Emmanuel?

[[Mat 1:23]] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Why must Jesus be called Emmanuel? If you've been conversant with the bible, you'll know whenever names are given to people, it is always to say something about what the parents feel, or what God says, about a contemporary situation. Remember how a sorrowful mother gave birth to a child and said the child should be called Ichabod. What's her message? - The glory has departed from Israel. See 1 Sam 4:21

What of Jabez? He was born by a mother in sorrow and was thus so named. 1Chron 4:9

Hosea was asked to marry a prostitute
Hos 1:4 and has by her Jezreel;
Hos 1:6 Loruhamah;
Hos 1:8 and Lo-ammi
All were messages to the nation.

After the fall of Adam and how God has announced the Good news of a coming "seed of the woman" who will give life, that was when Adam gave the woman the name - Eve

[[Gen 3:20]] And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all LIVING.

What's the point? Names don't come in the Bible without a message, especially in such a case like this when God is the namer. So why the name - Emmanuel?

Now this is why that name emerged. The name simply means "God With Us". That is, God is now joined to man in this child that is born.

Hmmm..

Was there a separation before? Of course. The same Isaiah announced this.

[[Isa 59:1-2]] 1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have SEPARATED between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

The separation was by sin. And Jesus born to save from sins (Matt 1:21), therefore will remove the sin barrier and sanctify (Heb 10:5-9). This He did and said it is finished! God and man today is reconciled by the sacrifice of Jesus.

[[Rom 5:10]] For if, when we were enemies, we were RECONCILED to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Emmanuel! Emmanuel!! Each time you shout that name, you're saying, "I'm now at PEACE with God. I'm now reconciled with God! No barriers anymore!". Do you want to shout it one more time?

Now pay attention to this! Having established this, It will be out of place for anyone to quote Isaiah 59:1 and say "your sins is hindering God from hearing you, it's your sin! it's your sin! God is against you". It cant be true! because what? because Emmanuel! God said Emmanuel! God with us! No barriers!

Now Someone might want to say, "yes but that is only after you have repented. It does not apply to someone who still sins". I would probably have agreed with you but I will be ignoring scriptures if I so do.

[[Rom 5:10]] For if, WHEN WERE ENEMIES (not when we changed our ways to be friends with God)... when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...

[[2Co 5:19]] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; (so people being reconciled can have trespasses...) and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

So what we are sent to preach is the word of RECONCILIATION (God with us, not imputing trespasses...), not the word of SEPARATION (God has turned His back, your sins have separated etc).

This is the Good News. Christ has FULLY paid for all your sins: you either believe this or continue to walk in error. He is in fact an "overpayment" for your sins (1jn 2:2). People have always think that you must give something to be a partaker of the blessings of God. Stop this deception! Forgiveness is Free in Christ Jesus! (Romans 3:24).
Take this FREE OFFER of righteousness and give thanks. Alleluia!

Tithing and The New Testament

If you still expect a blessing from your tithing, you have not started to walk fully in Grace...

If you are still a "tither" faithful or unfaithful, you're not yet walking fully in the rights Christ bought you.

If you still have tithe envelopes or boxes, all the same..I invite you to learn this truth in Grace.

There is no commandment called tithing in the New Testament!
Paul never taught his Church or ask his Church to show him their "tithe cards"

Jesus never taught his disciples to tithe!

Listen! The closest word of Jesus to tithing is found in Matthew 23:23 and he wasn't teaching to tithe, nor saying "do not tithe", but rather condemning certain tithers

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin...

Hmm... How careful these guys are, as to tithe of even mint and anise and Cummin... but Jesus never praised that, but Jesus "woed" them because they didn't keep the law at all points.

Hmm...
*[[Jas 2:10]] KJV* For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

*[[Mat 23:23]] KJV* Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

So, no "faithful tither" is faithful indeed: ask him, "have you areas of the law you neglected? Are you sure you're all rounder in keeping this law of God? Are you sure you'll be able to continue to tithe of mint and anise and Cummins, very minute details and yet, other areas of the law do not suffer neglect?". According to Jesus, until you do this, you'll always fall in bad light in the eye of God: thus, don't expect any blessing if your neighbors are dying of hunger and you're rich and tithing faithfully, despising their cries.
Pro 21:13 says Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard, meaning, his tithes shall not be blessed.
And you also must not "rob God" in tithes. Don't rob Peter to pay Paul! So was Jesus' teaching.

Tithing is an old testament injunction. Nowhere in the epistles was it demanded. Did Paul wrote about Church finances at all? Yes he did. Did he reveal how his Church was making it financially at all? Yes. Without tithes? Yes.

*[[2Co 9:1]] KJV* For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

*[[Phi 4:15-16]] KJV* Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

What is that? Giving by the church. So there was giving by the Church. But was that tithes? No.

*[[Act 2:44-45]] KJV*  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Was that tithes? No.
But did it meet their needs? Yes.

*[[2Co 11:8-9]] KJV* I robbed other churches, [taking wages of them]<this word in square brackets was inserted by translators, readers take note>, to do you service.  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

So there was meat in Gods house not by tithing, but by a voluntary offering.

