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December 9, 2019

Psalm 66:4 World English Bible (WEB)
4 All the earth will worship you,
    and will sing to you;
    they will sing to your name.” Selah.

This psalm talks about how one day, everyone will worship God. The psalm says that “All” of the “Earth” will worship the one who created them. It doesn’t say some, but it says all the Earth will worship Him.

But, how? Well, when the Bible mentions this, the Hebrew word for worship in this scripture is ” shachah,” and this verb basically means to bow down. So, all the Earth will bow down and worship God.

And now, we know even according to the New Testament, this will come to pass because the Holy Spirit writes through Paul that there will come a time when every knee will bow, and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Philippians 2:10-11 King James Version (KJV)
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So, even confessing that Jesus is your Lord, is an act of worship. Therefore, worship and praise Him, honour His name, for He truly deserves your adoration!

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December 8, 2019

John 13:7-8 World English Bible (WEB)
7 Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus decided to wash His disciples’ feet. At first, Peter opposed this because such a thing was for servants, not for the King of Kings! But, Jesus said that it is necessary for Him to wash Peter’s feet, otherwise, Peter would have no part with Jesus.

This is because Jesus wanted to set an example that He is not only the King of Kings. He is also the Servant King. He never wanted to use His power to oppress people, but to serve people because He loves them.

In the same way, if we want to be true followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to serve others all for His glory because that’s what He did for us! We should ask God for true humility; not devaluing yourself, but understanding the God given value of other people.

Jesus was spat on and laughed at for your sake during the crucifixion process, yet, He still pleaded for their forgiveness. Such a loving God humbled Himself for us, so understand how much He loves people, and imitate your Heavenly Father, the Servant King!

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Righteousness in Christ Jesus

Psalm 17:15 World English Bible (WEB)
 15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
    I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

This Psalm is a prayer from the mouth of King David who’s in the Old Testament. Now, what is the Holy Spirit trying to convey through this line of scripture?

First of all, you have to understand what it means to be righteous! To be righteous, means to be right with God. So, for the first line of the verse, David says there’s a time when He can see God’s face because he is righteous.

Remember, David was a man of faults, but a man after God’s heart, nevertheless; he had faith in the coming Messiah as is revealed in Psalm 22.

Our Righteousness? Or His Righteousness?

Now, for us, we are righteous (made right with God) because Jesus, the Messiah, was perfect and without sin, so that when He was punished despite being innocent, our wickedness was transferred to Him, while His righteousness was transferred to us!

2 Corinthians 5:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Righteousness has nothing to do with your works or how you act. Your works are like filthy rags to God because your standard of morality fails in comparison to God’s perfect morality. So, the only way to be truly righteous is for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

Isaiah 64:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Romans 3:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Again, scripture makes it clear that if we know that we are righteous in Christ Jesus, we will not continue committing works of the flesh, but will manifest the righteousness God gave us, in our lives. We will never be able to stop committing works of the flesh, but Holy Spirit will strengthen you with His grace so you can live in freedom from sin.

Galatians 5:24-25 World English Bible (WEB)
24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

Walking With God

Since we become righteous in Christ Jesus, we can then behold the face of God. His righteousness in us, allows us to live free from guilt. We can look straight into God’s face, without any guilt or shame, because we have been made right with God, and now, God considers you His friend!

Exodus 33:11 World English Bible (WEB)
11 Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.

Moreover, the scripture reveals a sense of satisfaction with seeing God’s form. The Hebrew word for “form,” in this verse, is “Temunah,” which also means likeness.

God uses this same Hebrew word to describe His friendship with Moses, where Moses can see God in His true form.

This is simply wonderful because that means we can see God and talk to Him just like how Moses spent His time with God, only with a New Testament understanding!

Numbers 12:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”

All in all, Holy Spirit wants you to know that when you accept Jesus, and understand you are righteous in Him, you can live a satisfying life with the Almighty God of this universe.

He paid the price so that you can live in relationship with Him; where you can constantly see His manifest presence all the days of your life.

Therefore, live in the understanding of your righteousness in Christ Jesus so you can live in a deep relationship with Him!

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Overcoming Suicidal Thoughts

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, it is totally not what God wants for you.

Suicide is something people seek as a way out of their situation, but it never is the solution and Jesus never brought an exit route, He brought a solution!

The Prophet (Elijah) Who Did Not Want to Live

Now, do you know what the prophet who called down fire from the Heavens thought to himself?

1 Kings 19:4 New Century Version (NCV)
4 Then Elijah walked for a whole day into the desert. He sat down under a bush and asked to die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he prayed. “Let me die. I am no better than my ancestors.”

