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Dear Saints: In the midst of expressing His ocean of love, the Son of man is betrayed on exiting this world. Jesus doesn't get any respect on entry and on exit. When He was born, there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7) for Him. What a welcome we gave the God who made all things. Further, king Herod does his best to kill the baby Jesus. What a demonic hatred! (Matthew 2:16-18). Now in our study of John 13 (please read the entire chapter), we see the worst betrayal. Hear apostle John's recording: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His ga

Dear Saints: This Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. What a wonderful time it is. Today, we meet the grown up Jesus in our study of John 12 (please read the entire chapter). He's coming into Jerusalem and riding on a donkey. It's quite a different picture when you merge the two together and the questions that arise. We love and adore babies because they are harmless, tender and need our help. We approach adults differently. We are questioning adults and suspicious of them and asking who are you. Are you as generous to baby Jesus as you are to the adult Jesus? Unfortunately in our world today many would celebrate Christmas, the baby Jesus but can't tolerate the grown Jesus. Why? The King, the grown up Jesus makes demand of us. He speaks for himself and tells us who he is. He is making very clear His purpose and declaring that He is God. People then and now do not want to hear the grown up Jesus. Listen to Jesus’ exchange with the crowd that a minu

Dear Saints: Everyone has a religion. It may not be organized religion. Your religion could be self-religion – a belief in self and what you can do without God. All religious people must come to faith, believe and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior; otherwise, their religion is worthless. The devil loves religious people so if you help turn religious people to believe in Jesus, Satan will plot against you. Do you have a testimony of God’s working in you and through you that the enemy is plotting to kill you? Well, come and meet brother Lazarus. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been stinking in the grave for four days. Let’s read (John 12) and see what happened next at a party for Jesus: “9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He [Jesus] was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the

Dear Saints: I have so much to be thankful for this season. Thank you Lord for being my Father and reconciling me to you. I was so disobedient and too far removed from you in my sins. But you loved me and died for me while I was still in sin and not waiting first for me to clean up my mess. What other God could do that for me. You are my Lord and my God. Thank you Lord. Mary, Martha and Lazarus had in-person opportunity to thank Jesus. They have painted a real picture of Thanksgiving we can emulate during this and every season. What do you do for the One to whom you owe your whole life to? Besides sacrificing your own life for the person, you would give him or her your best. Mary and her siblings did so and gave their best. Let's continue our study in John 12 (please read the entire chapter): “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served,

Dear Saints: My younger cousin Uche Nduagu died last week in Lagos Nigeria. We had been praying earnestly for him and ministering Christ to him. Three days before he died, he called for his older brother who is an evangelist to come. Uche wanted to be sure and asked Jesus into his heart. They were both together as they sang chorus in the hospital and then he closed his eyes. What a way to go! We mourn for you Uche; you had only turned fifty, but we are comforted that though you are absent from us; you are now present with Jesus. Your name is Uchenna (God’s Will). We accept God’s will for you and for all of us. Amen. In concluding our study of John 11, we see Jesus as prophesied to die for Israel and for all of us including Uche, my cousin. The Holy Spirit inspired apostle John to include this very important information in the midst of the miracles of Jesus: “49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consid

Dear Saints: Last week, we saw that Mary and Martha thought Jesus delayed his coming, therefore their brother Lazarus died while sick. If Jesus was there they claimed, Lazarus would not have died because Jesus would have healed him. We like Mary and Martha reach all kinds of conclusions regarding God and what He will do and can do. Keep in mind that Jesus could have healed Lazarus from where He was by just speaking healing. We get disappointed when it does not go our way. But it is not God’s fault. It is because of our ill-conceived expectations that we are disappointed. Who has known the mind of God except the Spirit of God? I thank God that God is God and I am not. God knows everything and has the best in mind for us. Mary and Martha were looking for healing but God had the best in mind - resurrection. Would you rather be healed and die forever or would you rather die and be raised to live forever? In our continuing study of John 11(please read the entire chapter again), t

