Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

What does it mean to glory in the cross? The story of the disciples in the book of Acts of the Apostles helps throw light on what it means to glory in the cross. But for the benefit of those who do not understand the symbol of the cross, I will tell you. It is a symbol of suffering, pain, and persecution. Jesus died on the cross, and that was the peak of suffering for the Christian. Hence Jesus would say, "take up your cross and follow me" It was the believers' pride to suffer the suffering his or her master had had to suffer. Remember when the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to ask for a position of honour for his two sons (James and John), the question Jesus asked was if they can drink of the cup that he would drink from - meaning will they be willing to suffer as he would even unto death. (See Matthew:20:20-23) "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts.5....

I wonder what the world be like if we all went out of our ways to not only look for but also create opportunities to do good to others? It is my observation that we create opportunities to be blessed. Our jobs create opportunities to increase our wealth. We exercise, and create diets to increase our health. In other words, the opportunities we create are to be a blessing to us. God told Abraham that "I will bless you and you will be a blessing" "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" (Gen.12.2) One proof that you are blessed by God is that you become a blessing. That is you create opportunities to be a blessing to others. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal.6.10) Find the opportunity to do good. And when we do, we put our God on display for the world to taste and see how ...

There is a due season for everything. As long as we are in this spherical plane called earth, time is a factor we cannot do without. Time processes things, time matures the process and in time results are delivered. That makes the time a very important factor if we are to accomplish anything. We must give time its due diligence. Little wonder the preacher tells us, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" (Eccl.3.1) There is a due season - a time when what you have worked for will give you its dues, its increase. The bible told a story of a fig tree that did not bear fruit because it was not in its season yet. But got cursed before it was time for it to produce. (See Mark11:12-25). Everything produces in its season, at least that much we believe.  "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Gal.6.9) Before that due season, if you are not careful you could faint a...

"Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others--ignoring God!" (Gal.6.7 MGS) No one makes a fool of God. How does one make a fool of God? When he or she thinks they can sow one thing and reap another thing. It says when you think like this, you are being misled. It says if you plant selfishness, by ignoring the needs of others. In other words, if you are blinded to the needs of others, you are selfish, and if you are selfish, you are not only ignoring the needs of others, you are also ignoring God. Jesus made this very clear to us when he said: "Then those "goats' are going to say, "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?' "He will answer them, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these t...

The teaching profession is one of the noblest professions. The teachers are the ones who train and teach all the other professionals but they are about the least paid. Their reward, I hear is in heaven. Even those teachers who teach the word of God seem to suffer the same fate so the Apostle Paul gave a specific instruction here in our text. The Apostle Paul says those that are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them. "Those who are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them." (Gal.6.6 NLT) We can indeed help these teachers in several other ways. We can pray for them, we can help with house chores, and so forth. But Paul the apostle was so specific, he says help them by paying them. If they teach you the word, then help them by paying them. Jesus indeed said, freely you have received, freely give "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received...

The construct of this verse leaves nothing to chance but to the very act of taking responsibility for your own life. But let's break it down: each person must take responsibility for what they are doing - for every action you take, be reminded that you will take full responsibility for it. Does this not bring to mind the events that took place in the garden of Eden? Adam blamed the woman, the woman blamed the serpent. "The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done? The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. (Gen.3.12 -14) And it appears the blame game is continuing today. No one is willing to take responsibility for their actions.  Take...

The concept of servant leadership that tends to serve the led has to sink in. Leadership is not lordship, leadership is not kingship, leadership is service, especially service to the vulnerable amongst us. Jesus was asked who the greatest should be and he called a child into their midst and said: "Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." ("Matt.18.4) Your leadership abilities are of little importance if they do not serve the needs of the poor. Meeting the needs of the poor is at the heart of God's agenda. "If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody." (Gal.6.3 NLT) Do not think you are too important to help someone in need? The Psalmist tells us that when we lend to the poor God becomes indebted to us. We have become very strategic to a fault. We take gifts to important people in society so that those gifts wi...

