The missing Rs!

What do l mean?

The Word of God has a three fold application according to 2 Timothy 4: 2
 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Reprove and rebuke are very similar in meaning.

To rebuke someone is to reprimand someone, to tell what’s wrong with that person’s words and/or actions with the hope that the person will make an effort to change.
The reason why you rebuke someone is because you love him/her (2 Cor. 2:4) and the goal is that the person will learn and grow. (http://www.vtaide.com/lifeskills/AffirmRebuke.htm ).
So this simply means we stand in great danger if we refuse to receive rebuke and get correction.
Being rebuked is part of being a Christian, and if we refuse to receive it, great danger lies ahead.

The word ‘reprove’ means: act of rebuking or reproaching
According to the above scripture we have 2 Rs and One e i.e exhort.
We do need to be very careful in these days. Many sermons consist of so much exhortation, people running up and down during the sermon but with the two missing Rs, reprove and rebuke.
 Lets look at 2 Timothy 4 verses 1 to 3 :

2 Timothy 4

 ¹I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
 ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
 ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
From the above scripture, we can see that we are not only to exhort, but to reprove and rebuke.
 Are you a teacher of the Word? People may have itching ears, but we are required to be faithful in what the Lord tells us to do.

1 Timothy 5:20-21

  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality
This simply means we need to rebuke those that deserve to be rebuked with no partiality.

Titus 1:12-14
 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth

As Christians, we are to receive reprove and rebuke as apart of the gospel if we are going to bring glory to the name of the Lord.

 

Revelation 3:19

 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

If all we are hearing is exhortation, we stand in great danger. We are not supposed to pick and choose but received instruction and correction.

Lets embrace the whole truth of the Word of God. Thank God for exhortation, but to be a full grown Christians we need to be reproved and rebuked.

Bisi Oladipupo

The cloth was the evidence but was it true?

Evidence has and always will be required to convict a person of wrong doing.


These days we have all sorts of advance techniques to bring evidence, CCTV cameras, video cameras, DNA etc the list goes on.

However we do need to be very careful sometimes as evidence does not necessary mean that the person did something wrong.

What do l mean?

A good account can be found in Genesis 39:

Lets look at some scriptures to give us an idea of what happened:

1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.


2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.


3And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.


7And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;


9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?


10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.


11And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.


12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.


13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,


14That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:


19And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.


21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.


This is a good reason why we need to be very careful. The account also confirms why we should not judge others.

If this happened today and you saw the garment on CNN news of BBC news presented as evidence would you believe the accusation against Joseph?

Many will believe and start saying all sorts of things against Joseph, how wrong would they have been.

To make matters worst, Joseph went to prison, however he did nothing wrong.

Brethren, lets be very careful. We will always hear accusations against others.

Lets remember this account ;that yes the cloth was the evidence, but was it true?



Bisi Oladipupo

Good men still need the Lord

Have you ever come across someone that you thought, ‘ what a good person’, or are you a ‘good’ person yourself?


Do you know that you can be a very good person, but have someone very serious missing in your life.

Lets have a look at this scripture:


Acts 10


1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.


This is Peter telling the brethren what happened:

Act 11

12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:


13And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.


15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.



The above verse states why Peter was told to go to Cornelius, ‘ to tell them words that he and all his house shall be saved’, WOW!!


Corenelius was a good man, but he needed to be saved. Look at how the bible described him:


■A devout man,


■One that feared God with all his house,


■He gave much alms to the people,


■He prayed to God always.


He feared God with all his house, he gave to others, he prayed to God yet not saved until Peter was sent to him.

With all this, if he had not been saved he would have spent an eternity without the Lord. A place called hell.

While we don’t hear much about hell today, hell is a real place for those who have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour because it is our Lord Jesus Christ that paid the price for our sins.

The above account shows that ‘good men’ still need the Lord. Don’t be deceived, everyone that has breath needs to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour to make heaven after the last breath.

If prayers, giving to people and even fearing God was good enough to get us into heaven, the Lord would not have sent Peter to Cornelius.

Are you a good person? You need the Lord! Do you think you are not good? You still need the Lord, for Jesus paid for all our sins, it doesn’t matter how bad you think they are Jesus has paid the price. All you need to do is to receive the finished work on Calvaryby making Jesus Christ Lord and Saviour of your life. What a bargain, just receive the one who loves you.

