SI MAPENZI YA MUNGU TUWE MASIKINI - MWL CHRISTOPHER MWAKASEGE

Utangulizi

(Namna ya mkristo kuishi katika hali ngumu ya uchumi bila kumkosea Mungu)

Kati ya mambo yaliyotabiriwa kutokea katika siku hizi za mwisho ni dhiki katika mataifa, pamoja na hali ngumu ya uchumi. Soma mwenyewe katika Luka 21:25-26 na Ufunuo wa Yohana 6:5-6.

Pia, tunasoma kutoka katika biblia ya kuwa biashara na uweza wa kuuza na kununua utafuata mfumo fulani uliojaa dhuluma, ambao utatawaliwa na kundi fulani ulimwenguni. Watu hawatauza wala kununua bila ya kupatana na watu wa kundi hilo, na hasa kiongozi wao. Na asomaye na afahamu. Soma kitabu cha Ufunuo wa Yohana sura yote ya 13.

Si hivyo tu, bali Biblia inaeleza wazi kabisa kuwa katika siku hizi za mwisho kutakuwa na uhusiano mkubwa sana kati ya utajiri na uasherati na pia kati ya biashara na uasherati. Soma kitabu cha Ufunuo wa Yohana sura za 17 na 18. Lakini pia unaweza kuwa na utajiri na ukafanya biashara bila kujihusisha na uasherati na mambo mengine yaliyo kinyume na maadili ya Mungu.

Tutawezaje kupona katika hali ya namna hii tusimkosee Mungu wetu aliyetuita katika utakatifu ndani ya Mwana wake mpendwa Yesu Kristo? Kwa nini wakristo wengi wanaishi katika hali ngumu kiuchumi kama vile kuna mtu aliyewawekea vikwazo vya uchumi wasifanikiwe?

Watu wengi wanapenda kuishi maisha matakatifu na wengi pia wanapenda kuokoka na kudumu ndani ya kristo, lakini swali linalowasumbua ni wafanyeje katika hali ngumu hii ya uchumi wapate chakula, malazi na mavazi kihalali bila kumkosea Mungu?

Ni watu wachache wanaofahamu uwezo wa mawazo katika kuongoza maneno na matendo yao ya kila siku. Ni budi ufahamu ya kuwa maneno yako na matendo yako ni matokeo ya jinsi unavyowaza. Kwa maneno mengine naweza kusema ya kuwa maisha ya mtu yanategemea mtazamo wa mawazo yake.

Kwa ufafanuzi zaidi ni kwamba jinsi ulivyo ni matokeo ya jinsi unavyowaza; kwa kuwa unayowaza ndiyo unayoyasema na kuyafanya.

Watu wengi wamekuwa wakifikiri ya kuwa Mungu ndiye aliyewapangia kuwa maskini. Na hata wakristo wengine kudiriki hata kuuona umaskini kama sehemu ya utakatifu na unyenyekevu.

Lakini Biblia haisemi hivyo, wala haifundishi mawazo hayo. Ni lengo langu kukueleza katika ujumbe huu ya kwamba *SI MAPENZI YA MUNGU TUWE MASKINI.*

Nataka ufahamu pia ya kuwa nitakapokuwa natumia neno wakristo katika ujumbe huu, ujue namaanisha wakristo wale wanaomkiri Yesu Kristo ya kuwa Bwana na Mwokozi wao; ambao pia humwabudu Mungu katika Roho na Kweli.

Ni maombi yangu kwa Mungu katika Jina la Yesu Kristo kuwa atakuwezesha kusoma na kuelewa somo hili, ili wote tulio wakristo tusimame katika haki zetu zote zilizopatikana pale msalabani. Nia hasa ni kukupa mafundisho ya msingi ya kukusaidia uweze kuishi hata katika hali ngumu ya uchumi bila kumkosea Mungu. Kila wiki nitakuwa nakuwekea sura mojawapo ya mafundisho haya.

Mafundisho ninayotarajia kukufundisha yatakuwa na mfululizo wa masomo kama yafuatayo:

· Kwa nini si mapenzi ya Mungu tuwe maskini?

· Mafundisho manne yasiyo sahihi unayopaswa kuyatambua

· Nani anaupenda wokovu wa kimaskini?

· Utajiri wake Kristo usiopimika

· Uchumi wa ufalme wa mbinguni

· Tofauti ya zaka na dhabihu

· Ukitoa tegemea kupokea

· Sadaka na wokovu

· Natoa lakini sipokei – nifanyeje?

· Ufanyeje katika hali ngumu ya uchumi?

Haya ni mafundisho ambayo nitayaweka kwa namna ambayo yatakupa changamoto ya kuyasoma zaidi wewe binafsi na kuyaweka katika matendo. Kwa hiyo usitegemee kupata majibu ya maswali yote uliyonayo juu ya mambo niliyoorodhesha hapa juu, bali tegemea mwongozo wa changamoto itakayokusaidia katika kujifunza zaidi juu ya utajiri na mkristo.

KWA NINI SI MAPENZI YA MUNGU TUWE MASKINI?

Napenda kuanza kukuambia ya kuwa si mapenzi ya Mungu uwe maskini. Kwa sababu tangu kuwekwa misingi ya ulimwengu huu, Mungu hakupanga kuwa watu wake aliowaumba wawe maskini; bila kujali rangi, kabila, wala taifa.

