Monthly Archives: December 2024

MARY’S FIRST LOVE

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (64)/ MARY’S FIRST LOVE

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures are taken from the books of John 13:34,35; Lk 10:38-42; Acts 6:1-7; John 11:28-36; 12:1-8;

AT HIS FEET – MARY’S FIRST LOVE (Lk 10:38-42)

This is a wonderful story. It shows the priority of spiritual things. Priority is defined as something that is more important than other things. It is an urgent thing. It must be dealt first before attending to other things. In this story, we see Mary seated at the feet of Jesus. Thru her we see the priority given to spiritual things, loving Jesus above all others. Mary was a special person. There are not many details about her. We do not know if she was married or if she had children. But the few words about Mary have created a precious picture. Her memory is preserved. She is an inspiration to all lovers of Jesus to the end of time.

When Jesus was on earth, He had many enemies but few true friends. There was a family who lived in a village called Bethany, just 2 miles from Jerusalem. This family was made from three siblings: Martha (possibly the senior sister), Mary, and their (possibly younger) brother, Lazarus. The name Martha means Lady, Mistress or Madam. The name Mary means Beloved. Lazarus means God has helped me. Martha talks and behaves as the Landlady. She is a symbol of the ministry of helps and hospitality. In the Jewish culture, it was a sacred duty to welcome strangers, to give them food and shelter. Mary is the spiritual one in the family. She shows the priority of spiritual work like prayer, worship, and the study of God’s Word. Their brother Lazarus is quieter. This wonderful family opened their house to Jesus. They loved Him as their Master, Teacher, Mentor and Friend. In their house, Jesus was allowed to be Himself. They did not ask Him to do miracles for entertainment. They loved Him simply, from their hearts. They were the friends of Jesus. The name of their village, Bethany means ‘house of affliction’ or ‘house of figs’. It is now a small town with a population of about 22,000 people.

“She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word”. On this occasion, Jesus and His disciples came to visit them. Mary decided to sit at the feet of Jesus, to listen to His Word. This is the traditional position of a disciple submitting to his master, mentor or rabbi. It was a position of humility and desire to learn. Her position shows that God’s Word has priority over other activities. In Greek, the word ‘sat’ shows a deliberate choice to be close to Jesus, attentive to His words, even if she was to be discriminated because of that. Mary made a choice to be a mature spiritual Christian, to grow in grace and understanding, and to be a true worshipper of Jesus. ‘Mary heard the word’. The word ‘heard’ means listening. It suggests an active, continuous action. Mary was not just hearing the words of Jesus with her ears, but she opened her heart to receive them. It shows hearing and believing. The words of Jesus were spoken with Love and Authority. No man spoke like Jesus! The words had the power to give Eternal Life, to deeply change and transform people. Mary opened ears and heart shows a deep desire to learn divine truth, to have godly wisdom, to Love like Jesus and to be changed from glory to glory.

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing the dinner for Jesus and the guests. Cooking is never easy. We are told the Martha ‘Was distracted with much serving’. In Greek, the word ‘distracted’ means to drag all around, to be all over the place, to be greatly troubled. To distract it means to draw away your mind, your focus, your attention, from one thing to another. We usually draw away our attention from things we hate to the things we love. We stop thinking about our duty and start thinking about entertainment. Jesus said that Martha was distracted about many things. She was trying to do too many things at the same time. The word ‘serving’ is ‘diakonian’. It means to be a servant, a waiter at the table, a minister or a deacon. The words ‘to care’ means to be concerned, anxious, have an interest. Mary has ‘left’ Martha to serve alone. To leave it means abandon, or to forsake. Alone means solitary, desolate, or single. Martha said: Tell her to help me! The word ‘help’ means to cooperate, to hold the opposite corners together. From these words we see that Martha was serving God by serving men. This is a good work. But she became tired and frustrated. She started grumbling. She was comparing herself with her sister Mary, who sat in the living room, among men, to listen to Jesus. She felt lonely as she was doing ministry. Lesson: This is a common complaint from many pastors and leaders in the church. They know that serving God is a good thing. But they miss the human fellowship, the church ‘gist’. Suddenly, they feel that the Holy Spirit is too ‘spiritual’ and does not understand the frustration of ministry on earth. The Holy Spirit is the Encourager to help us in our loneliness and anxieties of life! Selah!

Jesus replied to busy Martha that one thing is needed. Not many things that bring distraction. Only one thing! And Mary has found that treasure. She has chosen that one good thing. What is that best thing? It is to be one with Jesus! Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His Word. To sit at His feet means that she submitted to Jesus, to be one with Him. She was ready to receive His Word. Please note that both Martha and Mary are ‘Christians’. The difference was that Mary chose to invest in her soul first. She wanted to attend first to spiritual eternal things for the good of her soul. This was her priority. Her priority was right. After attending to the words of Jesus, she could use the remaining time and strength to do the chores in the house. This was divine wisdom. This was agape Love. Selah!

