From: Bishop Osagiede Godwin Osabuohien (sabuohien godwino) in the IVORY COAST / COTE D'IVOIRE:
“BE CAREFUL,” JESUS SAID TO THEM. “BE IN YOUR GUARD AGAINST THE YEAST OF THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES.”
When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot
to take bread. "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard
against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They discussed this
among themselves and said, "It is because we didn’t bring any bread."
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are
you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not
understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand,
and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four
thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don't
understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your
guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they
understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used
in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:5-12
Jesus,
with his disciples, was leaving the Pharisees and Sadducees after
telling them they would have no miraculous sign except the sign of
Jonah. As they crossed the Sea of Galilee , Jesus made a subtle
reference to yeast. The disciples thought he was talking about bread,
but Jesus was actually talking about the teaching of the Pharisees and
Sadducees. The Pharisees believed that people get to heaven by making
themselves pure before God by not breaking God’s commandments and
keeping their religious rules. The Sadducees didn't believe in heaven
or hell, but were very strict about obeying the Old Testament laws.
One
group tried to get to heaven on its own; the other group didn't believe
in heaven at all. Neither was right. There certainly is a heaven, but
we can't get there on our own. The "yeast" of bad theology can keep us
from seeing that Jesus himself is the only way to heaven. That's the
yeast we need to sweep out of our hearts, and let Jesus be Jesus -- who
died and rose to give us eternal life in heaven.
Jesus
held up two of his most recent miracles to make his point that we can
rely on him completely for salvation. Why? He is God! He is the one who
can do anything, and who has done the most amazing things for us. He
performed miracles out of compassion, he performed miracles to prove
that he is God’s Son who came from heaven, and he performed miracles to
show God's stamp of approval on him as the world’s Saviour.
Take to heart his words of saving truth: "I am the way and
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Prayer:
You are the way; through you alone can we the Father find;
In you, O Christ, has God revealed his heart and will and mind.
You are the truth; your Word alone true wisdom can impart.
You only can inform the mind and purify the heart.
You are the life; the empty tomb proclaims your conquering arm,
And those who put their trust in you not death nor hell shall harm.
You are the way, the truth, the life; grant us that way to know,
That truth to keep, that life to win whose joys eternal flow.
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Message produced by
Bishop Osagiede Godwin Osabuohien
The Great Commission Ministries International, Inc. Ivory Coast Charter
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From: Bishop Osagiede Godwin Osabuohien (sabuohien godwino) in the IVORY COAST / COTE D'IVOIRE: |
IMMITATING GOD’S LOVE!
Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 4:32-5:2
When
actors need to imitate someone in a skit or movie, they spend many
hours preparing for their role by watching videotape of the person they
are going to imitate. This ingrains the subject’s mannerisms and
speech patterns into the actor’s mind. When show time comes, the actor
can then imitate the subject quite naturally.
God
wants us to imitate him. It is a tall order to say the least. It is
actually impossible for sinful humans like us. Fortunately, Jesus did
what we cannot do. He perfectly imitated God because Jesus is God.
His perfect life is why we have been forgiven by God for our sins.
Although
we will not be able to do what Jesus did, we still strive to imitate
God every day as a way of thanking him for forgiving us. Just like an
actor preparing for a part, we imitate God best by watching Jesus.
Hour after hour, day after day we read about Jesus in the Bible. This
ingrains God’s mannerisms and ways of speaking into our minds. It
leads us to be kind and compassionate, to forgive each other, and to
live a life of love. Keep watching and studying the life of Jesus
Christ through the bible and become a better and better imitator of God.
Prayer:
Thank you Jesus, for doing what I could not do. Help me to do what you have done. Help me to imitate God today. Amen.
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Message produced by
Bishop Osagiede Godwin Osabuohien.
The Great Commission Ministries International, Inc. Ivory Coast Charter
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From: Bishop Osagiede Godwin Osabuohien (sabuohien godwino) in the IVORY COAST / COTE D'IVOIRE:
Sometimes in our difficult moments, we do use words like this. “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!”
Elijah
was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah ,
he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into
the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that
he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am
no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell
asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He
looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot
coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said,
"Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and
ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and
forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God . - 1 Kings 19:3-8
John
knew the good life. He was making a six figure income. He had a
beautiful wife and three children. He was active in his church and
loved to volunteer as his kids’ soccer coach. But that was then. Now
he was unemployed. His wife had been diagnosed with cancer and one of
his children had contracted the “swine flu.” As he sat up one night
trying to make sense of it all, the only thing that came through his
mind was the thought, “I have had enough, Lord. I don’t know what to
do. I have given my life to honor you and now this is what I have to
deal with. I feel like dying.”
Life
can quickly turn us from the height of joy and prosperity to one of
depression and hopelessness. “Why, Lord? Why am I still alive? It
would be better if I were dead.” Have these thoughts crossed your
mind? Do you know someone else who has or is thinking this? It is a
very debilitating and dark place to be. Yet, we wouldn’t be the first
one.
The
prophet Elijah had just seen the power of the Almighty God send fire
from heaven to consume his sacrifice and altar in front of 400 prophets
of the false god, Baal (1 Kings 18).
You would think this affirmation would propel the prophet with boldness
and confidence. But when a death threat came from the Queen of Israel
, he ran for his life to the desert. There he prayed, “I have had
enough, LORD. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Life
without the Lord is a dark and depressing place to be. Yet, in his
grace, shortly after this, the Lord made himself evident to Elijah
through a still small voice to encourage and strengthen him (1 Kings 19:12).
If your days are dark and depressed and you feel like you have had
enough, maybe it is time to open the pages of Scripture or to connect
with a Bible-preaching church go to http://www.gcmi.net/
to hear the still small voice of the Lord say to you, “I love you. I
forgive you. I have not forsaken you and have plans to bless you
through this situation.”
Prayer:
Dear
Lord, when I am at wits end and even feel as if I want to die, please
turn my heart to you to find true joy, true hope and true love in your
Son, Jesus Christ. Speak to me in the quiet voice of your Word to
encourage and strengthen my faith in you. Amen.
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Message produced by
Bishop Osagiede Godwin Osabuohien
The Great Commission Ministries International, Inc. Ivory Coast Charter