This evening dark clouds gathered over our church. It seems that a storm was coming. I took my umbrella and I went to see the brethren who work at the generator house. We encouraged ourselves with the Word of God. Then we started to praise God with Nigerian choruses. Suddenly, I turned and saw that the dark cloud have changed color and became golden. It was the same cloud but now it looks so different. I took this picture at about 6:50pm. You can see the moon too, shy, not able to compare with the glory displayed! What I see is that God smiles over us. He inhabits the praises of His people! You can never praise God too much! Another lesson is this: the day may start with a storm but God can change it into a smile of victory ‘in a twinkling of an eye’. I believe in miracles! Glory!
“God’s anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” (Ps 30:5)
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching from the Book of Romans. The title of her sermon was ‘The Doctrine of the Wrath of God’ (4). Her main text was taken from the Book of Romans chapter 1. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 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 1:16-25)
The doctrine of Hell is the most terrible doctrine of all. The natural man hates it. Most preachers avoid it. But we must not be ignorant of it. We must preach the whole counsel of God and warn men about this place called hell. The word or concept of hell appears 162 times in the New Testament (70 times out of these, it was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ). Based on these numbers alone, we must study this difficult doctrine.
Hell is a place of total, conscious and eternal separation from God and His blessings. It is a place of torment. The word ‘torment’ means an extreme mental and physical suffering, mixed with pain and fear (1 John 4:18). All people on earth, they go to either heaven or hell. There is no middle ground. Everyone has but one life to live on earth. The purpose of this life is to find God, find Jesus Christ and surrender to Him. It is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that anyone can escape hell and go to heaven. There is no other option by which a man or woman can go to heaven. Faith in Christ is the Key and the only Key! Originally, hell was designed by God for the devil and his demons. After the fall of man, all who reject Christ and follow the devil will also go to hell. All unbelievers go to where they wanted to go. They rejected God! They must go to hell where they will never see God again! Even if they pray in hell, nobody will answer their prayers! Hell is a conscious torment. Like the rich man who died and went to Hades, people in hell will remember their lives on earth (Lk 16:22-24). All unbelievers who go to hell will become ‘believers’ for now they finally see that Jesus is the Lord! But it is too late! They cannot change their status. Their choice is eternal and irreversible! Hell is a place of total darkness, similar with the plague in Egypt, where darkness could be ‘felt’ (Ex 10:21). Hell is a place of terrible weeping, wailing noise. The souls in hell weep (because of un-ending pain) and ‘gnash their teeth’ (a sign of regret and hopelessness). Weeping and gnashing of teeth have one thing in common—the undeniable fact that those who do not belong to Christ will suffer a terrible fate, while God’s children will enjoy bliss in heaven with Him forever. Hell will be a place of anguish, remorse, pain, and misery. It reveals hurt beyond repair, extreme frustration, and hopeless pain. It seems that there are different levels of torment in hell. Pride has the highest torment (Mt 10:15). There is no rest in hell, no worship, no singing, no hope! What a fearful place! Every pain or suffering we experience on earth, a headache or a toothache, is a little ‘sample’ or what hell could be. It is a warning also, that we may repent and run to Jesus while there is time!
There are many wrong, unbiblical doctrines about hell. Some say that the unbeliever goes to a waiting place called ‘purgatory’. If his family on earth can intercede for him and pay some offerings to the church, that one can be translated from purgatory to heaven. This is a wrong doctrine. No change can happen after death. Others say that all people are God’s creation and therefore, they will all go to heaven where God is. This error is called ‘universalism’. Another wrong doctrine is called ‘Anihilism’. People believe that an unbeliever will be annihilated, completely destroyed after he dies, just like an animal. They say that God is too good to send people to hell. These are all wrong doctrines.
In the Bible, there is a place called ‘Hades’ (or Sheol). When a believer dies, he goes straight to heaven to meet the Lord. Absent from the body, it means present with the Lord (2Cor 5:8). But when an unbeliever dies, he goes to a place called ‘hades’, which is a hell like prison, where he will wait until the final judgment. At last, all unbelievers, death itself and the devil himself will be cast out into Hell fire. That is called the second death (Lk 16:22-24; Rev 20:10-14; 21:8).
150,000 people die every day throughout the world. Study the Word about hell. It will help you hate sin as God hates it! The doctrine of hell should help us in our sanctification and doing evangelism. The demons believe in hell more than men do. They know that they will be tormented forever in the future (Mt 8:28, 29). These are some of the scriptures that refer to hell: Matthew 3:7-12; 5:21, 22; 5:27-30; 7:13, 14; 19, 20; 8:12. 28. 29; 10:23, 24; 12:31, 32; 13:37-51; 18:8, 9, 34; 22:13; Luke 16:22-24…
Finally, as believers, we should be encouraged. Nothing replaces the Word of God! In good times and bad, praying on top of the mountain or in the deepest valley, the Word of God is life to us! For Christ’ sake, every child of God is saved from the wrath of God and hell. Jesus died on the Cross to be the Propitiation, to appease God’s wrath. By faith in Christ Crucified and Resurrected, we are now free. This is the power of the Gospel! Heaven is our destiny and our final eternal destination. “For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life]. Therefore, encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing” (1 Thess 5:9-11; AMP). Dear child of God, there is light at the end of the tunnel! We have suffered many things in this world. But in Christ, we are saved forever! No more fear! No more doubts! If you are a believer, give thanks to God! You will never go to this fearful place called hell! But if you are not saved, don’t waste time! Give your life to Christ! Now! Oh, how sweet to know Jesus, as my Savior and my Lord! “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long!” Give thanks to God! “Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:4, 5). Child of God, please be encouraged today! Weeping is over! JOY COMES! JOY COMES! Worship the Lord!
