Monday, September 15, 2008

CHOOSING LIFE INSTEAD OF DEATH

I have a friend who is a Pastor in Nigeria. He writes an occasional email submission. This last was excellent and worth reading:


BY OLUFUNSO J. OMIDIRAN
www.livingsword.org

8 ¶ And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8).
15 ¶ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil... 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:15,19).

The word of God is a document of absolute value, which however gives every individual the privilege of making choice of decisions. God’s word is an absolute in the sense that it cannot be compromised or undermined by anybody. It can neither be questioned nor disputed. The best we should all do is to align ourselves to the truth of God’s word. When we do this, we are walking in the will of God. From God’s word, we see that God is giving us all opportunity to choose either life or death, good or evil. Let us carefully look into God’s word and make the right choice, for choosing belongs to us: it is our responsibility under God.

LIFE WITH ITS MYRIADS OF CHOICES
Life in this world offers us conflicting and often irreconcilable and seemingly reasonable choices of decisions which leave us at some cross-roads and we still have to make the right and the best decisions. Family units, career issues, finances, ministry matters and personal health and welfare are inevitable and should be addressed rightly. We as God’s children and pilgrims on earth should always seek for God’s wisdom through His unfailing word and Spirit so that we may not miss God’s perfect plan for our lives. We normally have more problems when we place worldly values and fads above the absolute standards of God’s word. We inadvertently enter into conflict with the truth and we become helpless because we cannot ‘bring’ God into agreement with our selfish intents.

Besides, we can be tempted to abandon our priceless possessions and right in the Lord simply because of fear and unbelief. This is a serious problem in the life of so many believers- especially those who always want to debate and finds excuses for the reality of God’s supernatural for today. They deny the possibility of God making way where there is no way, healing incurable diseases, making His people whole and meeting our needs in times of trouble. Do you ever think it a little thing for God to act as God- just as He really is? Some people are deluded to feel that the God of the Bible- the Old Testament and the early Church is no more the same God today. What a baseless error! They boldly and shamelessly deny the manifestations of the Holy Spirit and His power in our time. Theological conflicts and battles of rhetoric cannot reduce God and His eternal power.

CHOOSE LIFE, CHOOSE JESUS
The best we do is to choose life instead of death. Jesus Christ our Lord promises us life, so we choose life by simply choosing Him and what He offers. This is the safest, the best and the wisest way:

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have Life, and may have it in abundance
(John 10:10 Weymouth’s New Testament)

In other words, our Lord has come to present to us the best we truly need: life. Jesus came that we may have abundant life. This abundant life is supernatural in nature and cannot be duplicated or replicated by human whims and caprices. The supernatural power and life of God that fended for the children of Israel by bringing them out of Egypt and getting to the Promised Land is still here with us today. Jesus is not any less the mighty Saviour than He was in the days of His flesh (Hebrews 13:8). Why should we then choose death and defeat when we have a glorious access to victory? Why should we fail to walk in faith by agreeing with God’s word, receiving what has been freely given to us? Listen to this testimony about Christ Jesus our Messiah:

4 In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men. 5 ¶ The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to the things that were His own, and His own people gave Him no welcome
(John 1:4-5, 10-11 Weymouth’s New Testament).

When we truly choose Jesus, we also choose the life He gives. We should not exclude ourselves from the fullness of God’s immeasurable blessings in Him. Let us position ourselves for life. God has already called us to this glorious and abundant life through Christ.

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).

God’s awesome supernatural power is still available today to open new doors for us, to break all yokes and shackles of the devil and cause more men in every nation to be obedient to the gospel of Christ as we beam His light onto every nation. Hallelujah! Christ is still willing to heal, set free from sin and shame and to save the lost. ‘We ain’t seen nothing’ yet as regards the visitation of the supernatural in our time! We only need to cooperate with God by agreeing with His word. We must choose life instead of death for Christ has come to give us abundance of life.

REJECT THAT DEFEAT!
Reject defeat and all whispers of fears from the devil. You can’t lose the battle inasmuch as you have not abandoned God’s truth and inheritance. You have chosen life instead of death; you are on course and on your way to divine rest. Do not accept failure for failure isn’t an option for you at this time! Why should you reject what Christ has already paid for? Your hour of change has come and your season of constant rejoicing is here. Why should we not begin to celebrate your victory now? Let praises and thanksgiving begin to ascend on high. Amen and Shalom.


Thanks Brother O, I needed to hear that word.

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