Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

It is more painful when a loved one transit, especially toward the end of the year. As I write, I just heard of the death of the great Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pelé and the first question that popped up in my mind was why didn't he just hold on and get into the new year. It is painful. But come to think of it, the new year is just another new day, whether it reads 2022 or 2023. But our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has abolished death. He has formally put an end to death. Death is not an end, it is not cessation as some think of it. It is simply separation. Jesus abolished death when he died for us on the cross. Now we have the opportunity for life and immortality.  "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2Tim.1.10)  But this life and immortality are only revealed through the light of the gospe

"Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2Tim.1.9)  Your proclivities, your ideas, your desires, your gifts, talents, and most importantly, your purpose were given to you before the world began. They may have been revealed in time but they were there before the world began.  Why is the insect attracted or drawn to the light despite its best effort to avoid it? I am reminded of this advert I saw years back where there was this electric insect killer. The bright lights in the insect killer attract the insects and when it is drawn to them, it is electrocuted. And here was this baby insect that was warned by the mama to not look at the attraction, try as much as the baby insect did, it could not resist and it shouted, "I can't" as it was drawn by a force of attraction from the bright light and it ended up elect

Being ashamed is a form of fear, a shyness that says I don't want to be ridiculed. But the Apostle Paul says do not be ashamed to proclaim, to testify of the gospel of Christ.  "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" (2Tim.1.8)  There is a certain amount of affliction that is associated with the testimony of our Lord. Little wonder, Jesus said, if you are ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of you before my father.  "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." (Luke.9.26) God wants you to partake of this affliction so that you can also share in the glory. Your affliction of the gospel may differ from another person's affliction. But when you take part in it for the sake of th

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  (2Tim.1.7)  Sometimes the best way to define a thing is by identifying what that thing is not. By eliminating what it is not we are left with what it is. God starts by saying what he has not given you and then concluding on what He has given you.  He says He has not given you the spirit of fear. Fear comes in various ways or we can identify various forms of fear. In our text today, the form of fear as rendered by different translations boils down to either timidity or shyness. Some people are shy to a fault. To the point, it hinders them from achieving their goal. So also is timidity which is a variance of shyness that is a form of fear.  We have identified what we were not given so now let's focus on what we were given.  God has given you power- that is abilities, gifts, talents, and know-how. There are things you do exceptionally well. They may look small in your

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." (2Tim.1.6)  Today is boxing day, a day set aside to unbox the gifts received at Christmas. This is similar to what the Apostle Paul did with Timothy in our text today.  The first thing to note was that the gift of God was already in you. So he reminded him of the gifts that Timothy had received. Staying in a state of perpetual remembrance was the key to exploring this gift. Said in another way, he wanted Timothy to stay conscious of this gift that God has given him. That way the gift is stirred up and put to use.  What is the gift of God in you? As you unbox your Christmas gift, be reminded of the irrevocable, eternal gift that your heavenly father has gifted you to bless humanity with. I urge you to be conscious of it, stay reminded, and put it to use. Use it so you do not lose it.  The servant with one talent did not use his talent and therefo

A wise man has said, it is not what you leave to your children that counts but what you leave in them. So that even if what you left them is taken away, that which is left in them will still reproduce what was stolen.  It is like when a person reads and acquires knowledge, what they learn cannot be taken from them. It becomes theirs to keep.  "That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith--and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you!" (2Tim.1.5)  The place of parents and what they leave in their children is very important. The Apostle Paul spoke of a hand-me-down faith in the life of Timothy. It was first in the grandmother, then the mother but now has been passed down to Timothy.  He says this pass-me-down faith is rich. What is the quality of the faith you are leaving in your children? To pass down your faith to your children, do what we are admonished here: "And these words which I am

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus." (2Tim.1.1)  We have a promise of life in Christ Jesus. If you do not take anything else away from today's write-up, take away the fact that you have the promise of life in Christ Jesus.  This promise of life is in Christ Jesus. Jesus told us that the devil came to steal, kill and destroy but that he has come that you may have life, more life, and abundant life.  "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John.10.10)  Jesus wants us to enjoy life. That means devoid of sin, sickness, and disease. When God promises He fulfills the promise. The onus is on us however to claim and enjoy that promise. The way we claim all of God's promises is by believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths.  Therefore I confess

