(the particular words from scripture are emboldened)
1. a. the other side of the sea: Jesus will intervene from Heaven.
b. country: the entire people were in distress.
2. a. ship: His intervention will be facilitated by a “vessel”; see Author’s Comment.
b. immediately there met [confronted, JMNT] him: No sooner than He alighted, the problem lost its power of deception, camouflage.
c. memorial: the problem may be novel but it has predecessors (who may not have been quite as vicious as it).
d. tombs: the problem is in partnership with death.
e. man: is the target of the problem.
f. unclean: cough etiquette, hand hygiene, frequent disinfection, and similar clean measures repel the problem.
g. spirit: the problem is more than meets the eye; we do not understand everything about it.
3. a. no man bind him: human efforts had failed so far.
b. no, not with chains: even the strongest physical measures applied have failed.
4. a. fetters and chains: extreme measures were justified that restrict personal freedoms and free movement.
b. plucked asunder and shattered in pieces: these restrictions were rebuffed; no (uniform or complete) compliance.
c. neither could any man tame: the problem had defied human authority.
5. a. always, night and day: the problem had persisted, no periods of relief were observed.
b. in the mountains: even mighty nations are affected; see Author’s Comment.
c. and in the tombs: even small, hidden, nations are not spared.
. crying: (i). the problem is noisome.
(ii). the problem involves the lungs.
e. cutting himself to bleed: the blood is involved.
f. with stones: involvement of minerals (as in the class of food, another being vitamins); see Author’s Comment.
6. a. But when he saw Jesus afar off, ran: the problem is already responding to (the Name of) Jesus even before His outright intervention – we are secure in His Name; see Author’s Comment.
b. and worshipped him: the problem recognises the authority of Jesus.
7. a. and cried with a loud voice: the problem will first appear to worsen, escalate, even when the solution has come.
b. and said, What have I to do with you: the solution will appear irrelevant, unconnected, too common to be significant.
c. Jesus, thou Son of God: the problem recognises the sonship of Jesus.
d. I adjure thee by God that thou not torment me – by examining me or putting me to the test with the touchstone, [which was applied to metals, especially gold, to test purity or quality], JMNT: the problem will not go away forever; a permanent solution will not be found…
e. touchstone – “a standard by which something is judged”: …because an acclaimed solution will later fail. [How? Comment reserved; see Author’s Comment.]
8. a. For [Jesus] had been saying to it: (i). diverse solutions have been proposed.
(ii). numerous prayers have been offered, even till now.
b. Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit: up till this point the full picture had yet to be revealed.
9. a. and [Jesus] asked him, What is thy name?: first we need to understand the problem.
b. My name is Legion: for we are many: the problem is multidimensional.
c. Legion: 6000: [comment reserved].
10. a. and he besought him much that he would not send them away: again, the problem will not go away forever.
b. out of the country: the problem:
(i). has jurisdiction; see Author’s Comment,
(ii). and the jurisdiction is in terms of space and time; see Author’s Comment.
(iii). has permission from the Most High; see Author’s Comment.
To be continued
Author’s Comments:
A. May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing of His word. Romans 10: 17; Acts 17: 28a.
B. The word of God has immediate meaning and prophetic meaning – Matthew 24. It is also “new every morning” – Lamentations 3: 23; Luke 4: 4, Exodus 16: 21.
C.(i). The foregoing is the understanding provided me at this time. Job 7: 18; Zephaniah 3: 5.
(ii). Consider (a). Zechariah 4: 7 and Isaiah 40: 4 for Point 5b;
(b). Ezekiel 28: 13 for Point 5f;
(c). Daniel 10: 13 and 20 for Point 10b(i);
(d). Revelation 12: 12 and 1 Corinthians 7: 29 for Point 10b(ii);
(e). 1 Samuel 16: 14 and 19: 9; 1 Kings 22: 23 and 2 Chronicles 18: 22 for Point 10b(iii);
D. Comments Reserved are those I do not have permission to declare at this time – 1 Corinthians 4: 5. Let the reader discern – Matthew 24: 15c.
E. The background to this article is found in Part I of this series.
F. My Recommendations are in Part I. Also, consider Psalms 22: 3 for Point 2a; Proverbs 18: 10 and Psalms 61: 3 for Point 6a.
G.(i). Whereas most scripture quotations are from the Authorised (King James’) Version 1611, heavy reliance has been placed on The New Testament in the Original Greek 1881 by BF Westcott and FJA Hort as reproduced in The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures 1985 by the New World Bible Translation Committee.
God bless you my brothers, my sisters, and everyone all over the world.
I am making this video (now converted to Text Message by DMC Media Crew) to respond to an issue that came to my attention.
I read a recent post on Facebook by a friend of mine who complained of boredom in this Season. This motivated me to respond and let you know that there is a lot that can be done in this Season. There are about fifteen (15) things that I will share with you that you can do, and this will help you not to complain of boredom. They are:
GIVING THANKS TO GOD This period is a good time to engage in thanksgiving every morning, afternoon, and evening. Why do I say so? I say this because God says: “In all things, give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) My brothers, sisters, and friends across the globe, it could have been worse than what we are seeing. For the fact that we are alive, we have every reason to give thanks to God especially if your family members are healthy, well preserved, and protected. There are many reasons why we should give thanks all day long. One of these reasons is the fact that you are not on the hospital bed. If you are in the hospital now hearing (or reading) this message, I want you to know that when there is life, there is hope. Trust God for healing and you will soon recover in the Mighty Name of Jesus – Amen.
IT IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE A DEEP REFLECTION This is a time to reflect introspectively. Thinking deeply about what I call “things that matter that we have swept into the background”. There are many things that matter but due to the fast pace of life, we unknowingly swept them under the rug. One of those things that we should reflect on is what will happen to us after we leave this earth. Our life expectancy is a maximum of one hundred and twenty (120) Years. So, ask yourself, ‘What will happen to me after here?’ We have all been running this race of life and many of you may desire to build houses, want to have cars, and even get married. Imagine if you have all you desire now. In this current situation, none of these matter. Private jets are currently in hangars, the cars are parked, and the houses you want to build so people can visit and appreciate are not possible to show-off due to social distancing. This is a “dress rehearsal” of what will happen one day and a reflection of the way it will be when God calls us home. When that time finally comes, the things that we call important will no longer be of importance. Are you ready to meet your Maker if He calls you home? Will everything that you consider important still matter? …Certainly not. During this time, we can reflect on our relationship with God, our character, and behavior. Will this be said to you: ‘Welcome home, faithful servant, come and take a reward that is available for you’ ? So, ask yourself questions right now to decipher if you are on the right track. Focus more on the spiritual things than material things because the spiritual things are the ones that will last till eternity.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO PHYSICALLY EXERCISE Please, I would like to enforce the importance of exercise. This lockdown period does not hinder you from exercising. You can exercise in your home, room, and if you live in an estate, that would be a good environment to jog around. God did not make our physical body to be sitting down in one location. You can even use the limited space available outside your home to exercise and if you have a gym or an exercise equipment in your home, you can use them as well. The time has been made available for this to be possible because we previously did not have such time before. Let us take advantage of this time to take better care of ourselves.
