The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jesus Christ

  • Easter: Nigeria “ll soon overcome challenges – Akeredolu

     

    Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has felicitated Christians across the country on the success of this year’s Easter celebrations.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary(CPS) Segun Ajiboye Governor Akeredolu expressed the belief  that since Easter represented the death and resurrection  of Jesus Christ,Nigeria will soon overcome whatever challenges that might be confronting the country.

    Describing Easter celebrations as a period of sober reflection on the significance of the death of Jesus Christ and great sacrifice by the Saviour to give humanity the hope eternal life, the governor asked the Christians to emulate the good example laid by Jesus.

    According to the governor, the exemplary life of Jesus Christ is a great lesson that should be emulated by all.

    Besides, Akeredolu urged Christians to continue to be tolerant of one another, show and promote love, as well as be advocate of peaceful existence,

    He urged the Christian community to have hope in Nigeria that the country will be great again.

    The governor also advised them to rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland.

     

  • Easter: Governor Wike felicitates with Christians

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has felicitated with Christians on the celebration of Easter, urging them to emulate Jesus Christ by making sacrifices that will advance the course of development.

    In an Easter Message, Governor Wike said that that Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind, noting that as individuals, Christians must take into consideration the welfare of others.

    He called on the people of Rivers State to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the state as they reflect on the ideals of Good Friday and Easter Celebration.

    Governor Wike assured the good people of Rivers State that he will continue to make sacrifices for the state, defend her interests and ensure that the people always enjoy good governance.

    He said Easter is a period of fresh beginning, forgiveness, love and friendship. The governor urged the privileged to reach out to the less privileged as everyone works to deepen the culture of true Christianity.

    While wishing the people of the state a Happy Easter Celebration, Governor Wike assured them of their security before, during and after the celebrations.

     

  • The Strong Belt of Truth (5)

    “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” A sin exposed is a sin defeated; do not hide sin. The unfruitful works of darkness are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, etc.- these works belong to the kingdom of darkness, with Satan as the head of this kingdom.

     

    There is another kingdom, which is the kingdom of God; it’s also of Light. Being evident by these lifestyles: Love (for God and neighbour), joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Those who live thus belong to this kingdom and are the children of God.

     

    Where one belongs is known by the kind of life one lives. Someone’s lifestyle tells it all. Hmm, the Good News remain that God has made a way of escape for all of us; in that He sent His dear Son Jesus Christ to die, in order to deliver you and me from the kingdom of darkness and its unfruitful works and be converted; be born into the kingdom of God.

    God says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with ALL your heart”. If you will sincerely call on Jesus to set you free from the kingdom of darkness and its unfruitful works, He will. The kingdom of darkness is doomed forever, it’s a place of everlasting torment in hell fire, God does not want anyone to be there- please escape for your life. Know that only those who believe and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour will inherit the kingdom of God; a place of everlasting life in heaven.

     

    Jesus said, “…you shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you free, he who the SON sets free is free indeed! This is so reassuring, satisfying, and complete. Knowing it was God Himself who planned it all, that those who believe and accept the salvation/deliverance His son JESUS offered will be FREE from the bondage of sin. They will remain free as they follow Him.

     

    The people of Old had to offer animal sacrifices again and again for their sins to be forgiven, yet they continued to struggle in their sins and continued sinning. That never stopped them from living in sin. God sent Jesus to lay down His life once and for all to end the animal sacrifices and set you free, giving you and me complete victory over sin. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us, to give us the power and divine assistance we need to live righteous, obeying Him always. Do not keep enjoying sin; do not hide your sin- CRY OUT TO JESUS WITH ALL YOUR HEART TO SET YOU FREE FROM YOUR SIN.