Jesus calls Mary’s choice ‘the good part’. The good part or the good portion is always a choice. Men and devils cannot take it away from us. Ministry is good. God rewards His servants when they serve Him. But ministry can become a source of distraction from the concentrated focus of studying God’s Word and prayer. I am not saying that Martha is a worldly Christian woman. She loved Jesus too. But because she was the hostess of the home, she felt that she must be more practical. She saw it as her duty to entertain Jesus and the disciples. She wanted to cook many dishes, possibly to impress Jesus with her ministry. But she became anxious in the kitchen. Anxiety made her impatient. She rebuked Jesus saying He does not care. She almost blamed Jesus for encouraging Mary to be lazy and selfish. Lesson: being too busy with the physical needs, leads to anxiety, complaining, and drifting away from spiritual things. The loss is greater than the gain! This is foolish. May we examine ourselves! How do we serve Jesus? What is the place of prayer and the study of God’s Word in our lives?  

Jesus gently rebuked Marth by saying that Mary has chosen the good part, the best part. Comparing the two ministries, studying God’s Word, prayer and worship on one side, and the ministry of helps, provision to the needy and taking care of God’s house, on the other side, the first one has a greater value. The spiritual things have pre-eminence over the natural things. This is a spiritual law. “Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men” (Rom 14:16-18). To live we need to eat and drink. But the Kingdom of God is made of eternal spiritual things, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We should focus on the spiritual things first, and later, we can attend to the needs of the body. We should not allow anyone to speak evil about the good choice we made, to focus our best on spiritual things.

There two reasons why Jesus gently rebuked Martha: 1-She overdid her work until she became distracted from spiritual things. 2-She stopped appreciating the greater value of spiritual investment. For example, we can bake a cake and present it to a prophet. That is good! But to waste hours decorating that cake with flowers, that may be wrong. A simple tasty cake is better. Cooking many dishes on Sunday morning until you become so tired that you fall asleep during the sermon, that is wrong. A simple meal is better. Use the remaining time to study the Bible, pray, praise God and go to church. Let Jesus always be your first Love! Give Him the best of your Strength and Love!

MARY AT THE TOMB OF LAZARUS – FIRST LOVE IN PAIN (Jn 11:28-36)

Let us study Mary during her time of pain and sorrow. Her brother Lazarus was sick and then, he died. Martha and Mary sent message to Jesus to come and heal their brother. But Jesus came ‘too late’. Lazarus has died and was buried four days ago. The whole house was in deep morning. Then Jesus and His disciples finally come. They stay at a place outside the village. Martha goes to see him. Jesus preaches to her and tells her that resurrection is not an event, but a Person. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. At the end of ‘the sermon’ Martha goes home. She tells Mary: “The Teacher is calling for you”. Mary gets up immediately and goes to meet Jesus. Lesson: during all situations, even in grief, First Love goes to Jesus! The Jews who came to visit and to mourn with the sisters, did not understand why Mary went out in a hurry. Lesson: unbelievers will always misunderstand the actions of First Love. Mary loved Jesus but now, she was struggling with some questions about Jesus. Doubt tried to steal her heart. Why did He not heal her brother… Why did He come so late? But when she saw Jesus, she forgot all her questions and doubts. She fell at His feet. That was the place she knew. That was the access to stand in Grace. Faith returned to her broken heart. She worshipped Jesus. That is the only language of love.

Martha “met” Jesus. But Mary “fell down at the feet of Jesus”. Lesson: Even in pains, in doubts, even when she does not understand what is happening, First Love always worships Jesus. Martha received a good teaching. Mary wept kneeling. From that holy place of faith Mary saw how Jesus was weeping. Mary was touched by the tears of Jesus. Mary saw how Jesus was groaning in His Spirit, being troubled. Why did Jesus’ groan like that? Because He was standing in a place of death. God’s perfect plan for man was Life and not death. But man’s sin brough death on earth. Death was man’s final enemy. It was the enemy of Jesus too. Mary saw how Jesus defeated the power of death by His death. She saw how Jesus called her brother back to life again. Martha received a sermon. Mary received the miracle of Resurrection Life. The Jews said that the weeping of Jesus was a sign of Love. “Then the Jews said, “See how He (Jesus) loved him (Lazarus)!” (Jn 11:36). Yes, Jesus loved Lazarus! Jesus loves us! In few days time, Jesus will pay for the miracle of Life for Lazarus with His own life. This is the greater agape Love, first ever Love, no man can give, and no man can take away. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). “For love is as strong as death” (SS8:6). Mary witnessed the greatest Love of all.

MARY ANOINTS JESUS FOR HIS BURIAL (Jn 12:1-8)

This is the last time we see Mary of Bethany. There is a thanksgiving party celebrating the resurrection of Lazarus. As usual, Martha was serving food. But this time, she did not complain that Mary left her alone. She has learned her lessons. She was happy to serve food to the guests. She was not jealous on Mary. Jesus was in the house and her brother was alive and well. Everyone was in a happy mood. Well, not everyone… Some Jews came to attend the party as spies. They were not happy about the resurrection of Lazarus. Because of the miracle, many people now believed in Jesus. The Jews were planning how to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. They thought that they could wipe away the proof and even the memory of the miracle. Lesson: the unbelievers hate Jesus and His miracles, but they cannot stop them!