When we come across ‘good; people, let us not forget that if they don’t know the Lord, they need Him, for ‘good people still need the Lord’.

The above account is evident and the scriptures declare that this:



Acts 4: 12


Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Don’t be intimated by the good works, share the good news to the people you come across. The precious blood was shed for all.



Bisi Oladipupo

Can someone tell me what happened?

Have you ever read the book of Judges? If yes, have you read


Jugdes 2: 10? It reads:


And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Very serious account which calls for many questions.

Now let us look at what the Lord said to Abraham,

Genesis 17:8-9

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.


And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.


Let us look at what the Lord said the Moses:

Exodus 3:14-15


And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.


And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.



From the first account, Abrahams seed after him in their generations were to keep Gods covenant. While in the second account the name of the Lord God was to be a memorial unto all generations.


Now lets look at these accounts:

Exodus 16:31-33


And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.


And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.


And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.



Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9


Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:


And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.


And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:


And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.


And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.


From these two accounts, Manna was to be kept so that generations to come can see it and know how their fathers were fed in the wilderness. They were also to diligently teach their children the commandments of the Lord.

Besides these, the children ofIsraelwere to keep circumcision in their generations (Genesis 17:12), observe the feast of the unleaven bread forever (Exodus 12: 17), keep the Sabbath forever (Exodus 31:31).


All these commandments were put n place so that the children ofIsraelwill remember the Lord God and remember what He did for them.


Now lets look at Judges 2: 8 – 12

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.


And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.


And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.


And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.


With all these steps in place what could have happened? After all the mighty acts of the Lord and ordinances and instructions in place, how could there‘arise a generation that knew not the Lord nor yet the works which he had done for Israel?

I think it is safe to say that something must have gone wrong. Someone did not do what they were supposed to do. Someone did not teach their children nor pass down the instructions of the Lord. Someone lived for themselves and forgot the generation to come. Man failed in their duties to the Lord and to the future generation.

Before we start blaming and throwing stones we need to ask ourselves some serious questions. What are we laying down for our own children? What instructions are we laying down for our children to pass down to their generation?


What are we teaching them of the Lord? Are we teaching them the fear of the Lord? True worship? Holinesses, the list goes on.

What you don’t know, you don’t know. We are responsible for our children and the generation to come. What are we laying down?

This calls for a serious inventory of how we are living our lives now.

May it not be said of any of us that after brother Y, there came a generation which knew not the Lord nor His ways.

Lets make a conscious effort not to live for ourselves but for our children and the generation to come.


Let this be our heart cry!!



Psalm 102:12



But thou, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.




Bisi Oladipupo

True riches

Hey, before you move away, this does not relate to money. Everyone can be rich. While you can be rich with money, there are others things you can be rich in.



Good works

Everyone can be rich in good works.

Titus 3 v 8


This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.


1 Timothy 6 v 18


Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;


That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.




While the above verse applies to those rich in this world, Titus states that we should all maintain good works. Which means we can all be rich in good works.


Faith

We can all be rich in faith.

James 2 v 5


Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?



As we develop the measure of faith the Lord gives us at the new birth, we can bring many to the faith and help others obtain their inheritance in Christ Jesus.


Everyone can be rich. We all have the ability to be rich in good works and in our faith.



Bisi Oladipupo

There is always a rising!

Have you ever done anything wrong? Made a mistake? Or have you deeply regretted what you did along time ago?


We all have made mistakes in life however some mistakes are more costly than others.

A number of years ago, a minister used to say ‘ as new covenant believers we should live in the new testament’. However as the years went by, l now realise that yes, we live under the new covenant, but the whole bible still remains the counsel of God for our lives.

What do l mean? We can see and understand the ways of God and learn many valuable lessons from the old testament. Besides, the things the Lord hates in the old covenant, He still does not like them today though we have a better cleansing covenant. If we did not need the old testament, it would not have been written.

Do not be deceived, we need the whole counsel of God to live victorious lives and to understand the ways of the Lord. If you want to have a good foundation, being to read the entire bible for yourself.


2 Timothy 3


16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Note the word ‘ all scripture’.