Dear Saints: How long have you waited for God’s intervention in your case or situation? You have prayed and cried but it does not seem like God is hearing and listening and coming to your aid. Welcome to Mary and Martha’s world. In fact welcome to the world of all believers/followers of Christ. Jesus is not moved by your sense of urgency but by the measure of God’s glory associated with our living. Mary and Martha wanted Jesus right now (please read John chapter 11). But Jesus had to wait two more days before showing up even though it is a matter of life and death. Here is Jesus’ response to the two sisters: ““Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.” John 11:3-6 Did Jesus really u

Dear Saints: Have you wondered why people in and outside the church gravitate to the good works of Jesus but once you cross the line of saying that Jesus is God Himself, they draw back? We want to see Jesus’ powerful miracles of the past and present. We want to do good works and feel good in the name of Christ. The world and sadly many in the Church do not want the Jesus who is God. Why? God makes demand for the penalty of sin and He has satisfied Himself in the person of God the Son who died and paid for sin. You see, every one of us want to think we are good and therefore we do not need a savior. That is what happened even during Jesus earthly ministry and in our study of John 10 (please read the chapter). Jesus declared Himself to be God because He said He gives people “eternal life”. This declaration made the Jewish leaders very angry and for that they eventually killed Him for being God. For the Jew, they understand that only God can give eternal life. Eternal life is here

Dear Saints: It is an established fact that the sheep is one of the most senseless animals. It is not a coincidence that Jesus, who created the sheep used it as a metaphor to describe humans and His relationship to them. A sheep cannot really fight back the other wild animals that attack him in the open. Because of that, they are fenced in and they must be led by the shepherd outside the gate to graze. Without the shepherd’s lead, the sheep does not know how to come back through the gate. Left alone, they will wander off track and only the shepherd can lead them through the gate back to where they are safe and saved from the other wild animals and the thief. Jesus used the above picture to speak to His audience and made very profound “I am” statements in our study of John 10 (please read the entire chapter). Listen to Jesus: “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did

Dear Saints "I was blind, now I see.” You cannot take that away from me and you cannot talk me out of it. At 17 years old, God apprehended me and opened my eyes to who He is. Some members of my family opposed this new “born again” phenomenon they thought was bad for me and did their best to bring me back to my old religious life that never worked. Of course, I dug into my heels and refused to budge even with threats of great consequences such as ending support for my higher education. I can relate to this man born blind that Jesus healed as we study John 9 (please read the entire chapter). Why would people be comfortable with you in your old life but resist your new life? I propose that it is not so much about you but opposition to the One who is now in you. Jesus has invaded darkness and cast light on the blind man and now lives in him. The religious leaders and his parents opposed this man but they were really opposing Jesus. Here is some of the conversation: “So a secon

Dear Saints My father died when I was eleven years old. Though very young, I have good and fond memories of my father. He was our community leader and a very honorable man known for standing for the truth especially for the fatherless and the poor. My father with members of his council would often ensure that the powerful did not swindle land from the hands of the fatherless and poor and he shunned bribery. He was not perfect but he was a good man who loved us. I know that not everyone have fond memories of their father whether alive or deceased. Sorry if am stroking some wounds and unpleasant memories of your father. We thank God for all our earthly fathers. In today's study (please read again John 8), we are challenged to decide and define who our father is. We all have two fathers - our earthly father and a spirit father. Jesus tells the Jewish leaders and the Pharisees who their real spiritual father is: “44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your fa

Dear Saints: Yes, throw the first stone if you have not sinned and have no sin. Go ahead and throw the first stone on the woman caught in adultery as if adultery is a solo practice (Please read John 8 for our study). Where is the man? We pick and choose types of sins and classes of people who are sinners and we quickly forget to include ourselves. It feels good to catch other people’s sins but not our own. We live in a day when filleting other peoples’ sins (presidents, politicians, leaders, ordinary people) sales and the TV and electronic media are highly rated and paid good for it. Dig up enough dirt about anyone to make the news and make yourself look better. We join them with our itching ears and gossiping mouths/writing fingers to analyze and spread the dirt. Someone has said that Jesus stooped down and started to write the names and addresses of the women whom the accusing men had also committed their own adultery or other sins with. The Jewish leaders forgot that they were

Dear Saints: Imagine coming from heaven and born into a human family and your brothers and sister don’t even get it and believe in you. The people outside also don’t understand you and think you are demon possessed. Welcome to the world of Jesus’ earthly life. I know you are saying my parents/siblings or spouse don’t also believe in me. That is what we encounter in today’s study of John 7 (Please read the entire chapter). In the midst of the back and forth, Jesus reveals why He came and who He is and what anyone who believes and trust in Him will be like. Jesus, why did you come and why do people hate you? “7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”… 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:7 and 23). Jesus came to

Dear Saints: It is with sadness that I read the headlines, “Joshua Harris falling away from faith: ‘I am not a Christian.’” … Joshua Harris, the author of “I kissed Dating Goodbye”, announced in an Instagram post Friday that he is no longer a Christian.”(Christianpost.com, July 27, 2019). He used to be the pastor of a megachurch, Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It is sad to hear and coupled with his previous announcement to divorce his wife of 20 years and they have three children. How can you follow Christ for a period and now “fall away”? I do not know what has happened to Joshua Harris because now, he applauds same sex marriage which he previously preached against. In our today’s study (please read John 6 again), we also see some precedent even while Jesus was here: “53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood

Dear Saints: Is it just me? I feel like most of us are like the disciples in the midst of the strong waves in the sea, and here comes Jesus walking on water and now we are terrified. We are afraid of drowning in the oceans of our problems – the health issues, marriage problems, children acting up and even outright disobedience, sibling squabbles, in-laws and out-laws issues, deaths in the family, neighbors/co-workers envy and disdain, financial crisis, national crisis of racism/tribalism, mass shootings/suicides/drug overdose, political uncertainties, social media overloads and on and on. In the midst of all these, please hear Jesus. “It is I; do not be afraid.” John 6:20. Note that the disciples had two fears; one of the strong waves in the sea (please read John 6 again), and two and the greatest fear, seeing Jesus walking on water. They have never seen a man walk on water before. I will surely freak out like them. When you see God in His glory as Jesus appeared while walking o

Dear Saints Good intentions without action amounts to nothing. We all have good intentions that we have been hoping to act on and especially simple acts of kindness. In today’s study, we discover one of Christ’s greatest miracles where He fed five thousand men in addition to women and children (please read John 6). How did it come about; and what should we know about Jesus and what should we learn to be and do? First, Jesus knows you very well including what you have and what you will say and do. So, just do it and stop pretending. Jesus, after seeing the large crowd and wanting to feed them approached Philip. Note that Jesus loves all people even when they are like sheep without shepherd. Please listen to the exchange: 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii

Dear Saints: We continue to study Jesus’ long conversation with the Jewish leaders who had rightly accused Him of “being equal with God” the Father (please read again John 5). And Jesus is. Today we explore the bottom line of all discussions and all conversations. Jesus confronts them with the truth of eternal/everlasting life and on how to enter in and experience Him and also on how to come so close but miss Him. Let’s hear Jesus: 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24. We can also recall that while speaking to another Jewish leader Nicodemus in John 3:16, Jesus said, “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” We

Dear Saints: Jesus had one major crime the Jewish leaders accused Him of and sought to kill Him and eventually killed Him for it. Listen to the exchange, after Jesus on a Sabbath, had healed a man that was crippled for thirty eight years (please read John 5). “18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:18-19. Notice that Jesus did not deny their accusation but confirmed in the conversion that He is God. Jesus said, I am God the Son. Whatever God the Father does, that is what God the Son does. He and the Father are one. Jesus' miracles and His resurrection back up His deity beyond reasonable doubt. The attack has not stopped today. Even within the general

Dear Saints: This is a simple question that Jesus asked a man who had been sick and crippled for thirty eight years (please read John 5). Jesus is still asking the same question to you and me. Do you want to be made well? He is not asking, what is your condition, illness or sin. He already knows just as He knew about this man in today's account. Note also that Jesus is the one who approached the man and initiated the conversation. There were many others in the crowd of sick people around this fake healing pool. Jesus knows you individually and comes just for you. All of us are sick and have sinned. We prefer hanging around others like us who are sinners and are sick. Misery enjoys company. We also go to places and hang out where there's supposedly "moving pool " that promises wholeness but it cannot deliver. No wonder Jesus asked the question. It may be obvious to others that what you are into and relying on cannot deliver you; so the real question is: Do

