Truth sets free

Tag: believers

  • A People Pleaser Trait

    What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
    Does it surprise you to see the weird traits?

    I happen to have shared many platforms with different people. And it’s certain that where people are, there you must find funny and weird personality traits and characters that becomes nuisance.

    When I find myself in a meeting or a group fellowship with a people pleaser person. I always feel for them especially seeing how they struggle to be seen. That’s not all,

    They get disappointed when not recognized publicly.

    They can do anything to make them visible – be in the limelight. I have seen people indulging in evil and sinful activities just to make themselves relevant and accepted by the current trends.

    They can use all they have to please people. I once heard from a “people pleaser person” who happen to be close to me saying that he had used all the resources he had to make a previous event colourful. I had seen this trait in him but this confession further confirmed to me that the event was not as the attendees thought but it was aimed to please them. What a sad outcome to someone working tirelessly to please people.

    Does this personality trait issue surprise me even if its a nuisance?

    No. It doesn’t surprise me at all. I am a believer in truth and the God’s truth says that man is fallen and from man comes nothing righteous but only evil and wickedness. The root problem is sin. You see this “people pleaser person in the above story”, instead of pleasing God alone, he is busy pleasing people and at the same time actively displeasing God. Which then lands him in more disappointment and adjact despair.

    Look dear reader, everyone has that personality trait that is a red flag to someone. Even me I know that I have a trait that people dislikes. One trait can be visible while some invisible. In simple terms. Everyone is guilty of sin. And sin manifest through these weird personality traits in different ways.

    Is there hope that personality traits will turn good and perfect?

    Yes. In Heaven. But for now as long as we are still living in this evil and fallen world. Sin will be there and weird personality traits will be there. The only difference is this; Those whom God has made alive with Christ and they have received the free gift of eternal life in Christ by faith, their sin have been washed away and they are being transformed day by day by the Spirit of God. Meaning their personality traits are also being transformed likewise. I am a witness of this, my character traits have changed because of the new nature I have  and spirit of God that works in me.

    But to those who are still outside Christ. They are still in sin bondage and their personality traits are still dark and will even be more darker. But there is hope, the bible say that if you call upon the name of the Lord you will be saved. And when God saves you, you will see a great transformation in all of your life.

  • The Three Crucial Events of Easter Season

    The Three Crucial Events of Easter Season

    What are the important and crucial events that marked Easter season? What was the outcome of Easter events?

    Today we dive in and think about the Easter season that was just concluded the other day. Many people celebrated this season in diverse ways depending majorly on which background one belongs to. Some were devoted to religious activities. Others saw it as a holiday, a time to rest and spend with their loved ones.

    Scholars and people of different walks of lives have given various lists of many events of Easter which we can’t be able to highlight all here. They argue that these events took place during Easter weekend. But what does the bible (the true word of God) say about this topic?

    The four gospel accounts; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, offer a clear chronology of many events of Easter season. (See Matthew 27-28, Mark 15-16, Luke 23-24, John 18-20). But the question is, what were the most important and crucial events in Easter season that shouldn’t be forgotten especially by Christians?

    Here are the three important events that marked Easter and play a crucial role in Christianity;

    1 – Jesus is arrested and crucified on the cross

    Gospel accounts records that Chief priests and the crowd accused Jesus of rebellion due to his teachings of the kingdom of God. So he was arrested and charged. He didn’t utter any word to defend himself. He agreed to go to the cross as it was the wish of the crowd. For they kept on shouting crucify him! Crucify him! (Luke 23:21). This made Barabbas to be released, but Jesus, who committed no offense, was crucified.

    They didn’t know that it was not only their wish for Jesus to die in that manner. It was also the will of God to crush Jesus on the cross. This event was foretold by prophet Isaiah (See Isaiah 53:10). Jesus’ death on the cross had to happen at all costs for the plan of God to be achieved. The plan of dealing with man’s rebellion and sins once and for all. And at noon, Jesus breathed his last to satisfy the demands of God (see Luke 23:46) and indeed he bore the sins of the world on that cross to deal with the power of sin forever. This transitioned him to the second event below.

    2 – Jesus is buried on the tomb

    It didn’t end at the cross; Jesus had to be buried in the tomb after dying painfully on the cross. And not just a tomb but the one made by the wicked (see Isaiah 53:9). God in turn provided a man by the name, Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Jesus’ body. He did accordingly and laid Jesus’ body in the tomb (see Luke 23:50 – 53)

    The women who witnessed the burial event returned home hopeless. On the other hand, the king of Jews was also lying helpless in the Galilean tomb. It was certainly noticeable that followers of Jesus were in abject despair. For their master and leader is no longer with them. But he had to taste grave for the divine plan of God to come to pass. This takes us to the last event.

    3 – Jesus is risen from the dead

    It didn’t take long as the accusers thought. That Jesus would stay under the earth forever. Gospel accounts record that after three days, he was no longer dead but risen. The messenger of the Lord confirms this news to the women who came to anoint the dead body. Although they received the news with fear, they were made to remember what Jesus said while he was alive.

    That he will suffer many things, be crucified and on the third day be raised from dead (see Luke 24:7-8). And to confirm that he had truly risen, Jesus appeared not only to Simon but also to many others including  the twelve disciples, more than five hundred brothers and sisters and to all the apostles (see 1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

    According to Luke 24:45-47, he told the disciples he had to be crucified and die on the cross. He also had to be buried and on the third day be raised from the dead as we have seen above. He added that because of the work accomplished through these three events, repentance for forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name. In summary, Jesus clearly confirms that the above three events were key. They were important in the plan of God of redeeming the lost world.