This is Father’s House Bible Church, Effurun, Warri. This is how our sanctuary looked exactly 8 years ago (22-05-2013). I took this picture before we added the roof. You can feel the joy of the brethren and the hope of glory! I still remember how tired but also, how happy Tali was at the end of each day! Tali has now a great reward in heaven! Glory to God! The Holy Spirit has been with us from the beginning! He will guide us to eternity! To God alone be all the glory! Jesus Christ is Lord!
The Holy Spirit gives me joy every day thru beautiful happy plants and flowers in our garden. I really believe these are gifts to me from the Lover of my soul! I appreciate His tender care for me! Praise the Lord somebody!!!
“Awake north Wind! And come south Wind! Blow on my garden that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let my Lover come into His garden and taste its choice fruits!” (Song 4:16)
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching from the Book of Romans. The title of her sermon was ‘The Doctrine of the Wrath of God’ (3). Her main text was taken from the Book of Romans chapter 1. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 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 1:16-25)
The wrath of God is God’s view or sin; God’s hatred of sin; God’s punishment of sin! The word ‘wrath’ means justified anger, and hatred; a passion that leads to punishment. God is Holy! God is Love! God protects His Glory! God hates anything that tries to damage His Holiness, His Love and His Glory! That is why God hates sin! God’s wrath against sin is a manifestation of His jealous love toward His people! Therefore, to protect His glory and His people, God must punish sin! The Gospel is power because it reveals the wrath of God. The Gospel also reveals the imputed righteousness of Christ received by us thru faith. Both this righteousness and the wrath of God were best manifested at the Cross of Calvary. Both are revealed in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit! You cannot argue with unbelievers about the wrath of God or the salvation in Christ. They need God’s revelation. The word revelation means an unveiling; removing the cover and expose something behind it. Darkness and blindness are removed. The light of God must shine upon the object. “Once I was blind, but now I see…” This is called revelation!
The natural men hate this doctrine. They imagine that God is a God of love who will not punish anybody. Man hates discipline and obeying any law. Paul introduced the doctrine of the wrath of God against sin from the first chapter of Romans. The preaching of the wrath of God is foundational in preaching the Gospel. All evangelism must start with preaching the sinfulness of sin, and God’s wrath against it. Never start with man’s needs. Do not even start with Jesus! Always start with God the Father! He invented the plan of salvation! Always start with God and His glory! Many Christians ignore this doctrine. They say they believe it, but they deny it in practice. Many preachers ignore it too. They fear that people will leave their churches. But truth must be preached! Romans 1 reveals two problems: the wrath of God and the sinfulness of sin. One of the major problems in the church is that men ‘come to Jesus’ as a Friend, Helper or Healer. They do not come to Him as hopeless desperate sinners going to hell. The preachers make it too easy for people to be saved. They do not tell sinners that God is angry with sin and He will surely punish sin! To say that you are converted, and you do not have the fear of God, that is a lie!
The doctrine of Justification by Faith is the major doctrine of salvation. God the Father designed it. The Son executed it and the Holy Spirit applies it to our understanding. This is the Gospel and its power: Jesus died on the Cross to appease the wrath of God and to save sinners. Jesus said: ‘It is finished’. You must believe and receive the finished work of Christ! By faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross you become FORGIVEN, CLOTHED IN HIS imputed Righteousness and ACCPETED in the Beloved! Faith is not just something you think about. Faith is always relational. Faith connects with the Truth. Faith ‘marries’ truth. Faith is never alone. Faith sees, acknowledge, goes closer and embraces (becomes one) with the truth. Then faith and truth produce fruits, to the glory of God! The ‘wrath of God is revealed from heaven’. God is angry with the sinners because ‘they suppress the truth in unrighteousness’. To suppress it means to prevent the growth of something by force; to stop something from manifesting using violence. Sinners sell the truth and buy lies. They reject the Glorious, incorruptible, indestructible God for things that are much inferior. The result of this terrible ‘exchange’ manifests as follows:*Men are not ‘thankful’. They are selfish and proud. The hardest word for a proud man is to say: “I am sorry… Thank you”.*They thoughts are futile (useless, having no effect, achieving nothing). God gave us brains to think about Him, about His Word and Glory. Idolatry makes the mind useless, reduces it to the level of an animal. *Foolish hearts are darkened. A dark heart is depressed, confused, and anxious. *They are Deceived. They think that they are wise. Idolatry means making your own God so that you can control it. You do not need to obey, and you are not afraid of him. They become liars, deceivers and at last, they become slaves to men and demons! God gives them up to what they wanted. It is a terrible think for God to give you up to your selfish, wicked lusts. May God have mercy on us! May the fear of God descend upon us! Man is a spirit, has a soul and lives in a body. Each has its function and purpose given by God. The spirit, because it is from God, has the highest value. Next to it, is his soul, made of mind, emotions and will. The least valuable is the body, made from the same elements as the earth. Sin makes man spiritually imbalanced, spiritually cripple. This means some things are too much and others are too little. There is no symmetry, no right proportion, no beauty. Salvation in Christ changes this. It brings the God given balance to man. Man becomes beautiful again!
The greatest gift given to man is his mind. He must use it to think spiritually, to understand God. “WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND and PURPOSES OF THE LORD, SO AS TO INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]” (1 Cor 2:16; AMP). Once man understands the Word, the emotions follow. Then he can use his will and make correct decisions in life. This is the godly pattern of the believer. But sin has damaged this delicate spiritual process. Sinful man is guided by emotions first. He moves by what he sees and likes. Walking ‘by sight’ is sin! Walking blindly ‘by sight’, man tries to rationalize his sin. The will is weakened already and must please the emotions, the lust of the eyes and of the flesh. This emotional leading is bondage. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (Jn 3:19). Why did men reject Jesus? They did not think! They did not try to understand Him and His words. They ‘loved darkness’. They loved ignorance, unbelief, rebellion, foolishness, and the wickedness of sin. Their emotions guided them. That is why God gave them over to the darkness they loved. Faith is Jesus is light, freedom, mercy and grace of salvation! Glory! Worship the Lord!