Nafahamu ya kuwa katika Mathayo 5:3, Yesu Kristo alisema; “Heri walio maskini wa roho; maana ufalme wa mbinguni ni wao.” Watu wengi wanapousoma mstari huu, wanadhani Yesu Kristo alisema “Heri walio maskini wa mahitaji ya MWILI; maana ufalme wa mbinguni ni wao.” Lakini Kristo hakusema hivyo.

Mtu maskini maana yake ni mtu mhitaji. Yesu Kristo aliposema “Heri walio maskini wa roho …….” Alikuwa ana maana ya kusema ‘Heri walio wahitaji wa mambo ya rohoni; maana ufalme wa mbinguni ni wao. Ndiyo maana aliongeza kusema, “Heri wenye njaa na kiu ya haki; maana hao watashibishwa" (Mathayo 5:6).

Mtu aliye maskini wa mambo ya mwili ni yule aliye mhitaji wa mambo ya mwili. Na mambo ya mwilini ninayoyasema ni mavazi, chakula na mahali pa kulala. Yesu Kristo hakusema heri wale walio na mahitaji ya chakula, mavazi, afya na malazi.

Ninaposema mahitaji ya mwili usije ukachanganya na matendo ya mwili yaliyoandikwa katika Wagalatia 5:19-21 ambayo ni uasherati, uchafu, ufisadi, ibada ya sanamu, uchawi, uadui, ugomvi, wivu, hasira, fitina, faraka, uzushi, husuda na ulevi. Mimi siyazungumzii hayo ninaposema juu ya mahitaji ya mwili. Mahitaji ya mwili ninayoyasema ni mavazi, chakula, nyumba na matibabu.

Kwa hiyo si sawa kabisa kwa mtu kuhalalisha umaskini wa mwili, yaani ukosefu wa chakula, mavazi, matibabu na nyumba, kwa kutumia maneno ya Bwana Yesu Kristo yaliyo katika Mathayo 5:3:

Nataka kurudia tena; si mapenzi ya Mungu mtu awe maskini.

Unaweza ukaniuliza na kusema, “Bwana Mwakasege kama si mapenzi ya Mungu mtu awe maskini, mbona basi kuna matajiri na maskini, je! Mungu hakuwaumba wote?

Ni kweli kwani hata imeandikwa katika Mithali 22:2, kuwa “Tajiri na maskini hukutana pamoja; Bwana ndiye aliyewaumba wote” . Lakini fahamu ya kuwa ingawa matajiri na maskini waliopo wote waliumbwa na Mungu; tangu mwanzo wa uumbaji Mungu hakuyaweka matabaka haya mawili.

Hapo mwanzo Mungu alipomuumba mtu, hakuweka ndani yake utajiri na umaskini pamoja. Wala hakuumba watu wengine wawe matajiri na wengine wawe maskini.

Tunafahamu ya kuwa mtu aliumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu na kwa sura ya Mungu. Na naamini ya kuwa utakubaliana nami nikisema Mungu wetu si maskini kwa hiyo hatukuumbwa kwa mfano wa kimaskini wala sura ya kimaskini.

Kwa nini nasema na kusisitiza ya kuwa si mapenzi ya Mungu tuwe maskini?

Ninazo sababu nne ambazo ningependa kukushirikisha:

1. Mungu ndiye atupaye nguvu za kupata utajiri

“ Bali utamkumbuka Bwana , Mungu wako, maana ndiye akupaye NGUVU ZA KUPATA UTAJIRI; ili alifanye imara agano lake alilowapa baba zako, kama hivi leo” (Kumb. 8:18).

Si mapenzi ya Mungu tuwe maskini kwa kuwa yeye mwenyewe ndiye atupaye nguvu ili tupate utajiri! Kama basi Mungu anatupa nguvu za kupata utajiri, ina maana ni wazi kwamba Mungu hapendi tuwe maskini wa mambo ya mwilini.

Lakini fahamu ya kuwa si matajiri wote waliopo duniani wameupata utajiri kutokana na nguvu walizopewa na Mungu. Wengi wamepata utajiri kwa njia ya dhuluma. Na ndiyo maana sehemu nyingi katika Biblia matajiri wa jinsi hiyo wamekemewa. Soma Amosi 5:11, 12. Kwa sababu hii Mungu hayuko upande wa matajiri hawa. Hii pia haimaanishi kuwa Mungu yuko upande wa KILA maskini aliopo duniani. La hasha! Mungu yuko upande wa yule ayafanyaye mapenzi yake awe tajiri au maskini (Mathayo 7:21)

Watu wengi wametajirika kwa njia ya rushwa na kutokusimamia haki pamoja na uchoyo. Na hii si sawa hata mbele za Mungu. Ni dhambi zilizo wazi kabisa. Na wote wafanyayo hayo wanahitaji kutubu!

Ngoja nikueleze jambo muhimu: Mungu anapokupa nguvu za kupata utajiri, anakupa akiwa na lengo na kusudi muhimu.

Ni lengo gani hilo?

Imeandikwa, “………. Ili alifanye imara agano lake alilowapa baba zako,

kama hivi leo”

Na Yesu Kristo alisema, “ ……. Kikombe hiki ni AGANO JIPYA KATIKA DAMU YANGU, inayomwagika kwa ajili yenu” (Luka 22:20).

Mungu akikupa nguvu za kupata utajiri ni kwa ajili ya kulifanya imara agano lake katika damu ya Yesu Kristo. Na hii ina maana utajiri utakaokuwa nao kutoka kwa Mungu ni kwa kueneza injili! Ni kwa ajili ya kueneza habari njema ya ukombozi kutokana na dhambi, mauti, magonjwa na umaskini. Habari njema hii inatakiwa kuenezwa kwa maneno na kwa matendo.