    Apostle Paul explains it in this way,

    For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures
    (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

    Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2a)

    He reminded this church about the events that Christ went through. These events formed the gospel that was preached to them and must be preached today. And this is the gospel that graciously brought them salvation.

    It is clear that the death of Jesus on the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead forms the center of the gospel. And in fact that must be the gospel message. This is the good news that must be preached everywhere and at any time. For without these three events and their accomplished work, there is no message of the gospel and Christianity as well.  For it is only the message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, that has power of God to bring salvation.

    In conclusion, the Easter weekend or season reminds us of the crucial events that birthed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This gospel is the outcome of the many things that Christ went through.  And by this gospel alone, we are being saved. God’s goal was achieved through Jesus as he intended.
    Therefore, he is calling everyone to hold firmly this gospel, believe it and live according to its calling.

    Will you believe in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ in the cross, burial, and resurrection?

    Will you commit to hold firm this message and share with others?

    In case of any question, share with us in the comment section.

  • How did God Speak in the Past? How Does He Speak to us Today?

    How did God Speak in the Past? How Does He Speak to us Today?

    These are two interesting questions to start with in today’s discussion. When not carefully understood, it leaves a person in a state of confusion. We are living in a world where many voices are speaking to us from all directions. Information is at the fingertips. Yet not all this information is true and beneficial. This makes people especially Christians to be in a tight corner wondering what really is the truth. In many conversations today, you will never miss the above question, how does God speak to us today?

    People are lost in between questions like; is he speaking to us directly by appearing perhaps in dreams or visions? Is he speaking to us through his creation such as some selected special people? Please spare some time to read this article to the end to get answers to the above questions.

    How Did God Speak in the Past?

    The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 1:1-2 interestingly begins his letter with this topic. It seems like the same question was a problem for that generation as it is for us today. He confirms that God is the creator of all things. God had not gone mute for the past generation. He also has not gone mute for this current generation. The writer says that long ago, in those many years right after creation was finished, God spoke through people. These people were chosen and called by him. It is clear that God spoke to that generation through prophets. He did this, not once but many times. He visited many of his prophets at different times to communicate his message. Someone might want to ask, how did he do that?

    Well, it is clear in our bible text that he spoke through them in many ways. For instance, the word of the Lord came through visions. This is evident in Genesis 15:1, Isaiah 1:1, Ezekiel 1:1, Nahum 1:1, Micah 1:1, Obadiah 1:1, etc. And to other prophets, it was through the appearing of the angels of the Lord. God spoke to Moses through an angel, Exodus 3:1-3. We can go on and on through the bible. One clear thing is that God spoke mightily through his prophets at different times. He spoke in many ways which we can’t exhaust now. He sovereignly chose that way. And his messages were delivered as intended. But what about now, how is God speaking to us?

    How Does He Speak to Us Today?

    Is he still passing his intended message through certain special people through one-on-one encounters, visions, or appearing angels? Certainly not. The writer of Hebrews ensures that this matter is understood without any cases of contradictions. He says that in the past, God communicated in that manner to his people. In these last days, period between Jesus Christ’s first and second coming, he has spoken to us by his son whom he has appointed heir of all things and through him also created the universe. I ask you to pay attention to the choice of words in this text as we proceed.

    God in these days meaning now, is speaking to us, not through any created being. Not even through a prophet. Not even through angels. Not even through visions and dreams seen by a person. He makes it clear; that God has already spoken by his son. It is important to note that God has already given his final word, his son. He has spoken of things that happened before the earth’s foundation was laid. He has also spoken about what will happen at the end of the age. All these he has done by and through his son, Jesus Christ; the word that came from God which became flesh and dwelt among his people.

    Thus, the only way we can listen to God now is through his word alone. It is clearly laid bare in the Holy Scriptures. The word which is so powerful and alive, Hebrews 4:12 and in them are stored all things pertaining to life and godliness. All hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge are only found in the written word of God, Colossians 2:3. We surely need to get this truth in our hearts. Why?

    We are living in times of desperation and hopelessness. Truth is fought from all corners. Even in the church, some people have crept in unnoticed. They present themselves as the current God’s mouthpiece. They claim that God is speaking through them new things concerning people’s lives. This is totally contrary to what we have seen in our bible text.

    God in these times does not speak through men new things. But remember our Lord Jesus Christ forewarned about the emergence of false prophets and teachers, Matthew 24:24. Apostle Peter clearly states that these false teachers are in the church. They are secretly introducing perverted teachings that are destructive. The worst is that they are denying the Lord who bought them, 2 Peter 2:1. They aim to lure people away from the truth. Even the chosen of God are at risk of falling victim to their swift destruction. The question then comes, how can a believer escape this trap?

    The only escape route for the elect of God is to decide to lovely cherish and believe in what God has said in Hebrews 1:2 without adding or taking away any word. Believing and proclaiming that God has spoken in his written word. And his word is enough and final. No need for any other fine-packaged-sounding arguments. The choice is for every individual to make. As Paul reminded a young leader in Ephesus church, Timothy needed to make a decisive choice. He was to carefully watch out for his life. Timothy was to take precautions on what teachings he believes in and shares with others. For by that, he would save himself and others also, 1 Timothy 4:16.

    Therefore, let no one take you captive by things that have no value. For they put your eternity at stake. God has spoken in his word. If you want to hear God loudly, take your bible and read it loudly. That’s the voice of God for us today.