The Impossibility of Walking Away from Christ, when One Truly Knows Him!

2 Corinthians 5:21.       For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Another Sunday friends, which means another visit to the Lord’s sanctuary to offer praise and thanksgiving with other believers and receive the Lord’s strengthening and renewal of our spirits, so that we can face the outside world with vim and vigour in the upcoming work week, and continue doing great work for His kingdom. And on this bright and sunshiny day, with the clocks having fallen back an hour to facilitate Daylight Savings Time, we’re celebrating two important days in our church’s history; that of All Saints and All Souls Days; November 1st and 2nd respectively, remembering those who had a meaningful impact on us.  

And for today’s song of worship, we’re going right down south to the wonderful land of T&T; that’s my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, the land of mas and kaiso. And we going to warm up the chilly north land with a hot Soca number from the late Miss Denyse Plummer, with a rework of an earlier secular chutney Soca hit, ‘Na Leaving,’ which celebrated all the good things of T&T, that those who were leaving would miss. 

And the reworked Christian version is even more truthful than the secular one, as it is most appropriately titled ‘Ah Cyar Leave Him.’ Now isn’t that the gospel truth? Once you get involved with Jesus, you can’t ever leave Him! So let’s put on our dancing shoes and get ready to clap and offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a rollicking, scintillating, up-tempo version of this wonderful Christian song. 

And as the sweet, easy rocking chutney Soca music starts, we hear a couple bars, then we shout out ‘Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. In times of storm He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there. 

Yuh see ah cyar live life without Him, He is my King of Kings, He’s the reason I’m still living. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy, I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. 

He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. 

From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! (And we shout again) Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah!’ 

Wow! What a wonderful, heartfelt rendition my bredrin! Even in heaven they were jumping and jiving, because they LOVE Jesus too, and were ecstatic at our show of sincere appreciation for all that He’s done for us. And why not eh? For that is indeed the kind of difference, the amazing transformation Jesus performs, or creates in our lives when we surrender our all to Him! And just like the song proclaims, once we get with Him, become a sincere part of His revolutionary organization, it’s impossible to leave Him! No, we just cyar leave Him at all at all. Mama Mia! Such is the LOVE and inspiration He inspires in us! 

So, let’s look at a few things that keep us umbilically attached to Jesus. (smile) ‘From revelry to righteousness…From hell-bound to holiness…From sin to salvation…a kingdom destination…’ Yes my people, those are some of the things Jesus did for us through His coming to earth and sacrificing His sinless life. He took us from wallowing in sinful, hell-bound pleasures and transformed us into righteous, saved, heaven bound believers. And here’s some scripture to prove it, from Bruh Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, as he talks about a New Creature in Christ. 

‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation: To wit (that is), that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray (implore) you in Christ’s stead (behalf), be reconciled to God. For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:17-21) 

And all of that basically means that when we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, we become completely different in our outlook, attitude and spiritual pretensions. (smile) We give up our old lives and accept the new one God provides for us through Christ by reconciling us to Himself, bringing us back into good relations with Him, by not imputing (attributing) our sins to us, but to Christ. He took our sins on His shoulders and paid the price through His sacrificial death, so that we could be considered righteous by God. We are declared righteous on the merits of Christ. 

Please note though that throughout all of that, Christ never sinned, He just paid the substitutionary price for ours. Now there are several other scriptures that talk about what Christ has done for us, but I don’t believe any of them says it like these words of the song. ‘There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. 

In times of storm, He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there…. There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy, I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause.’ 

Now friends, you cannot get a better testimony than that! So please, let’s take it to heart nuh and do our best to live sincerely for Jesus. That’s the least we can do to show our appreciation for His selfless sacrifice that we can never repay. Much LOVE!

…without Jesus’ paying for our sins…we’d still be wallowing in the pig pen…destined for hell… 

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   23 August 2022   Romans 12:13.

Romans 12:13.      The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

And then it was Tuesday…Monday’s gone bye bye! And isn’t it interesting how one day morphs into the next so easily, ofttimes without us even noticing it. Oh, how quickly today becomes yesterday and tomorrow today, with us looking forward to another tomorrow! But the truth of the matter is that tomorrow never comes. We only have today, and that’s why we must live today as best we can, without thinking too much about tomorrow, for who knows if we’ll be alive on what we consider tomorrow. 

