SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday! Yes it is, and some of you who live in the U.S. had the enviable luxury of a four-day weekend because of the Thanksgiving Holiday, so you have no reason to complain. So rise and shine and get yourself together, for it’s time to join the workweek battle once again. That calls for the singing of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn! And though you may be drowsy, hung over and listless from too much food and drink, still raise your voices with verve and gusto, that will boost your spirits. (smile) All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Now get out there and battle my brethren! Like Bruh Paul, proclaim with heartfelt sincerity: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.’ Oh Friends, if we truly believe and operate on that basis, then the battle’s already half won! Yesterday we ended with Jesus detailing the disciples to go and preach the good news of the gospel to the whole world, promising to be always with them. Bruh Paul was also imbued with that passion and zealously went around both the Jews and heathens preaching it. As he so intensely informed the Corinthians: ‘For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching (message) of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer (debater) of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (the message preached) to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.’ (1 Cor.1:17-19, 21-25) Yes Friends, right there Bruh Paul lays it all out for us. He didn’t go around preaching any highfalutin stuff, but a plain, simple message of Christ crucified, which is always more successful than dressing it up in a lot of verbiage. And our God, who is stronger and wiser than men, chose ‘foolishness’; the simple manner of preaching the gospel unto salvation to save those who would believe, but to confound the supposedly wise, the high and mighty men of earth. Oh my people, to be considered wise in God’s eyes, we must accept the message; the good news that leads to salvation, which Jesus first preached to the Jews because they were originally chosen by God to be special, and were first promised salvation. ‘Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds (families) of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.’ (Acts 4:25-26) But Friends, that was only the first phase of Jesus’ plan. He always intended to offer salvation to all God’s children. As He said when referring to Himself as the Good Shepherd: ‘And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (flock), and one shepherd.’ (John 10:16) That was Bruh Paul’s mission; to preach the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles. ‘Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.’ (Rom.2:9-11) Ah Friends, it’s indeed a rough row we hoe on this sinful and evil earth, but through the gospel of Christ and its immense power, we, as believers, can rise above everything, regardless of colour, creed or race, and become one flock of followers under the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who gave His holy, innocent life as a sacrifice so that salvation and eternal life would be available to all who wanted it. What more can we ask eh? And all God’s people gratefully shouted: ‘Thank you Jesus! Worthy are you to be praised!’ Now my brethren, let’s go out and seriously and sincerely preach and live the gospel of Christ, like He asked of us. Till we talk again tomorrow, God willing, go in peace and safety, to LOVE and serve the Lord. Much LOVE!…preaching the gospel means…LOVING Your God… LIVING Your Faith…and SPREADING His Word…