More scriptures?

*[[1Co 16:1-3]] KJV* Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

What is this "collection for the saints"? Looks like our offerings today. It is gathered first day of the week and collected to be forwarded to Jerusalem. But this is in no way same as tithes, because in verse 3, he calls it "liberality".
"them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem".

Just in case, you're slow in believing..
*[[Gal 2:9-10]] KJV* And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

They didn't tell Paul, "only remember your tithing! Tithing!! Always pay", but GIVING! GIVING!

Now what's the new testament practice?

*[[2Co 8:12-15]] KJV* For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

First, willing mind. No giving without a willing mind.

*[[2Co 9:12]] BBE* For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God;

So we give in church to take care of needs, yet not by tithing. Why?

*[[2Co 9:7]] KJV* Every man ACCORDING AS HE PURPOSETH IN HIS HEART, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

This is how we give in the new testament. Talk of tithing, it's not tithing!

Tithing is AS THE LAW PURPOSE FOR YOU, not as you purpose in your heart.

"so let him give...". In tithing, it is "so let him PAY", not so let him give.

"..not grudgingly, or of necessity...", in the law of tithing, it is of necessity. You don't pay it, locusts will devour your works. But the new testament giving is out of love. You're not blessed by the giving you do (we're blessed by what Christ has done Gal 3:13-14), neither are we cursed for not giving. Locusts don't invade your works for not tithing (because He Nevers asked you to tithe in the first place), there are always open heavens because of what Christ has done for us. Giving is our nature, we need not be coerced to do so. Accept the unconditional blessing of Christ and serve in love.
Amen.

What happened in Daniel 3:24-end

Daniel 3:24-25
(24)  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
(25)  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.


He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Now I've heard a preacher say this is the first appearance of Jesus on the earth. In fact, we have a common eulogy that describes God as the "fourth in the furnace". That is because of the way he was described: "and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God". But it's not Jesus. Jesus has never showed up on the earth as a man until John 1:14.

What Nebuchadnezzar was actually seeing was a vision! A vision! And the meaning of the vision is simply that God is with these men! Simple!

God opened his eyes to see a vision, and it wasn't Jesus in the furnace, but an ANGEL. The word "son of god" is "bar elahin" which is sometimes translated "angel" (see Good News Bible). And in case, you don't agree with that, see verse 28.

[Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his ANGEL… (Daniel 3:28)

So Nebuchadnezzar confessed what he saw was an angel of God.

In fact, it appeared like only the king saw it, because he said, "Lo, I SEE", not "we see", or "can't you see?" Lo, I see four men… and he was the only one who described the how that fourth man look like. Now, you don't describe a picture to a person if the picture is right before the eyes of both of you and the other person isn't blind. It's only when people around me are not seeing what I'm seeing will I ever need to start to describe.

Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

It can also be seen this vision just like every other vision was very brief: it had disappeared when he called out for the three men.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,… no mention of the fourth man anymore, just the three men were called. Evidently, the vision has disappeared.

Well if you ask me, can a person who is not saved have a vision? I'll refer you to Cornelius (Acts 10:3), to Paul on his way to Tarsus (Acts 9:3-6)

…Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire… no fourth man anymore.

And in verse 29, God was to be honoured in every nation, on the earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for the written word.

Learning from The Confidence of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego

Daniel 3:16-18
(16)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
(17)  If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.
(18)  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Thank you for going through the story of the trio with me.

Trust that you are well familiar with the story from which we can draw lessons (Rom 15:4, 1Cor 10:11).

But this is where most people and even translations misinterpret this story.

They say, the trio said, "if you throw us into the fire, our God is able to deliver us". Correct up to this point. But they add "but if our God doesn't deliver us, we will…" Wrong!

Let's read the story again.

The king said,
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear… all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

The response:
"If it be [so]",… if it be so that what?

that "ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" because the king added that "who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"

Is this clear at this juncture?

If it be so, [if that's the case], that we shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace [thinking no God is able to deliver out of your hands], our God is able to deliver…

But if not…

if not what? If it be not so… if it be not so;

the exact opposite of the previous statement:

if that's not the case, that you shall not cast us into the furnace,… be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up [because only a person who has not been burnt by fire can choose whether to bow or not to bow]

So, those men never said, "even if our God does not deliver us", rather, they were saying, "if you do what you promise to do because we did not bow, our God is able to deliver us, but if you do not throw us into the furnace, we will still not bow"
because if God never delivered them, they will already be in ashes, roasted. So they couldn't have been saying, we will not bow. They would have said, "and if our God does not deliver us, well, so be it that we die a good death, not denying our faith".

There was no doubt in their speech. They are Hebrews. It's not their first time of seeing miraculous interventions. Remember they've practically seen the miraculous knowing and interpretation of the king's dream before amongst several wonders Jehovah has demonstrated in their lives. They were used to things like that, and never counted it a risk to utter such a word before the great Nebuchadnezzar and amidst threat of seven-time-heated furnace. And so, the author of Hebrews will say they were men "who through FAITH (not fear, not doubt)… quenched the violence of fire (Hebrews 11:33-34)

The lesson we draw here is that our confidence in such times our faith is tested can be strengthened when we "get used to the miraculous".

