THIS THING ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT
The foolhardiness of the Northern Nigerian herdsmen is not unknown in religious and political circles.. I once commented on it in one of my blogs. with the passing of each day their murderous acts have taken it a step further in bloodletting adventure that knowns no limit. As to be expected the Christians leaders both in the south and north are feeling miffed. They are speaking out. Howbeit, each one representing his own opinion unfortunately not as a force which could have added caution and guard against inflammatory statement that could easily be interpreted by the ruling class of the North as incitement to mayhem and murder. it was so few days ago, when one Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega and fire ministries, was arrested in another Nigeria state where he was holding or about holding a religious program. He was rescued by the state governor, Ayo Fayose the security operatives, known as Department of state services , DSS accused him of making inciting statement, urging his congregation to kill any Fulani herdsmen .
He was in Ado Ekiti, for a two day crusade when this arrest was attempted by the security operatives.
Watching the said program he made that call, it was obvious that the Apostle did made that call, but as a defense against the attack of the herdsmen. As he continues his sermon he veered into a reckless ground. Later denying the accusation . Am not just a Christian am a pastor , too but with a different calling. However, I must say that men in high position like our apostle should be very cautious when making statement from the pulpit. Putting sentiments aside, the apostle is one who has gone out for his savior as a faithful servant, taking his message to far and wide I respect his person a lot. Nonetheless, we must learn from history as a nation of about 150 million and still counting.
Religious war is one of the bloodiest and most prolong in history. A circular state like Nigeria should not be allowed to be engulf in a religious war otherwise what happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina will only be a child's play. With such statement the stage is gradually being set on the war path. I disagree with a statement he made that David killed Goliath, too. trying to justify killings in such a way is nothing short of misleading your flocks. This event from the old testament was rather lame. There was no Christianity in the old testament we as Christians only quote from the old because it was a way that ushered in the will of God, which was the savior that was to show us how to live, conduct ourselves and worship God. Where as in the old testament it was an eye for an eye, but Jesus said to his followers you and me and all Christians including the Apostle Suleiman ,** Matthew 5:39 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
I have always been of the view that the bible , though one collection of books has a clear demarcation
between the old and the new testament. the spirit operating in the old testament is quite different from that of the new testament. therefore, we must be very clear to know that when we say we are Christians that invariably means that we belongs to the new testament.
The old testament therefore, was a foreshadow of the perfection that was to come through our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. That Jesus refers to the old testament was to point to the ignorant people of his days that he was he that was to come. On different occasions he made it clear that his teachings was at variance with the old testament.
The old testament, in a nutshell, talks about the chosen people's attempts and failures, to grasp the purpose that God has for them. The laws were enacted as a shadow of the spiritual laws that was to come. This laws was to be written in their hearts, a spiritual guidance not a set of dos and don'ts
God being a spirit has to be obeyed also via the spirit, but before the people of old testament, there was the law and in their canal nature they tried to obey the laws God intended for us to obey him but when it became difficult laws has to be set up and we are to walk in that law to know the desires of our God, and what His will for us and what to do, and how to live with our neighbors. But, without the spirit of God alas! how can a mere mortal obey the spiritual being who is omnipotence?. therefore, the laws failed woefully to led the people to the path that their creator designed for them.
due to the absence of the spirit of God dwelling in man they lived their lives like the canal men they were: Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. Give your wife a letter of divorce if you want to send her away; it was a sinful and vicious circles of carnality, acrimonies hatred and forgiveness in the camp. The prophets who were led them did not fair better. They had at various times display their human and canal nature but thank God HE had a perfect plans. the bible says man could not live right with the law. God being holy and every sin need punishment for the wages of sin is death as the ultimate otherwise God's righteousness will be negated if sin is condoned and tolerated.
God had to look for a way to bring this people to him and he made what is referred to in the old testament as AT-O-N-M-E-N-T
Some thing living ,something with blood must take the stead of the sinner. And that was the sacrifice the people of Israel did every year, with the priest first cleansing himself, before going into the holy of holies which represent the presence of God. with the sacrifices performed for each family depicting the spilling of blood which contains life as taking the place of the sinner who was to die for his sin for the past one year. This was a temporary thing for the blood of these animals were not strong enough to take away the sin of the sinner
Thus the people lived their lives . even though this was not the perfect will of God for them. It behooves us to know that Go had a plan before hand, God being God, knew that it was going to be impossible for this people to obey and follow HIM with out a help.John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelled in you. That Spirit is what enables the Christian to be Christ like not reacting like his nature would want in a provocative or volatile situations.
We at times we allow our canal nature to have the better of us, there is the old testament to support our canal actions: He put his wife away he quotes from the old testament, yet, Jesus says in the new testament, Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: He refuse to forgive his others their wrong against him, he quotes from the old testament as against the new which says in the new testament, Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Yes, David killed Goliath , but Jesus refused to give the go ahead for violence, or war when they came to arrest him; one of his followers, rose up to the occasion by cutting off the ear of one of the intruders, see Luke 22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. What could have been a blood bath was averted
When talking from the pulpit caution and discretion should be our watch word. The pulpit has the power to make or mar a man.well as destroy man, it can also turn a heart of stone to soft putty and hardens a soft heart. It behooves leaders political or otherwise to weigh their utterances, President Donald Trump is not hated by the Americans or the world at large, but his unguarded, divisive and hateful comments, derogatory words about women and speeches laced with racism makes one wonder what kind of a leader he would be. Sometimes to keep the peace and tranquility, a man does not say all his feels all the time- some things are better left in the crevices of our mind
The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax, depending on how you choose to apply it. Tolerance of others and caution with utterances therefore, is the name of the game.
