Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Tender on sinners, tough on sin  "Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven." (Jude.1.23 MSB) If there was one lesson we can all take away from the event of Esther, and indeed the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is that God was tender on sinners but tough on sin and still is.  God would not punish the sinner but rather put that punishment of His Son so that the sin problem is dealt with once and for all. At best, what man got out of dealing with sin was a cover-up, shedding the blood of bulls and goats to make a covering. After which they return every year. But Jesus becomes sin so that the sinner becomes the righteousness of God in Christ.  "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2Cor.5.21)  God always love sinners but hates sin. So if you are struggling with a besetting sin, know that G...

Staying in the center of God's love  "staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! ( Jude.1.21 MSB) When we think of the significance of the holiday we celebrate today "Good Friday" we know that staying in the center of God's love and keeping our arms open and outstretched ready to receive the mercy of our Master Jesus Christ is not negotiable.  On this day he died for us, defeating all the evil forces combined, who seek to keep us in perpetual servitude. The host of hell thought that as they nailed him to the cross, stretched wide and hung high, they had won the victory.  "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1Cor.2.8)   But for our sake he endured such contradiction just so we will find access to the center of God's love. (see Heb. 12...

Building up yourself "But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; (Jude. 1.20 AMP) Our text opens with a conjunction "But" meaning the writer is contrasting this thought In this verse with that of the previous verse.  In the previous text, the Apostle Jude tells us about those who are led by their instinct because they do not have the Spirit of God. And then in our text he says "But you beloved, build yourselves up". He says the way you build yourself is by praying in the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Holy Spirit is praying in other tongues. When you pray in the spirit you build yourself up. You do not have to be loud, and if you can, be loud but what is important is kibgcpryingintge spirit as regularly as possible. There are several reasons we should pray in the Spirit. But I will mention just one and that is found in Roman:8:26-27 " Likewise the...

Gut feeling or God's Spirit "Now they are here, and they are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They live by natural instinct because they do not have God's Spirit living in them. (Jude.1.19 NLT) The Apostle Jude tells us more about those we should be wary of. And he tells us these people are the ones who create division among us. He says these people are not led by the spirit of god but by their instinct. And a case really can be made for being led by instinct.  The importance of your instincts cannot be overemphasized. The Apostle Paul says that through instinct we learnt what was right from what was wrong. "They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. (Rom.2.15 MSB) But better than your instinct is the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He perfectly understands the mind of God. So whe...

Stay away from them "When these people join you in fellowship meals celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are shameless in the way they care only about themselves. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing. They are like trees without fruit at harvesttime. They are not only dead but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out by the roots. (Jude.1.12 NLT) The Apostle Jude describes certain men whom he referred to as "these people". He says when they join in our fellowship celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck us.  Really?  Shipwreck us?  Then we must take note of "these people". People that can cause you damage, you should note them. To note who "these people" are, he describes them or the traits that will help us identify them.  He says they care more about themselves. They are selfish. If we ar...

The way of Cain, the error of Balaam and the rebellion of Koerah Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain [it offers them, following] the error of Balaam, and have perished in rebellion [like that] of Korah! (Jude.1.11 AMP) The Apostle Jude described certain individuals who were in the church. He says they have run riotously in the way of Cain and have abandoned themselves because of the gain and by so doing have followed in the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of Korah.  Three very interesting Bible characters who did not toll the right and examplery path.  What is the way of Cain, the error of Balaam and the rebellion of Koerah?  Cain we know invented his own method of trying to please God. He brought God a sacrifice that wasn't acceptable. And in so doing was rejected and as a result killed his brother. (see Gen:4) The error of Balaam was that he put gain ahead of obeying God. As Christ...

Limits of authority "And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. (Jude.1.6 NLT) God is a God of order. He has all things in their places and a place for each thing. He is not the author of confusion. God operates by principles and those principles cannot be broken unless of course by a higher principle. Like the law of aerodynamic superimposes itself over the law of gravity.  Our text speaks of angles who left the position of authority, or like our text puts it, did not stay within the limits of their authority. When you hear some people speak, you'd think they were the one's deputising for the Holy Spirit. Some are out to correct every doctrinal error. But that work is for the Holy Spirit. The Bible says when he, the Holy Spirit comes he guide you into all truth.  "you Howbeit when he, the Spirit o...

God forgives but...  " I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." ( Jude.1.4 NLT) It is true that forgives but the forgiveness of God is not a license to continue in sin. Jude, the Apostle tells us that people who say and do this are godless. And then he says they wormed their way in among Christians. That's is they come in subtly. Why? They aim to deceive and lure people from the ways of God.  When God forgives, he expects genuine repentance and forsaking of that sin. If that is a besetting sin as Hebrews 12 :1 mentioned, then there would be  godly sorrow, which is what the Apostle Paul spoke of when he said  "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2Cor.7.10)  Godly sorr...

Contend for the faith "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude.1.3)  If there was one thing we learned from the story of Gideon in the book of Judges it is the fact that a man should not fight for his God. But our text says to contend for the faith that was handed down unto the saints.  What does this mean?  The Apostle Paul helps us understand this when he speaks about persuading men. To persuade others you would have first yourself be convinced  "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (2Cor.5.11)  Our contention then is to persuade others to escape the terror of the Lord. To do that Knowledge is required, and conviction is a given. Or else, how do you persuade whe...