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them” (Col 3:18, 19)
The Bible has clear marriage guidelines. These commands apply only to the believers. An unbeliever may read them and try to apply Biblical precepts to make his marriage better, but he cannot really obey the Word of God. For us, the children of God, the Bible is our Life Manual. The Word of God is written to us, sinners who are saved by grace. In the marriage set up, there are two basic rules: The wives submit to their own husbands (as Christ submitted to God the Father). Secondly, the husbands must love their wives, not their own way, but ‘as Christ loves the church’ (Eph 5:25). The husband and wife are equal before God. Their salvation experience is the same. But in the area of marriage these simple rules must be obeyed: wives submit and husbands love! Both these actions are first of all spiritual and they must glorify Christ, our Lord! The submission and the love are inspired by Jesus Christ and must give Him alone the glory! The Holy Spirit gives both the husband and wife the power to obey.
In the scripture above there is another element. It says that the husbands should love their wives and ‘do not become bitter towards them’. This is a special warning giving to the married men. Please pray for understanding! It means that the husband must recognize the tendency to become bitter against their loving wives. They must fight the strange temptation to become bitter as husbands at home. This is a warning. What does this bitterness mean? Bitterness is chronic unrepentant anger. It is a terrible thing, an emotion very difficult to bear. A root of bitterness ‘defiles many’ and fights against the grace of God in marriage (Heb 12:15). Marital bitterness poisons the whole home and makes everybody miserable. A bitter person makes others sad or angry. When you see a man or a woman afraid to marry, it is because they have experienced this bitter taste in a previous relationship. To them, marriage is like drinking poison every day, like having an incurable disease, with no hope of being happy ever again. That is why they prefer staying single. Bitterness causes piercing, sharp emotional pain, like the sting of a wasp. The wounds of bitter words are long lasting and difficult to forgive or forget. A bitter husband is harsh, hot tempered, holds grudges, is mean, greedy, hard hearted, stubborn and difficult to teach. In Nigeria people say that ‘love has become sour’. As a pastor I counsel many women who suffer terribly in a marriage with a bitter man who discourages them to be happy. Only God can help!
This tendency to bitterness is more common to husbands but it can be found in all careless relationships. What is the cause of this bitterness found in some husbands? The main cause I see is disappointment with their wives. At the beginning they love their wives. No bitter man wants to marry. To marry, you need to be happy. Love comes before bitterness. But this is the danger: It is possible for a man to truly love his wife at the beginning of the marriage, but later, he becomes bitter towards (or against) her. It is like a good fruit that becomes rotten with time. Why? What causes this change from good to bad? Thru prayers and the study of the Word I discovered that husbands become bitter towards their wives, when the wives fail to meet up with their husbands’ expectations, their ever growing spiritual and physical needs. This problem may be hidden when they are young and they are still busy ‘making money and rising children’. But after some time, the husband may desire to become more spiritual, to draw closer to God. He may desire that they should improve their standard of living. If the wife is ignorant of the source of this ‘midlife crisis’, as some call it, the husband will become disappointed in her. He will resent her words. He will complain against her choices. This bitterness may manifest itself in one particular, small area. For example, he says: ‘My wife is a good woman. She works hard. She is a good mother to our children. I love her very much. But… she does not respect me… she talks too much… she spends too much money on nonsense…’ These excuses are not big enough to make a husband so bitter but if the wife does not try to better understand him, he will begrudge her silently in his heart. He will compare her with other women he starts to admire silently. That is the seed of marital bitterness. In a way, both of them are guilty. The bitter husband has tried, but failed, to help the wife grow spiritually, mentally and emotionally. She is left behind, like the statue of a bride, smiling on her wedding day, but the dress is now thorn and faded, the artificial lashes fallen on her wrinkled cheeks… They are still living together but the sweet wine of early romantic love has gone, leaving behind the bitter taste of native medicines in the dry old mouth…
OUR TESTIMONY
I am a woman. I am a wife. I am a mother and a grandmother. I had to study this subject because I need to fight the demons that will attack my husband. He does his own fight. But I am his helper. I should not be ignorant of this temptation. I must help him fight bitterness and not foolishly add to it. As a wife, I have tried to keep close to my husband, spiritually in particular. It pains me when he quotes a Bible verse or teaches me something new, and I am totally ignorant of that subject. I use that pain to grow! I challenge myself to study the Word of God so that when my husband needs somebody to talk to about the Bible, I am ‘current’ with it. I have learned many things about subjects that I do not like in particular. I know much about politics and current affairs in Nigeria. I am not a politician, but I need to know these things, if they are good or bad. Ignorance has never helped anybody. I need to know my husband’s plans, dreams and God’s purpose for his life. I need to pray for those. I need to grow as he grows. We need to grow together! This is the safety and the sweetness of a mature marriage that even death cannot destroy! We are not competing one against each other. We must complement each other. To complement my husband I need to grow too. As the vision for our lives and ministry develops and increases with time, so we must grow with it. To be left behind spiritually, to be a passive wife, it is sin. If I am lazy or careless with our relationship, and I just walk lazily behind him with nothing new to add to our marriage, that sin is almost like spiritual adultery. My husband will be tempted to be worried, angry, disappointed and bitter against me, his wife, helper and friend. As a wife, I should not be found to be too fast and lead my husband. I should also not be found to be too slow and leave him alone. Marriage is two people learning to be one. It has a beginning! It is also a process. Each one of us must grow in grace towards God and towards one another. I should not take his love for granted. I should be watchful for any ‘virus’ of disappointment towards me that I sense in my husband. I must be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I will help him be the man God wants him to be. We both work hard at making our marriage a success. But the hard work is bringing a greater than expected harvest of peace, joy and ministry to those who call us parents in Christ. I boldly declare that in Christ alone, our marriage is free from the pollution of bitterness! Love has won the battle! Dear children, may these words challenge you! God loves you! God loves your marriages! Glory to God!