SLEEP Sleep is vital during this period because we have been running around for a very long time and having three (3) to four (4) hours of sleep daily. Doctors recommend a minimum of eight (8) hours of sleep but now you can sleep for over ten (10) hours and no one will stop or disturb you. So, I advise you to enjoy your sleep during this period. Have fun, let your body rejuvenate, and enjoy your sleep.
EAT VERY WELL IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD. If you are blessed to have food in this period, enjoy your meals. It’s a privilege to eat food. Beforehand, we were in a rush and could not properly focus on our nutrition. Now, we can sit down at our dining table and eat very well. Also, eat a balanced diet if you are privileged to do so. While enjoying your food, remember to bless God and thank Him for providing food for you.
READ YOUR BOOKS I am referring to those books that have gathered dust in your shelves for a while especially the spiritual books. It is time for you to read them and reduce their use as a decoration for your bookshelf. If you happen to have purchased any books two (2) weeks or one month before this incident, it means that God wants you to enjoy those books. During this period, read as much as you can because what you read is what you know and what you know will determine what you will be able to do. You can also never do more than what you know.
CALL YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS It is time for you to reach out to your families, friends, and all those extended family members that you have not been able to reach out to for a long time because you have been genuinely busy. No matter how far away they live, now is the time to close the distance with a call. They are at home too and most likely not as busy as before. Thank God for the Digital Age and thank God for telephone and telecommunication. This has given us the opportunity to reach out to them through various means and not just the traditional phone call. Although we are practicing social distancing at this time, with the help of social media, there is no distance.
READ YOUR BIBLE If you did not have time to study your Bible for several reasons in former times, the opportunity has arisen for you to study it now. These times, although the pastor preaches on Sunday, you are now the Pastor of your home. While reading your Bible: you should study it, take notes, ask questions, write down things you don’t understand, and you can also call your pastor to explain anything you don’t understand. You can even do your Bible Study up to two (2) to three (3) times every day now just because you can. This privilege may not come for a long time, so we should have no more excuses.
PLEASE ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY Pastor E.A. Adeboye, our daddy in the Lord, has told us that God said this period is a “Compulsory Holiday” for the whole world. So why don’t you enjoy this holiday? And it is free too. This is a holiday that you didn’t pay for, so let’s enjoy it. Whatever makes you happy (aside from watching the Premier League, La Liga, or European Champion League which you can’t watch at this moment) please start to enjoy it at this time. It is holiday time (a Sabbath) so let’s enjoy it, relax, and have fun at home. I also advise that whatever you ordinarily do when you go on vacation, you should do it now. Let’s enjoy this compulsory holiday from God.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO FORGIVE Unforgiveness is one of the things that could stop us from reaching heaven. It is time for you to ask yourself: ‘Is there anybody that I am upset with?’ and ‘Is there anyone that I am deeply angry with? ‘. This period is a time for forgiveness and reconciliation. Call anyone you want to forgive and because they are also at home, they will answer your call. Start with a simple word of ‘hello’ and you will be surprised that anybody you are upset with, once you call them on the phone and they answer, the bitterness and pain will go away. Call the people whom you are angry with and make peace with them now because you never know.
GET A BIG NOTEBOOK AND A PEN. This Season is a good time to document lessons that you learn in this period. You can use your method of preference to write these lessons on your laptop, notebook, or iPad. What we will learn in this period are not ordinary lessons. God is speaking to us and we cannot end this dispensation the same way that we started it. What we learn and glean from this season will help us in the years ahead. Do not be surprised when you start seeing people publish books and produce movies that were inspired from this time. There will be many amazing testimonies of people that will be inspired in this period. Don’t keep saying that you don’t know what is going on and that you are unhappy. Why are you unhappy? You are not in the prison and for that you should be grateful. God is the One who has arranged for you to be able to reflect on your life. If you are complaining, how about those people who are in prison for ten (10) Years, twenty (20) Years, or thirty (30) Years? You are just in your home for two (2) weeks or one (1) Month and you are complaining of boredom and nobody has put chains on your hands or legs. You can still move around, you can still eat what you want to eat, you are watching television, you can call your friends and relatives, and you can tell that God is around. Many of those who are locked up in prison even have hope, so you shouldn’t feel hopeless. Walk in peace, trust that God is still in Charge, and at the end of it all, we shall laugh last. Change your perspective and gain lessons in this time. You may use it for something that will be able to bless the world, your children, and grandchildren.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO BOND WITH YOUR FAMILY This is the time to reach out to your son or your daughter, if you are blessed with children. If you have a wife/ husband, then this is the time to show them love. We have been speaking about love for a long time and even written about it. It is now the time to put love (family love) into practice and talk to each other. Admittedly, you had been busy previously with business meetings and attending seminars. Now there are no more business meetings or seminars, so it is now time for you to stay with your wife/husband and remind them that you still love them. Talk to your children, bond with them, eat together, laugh, smile, and play games together. This video was recorded by my last son. He is having fun and even smiling while we are doing this. We haven’t had this kind of fun in a long time so I advise you to bond with your family.
TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WARDROBE Although this will take some time because many of the clothes you have had gathered dust, look at your wardrobe and you will be amazed about the number of clothes that you have not worn for two (2) years. If you have not worn an outfit or accessory in two (2) years, then they are no longer yours. It may belong to someone else who doesn’t have enough clothes. It is the time for you to gather them together and give them to someone in need when this Season is over. When you give, the same measure will be given to you. Give so that God can replenish your store. Make room for something new to come in.
HELP PEOPLE Do you have a filled refrigerator? Do you have things to eat in your kitchen? Do you have a gas cooker to cook? Did you know that many people don’t have enough food now? Many people are struggling to eat in this period. There are so many daily paid workers who have no food to eat in this period because they no longer go out to work. So how can you help them? If you know anyone in need living close to you, you can drop the food at the front of their house and call them to pick it up. If they do not live close to you, this is a time to send some money to them digitally. You can call them on the phone and ask them for their account number. One thousand Naira (N1,000) can make a lot of difference in someone’s life now. People are hungry and they need all the help they can get now. The money you give someone now (no matter how small it may seem to be) will be a billion times more valuable than giving the same person that same amount when things return to normal. Help is more valuable when someone needs it the most so send people food and money. They can be your relatives, friends, church members, police at work, or anyone that you know. Call them and find out if they need help. Remember, “What you have that is more than what you need is for someone else”.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO PRAY Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), therefore engage in prayer in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Why should you be praying? Because God has given us the opportunity to pray. Don’t say you are tired of prayers. This is the time for vigil (family vigils of prayer). In this time, let your children learn how to pray and let them lead the prayers. Let them do Bible Study by themselves and let them teach you what they know. It is also a time for prayers for yourself, for your country, and the whole world. Pray that God will show mercy to the world because this world needs mercy. Pray for Divine Intervention and pray that God will give the scientists the ideas to let them discover the solution and the medication that will solve this problem called CORONAVIRUS. Pray for those who are sick. Many people you don’t know are sick in the hospital now. Many people you don’t know or may even know are suffering from this Coronavirus all over the world. Pray that God will heal them. Pray that none of them will die again. Pray that there will be no more death all over the world. God will answer us if we pray.