Be seeing you,
Godwin Guobadia writes from Amsterdam.
**note: Bible quotations are from the king James standard version [KJSV]
He was in Ado Ekiti, for a two day crusade when this arrest was attempted by the security operatives.
Watching the said program he made that call, it was obvious that the Apostle did made that call, but as a defense against the attack of the herdsmen. As he continues his sermon he veered into a reckless ground. Later denying the accusation . Am not just a Christian am a pastor , too but with a different calling. However, I must say that men in high position like our apostle should be very cautious when making statement from the pulpit. Putting sentiments aside, the apostle is one who has gone out for his savior as a faithful servant, taking his message to far and wide I respect his person a lot. Nonetheless, we must learn from history as a nation of about 150 million and still counting.
Religious war is one of the bloodiest and most prolong in history. A circular state like Nigeria should not be allowed to be engulf in a religious war otherwise what happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina will only be a child's play. With such statement the stage is gradually being set on the war path. I disagree with a statement he made that David killed Goliath, too. trying to justify killings in such a way is nothing short of misleading your flocks. This event from the old testament was rather lame. There was no Christianity in the old testament we as Christians only quote from the old because it was a way that ushered in the will of God, which was the savior that was to show us how to live, conduct ourselves and worship God. Where as in the old testament it was an eye for an eye, but Jesus said to his followers you and me and all Christians including the Apostle Suleiman ,** Matthew 5:39 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
I have always been of the view that the bible , though one collection of books has a clear demarcation
between the old and the new testament. the spirit operating in the old testament is quite different from that of the new testament. therefore, we must be very clear to know that when we say we are Christians that invariably means that we belongs to the new testament.
The old testament therefore, was a foreshadow of the perfection that was to come through our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. That Jesus refers to the old testament was to point to the ignorant people of his days that he was he that was to come. On different occasions he made it clear that his teachings was at variance with the old testament.
The old testament, in a nutshell, talks about the chosen people's attempts and failures, to grasp the purpose that God has for them. The laws were enacted as a shadow of the spiritual laws that was to come. This laws was to be written in their hearts, a spiritual guidance not a set of dos and don'ts
God being a spirit has to be obeyed also via the spirit, but before the people of old testament, there was the law and in their canal nature they tried to obey the laws God intended for us to obey him but when it became difficult laws has to be set up and we are to walk in that law to know the desires of our God, and what His will for us and what to do, and how to live with our neighbors. But, without the spirit of God alas! how can a mere mortal obey the spiritual being who is omnipotence?. therefore, the laws failed woefully to led the people to the path that their creator designed for them.
due to the absence of the spirit of God dwelling in man they lived their lives like the canal men they were: Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. Give your wife a letter of divorce if you want to send her away; it was a sinful and vicious circles of carnality, acrimonies hatred and forgiveness in the camp. The prophets who were led them did not fair better. They had at various times display their human and canal nature but thank God HE had a perfect plans. the bible says man could not live right with the law. God being holy and every sin need punishment for the wages of sin is death as the ultimate otherwise God's righteousness will be negated if sin is condoned and tolerated.
God had to look for a way to bring this people to him and he made what is referred to in the old testament as AT-O-N-M-E-N-T
Some thing living ,something with blood must take the stead of the sinner. And that was the sacrifice the people of Israel did every year, with the priest first cleansing himself, before going into the holy of holies which represent the presence of God. with the sacrifices performed for each family depicting the spilling of blood which contains life as taking the place of the sinner who was to die for his sin for the past one year. This was a temporary thing for the blood of these animals were not strong enough to take away the sin of the sinner
Thus the people lived their lives . even though this was not the perfect will of God for them. It behooves us to know that Go had a plan before hand, God being God, knew that it was going to be impossible for this people to obey and follow HIM with out a help.John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelled in you. That Spirit is what enables the Christian to be Christ like not reacting like his nature would want in a provocative or volatile situations.
We at times we allow our canal nature to have the better of us, there is the old testament to support our canal actions: He put his wife away he quotes from the old testament, yet, Jesus says in the new testament, Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: He refuse to forgive his others their wrong against him, he quotes from the old testament as against the new which says in the new testament, Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Yes, David killed Goliath , but Jesus refused to give the go ahead for violence, or war when they came to arrest him; one of his followers, rose up to the occasion by cutting off the ear of one of the intruders, see Luke 22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. What could have been a blood bath was averted
When talking from the pulpit caution and discretion should be our watch word. The pulpit has the power to make or mar a man.well as destroy man, it can also turn a heart of stone to soft putty and hardens a soft heart. It behooves leaders political or otherwise to weigh their utterances, President Donald Trump is not hated by the Americans or the world at large, but his unguarded, divisive and hateful comments, derogatory words about women and speeches laced with racism makes one wonder what kind of a leader he would be. Sometimes to keep the peace and tranquility, a man does not say all his feels all the time- some things are better left in the crevices of our mind
The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax, depending on how you choose to apply it. Tolerance of others and caution with utterances therefore, is the name of the game.
Be seeing you,
Godwin Guobadia writes from Amsterdam.
**note: Bible quotations are from the king James standard version [KJSV]
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