Lets look at a few examples:

David:

David was described as ‘a man after my own heart’ in the book of Acts.

Acts 13: 22


‘And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.


David was a honourable man, yet he failed and sinned against the Lord. The account can be found in 2 Samuel 11. Yes David paid for what he did, however the Lord was very merciful to David.

In times when we fail and fall, the best place to run to is the Lord. Bathesda later gave birth to Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs. Not only that, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ is the seed of David. Who can search the mercies of God?

Romans 1:3


Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;


Matthew 1


1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.



How we need to be so careful when we fall. The Lord has not given up on us, His mercies are still new every morning. David is a good example of the mercy of God.


Am l promoting sin? No, not at all, however when we fall and repent there will be a lifting.



Peter


Peter is another example. He was even told that he would deny the Lord and still went ahead to do it.



Luke 22:
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.


Yes Peter did deny the Lord, however he must have repented Luke 22: 62. When the Lord was resurrected from the dead, Peter had an encounter with the Lord

John: 21
14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.



Peter was fully restored and went on to do exploits for the Kingdom of God. I am yet to hear of anyone shadows that healed the sick, yet this was recorded regarding the same Peter.


Act 5


14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.





Peter fell and moved on, so did David and so should we.


Lets not team up with the accuser of the brethren, lets receive the mercy of God when we fall and extend His mercy to others. When we fail, let us repent, rise up learn from our mistakes and move on.


Bisi Oladipupo

The process of change (Peoples opinion about you)

Have you found out that sometimes when you are about to start something different, the people that think they know you are the last to be there for you?


They look at you after the flesh and think, really? From where? When did this one start? In other words, they despise you.

Sad but true, Jesus had a similar experience.

John 7: 2- 5

Now the Jew’s feast of tabernacles was at hand.
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
For neither did his brethren believe in him.


From this account we can see that Jesus own brethren did not believe in Him but this changed.



Acts 1: 4-5, 12 – 14

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.


And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

His brethren would not be waiting for the baptism of the Holy Ghost if they did not believe in Him.

So what happened?

Over the period of time, the Lords brethren believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, why He came and changed their minds. We have further evidence that His brethren also got involved in ministry.


Galatians 1: 18 – 19


Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.


1 Corinthians 9: 5

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Lets look at another example relating to Paul:

Acts 28: 1- 6

1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.


Very interesting. This shows you that man can always change their mind and opinion about you.

You are about to start off a ministry, and those around you think you are going too far. Some even disassociate from you. Perhaps you are going through a difficult time just like Paul did. Initially people will say all sorts of things about you, however when you come through victoriously, they will change their minds.

The most important thing is that you obey the Lord and refuse to be pressured by those that do not believe in you. When we do go through difficult times and those around us seem not to understand and start saying all sorts of things. Don’t worry, the truth will prevail. Time will tell and prove the truth.

There have been several instances with people that those who rejected them came running for prayer in time of need. They finally realised that the Lord did call them.

Has the Lord called you? Or do you have a great business idea that no one around you believes in?

Stand your ground. People can be unstable. Obey the Lord and the rest will take care of itself.



Bisi Oladipupo

The process of change (Character)

We all have things in our flesh that still need to die.


Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘ Jack is so bad tempered he can never change?’. Well the truth about this is that it is a lie. Anyone can change provided the person is willing to change.

One of my famous preachers says ‘ everyone has flesh’, yes this is true however we need to be changing into His image, the image of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ day by day. We should be looking at ourselves as the years go by and say ; what happened to my anger, wow!! l don’t talk like that anymore etc. The list should go on.

Lets look at an example from scripture:

In the book of Acts we read an account about Moses:

Acts 7: 22 – 30

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.


Acts 7: 35 – 36

This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

Remember that the book of Acts is just giving a summary of Moses and includes an account of where he started from.

Lets look at another brief account of Moses in Numbers:

Numbers 12: 1 to 5
1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.



Before the Lord used Moses to deliver the children of Israel he murdered someone.

He then spent 40 years in the Land of Midain before the Lord called him to go and deliver the children of Israel (Acts 7: 30), Moses also spent 40 years in the wilderness with the Israelites (Acts 7: 36).