The universe is governed by laws. When the laws of the universe are broken, the offender suffers terribly for it. For example, the law of gravity states that 'what goes up must come down due to gravity. The law says if you jump up, you will eventually return to the ground. The law of Christ found in John.13.34 says "I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another." This is the law Christ expects to govern the lives of the believer. The Apostle Paul explains how we can do this in our text. He says: "Bear (endure, carry) one another 's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. (Gal.6.2 Amp) We are expected to bear one another's burden. That, when we do this we are fulfilling perfectly the law of Christ. To love one another is no longer contin...

One of the easiest things to do is to criticize. A wise man once said, any fool can criticize but it takes the wise to build up. Criticism stifles creativity. So you want to decide either to be creative or save those critical comments. "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out." (Gal.6.1 MSG) The opposite of creativity is criticism. Here in our text, the Apostle Paul made a definitive statement: if anyone falls into sin. Meaning everyone is susceptible to sin. And the word used is fall- no one trips on purpose. For one to fall, he trips or is tripped The Apostle Paul says if this happens, it is not time to tongue-lash them, it is not time to point fingers, it is not time to teach them a lesson, It is not time to criticize such a one but he says, it is time to forgiving and  restore such a one.  To restore is to reinstate, t...

This is a worthy admonition in this day and age we live in. And you would think it is a given, that one would live creatively. But here, the apostle reminds us to live creatively. Creative is a term used in today's parlance to describe those who used their minds in such a way to create content of varying creative works. The Apostle Paul says to us to live creatively "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out." (Gal.6.1 MSG) What does it mean to live creatively? Let's see some synonyms that will help us see the word creative differently: imaginative, clever, artistic, original, inventive, innovative, ingenious, inspired, visionary. To live creatively requires that you think and that you are flexible. Thinking is a skill very few have come to master. The very nature of man presupposes that he was created as a thinking ...

The best brands in the world, the best designers, and inventors all have one thing in common, they leave their imprint on their works, whether overtly or covertly. God isn't any different. Every single one of us is a specimen for the world to behold. We are uniquely different from one another yet we are all the same - humans, male and female. There is a signature that we each carry that differentiate us from one another "That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." (Gal.5.26 MSG) Your strength is your own not another's. The way you do what you do makes you the you that you are. Whether you like it or not. You may admire other people's way of doing things better but that doesn't invalidate your own. We are all purpose-specific, purpose-built. So when you understand yourself better, you will understand t...

There is so much truth that believers have so much mental ascent of but with little or no commensurate reality in their lives. Paul the Apostle puts it this way: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." ('2Tim.3.5) There is so much form of godliness - so much form but no substance. And the form on its own is of little help. Power is what gives the form substance. The Apostle Paul began to challenge the believer to walk in the spirit, to move beyond "a form" of godliness to godliness. He talked about our fleshy desires haven being crucified and given to walking in the Spirit. "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives."(Gal.5.25 MSG) He says since you have decided to walk in the Spirit. One thing thàt this tells y...

"Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good--crucified."(Gal.5.24 MSG) This passage of Scripture cannot be more apt and handy at this present time than any other time in the year. We live in a season that will place unnecessary demand on you. This season is such that people tend to show off all of their achievements as the year comes to an end. And as a result, you will see people who will buy things they do not need to impress people that don't like them just so the people think of them as important. The Apostle Paul says we do not belong to the group that mindlessly responds to what everyone calls necessity anymore. He says we do not get our own way anymore because we have crucified all of those desires. I respond from a place where I am mindful, thoughtful, and helpful. I respond as Christ would respond, not in the flesh but after...

The presencé of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer has been described as "something on the inside working on the outside, oh what a change He brings to my life!" When the Holy Spirit indwells the believer, His assignment is to reveal Jesus to us. Jesus said He will take of me and show it to you" "He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. (John.16.14) When this happens and the believer begins to respond to the things the Holy Spirit declare, disclose and transmit to him, our text begins to be seen in the life of the believer "But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness," (Gal.5.22) The Apostle Paul puts it this way, "the work which His presence within accomplishes" i...