     

    I was once in the kingdom of darkness. I did not fully understand the significance of the death of Jesus; I only had head knowledge of the story and believed it my own way. The full knowledge of my sin, its guilt, and consequences changed all of that, for I continually cried out to Jesus in my sin to set me free, I trusted Him completely for my deliverance, and He delivered me. I had an encounter with Him that forever changed my life. Now I can boldly say ‘there is power in the blood of Jesus’ because…He touched me and made me whole. Now I am in the kingdom of God, I belong to the family of God. I was blind but now I see, I was dead but now I live!

     

                   SONG:        AT CALVARY

    1.       Years I spent in vanity and pride,
    Caring not my Lord was crucified,
    Knowing not it was for me He died
    On Calvary.
    Chorus:     Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
    Pardon there was multiplied to me;
    There my burdened soul found liberty,
    At Calvary.

     

    2.       By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
    Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
    Till my guilty soul imploring turned
    To Calvary.

     

    3.       Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
    Now I gladly own Him as my King,
    Now my raptured soul can only sing
    Of Calvary.

     

    4.       Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
    Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
    Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
    At Calvary!

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 5:11, John 8:32, Jeremiah 29:13.

    FROM: FAITH NWACHUKWU

  • Ash Wednesday: Clergymen task Christians on exemplary life

    As Christians in the country join others across the world to observe Ash Wednesday, clerics have admonished Christians to emulate the exemplary lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

    The clergymen gave this charge while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.

    They described Ash Wednesday as one of the most popular and important holy days observed by many Christians, and mark the beginning of the season of Lent.

    Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, the Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, said that the Lenten season was a period of 40 days of intense prayer, fasting and alms giving.

    “Ashes symbolise a call to repentance, grief and acknowledge of one’s sins before God.

    “It also serves as the reminder that we are dust and to dust we will return. It is a day of penitential prayers.

    “The Lent reflects the suffering of Jesus in the desert when he prayed and fasted for 40 days,” he said.

    He called on Christians to follow the example of Jesus and live a life of love, selflessness and service.

    “For those that cannot fast for reasons like pregnancy or health issues, they are advised to engage in active alms giving and service to others during this period,” he said.

    On his part, the Bishop of Ogbomoso Methodist Diocese, the Rt. Rev. David Moradeyo, said that Christians should use the Lenten season to have a sober assessment of their lives and values.

    According to him, it is through imitating the exemplary lifestyle of Christ that peace, tolerance and unity can be fostered in various communities and the country as a whole.

    “People looked to Jesus while on earth, He was praiseworthy and was worthy of imitation and honour.

    “He said concerning us that we are light of world and salt to the earth, therefore how we live our lives matter.

    “We must live a life of sacrifice, love and kindness,” he said.

    He said that Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits.

    “Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline.

    “Ash Wednesday emphasises our sinfulness before God and our human mortality, it helps us to realise that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said.

    He urged Christians to use this period of fasting and prayers to call on God for his intervention in the country’s affairs. (NAN)

  • “My conversion, key to my first class result”

    “My conversion, key to my first class result”

    Miss Rabiyat Usman, a first class graduate of the Rhema University, Aba has said that her conversion to Christianity transformed the course of her life and academics.

    Usman, therefore, charged undergraduates of Nigerian Universities to fear God and be disciplined, if they wanted a brighter future.

    The 23-year-old graduate gave this advice in Aba on Monday, after her graduation on Saturday, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba.

    Usman, who has finished her youth service, urged undergraduates to prepare themselves for a competitive world out there with discipline, fear of God and obedience to the university authorities.

    The first class graduate said that there was no future for lazy and undisciplined graduates in the larger society, hence the need for a brighter future through hard work.

    She said she made a first class honours degree because she was fortunate to have accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour early at Living Word Academy.

    “I actually came into this Secondary School at Nkwerre, Imo State from a different religion, but I became a Christian in JSS 1, while studying in the secondary school.

    “My conversion made all the difference because Christianity really helped me to learn the tenets that support hard work and connection to God’s assistance. It was God all the way.

    Usman thanked Brother Emma Okorie, the Rhema University Chancellor, for believing in her.

    According to her, she was given a scholarship from JSS 1 at the Living Word Academy, Nkwerre, Imo State, to her final year in Rhema University, Aba.