(I wrote this article in 2018. My husband went to heaven in 2020. We were married for 47 years. I am rich in memories. I am richer in revelations. The Word of God can never change! God bless you all! In the picture, my beloved husband, Pastor Richmond Sisan Leigh, and I, about 2018)
Our youngest daughter Jemine, her husband Matthew Oakes and their sons: Oliver (5 years), Emory (2 years) and a baby girl coming soon. To God be all the glory! (Tali- Richmond Sisan Leigh and Malia- Silvia Lia Leigh are the happy grandparents!) To God be all the glory!
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching from the Book of Romans. The title of her sermon was ‘The Doctrine of the Wrath of God’ (2). Her main text was taken from the Book of Romans chapter 1. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 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 1:16-25)
The wrath of God is God’s view or sin; God’s hatred of sin; God’s punishment of sin! The word ‘wrath’ means justified anger, and hatred; a passion that leads to punishment. God is Holy! God is Love! God protects His Glory! God hates anything that tries to destroy His holiness, Love and Glory! That is why God hates sin! God’s wrath against sin is a manifestation of His jealous love toward His people! Therefore, to protect His glory and His people, God must punish sin! The Gospel is power because it reveals the wrath of God. The Gospel also reveals the imputed righteousness of Christ received by us thru faith. Both this righteousness and the wrath of God were best manifested at the Cross of Calvary. Both are revealed in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit! You cannot argue with unbelievers about the wrath of God or the salvation in Christ. They need God’s revelation. The word revelation means an unveiling; removing the cover and expose something behind it. Darkness and blindness are removed. The light of God must shine upon the object. “Once I was blind, but now I see…” This is called revelation!
The natural men hate this doctrine. They imagine that God is a God of love who will not punish anybody. Man hates discipline and obeying any law. Paul introduced the doctrine of the wrath of God against sin from the first chapter of Romans. The preaching of the wrath of God is foundational in preaching the Gospel. All evangelism must start with preaching the sinfulness of sin, and God’s wrath against it. Never start with man’s needs. Do not even start with Jesus! Always start with God the Father! He invented the plan of salvation! Always start with God and His glory! Many Christians ignore this doctrine. They say they believe it, but they deny it in practice. Many preachers ignore it too. They fear that people will leave their churches. But truth must be preached!
Romans 1 reveals two problems: the wrath of God and the sinfulness of sin. One of the major problems in the church is that men ‘come to Jesus’ as a Friend, Helper or Healer. They do not come to Him as hopeless desperate sinners going to hell. The preachers do not tell sinners that God is angry with sin and He will surely punish sin! To say that you are converted, and you do not have the fear of God, that is a lie! The doctrine of Justification by Faith is the major doctrine of salvation. God the Father designed it. The Son executed it and the Holy Spirit applies it to our understanding. This is the Gospel and its power: Jesus died on the Cross to appease the wrath of God and to save sinners. Jesus said: ‘It is finished’. You must believe and receive the finished work of Christ! By faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross you become FORGIVEN, CLOTHED IN HIS imputed Righteousness and ACCPETED in the Beloved!
NOAH’S UNSINKABLE FAITH (Genesis 6-8; Heb 11:7)
“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb 11:7)
Noah’s story is a picture of the terrible wrath of God. His mercy is there too but do not miss His Judgment! It was not just a cruise ride, a vacation on the sea. It is the Gospel! We are born with a sense of justice. We say: this is not fair! We know that evil should be punished! But sin has damaged our conscience and understanding! The manifestation of terrible sins is increasing! Murder, kidnapping, pedophilia, homosexuality, cheating etc. Very few people openly practice these terrible sins. But they cause great damage. We think that God is sleeping or unjust! But God is watching! He will surely punish sin!
Noah survived the greatest storm and flood the world has ever seen. He did it by faith. Favor from God must ignite faith in the heart. Do not take God’s Grace for granted! Noah knew God! He received the Word of God, His warning! He lived amid an exceedingly evil generation. But he did not backslide. Noah is an encouragement to us all.
*Noah’s Faith honors God’s Word! He takes God’s Word very seriously! He moved with godly fear to obey God’s warning! Noah has never seen a flood. He believed the Word about things not yet seen. God warned him that He will destroy all men and animals. He did not argue with God. He obeyed!
God told Noah to build an excessively big ark. It was 500 feet long (one and half of a football stadium) or about 20 basketball courts. It was 50 feet high from the ground (equal with 4 stories building). It could carry 450 semi- trailers or about 120,000 sheep. It was extremely large. Noah trembled and trusted and built the ark!
*Noah’s Faith is quick to obey God’s Word! It will take 120 years to build it! Noah was not a sailor. He was the only one who was building a boat. Nobody believed in him. He has never seen a flood. He was a lonely believer! But he did not backslide!
*Noah’s Faith reaches the lost! He convinced his family! They all believed Noah and together they built the ark. God “did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5).
*Noah’s Faith rebukes the world! The world goes in the opposite direction! With every tree he cut, every nail he nailed, he condemned the world!
*Noah’s Faith received God’s righteousness (a gift he did not work for). It is standing before God fully accepted! God did not sent Jesus to condemn men! He sent Jesus to save them! The ark was not built to drown people but to save them! The people were already condemned! But the wicked people rejected Noah and his God!