Kwa kuwa tu kuna matajiri wasio wa haki basi haimaanishi kuwa matajiri wa haki hawapo. Ni budi tuweze kutofautisha utajiri ulio wa haki na utajiri usio wa haki.

2. Mungu ndiye atufundishaye kupata faida

Muungu wetu tunayemwabudu na kumtumikia katika Kristo Yesu si Mungu wa hasara bali Mungu wa faida. Imeandikwa hivi;

“Bwana, Mkombozi wako, Mtakatifu wa Israeli, asema hivi;Mimi ni Bwana, Mungu wako, nikufundishaye ili upate faida, nikuongozaye katika njia ikupasayo kuifuata” (Isaya 48:17).

Ndiyo maana kila mtu ndani yake ameumbiwa kupenda kufundishwa ili apate faida katika mambo anayoyafanya. Mungu akikufundisha kupata faida; njia utakayotumia kupata faida itakuwa njia ya haki. Na faida hiyo haitakuwa kwa ajili yako mwenyewe, bali utawashirikisha na wengine pia faida hiyo .

Watu wengine kwa kutokuwa wavumilivu, na kutokujali mafundisho ya Mungu; wameamua kujipatia faida kwa kuwadhulumu, kuwakandamiza na kuwanyonya wengine. Na inasikitisha jinsi wanavyomshirikisha Mungu katika faida najisi namna hiyo waposema ya kuwa ni Mungu aliyewasaidia ‘kudhulumu na kunyonya’. Ni wazi ya kuwa Mungu hakuwasaidia kupata faida kwa njia ya udhalimu.

Si mapenzi ya Mungu tuwe maskini, ndiyo maana anatufundisha ili tupate faida ya halali. Kwa ajili hiyo imeandikwa; “Mwibaji asiibe tena; bali afadhali afanye juhudi, akitenda kazi iliyo nzuri kwa mikono yake mwenyewe, apate kuwa na kitu cha kumgawia mhitaji” (Waefeso 4:28).

Je! Si jambo la kushukuru hili, la kuwa na Mungu ambaye hapendi tupate hasara?

Kama Mungu asingekuwa anapenda tufanikiwe katika mahitaji yetu ya mwili, basi ingeandikwa wazi katika Biblia. Lakini badala yake naona maneno kama yafuatavyo; “Mpenzi, naomba ufanikiwe katika mambo YOTE na kuwa na afya yako, kama vile roho yako ifanikiwavyo”

(3 Yohana 1:2).

Kwa maneno mengine anatuombea ya kuwa kwa kadri roho inavyofanikiwa basi tufanikiwe vivyo hivyo katika mahitaji ya mwili – yaani tuwe na chakula, mavazi, n.k.

3. Vitu vyote vyema ni mali ya Bwana, na vyote vya Bwana ni vyetu ndani ya Kristo

Katika Zaburi 24:1 imeandikwa; “Nchi na vyote viijazavyo ni mali ya Bwana; Dunia na wote wakaao ndani yake”

Na pia ukisoma katika Hagai 2:8 unaona imeandikwa hivi “Fedha ni mali yangu, na dhahabu ni mali yangu, asema Bwana wa majeshi”

Ngoja nikuulize swali; Je! unadhani vitu vyote hivi Bwana amemwekea nani? Unadhani alimwekea shetani na watu wanyonyaji wachache?

La hasha!

Mungu aliviweka vitu hvi vyote na mali hii yote kwa ajili ya watu wake wote, ili itumike katika usawa. Kwa nini? Kwa kuwa Mungu hapendi watu wake wawe maskini. Ndiyo maana mtu alipoumbwa aliwekwa awe wakili wa mali yote ya Mungu hapa duniani.

Utajiri uliomo duniani umetawaliwa na watu wachache na nchi chache siku hizi kwa sababu ya dhambi za uchoyo, ubinafsi, uonevu,unyonyaji, unyang’anyi na dhuluma zilizoingia ndani ya mwanadamu.

Na hii imefanya watu wengine kufikiri ya kuwa Mungu ndiye aliyegawa matabaka haya mawili, ambavyo si kweli. Na si vizuri kumsingizia Mungu katika jambo ambalo mwanadamu mwenyewe amejiletea uharibufu.

4. Yesu Kristo alikuwa maskini ili sisi tuwe matajiri

“Maana mmejua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, jinsi alivyokuwa maskini kwa ajili yenu, ingawa alikuwa tajiri, ili kwamba ninyi mpate kuwa matajiri kwa umaskini wake” (2 Wakorintho 8:9).

Je! unafahamu kwa nini Yesu Kristo aliamua kuwa maskini? Ni “…….. ili kwamba ninyi mpate kuwa MATAJIRI kwa umaskini wake”.

Najua kuna wengine watashangaa kuusoma mstari huu; lakini ndivyo ilivyo.

Nimewahi kusikia mkristo mmoja akisema:

“ Mimi ni maskini kwa kuwa Yesu Kristo alikuwa maskini”.

Na mwingine alisema; “ Napenda kuwa maskini kwa kuwa Yesu Kristo alikuwa maskini”.

Nadhani kuwa kuna wakristo wengi ambao wana mawazo kama haya. Ni kweli kwamba Yesu Kristo alipokuwa hapa duniani alikuwa maskini. Lakini hakuwa maskini ili sisi tuwe maskini; bali alikuwa maskini ili sisi tuwe matajiri! Kama alikuwa maskini ili sisi tuwe maskini kama wengine wanavyodhani, basi kazi hiyo haina faida kwetu. Lakini Yesu Kristo asifiwe kwa kuwa alikuwa maskini ili sisi tuwe MATAJIRI.