    The Okene-born Usman said that she had secured admission to Buckingham University, in the U.K. to further her education, before returning to bless Nigerians with her expertise.

    She, however, noted that she would prefer to study at Harvard University, but stressed that she needed some scholarship or funding, to help her to pay tuition overseas.

  • Political, ethnic, religious blood letting unacceptable – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday felicitated with Nigerians as they celebrate the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.

    According to him, the CHANGE agenda of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) will come faster if Nigerians imbibe the virtues of Jesus Christ and place national interest above selfish, personal and group interests.

    The message was contained in a statement signed by President Buhari.

    He said: “I rejoice with you all, especially our Christian brothers and sisters, as we celebrate Easter. For Christians all over the world, this celebration is in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice which Jesus Christ made for the salvation of mankind.

    “The Gospels also tell us that during his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ repeatedly urged his disciples and followers to ‘love one another as I have loved you’.

    “As we celebrate Easter this year, I sincerely believe that it will serve our dear nation very well if we all imbibe this essential message of Jesus Christ and truly learn to love our countrymen and women as we love ourselves.,” he added.

    Nigeria, he said, will make faster progress towards achievement of the peaceful, united, strong, progressive and prosperous nation if Nigerians eschew all divisive, parochial, ethnic and religious sentiments and rivalries, and begin to live more harmoniously with each other like Jesus Christ.

    He added: “Our unfortunate notoriety in recent years as a country where the blood of men, women and children are wantonly and callously shed in frequent orgies of criminal, political, ethnic and religious violence has become very embarrassing and utterly unacceptable.

    “My administration is determined to achieve greater peace and security across our nation by ending the avoidable conflicts and crises that hinder our national progress.

    “I ask for greater support from all Nigerians in this regard. We must put a stop to politically motivated killings. Our communities must be made safe again for all inhabitants to live together in peace and harmony,” he said.

    He noted that the Nigerian armed forces, police and other security agencies are being progressively reformed, repositioned and empowered to win the war against terrorism and make mass killings, abductions and other criminal atrocities things of the past in Nigeria.

    He also urged all Nigerians to play their parts as patriotic citizens and do all that they can to ensure that Nigeria is made a safer, more peaceful and happier place for its people and others.

    Stressing that faith, belief and the fulfillment of expectations are also key themes of the Easter celebration, he urged Nigerians to continue to have faith in the future greatness of Nigeria and to believe that the CHANGE of his administration will come to fruition.

    “That CHANGE, which we all yearn for, will certainly occur more rapidly if we all place the love of our country above selfish personal and group interests.” He said

    The President promised that his administration will do everything possible to implement the recently passed 2016 Budget.

    “The National Assembly has just passed the 2016 budget. I assure all Nigerians that we will do our utmost best to ensure that the budget, the first since my election as President, is efficiently and successfully implemented towards achieving our objective of faster economic growth and development,” he said.

    He thanked Nigerians for their patience and understanding in the first ten months of his administration.

    “As we go forward, I assure you all that we are working very hard to overcome the challenges we encountered on assumption of office.”

  • Theme: The difference in His presence

    Theme: The difference in His presence

    The presence of Jesus Christ in a boat is surely not an immunity against the manifestation of storms. From the story in our text, the disciples were probably comfortable with the notion that the presence of Christ Jesus was a preventive cover against storms or life issues but they were disappointed when the storm came and almost took their lives.

    Consequent upon His presence, the storm was rebuked and made of no effect. Can you close your eyes and imagine what could have happened to them of Jesus Christ was not in that boat with them knowing how terrified they were, or they were now beckoning on Him to come and join their voyage mid-river. Your guess is as good as mine, the storm would have claimed their lives.

    Beloved of God, can you lay claim that Jesus is sincerely in the boat of your life or outside it?