The flood did not end the sin problem. Sinners outside the boat died. Sinners inside the boat were saved by God’s Grace! The flood reveals the magnitude of sin, wrath and holiness of God. Noah and his family did not deserve to be saved. It is the Grace of God. They carry the Seed from where Christ will come after the flesh! God saved and protected the Seed. This is amazing Grace! Noah built the giant ark for 100 years. People said he is a crazy man! This is how sinners perceive grace and faith! Like madness! When the animals were going by themselves to the ark, the sinners should have known that this is God! It was a warning that they did not heed! For the past 2000 years sinners go to Christ for salvation. Every Sunday morning the children of God go to church. The unbelievers still ignore the sign! Repent! Jesus came as the Lamb of God who died for sin! He will come again as the Lion who will judge sin! May we fear God! Worship the Lord!
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL (34) THE DOCTRINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD (Romans 1:16-32)
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching from the Book of Romans. The title of her sermon was ‘The Doctrine of the Wrath of God’. Her main text was taken from the Book of Romans chapter 1. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest n them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 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 1:16-25)
The wrath of God is God’s view or sin; God’s hatred of sin; God’s punishment of sin! The word ‘wrath’ means justified anger, and hatred; a passion that leads to punishment. God is Holy! God is Love! God protects His Glory! God hates anything that tries to destroy His holiness, Love and Glory! God hates sin! God’s wrath against sin is a manifestation of His jealous love toward His people! Therefore, to protect His glory and His people, God must punish sin! God created hell where the devil, the demons and all unbelievers will be forever. The unbelievers, the sinners, the children of darkness, will perish when God punishes sin! Understanding the doctrine of God’s wrath against sin will make you wiser. As a doctor I know that the right diagnosis leads to the right, successful treatment. Wrong, superficial diagnosis leads to wrong treatment and possibly death. The Gospel is power because it reveals the wrath of God. The Gospel also reveals the imputed righteousness of Christ received by us thru faith. Both this righteousness and the wrath of God were manifested at the Cross of Calvary. Both are revealed in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit! You cannot argue with unbelievers about the wrath of God or the salvation in Christ. They need God’s revelation. The word revelation means an unveiling; removing the cover and expose something behind it. Darkness and blindness are removed. The light of God must shine upon the object. “Once I was blind, but now I see…” This is called revelation! The natural men hate this doctrine. They imagine that God is a God of love who will not punish anybody. Paul introduced the doctrine of the wrath of God against sin from the first chapter of Romans. The preaching of the wrath of God is foundational in preaching the Gospel. All evangelism must start with preaching the sinfulness of sin, and God’s wrath against it. Never start with man’s needs. Always start with God and His glory! Many Christians ignore this doctrine. They say they believe it, but they deny it in practice. Many preachers ignore it too. They fear that people will leave their churches. But truth must be preached! The wrath of God has been revealed and manifested in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. For example, God destroyed all people during the flood, leaving only Noah and his family. God confused and scattered the people at the tower of Babel. King David, a man after God’s heart, was punished for committing sin. King Nebuchadnezzar was humiliated for his pride. The people of God were sent to exile, in Babylon, for seventy years, because they refuse to submit to God. The Prophets and the Psalmists warned men about God’s anger against sin. Knowing God’s wrath will help us to repent of sin. God’s wrath is to be feared. It proves the difference between the Creator and the creation! May the fear of God that leads to wisdom and worship descend upon us! This is all for God’s glory! Only in the Book of Romans, the idea of God’s wrath against sin appears ten times: Rom 1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4,5. The wrath of God is just. God is the Creator and the Judge of all! God’s anger is not selfish, or erratic. God never ‘loses His temper’ like men do! God is always right! “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day” (Ps 7:11). God has satisfied His wrath against sin at the Cross! Jesus died to fulfill the law: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23)As believers we do not fear condemnation. We cannot go to hell. A believer may backslide for a time, but he will surely repent before his death. God punishes sin even in a believer. It is called ‘chastisement’. But he cannot ‘lose heaven’. Salvation is an eternal sure gift of Grace! We should remember that one day, we shall stand before Christ, the King and the Judge of the universe who shall judge our deeds, our works. “For we must all appear before the judgment (Bema) seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10). That is why we desire to do all things to God’s glory!
HOW IS THE WRATH OF GOD REVEALED FROM HEAVEN?1-In the universal human experience of physical death! Death is a manifestation of God’s wrath against sin! Every man dies, the believers and the unbelievers. Spiritually, there is Death in Adam, and Eternal Life in Christ! “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification” (Rom 5:12-16). But for the believers, death has lost its sting, terror and power. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 15:55-57). Because of the Cross, God has removed the sting of the snake called death. Death is a defeated toothless enemy. Death is not a master anymore, but a servant! In Christ, death has become your servant! Death serves you by opening the door to heaven! 2-In the Vanity of life! Vanity is excessive pride, big dreams that leads to something useless, to total disappointment! “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:20, 21). Life is hard! Life is ‘not fair’. People work and suffer to get rich and then they die. Once they die, they cannot take money with them. “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecc 1:2). Only God plants hope in futility! For the believer, there is no vanity for at the Cross, vanity is redeemed! “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). As children of God, we are children of purpose! We have a reason to live and to die! Our purpose is to give glory to God and to become like Jesus! 3-In human degradation! On the natural, without the purifying and restraining power of the Holy Spirit, sinners are getting worse. Old unbelievers are full of regrets, torments, and bitterness. We, the believers, hate, fight and conquer sin! We want to please God who warns us against sin and who chastises us as a Father disciplines His son. This is love! For the believers, like with old wine, life is getting sweeter with age. In all things we give thanks to God! My praise belongs to You! Worship the Lord!