"People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you!" (1Tim.6.21)  Certain actions can only be attributed to the overwhelming grace of God. When the overwhelming grace of God is upon you, your actions are beyond human guidance.  The Story of the woman whose only son was shot dead but she chose to forgive the murderer and now not only lives next door to him but also goes out with him to share the message of forgiveness with others can only be attributed to the overwhelming grace of God.  The Apostle Paul says that this overwhelming grace of God keeps - that is, it carries you when you can't carry yourself. It sustains you when you can't sustain yourself. Helps you forgive when you are hurt, even seventy times seven times in a day. The overwhelming grace helps you to not pay attention to a suffered wrong. And that overwhelming grace is available to you.  "In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him

"And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts." (1Tim.6.20)  The Apostle Paul asked Timothy to guard the treasure that was given to him with his life. What are you guarding with your life? What treasure has been committed to your hands? Do you have an idea of what it is?  Everyone has been given something worth guarding with their life. What's yours? That's what the parable of the talent was all about. The Apostle Paul further warmed Timothy. He writes: "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." (2Tim.1.6)  Why is there a need to guard this treasure?  He says because there is a trap, a danger of trying to show off in what he calls a talk-show religion. He says to avoid it and avoid the practiced confusion of so-called experts. Another translation say

"Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them." (1Tim.6.18)  It is true that money is a willing servant and that the primary use for money is to do good works.  Paul says to Timothy to tell those who have money to use their money to do good works. What are you doing with your money?  They should be rich in good works. That means that there are some in whom there is a dearth of good works. Meaning they may be rich financially but are not rich in good works. Your money is not just for you to luxuriate, flex, and show off your new this, that, or the other but for you to do good works, share generously with those in need, and be always ready to share.  Rich is relative so do not exempt yourself and think that it is other people who are rich. The point that should be made here is that your money should be used to do good work. I

Between the God who can meet all of your needs when you call and the amount of money that can get you anything you ever wanted, which would you choose? Some have said if all their needs were met, there won't be a need for God.  So money is equated to God in certain quarters even without knowing it. Money is meant to be enjoyed and spent but God fills a certain void that only God can fill.  "As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment." (1Tim.6.17)  The Apostle Paul's charge to the rich is to not be proud, arrogant, and contemptuous of others and to not set their hopes on uncertain riches. Riches are uncertain, they cannot be relied on as you can on God.  God is the One Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. If that is the case, why then d

"I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch" (1Tim.6.13)  This was Apostle Paul's charge to Timothy his godson. But before we get into the charge, it is important to note before Whom this charge is made.  He says before the life-giving God - God is the life-giver. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The life-giving God lives in us and if He lives in us, then we have the life of light that He gives.  He says I am charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ that you do not give an inch. And then he gave the testimony of Christ before Pilate.  In life, there will be trying moments that will demand an inch from you. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:34 that sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. In other words, each day has enough trouble. All the enemy is looking for is an inch. This is more reason you should not give an inch. Stand your ground

"Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses." (1Tim.6.12)  We know that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood. Our foe is not a physical one, therefore our fight is not physical.  What then is the good fight of faith?  Our fight is with staying true to the standards and dictates of what the scriptures say.  At the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, the temptation was about staying true to his identity - if thou be the Son of God. You will notice that the tempter came to try to dissuade him of who he was. The good fight of faith therefore for Christ Jesus was to stay true to what the word of God says He is.  Paul at the Philippi jail, his temptation was to stay put in prison even when the prison doors were flung wide open. It was a morality and ethical fight. Many will fail and have failed at that. Will you remain true to who you are publicly and in p

But thou, O man of God I am at a loss as to how it has become a thing in this day and age, where people tell you, I cannot do business with Christians. Some even go as far as to say, "once I hear the word pastor, that's a red flag for me". Really? Is it that bad?  I wonder where we have gotten it wrong. But if we take heed to Paul's admonition to the "man of God" in this verse, maybe we will have a chance at changing that.  "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1Tim.6.11)  He began by saying "flee these things". What are the things that we ought to flee as "men of God"? Previous verses had talked about greed, the love of money, and learning to be content with food and raiment. And then he points us to what we should follow after - in other words, what we should pursue.  He says we should pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, p