Na ndiyo maana alisema katika Luka 4:18a ya kuwa; “Roho wa Bwana yu juu yangu, kwa maana amenitia mafuta kuwahubiri MASKINI habari njema.”

Je! kuna habari njema kwa maskini zaidi ya kumwondoa katika umaskini wake?

Injili ni habari njema. Na injili ni uweza wa Mungu uuletao wokovu kwa kila aaminiye (Warumi 1:16). Kuokoka si kuenda tu mbinguni; bali kuokoka maana yake ni uokolewe usiende motoni bali uende mbinguni ukifa, PAMOJA na kuokolewa kutoka kwenye matatizo ukiwa hapa duniani ambayo ni pamoja na umaskini.

Petro aliposema “Bwana niokoe” alipokuwa anazama katika maji unafikiri alikuwa anataka wakati huo aokoke aende mbinguni? La hasha! Yeye Petro alitaka aokoke ASIZAME KATIKA MAJI. Na Yesu akasikia kilio chake akamwokoa. Hivi leo kuna watu wengi mijini na vijijini wanalia Yesu awaokoe kutokana na njaa, kukosa mavazi, magonjwa, maonezi, nakadhalika. Kanisa kama mwili wa Kristo linatakiwa kuwa mstari wa mbele kuwasaidia watu hao, kwa kuwa kazi hii ni sehemu ya utume wake.

Wakristo wengine utawasikia wakisema; hapa duniani hawahitaji kitu bali thawabu yao wataipata mbinguni. Lakini matamshi ya namna hii yanaeleza ukweli nusu na usiokamilika. Kuwa mkristo kuna thawabu duniani na kuna thawabu mbinguni.

Kama hakuna thawabu yoyote tunayoipata tukiwa hapa duniani kwa kumfuata Yesu Kristo; basi ukristo wetu hauna maana na hauna msaada wowote kwa mwanadamu. Ukristo usiotatua matatizo ya mwanadamu ya kila siku, ni ukristo usio na uhai.

Mtume Petro naye aliwahi kusumbuliwa

sana na jambo hili, hata ikabidi amuulize Bwana Yesu.

“Ndipo Petro akajibu, akamwambia, tazama, sisi tumeacha vyote tukakufuata, TUTAPATA NINI BASI?” (Mathayo 19:27)

“Yesu akasema, Amini, nawaambiaeni, hakuna mtu aliyeacha nyumba, au ndugu waume, au ndugu wake, au mama, au baba, au watoto, au mashamba, kwa ajili yangu, na kwa ajili ya Injili, ila atapewa MARA MIA SASA WAKATI HUU, nyumba, na ndugu waume, na ndugu wake, na mama, na watoto, na mashamba, pamoja na udhia; na katika ulimwengu ujao uzima wa milele” (Marko 10:29,30).

Majibu haya ya Bwana Yesu, yanazidi kutudhihirishia ya kwamba si mapenzi ya Mungu tuwe maskini. Yesu Kristo ameeleza wazi kabisa ya kuwa atakayemwamini na kufuata maagizo hayo atapata MARA MIA SASA WAKATI HUU akiwa bado duniani. Na kati ya vitu atakavyopewa ni pamoja na nyumba na mashamba!

Ni kweli Bwana Yesu Kristo alipokuwa hapa duniani alikuwa maskini, lakini baada ya kufufuka alirudishiwa utajiri wake. Ndiyo maana Mtume Paulo anazungumzia juu ya “….. utajiri wake Kristo usiopimika”. (Waefeso 3:8). Na katika Wafilipi 4:19 tunasoma hivi; “Na Mungu wangu atawajazeni kila mnachokihitaji kwa kadri ya utajiri wake, katika utukufu, ndani ya Kristo Yesu”.

Kumbuka ya kuwa; Yesu Kristo alichukua dhambi zetu na magonjwa yetu , na kwa kupigwa kwake sisi tumepona (Isaya 53:5; Mathayo 8:16,17; 1Petro 2:24). Na kwa kujua hili kanisa linajihusisha na kuombea wagonjwa na kutoa huduma za afya kwa wagonjwa.

Kumbuka ya kuwa; Yesu Kristo alichukua dhambi zetu na akafanyika dhambi kwa ajili yetu,

“ Ili sisi tupate kuwa haki ya Mungu katika Yeye” (2Wakorintho 5:21). Na kwa kujua hili kanisa linahubiri habari za ondoleo la dhambi kwa yeyote atakayemwamini Kristo.

Kumbuka ya kuwa; Yesu Kristo alikuwa maskini, ingawa alikuwa tajiri, ili kwa umaskini wake sisi tupate kuwa matajiri (2 Wakorintho 8:9). Na kwa kujua hili kanisa linajihusisha na miradi mbalimbali ya kimaendeleo ili mtu aondokane na umaskini.

Somo litaendelea...

The Law Was a Shadow of Christ Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-2)

“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins” ( Hebrews 10:1-2 )

This is a good question. For the time period this was written this would have made them stop and think. If the sacrifices, repeated endlessly, could have cleared the conscience and cleansed once for all, wouldn’t they stop being offered? While we don’t offer animal sacrifices today, this truth remains, as believers we spend a lot of time and energy wrapped up in traditions and doctrines of men instead of focusing on the person of Jesus Christ and in the finished work of the cross. While in reality, many of those things are realized in Christ and we are merely paying attention to a type and shadow of what has already come.