As the celebration was going on, Mary did something strange and totally unexpected. She took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil. Mark tells us that “She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head” (Mk 14:3). Mary did not just gently open the jar. She broke it. Why? Possibly, because she wanted it to be a sacrificial offering. When a poor man offered a dove to God, the priest used his hands to cut off the bird’s head. Its blood was offered on the altar. In the same way, Mary broke the jar so that all its content was poured on Jesus. Nothing will be left for her. The price of the ointment was 300 silver coins. This was a very expensive perfume. It was worth a year’s wages. Some said that she kept it for her wedding day. If that is true, then that day, standing before Jesus, she let go of her romantic wedding dreams. Judas, the traitor, complained that Mary’s sacrifice was too much. She called it a waste. He said that the money should have been given to the poor. He did not care for the poor but as the treasurer of the group, he wanted to steal the money. Lesson: religious unbelievers come to church but in their hearts, they worship Mamon. They hinder the true worship of God. They hate the First Love! Jesus defended Mary’s action. He accepted her sacrificial offering. He said that Mary prepared Him for burial. He also said that the poor people will always be around, but He will not always be with them. The door of opportunity to worship Him will not always be opened. Again, Mary chose to do the best thing!

Question: why did Mary worship Jesus with her sacrificial offering? During the party, Jesus was thinking about the Cross. In six days, He will be crucified and die a shameful death. Martha loved Jesus but she did not understand His loneliness and pain. She was happy because of what she saw: Jesus was in the house and her brother Lazarus was alive. To her, nothing else matters. But as the party was on, Mary sensed the loneliness of Jesus, His pain for the soon coming Cross. That is why she offered Him something prepared for His burial. This is amazing. As everyone was laughing, drinking, eating, singing and dancing, Mary understood the pains of Jesus. Where could she have gained such a sensitivity? Surely, at His feet. Each time she stayed at His feet, she not only heard His words, His teachings, but she felt His breath, His heart, His tears. Lesson: Intimacy with Jesus develops deep spiritual sensitivity. First Love imparts genuine Love, religion knows nothing about. By connecting with His heart, by her sacrificial offering, by her worship, Mary encouraged Jesus. God used Mary to tell Jesus that He is not alone. That the terrible price to be paid to redeem sinners is worth it. This is an amazing moment in the life of Jesus! Paul said: “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for His body, the church” (Col 1:24). God bless Mary! May God bless all who desire to participate in the sufferings of Jesus and to encourage Jesus! Worship the Lord!

“Down at Your feet, oh Lord

Is the most high place

In Your presence, Lord

I seek Your face, seek Your face…

There is no higher calling, no greater honour

Than to bow and kneel before Your throne

I am amazed at Your glory, embraced by Your mercy

Oh Lord, I live to worship You!”

(By Jonathan Butler)

REJOICING IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

REJOICING IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD

The effect of standing in the Grace of justification by faith is not only peace and access to stand. It is also pure joyful hope to enter glory. Hope is defined as the joyful expectation of the future. For a Christian, the future is always better and more glorious than the present. In this scripture, the word ‘rejoicing’ is not just an emotion of happiness. In Greek it is translated as ‘boasting’. It means to triumphally and happily brag about the achievements of another. Practically, it means to boast of knowing Jesus as our Savior and Lord! We boast about our hope we have in Christ. A Christian is so confident that he will go to heaven, that he happily boasts about that place. He sees heaven as his eternal home. This is called the assurance of salvation. All believers are saved but not all believers have this assurance of salvation. To get that, you need to press on by faith. Fast and pray so that God will give you this extra gift. This hope is not an ordinary hope of better life on this earth. It is the hope of experiencing and being a part of the eternal Glory of God. The believer has this living hope: he knows that he will go to heaven and will see God face to face. This hope is extremely powerful. It keeps the believer focused and strong through the trials of this world. Hope in the Bible is never mixed with doubt. It always connects with joyful faith. To walk in faith, with full assurance of hope is a walk of strength and courage. Few believers walk like this. Ignorance of doctrine is a major hindrance to the believers’ victorious life!

What glory does the Christian hope to see? It is the glory of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus lived on earth, His glory as God was veiled by His human body. Few people had the privilege to see a glimpse of it But now, in heaven, Jesus does not hide His glory. He is God Almighty! He is the King of Glory in heaven. As Man on earth, Jesus suffered rejection, died, was buried, and on the third day, He rose from the dead. He bodily ascended to heaven. The Father exalted Him above all. His glory is now revealed to all. All creatures in heaven bow and openly worship Him, singing with loud voices: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev 5:12). He always had glory as God! Now He receives glory as a Man! Amen!

God created man in His image, to reflect His Glory. Adam and Eve were the only human beings who saw the glory of God on earth in their physical bodies They had fellowship with God in the garden. God’s glory covered them as garments of light. When they fell into sin, the glory left. They felt naked. Sin damaged God’s relationship with man.

Among human beings, godly success is described as ‘glory’. Joseph told his brothers: “So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt” (Gen 45:13). King David also experienced God’s glory on earth. “His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him” (Ps 21:5).

These are some examples of men who saw the glory of Jesus.  Moses prayed to see God’s glory. God answered his prayer. God passed by revealing His goodness and sovereign mercy. God covered Moses so that he can only see His back. This is because no mortal man can see God’s glory and live (Exo 33:18-23). Prophet Isaiah saw King Jesus seated on the throne. He also saw that God’s glory is over the earth (Isa 6:1-3). Prophet Ezekiel saw God’s glory as fire around the throne of God in heaven (Eze 1:26-28). As he was dying, Stephen did not see the wicked men who were stoning him to death, but he saw Jesus in His glory. “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Ac 7:55). When Saul of Tarsus was going on the road to Damascus to arrest the Christians, he suddenly saw Jesus in His full glory! “Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven” (Ac 9:3). The light of the glory of Christ blinded him. He was never the same again. He became Apostle Paul, the greatest preacher of the Gospel in the history of mankind.