Called, Sanctified, and preserved "Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: (Jude.1.1 NKJV) God preserves his own. Jude lets us know that God does not only call but when he calls he sanctifies and those he sanctifies he preserves.  Jesus told his disciples that they did not choose him, but he rather called them and chose them.  "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John.15.16) God does the calling - when he calls you will you answer? He calls you the way you are; all you have to do is to answer when he calls. He says when you open the door of your heart, he will come in and sup with you and you with him. It is this fellowship routine that sanctifies those who answer the call.  "Behold, I...

Hospitality worthy of God Himself "They've made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It's good work you're doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! (3John.1.6 MSB) When I read this verse, the phrase," hospitality worthy of God" piqued my interest. I told myself, that this act of hospitality was done by a man like me. If he could do that so could I. If he could do that so could you.  His acts of hospitality were second to none. It is a mindset. That means he saw people as God or at least as deserving of the worth of the hospitality that God deserves. It also means that he sees these people as God sees them and that they were deserving of only the best.  I am reminded of this scripture that says "Everything one does it should be done as unto the Lord". I bet this was his watchword. And when you have this as a guiding principle, everyone will be deserving of the hospitality worthy of G...

Fine and faithful work "Beloved, it is a fine and faithful work that you are doing when you give any service to the [Christian] brethren, and [especially when they are] strangers. (3John.1.5 AMP) Two key words stand out in this text, these are fine and faithful. The Apostle John commends the beloved brother saying he does fine and faithful work when he gives any service. If one was to examine your work, would it be said to be fine and would it be faithful?  I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul told Timothy. He said to look for faithful and able men who will be able to teach others also.  "And the [instructions] which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust [as a deposit] to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also. (2Tim.2.2 AMP) It is one thing to be faithful and that is key but that faithfulness must translate to doing fine work, doing excellent work. And that was what our text commended the beloved ...

Persist in following the way of Truth  "I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth." (3John.1.3  MSB) It was a wise man who said that standards will slip unless they are continually upheld. The same applies to the truth. We must persist in following the way of Truth.  After a while, nature takes its course, and then everything begins to head southward, so also we tend to vie from the truth unless and until we persist in following the way of Truth. Little wonder the author of our text says this brought him great joy.  A lot of things will come to deter you from the way of Truth. Sometimes it is fast gain, quick money and you will think it does not harm anyone but be careful to persist in following the way of Truth.  "You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood. (Heb.12.4 AMP) You have to stand ...

My prayer for you "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3John.1.2 NKJV) This was a prayer of one friend for another. It came from the place of love. Little wonder he called him "Beloved". That tells us something about prayer, especially praying for our loved ones and this is, it should come from a place of love and not fear. Some pray from the place of fear.  He prayed that his friend "May prosper in all things". This is possible. This kind of prayer is only possible because it is coming from a heart that loves. We live in a world where people laugh in your face but plan evil behind you. Learning to pray for your friends is learning to pray for yourself. Job prayed for his friend and God gave him a double portion.  "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job.42.10) Jesus prayed for his disciples...

Substitute gods "Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods) - [from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be)." (1John.5.21 AMP) We admonished to keep ourselves from idols, (false gods). And we are told what these false gods may look like. It says false gods are anything and everything that would occupy the place of God in our hearts - a substitute for God.  For a lot of people, there have been substitute gods in their hearts. What is that thing you rely on instead of on God? Is God more than able and enough for you? Is there something or someone who's taking the place of God in your heart?  For some, it is their spouses - you know this is so because of the lengths they are willing to go to when their spouse does not come through in their needs financial. If you recognize that God is your source and every other thing or perso...

Held firmly by God "We know that we are held firm by God; it's only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One." (1John.5.19 MSB) We do not deny the existence of the evil one, the one called Satan or the devil. He is referred to as the accuser of the brethren and an adversary. Paul the Apostle tells us that he is the god of this world. (see 2 Cor:4:4) But I've got good news for you If you are a believer in Christ Jesus: "You are not in the grip of the evil one. Rather, God holds you firm in His hands.  Our text says "We know..." It is important to know that you are 'held firm by God'. What we know determines what and how we trust. Trust that despite all that is going around God has got your back. He says I will be with you in trouble. Though there was darkness in Egypt, there was light in Goshen. Whatever the Egyptians suffered did not come upon the children of Israel. That typifies for us what our experiences should be in ...

God-begotten are God-protected. "We know that none of the God-begotten makes a practice of sin--fatal sin. The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can't lay a hand on them." (1John.5.18 MSB) The Apostle John also known as John the Beloved, lay a very systemic theology where he showed the believer who the believer is in Christ.  He told us in 1 John. 4.4 that the Greater One lives in us and then went on to show us that as Christ is so are we in this world.  Then he tells us that sin tries to rob us of this glorious identity. He says though sin tries, sin does not dominate us because he that is born of God overcomes the world.  "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1John.5.4)  And he that overcomes the world does not make a practice of sin because such a one is God-begotten. And such that is Go's-begotten, is God-protected.  Jesus said that all that the Father...

Confidence in prayer  "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us" (1John.5.14)  Confidence toward God in the place of prayer is very important. Paul tells us in the Book of Hebrew to not cast away our confidence for it has a great recompense of reward.  "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." (Heb.10.35)  So what the devil tries to do is rob you of your confidence. He does this by throwing jabs of guilt and self-condemnation. But as you may know, guilt is a worthless emotion, valid nonetheless.  Our text says "This is the confidence that we have in him". Our confidence is not in ourselves nor is it in our righteousness but in Christ alone. In Christ, we are made the righteousness of God (see 2 Cor:5:21) And this confidence assures us that when we ask anything in accordance with his word which is his will he hears us. "If ye abide in me, and m...