The third person in the trinity, God the Holy Spirit has always come to us in scripture as a gentle, no-imposing entity. He is so gentle that He is depicted as a 🕊️ dove. His strength is in His gentleness. He knocks at the door and except you open He does not come in(see Rev:3:20) The primary assignment of the Holy Spirit is to lead and guide the believer that Jesus died for and purchased with His blood. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John.16.13) As important as this assignment is, the Holy Spirit requires the consent of the believer to lead him. "Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? [JC] (Gal.5.18 MSG) The Holy Spirit wants to lead you. Do you want to be led by the Holy Spirit? Then you have to yield ...

Choices are the most determining factor in predicting one's destiny. We have ofter believed that destiny is a fixed location that the believer will arrive at. But the truth is that destiny is an adventure in purpose fulfillment and not a destination because there is always a place called forward. When you get there God calls you further. So as you transverse this spherical globe called earth, make sure you are living adventurously in fulfilling God's purpose for your life. "The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict." (Gal.5.17 NLT) The flesh has desires and anyone who denies this is living in denial. But the Spirit of God also gives us desires that are opposite from what the flesh desires. Herein lies the conflict...

An abode is a place where one finds solace, rest, and peace of mind. A place where one lives. The Bible has many references to this effect. He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High (Psa:91:1)  In my Father house are many mansions (John 15) My house shall be called a house of prayer (Matthew 21) and the list goes on. In most of these references, not one refers to God as the house in which the believer should dwell. But the Apostle Paul made us understand that God the Holy Ghost is a dwelling place for the believer. He says "But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). (Gal.5.16 Amp.) He says walk and live habitually in the Hily Ghost. It is one thing to walk with the Holy Ghost but another thing to live in the Holy Ghost. In other words, in Him, you live, move, and have your being. T...

The fear that the message of grace is an excuse to do whatever a person wants to do, did not start today. It started way back. It is true that when God created man, He created him with free will - the ability to choose as he will. God never intended for man to be forced or coerced into a relationship with Him. He seeks for those who will worship Him to do so willingly and in spirit and truth. God wants man to choose Him. The Apostle Paul says God has called you to live a free life. A life where you are responsible for the choices you make. "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows (Gal.5.13 MSG) He warned however that you make sure that your freedom, is a choice to serve others in love. The life of service is one of the most powerful life any...

Little drops of water 💦 make a mighty ocean is the way the saying goes. There is power in small stuff, especially small stuff that is done repeatedly. Sometimes, you have got to sweat the small stuff. The small stuff, the leaven, is what I have referred to as the insignificant other. It appears insignificant but cumulatively it can bring down the high and mighty. The Apostle Paul teaches us to not toss this off as insignificant, he says given a chance it can permeate the entire system. "And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. (Gal.5.9 MSG) What small stuff are you tossing off as insignificant? Little white likes? Little porn? Little betting? Little prayerlessness? Little, all of these may seem, but cumulatively, they could bring a person down. I am reminded of Samson's story in Judges 16. It looked innocent enough, looked insignificant enough but in the long ru...

I am sure you are familiar with the term 'Weapons of Mass Distractions' (WMD). They are nothing short of interference. We live in an era where these WMDs are in full circulation. They come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. They come in form of people, gadgets, apps, videos, music, and more. They are tailored specifics intended to either slow you or weigh you down until you abort your destiny. They know they can't stop you so the plan is to get you to stop yourself or to distract you. "You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth?"(Gal.5.7 NLT) The Apostle Paul says they were getting along so well"- this is a glowing commendation, an outstanding review but my concern with it is that it is in the past tense. There are so many people whose glories are in the past. They are "used-to-be's". They use to be this and they use to be that. They use to pray, they use to study the word o...

A wise man once said that "having faith is simply about being persuaded that the Lord is good and that His word is true". Faith is an essential factor in the Christian walk. When we look at the concept of faith we see faith In operation in several facets. We see faith as to how we please God.  "But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb:11;6)  What does that tell us? That faith is not necessarily just a commodity to acquire stuff from God but it is primarily a means by which we please God. This is not the thrust of most people that seek to have faith. Their thrust is to use faith as a means of exchange, a currency with which they acquire stuff. We also know that by faith we can acquire stuff. Jesus said, "Be it unto you according to your faith". (See Matt:9:29) So faith acquires. And then Ephesian tells us that faith acts as...