CONCLUSION In conclusion, I just want to let you know that our daddy in the lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye (The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God), has already told us that we shouldn’t be afraid. This is a time for you to have PEACE. He told us we should have peace because God said we should have peace. If God says we should have peace, why are you worried? Have peace and change your perspective.
I want to re-emphasize that you should change the way you are looking at what is going on now, change your perspective, stop seeing it as a punishment, stop murmuring, and stop complaining. This is a time for you to understand that God has been good. God is still on the throne and at the end of it all, God is still showing HIMSELF as Mighty and God will reflect His power, His glory, His blessing, and His honor in your life and in your family. You will come out better.
At the end of it all, we will all end well and give glory to God. By the Grace of God Almighty, the world will be a better place serving the Lord, loving the Lord and His perfect Holiness will be present in the whole Earth. Thank you so much my brothers and my sisters and God bless you. It is well with you in Jesus Name – AMEN!!!
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Discovery Media Crew, Reaching out to the world through the Power of the Gospel!
COMPILATIONS BY
MOSES DURODOLA, TITILAYOMI AJAYI, OLUSOLA OLAYINKA AND TOPE BABALOLA
I hope this message meets you well. Having spent the past few weeks chasing the coronavirus demon up-and-down back to the pit of hell whence it came, perhaps we are now calm enough to hear that still, small, voice, and obediently agree that our priority is our own salvation and the guaranteed resultant divine protection.
Implicit in this our salvation of course is evangelism in whatever form. Nearly 2 000 years ago (c. 33 CE), Jesus Christ told his followers: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15: 16
Realising that in these last days, there will be critical times hard to deal with (2 Timothy 3: 1) and requiring having the Lord’s ear all the time for urgent direction, I was led to embark on the #haveJesus campaign last August, which with the prompting of the Holy Spirit grew to include #sonnotslave, #waitingforJesus, and #mysocialmediaforJesus.
In this campaign, one posts at least one verse of scripture per day on their social media platforms. Emphasis is on verses that promote the authority of Jesus Christ (his divine origin, impeccable teachings, his awesome miracles and signs and wonders, etc.), the sonship he gives, his continued existence in heaven, and his return; #Jesus is preached, not denomination!
Oh, Jesus is coming back; there is no doubt!
Now, on the #Covid-19, this has always been my personal position based on the little I hear from above: the end of the world will be marked by, among other things, pestilence (noisome and quiescent Luke 21: 11). Oh, this nCovid-19 is only one out of many; but Jehovah is able to protect his own children! And this is the thrust of this message.
How can you be sure? you say. I am sure because He has done it before, about 3 500 years ago in c. 1513 BCE: The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Exodus 12: 13
And now he is set to do it again. About 1 900 years ago, c. 96 CE, he showed John Zebedee many of the things now happening today, and how he would precisely secure his own children: Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God. Revelation 7: 3
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 9: 4
God will therefore secure his children by placing an invisible seal on them.
How does one get this seal?
Accept Jesus And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1: 13
Having accepted Jesus, stand firm in Him Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.2 Corinthians 1: 21, 22
Why Jesus? On Jesus Christ God the Father has placed his seal of approval. John 6: 27b Concerning Jesus, God said severally: “He is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Matthew 3: 17, Mark 1: 11, Luke 3: 22; Matthew 17: 5.
This disease is no respecter of persons, why should I believe you? Hear Apostle Peter: If God did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people [in c. 2370 BCE], but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes [in c. 1933 BCE], and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 2 Peter 2: 5-7, 9
•Therefore stop being unrighteous, #haveJesus…today! •Remember, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91: 1
When sick we run to our Doctors, when our cars are faulty we engage our Mechanics.
It is however somehow and funny that many people do not deem it fit and appropriate to have Financial Advisors to give them valuable advise on Financial Matters.
This is the reason why a lot of people retired and get broke almost immediately.
My advice even as we continue this Lecture is that: You should try to get a “Financial Advisor” as soon as possible
Next, I will be asking some Personal questions which i will want you to try as much as possible to provide answers to it in your quiet time:
How much did you earn in 2019?
How much of it did you invest in Profitable Assets during the course of the Year in No 1 above?
How much of the Funds you earned in No 1 above did you save?
What now is your Investment Plan for 2020?
Do you even have any yet?
How many of us have Financial Advisors?
How many of us have Yearly Financial Goals?
Your Financial Goal can be paying of a debt, increasing your Savings to a particular Value in future, Investment in Property etc.
How many of us have Personal Balance Sheet?
A Balance Sheet is a statement of Networth depicting your Assets and Liabilities.
If your liabilities are more than your assets, then there is a problem!
Can we step down a bit and Ponder over these questions in No’s 1 to 7 as asked above?
Let us us note that the New Finance Act has increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 7.5% – This will surely result in increase in inflation and reduce disposable income. Almost all Service Provider will push the inherent cost to you as the Consumer.
How many of us has ever bothered to notice that ALL the Network Providers tactically push an Extra Cost of VAT on all the Calls you made on all your Calls?
The next question is: How many of us are strategizing to reduce the effects of all these extra cost on our Finances?
The following also are certain salient facts I also want to emphasize even as we Proceed further on this:
You will retire or be retired from your job one day
You will grow old and feeble if you live long enough
Your family, relatives and friends will need your Financial Supports.
You must live under a roof – House!
You must feed and cloth yourself when active at work and in retirement when you no longer works.
Now, the big question now is how ready are we for all of these?
I will want to leave out some minutes for you to ponder over these things for another two (2) minutes and then we will continue.
Now the following are my recommended Financial Planning Tips which you can readily apply for Year 2020.
Get immediately a Financial Advisor if you don’t have any yet.
Please note that it is very important to have someone that guides you through your Investment Activities.
A Popular Proverb says: Money saved is money earned.
Pay yourself!
You pay yourself by Saving – You can start will like twenty percent (20%) to thirty percent (30%) of what you earn.
Adopt the 70:30 Rule – Seventy percent (70%) to fund your Needs and living expenses and thirty percent (30%) to build your wealth.
Your Investment should be in Long Term, Short Term and Retirement.
You should ONLY lend out money you know that you can let go.
Learn to say “NO” when it is not convenient for you.
Get a Life Assurance Policy even if you think you don’t need it.
It helps and disciplines you to save and most importantly helps your family should in case the unthinkable happens
You can contact an Insurance Guru to shed more light on this.
For those of us in Paid Employment, increase your Pension Contributions by using and exploring the “Additional Voluntary Contribution Option”.
This a Good Way to save.
All you need to do is just to talk to your Human Resources Unit in your Office and they will assist you to emplace this.
Get Financially Informed.
Most banks offer high yielding Savings Accounts. Make proper enquiries about it and explore them properly.
For instance, Fidelity Bank offers a Product called HYSA.
Other Banks have it in different variants.
The Interest Rates of such Accounts are normally higher than the normal Savings Accounts but with certain conditions which must be met like a Programmed Withdrawal Pattern.
As much as possible, avoid loans unless it is to be used for an Investment that will repay both Capital and Accrued Interest easily.
For those in Paid Employment, ensure that you have a “Side Hustle” that will serve as an Additional Source of Income to you.