    Jesus said; “in the world there shall be tribulation…..”(John 16:33). Solomon buttressed this in Ecclesiastes 11:8 “ if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many.” Prophet Isaiah also asserted in Isaiah 43:1-2 about the certainty of passing through waters, rivers and walking through fire at particular times as part of inevitable life experiences.

    The good news however is that when Jesus is in the boat of your life, the storms will rage but shall not overcome you. It is will however be a terrible experience if He isn’t in your boat or He used to when the day of evil comes.

    Are you passing through a storm now and asking “Why me?” or is life difficult for you as a Christian; is your marriage going down and strength is failing you or are you believing God for the fruit of the womb and asking “ Has God forgotten me?”

    Jesus promised that you should be of good cheer because He has overcome the world and Isaiah said God will be with you even when you think He is not there, He will ensure that the rivers do not overflow you and the fire does not burn you. Halleluyah!

    Do you know that because Daniel was a redeemed of the Lord, the lions whose mouths were sealed for his sake broke the bones of his accusers (Daniel 6:18-24), the Red Sea that cooled the sweat of the Israelites was the graveyard of the Egyptians armies ( Exodus 14:26-31) and the fire that destroyed the yokes of the 3 Hebrews such that they were fellowshipping with the Son of God inside the fire, was the sepulchre of the people that cast them inside the fiery furnace?( Daniel 3:19-20).

    Are you a redeemed of Christ? Is Jesus Christ truly in the boat of your life? This season of Lent is the best time to invite Jesus Christ into your life so that when the storms come, He can speak for you through His word deposited inside you and grant you victory in Jesus’ name.

    Prayer: Father, come into the boat of my life and never allow the storms of life to capsize my boat in Jesus’ name.

     

  • Theme: Peace be still

    Theme: Peace be still

    The disciples of Jesus Christ were transiting from one side to the other side as they were instructed by Him. Along the way, a storm arose that produced fear of death and termination of their sojourn to the other side. The disciples of Jesus Christ became terrified and quickly beckoned on Him for help. Jesus rose up and rebuked them that they were of little faith as they were obviously ignorant of what they were capable of doing – the lack of knowledge of who they were in Christ necessitated their fear of perishing (Hosea 4:6, Isaiah 5:13). Having done that, He went on to rebuke the raging storm with “Peace be still” and the storm was silent.

    What is a storm? A storm is a spirit that lifts its head to hinder people from getting to where God has purposed for them. It is a sudden distraction to sway people from God’s way to the way of regret, weeping, sorrow, loss or death. A storm can manifest in varying ways like sudden church problems, terrible official issues, unbelievable financial turbulence, evil conspiracies at work, unimaginable marital squabbles, unexplainable issues with children, sudden death of benefactor or spreading political unrests etc.

    It can also come to bear in the life of a person when the devil knows that a promotion is at hand as it happened with Joseph when his brothers conspired against him because of his dreams and coat of many colours. It was same with Mordecai when Haman suddenly saw a competitor in him and Daniel too had that bitter experience when the other Presidents saw him as the King’s favourite and were envious of him.

    It is equally scripturally axiomatic that there is a possibility of believers running into trouble without getting into sin or doing any wrong as it happened with Joseph, Daniel and the 3 Hebrews. Jesus Christ in His beatitudes gave a word of comfort however that, “Blessed are you when you suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake” ( Matt 5:10).

    Brethren, it will interest you to know that storms can be an ingress to a higher socio, economic, political or spiritual lever or a ladder to answered prayers because without a test, there is no testimony. Jesus Christ told us that in the world, there shall be tribulations but we should be of good cheer. (John 16:33).

    When storms come therefore, please note that your big Bible, the lofty position you occupy in church, how earth-shaking you are with Speaking in Tongues among other outward show of spiritual status cannot help you. What you need to do to overcome the storm of life is Faith. The book of Hebrews brings it closer home that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrew 11:6). As you have faith in Jesus Christ this season, please be assured that the raging storm will not have dominion over you and does not have capacity to hinder God’s promises for you. What you need to do is to have faith in His saving power, don’t give in to fear, take your stand against the storm in the place of prayers and the storm you are seeing today shall not last forever in Jesus’ name.