Jesus took Peter, James and John on Mount Tabor. He was transfigured before them. His glory shone thru Him. “His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light” (Matt 17:2; AMP). Peter remembered this event and he wrote: “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2Pet 1:16-18). Later, Apostle John saw the resurrected Christ in His glory and fell at His feet like dead (Rev 1:12-18). Remember this: Each believer who has seen even a glimpse of the glory of Jesus, will be forever changed, from inside out. God’s glory changes us! “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor 3:18). Amen!

The disciples came back excited from doing ministry. They said that the demons submitted to them. Jesus didn’t stop their joy of successful deliverance ministry. But he raised their eyes to eternal things, to the glory of heaven. “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:20). Many preach about sanctification, but few preach about glorification. That is why the Christians focus too much on the present-day trials on earth, how to overcome them and ignore the hope of glory in heaven, which alone gives strength, courage and focus! “By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27). Lesson: Keep your eyes on Jesus and the glory ahead!

GOD’S GLORY DEFINED  

The Bible is the story of God’s glory! Glory is defined as the highest level of honor, beauty and power. It is fame won by the greatest achievements. It is the greatest intrinsic value of a Person. Glory refers to Position, Possessions, Power and Length of Life. Of course, Glory belongs to God. The Glory of God is the beauty of His Spirit, of His holiness, of His perfect character. “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all!” (1Chr 29:11). Hallelujah!

The Glory of God is defined as the external manifestation of God’s Presence. Glory can be seen, or it is revealed. “Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (Exo 16:10). “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isa 40:5). To see God’s glory and to disobey His commands, brings judgement upon the rebellious (Nu 14:20-23).

We are told that God does not share His glory with the idols. “I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images” (Isa 42:8). In Hebrew, the word ‘glory’ is ‘kabod’. It is the weight, the heaviness, or the splendor of God. God is unwilling to share His glory and His Praise with idols or any false gods. All authority belongs to God alone, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Idolatry is desire to steal God’s glory. God punishes it. “Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Rom 1:22-25).

Immediately a believer dies, he goes to heaven to see Jesus in His glory, face to face. Our salvation starts on earth, and it is perfected in heaven. We start as sinners saved by Grace and end as saints in glory. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom 8:29,30). Apostle Paul connects Justification with Glorification, jumping sanctification. The Process of sanctification is taken for granted. Many Christians know much about sanctification and little about the glory of heaven. It is not that sanctification is not important, but we are to look ahead to the glory of heaven. This vision helps us stay focused. When Jesus comes again, we shall have new spiritual glorious bodies, exactly like Him. That means we were not to be just spectators to the glory of Jesus, but we share in it. In our new glorious bodies, there shall be no spots, no wrinkles; no remnant of sin, no damage done by sickness or by old age. Our bodies will be beautiful, perfect and glorious. Halleluiah!

In the New Testament, God’s glory is revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ, who is the Living Eternal Word. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). The glory of Jesus was manifested thru His Words and His miracles (Jn 2:11). God’s glory was veiled by His human body. Occasionally, the glory was revealed. On the Mount of Transfiguration. The Glory revealed on Jesus is different than the way it was revealed on Moses. Moses’ shining face was reflected faded glory. But Jesus’ Glory emanates from His Person. It’s His own original personal divine glory. The Transfiguration was a glimpse in the eternal glory of Jesus Christ as God! When Jesus will come back again, His glory will be seen in full display. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matt 16:27).

CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY!

“God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory” (Col 1:27; AMP).

Our salvation is strictly by God’s Grace. God is sovereign in His choice of the elect. This doctrine is rejected by many Christians, but it is biblical. The truth is that no sinner is worthy of heaven. God alone calls and God alone justifies. God the Father has designed the plan of salvation from eternity. At the fulness of time, God sent His Son, to become a Man, to die for sinners. In the Old Testament, God revealed His will to Isreal. After the Cross, the Holy Spirit reveals that salvation is now extended to all people who believe in Jesus, Gentiles included. God promised Abraham that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:3). This mystery is glorious. Hidden for ages, it is now revealed to the saints (Eph 3:6). The Jews were offended that Jesus included the Gentiles in the plan of salvation. But they could not stop the rising tide of truth and freedom!

There are two aspects of this mystery: 1-It is very rich. Its wealth is beyond man’s capacity to measure. 2-It is glorious, spiritual, heavenly. The Bible reveals that all the elect, both Jew and Gentile are saved by faith in Christ. This revelation brings men to their knees in worship. That is the only proper response to it. This mystery is revealed to be in one Person. That Person is Jesus Christ who lives not only in heaven, but in the hearts of all believers. Christianity is not just religion, but a new way of life and love. Christ in the center of the personality works from inside out. This secret power, hidden in the soul, makes the Christian invincible to evil forces. The believer’s faith, love and living hope of heaven works powerfully during trials on earth. Lesson: Christ dwelling in your heart gives you the power to change, to become more like Jesus. This is an intimate relationship none can destroy. Christ dwelling in the heart gives the believer assurance of his salvation. He has this confidence that if he dies, he will go to heaven and worship Christ forever. Glory to God!