Dear Saints: Are you waiting to see before you believe the Words of Jesus and believe HIM as the Only God? There is no other God but Jesus, the all knowing creator of all things! And waiting to see result before believing Jesus is not FAITH in God but faith in yourself. If you have to see results first and the reality of what God by His Spirit has spoken to you then you are saying you are your own god, therefore there is no need for the almighty GOD. Faithlessness is an insult to the person and character of God. How many of us and how often are we insulting God by our unbelief? Jesus' Word is enough because He needs no external entity to perform whatever He has said. You and I are the ones who need help, not God. Are you insulting God today by the things He has spoken to you and you have refused to believe but waiting for signs before you step out? If it makes too much sense to you before you can believe, then it is not faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “ But without faith it is imp

Dear Saints: How often do you meet someone for the first time and know exactly who he/she really is? If and when you meet Jesus for the first time, He will make Himself known to you without any shadow of doubt. That was the experience of the Samaritan woman at the well (please read again John 4:1-42). This encounter changed her forever. It also changed her acquaintances and many in her village forever. Why was there such a great transformation in a few hours of encounter? With God, all things are possible. Let’s listen in on the conversation. “25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” Jesus clearly made Himself know to this woman as the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One and the Savior of the world. The Savior will transform you as follows: “13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever dri

Dear Saints: Have you ever been alone with Jesus? When you get alone with Jesus, people will be wondering what is going on. Even the Disciples could not figure out why Jesus was all alone with a woman. Everything was contrary in the picture playing out in our today’s study of John 4 (please read verse 1-42). First, she is a woman and Jesus is a man. She is woman but a Samaritan woman and not Jewish woman. Jews and Samaritans don’t mix. When we get all alone with Jesus, something deep happens. We are laid bare because Jesus knows everything about us. It is very serious to be alone with Jesus, the Creator of all things and all beings. There's nothing hidden from him. The sweet thing about Jesus is that even though all your secrets are exposed in front of him, He does not shame you but sets you free. I heard this week that an average person has 13 secrets they have never told anyone. Is it really 13 secrets? Jesus knows everyone one of those. Don't you think it is time we

Dear Saints: Today is the first Thursday of the month, our Gospel Outreach Thursday. Let’s put into practice all we have been learning and go out of our way to love someone and demonstrate Christ’s love. Let’s invite someone to lunch and get to know them and cultivate friendship. Tell them who you are in Christ and what Jesus means to you. Share the Gospel today by praying, kindness and whatever the Lord leads you to do and say during your lunch time and all day. Share your encounter stories next week with us. I pray this prayer of Paul for us as we go forth to be Christ to others today: 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [f]of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend

Dear Saints: Today, we come to one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, John 3:16: 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. So, what is the big deal about the above Scripture. It is a big deal because, we see God initiating a love relationship and taking the first step to reconcile all His creation to Himself. God first loved, not just one person but the whole world – every human, every sinner, every murderer, every thief, every bad person, every not so bad person, everyone who thinks they are good but really they are not. God did not have to love the world. He choose to love the world. God the

Dear Saints: We continue our in-depth study of John 3. Today, we encounter Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, a Pharisee (the “far you see” from God). We also encounter a word from Jesus’ mouth, “born again”. The phrase “born again” has taken a beaten and caricature in the American culture and all over the world. People will say, “Oh, you are one of those “born again”; as if there is another type or two types of Christians. There is only one type of Christian – a born again Christian, regardless of your church denomination. On the other, some have taken"Born again" to be a title they wear without knowing what it means or being one themselves. Hear from Jesus directly. “3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where

Dear Saints: We continue our in-depth study of John 2. Today we see Jesus in the temple angered by what he saw going on. The people had turned the temple into a shopping mall. They were selling all kinds and making loans and receiving loans. Please read John 2:13-25. Today, in the new dispensation, we are the temple of God. There is no longer a physical temple but humans in whom the Spirit of God dwell (only if Jesus is your Lord and Savior). As such, we must watch what goes on in us - the temple of God. We can be trapped in the same mentality and become a people who are more interested in making deals and acquiring all sorts. Instead, we should be what God intended for His temple, a house of prayer for all nations (see Isaiah 56:7). How is your prayer life? How is my prayer life? Who are we praying for and for what? What are we praying for ourselves? Are we so consumed with shopping and buying that we no longer have time to pray and depend on God our Father? We are busy char