He was experiencing suicidal thoughts! Elijah, the great prophet of the Old Testament in the Bible came to such a low point in life that he wished he was dead.

Suicidal thoughts are founded by hopelessness, but Jesus is our hope, He provides the way, He knows everyone’s weaknesses, including your weakness, but He will bring out a solution, a way to success even in your moments of hopelessness!

The context of this passage was when Elijah had just exercised such faith for fire to come from the sky and burn up a sacrifice to prove that Yahweh is the true God of Israel to the pagan people of that time.

But, now, Israel’s King’s wife, Jezebel, wanted Elijah dead, and even though Elijah knew that God was still there for him, Elijah was fed up of all the challenges he was facing.

There may be times where things seem drastically impossible for anything good to happen; but, our God is the God who said He is the truth, the life, and the way; He does not lie, He wants you alive! Now, look at what God does in response to Elijah’s prayer.

1 Kings 19:5 New Century Version (NCV)
5 Then he lay down under the tree and slept. Suddenly an angel came to him and touched him. “Get up and eat,” the angel said. 6 Elijah saw near his head a loaf baked over coals and a jar of water, so he ate and drank. Then he went back to sleep.

God showed His concern for Elijah. Instead of answering Elijah’s silly prayer, He gave bread and water for Elijah to eat.

The God Who Cares For You

When Elijah wanted to die, God gave Him bread to eat and water to drink, this is symbolic of how Jesus provided us life though His broken body for us and how He gave us His life-giving blood.

Matthew 26:26-27 New Century Version (NCV)
26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it and broke it. Then he gave it to his followers and said, “Take this bread and eat it; this is my body.”

27 Then Jesus took a cup and thanked God for it and gave it to the followers. He said, “Every one of you drink this.

Suicide is not God’s will; and, why cut short God’s plan for you? There is still so much God wants do with your life. Jesus did many great things with Elijah even though Elijah wanted to die, and this is the same for you, God cares for you. His heart is for your good. He even says that in His Word.

Jeremiah 29:11 New Century Version (NCV)
11 I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.

No matter what situation you are in, Jesus paid a price for you to be set onto a good path even on Earth. He does not want anyone to end their life, He wants you to live in relationship with Him on this Earth, so remind those suicidal thoughts that Jesus loves you way too much for you to take your life.

Psalm 118:17 New Century Version (NCV)
17 I will not die, but live,
    and I will tell what the Lord has done.

If thoughts of suicide try to entertain your mind, declare that “Jesus died in my place, already, I am a new creation full of His life and I shall live to testify of His goodness!”

It turns out, the very prophet in the Bible who wanted to die, never actually died!

2 Kings 2:11 New Century Version (NCV)
11 As they were walking and talking, a chariot and horses of fire appeared and separated Elijah from Elisha. Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Later on, in Elijah’s life, God sent a chariot to pick up Elijah and take him to Heaven, he didn’t even need to die to see the splendour of Heaven.

God has a sense of humor, He chose the prophet who wanted to die as the prophet who would not die; so, for you, God will make your life a testimony, there is no need for suicide, obey Him and He will make your life a story for His glory!

The God Who Delivers You

God provides, He is concerned for you, He wants you to be blessed and to be prosperous! There may be challenges, but, He will provide the solution, suicide is a lie straight from hell, and it best be silenced; so, never give in to such thoughts, instead, declare how much Jesus paid for you because He loves you!

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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What does the Bible say about depression?

Many people suffer from clinical depression. It is a mental disorder that latches onto one’s mood and tries to put one down for a consistently long time. It is not like any other sense of emotional sadness or sorrow.

Unlike other emotions of sorrow, depression lingers, it makes one sad for a long time, and tries to get one to be consistently sad so that they neglect all of the joys of life.

So, now that we know what depression is, does the Bible say anything about it?

First, what is associated with depression? Depression is often associated with constant thoughts of self worthlessness. A person struggling with depression usually believes or battles thoughts that their life is purposeless.

Romans 5:8 Good News Translation (GNT)
8 But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!

However, the Bible says while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. That means whether you have accepted Jesus Christ or not, God loves you very much. Furthermore, you are worth the price He paid.

And because He loves us so much, He wants us to accept Him so He can hold a relationship with us!

To God, you hold a worth, and if that meant He paid a price where Jesus Christ died to save your soul, you must be worth very much to Him!

So, if you are suffering from depression and battling thoughts that tell you that you’re worthless, speak audibly to yourself so that your whole being understands that you are priceless! Just say to yourself…

“I am worth the price Jesus paid for me; He loves me very much!”

