House2HouseMD

Peace in Prison What do you do or think if you're in prison waiting for trial and a sentencing of up to life imprisonment with hard labor or even death? Your crime is being a missionary and you are caught in communist North Korea and it is 2012 and not 2000 years ago. We can read it regarding Apostle Paul but what about 3 years ago? Let me introduce you to Kenneth Bae. He is an American missionary who was jailed for over two years in North Korea because he forgot to remove a portable hard drive from his bag. I will let you listen to his testimony and here is the link. https://vimeo.com/167680426 One thing that stuck with me about Bae is when the Holy Spirit spoke to him and reminded him that He is with him and never to fear. Is that where you are right now? Are you in your own prison of circumstances and you think there is no exit? Can you trust the whisper of the Holy Spirit? He is with you and me. As we come almost to the end of our study of Paul's Epistle to the Ph...

What I Think – True, Honorable, Right, Pure and Excellent What am I thinking? We often ask ourselves. Or we ask another. What were you thinking? Are you crazy? Sometimes we don’t even know what we are thinking and how we got to what we are thinking. Already confused of what you are thinking and what you think and I am asking you think? Listen to the Holy Spirit thru Apostle Paul on what to think and how to think (consider, ponder, dwell-on). The result of right thinking is our full experience of God’s presence as the God of peace in all circumstances. Keep in mind our heavenly citizenship and our names are in the Book of Life, THEREFORE: 8 Finally, [b]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [...

The Lord is Coming Soon Many in the Church and outside are more worried and concerned about who will be the next President of America than the impending return of Jesus Christ as Lord, King and Judge of the whole world. People are petrified of either Trump or Hillary winning in November than any thought of the consequences of Christ’s return. Where are you on the spectrum? Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus or eagerly waiting for your favorite candidate to win? More worried about the November election than understanding your “election” as a child of God? Some will spend hours debating the merits of Trump or Hillary and will never spend a minute on who Jesus is to another. Can we channel those same passions for Christ? If not it reveals something about the state of our hearts - cold, lukewarm or hot. Where are you with Jesus- cold lukewarm or hot? Let’s turn the debate around and use the time to ask people to “elect” God into their hearts. Better, help them see Jesus who has “ele...

Are you Stinking Thinking? The Bible has a lot to say about how and what we think of and the consequent results of our thinking. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee”. Proverbs 23:7. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”. 1 Cor 10:12. “(Love) doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 2 Cor. 13:5. “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Cor. 8:2. “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself”. Galatians 6:3. “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless”. James 1:26 God also thinks so we are being encouraged to think the way He does. He His thoughts of us are good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11). “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upo...

My Toilet Prayer Point Toilet? Yes! I noticed that the tank for one of our toilets had cracked. I don't know how it happened and I had installed this toilet in November 2015. I decided to go to Home Depot (HD) to ask for a remedy. I told them I didn't know how it cracked and showed the picture. They looked at the receipt which was almost six months ago. I was told it had exceeded the return date. I said there must be some guarantee for a toilet that new. I was sent to the next supervisor who said she can’t do anything for me. She decided to call her supervisor. The next supervisor decided to replace the toilet tank. I had only come with the picture and was asked go back to bring the cracked tank. I went back but did not return immediately. By the time I came back, different people were at front desk. I told them my mission and they told me I must be crazy because no one returns after three months and there is nothing they can do for me. There began my toilet adventur...

Stop Worrying and Anxious Right Now Grace (seven) woke up in the middle of the night running to me and saying 'daddy I had a bad dream'. She just started talking to me and not for a second thinking that I was sleeping but rather with full confidence that I must be awake and listening. She also had the full confidence that I was going to give her immediate safety and comfort in her situation by just listening. She does this time and time again whenever she has bad dreams and troubled. Now that is faith and it is great example for me of being anxious for nothing and not worrying. You and I are waking up many moments sitting and just worrying about our lives’ bad dreams without running to the arms of our Heavenly Father. We chew and regurgitate our worries as if they are real. It is just a dream of what you think will happen and how it will turn out. Yes, you have facts but God has final say. Let’s just stop worrying right now. Listen to God’s word as Paul speaks to the Phi...

Rejoice and be Gentle to All There is true biblical joy. Our God is a joyful God so are/should His Children. We are not talking about joy as an emotion but joy as the essence of our being. Joy cannot be made up. Joy is in the person of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. We are being asked to rejoice and not to make up joy. True joy is exemplified when I visited a friend in the hospital and I walked out more encouraged than I came in. Why? Because Christ in her spoke encouragement that transcends her current situation of finalities of life in a hospital room. Apostle Paul to the Philippians restates the theme of his letter: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5. God will finish the good work He started in us until Jesus returns. Our rejoicing is in the Lord. This chapter starts o...