That’s why our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ made this profound statement in His famous Sermon on the Mount. ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34) And there’s’ great wisdom in that statement my brethren. In other words, Jesus is saying to us, don’t worry too much about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself, but rather, concentrate on today, which is what you have, and all that you may ever have. 

It’s wise to consider tomorrow to some extent, just in case we live to see it, (smile) but today is the essence of our lives, when we need to buckle down and make things happen, for us and through us! We can’t wait and put everything off for tomorrow, as so many of us do, for in the meanwhile, the important things of today are passing us by without any or much input on our part. And once the opportunities of today have passed us by, then they are usually gone forever. That’s why Bruh Paul in his letter to the Roman church, after warning them to LOVE each other: ‘LOVE worketh no ill (does no harm) to his neighbour: therefore LOVE is the fulfilling of the law.’ (Rom. 13:10) 

He turns around and warns them about rising from sleep, or putting off God’s demands. ‘And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we firsr believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly (properly), as in the day; not in rioting (revelry) and drunkenness, not in chambering (licentiousness) and wantonness (lewdness), not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.’ (Rom. 13:11-14) 

Now friends, that’s a wakeup call we also need very badly today, in these dark, evil and ungodly times. And what does it all really mean? The scholars explain it thus. ‘Sleep means insensitivity to the demands of Christ on the Christian’s life. Now is our salvation nearer: The coming of Christ to deliver us from this sinful world grows nearer every day. The night is the time while Christ is out of the world, and the world has been delivered into the control of the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). The day is a reference to the time when Christ will return and establish His reign of righteousness.’ 

Ah mih people, Christ’s return draws closer every day and there are still a lot of people who don’t know and accept Him as Lord and Saviour, who are still living in the darkness induced by the enemy, and also many of us believers who are not living up to the covenant we have with the Lord. And as we said right at the beginning, we cannot wait until tomorrow to set our lives straight and help others come to Christ, we must do it today. For what if Christ comes back tomorrow eh, or today? A lot of us will be found wanting. 

That’s why that last verse warns us to put on Christ and refuse to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, to satisfy our carnal desires. The scholars say: ‘One should not seek opportunities to satisfy the deep-seated desires of the sin nature, but should seek occasion to manifest works that are consistent with the new life in Christ.’ It’s like Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ (2 Cor. 5:17) 

That means once we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, all the old stuff we used to do that involved our carnal nature, should be laid aside in favour of new things that are associated with Christ. As Bruh Paul continues: ‘And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation.’ (2 Cor. 5:18) Yes friends, it’s all been God’s doing. He took the awesome responsibility to reconcile or bring us back to His fold through Christ Jesus, and for that we ought to be very grateful, otherwise we would still be on the wide and winding path to hellfire and damnation. 

So, we have serious responsibilities to consider and perform. Bruh Paul states it thus: ‘Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray (implore) you in Christ’s stead (behalf), be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:20-21) Ah my fellow believers, we are indeed agents or ambassadors for Christ, therefore we must behave in the required manner, bringing positive results to His church, to His name. 

Oh my people, Christ paid such a high price for our reconciliation to God; taking all our sin on His shoulders, so that we could receive God’s righteousness. The least we can do is try to live righteously and thus set a good example, so that others will want to come to Him. Now, for those of us who are sincerely attempting to do that, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel. 

In confident but humble voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’ 

And having said that, it now behooves us to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…Christians need to stop talking so much…and begin doing much more…for time is running out on us… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8​      

Today’s Scrip-Bit   26 April 2022 Romans 12:2a.

Romans 12:2a.       And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

It looks like it’s going to be a good Tuesday, but who knows with the contrary weather patterns that now seem to exist. Yesterday began and ended with rain, with some sunshine thrown in for good measure in between. (smile) Things are just not what they used to be; everything’s now in a state of upheaval and controversy. What a good thing though that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! That means we can place our utmost trust in Him to always react the same way under the same circumstances. 

And it’s ever so important in this life to have something or someone that’s steadfast and sure, that we can depend on for good guidance and safe refuge, that doesn’t change from one minute to the next. And the ONE person who fills that position so marvellously in the believer’s life is none other than the risen Christ! 

