A CHRISTIAN’S RESPOND TO OBNOXIOUS LAWS

A CHRISTIAN’S RESPOND TO OBNOXIOUS LAWS

“But Peter and John answered them, ’You yourselves judge which is right in God’s sight – to obey you or obey God. For we cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard’” – Acts 4:19-20 (Good News Bible).

The choice between either obeying or disobeying human laws that contradict God’s instructions or laws can be a complex and difficult one for many Christians, especially in the face of persecutions. Peter, John, Daniel and the Hebrew boys (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) once faced similar choices and chose to do what is right in God’s sight; baring all consequences. We can draw lessons from their positive attitude.

They sought to do what is right in God’s sight: In Daniel 6, a law was passed in the Persian kingdom prohibiting people from praying, within 30 days, to any deity or human object except to King Darius, the reigning king. Daniel, who was third in power in the kingdom, was the target of this evil and obnoxious law. It sought to prevent him from praying to the God Almighty. The punishment for flouting this law was being cast into a pit filled with lions. Nevertheless, Daniel chose to pray three times daily as had been his custom. Consequently, he was cast into the lions’ den but God delivered him from the lions.

They were also mindful of God’s unchanging character and sovereignty: God is always faithful to His promises but He is also sovereign and does what is right and just. Thus, God does not just answer a prayer because one has prayed according to His promise. He always acts justly and rightly in fulfilling His promises. Therefore, not receiving a desirable answer to one’s prayer does not make God unfaithful. The three Hebrew boys were mindful of God’s character and sovereignty when they said: ‘...O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace...But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up’ – Daniel 3:16-18 (KJV).  

Always choose to obey God and dare the consequences of disobeying evil and obnoxious laws.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions

Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 35

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 35

A YEAR JOURNEY INTO EPHESIANS 1

‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ – Ephesians 1:7.

*WEEK 35:

The riches of His grace makes all saints direct beneficiaries of God’s mighty power – vv. 7, 13-14, 19.

The riches of His grace makes the saints ministers of the grace of Jesus to other people – vv. 1-7, 3-17, 15-22.

The riches of His grace is the engine that translates people who surrender to Jesus from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus – vv. 3-7, 11; Colossians 1:12-14.

The the riches of His grace makes thanksgiving central to intercession for the saints – vv. 3,7, 15-19.

The riches of His grace gives the saints access to all the good treasures in Christ – vv. 3, 7, 10, 22-23.

The riches of His grace is the fulfilment of God’s predetermined purpose to make all persons who surrender to Jesus His adopted children – vv. 5-7, 11-14; John 1:12; 3:16.

                                 

God’s mercies and kindness are embedded in the riches of His grace – v. 7; Eph 2:1-10.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom

Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com

KEYS TO FRUITFULNESS

KEYS TO FRUITFULNESS

‘...He that abideth in me, I am in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit...Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit...’ – John 15:5. 8 (KJV)

Sin is falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Fruitlessness is a sin because it is an affront to God’s first commandment to humankind (Genesis 1:28). We fall short of God’s glory when we do not bear fruit. The only way to glorify God is bearing much fruit. Fruitfulness denotes fertility which leads to colourful, joyful, glorious and eternal outcomes.

Fruitfulness is both conditional and a choice. Although God has commanded every human being to be fruitful, He still allows each one of us to decide whether to comply with that commandment or not. Fruitfulness is therefore personal and conditional because it is dependent on a person’s decision to obey God. A person bears fruit when he or she chooses to do what God commands - ‘...Be fruitful and multiply’ (Genesis 1:28).

Fruitfulness results from divine and human partnership. It is a partnership among God the Father (the Husbandman-God), God the Son (the Vine-Jesus), and a disciple of Jesus (the branch-a Christian). A branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it abides in a vine. Besides, every branch needs constant pruning to bear much fruit. Similarly, a Christian cannot bear fruit unless he abides in Jesus who is the vine of life. We abide in Jesus by spending quality time with God’s word, meditating on it daily (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:3; John 15:4-8) and applying it into our lives. God prunes (directs and orders) our steps when we apply His word to our lives (Psalm 119:105,130,133) to enable us bear much fruit.

Fruitfulness is for God’s glory; not ours. God should be the focus of our decision and desire to be fruitful. Jesus chose to glorify God while on earth by carrying-out His God-given assignment. We honour God and glorify Him when we discover His purpose for our lives and fulfil it. Our fruitfulness lies in fulfilling our purpose with the aim of honouring God with our lives. God glorifies any person who lives his life to honour Him (John 17:1-6). Be fruitful!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom

                                        Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com                                  Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 34

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 34

A YEAR JOURNEY INTO EPHESIANS 1

‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ – Ephesians 1:7.