Let me start by reiterating that it is not money that is the root of all evil. It is the love of money.  What does this mean?  It means your attitude towards money, how you respond to money or how you esteem money. One transaction renders it as the lust for money. Do you lust for money?  "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1Tim.6.10)  When one loves money, one places money up and puts people down; one places money above all else, including God. Little wonder Jesus said one cannot serve God and money.  "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matt.6.24 NIV)  A vivid example that comes to mind is the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-27. He admitted that he had done all that the law required of him.  &q

Money is an awful master but a willing maid. The ability to tame money is one of the greatest skills one will ever master. If you do not learn to master money, money will master you. Money has been shown to part friends, attract attention, and curry favours, little wonder most people want to be rich.  When you have experienced the benefits of having the money you will never want to be poor. Money is good and as a result, many people pursue money to their detriment. The Apostle says that those who will be rich will fall into temptation and snare.  "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." (1Tim.6.9)  When you look at this verse, the impression would seem that God does not want you to be rich. But that is not the case. That is not true. God wants you to be rich, and prosperous. He takes delight in the prosperity of His servants. So what is the import of this v

What is it really that satisfies you? People have pursued ventures they think will give them satisfaction only to get to the peak and find out that they feel emptier than they were when they started. What you think will satisfy you and what really satisfies you are two different things.  The Apostle Paul says we should be satisfied with as simple things as food and raiment.  What?  "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." (1Tim.6.8)  So we will notice that satisfaction has nothing to do with what one possesses Jesus said it this way: "Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be.” (Luke 12:15 GNT)  What then is your true life? What then is it that satisfies you? You will notice also from our text, what we should be guarding against is greed. Greed wants and wants, it is never satisfied and this is what drives so many people to possess and p

The rat race requires us to run helter-skelter, from pillar to post just so we can make ends meet. People no longer have time for the things that truly matter. We wake up early and sleep late just so we can acquire wealth, only to spend that wealth treating sickness when we break down. Remember, we brought nothing to this world and we will take nothing with us when we die.  "After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die."  (1Tim.6.7)  What then should we do, knowing either way we will go out empty-handed? We should live in such a way that when the time comes and we must leave this world we would have left something behind that makes the world a better place than we met it.  What will you leave behind? I urge you to leave good behind. What will your life account for when you are remembered?  I am reminded of the man who asked his young friend who was just starting his life thi

"A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God." (1Tim.6.6)  What are you devoted to? To be devout is to be deeply committed to... It is mostly associated with religion but the truth is, whatever you are deeply committed to you will be good at. The more time you devote to the place of prayer, the better you become at it. The more time you devote to the study of God's word, the better you'll become.  Malcolm Gladwell in his book "Outliers" says one has a chance of becoming an expert in any field if one has spent at least 10,000 hours. He calls it the 10,000-hours rule.  Our text says a devout life brings wealth. So I ask again, what are you devoted to? If you devote your mind to developing a skill, writing a book, or learning a new language, the more time you assign to the task, and practice, of course, in the correct way, the more chances you will have at becoming an expert.  The Apostle Paul told

"These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich." (1Tim.6.5)  The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has never been a commodity for sale. Over the years there have been some who have made it a venture for money-making. But the Apostle Paul reminds us that this should not be the case We saw in Acts 8 that after Samaria had received the gospel through the Evangelist Philip and Apostles Peter and John had gone to see what God was doing and to minister the Holy Spirit to new believers and they were offered money.  "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." (Acts.8.18 - 20) Th

"Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them." (1Tim.6.2 NIV)  The term Christian slaver masters is indeed an aberration in itself but I will ask that you stretch your mind to accommodate not only masters and slaves as mentioned in our text but also the relationship between a boss and a subordinate, a client and a customer relationship manager, a visitor and a family member.  We have looked at a believer honouring his unbelieving master but today we will look at honouring a believing master. And Paul says do not show them less respect because they are brothers - as in Christian brothers.  Let us take a detour here to mention this. It is interesting how we tend to honour outsiders more than we do insiders, especially in the home setting.