Give Him thanks and praise for His selfless sacrifice on our behalf! He died for us, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven, where He now sits at the Father’s right hand advocating in our favour, while His Holy Spirit dwells quietly, but purposefully within us to lead and guide us in His ways and desires. 

That’s the best hand we could ever be dealt in this topsy-turvy world my brethren! So please, let’s be wise and hold on tightly to it nuh, because the only other option available, that of Satan and his evil ways is not a good one. Oh, his pleasures seem so wonderful on the outside, but deep down they are filled with misery and pain. His is just a façade to inveigle you to join in sin and foolish pleasures that in the end only bring pain and sorrow, with death and eternal separation from our Creator. 

And that’s certainly not something to look forward to. In fact, it’s the worst thing than can ever happen to a created being! But the enemy wants us to go to hellfire and damnation with him, so he makes his stuff alluring and sensual, working on the weakness of our minds, through the lusts of our flesh to bring us into his camp. And that’s where it all begins and ends friends, in our minds, for our minds are the battlefields of Jesus and the enemy. And whoever controls our minds controls our desires and behaviour. 

Thus, it is imperative to take control of our minds and keep them going along the straight and narrow path outlined by Jesus, and not the wide and destructive one used by the enemy. That’s why Bruh Paul seriously warns in his missive to the church at Rome. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom. 12:2) 

Yes friends, we are to stop conforming to the evil and lustful pleasures and desires that this world now hold so dearly, because they do not hold God’s will for us. We must stoutly resist being poured into the mold of this world’s value systems and thinking and therefore its conduct. 

And per our Dedication to the Will of God, as spoken of by Bruh Paul, the scholars tell us: ‘God’s will refers to His purpose for the life of the believer. It implies His guidance or direction in ALL of life’s decisions. Dedication is an act of surrender or submission to His will for our lives whereby we become a “living sacrifice.” Daily dependence on God results in our transformation into the image of Christ. 

Illustration: When we seek to discern the will of God we must also be committed to doing the will of God as it is revealed in the Word of God (John 7:17). Application: The believer should evaluate every decision on the basis of biblical principles, knowing that obedience brings God’s blessing. (First Ref. Gen. 22:12. (Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice Isaac) Primary ref. Rom. 12:1.)’ 

All of that simply means living for Jesus includes ALL aspects of our lives, without any exceptions whatsoever. And that is ofttimes hard, especially for new believers, but it’s something we must attain to, set our sights on, if we are to truly live for Him. And thus Bruh Paul wrote these words in his second letter to the church at Corinth which was then undergoing a lot of controversy. ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.’ (2 Cor. 5:17-18) 

Ah my people, those are words for us to treasure, and even more so to follow! (smile) That’s because when we come to Christ, all our old sinful behaviour must be cast aside, left behind, and we must become new people in Christ, living the way He expects of us. The scholars explain that ‘when a man comes into vital union with the risen and glorified Lord, he is a “new creation.” (cf. John 3:3; 15:5; Rom. 8:1,9; Gal. 6:14-15) and perceives Christ in a new way. Old things are passed away, indicates a decisive break with the old life at the moment of salvation. Behold, all things are become new, stresses the abiding results of the Christian’s union with Christ (cf. Is. 43:18-19; 65:17; Eph. 4:24; Rev. 21:4-5)’ 

Yes, my fellow saints, once we come to Christ, we need to continually abide in Him if we want to see the fruit of the Spirit develop in our lives. And Jesus made that quite clear through these decisive words to the disciples. ‘Abide in me, and I abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:4-5) 

Now I don’t think that needs any explanation, for Jesus said it as clearly and simply as it could be put; without Him, we can do nothing! And that’s a fact that should be written indelibly in our hearts, and thus kept uppermost in our minds as we go about our day’s tasks. And I believe we’ve said enough for today, we have enough to consider and contemplate upon. (smile) So, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 

As one strong and confident voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’ 

Now, it behooves us to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do. Much LOVE!

…in Christ…we put our everything…because He is our EVERYTHING… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   28 March 2022 Romans 5:6.