Here’s the contrast. If I were to come around a building with the sun to my back, you would be able to see my shadow coming. You would be able to ascertain certain things about me. You could see if I was tall or short, fat or thin, if I had long hair or short hair, there would be many things that you could get a glimpse of by the shadow that was arriving around the building before me.  However, once I appeared, you wouldn’t need my shadow to determine how I look, you would have the real thing standing in front of you. The same is true for Christ. The Law gave an outline of what Christ would be, but it merely served as a shadow to the real thing. Once Christ came, there is no need for the shadow. It is ridiculous to pay more attention to the shadow than the person.

This passage states this very clearly, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” To bring the point home, the writer draws attention to the fact that if they could have worked, they would have only needed to make the offering once, instead of time and time again. Pointing out that the one sacrifice would have cleared the conscience and absolved them from the guilt associated with sin. But this was not the case. This proves that the Law wasn’t the means to an end, the reality of it could only be found in Christ.

Which is exactly the point made in Hebrews chapter 10. The writer contrasts the endless sacrifices dictated by the Law with the one sacrifice made by Jesus and stresses many times that it was all that was needed to forgive sins and cleanse those who draw near, by faith, without any guilt or shame associated with sin.

“First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” ( Hebrews 10:8-18 ).

It is an incredible thing to grasp. The Law was a rude outline expressing what was coming. Christ is the reality of it. And since He has come, there is no need to continue in the things that were a type and shadow. Paul confirms this in Colossians, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” ( Colossians 2:16-17 ).

This is an amazing truth with which to renew our minds. Through Christ Jesus, we have been forgiven and cleansed of all guilt associated with sin ( Hebrews 10:18 ). We have been freed from the sin nature that previously held us captive ( Romans 6:6  ). And we have been given the Holy Spirit to assure our hearts before God ( I John 3:19-20 ). Resting in the person of Jesus Christ is far better - in every way imaginable - than being wrapped up in the type and shadow of what has already come.

Shalom

Max Shimba Ministries

JESUS IS GOD

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"His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God..." (Isaiah 9:6)

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Dear Friend,

The purpose of this course is that you might know more about Jesus Christ—who He is and what He has done.

In this lesson, we are going to see that Jesus is "The Mighty God," and that His name is truly wonderful.

Jesus Defeated Satan

At the very beginning of His public ministry, the Lord Jesus faced our great enemy, Satan, and defeated him.

The Bible says that the Lord Jesus was led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. He was without food for forty days and nights. At the end of this time, when Jesus was tired and hungry, Satan came to tempt Him.

Satan first tempted Jesus by trying to get Him to perform a miracle to satisfy His own needs. Satan knew that Jesus was very hungry, and he said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

Jesus could have done this, but it was not the will of His Father for Him to use His power in this way at this time. Therefore, Jesus answered Satan,

"It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

Three times Satan tempted Jesus, and three times Jesus answered him with the Word of God.

What was Satan trying to get Jesus to do? Satan was trying to get the Lord Jesus to disobey His Father. But Satan utterly failed. He could not get the Lord Jesus to sin. Jesus would not disobey His Father's will. Satan was defeated.

How did Jesus defeat Satan? He defeated Satan:

(1) by obeying His Father's will,

(2) by using the Word of God,

(3) by depending on the Holy Spirit.

We, too, can have victory over Satan if we obey God's will, use the Word of God, and depend on the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus defeated Satan again at the Cross of Calvary. We are going to learn more about this in another lesson.

Jesus Did Mighty Works

Jesus said that He was the Son of God. He showed that He was the Son of God by His mighty works. He had power (1) over the wind and sea; (2)over evil spirits; (3) over sickness and disease; and (4) over deathitself.

Jesus calmed the wind and sea.

In Matthew, chapter 8, we read that Jesus was in a ship with His disciples. He fell asleep in the ship. As He slept a great storm arose. The disciples were afraid that the ship would sink. They woke Jesus up saying, "Lord, save us: we perish."

Jesus spoke to the wind and the sea saying, "Peace, be still." The wind and waves became calm. The disciples marvelled and said,

"What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!" (Matthew 8:27)

Jesus commanded evil spirits.

Evil spirits are the servants of Satan. Oftentimes, they enter into people and cause them to do many terrible things. The evil spirits recognized Jesus as the Son of God. When He commanded, they obeyed Him. When the people saw this they marvelled and said,

"What a word is this! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." (Luke 4:36)

Jesus healed the sick.

Jesus had power to heal all sicknesses. He caused the lame to walk again; He restored sight to the blind; and He healed diseases. The Bible says that many sick people came to Him, and "He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them." (Luke 4:40)

Jesus raised the dead.

Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary, were friends of Jesus. Jesus loved these friends and spent much time visiting in their home.

One day, when Jesus was away, Lazarus became very sick. Martha and Mary sent for Jesus, but by the time Jesus reached their home, Lazarus had been dead four days.

Martha and Mary were very sad. They felt that if Jesus had only been there, Lazarus would not have died. But Jesus told them not to be sorrowful because God was going to use this occasion to show His power and glory. Jesus said,

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25

When Jesus reached the tomb where Lazarus was buried, He told the people to take away the stone that lay against the opening of the cave. Then Jesus spoke to Lazarus and said, "Lazarus, come forth." Lazarus, who had been dead four days, came forth still bound in his grave clothes. Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go."They loosed him. Lazarus was alive and well again!

Jesus had the Power to Forgive Sins.

The Lord Jesus not only had the power to heal people and to raise people from the dead, but He could do something that was far more important: He could forgive their sins.

