expected end.
Enjoy
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In this installment we look at Jehoshaphat, who was one of the few God
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