*WEEK 34:

The Holy spirit plays a dominant role in enforcing the spiritual blessings of the saints in the riches of His grace – vv. 3, 7, 14-15, 17, 19-23.

Faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all saints are products of being a partaker of the riches of His grace – vv. 7, 15.

The riches of His grace is all about God’s glory – vv. 7, 11-12, 14, 18.

The the riches of His grace put the church in command of God’s creation – vv. 7, 19-23; Psalm 8:4-8.

The most essential needs of every human being are the peace of God and the riches of His grace – vv. 2-7.

The riches of His grace has underwritten (paid off) the cost price of redemption and forgiveness of any person who believes and accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Saviour and Lord – vv. 7, 13-14.

                                 

 The Spirit of wisdom, revelation and knowledge are given to only persons who have received the riches of His grace – vv. 7, 13-19.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom

Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com

“LET THERE BE LIGHT” - LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

“LET THERE BE LIGHT” - LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The Bible gives an account of how this earth was created. At the beginning of creation, the earth was devoid of light and was full of darkness. So God said, “Let there be light; and there was light.” He made two great lights (sun and moon) and the stars. The sun to provide light during the day and the moon and stars to provide light in the night. Just as God called forth light unto the earth, so must developing countries facing power crisis put on the light.

According to the IMF, about 30 out of the 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have suffered acute energy crisis in recent years. Ghana for instance has experienced 5 major periods of power crises since 1980s. Ghana is said to be among the top 10 countries in the world that have experienced and continue to experience crippling load shedding. South Africa, which produces electricity more than the rest of the entire Africa put together, has also been suffering from power crisis since 2006. Power crisis is adversely affecting the economies of several developing economies such as Ghana and South Africa.  

Let there be light in developing countries! Available, affordable, quality, reliable and sustainable electricity supply in developing countries will enhance economic growth and development. This can be achieved by drawing some key lessons from how God solved the maiden power crisis.

Firstly, God identified the problem and took decisive steps to solve it permanently. Secondly, God prioritised solving the first power crisis before creating anything else. Lastly, God created different sources of power (sun, moon and stars) and put them to optimum use at different times (day and night); sun for the day, moon and stars for the night.

The lessons to draw are the following: there is a need to recognise that the erratic supply of power in developing countries is indeed problematic.  Further, leaders in developing countries   ought to prioritize the solving of power crisis over all other things since energy is central to the effective functioning of every sector of an economy. Lastly, all sources of energy must be utilised for optimal results. Let there be light!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom

Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com 

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 33

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 33

A YEAR JOURNEY INTO EPHESIANS 1

‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ – Ephesians 1:7.

*WEEK 33:

The riches of His grace has been entrusted to Jesus for the benefits of all people who believe in Jesus and surrender their lives to Him (saints) – vv. 3, 7, 11-14, 20-23.

The riches of His grace qualify all persons, who believe in Jesus and surrender to Him, to become children of God – vv. 5-7, 12-19; John 1:12.

God’s servants are obliged to teach the saints about the riches of His grace and intercede for them to benefit immensely from them (the riches of His grace) – vv. 1, 3-7, 13-22.

The the riches of His grace seek to cause all saints to walk in God’s glory, give Him glory  and declare His glory (excellence) to all creation – vv. 6-7, 12, 17-23; Romans 3:23-26; 1Peter 2:9; Psalm 19:1-6.

The riches of His grace is a divine licence a person needs to obtain before that person could access God’s place of exaltation for all saints – vv. 3, 7, 20-23.

The blood of Jesus is the price tag for the redemption of the dominion mandate of the saints in the riches of His grace which Adam and Eve lost to satan, the thieve!  – vv. 3-7; John 10:10.

                                 

 The Holy Spirit is the guarantor and the trustee for the restoration of the dominion mandate of the saints in the riches of His grace – vv. 7, 13-14.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom

Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 31

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE 31

A YEAR JOURNEY INTO EPHESIANS 1

‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ – Ephesians 1:7.

*WEEK 31:

Hearing the word of truth and believing in Jesus is the only way to stepping into and walking in the riches of His grace – vv. 4-7, 13-14.

Sin blocks a person’s access to the riches of His grace until that person’s sins are forgiven – vv. 4, 13-14.

The primary role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the riches of His grace is only towards the saints – vv. 13-14, 19; John 1:12.

The the riches of His grace focuses on righteousness and holiness of the saints because they are the hallmarks of people chosen by God – vv. 3-5, 7, 11; 1Peter 2:9.

The riches of His grace is God’s predetermined counsel for all saints – vv. 5, 7, 11-14.

Jesus Christ is the vessel through whom God demonstrates and distributes the riches of His grace – vv. 3-7, 10-14, 19-23.

                                 

 The riches of His grace is the totality of God’s riches in Christ Jesus – vv. 7-14, 22-23.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Daily Wisdom

Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com