One day four men brought a friend of theirs to Jesus. This man was sick of the palsy, and they brought him to Jesus so He could heal him. There were so many people around the Lord Jesus that they could not get near Him. They climbed up on the house, made a hole in the roof, and lowered the sick man down where Jesus was.

Jesus knew that this man needed to be healed, but He saw a greater need in his life—he needed to be forgiven of his sins. Jesus said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee."

The scribes and Pharisees who were present did not like this. They were thinking, "How can this man forgive sins? Only God can do this!"

Jesus knew their thoughts. He said,

"That you may know that the Son of Man has power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house." Luke 5:24

Immediately the man rose up, took up his bed, and went to his house, glorifying God.

Jesus Showed His Glory

One day Jesus showed His glory to three of His disciples, His glory as the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain. There He knelt down to pray. The disciples prayed also.

Then something strange happened. Jesus' face began to shine, bright as the sun. His clothes began to shine also. He was so bright that the disciples could hardly look at Him.

Then, all at once, two men were with Jesus. They were shining bright also. These two men were Moses and Elijah, and they were talking with Jesus. Then God the Father spoke from Heaven and said, "This is My beloved Son, hear Him."

The disciples never forgot that scene. Many years later, Peter wrote,

"We…were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory…when we were with Him in the holy mount." 2 Peter 1:16-18

Is Jesus Christ GOD?

Some people think of Jesus Christ as a great man and a marvellous teacher. Others speak of Him as a great leader who founded a new religion, but Jesus Himself declared that He was God. He said,

"I and My Father are one." (John 10:30)

When the Jews heard Jesus say that He was one with the Father, they took up stones to kill Him. Jesus said to them, "Many good works have I showed you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?"

The Jews answered, "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."

If Jesus were not really God, it would have been a terrible thing for Him to have claimed to be God. He would have been a liar and a deceiver and could not even be called a good man.

Does the Bible Teach that Jesus is GOD?

Yes, it does. There are many Scriptures which make it clear that Jesus is truly God.

The Bible says,

"In the beginning was the Word (the Lord Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us…" (John 1:1, 14a)

In Hebrews 1:8, the Bible says,

"But unto the Son He says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever…"

Colossians 2:9 says,

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the God head bodily."

Jesus Himself declared that He was God. He said,

"He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)

Jesus permitted His disciples to worship Him as God. When He appeared to Thomas after His resurrection, Thomas worshipped Him, saying,

"My Lord and my God." (John 20:28)

In Isaiah 44:6, God said,

"I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God."

In Revelation 22:13 the Lord Jesus said that He is "the first and the last"; therefore, He is God. Jesus said,

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

In John 5:22-23, the Bible says,

"For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent Him."

Yes, Jesus is God. He has always been God. He will always be God. But He did become a man.

The Lord Jesus is sometimes called "the God-Man." This is a very good name for Him because He is truly God and He is truly man.

Because He lived on this earth as a man, the Lord Jesus understands us perfectly. He knows what it is to be tempted, to be misunderstood, to be hated, to be poor, to be hungry, and to suffer persecution. Because He is a man, He knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted. Because He is God, He is wonderfully able to help us when we call on Him.

There is POWER in the Name of Jesus

Because of who Jesus is and what He has done, there is great power in His name. The name of Jesus is powerful:

(1) in the salvation of men,

(2) in our prayers, and

(3) in the warfare against Satan.

Let us consider each of these.

The name of Jesus is powerful in the salvation of men.

The Bible says,

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

If you are not saved take the Lord at His Word and call upon His name. Open your heart to Him and say, "O Lord Jesus! O Lord Jesus!" Confess your sins to Him. Thank Him for loving you and for dying for your sins. Ask Him to come into your heart and be your Saviour. He will hear you and save you. He said,

"him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)

The name of Jesus is powerful in our prayers.

We should always pray to the Father in Jesus' name. His name has great power.

The Bible tells us about a lame man who lay at the gate of the temple begging. Each day someone had to carry him to the temple. When the Apostle Peter saw him, he said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

The man leaped up and walked and went into the temple with them, praising God.

When people wondered how the man had been healed, Peter told them that it was by the power of Jesus' name.

Peter said,

"His name through faith in His name has made this man strong …" Acts 3:16

How wonderful is the name of Jesus! Begin now to pray to the Father in Jesus' name. Pray for your unsaved friends and loved ones. Pray about everything that concerns you. The Lord Jesus said,

"Until now you have asked nothing in My name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

The name of Jesus is powerful in the warfare against Satan.

Our enemy, Satan, hates us and wants to destroy us. The Bible says that he walks about "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

But, if Jesus is our Saviour, we don't have to fear Satan or his evil spirits. The Bible says,

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7b)

How do we "resist the devil"? We resist him in Jesus' name. The Lord Jesus has defeated Satan, and He has given us the right to use His name.

In the book of Acts, we read about a girl who was possessed of an evil spirit. She followed the Apostle Paul for many days. Paul was grieved in his spirit concerning this poor girl. He turned and said to the evil spirit that possessed her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." Immediately the evil spirit came out of her.

Call Upon JESUS

Begin now to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Whatever your need is, you can call upon Him. He is the mighty Son of God and He loves you. He wants you to call upon Him. The Lord says,

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:15

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50 REASONS WHY MUHAMMAD WAS NOT A PROPHET

 

Why should the entire world reject Muhammad as a prophet? Here are 50 reasons:

1. When Muhammad began receiving revelations, his first impression of these revelations was that they were demonic.

2. Muhammad was so traumatized by his encounter with "Gabriel" that he repeatedly tried to commit suicide by hurling himself off a cliff.