Romans 5:6.      For when we were yet without strength, in due time (at the right time) Christ died for the ungodly.

Bless the Lord O my soul for life and light this last Monday morning of March 2022! The sun’s shining, though it seems somewhat chilly, but as the song is saying, ‘Lift your hands and praise the Lord despite the circumstances.’ Yes, as true believers, that’s what is expected of us. And as they are saying ‘If you want to see the glory of the Lord, Lift up your hands and praise the Lord!’ We must command our hands, feet and mouths to praise the Lord, if we want to enjoy His benefits. 

Now answer me this most important question. What do you think about Jesus? And the correct answer is that ‘Jesus is DYNOMITE!’ (smile) Yes mih faithful brethren, that’s the only word to truly describe the power and glory of our wonderful and ever-precious Lord and Saviour! His power is awesome, NOTHING is impossible to him! His forgiveness, LOVE, mercy and grace are without bounds and limits, and He gives them freely to all who sincerely desire them! No wonder we praise and worship Him that highly! 

No One else but Him could have sacrificed His holy, sinless life for our sinful ones, taking our sins unto Himself and giving us His righteousness. As Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in his second missive. ‘For he (God, the Father) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:21) And all God’s people shouted a loud, proud and grateful: ‘Glory to the Lamb that was slain on our behalf! Praise His holy name, that’s Jesus: the name above every other; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!’ 

Oh my people, there’s never been as great a sacrifice on all the earth as Jesus dying in our place. But in heaven, there might have been the greatest sacrifice ever; that of the Father sacrificing His only Son, placing the sins of the whole world on His sinless shoulders so a bunch of ingrates could be saved, be made righteous and be reconciled to Him. 

Bruh Paul says it earlier on in that chapter: ‘And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.’ (2 Cor. 5:18-19) 

Yes friends, it was all the work of the Father, operating through Christ! And what’s reconciliation you ask? Listen as the scholars explain it. ‘Reconciliation is the act whereby God on the basis of Christ’s death, has eliminated the cause of hostility between himself and humanity, making possible a complete and maturing fellowship. (The hostility was caused by sin, and was eliminated by the Cross.’ 

Oh my fellow believers, what can ever be better than that eh; sins wiped away in one fell stroke by someone else’s sacrifice? NOTHING! And we talk a lot about Jesus, and so we ought to, but I think one of the things we don’t consider enough is the great courage and LOVE it took for the Father to sacrifice Jesus on our behalf. Just consider for a moment your having to give up your only son for someone who wasn’t even truly grateful for your sacrifice. You obviously had to be very courageous and LOVE and care for that person a whole lot. 

And the Lord did have that eternal, heart-rending LOVE and compassion for us, His most important and precious creation. As Bruh Paul recounts so realistically and ‘tear-jerkingly’ in his letter to the church at Rome. ‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time (at the right time) Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die. But God, commendeth (demonstrated) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:6-8) 

How many of us would have done that eh, despite all the LOVE we proclaim? Very few, if any. But God the Father LOVED us so much that He was willing to put His mouth and heart to the test without any reassurances from us. But sadly, so many of us refuse to return that trust and confidence, refuse to be reconciled to Him! What a pity, what a crying shame, that we have not learned from all the mistakes of our ancestors down through the ages, and all the negative consequences they’ve suffered as a result of those rebellious and ungodly errors. 

But friends, it’s not too late. In fact, it’s never too late to turn to the God of our creation and salvation, for once there is life, there is ALWAYS hope in Him. So today, let’s be wise and take a leap of faith and go confidently to the throne of the God of many chances, and through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, lay our problems before Him, all in Jesus’ name. 

Altogether now: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. 

Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. 

And Father, we pray that you will ease the pain of the many who are suffering from negative situations. Please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And now, the answers to those prayers depend upon our keeping the promises we’ve made, for as Cousin Sol, writing as the Preacher, puts it so clearly and bluntly in Ecclesiastes. ‘When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer (delay) not to pay it: for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.’ (Eccl. 5:4-5) 

Oh my fellow saints, that’s wisdom in spades! So please let’s take it to heart nuh, and put it into action! Much LOVE!

…God created promises to be kept…not to be broken…He made them in the Old Testament…and fulfilled them in the New Testament…all through Jesus… 

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