“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him… Love does not envy” (Ac 7:9; 1Cor 13:4)
Envy is defined as an unpleasant angry feeling or a bitter longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities or success. Envy is the desire to have a beautiful thing belonging to someone else. Envy wants to take the wealth that belongs to another and leave that one poor. Envy is wicked. Envy is one of the works of the flesh. It is the desire that others should not have what you do not have! Envy says: ‘If I don’t go to heaven, you should not go there too; if I don’t have Jesus, you too should miss Him.’ Envy is criminal. Envy is sin. Envy is deceptive. When envy rises in your heart, you may miss its true identity. Pray that the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see any sin that still dwells in your flesh. Chose to live a life of sacrificial holy love. That life will kill the root of envy in your flesh! Give God all the glory!
MY TESTIMONY This incident happened about 20 years ago. I still remember the moment and the place when the Holy Spirit convicted me of the sin of envy. Somebody told me that a woman I did not like got promoted at her job. Something like a tornado started turning my stomach. I felt sick. I felt angry. I felt like vomiting. The feeling was so strong that I forgot about my ‘enemy’ and I prayed asking God: ‘What is this sickness, Lord?’ The answer came immediately: ‘It is the demon of envy that you have allowed to stay in you’. I was shocked. I thought that God will tell me it was poison, or typhoid fever or high blood pressure… But envy? I was sure that I never envied anyone. I was proud thinking myself free from the shame of envy. I thought that I am a woman who always minds her business. If it was a human being who confronted me with the sin of envy I could have argued. But it was the Holy Spirit who spoke the Word. I could not argue. I just knelt down in my kitchen, among pots and pans yet to be washed, and I prayed for forgiveness of sins, of envy in particular. I also prayed for deliverance. Something ugly left me that day. A troublesome burden fell down from my back. I gained a new peace, a new wisdom, a new strength and a new courage to pray for others. Since then, I am free. Occasionally, that familiar demon tried to deceive me and come back to my heart. But the Holy Spirit helped me to identify it before it came too close. God helped me to raise my shield of faith against it! The victory is permanent! This testimony is to the glory of God! I want to encourage you to do the same. In the name of Jesus, be free! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! Be satisfied with what God gives to you! Do not compare yourself with others. Live a life of thanksgiving! Confess and repent of envy! There is enough room for you, for all of us, at the foot of the Cross of Christ! Glory!
In Christ I declare: I shall always love God and His people! I shall never envy! I shall be satisfied with God’s provision for my life! I shall be grateful for the blessings God bestows on me and my family! I shall pray for others! I shall be grateful for the blessings God gives to others! I live a life of thanksgiving! In Jesus’ name, Amen! (From my diary, April, 2019)
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching about the power of the Gospel. Her main text was taken from the Books of Romans: “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” … Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom 1:11-17; 13:7,8).
Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh said that the Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans ‘to impart’ a spiritual gift to the believers in Rome. To impart is to communicate knowledge from a great supply; to transfer revelation, to transfuse anointing from one to another. By the preaching of God’s Word, thru the power of the Holy Spirit, you can impart wisdom, anointing, revelation and love to others. To be able to impart, you must be born again, Spirit filled, spiritually generous, and willing to share your heart, your very life, with others. Apostle Paul felt like a debtor. A debtor is someone who owes something (money for example) to another. He is under obligation to pay his debt. If not, he is in trouble.
Why does Paul say that he is a debtor to all? Paul has something wonderful to give to others. The Gospel! The Gospel can be ‘imparted’ to others. That is the power of the Gospel! A Christian is defined as somebody who has eternal life, and he is able to impart it to others thru the preaching of the Gospel and thru his testimony!
Why does Paul preach the Gospel? Because Jesus called him to do so! Secondly, because he loves God and feels a sense of gratitude to God! He serves God by preaching His Gospel to all people. All need the Gospel! Paul knows the Gospel and he is ready to give it to all (men and women, educated or not, rich or poor, old and young). A preacher is not supposed to preach only to some religious group of people. All people need the Gospel. Paul preaches the same Gospel to all. All men are born sinners. They are dying. The Christian is like a doctor who can administer the right treatment even on the patient’s dying hour. The results follow. Life manifests! A preacher should not be influenced by the size or the type of congregation. He must preach and impart to all. Preach to the whole man: touch his mind, emotions and will! The Gospel itself is a wonder of supernatural power and life! The preaching of the Gospel brings tears of repentance and tears of joy! It is a wonder of transformation! This is the power of the Gospel! May we preach the Gospel to all! May we pay the debt of love that can never be repaid. Thru preaching the Gospel, Love has fulfilled the Law of God!
THE PARABLE OF TWO DEBTORS (Luke 7:36-59)
This is the miracle of salvation in the life of a sinful woman, a prostitute. She is saved by the Blood of Jesus and thru the tears of her faith! In the Word of God there is a warning not to make friends with an adulteress, with a wayward woman, or a prostitute. Thru her sinful trade, many men have backslid, and some have died (PV 7). That is why men rejected her in public, even the men who ‘used’ her in private. This woman who came to the feet of Jesus was the most infamous prostitute in the town. But against all odds, the miracle happened. She became saved. Jesus is called “The Friend of sinners” (Matt 11:19). Jesus was not afraid to touch and be touched by leprous people and prostitutes. What manner of Man is Jesus? Without the Holy Spirit you cannot understand Jesus! This woman’s river of tears is a proof of true repentance and a new heart! What is the difference between a religious man (like Simeon) and a repentant woman (like this former prostitute)? Simeon was offended that Jesus gave attention to this sinner. He is proud and self-righteous. He invited Jesus to his house so that Jesus will acknowledge his good religious deeds. He wanted the approval of Jesus. This woman with her tears, ‘spoiled his show’. He became angry. He was also jealous. Jesus should not bless her, he thought! He is the one to be blessed! He was sure that a sinful woman like this cannot be blessed with salvation and peace. According to Simeon, God should forget this woman and send her to hell. She is called ‘trash’. She cannot be saved or blessed by God. How foolish he was… So ignorant of God’s love and grace. Jesus knew Simon’s heart. He told him a parable of two debtors: One owned him one million naira and the other one thousand naira. They both could not pay their debts. The rich man cancelled both debts. Who will love him more? The one who owed the bigger debt, Simeon said. True! Jesus said that greater sins, means grater forgiveness, and that leads to greater love. The former prostitute gave all to Jesus! Unashamedly, she totally surrendered to Him even her broken heart and useless life. But Simeon, was still holding back the repentance, asking if Jesus is truly a prophet … Jesus said to the woman: your faith has saved you! Go in peace! This is peace with God beyond human understanding! Grace is a royal decree! Thru faith, peace came, and a soul was just set free from the cage of sin and death! This is an eternal salvation! Money cannot buy it. Men may be jealous, but they cannot steal it! Religion will not give you peace! Only Jesus can change the town’s greatest harlot and make her into the greatest worshipper!