HOW DO WE GIVE GLORY TO GOD?

We are born to know and glorify God forever. It is man’s purpose in life. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” (Westminster Shorter Catechism). “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor 10:31). To eat and to drink are normal activities in life. But we reject any food or drink offered to idols. In all we do, we must remember God. Faith in God must be the center of every activity. In Greek, the word ‘glory’ is ‘doxa’. It means to honor, praise and worship God. Believers live such lives that people always see Christ in us. Our lives should make no sense outside Christ. The world hates Christ. They will hate us too. But some unbelievers, will come closer to see the secret of our love, calmness, wisdom and power, coming from Christ dwelling in us. In this world, we are the only people Christ can use to reveal His glory, the only Bibles people may read. To represent God is a great responsibility!

We cannot add to God’s glory, but we can testify to our hope of glory! “You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1Pet 3:15; NLT).

Practically, we give glory to God by believing and boasting in Jesus Christ, by taking our Cross to follow Jesus, by dying to self so that the Spirit becomes fruitful in us. We give glory to God by preaching and living God’s Word! We give God the glory by praising God’s Grace in His salvation. He chose us before the foundation of the world to be accepted in His Beloved, Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3-6).  We give glory to God by confessing our sins and by repentance. “Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me” (Josh 7:19).

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:23,24). Sin is the enemy of glory. All have sinned means that all humanity is born into sin. The word ‘sin’ means ‘to miss the mark’. It is like an archer whose arrow misses the target. Sin has stained the garments of glory that covered us. Spiritually, it means to fall bellow God’s standard of moral law. ‘To fall short’ shows continuous action. It is a process. We have sinned in the past and we continue to sin in the present. We see the need for ongoing grace in the process of sanctification. The glory of God shows the divine standard of perfection and holiness. We see the eternal gap between sin and glory. The Blood of Jesus on the Cross, has destroyed sin and death and has restored the glory of God back to man. Salvation is by Grace, through faith. The goal of salvation is to share in God’s glory in heaven! Praise God!

I AM GLORIFIED IN THEM!

In His high priestly prayer, Jesus said: “I am glorified in them” (Jn 17:10). “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (Jn 17:24).

The Son of God came to earth to give glory to God the Father. God the Father also glorifies God the Son. “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (Jn 17:1). “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (Jn 17:4,5). The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son of God! Jesus said: The Holy Spirit “will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (Jn 16:14).

Thru the Holy Spirit the believers give glory to Jesus. God the Son gives His glory to the believers. His Glory unites them perfectly. His Glory proves to them that He loves them. Glory connects with Agape Love. This is one of the greatest revelations in the Bible. Because Christ dwells in our hearts in His glory we now enter the family of the Trinity. Thru Christ, we can give glory to God the Father. The problem with many believers is that they have doubts about their identity, and responsibility as ambassadors of Christ. But this is the truth: Christ sends us into the world to glorify Him among people. May our lights shine brighter for Jesus! May we boast of Jesus! Worship the Lord!

THE CHRISTMAS LOVE STORY

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

THE CHRISTMAS LOVE STORY

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6)

Lies: Life is Random. There is no God to judge men. Truth is relative (I have my own truth). You have the power in you to become anything you want. Life consists of possessions. Satisfaction in life is to please yourself. Death is a pleasant experience thru a tunnel towards light.

Truth: Life is not random. God is the Creator and Judge. He is totally in charge of His universe. Truth is absolute (For example, the law of gravity works if you believe in it or not). Truth is not in you. It is external from you. It is revealed only in the Bible. Man is born a sinner. The most important thing in life is not what you possess but what you believe. The goal of life is not personal satisfaction but the glory of God. For unbelievers, death is a terrible one-way road to hell. The only hope is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! He alone can save your soul!

Throughout Scripture, Jesus is referred to as the Son of God, the Son of Mary, the Son of Man, and the Son of David. Then who is Jesus? Jesus is the Son of the Living God! Together, these titles—Son of God, Son of Mary, Son of Man, and Son of David—paint a complete picture of Jesus’ divine mission. He came as God’s Son to save humanity, was born through Mary to live among us, assumed the role of the Son of Man to redeem us, and now reigns as the Son of David as God’s eternal King.

When God wanted to save the nation of Israel He sent baby Moses to Egypt, to Pharaoh’s palace. When God wanted to send a man to anoint King David, He sent baby Samuel to live in the temple. When God wanted to save us, He sent baby Jesus! You are not living until you live in Jesus Christ. There is no peace that passes all understanding and no unfailing Love except you are in Christ. Christmas is the greatest message of hope, peace and eternal life.

‘Unto us a Child was born’ shows Jesus’ humanity. ‘Unto us a Son is given’ reveals Christ before the incarnation. His name is Wonderful. It means full of wonder. When He was surrounded by shepherds, Jesus is wonderful. When the rich wise men came to offer him gifts, Jesus is wonderful. When King Herod wanted to kill Him and failed, Jesus is wonderful! He is the Counsellor. When men fail, Jesus will give you wisdom to solve any problem and light in any darkness. Jesus is Mighty God, El Gibor! He is the great shepherd who guides and provides. Jesus is the Everlasting Father. He is the Prince of Peace. In the history of humanity, there has never been any period without any wars. Peace was born in Bethlehem! “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (LK 2:13,14). Peace is the opposite of anxiety.