Something must have happened to Moses during this period, from being a murderer to being described as ‘The meekest man on the face of the earth’. What a description, The bible did not say that Moses was the meekest person in his family, or town, or even country, but in all the face of the earth.

That is a great change considering where he was coming from.

So what happened to Moses? Its called change and change can take time. I am not saying it will take 40 years, but we all have areas in out lives were we need to change.

This is the good news. We don’t have to settle where we are. We have so much working for us if we do want to change.

We have the Word, and His Spirit within us.

So how do l change?

We need to take the mirror of the Word to examine ourselves. Is there anything lacking? Then change is required.


Psalm 19: 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.


We need to listen to the Spirit within us and respond to what He says.

We need to look at the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We all can change. Change can be a process, as we allow the Lord to work in us we will become better in character and better representatives for Him.



Bisi Oladipupo

The disciple whom Jesus Loved

What a great way to describe a person and a honour. Let’s examine a few things about whom the Lord loved.


This was the disciple that was lying on Jesus bosom at the last supper.

John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Bosom signifies ‘the front of the body between the arms’ (vines expository dictionary of old and new testament words) or a person’s breast or chest (oxford dictionary)

For you to lay on a persons breast you must be close to them and very likely there will be a mutual likeness or love between you.

He was the only disciple that could ask Jesus the question that others wished to ask.

John 13: 21 – 26 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Remember when you were young and wanted biscuits from mummy. What did you do? You sent the one closest to her to ask.

He stood by the cross when Jesus was being crucified and Jesus handed over His mother to him.

John 19: 25 – 27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Jesus handed his mother to the disciple he loved. Who would you hand your mother over too anyone or someone very close to you?

He outran Peter when he heard that the body of Jesus had been taken away.

John 20: 2 – 4 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

He recognized Jesus first when the other disciples did not.

John 21: 4 – 7 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.


Looking at the above it is evident that this disciple was very close to the Lord. He leaned on Jesus breast, asked Jesus a question when the others could not, He was at the cross when Jesus was being crucified, He took Mary, Jesus mother into his own home, he recongised Jesus first when the other disciples did not. He was the only disciple described as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’.

The Lord loves us all, however the truth of the matter is that some Christians have a closer walk with the Lord than others. Have you ever heard someone talk about the Lord and you said to yourself ‘ l wish to know the Lord like that’.

The Lord is no respecter of persons, if we pay the price, obey Him, Love the Lord, thirst after Him, we will have a closer walk with Him.

Do you desire to know the Lord better? Ask him to help you, and as long as you are prepared to pay the price, you will experience a deeper walk with Him. Just as John did and was described as ‘ the disciple whom Jesus loved’.

Remember the Lord loves us all, but there is more room to get to know Him better.



Bisi Oladipupo

The Hundredfold return – Is the place of sacrifice

Have you ever heard ‘ give and you will get a hundredfold return?


Well if you study scripture very carefully, this is not what the bible is saying about the hundredfold return.

So what does scripture say?

Mark 10: 17 – 30

17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.


Here is the evidence of the hundredfold return. The young man in verse 17 was invited to be a partaker of great treasure by leaving all.

Peter responded in verse 28 by saying: ‘ we have left all and have followed you’.

Jesus then responded directly to Peters comment ‘ in verse 28 which is the condition of the hundredfold return.

Cleary stated:

Leaving houses, or brethren, or sister, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for HIS SAKE AND THE GOSPELS.

In summary it is the place of sacrifice for the Lord and for the sake of the gospel i.e laying it all down to follow and serve Him.

But l heard someone quote Genesis 26: 12 – 23

12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

13And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

This scripture is not a promise. It is just stating how the Lord blessed Isaac when he sowed in the land. It’s the book of Mark that is a promise to ‘any man’ that meets the condition.

Apart from this, we do not know what Isaac sowed in the land, as the bible has not stated it.

Yes when we give, the Lord does bless us and gives to us. The measure we get back is not specified , but obviously it is a good meausre, pressed down and shaked together according to scripture:

Luke 6: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.



The hundredfold return is the place of sacrifice where we leave all ,take up our cross for His sake and for the gospels sake.

If we want to experience the Lords abundance we must make His priorities ours and follow Him with all our heart.



Bisi Oladipupo