Now, depression is characterized by a constant gloomy mood.

 But, according to the Bible, if we know how much God loves us, we can be glad no matter what. Challenges and issues may come our way, but He will give us the peace of mind and the strength to overcome challenges.

John 14:27 New International Version (NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

And God showed mercy to us. What was God’s mercy? His mercy was when Jesus came to take away our sin so that He would endure the hell experience we deserved by living contrary to Him. So, when we know His mercy, His kindness, His tender love, we will by nature, rejoice and be glad all of our days!

Psalm 90:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

When we know that God loves us and His promise to us that we should have the mind of Christ, it is impossible for depression to linger, depression must leave.

So, in conclusion, if you struggle with depression, remind yourself that He loves you, remind yourself that He paid the price where His blood was shed and His body was broken so your mind can be healed.

If you realize how high He values you, then depression better stay away from you because the truth is that you are loved by God, you were chosen by Him, and you are healed by His endless grace.

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Where did mental illnesses come from according to the Bible? How is God justified from allowing such miseries to exist?

Now, where did depression even come from? Does the Bible mention anything about it? The Bible says that when God first made humans, they were perfectly healthy, both mentally and physically because they were created in God’s very own image and likeness.

Genesis 1:27 New King James Version (NKJV)
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

In God’s image, humanity was assured mental peace and emotional satisfaction! There wasn’t a tint of suffering that could haunt a soul! But, when God warned the first humans not to eat of a certain tree that offered both the knowledge of good and evil lest they invite death; Adam and Eve, the first humans disobeyed His instruction.

They obeyed a talking serpent’s temptation. Now, this serpent did not represent a literal snake which just so happened to have a magical ability to talk, but this strange figure represented an external evil that sought to harm God’s beloved children.

And the serpent made God to be a liar in front of Adam and Eve, he called God’s warning a lie. This being was not just a snake, he was primarily a liar.

Genesis 3:4 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

So, when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, they no longer reflected God, but reflected the image of this lying serpent. They became like the one they obeyed. God could no longer recognize them! And when God first asked Adam what had happened, Adam’s response gave evidence to a corrupt nature.

Genesis 3:11-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

When God asked Adam if he disobeyed Him, instead of humbly saying sorry to God, Adam blamed Him for making Eve as she was the one who encouraged Adam to eat of the forbidden tree.

This means that through that act of disobedience, Adam invited imperfection to the human nature. His mistake corrupted the human nature and thus, it became now possible for even mental illnesses to latch onto Adam’s descendants.

Yet, at the end of it all, God covered their nakedness with the skins of an animal. Blood had to be shed for God to cover them. This pointed to how one day God will provide, by shedding the blood of an innocent being who would bring restoration to what we lost, that innocent being is Jesus Christ, the God who sacrificed Himself for you.

Genesis 3:21 English Standard Version (ESV)
21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

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What does the Bible say about dealing with mental illness and does it provide a solution?

Back in the days of when the Holy Spirit was working in people to write the Bible, there was no such thing as categorized mental illnesses. People barely knew anything of such matters. Yet, the Holy Spirit still dealt with such topics by offering transformation because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

In 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV), Paul asks the Corinthians church, “Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” …

“But we have the mind of Christ.”

And that is what my blog is about! If we had the mind of Christ, the mind of Jesus, would depression have any room in our lives? Does the mind of God hold any vacant area for mental illness to rent a space in?

Of course not! God is perfect and He wants to share His mental peace with us. He wants us to be satisfied and at peace with our minds so we can live in joy because we’re His children! In fact, we should be confident of this as God wants your soul to prosper, and when our soul prospers, we can prosper in everything else!

3 John 1:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

We would call it absurd for a father or mother to wish that their children suffer emotionally or physically. Why then, would God want His children to suffer in any aspect whatsoever! That is the whole point of the cross.

Jesus suffered so that we not suffer! He was denied freedom so that we may inherit freedom.

2 Corinthians 5:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

So, God is bigger than mental illness and if we have His mind, we can live victoriously.

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Isn’t Jesus just like any other religious historical figure? What does he have to do with mental health?

Jesus is unique from any other historical figure and here’s why.

His claims were totally different. He claimed to offer life, to offer healing, to bless people, to show what love looks like, and He fulfilled His words at the cost of His life. His actions pointed to His divinity and His words testified of truth.

Luke 4:18-19 Good News Translation (GNT)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed
19     and announce that the time has come
    when the Lord will save his people.”

Jesus never denied that people can suffer, mentally. But He always offered healing. He offered healing for people who were hurt, physically, and He offered healing for people who were hurt, emotionally.