Sisters Stop Your Fighting The Cold War between Russia and America may be over but it is not over in many churches, families, bedrooms, work places and etc. The first war started in the garden when Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the devil. It progressed to the first ever sibling rivalry of Cain and Abel. This one did not end well because Cain killed his brother Abel. You get the picture? Fights aren't new. Have you wondered why we fight and quarrel with others? Apostle Paul is calling out two dear sisters to stop the fighting. There are three parties here. The two women who are quarreling and the by standers who are indirectly affected. Everyone has a responsibility to stop the fighting. Take a step toward peace today. “2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord. 3 Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement an...

My Beloved Stand Fast in the Lord Has civility gone out of the window especially during this presidential campaign? How do we see one another? Paul said I have stopped seeing people in the flesh. What about you and me? Do we see people based on their color, accomplishments and their sins? We must look beyond what we can see presently in people. Watch and note the dear terms Apostle Paul used to address the Philippians while encouraging them to stand fast in the Lord: “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved”. Philippians 4:1 How can Paul go from almost rebuking the Philippians to calling them my beloved and my joy and my crown? It is because of the great word “therefore” in the verse. What is the therefore for? In the previous section Paul had just reminded the Philippians of their citizenship in heaven and that Christ is coming to transform their (and our) lowly bodies to his glorified body. That is enough to ...

I will Rise from the Dead. Will You? With the latest ISIS bombing in Brussels Belgium, the Western world is scared and worried about the next target. We condemn every act of terrorism and pray God’s comfort for the families in Brussels who lost their loved ones. Worldwide, there are about 56 million deaths per year, 153K deaths per day, 6.5K every hour and 107 deaths every second. We cannot not escape death because “it is appointed unto man/woman once to die and afterwards, judgment”. The real question is am I going to rise from the dead into a glorified body to be with God forever? Are you? Everyone will rise from the dead for judgment, but some with a glorified body that will never die again. I thank God Jesus rose from the dead and is alive and sited at the right hand of the Father. Like Jesus, I will rise from the dead with a brand new glorious body just as Jesus’ resurrected body. I believe and trust in the crucified and risen Christ who paid for all my sins and reconciled m...

Enemies of the Cross of Christ Unfortunately many of the enemies of the Cross of Christ are in the Church. Hello! Are you hearing Paul? He says watch out and note those who walk/live in the pattern of Christ. Many are not walking after Christ and are walking/working for themselves. Paul warns his Philippian friends and us: “17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things”. Philippians 3:17-19 Observe the characteristics of the enemies of the cross of Christ: 1. They preach a different gospel and not “Christ crucified”. They make up various criteria of being a Christian other than believing and trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross. They reject and oppose Chr...

Never Look Back Press Forward As a student, I used to be good in Tracks and Field. One of the rules is never look back. Regardless of your position (first or even last) you never look back to see how far you have ran or who is coming behind. You only looked to the finish line and to wearing the winners crown or ribbon. Apostle Paul reminds us of how he was running and ran the race of life. Listen to Paul: “12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we...

Fellowship in His Sufferings Many of us are trying to operate the JESUS RELATIONSHIP SOFTWARE without reading carefully and signing off on the user agreement of terms and conditions. No wonder it does not seem to be working properly and often having system failures and crashes (evidenced with anger and frustration). Jesus was very clear and explicit. “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” John 16:33. First, do you agree and have you signed on before continuing to relate to Jesus? He has “overcome” not you. Apostle Paul at conversion was given a specific disclaimer before signing on with Jesus. “16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:16. As we continue our study of Philippians 3 Paul while in prison prays for himself as he pours his heart to his friends regarding suffering: “Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through f...

Falling in Love with Christ I have a confession: I know Christ somewhat but I want to really know Him. Please pray for me that my ultimate desire be realized. I have memories of dating my wife, UD. It was a long distance romance oceans apart. I was in the USA and she was in Nigeria. I met her briefly while visiting and upon return we started corresponding by letters (no emails then but snail mails). We had to arrange for a time and place for her to receive my phone calls which sometimes did not work out. We wrote tons of letters. Separated by distance and making best efforts to know one another, cannot be compared to the day of the engagement, and eventual wedding and then living together. I had “doctrinal” knowledge of my wife but I now have experiential knowledge. We are both still trying to know each other. Some days she thinks I am from Mars (which is true, an alien) and I think she is from Venus and I am asking who are you. Apostle Paul in Philippians 3 is letting us int...