The Christmas truce: During the first world war, in 1914, the soldiers from the opposite camps decided to put down their weapons and make peace on Christmas day. About 100,000 Germans, French, British soldiers came out from their hiding places to rejoice in peace. They embraced each other, sang carols, exchanged food and gifts. They played football together. They exchanged prisoners. There were joint burial ceremonies. Later, the war became bitter. The generals did not allow truces again. But for one full day, there was ‘peace on earth’!

The story of Christmas is the story of The Child. This child is God! God sent His Son to us as a Child. Children love Christmas more than adults. I read that 75% of people who give their lives to Christ they do it before they are 18. Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18:3). We must humble ourselves and repent, turnaround from sin and unto God. This is a deep change caused by the Holy Spirit. The citizens of the kingdom are like little children. A child is innocent, humble, and dependent on adults. At that time children were seen as nobodies. They had to status in society, no money and no power. The warning of Jesus is radical. If a sinner does not humble himself, repent and trust completely in Jesus, he will ‘by no means’ enter the Kingdom of heaven, which is the realm, rule, and reign of God, where Jesus Christ is King of kings. We see the absolute necessity of becoming born again to enter enteral life.

Jesus was born as man so that we become born again! Jesus was born by a human mother so that God will becomes our heavenly Father. Jesus was born in a manger so that we can be with Him in mansions of glory. Jesus became sin so that we become free. Jesus was born poor so that we may become rich. Jesus came as a Child to show us how we come to Jesus. We come in our weakness and need. That is hard for us to do. We must humble ourselves! You celebrate not just Christmas, but the Christ of Christmas! ‘When you kiss the face of Jesus, you kiss the face of God’. Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord! Worship the Lord!

HINDRANCES TO THE ACCESS TO STAND

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

HINDRANCES TO THE ACCESS TO STAND

Justification is a once and for all act. From the moment God declares us righteous, He sees us like we have never sinned. As sinners, we were under the Law. God saw us as rebels and enemies. But now, we have changed kingdoms and kings. In the past, we were outside Grace. Now, we are inside Grace. King Grace has given us “access by faith in which we stand” before God. The word ‘access’ is defined as the liberty, the key, permission or ability to enter, and approach someone and the right to see him often. In Greek, the word ‘access’ means admission, an introduction, the right to approach someone. It describes the coming of the believer to the throne of God. This act is done by faith. Try to imagine this holy act: Newly justified by faith, The Lord Jesus Christ takes you by the hand, and brings you before God the Father, who sits on the throne. You remember Him as the Great Judge of the universe, who was angry with you because of your sins. Now, you discover that the same Judge is your Father. Jesus introduces you to God as His younger brother, sister, or as His future Bride. This is a form of official introduction to God. This access is your spiritual personal space of authority, peace, joy and freedom before God. We access that space only by faith in the Blood of Jesus. No unbeliever has access. To be invited to see God is the highest privilege known to man.

DOING GOOD AND PRAYER IN GOD’S PRESENCE (Matt 6:1-13). 

Our Lord is teaching His disciples how to live a righteous life. His lessons here apply to doing good deeds, prayer and fasting. But the principle is universal. Prayer, praising God, and doing good deeds are done because you have access to God. But there is a danger! Jesus exposes the power of sin, which can corrupt the heart, even after we become saved. Pride is sin. It manifests as a desire to be seen, honored and worshipped as a Christian. These words are not only to criticize the Pharisees. These are words from the great Sermon of the Mount preached by our Lord. The Christian life is not easy. There are many dangers and warnings that we must heed. The devil attacks the mind with lies, fears, doubts, and especially pride. To successfully live as a Christian is a great achievement highly rewarded by God.

The main scripture is this: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matt 6:1). The first thing we see here is that the Christian lives his life in the presence of God. He is always conscious of that. He truly desires to please God, not himself or others. The purpose of doing good deeds is to obey God’s Word and to be like Jesus. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Ac 10:38).  The danger is that you may do good deeds, you are seen as a good person, but in your heart, you want to please people. By receiving praise from men, you reject the praise from God. The Pharisees “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (Jn 12:43). They don’t care about hearing these words from Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matt 25:23). All they want is that men on earth compliment them for their religion, beauty, wealth, or achievements.

What is the sin? It is the desire to take the glory, to be admired by men because we are religious, generous, help people, attend a local church, we fast, pray and praise God. Jesus warns us to be careful about this sinful tendency of pride in our hearts. This desire for fame comes from selfish ambition. Its deep root is pride. To live a life pleasing to God, you need divine wisdom. As a Christian, you are ‘a city on a hill that cannot be hidden’ (Matt 5:14). You can’t avoid becoming visible. But actively seeking visibility, honor and promotion, that is a sin. At the same time, you cannot live like a monk. You can’t totally hide your life to avoid men seeing you. These words reveal the danger or pride and hypocrisy even for us who are Christians and have access into God’s presence. Even when we go into the presence of God to pray, we expect men to worship us because we are prayerful! We allow the devil to follow us in the presence of God! That is a great sin! God will judge it! This is a warning! Watch yourself very carefully! Jesus wants us to search our hearts and not just to do good religious things. Our motives in serving God must be right. We should not seek the approval or the admiration of men. We should desire to be holy as God is holy, pleasing God alone! Accepting praise from men blocks your reward in heaven. This is a reminder that in everything we do, we should never forget God and heaven. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). Purity, Peace and Holiness in the heart, are the passwords to enjoy access into God’s presence! Hallelujah!  