    Prayers: Father, give me grace to have faith and know that the storm of my life is a passing phase that will soon give room to testimonies in Jesus’ name.

     

  • Theme: From failure to success

    “……….Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Luke 5:4

    Success in life and business is predicated on compliance with essential managerial ingredients. It is for this purpose that individuals go to school for knowledge acquisition and organizations send staff for trainings to acquire more occupational knowledge. Jesus Christ however said that, inasmuch as those things are good, they are of no essence without Him (John 15:5).

    From our text, Simon Peter toiled all night because he depended solely on arm of flesh, which the Bible to that will fail (1Samuel 2:9). He used the 3 vital Ts of managerial success (Right time, right team and right tools) to his business but he didn’t catch anything – he was a colossal failure!

    When the one who mattered most to life and corporate success intervened however, He requested to use Simon’s boat for evangelism and he obliged Him. Instantly, his story changed. His name was eventually changed from Simon to Peter, his profession changed from being a fisherman to a fisher of men and he was catapulted from failure to success – His presence made the difference!

    That position was further buttressed by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians that, if Paul plants and Appolos watereth, it is God that gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Not only that, in his epistle to the Romans, Paul said, it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, it is of the Lord that shows mercy ( Romans 9:16).

    Brethren, it doesn’t matter what you may be passing through at such a time – have you gone to school or done everything in the books that ought to lead to success with nothing to show for it, it is surely not over. If you can invite Jesus Christ into your boat today during this Lenten season, allow Him use your resources for evangelism and obey whatever He asks you to do, your story will change in the name of Jesus.

    Prayers: Eternal Rock of ages, I realize that by arm of flesh shall no man prevail, I invite you into my life and business today, enter into my boat Oh Lord and turn all my failures to successes in the name of Jesus.

     

  • Theme: Be loosed and make progress

    Theme: Be loosed and make progress

    Anybody who desires to traverse this world successfully needs to tread with high spiritual caution as the Bible attests to it that the world is filled with darkness, cruelty and wickedness. In view of this,the Bible encourages us to have respect unto the covenant ( Psalm 74:20) and put on the whole armor of God to be able to withstand and stand against the machinations of powers of darkness ( Ephesians 6:10-13).

    God created donkeys for instance, to be used as means of transportation of people and property from one location to another. It is apt to state however that it is not every creature that live to fulfill divine purpose because there are agents of darkness with assignment to steal, kill and destroy God’s plans for His creatures ( John 10:10a). The ass in our text suffered the same fate as no man has ever rode on her from infancy to adulthood. It was so bad to the extent that she even made a baby in that state of dependency and captivity. Her captors tied her to a place where two ways met, hindered her movements and frustrated her purpose.

    From a very far distance, Jesus Christ spotted her and commanded that His disciples should go and loose her, with a word of caution that if her captors attempted to resist them, they should let them know that “The Lord has need of it”. With these words spoken, the arresting powers released and allowed her go. That same day, she fulfilled her purpose, carried the King of Kings and became a celebrity in Jerusalem.

    Beloved, it does not matter for how long you have been trying to make a headway in life and to no avail or discovered that some forces have hindered your movement and prohibited you from being somebody in life, the moment you genuinely surrender your life to Jesus Christ, your story will change like the ass that was tied and released. He will take the driver’s seat of your life and navigate you to your Promised Land.

    As you turn to Jesus Christ during this Lenten season, He will locate and deliver you from whatever road junction you are being tied, set you at liberty, realign you with purpose, change your story and make you a celebrity in your family, office, church and town in the name of Jesus.

    Prayers: Oh Lord, I surrender my life to you, forgive my sins dear Lord, I acknowledge you as my Lord and Savior, pay attention to my life during this Lenten season, deliver me from every evil injunction and cause my life to move forward in Jesus’ name.