Tag: life

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Life to the Full

John 10:10-11

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

11 [a]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [b]lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

The purpose of Jesus’ coming and His mission on earth is encapsulated or reinforced in the statements above made by Jesus himself. He said He is the door. We have access to God’s kingdom on earth coming to God through and In the name of Jesus. There is no other valid access. In God’s kingdom is God’s best plan and provision for His sheep, His flock.

Jesus declares He is also the Good Shepherd whose mission is to ensure that His flock would have and enjoy life and not just in a limited way, but in a full, abundant way till it overflows. He is so committed to this that He laid down His life to make it happen. Jesus paid all the necessary price for His children to have life to the fullest extent. The Kingdom of God is here on earth and we have access to these provision right here. Jesus lived on earth and demonstrated the full life of God to us, walking in dominion in every area of His life. He walked in full authority, dominion and power. He was the clear master over situations and circumstances in every sphere of His life; spirit, soul and body. Sickness never touched him and demons trembled at His presence. His needs were met at every point in time as He relied on God for everything. What a picture of abundant life. The Bible says ‘As He is, so are we in this world’. 1 John 4:17

17 In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

We are one with Christ as His body, we are in communion with Him, we have access to, have been endowed with and do enjoy the same authority and dominion which He exercised on earth – since it is His own, by His Spirit living in us. As He is, so are we made perfect in love right here.

This is wonderful! And the Word of God is liberating. You shall know the truth and the truth that you know will set you free right now. It is God’s will for us to have and enjoy life to the fullest extent and Jesus paid the price. So go forth in this understanding and enforce your right to the life He procured for you.

Shalom!

Olaolu Oyeyemi

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When good is bad – reposted

words“And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.”

Genesis 3:6 AMP

Looking at the above text as a natural human being, out of context and in isolation, there seemed to be nothing particularly wrong with what this woman did. Who does not see and like good things? God gave us eyes to see and most people appreciate good things when they see them. Who does not appreciate good food by its looks? Everyone who is able to see does. The bible says the tree was pleasant and delightful to look at.

Not only was the tree and fruits good looking, she was convinced the tree was a tree to be desired in ‘order to make one wise’. Again sounds like something good to me. Who is not looking for Wisdom? Every forward thinking person knows that wisdom is good and desirable. People spend decades of their lives – if not a lifetime, and tons of money looking for wisdom and the prestige and allures that come with it.

After spending all this time considering this tree and fruit, she decided to go for it. She decided she will have to experience having and eating this fruit and she did. Not only did she initiate the experience, she also shared the experience with her partner, her husband.badfruit

Again, what is wrong in plucking and eating a fruit? It seems natural to act on an idea after extensive consideration and thinking about it.

Sounds like she did what every natural person would do on a daily basis. So what is the big deal?

Well, it was a big deal. It landed herself, her husband and indeed the entire mankind and the created world into serious trouble. That was the genesis of sin and death in mankind.

Did she know the implications and consequences of her seemingly innocent action? After-all she just tried something and she shared it with her husband by her side.

Rom 5:12 therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned

What makes it a big deal is that God had given them just one command earlier in Chapter 2: 16-17.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; 17 but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly [h]die [because of your disobedience].”

This was an express command. Their very lives and the destiny of mankind was as stake. God had warned them that this particular fruit was a ‘no go’ area for them. God’s instructions was what made it a big deal. No matter how good something may look, no matter the allures, no matter what someone, some expert, or everyone else –for what it is worth – says about it, if God forbids it, then it remains toxic to go against God’s warnings and instructions. Why? Because He is God and He knows everything. He created everything and He knows the end from the beginning. It is wise to allow God be God and we be humans and be obedient to His instructions. ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice’ just as Saul found out.

But really she could have been me. If I only I know the consequences of certain actions I take today. No matter how good something looks, no matter how attractive it may seem, no matter the promises for wisdom and prestige it holds, as long as it is against God’s will and God’s word, then it is the forbidden fruit and it has the potential to kill.

Stay blessed.

Laolu Oyeyemi