3. According to Muslim sources, Muhammad once delivered a revelation from the devil (the "Satanic Verses").

4. Muhammad claimed that he was a victim of a magic spell that gave him delusional thoughts and false beliefs.

5. Islam promotes idolatry (e.g., bowing down to the Kaaba and kissing the black stone).

6. Islam promotes pagan rituals (e.g., the pilgrimage to Mecca).

7. Islam deifies Muhammad by requiring unconditional obedience to him and by requiring Muslims to talk to him during their daily prayers.

8. After leaving Mecca, Muhammad supported his religion by robbing people.

9. Muhammad ordered his followers to torture a man named Kinana to find out where some money was hidden. Muhammad then had Kinana killed, and took his wife for himself.

10. Muhammad commanded his followers to kill critics of Islam.

11. Muhammad ordered his followers to kill apostates, even if they had good reasons for leaving Islam.

12. The Qur'an commands Muslims to violently subjugate Jews and Christians.

13. The Qur'an claims that stars are missiles that Allah uses to shoot demons.

14. The Qur'an claims that the sun sets in a pool of murky water.

15. Muhammad's teachings about personal hygiene would lead to death if Muslims took them seriously.

16. Muhammad claimed that Gabriel explained to him why children look like one parent or the other. Gabriel's answer is completely false.

17. When Muhammad was too shy to tell his dinner guests to leave, Allah stepped in with a special revelation that should make everyone wonder whether Muhammad's revelations really have anything to do with God.

18. The Qur'an declares that Christians find Muhammad mentioned in our scriptures. Yet our scriptures call Muhammad an antichrist.

19. In the Qur'an, Allah promises to kill Muhammad by severing his aorta if Muhammad invents a false revelation. When Muhammad died, he said he could feel his aorta being severed.

20. The Qur'an contains a prophecy that wasn't fulfilled.

21. The Qur'an presents a test for divine inspiration, but fails the test.

22. The central argument for the inspiration of the Qur'an is the "Argument from Literary Excellence," which is absurd on multiple levels.

23. The author of the Qur'an doesn't know that Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, is a different person from Mary, the mother of Jesus (because their names are the same in Arabic).

24. The Qur'an claims that Alexander the Great and Aesop were devout Muslims.

25. Allah promises to protect the Qur'an from corruption, but the Qur'an has been corrupted (by Muslim standards).

26. Muslims believe that the Qur'an is Allah's eternal Word. Yet Allah repeatedly changes his eternal mind about his eternal Word via abrogation.

27. The Qur'an is missing at least two verses in which Allah commands grown women to breastfeed grown men in order to prevent sexual misconduct.

28. The Qur'an contains numerous false stories that were plagiarized from other sources.

29. Muhammad allowed his followers to hire prostitutes.

30. The Qur'an allows Muslim men to have up to four wives at a time. But Muhammad received a special revelation giving him (and him alone) the right to break the four-wife limit.

31. Muhammad had sex with a prepubescent nine-year-old girl named Aisha.

32. The Qur'an allows Muslim men to beat their wives into submission.

33. Islam allows Muslim men to rape their female captives and slave-girls.

34. Muhammad married the divorced wife of his own adopted son (after Muhammad caused the divorce), and the Qur'an offers an absurd defense of Muhammad's actions.

35. When Muhammad's wife Sauda became fat and unattractive, Muhammad intended to divorce her. Sauda had to relinquish some of her marital rights to avoid being abandoned.

36. After Muhammad got caught having sex with his slave girl in the bed of one of his wives, he swore that he would stop having sex with his slave-girl. Allah ordered him to break that oath.

37. Muhammad claimed that women are less intelligent and less moral than men.

38. When Muhammad's wives asked why he was giving special privileges to Aisha, he justified his actions by saying that he received revelations while wearing Aisha's dress!

39. According to the Qur'an, Allah has no love for unbelievers.

40. According to the Qur'an, Allah is the "best of deceivers."

41. According to Muhammad, Allah wants people to sin, and he threatens us with annihilation if we refuse to sin.

42. Since Allah would destroy us for not sinning, the true savior of humanity, according to Islam, is Satan, who tempts human beings to sin and therefore protects us from being destroyed.

43. Muhammad didn't know whether he would go to heaven or hell when he died.

44. Islam teaches that Allah will punish Jews and Christians in hell for the sins of Muslims.

45. Muhammad promises his followers a paradise in which Allah will bless them with eternal erections so that they can continually deflower their virgins.

46. Islam affirms the inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, yet Islam contradicts these scriptures on a fundamental level.

47. Islam claims to respect and honor Jesus, yet it portrays him as a complete failure.

48. Muslims believe that the Gospel has been corrupted. But according to Islam, part of the Gospel was corrupted by Allah himself.

49. Islam reverses the Gospel by having the guilty Judas die on behalf of the innocent Jesus, rather than the innocent Jesus dying on behalf of sinners.

50. Christianity is confirmed by Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Since Islam contradicts Christianity, and has no comparable confirmation from God, we must reject Islam.

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ALLAH IS SATAN AND BAPHOMET IS HIS PROPHET

Muslims often contend with Christians that the Quran is the “word of God” and that the Bible is corrupted and cannot be trusted.

If you were Satan the enemy of God and all humanity, what would you do to confuse humanity in which the Word of God has already been given and what would you say?

You would do exactly what Islam is doing and saying. Muslims claim that after God gave the Old & New Testament, there was a need for another book with contrary instructions to the ones God has already given.  Let's ask Muslims  a couple of questions:

# What is a counterfeit?

# Can a person counterfeit money without knowing about the genuine money they’re about to counterfeit?

This applies to Islam whose Quran came 600 years after the completion of the Bible.