The Gospel changes everything!!!! The Gospel gives you peace with God!!! This is what our city needs! Give them (not religion) but Jesus! Let us pray for Revival!!! Let us preach the Gospel of Christ Crucified and Resurrected! Love who freely died that others may live! This is the eternal debt of LOVE! For there is no story greater than that! Worship the Lord!
Jesus said: “How often I wanted to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Mt 23:27; AMP)
Christianity is like ‘a native’ hen with her chicks. Have you seen one? I heard that the mother hen has four types of sound when she calls her chicks. The first one is the sound of ‘come and eat’. When she finds a nice meal on the ground, she never eats it alone. She calls her children to eat with her. She also trains them to find food for themselves. The second sound is the call of ‘Play is over! Come and sleep’. They come under her wings and they sleep peacefully until tomorrow. The third sound is the call of protection from danger. When she sees a hawk flying around, she calls them saying: “Come immediately! Now!” She calls them to come under her wings, to hide in the shelter under the threat is gone. If the hawk comes down, she fights for her chicks even unto death. Fourthly, there is the sound of love. She says: “Come my beloved! I miss you! I love you! You are the best!” Love is more than food, sleep or money! Love is the extra, the spice of life! The chicks are well fed, they have played enough with each other, there is no danger, just peace. There is no problem! But the mother hen knows that her children need a reminder that they are loved and that all is well with them. Finally, let me not forget! The cock is there too, covering them all with his strength, leadership and love!
Religion is like ‘agric’ chicken. Have you seen a poultry? The eggs are all the same. The chicks hatch under the artificial light of a bulb. These chickens they look ‘cute’ but that is all. They are foolish. They do not know their parents. They live only to be sold and eaten. They are somebody’s business to make money. The saddest part of the story is that the ‘agric’ chicks will never know the sound of love. Many churches are like this: religious ‘business centers.’ There are many people who go to church, they are deeply religious, they say that they are saved but they are not. They feel lost, sad and lonely even in the church. But they hide their feelings. Jesus is calling you… Love is calling you… Are you willing to go under the everlasting arms of Jesus? Are you willing to receive and give love to Him? For He loved you first! And only love sets you free indeed!
May the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth! For Truth is a Person and His name is Jesus Christ! Jesus died and rose again, for you! Blessed are you if you are truly born again! Protected by God the Father, Loved by the Lover of your soul and Led by the Holy Spirit. May your heart sing! May your liver smile! For there is no greater love than this! Give God praise this morning!
This picture was taken exactly eight years ago (21-04-2013). We were building the sanctuary. I and this young sister called Pat were on top of the roof. This is before the roof was added. You can see Urhobo College at the background of the picture. This is what I wrote then:
“This young sister, her name is Pat. She works very hard at the church’ site during all her holidays from school. She does the same work as the rest of the (men) brothers. She asks not for any special privileges just because she is a girl. God bless her and all the servants of God who quietly work behind the scenes and faithfully serve the King of kings!”
“Lord Jesus, when my eye confronts my heart, and I realize that You have filled my heart with Your love, I am breathless with amazement. Once my heart was so small in its vision, so narrow in its compassion, so weak in its zeal for truth. Then You chose to enter my heart; and now in my heart I can see You, I can love all Your people, and I have courage to proclaim the truth of Your gospel to anyone and everyone. Lord Jesus, like wax before a fire, my heart has melted under the heat of Your love.”
These words were written by Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf (1700-1760). He was born in a noble wealthy family in Austria. He was a German religious and social reformer, bishop and founder of the Moravian Church who sent many missionaries all over the world. Count Von Zinzendorg was a major figure of 18th century Protestantism. He was strongly against slavery. He left his exalted court position in Germany to become a spiritual leader with the Moravians. He composed many hymns. He was a great preacher of the Gospel. He suffered much persecution for his faith. The Moravians influenced John Wesley to become born again, planting the seeds of revival all over the world.
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching about the power of the Gospel. Her main text was taken from the Books of Romans: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:1-17; NKJ)
We remind ourselves that our primary purpose as believers is to give glory to God, to worship Him! The second purpose is to become like Jesus! This is the foundation of our faith! The Book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome, who were mostly Gentile believers. The Holy Spirit inserted the Book of Romans immediately after the Book of Acts because of its importance in presenting the major doctrines of salvation. In the history of the Church, God has used the Book of Romans more than any other Book in the Bible to ignite revival. Many great men and women of God have been converted thru the Book of Romans.
APOSTLE PAUL
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God” (Rom 1:1).
The Gospel is called ‘the Gospel of God”. It was invented by God. It belongs to God. It is God’s property. He is jealous over His Gospel! Do not ‘mess’ with it! Apostle Paul, formerly called Saul of Tarsus (4-64, AD) is the author of the Book of Romans. The first word in the Book of Romans is ‘Paul’. God has prepared His vessel in a special way. Even the unbelievers admit that he is one of the greatest minds among men. He was born in Tarsus, one of the three main cities of Greek culture (after Athens, Greece and Alexandria, Egypt). Paul was well acquainted with the Greek poets and philosophers. Paul was a Jew. He went to Jerusalem and was trained by the most famous professor of the Old Testament at that time: Gamaliel. Paul knew the scriptures and how the Jews think. He became an advocate for the Law. He also became a Pharisee, one of the best. Paul was born a free Roman citizen. This was a great honor. He knew the Roman law. Also, he knew his rights as a Roman citizen, and he used this privilege from time to time. He was extremely intelligent and zealous to do good religious works. He believed that Jesus was a blasphemer and he hated Him. He persecuted the Christians and put them in prison. In God’s time he had a dramatic crisis conversion on his way to Damascus. He saw the Resurrected Christ in person who commissioned him to preach the Gospel he once hated. He became an Apostle, a Teacher, a Pastor and an Evangelist. He died in Rome, beheaded by Emperor Nero. He wrote three quarters of all the Books in the New Testament. God used his background after his conversion to argue with the Jews against Judaism. Many Jews were confused at the beginning how to combine the faith in God in the Old Testament and the New. Paul even opposed Apostle Peter when he made a mistake becoming afraid of the Jewish leaders. Apostle Paul was used by God to preach mostly to the Gentiles who did not know the Old Testament. Paul understood the mind, the culture of both Jew and Gentile. Paul is an example of how God uses the natural gifts of a man who becomes saved. This is a good lesson: Surrender your natural gifts to God!
THE PURPOSE OF WRITING THE LETTER
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11, 12).
Paul was a wonderful teacher and pastor. He did not write the Book of Romans to professors or lawyers. He wrote it to the mostly simple Gentile believers living in Rome. The purpose was to establish them spiritually. He wanted to impart some spiritual gifts, to give them a fresh revelation about the Gospel of Christ Crucified and Resurrected. He wanted to increase their faith, for them to become spiritually mature and fruitful. This is the effect of the Word of God in general and especially the Book of Romans, on all who believe! Conversion is not the end of your story. It is the door, the beginning. Salvation is free because Jesus died and paid it all on the Cross. But spiritual maturity is not automatic. There is a price to pay. You must study the Word of God and pray! To be established it means: strength to stand, to be confirmed, fixed and firm on a permanent foundation; to spiritually mature and fruitful; to gain full recognition and acceptance from God and man! The opposite of being established is to be destroyed, uprooted, and confused.
THE MAJOR THEME OF THIS LETTER
The major theme of the Book of Romans is the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. The Book of Romans is divided in two subsections: In Chapters 1-11 we discover the doctrines related to salvation and in chapters 12-16 we find the application of these doctrines. Both are equally important. Doctrine is like the skeleton. It gives structure and strength to the body. The application is like the muscles and the internal organs. It gives life to the body!
The word Gospel means ‘Good news’. What is that? God has done something new! God has sent His only Begotten and Beloved Son to take human flesh upon Himself, to teach men God’s will. On the Cross, Jesus died for our sins. Anyone who believes in the death of the Son of God as atonement for His sins, shall be saved from the judgment of sin, which is death. Anyone who does not believe that Christ died for him, he is already condemned. Salvation to man comes by faith in Christ alone! No one is saved by good religious works.
This is the major doctrine in the Book of Romans: Justification by faith! In other words, we are saved: by Grace alone, by faith alone, thru the Word of God alone, in Christ alone, and for the glory of God alone! The Holy Spirit applies the truth of the Word of God to our spirits so that we can believe. Man must repent of his sins and become born again! Salvation is a miracle! The Gospel of Christ Crucified and Resurrected is the Power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Faith means trusting in God. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and increases ‘from faith to faith’. Apostle Paul explains that ‘justification by faith’ is the only method God could have used to save sinful man. God is holy and He hates sin. He is also merciful and loving. God cannot forgive sin just by His Word. Jesus, the sinless Son of God died on behalf of sinners so that they may live.
The people for whom He died are called ‘the elect, or the chosen’. God has decreed, even before the foundation of the world, that some people will be saved. Apostle Paul explains that the New Testament method of salvation by faith is the same as during the Old Testament. Men like Abraham and King David also lived by faith. God saves by His Grace alone! God’s will cannot be frustrated. God decided to place the believers in Christ. The doctrine of the unity with Christ is foundational in understanding salvation. We were crucified with Him, died with Him, were buried with Him and resurrected with Him. We now are seated in Christ and with Christ, in heavenly places. Salvation is sure. A sinner who became born again thru faith in Christ can have total assurance of his salvation. He cannot lose his salvation! The Apostle Paul also describes the process of sanctification. Our soul and spirit are already saved. But sin is not removed from the mortal body. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body. In this way, we mature spiritually. Salvation is first to the glory of God! Secondly, is for our good.
This is the general view and understanding of the Book of Romans. You must have faith to feel its power! If by reading it you are not able to worship God and give Him all the glory for your salvation, then you have not understood it well. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see King Jesus, full of Grace and Truth, seated on His throne! Glory! Worship the Lord!
BREAKING THE GROUND @FATHER’S HOUSE BIBLE CHURCH;17-04-2010
Eleven years ago we gathered to pray for this land, to start laying the foundation for the new sanctuary of Father’s House Bible Church, Warri/ Effurun! We poured in the ground: milk, honey, water, olive oil and wine. Each of these is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. I testify that the Holy Spirit has led us all the way. He is present in each service. What a journey of grace and glory! The worship continues forever! To God alone be all the glory!
(Apart from Tali (Pastor Richmond Sisan Leigh), and I, do you recognize any of the brethren present that day?)
Green Pastures 