Explore the Gaps in your Environment and create Value. People will patronize you if you offer what they want.
It can be car wash business, football viewing center, Laundry, Barbing Salon.
You don’t need massive Capital to start all of these businesses.
Find a way to track your Expenses.
It is quite important you know what takes the large chunk of your Income.
When you Invest and generate Interest, try as much as possible to reinvest both Interest and Capital.
This normally strengthens your Financial Base.
If you find it difficult to save, set up a Standing Order/ Direct Transfers Instructions on your Accounts to a restricted/dedicated Savings Accounts.
Your Bankers will handle this for you gladly.
CONCLUSION
Let me try to round on this with this Statement.
We must as a matter Top urgency also ensure that:
A Contingency Plan should be made in order to secure our Emergency Cash Outflow.
Amount kept aside for contingency should be at least one Year Annual Income and must be kept in liquid form – Say in a Fixed Deposit Account.
We must teach our children Financial Discipline.
Even when we can afford it, let them understand what it means to witness lack.
Let them also appreciate working to Earn.
All these will surely help them in the nearest future.
Give a Portion of your Earnings to God (Tithes and Offering) as well as for Charity Purposes.
The Scriptures says there is Blessings always in Giving.
On a Final Note however, it is never too late to start Investing.
Just ensure that you start now and of course be very aggressive about it
Even the Bible says: Since the days of John The Baptist, the Kingdom of God suffereth Violence and the Violent takes it by FORCE!
COURTESY CONTRIBUTION APPRECIATIONS TO: BABATUNDE ADEFUSI-OWATE (FCA)
(PRESIDENT OF CHAPEL OF GRACE CHURCH, KADUNA ALSO KNOWN AS LIVING FAITH FOUNDATION
THEME: LET THERE BE LIGHT – PART 3
DATE: 6TH MARCH 2020
BIBLE TEXT: JOHN 9: 1-End
Let’s rise on our feet and give the Lord a thunderous shout of Hallelujah – Hallelujah!
SONG
You are God from beginning to the end
There is No Place for argument
You are God all by Yourself
OPENING PRAYER
Our Father we Thank You. We give You Praise and Adorations. We exalt Your Most High Name – We Thank You, we Thank You, we Thank You!
Thank You for another Year; Thank You for our father in the Lord; Thank You for his family, Thank You for making him a “Beacon of Light” in our Generation.
Thank You because the Light just keep on getting Brighter and we know that You will make it to go Brighter and Brighter.
Thank You, Thank You Heavenly Father. We exalt You. Please accept our Thanks in Jesus Name.
Father, Thank You for The Redeemed Christian Church of God: Thank You for all the Elders; Thank You for all the “Wise Men” that You have put together to sustain this work. Thank You Lord for the families; Thank You Lord for the Youths; Thank You for everyone – Please receive our Thanks in Jesus Name.
Father, Thank You for our Nation Nigeria. Thank You because You are the One holding this Nation together – Left with the enemies, this Nation would have been fragmented and thrown into chaos. But we Thank You for Your Mercies that You have not withdrawn from us and we know that the Best is just about to come.
We Thank You Father because indeed there is a Turn Around that You have Ordained and we give You Praise and Glory.
Thank You Lord for these Times and Seasons of this Great Light – Let there be Light in every lives, in every families, in every Church, in every Nation.
… Let There Be Light!
Let darkness give way. Let the Powers of darkness bow tonight. Let the Light of Jesus Christ force them out.
Father, into every darkness of our lives; let there be Light (2ce).
Into every darkness hovering around Your children; let there be Light.
Into every darkness of our Nation; let there be Light.
King of Glory, Thank You for the Light. We give You Praise Lord.
In Jesus Name we Pray – Amen!
Tell yourself that: There shall be Light in my Life
Please say it loud and clear. Say it because you mean it: There shall be Light in my Life!
Can I have three (3) Powerful Amen to what you just said – Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!
Light as you know is a Natural Manifestations that stimulates sight and makes things visible to the human eyes.
So, if you don’t have eyes; you cannot behold Light.
So, the eyes itself is the Light of the body and so you need to have this Personal Light to be able to behold the other Light.
… There shall be Light in your Life – Amen!
Light is that thing that makes things appear clearer and brighter; revealing in details; making them Plain.
Light exposes and that is why people who do things that they do not want to be exposed never come to Light.
And of course, it is your indulging in sins that you don’t want to be exposed – You will rather want to be in darkness.
But you will not abide in darkness – Amen.
So we have Natural Light; we have Spiritual Light. And we have other kinds of Light but let us just settle with those two (2).
There is also Natural Blindness and there is Spiritual Blindness.
So, we have Natural Darkness and we have Spiritual Darkness.
One of the Pastors yesterday said: Darkness is the absence of Light – Which I quite agree with.
But darkness is that thing that wants to conceal and make invincible that which is being brought out.
But I Pray for you tonight that you will not be a child of darkness – Amen.
What happens to a Man that has No Eyes or to a Man that has No sight?
Those who are blind have lost their sight.
But I speak to you in the Name of the Lord that Jesus the Light of the world will restore your sight – Amen.
A certain discussion came up in Saint John Gospel Chapter 9 – Where the Disciples were talking about a man that was born blind. And they dared to ask Jesus the question: Who sin that this man was born blind?
Jesus said: Neither this man nor his Parents.
They said: Is it the Father or the mother?
He said neither this man, the father or the mother.
Then He said further: But that the Works of God can be revealed! – That is why. Since I must work the works of the One that sent me.
Then He said in Verse 5: As long as I am in the world; I am the Light of the world.
… Jesus Christ is ghe Light of the world!
If you don’t have Jesus; you do not have the Light.
But today, I declare in your Life: The Light that is called Jesus will penetrate your Life – Amen.
1 John 1: 5-7; this is what the Scriptures says:
This then is the Message which we have heard of Him and declare unto you that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.
The Scriptures says: God is Light.
Jesus said that: I am the Light of the world.
… In God, there is no darkness at all.
So, God created the Heavens and the Earth and suddenly something happens according to Genesis 1:2 – The Earth became void, without form and overwhelmed.
Where did the darkness come from?
Who brought about the darkness?
If you go to Jeremiah 4: 23-26; the same situation of Genesis 1:2 was repeated there and there we saw that: It was Anger – The Anger of God that was released upon the Earth and suddenly darkness took over the Earth.
What brought about the Anger?
Further Studies in the Scriptures showed that the one Man called Lucifer (Satan) provoked God to Anger by choosing to rebel against God and desiring to be like the Most High God.
And because the Earth was his territory; he was thrown out.
And God disconnected His Light from the Earth and darkness was born.
… Today, same thing is true of our Nation, of our families, of our individual lives.
Every time we get into Rebellion; darkness comes!
But I Pray for you that every darkness that has found his way into your life will give way tonight in Jesus Name – Amen.
Tell the Person by your side: No more Darkness
So, the genesis of darkness is Rebellion.
Darkness was born as a result of Rebellion and of any area of your life is witnessing darkness; I want to encourage you today: Check out what kind of Rebellion is going on in that area of your Life.
And after this darkness; the Spirit of God came and God said: Let There Be Light!
… So, God created man in His Own Image.
If according to the Scriptures that God is Light, in Him there is no darkness at all and He said: Let us make Man in our Own Image, so let us make Man another Light.
… Everybody say: Another Light!
Then He said: Let him be like us – Exactly like us: Having our Image, having our Likeness.
And then let this Light have Dominion over all that we have created.
Then, He gave a Commandment: Of every Fruits in the Garden you can eat except one – The Fruit of Knowledge of Good and Evil; don’t eat!
The day you eat it; that day you will die – God told them.
But what then is death
Death is simply the disconnection of Light.
But remember that the Scriptures says in St John 1:4 – In Him was Life and the Life is the Light of men.
The Light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.
A man came from God called John. He was not the Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
The Light came into the world but the world could not recognise Him.
Jesus is that Light. He was in the world and the world was made by Him – The world did not know Him.
But the Light became flesh and lived among men and they called His Name Jesus.
Today, Jesus will reveal Himself to you – Amen.
Your Personal Spiritual Eyes will be opened – Amen.
And if your Natural Eyes and sight is impaired; the Lord will also open your Eyes – Amen.
Then His Light will shine unto you.
… So, God made Man Light but the day Man ate that Fruit in Genesis 3:6; that day something happened.
The first thing that happened was that the Light was disconnected.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
So, immediately man sinned, the Glory was disconnected.
Even though God made Man in His Own Image, Crowned him with Glory and Honour; made him a little lower than Himself (God) – The Glory departed immediately.
The Light was disconnected and the source of Light off immediately – Man found himself in Total Darkness.
As soon as the Light was lifted, Man found that he was naked and he was ashamed and he was afraid and he ran away.
Every time you indulge in any work of darkness; you tremble, you feel guilty, you feared, you are confused, you don’t know what to do.
And so the source of Light came – Jesus Christ came, walking into the Garden but at that time they don’t know Him as Jesus.
He said: Adam where are you? He said that we heard your footsteps.
If they heard his footsteps, then it must be the footsteps of a Man walking in the Garden – The man after whom they were created; after whom they were fashioned (The Original Light).
And He said where are you? They said that we heard you coming and we want to hide.
What have you done? Have you eaten what I asked you not to eat?
He said that the woman gave me. The woman said that the serpent deceived me – Satan lied.
And unfortunately the world is following the lies of the devil.
But as a result of that shock, that experience; something happened to them: Death came into their mind; they became darkened in their heart.
Death came in their bodies. Mam became Mortals. Death came in their Spirit – Man was disconnected from the love and righteousness of God.
Death came in their Emotions – Sorrows and Fears was born.
Death came in, in every Phase of Life and Light walked into the Garden – The One who created them from the beginning and them He made Pronouncements and then he forgave them and He decided to cover their nakedness.
But before doing that, He sacrificed an animal and brought out its blood and took the skin and cover them – According to Genesis 3:22.
And after He covered them. He let them be; Preparing for a time when He will actually come and rescue Man.
Now, every work of unrighteousness is called Works of Darkness and every works of Righteousness is called Works of Light.
I won’t ask you why you want to keep on walking in darkness.
Why do you want to keep on doing what your hearts does not approved?
Why do you want to keep on indulging in the lifestyle that cannot bring into the Open?
Jesus in Saint John 3: 19 – He said: Light has come but Men love darkness more than Light because their works are evil.
Christians who don’t want to live Holy Life and they hate and resent anyone that make a Call for Holiness; a Call to Repentance – They love darkness.
The Lord said that I should tell you that if you spend your lifetime on Earth, living in darkness; don’t think He will accept you to come and stay with Him who is the Everlasting Light?
A man that live his life living in darkness on Earth cannot be admitted into the Presence of the Everlasting Light.
Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 8:12 – When the Centurion made a declaration. He said: People will come from the East and West and seek for Abraham. And the sons of the Kingdom will be cast into Outer Darkness.
You are a child of God but you are living in darkness – You are only preparing your way for Outer Darkness.
Jesus Christ said that: As long as I am in the world; I am the Light of the word.
What is the Way Out?
Turn your back on darkness and Can on Jesus!
When Man fell in the Garden; something happened to our Spirit – We lost the Knowledge of ourselves.
Man became so foolish that Man can proudly say that he is a Product of an animal.
You can imagine a Professor saying that Man can from Bamboo, from the Rock – What kind of nonsense is that?
It was when Man lost his self recognition as a result of sin.
Can you imagine a man saying that it is a mistake that I came out as a Man – I’m supposed to be a woman.
Can you imagine, very learned people saying that Marriage should be between Men and Men; Women and Women.
That it doesn’t matter – It is a choice; an alternative choice.
Can you imagine the foolishness of somebody indulging in Adultery and all kinds of foolish things?
Can you imagine the foolishness of hurting yourselves in the name of Pleasure?
Because people has been Personally blinded; that is why God sent Jesus into the world.
I looked at it again: Why will Jesus leave His Glory and come to the Earth?
The Man called “The Son of Man”; the Man who raised the dead at Will; the Man who gave eyes to the Man born without eyes.
Going back to our Scriptures in John 9; Jesus Christ said that we have just finished discussing about you and God forbid that discussed about you and won’t attend to you.
Come, and Jesus made clay; rob on his eyes and said: Go and wash off the rest of the Clay and come back here with your sight.
The man did as Jesus said and came back seeing.
Who is this Man that created New Eyes for a man that has never seen?
Listen to me; if you are Spiritually Blind; Jesus will give you New Eyes today – Amen.
If you are Mentally Blind; Jesus will give you New Eyes today – Amen.
If you are Spiritually Blind; Jesus will give you New Eyes today – Amen.
… Let me hear another Amen – Amen.
When the Man received his sight; Religious Leaders now gang up. They called the Man: How is it that you are seeing? Moreover, today is Sabbath Day.
The Man said to them: The Man called Jesus made Clay and rob it on my Eyes – That is all that I can say.
And He told me to go and wash it in a Pool called Siloam. And I obeyed His instructions and I found out that I came out with New Eyes.
They said really? Are you sure? – He said Yes I am sure.
Someone even said maybe he looks like the blind man – He said: No, No, No; I am the same person.
They called his Parents and said: Is this your son that was born blind? – They said he is our son.
They said that: How does he now see? – They said he is of age ask him.
And they called the boy again – He said that I have told you before and you will not hear me.
Now, do you now want to be His Disciples? Do you want to learn the work?
He said we are not His Disciples; you are His Disciples.
And they threw him out of their Fellowship.
Then Jesus found him. He said that I heard what happened to you.
He said that do you believed in the Son of God?
The Young Man said: Who is the Lord that I may believed Him?
He (Jesus) said: I am the Son of God.
The Young Man knelt down and said: Lord I believed that You are the Son of God.
… It was his Physical Eyes that was received but now he has gotten his Spiritual Eyes.
Anyone that receives Jesus Christ becomes Spiritually Enlightened.
Then the Pharisees argued that we are not blind like this blind guy.
Jesus Christ said: This is Testimony against yourself because you said that you are not blind.
The Pharisees said that what Signs do you show us that we may know that you are indeed the Messiah and that you come from God?
He said that with all these Signs that you have seen – If the works that I have done among you are what Only God and Holy Spirit can do; then they are Testimonies.
For I give you no other Signs – Matthew 12: 39-40; other than the Sign of Jonah.
As Jonah was for three (3) days and three (3) nights in the belly of a fish; even so the Son of Man shall be three (3) and three (3) nights in the belly of the Earth.
And after that! I will rise again – This is he Fina Sign I am giving you.
They noted what He said but they did not believed Him.
Two (2) Men have died and visited a Year after.
One of them is Jonah – Jonah WS swallowed by the fish according to Jonah 1:17.
And in Jonah Chapter 2: 1-2; after he got into the belly of the fish; he was suffocated unto death and his soul passed out.
Jonah said in Chapter 2; he said: I cried to you Oh God from the midst of Hell, from the Bott of the Mountains.
Jonah Soul was transported out of the fish – Deep, deep, deep beneath the sea.
He called the Pace “The Bottom of the Mountains.”
If you want to know “The Bottom of the Mountains”; that is where Rivers flow from. The temperature there is one thousand, two hundred (1,200) degrees Centigrade – You can go and confirmed. And the Depths is we’ll over twenty Kilometers (20Km) (Between 20Km and 70km).
… That is where Jonah found himself!
He said Ah!; Is this Hell?
He said God I vowed to you that if you get me out of this Pace; I will obey You and do whatever You say.
Then God heard JS cru and ordered the fish to bring him out. And God gave h back his life.
And the fish brought him to the Shore of Nineveh and then he began to Preach – Repent or Perish
… Forty (40) days Nineveh shall be no more.
Don’t let anyone deceived you that there is no Hell.
Jesus told those Pharisees – As Jonah was three (3) days and three (3) nights in the belly of the fish; I will be be three (3) days and three (3) nights in the belly of the Earth.
I will go down there and after that I will come out again.
So, when they heard Jesus saying that: Why will Jesus have to die? Couldn’t Jesus have saved us without dying?
No, He could have saved us but that will be Lawless of Him. Because the Scriptures says: The wages of sin is death. The Soul that sineth shall die.
The Captain of our Salvation cannot offer a Perfect Salvation without Paying the Price of sin.
So, Jesus began to tell His Disciples: The Son of Man will suffer, handed over to the Gentiles, beaten, spit upon and crucified.
Why is Jesus subjecting Himself to be tortured when He has all the Powers to stop them?
What did Jesus see that made Him to accept to suffer?
He saw the terror of Hell; Jesus knew of the inferno in Hell; He knew of the torment in Hell.
Hell is the only Place where Fire burns and there is No Light!
… Total Darkness; it is extremely hot – The Fire burning there but there is No Light
Total Darkness – Ask Pharaoh (Three (3) days and three (3) nights; there was darkness in Egypt) according to Exodus Chapter 10.
There was Total Darkness until Pharaoh begged before Light came back.
Darkness is Hell. That is not where you want to go.
What else leafs to Hell? – UNBELIEF.
Refusal to repent; indifference; Hear the Gospel and do nothing to it; Hear God and refuse to respond – That takes you to Hell!
Jonah came to the people of Nineveh. He said: Forty (40) days Nineveh shall be no more.
When the King heard; he ordered a Fasting – Ordered everybody to stop eating.
He said: Who knows if God will show us Mercy.
… And God changed His Mind and show them Mercy.
You have heard the Word of God; will you do nothing about it? Or you will do something with it.
Whatever made Jesus to go through Pains and sufferings must be serious.
A learned man, a High Court Judge once asked me over thirty (30) Years ago. He said: Couldn’t God has saved us without allowing His Son to go through that torture?
I said: God is not Lawless
I said: What made Jesus to suffer and die must be a terrible thing.
Jesus saw the sorrow I’m Hell; He saw the trouble of Hell and said I wouldn’t want my people to go through this. I will make a Sacrifice, I will go for them.
2. The Second (2nd) reason why Jesus had to suffer and died is because He made us like Himself.
We are the Offspring of God – *He made us for love and so He can’t watch the people He loves because of their disobedience to Perish.
… He said that I will go for them.
3. The Third (3rd) reason why did He come into the world to suffer is that what He entrusted into Man’s hands He did not give any Angel.
Satan was infuriated; Satan went envious and jealous when he saw Adam in the Garden of Eden; made Superior to any Angel.
Do you know that in Psalms 82 1 & 6 that you are gods?
Satan wanted to be like the Most High God. Now, God threw him out and God made Mankind to be like Him.
And then God empowered Man and gave him the world and made him “God over the Earth”
Satan said Ah, so somebody now has been created by God to be Superior to me and had all I thought I could have.
… He said: I will get this his Kingdom, get his Treasures, get his Assets.
So, he deceived Man, deceived our father and we fell in.
Satan is still deceiving people that sin does not matter!- Stop accepting the deception.
Ephesians 5: 13-14; the Unfruitful works of darkness were listed.
Galatians 5: 19-22 takes about the works of the fresh that will take you to Hell.
Hell was not prepared for you – It was prepared for Satan and his angels.
BUT HELL IS REAL!
So, Jesus Christ wanted to recover the Dominion, the Authority, the Glory which He gave to Man that has been stolen.
And without the shedding of Blood; without you accepting Him; His Blood cannot be shed.
He came into the world and suffer terribly, disgraced, agony, pain, affliction – That you and I may escape.
Now, think of it: After Jesus Christ has Paid the Price and gave you a Free Offer – Believe on Him. Let His Blood wash you; let Him cancel your sins; let Him take you on His back.
If you reject this offer; there is oy one option left – To go into Everlasting Darkness.
This is not why Jesus Christ came – He came that you might be saved.
He did not come so that the world might be condemned but that the world might be saved.
Don’t let Hypocrisy stop you. Don’t let Pride stop you.
But I give my Life to Christ but I’m still struggling with sin?
Maybe your Repentance is not Genuine.
When your Repentance touches God; when you are sincere that you want to forsake your sins; the Power of the Blood will be activated to break down the Dominion of sin.
And if you dare boldly step out today that: Jesus, I want you to Set me Free.
If you refuse the offer of Jesus, if you continue in Hypocrisy – If you say I’ a Pastor and you are walking in darkness.
He said that if we say that we have Fellowship with Him and walk in darkness; we deceive ourselves.
Why will you continue to struggle? This may be the last opportunity God is giving you?
I know that there is somebody here that God has warned you over and over.
He has sent me to bring you these News that His Power is here to forgive; His Blood is here to cleanse; His Power is her to Set Free.
Let us bow our heads!
ALTAR CALL
Wherever you are under the sound of my voice or reading now; you want to take advantage of this Great opportunity to let the Light come into your Life. You want Him to send the Light into your Life. You are saying that I’m tired of the works of darkness. I don’t want to go into Everlasting Darkness.
I’m going to ask you to come out while others were Praying and I will Pray with you.
This Light – The Power of Darkness over your Life shall be destroyed – Amen.
So, if you are coming; start coming now – Thank You!
Get up on your feet and start coming. You can’t afford to go waste your Life in darkness.
Start coming from all over. I will Cluny from one (1) to ten (10). From all over; start coming quickly. God is ready to forgive you; Jesus is ready to Set you Free – Keep Coming.
This is your Night. There is a terrible trouble awaiting anybody who rejects the offer of Salvation.
If Jesus went through all these troubles and you don’t accept forgiveness; no other Person can help you.
Thank You, keep coming. Come quickly!
Don’t delay – Just keep coming because this Night there will be a Turn around in your Life.
Nobody under the sound of my voice or reading with a Genuine heart now with go into Hell or Outer Darkness because Jesus already paid the Price.
Once you come; start crying to God: God take me out of darkness. Let the Light Shine in my Life. Save me from the Power of sin. Let me not continue in Unrighteousness.
SONG
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
There is Mercy awaiting for you here.
Jonah tasted Hell, he begged God and God brought him back.
He’ll is Real – Jesus went to Hell and so you will not go there again – Amen.
PERSONAL DECLARATIONS
Please say after me – Those who has come out and those who are on the way:
My Lord and my God; Thank You for sending Jesus to Pay the Price for my sin.
I accept the Price tonight; I believed with all my hearts that Jesus Christ is the “Son of the Living God”. He died for my sin; He shed His Precious Blood.
I accept forgiveness for my sin; let the Blood of Jesus Pay the Price for me.
Wash me clean Oh Lord, save me from the Power of sin and the Hold of the devil.
I confess today that Jesus Christ is my Lord. He died and rose again from the dead.
Thank You Jesus for going to Hell for means conquering death o my behalf.
Thank You for Your Resurrection as you have overcome death I also will overcome.
Thank You for saving me according to Your Promise to give Eternal Life to all who believed in You.
I received the Gift of Eternal Life and I received Your Mercy.
In Jesus Name – Amen.
CLOSING PRAYERS
Lord, I want to Thank You for tonight Lord. Thank You because Your sufferings shall not be in vain. Thank You because somebody here had escaped going to Hell.
Thank You because this brother, this sister has escaped going to Hell.
Thank You for the forgiveness of sin. Today, I Promised in the Authority of that Name – Your sins are forgiven I’m the Name of Jesus. You are washed clean in the Name of Jesus. Let your names be written I’m “The Lamb’s Book of Life”.
Today, I also Pray that the Hold of the devil over your Life be destroyed today in the Name of Jesus.
Let the Power of Eternal Life begin to manifest in you.
Glory be to God. Thank You Father; Thank You Lord for Your Mercy.
In Jesus Name we Pray – Amen!
Please they will take your names and attend to you.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Thank you so much for staying all through to read.
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And I can assure you that you will be glad you did as it will avail you first hand access to comprehensive reports on the various Messages of Pastor E.A Adeboye and other Men of God!
It is outrightly wrong and a sin we frowned at it for anyone to consciously remove the original source of the work that does not emanate for him or her!
Discovery Media Crew … Reaching out to the World through the Power of the Gospel!!!
COMPILATIONS BY:
MOSES DURODOLA, TITILAYOMI AJAYI AND TOPE BABALOLA
We warmly welcome you all once again to the Year of our Lord 2020 AD from the Stable of The Discovery Media Crew Motivational Corner.
We are kicking off this Year to learn some valuable things about our children – The Heritage of the Lord in our care.
… We do wish you all Happy Days ahead together in Jesus Name – Amen!
Moses Durodola
Who is a Minor?
According to the Black’s Law Dictionary 7th Edition defines a Minor as a person who has not reached full legal age, a child or juvenile- Also termed infant.
While the dictionary defines a Child as at Common law, a Person who has not reached the age of 14, though the age now varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
A juvenile is a Person who has not reached the age (usually 18) at which one should treated as an adult by the criminal justice system.
The Child Rights Act 2003 defines a child as a Person under the age of 18 years and also defines age of majority as the age at which a Person attains the age of 18 years.
The Section 29(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) defines a child as full of age when the child attains age of 18 years and above.
There is no generally acceptable age bracket for a child in our laws. It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction to determine the age of a child.
2. Can an infant/child institute an action in a Court of Law?
As a general rule, Persons who are infants cannot sue or be sued in Person as they lack the legal capacity to sue and be sued.
However, an infant may therefore sue through his Next Friend and may defend his Next Friend and may defend an action by his Guardian ad litem as provided in our rules of Court.
The Next Friend or Guardian ad litem is preferably a relation of the infant as seen in case of Badejo v. Federal Ministry of Education, where Dr. Badejo sued (as ‘Next friend’) on behalf of his daughter, challenging results of common entrance examinations into Federal Government College (Queens College, Yaba Lagos & Federal Government College Ijanikin Lagos)
3. Illegitimate’ children
Section 42(2) 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and Section 10 of the Child Rights Act 2003 have removed the disability attached to illegitimacy of a child in Nigeria.
Irrespective of the fact that a child was born out of wedlock in Nigeria the law as prohibited any form of stigma against such child in Nigeria.
Section 10 of the Child Rights Act provides:
(I) A child shall not be subjected to any form of discrimination merely by reason of his belonging to a particular Community or Ethnic Group or by reason of his place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion.
(II) No child shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.
4. Custody in Matrimonial Causes.
The Court always considers welfare of the child(ren) of separating/divorcing Parent which is very paramount whenever the Court’s grants divorce.
Often times the Court consider the following below:
(i) The age of the Child(ren): The Court consider the age of the child(ren) concern before granting custody.
(ii) Health condition: If any of the child has any health challenge the Court often times grant either of the separating/divorcing parents who will take adequate care of such child.
(iii) Education: The Court also considers the education of the child. Where the child will be given qualitative education is also paramount.
… We appreciate the great insights from our friend, Barrister Oladipupo Abodunrin for his great inputs on this.
DISCOVERY MEDIA CREW … REACHING OUT TO THE WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL!
The word “Epiphany” is also referred to as Theophany, Denha, Little Christmas or Three King’s Day.
It is a Christian Feast Day that celebrates the revelation of God’s incarnate as Jesus Christ.
It comes from the Greek’s word for manifestation or appearance.
For many Christians, “Epiphany” refers to the manifestation of the “Divine Nature” of Jesus Christ and it is marked by a Feast.
In many Western Christian Churches, the eve of the Feast is celebrated as a “Twelfth Night”.
It is marked twelve (12) days after Christmas on the 6th of January for those Christian sect that marks Christmas on the 25th of December (or 19th of January for some Orthodox Churches who have their own Christmas on the 7th of January).
.. And it is a time when Christians remembers the “Wise Men” (sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited baby Jesus Christ and gave him Gifts.
… Research Updates by yours truly: Discovery Media Crew, DMC always ensuring to enlightened us and bringing the Power of the Gospel much more closer to us!
I have never read of anyone in the Bible with two (2) different Genealogies except Jesus Christ.
There are two (2) Genealogies Account of the birth of Jesus Christ:
One is in Matthew Chapter 1.
The other is in Luke Chapter 3.
Both are the same: Starting from Abraham to David in both Accounts.
The only difference however lies in the way the Lineage was traced from David to Jesus Christ:
Matthew Account goes through David’s son Solomon
Luke Account goes though David’s son Nathan
David had at least nineteen (19) sons including Nathan and Solomon – 1 Chronicles 3:5.
Nathan was older but Solomon became king
Matthew’s Lineage through Solomon is said to be the Royal Line that shows those who sat or should have sat on David’s throne.
Luke’s Lineage through Nathan is a Biological Line that simply shows descent from David’s loins
Also interestingly: Solomon’s Line goes down to Jacob as the father of Joseph -Matthew 1:16. While Nathan’s Line goes down to Heli as the father of Joseph -Luke 3:23.
Now, we know Joseph cannot have had two (2) fathers and that Heli is not the same Person as Jacob.
But one thing for sure is that both of Jesus’ Parents were descended from David. But Bible scholars tell us that Heli was Joseph’s father-in-law.
So that Matthew is actually the Genealogy of Joseph while Luke is the Genealogy of Mary.
Joseph came from David through Solomon down to Jacob, his father –
A Biological and a Royal descent.
Mary also came from David through Nathan down to Heli – A Biological descent.
Joseph was the son of Jacob and the son-in-law of Heli
So why does the Bible include both Genealogies?
The answer lies in one man in Joseph’s Royal line called Jeconiah or Jeconias or Jehoiakim.
These three (3) names refer to the same Person as we have in Matthew 1:11, 1 Chronicles 3:16 and 2 Chronicles 36:8
Jeconias was the last king before Judah went into exile. God cursed Jeconias.
The account of the curse can be found in Jeremiah 22:30:
This is what the Lord says: “Record this man as childless, a man who will not be successful in his lifetime. None of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah. (MSG)
… Nothing will ever come of his life. He is the end of the line – The last of the kings.
Truly, Matthew declares that there were fourteen (14) Generations from Abraham to David, fourteen (14) from David to the carrying away to Exile, and fourteen (14) from exile to Christ – Matthew 1:17.
More significantly, that man was cursed and his descendants forbidden from ruling on David’s Throne.
Yet, the Messiah had to be not just the descendant of David but the Rightful Heir to the throne of David – Matthew 22:42
But there was now a Problem with the Royal Line – Joseph’s line.
None of the descendants of Jechonias could rule on David’s throne.
Had Jesus been born of that line, he would have been from an accursed line whose descendants were declared ineligible to rule and therefore unfit to be the Messiah.
But Jesus did not descend Biologically from Joseph.
He was conceived without a human father – Born of the Holy Spirit by the virgin Mary (who was descended from David) and therefore became the Seed of David according to the flesh from an Uncursed Line.
The line that had no curse on it – Nathan’s line, produced Heli and the Virgin Mary with her Son Jesus Christ.
The line that had a curse on it – Solomon’s line, Jeconiah’s line produced Joseph through Jacob.
So Jesus was born of His mother’s line which had no curse on it but had no claim to the throne of David.
And He had a foster father who had a claim to the throne but could not sit on it.
But, the moment Joseph took the unborn Child under His foster care and adopted Him, he transferred to Jesus Christ the title that had come down to him through his Royal Ancestor Solomon.
… So Jesus was born the Legal Messiah, the Royal Messiah, the Uncursed Messiah and so the True Messiah.
Therefore Jesus Christ remains the “Only Possible Messiah”.
None of Jesus’ half-brothers – The children of Joseph and Mary could lay such a claim because the curse on the Royal Line from which they were Biologically descended would have precluded them from sitting on David’s throne
No other Person could ever have fulfilled these conditions except Jesus Christ.
He is the Seed of Abraham, and the Seed of David -Matthew 1:1
NB: This is a Scholastic view and School of Thought first put forward by two (2) Bible Scholars of the 19th and 20th Centuries, Bernard Weiss and James Orr, and which was first read about fifteen (15) Years ago in James Montgomery Boices’s book on Apologetics “Standing On The Rock”.
Usually, when am speaking on LEADERSHIP, if it is the first time am speaking to a crowd, I try to illustrate Leadership;
I get someone from the crowd to come stand behind me. Then I ask the Group:
If we stand there for twelve (12) hours -we just stand STILL. And after twelve (12) hours, you ask me: What are you doing to her?
And I say: I am LEADING her!
So I ask the People: “Would that be an ACCURATE description?
They say, NO!
I ask WHY?
They say: Because you are NOT Moving.
I say then, Thank You!
“… Where there is no MOVEMENT, there is no LEADERSHIP”.
Because in moving from Point A to B, you realise it is smooth on Paper. But it is not smooth in real life.
Am I right? – YES SIR!
You meet Obstacles, you have to overcome Challenges. You have Limitations: they may be Financial, they may be Relational – okay?
You have to deal with People, okay?
You lack this, you lack THAT!
You have disadvantages: may be a Physical handicap, may be Social, may be Financial, may be in terms of your …. They may be Educational – Okay?
So, but the good thing is that we have CAPACITY to overcome those Challenges; to overcome those Limitations!
Now something happens when you overcome some of those Challenges and you MOVE.
“WHETHER YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF IT OR NOT: SOMEONE IS LOOKING AT YOU”
… And somebody is being INSPIRED!
WHY? – Something tells other People that – “If you CAN DO IT; they CAN do it, TOO!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reverend Sam ADEYEMI is the Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre.
He is also the President of Success Power International, an NGO that among others things specializes in Organizing Financial, Leadership and Motivational Seminars and is President of Daystar Leadership Academy, a leadership School for Business Owners and Ministers of the Gospel.
DISCOVERY MEDIA CREW … REACHING OUT TO THE WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL!
You read in Old Testament, you have an idea what the Anointing is supposed to do – Practically!
You look at Joseph, and a pagan King looks at him and says: “Can we find such a one as this is: A man in whom the Spirit of God is?” – Genesis 41:38.
Not because Joseph is Speaking in Tongues, but because he is SOLVING Problems at an unusual Level. – Ah, AH!
Daniel, they can’t do without him: they don’t like him, they are Conspiring against him. But they CANNOT do Without him: Because he has Holy Spirit!
… So he is SEEING things they cannot see. That’s STRATEGY!
We pulled all of those Powerful Gifts; all those Powerful Abilities, we pulled them and concentrated them; DOCILE them in the Church!
Pulled away from Politics, Pulled away from Businesses, Pulled away from the Entertainment Industries; we have been having Fantastic Times in Church!
“The SALT is in the Salt Bottle; the food that needs it is going TASTELESS.”
… It’s time to ENGAGE!
Like I said, I have only a few minutes. But I will draw your attention to one (1) Important DIMENSION:
“You cannot take on what is going on around here, without taking on the CULTURE.”
The reason why it is difficult to change is because it is working at a CULTURAL LEVEL.
You need to question your own Assumptions; question your own Beliefs – Do they line up with the BIBLE?
“The CHURCH, when it was set up by Jesus, was set up to be a COUNTER – CULTURAL FORCE”.
… That’s why the Church was a THREAT!
Why are we not a THREAT? Because we FLOW with the Culture!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reverend Sam ADEYEMI is the Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre.
He is also the President of Success Power International, an NGO that among others things specializes in Organizing Financial, Leadership and Motivational Seminars and is President of Daystar Leadership Academy, a leadership School for Business Owners and Ministers of the Gospel.
DISCOVERY MEDIA CREW … REACHING OUT TO THE WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL!