Saying the Quran is true and the Bible is false is an impossibility, because a counterfeit cannot exist without having first an original of what’s been counterfeited.

Muslims will argue that men are more powerful than God and were able to corrupt His Word, thus God had to give a new Word (The Quran) which far from "correcting" mistakes contradicts His original Word in thought word and deed through its falsified teachings and doctrine.

Not only the new so called “Word of God” contradicts His Old Word, but His “new prophet” (Muhammad) also contradicts all the prophets before him. He did so in holding a lower morality standard than those prophets mentioned in the Bible, by teaching contrary doctrine from those that came prior to him, by worshipping another god, by not prophesying as the prophets of the Bible did and lastly by being unable to perform signs.

Muslims will argue that Mohamed did prophesy certain things that came to pass, so did the Illuminati card game. Is therefore the Illuminati card game a prophet of God?

How about Jean Dixon or Nostradamus?

When a person works with Satan knowingly or unknowingly, Satan can safely say tomorrow you will be hit by a blue car at 3:00 PM.  What do you think will happen then?

Satan will orchestrate with his demons that particular event to occur and if the person is without God’s protection, that’s exactly how it will happen. This is the same concerning the Illuminati card game.

The Illuminati are a group of World elite in all branches of Government and entertainment. The same government and entertainment industry that pushes evolution, immorality,  encourages homosexuality, and manipulates the population into throwing God out of their lives.

When the people react favorably with their agenda and throw God out of their nation, that nation becomes unprotected.

Now, they can tell you what’s going to happen through movies, or by means such as the Illuminati card game, because all they have to do now its follow up by making their prediction happen over a nation or world that lacks the protection of the very God they rejected.

Case in point?

Satan has also his prophets and ministers.

(Matthew 24:24 KJV):

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

(2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV):

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

# WHO REALLY IS ALLAH?

Evidence shows that Lucifer who is Satan is really the Spirit behind Allah. Arabic speakers will argue that Allah is the “Word” for God in the Arabic language.

That may be true since most eastern countries throughout history has had and served many gods, the name for the one god chosen as to be the one true “God” happens to be the name of Satan as “Lucifer”.

The name Allah is derived from the Hebrew Chaldea word Halal which is the NAME OF SATAN in the scriptures in Isaiah 14.12, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (HALAL), son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

Now, the word “Lucifer” means light bearer. Interesting enough the symbol for Islam is the Moon and the star.

The moon it’s a light bearer, and is a lesser light than the sun according to Scriptures. Technically the moon it’s a “Lucifer”; a lesser light, than God.

Is there any wonder why Allah throughout history has been associated with the moon god?

# WHAT ABOUT THE STAR?

Stars throughout the Old Testament have always been associated with angels. Lucifer is a fallen angel who swore 5 wills against God.

The star represents his fallen angelic nature and the 5 wills against God.  The 5 wills of Lucifer (Satan) is also represented secretly by the 5 pillars of Islam. Pillars represent foundation, and Lucifer’s 5 wills are the foundations of how he is waging war against God and His people.

While the God of the bible does not force anyone to submit to him the god of Islam forces people to submit to him. Forcing people are the characteristics of Satan not God. The God of the Bible wants you to freely choose him; while the god of Islam will chop you head off if you don’t choose him. The God of the bible is clearly the God of choice while the God of Islam is the god of force.

 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:" (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV)

Isn’t it a coincidence that witches who are unknowingly a branch of Satanism worship the god of force or “the force”?

Could it also be a coincidence that their symbol it’s also a crescent moon and a star?

So now we know Allah is Lucifer in accordance to Isaiah 14:12

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (HALAL), son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

# MORE QUESTIONS FOR MUSLIMS 

# Did you know that Baphomet is old French for Muhammad?***

Attached is a picture of Baphomet. Can you spot the crescent moon and the-star?

# Did you know that the Knight Templar Shriners who are an Illuminati  branch of the Freemasons are pro Islamic and worship Baphomet which means Mohamed?

# If Islam is not Satanic, then why do we have satanic people, practices, hidden symbols, and meanings all connected in the mix of Islam?

Satan is counting on our ignorance and our unwillingness to search all things. That’s why false religions like Islam and Freemasonry keep their adherents so busy with works & rituals that they won’t have enough time to do anything else.

It is no coincidence that Islam fits Satan's agenda and purposes precisely. 

MAKE NO MISTAKE: #ALLAH_is_SATAN  #JESUS_is_GOD

*** "Modern scholars such as Peter Partner and Malcolm Barber agree that the name of Baphomet was an Old French corruption of the name Muhammad, with the interpretation being that some of the Templars, through their long military occupation of the Outremer, had begun incorporating Islamic ideas into their belief system, and that this was seen and documented by the Inquisitors as heresy. Alain Demurger, however, rejects the idea that the Templars could have adopted the doctrines of their enemies. Helen Nicholson writes that the charges were essentially "manipulative"—the Templars "were accused of becoming fairy-tale Muslims." Medieval Christians believed that Muslims were idolatrous and worshipped Muhammad as a god, with mahomet becoming mammet in English, meaning an idol or false god. This idol-worship is attributed to Muslims in several chansons de geste. For example, one finds the gods Bafum e Travagan in a Provençal poem on the life of St. Honorat, completed in 1300. In the Chanson de Simon Pouille, written before 1235, a Saracen idol is called Bafumetz."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet