DELIVERED TO TORMENTORS

READ: MATTHEW 18:21-35

There is no alternative to living the ideal Christians life if we must be all God has purposed for us to be, and if we must fulfil our God-given destiny. Trivialising God’s word has negative consequences that should make us take whatever He has said very seriously. One way many limit themselves today is through unforgiveness. Jesus commands us to forgive those who have offended us. He also taught it in parables and in the Lord’s Prayer. But the importance of His teaching has yet to dawn on many. They stay that until they experience the negative effects of disobedience. Any believer in Christ who thrives in unforgiveness is standing on dangerous ground.
From today’s reading, the king forgave his servant who owned him so much. That King is God. We could never have paid the debts of sin we owed expect with our lives and that would have landed us in hell. But one day we heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ which offered forgiveness, and we accepted it, and our old records were erased. From that moment, God imputed the righteousness of Christ unto us, making us look like those who never had a sinful past. But the Lord did not stop at that. He went on to make provision for us to be forgiven whenever we sin and confess them so that we can receive cleansing (1 John 1:7-9).
How much sin has your brother committed against you that make you refuse to forgive him? Today, unfortunately many are living in unforgiveness. Even leaders and ministers take vital decisions to the detriment of their offenders. Many families are stagnated because of unforgiveness. If you refuse to forgive how are you then like Christ. Do you still keep records of wrongs done to you in the black book of your mind? Some effects of unforgiveness are that it invokes God’s wrath, and makes God to hand you over to the tormentors. Is your life, business or family under heavy satanic attack? Check your life and reconcile with those you are still holding a grudge against. Besides, unforgiveness brings a harvest of evil deeds done to your offenders upon you (Matthew 18:30-34). It prevents you from benefiting from the cleansing power of the blood (1 John 1:7-9). It returns you to the state of an unbeliever and makes you a sure candidate of hell. Deliver yourself today.

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 6:10 –But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

AMBITION: JAMES AND JOHN

READ: MATTHEW 20:20-28

Ambition can be channelled towards spiritual things. In 1 Corinthians 12:31, Paul says “…covet earnestly the best gifts…” The word ‘covet’ in that verse comes from a Greek word ‘zelos’ which means, having a strong passion for something. You can desire great spiritual heights. Just ensure you adopt God’s method for arriving at that goal.
The two sons of Zebedee, James and John, were chosen by the Lord. They were among the twelve. After a period of following Him, they were convinced that all Jesus told them, both of the present and the after-life were true. At a point, considering that Jesus had twelve of them, they began to think of how they could become more prominent so as to occupy the most prominent positions beside the throne of Jesus in Heaven. They wanted nothing short of that. That was a good ambition.
Suddenly, it dawned on them that they could achieve their aim through lobbying. They convinced their mother to go with them, believing Jesus will be compelled by her plea. When they requested for the heavenly positions, Jesus told them the method they were adopting would not fetch them their desire. He told them that getting to that position required a very costly price. They said they were prepared to pay it. Are you prepared to pay the price to get to your goal?
The other disciples heard and were moved with anger but Jesus pacified them and told them how to be great in Heaven. James and John were unperturbed. They paid extra attention to Christ’s teachings and ensured they made Him happy. Before long, they had become so close to Jesus that He hardly went anywhere without them. Together with Peter they became a part of His inner circle.
They did not stop there. John went steps further and became number one. In Acts 12:1-2, James eventually crowned his efforts at becoming great in Heaven by becoming the first Apostle to be martyred. John continued and was later thrown into hot oil. When he would not die, his persecutors eventually banished him to a most dangerous island, Patmos, full of wild animals. He too paid the price. Today, they occupy great positions in Heaven. You too can follow God’s way to fulfilling your ambition.

MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 4:11 –Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

REWARDS FOR FOLLOWING JESUS

READ: MATTHEW 19:27-30

Following Jesus is the most rewarding venture one can engage in. of course, it will attract suffering and persecution. Yet you will be more than adequately compensated for every difficulty you go through for His name’s sake. In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus says it is a great privilege if you are persecuted or punished for following Him. He says your reward in Heaven would be great. He expects you to celebrate your booty.
How many Christians can actually jump up and say ‘Praise God’ and begin to dance and celebrate when they are persecuted? Not many. This is because they have not appreciated the importance of Christ’s words, and they do not believe Him. Have you been denied promotion in your place of work because you refused to compromise and sin? Have you lost juicy contract because you refused to give kick backs or kick fronts? Have you suffered in a particular course at school just because you would not sleep with the lecturer? Are people calling you names such as ‘foolish man’ because you refused to use your vantage position in society to loot the public treasury and multiply assets like your predecessors?
Jesus says rejoice. You are blessed. The reward that is deposited into your Heavenly account for suffering that loss for Christ cannot be compared with what you lost on earth. Today’s reading and Mark 10:28-30 further say that in the course of following Jesus, you may be required to leave family, parents and property. But adds that everything you sacrifice for the Gospel will return one hundred fold to you here on earth! If you loose one house and get 100 houses, I think that is more than fair. In addition, you will inherit everlasting life and in the millennium you will sit on thrones with Jesus and co-reign with Him (Revelation 20:4-6). Are you ready to suffer for Jesus and follow Him all the way?

MEMORIZE: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 –For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.