Jesus spoke about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14). Both were Jewish, religious men. Both men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood proudly. His prayer focused on himself, on his achievements. He was praising himself in God’s house! The Tax Collector stood “afar off”. He did not see himself worthy of God’s attention. Broken in repentance, he only asked for mercy. Jesus saw into their hearts. Jesus said that the Tax collector had faith in Christ crucified. He went home Justified by faith. He humbled himself at the Cross and God ‘exalted’ him, by justifying him, by granting him salvation and access to God! The proud Pharisee lost a great opportunity to humble himself and to give his life to Christ. This is a great lesson: sin is internal. Sin is more than not doing fornication, for example. Sin is a state of the heart, the attitude we have to God. The most important lesson is that sin dwelling in our hearts can follow us everywhere, even into the presence of God!!! Here we see the dangerous and deceitful power of sin. The second lesson is a reminder that all sinners need to be born again! There is no other way to access God’s presence except thru faith in Christ crucified and resurrected. After becoming born again, we must press on thru the process of sanctification, to die to sin and to the world, taking our cross daily, following Jesus! Hallelujah!  

What can you do then? Stay humble! “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time” (1Pet 5:6; AMP). Be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Do not advertise your good deeds. Do not attract attention to yourself. If attention comes, stay calm, stay humble! Remember to always acknowledge God for every drop of success you experience. Your life should direct people to Jesus, and never to yourself or to other men. God openly rewards this attitude of humility and faithfulness! Kneeling before God, in worship and prayer, is the highest privilege given to man. Prayer is a holy work. Christ shed His Blood on the Cross to give us this access to God’s presence. We enter being conscious that God sees us and His ears are open to us in a special way. We enter the closet, we shut the door. We respect God’s presence. We forget the world, the people, both friends and enemies. In a way, we forget even ourselves. In God’s presence, the only thing that matters is God. Any remembrance of other things is a distraction and disrespect to the King upon His throne. We do not pray like the pagans, repeating many words. We speak simply, from the heart, to God who already knows all our needs. If you pray well, you will live well. Remain in an attitude of worship. God’s will is better than yours. You are an ambassador of Christ! His Kingdom is where you live now. Pray for its expansion on earth. Lastly, make sure that you give God all the glory! You do not become over-familiar with God, but more familiar with your place of standing before God. Your prayer life and your praise life become established. You are now a mature Christian. God will reward you openly!

SPIRITUAL BLOCKAGE TO ACCESS GOD  

The access to God is thru the door of faith in Christ crucified for your sins. Thieves try to access God by false doors. They can never enter. Jesus said: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:9,10).

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matt 23:13). Our Lord cursed the religious hypocrites. These words coming from the mouth of Him who loves us forever, are fearful. One reason why Jesus cursed the Pharisees is that they blocked the door of faith to God’s presence. These proud religious people blocked the access to Jesus by their very bodies. They refused to enter and block other seekers. They are ready to commit spiritual suicide to block other peoples’ access to God. This is wickedness in high places!

This is a reminder that the devil also attends church! What is the devil’s purpose in going to church? He tries to disrupt the service. First, the devil tries to hinder the believers from worshipping God or to listen to God’s Word. He tries to make them proud during the service. Secondly, he blinds the eyes of the unbelievers who are seeking God. He makes them sleepy, tired, distracted, or sick, so that they leave the service. About half of people who attend church go home untouched by God. Ignorance of the devil helps the devil. You must do spiritual warfare! The devil attacks your mind with lies and deception. He succeeded planting doubt in the mind of Adam and Eve when he asked them: “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Gen 3:1). The devil wants to damage your faith. Without faith, you cannot enter the access God has provided. The devil wants you to doubt God’s Word, God’s plans for your life, God’s Wisdom, and God’s Love for you. Once you doubt God’s character, you are already falling. Never forget: The devil is a thief and a liar. But “God cannot lie!” (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18). When in doubt, run to the Cross! See Christ crucified for you! Stand strong in faith! Reject the devil! He will flee from you! Amen!

ROMANCE SCAMMERS – FAKE LOVERS (YAHOO BOYS)

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

THE SIN OF LAWLESSNESS

Lawlessness is rebellion against authority. It is illegal behavior not controlled by any law. It is a behavior that shows indifference or defiance to the law. The purpose of the law is to regulate human behavior. Lawlessness in a country is a state of disorder, usually resulting from a failure of government. Anarchy is a form of society without rulers. The climate of lawlessness is one of violence and confusion. Without faith in God or fear of God, there is chaos. ‘Even the worst form of tyranny was preferable to anarchy’ (John Calvin). The root of lawlessness is lack of discipline and terrible greed. High levels of poverty can lead to desperation. Men commit crimes to survive. When man becomes selfishly ambitious and greedy, wants to be rich at all costs, he places his desires above the law. His life is more important than any law.

The lawless person takes pleasure in breaking the law. With time, he breaks more laws. Lawlessness is a demon; it is sin, and it is addictive. Jesus died to expose and defeat the devil, who is the father of all sins and lies. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1Jn 3:4-8). It is only thru faith in Jesus that lawlessness can be defeated.

According to the Bible, Lawlessness increases in the last days. From what we see in social media, the world is getting worse. There is more wickedness. The number of criminal cases, divorces, and violence is on the rise. Lawlessness damages relationships and families. It destroys every good thing among men. It especially damages Love! Jesus warned us about the future, saying: “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:10-14). Agape Love is not just a feeling. It is God’s Law. Loving God and others is a Command! “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12).

“Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2Thess 2:5-12). The Holy Spirit restrains the devil so that sin is still limited. The demon of Lawlessness cannot enter where God’s children pray. The agents of the devil use seducing spirits to deceive many. Our protection is total faith in Jesus, in God’s Word. We must love the Truth in the Bible. We must be humble. We submit to God. We are confident that Jesus can never lose any battle. He will finally destroy the lawless one, the devil, with the breath of His mouth and by His glory revealed!

Righteousness is the opposite of lawlessness. It means being right, doing right, being lawful, living a godly and moral life as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Godly, moral and righteous people seek God. They will cry out for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness to come!  Redemption and godliness are available NOW through faith in Jesus and obedience to God’s Word.  Our society needs people like Jesus now more than ever. The lawlessness we experience is the result of men’s rejection of God and His Word.  Are you LAWLESS or are you LAW ABIDING. Is Jesus seen in you thru your words and deeds? We must all give an account to Him for how we live in this world!

THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST – ROMANCE SCAMMERS – FAKE LOVERS (YAHOO BOYS)

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2Jn 1:9-11).

Deception is one of the sins that is practiced often but rarely tolerated; the lowest of the low, in society, are liars and thieves. Deception is the worst form of lying because the deceiver knowingly misleads the victim to believe that a lie is true. Deception is dangerous and has been the cause of death for many who have been victims of deception. The Bible warns us against deception. Deceivers use sweet words. “This I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words” (Col 2:4). Persuasive words are forceful, convincing, and partially truthful. They are like poison coated with sugar. Jesus said: “And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matt 24:4,5). Anxiety, fear of death, weakens the mind to be deceived. Peace of mind protects the mind against deception. “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive]” (Rom 16:17,18; AMP). 

A romantic scammer is a fake lover. He is a deceiver who attacks the victim’s bank account through her heart. Most of these relationships happen through the internet but sometimes they happen in person. Scamming in on the rise all over the world. In 2020, there was a loss of $304 million dollars from romance scams. The victims are mostly lonely wealthy women, widowed or divorces. The scammer uses a method called ‘catfishing’. He makes a false profile with false pictures, pretending to be someone else. His profile is made to match the female’s desires. If she loves fashion, he says he loves fashion too. The scammer attacks with sweet words. It is called ‘love bombing’. He writes long passionate love letters saying that he wants to marry her. This process is called ‘grooming’. The scammer and victim exchange love letters, pictures, and dreams of their future. This is to create an emotional connection and trust so that the victim becomes needy for love. Once this stage is set, the scammer starts to ask for money. He brings different excuses like sickness, having an accident etc. Initially the amounts are small but with time, the victim gives more money. The scammer can also ‘blackmail’ the victim. He threatens to be violent to the victim or her family. He also threatens to release her personal information to the media. These threats intimidate the victim to send more money. Be careful! These are signs of romance scam: the scammer flatters you!!! He is in a hurry to declare his love! “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet” (PV 29:5). Be careful with sweet talking but impatient lovers!!!

Who are the victims? They have a romantic idea of marriage. They don’t care about the price they have to pay to hear romantic words. They imagine that they are actors in a movie. The people who know how hard it is to build a genuine relationship are not deceived. These women are lonely or have an inferiority complex. They have tried to marry, and failed, They are now disappointed in relationships. These can easily become victims to those who flatter them romantically. Once the spell is broken, and truth is revealed, the effect on the victim is massive. She has not only lost money, but all self-respect. She feels guilty and deeply ashamed. She totally loses trust in God and men! This is God’s warning to the scammers: “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches]” (PV 13:11; AMP). Selah!

Nigeria is reported to have the highest number of online romance fraudsters in Africa and ranks third in the world. I read that Nigeria was responsible for 1129 romance scams in 2021, amounting to the sum of £12.1 million, totaling an average of 22-million-naira loss per victim. These attackers are called ‘yahoo boys.’ They pretend to be wealthy handsome Europeans who want to marry women abroad. These young men even use ‘native doctors’ to make charms for them to succeed. They are ruthless. They don’t care for their victims’ feelings, who enter depression, and even commit suicide once they discovered that they have been deceived. Poverty, lack of genuine jobs, few role models, wealth display, and social acceptance are some reasons who the Yahoo Boys continue to scam. For them, this is their job. They don’t even hide. Many are celebrities and women want to marry them. Some say that taking money from the white people, is vengeance against slavery. But no matter what they say, scamming is a crime, a demon and sin. God hates sin. Their wealth will not benefit them in the end! We pray for revival in Nigeria. May the fear of God cover this land! May these men repent and surrender their lives to Christ! Amen!