Jesus has NEVER gave it a thought that "what if this miraculous things fail?" The day Jesus walked on water, it never came to His mind that "hey! this is water! Who do you think you are? This is too much and you may be going beyond your boundaries". He simply stepped on the water and walked. Elijah was so bold to challenge the prophets of Baal to a "the god that answers by fire be God" contest and even asked that more waters be poured on the sacrifice. Experiential confidence can be helpful for you in times of storm. Give your ears daily to hearing testimonies of how God is setting men free everyday; healing the sick through men; unstopping deaf ears; cleansing lepers through men that are not clergy. Take steps too. Pray over situations and try to observe how your prayer of faith change the situation. You can do it because Jesus says so. So go ahead! And when you're tried, it is that God may be magnified.
Blessed!

that the works of God might be made manifest

The Works of God
John 9:1-4
(1)  And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
(2)  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(3)  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
This seems to look like Jesus is saying
“God made him blind, so Jesus can have some miracles to perform on earth that people might believe him”
Or that
“This is not the kind of problem caused by sin, it is a SPECIAL kind of problem that God put there so He can be showing Himself, otherwise people won’t serve Him.”
But that’s far from the message!
Please notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say
“He was CREATED blind”, or “He was made blind”
So Jesus cannot be talking about God as the reason for that situation. But the fact Jesus admitted was that “he was blind, but… the works of God shall be manifest”. It therefore means that hitherto, the works of God has not been manifest in his life.

Jesus simply said, ‘Hey! what you people are about to see now is “the work of God”’,
“I must work the works of him that sent me”, and we saw what?
…a healing
Therefore, his blindness is not “the work of God” is the simple message: his healing is the work of God.
It is only one person Jesus told us does nothing but is come to steal, to kill, and to destroy – the thief (John 10:10) and God is not a thief.
Therefore, don’t make a false doctrine out of this: that God maketh sick and then healeth. Don’t say “God has made me sick so He can heal me again that I can know that He is powerful”.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13
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.
(1 John 1:5)
Peace to you.

If you Don't Know Who You are in Christ...

O ma she o! (What a pity)

Believers of today, being IGNORANT of whom they are in Christ before God have reduced themselves to all manner of trash. This is evidenced by stupid songs we sing and prayer points we raise. Songs like "pass me not o gentle savior", "aanu Re Baba wa orun lawa n toro...". Ask him to explain the scripturality of the songs, he'll say in John 5, Jesus "by mercy" healed only the lame man at Bethesda and ignored others (which is not true according to Jn6:2): that Jesus passed others by.
Hmm! "Gentle savior" indeed.

Q2.
Besides, Is the believer now at the same level with an unsaved sick who is looking for healing? When the believer is THE ONLY carrier of God's healing power on earth? (Romans 16:18 Act 3:6-8; Act 3:12; Act 3:16; Act 4:10; Act 4:22; Act 4:30; Act 5:15; Act 5:16; Act 9:17; Act 9:18; Act 9:34; Act 9:40-42; Act 19:12)

Jesus said to the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15:26, that healing is ALREADY children's bread and dogs do not qualify for it. That is, it is the right of every child, but today many believers prayers and "prayer songs" come in the manner of the dogs. No authority at all. Instead it is "shout till you lose your voice: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me", "je ki n raanu gba", "roughen your cloth, tear yourself, beg for mercy" etc.

You even have people who believe only a vow can "bribe" God to give them answers. That is not childly, nor fatherly. Imagine your son having to make a vow to you as a father before you give him his daily bread (remember Jesus calls healing children's bread). If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matt 7:11)

Children today beg for the crumbs that fall from the table when the table was prepared for them. That is what ignorance will do. #GodPunishIgnorance

Saved by Grace Alone

If you say it this way,..
"It is BY GRACE we are saved in Christ, it is NOT OF WORKS" (Eph 2:8-9)

Almost everyone will give a nodding in agreement with your statement as biblical.

But if you say the same thing this way

"your working or not working after your salvation cannot UNSAVE you"
I bet you'll get hard knocks, serious criticism and even have to face a panel (sahendrin council) in disapproval. Read what I wrote again:

"your working or not working after your salvation cannot UNSAVE you"

Please what's the difference? We are saved by grace alone and not of works. "not of works" already mean, "not by works". That is, whatever your works mean (whether good or bad), yes, will surely affect some other important things (such as people's opinion of you, your opinion of yourself, your shining as light, your relationship with fellow men, your freedom to win your neighbours to Christ, your conscience condemning or approving you, personal trust etc) but NOT SALVATION since salvation is NOT OF WORKS: otherwise it is of works: and a thing cannot be of works and also be of grace at the same time says the scripture.

[Rom 11:6]And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

[Tit 3:5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

My hope is built on nothing else
but Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but only lean on Jesus name