Trusting in Your Résumé? This will shock you about percentage of people that lie on their résumés. “The statistics concerning résumé fraud are grim. One survey estimates that as many 80 percent of all job seekers submit applications and résumés that contain intentionally misleading information.[2] The misrepresentation involves work experience, criminal history, inflated past salaries and education credentials…It is estimated that résumé fraud costs employers approximately $600 billion annually”.[1]. Let's assume you and I are in the 20 percent. Lying on the resume is wrong and unethical. Even if you were very accurate, God has a better and complete record of your resume. Apostle Paul had an impressive resume. At the end he said it was nothing and a garbage/rubbish. Listen to Paul as he writes his Philippian friends. Are you trusting in self-accomplishments, including doing “God’s work”? 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the cir...

Watch for the Dogs and Evil Workers Anyone that draws and chases you away from the simplicity of the Gospel meaning total, absolute trust and reliance in the finished work of Christ on the Cross as basis of salvation is a “Dog” and an “evil worker”. Strong words? Yes and very much so. This is the “Jesus plus my self-effort” gospel peddlers who make no case for the need for Jesus as the ultimate Savior. Any “dogs” around you? Run! Apostle Paul has just told us to continue to rejoice in the Lord. All of a sudden, the letter turns with the strongest warning and caution for danger. This danger is too important to ignore and it threatens to steal and stop your joy in the Lord and will endanger salvation of souls. The Philippians are being courted by false apostles and teachers who are parading like dogs. They will confuse, devour and maim. It is the same ploy in our own time too. You cannot please God on your own merits. Here is Paul with the sternest warning in the whole epistle. ...

Again, Continue to Rejoice If you have ever flown before there is great excitement and joy when the pilot announces that the plane is about to land. You had been flying at very high altitude and have encountered all kinds of turbulence and rough weather now the end is in sight. This is where we are in chapter 3 of Philippians. Paul is about to land the gospel plane and tells his friends “Rejoice again”. I told you before when the plane took off and am telling you again why you need to rejoice and keep on rejoicing in the Lord. God began the good work in you and will finish it therefore rejoice. Rejoicing is within your control so no excuses. “Finally, my [a]fellow believers, continue to rejoice and delight in the LORD. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you” Philippians 3: 1. AMP. The Lord Jesus Himself is the embodiment of redemption and that is the only reason to rejoice. By redemption we mean the total purchase of the whole world ...

Epaphroditus – A Brother, Servant and Soldier How do we see and view one another? I hope it is same as Apostle Paul embraced Epaphroditus as a brother, a fellow worker/servant and a soldier of Christ. Are you a brother/sister/servant/soldier? Recap. Paul is in prison under house arrest for preaching the Gospel of Christ. His beloved friends from Philippi were very concerned and sent Epaphroditus (Bro Epa) to check on Paul and bring gifts of refreshment and upkeep. Paul is now sending Epa back to the Philippians to report of his condition. Brother Epa is now the letter carrier of this Epistle of Philippians we are reading. Hear Paul tell it in Philippians 2:25-30: “25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had m...

Timothy – Tested Character The only one that is impressed and should be impressed with my character is God. I can impress people with my personality (my charms and niceness) but not with my character. People will notice my character but my ultimate goal is to build my character in God and for God. Because my character is from God, it will take me to the highest altitude/attitude where my personality and wealth cannot take me to. My character is my fear of God. It is that which drives me to do what I do knowing that God is seeing and that He is my ultimate judge and not man. My character is the reflection of the nature of God in me. Today, we are studying about Timothy whose character has been tested and found impressive before God. Hear Apostle Paul talk about Timothy, his beloved son in ministry: “19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for y...

Crushed and Poured Out The process of wine making in the Bible times is very interesting. You may not drink wine but it is worth a lesson in understanding the process. The wine comes from grapes and grapes come from the grape vine. Grape is mostly grown for wine though we eat it as fruit in our time. To produce wine, the grape is crushed by feet at the Treading floor. The juice flows thru a hole into a lower level pool and it is collected in jars for subsequent fermentation. It is then distilled and served as wine. You get the picture? Today Apostle Paul uses this picture to describe his imminent/eventual martyrdom to show that his efforts in preaching and ministering to the Philippians are worth it. He was ready to be poured out as a drink offering. Are you ready to be poured out? Philippians 2:1-18: “14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generati...