ignitecrusades: Gospel Tracts

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

THE DEADLY EXCHANGE

THE DEADLY EXCHANGE

“Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Gen 25:29-34 NIV

Exchange is the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another, it is the conscious and legal giving up of something in other to receive another thing that is more desired.

However you may define it the fact remains that exchange is an appeal to one’s choice. If it is a matter of choice then no man should claim to have been forced into an exchange because the only power of freedom anybody has is the freedom of Choice. How are you making use of yours?

The world which we dwell in is a market of choices with many open windows of appealing offers bidding for an exchange. Men invariantly engage in exchange and most of these exchanges are expensive and deadly. Deadly exchanges have the characteristic of being exceedingly harmful, extremely poisonous or injurious, involving loss of divine grace. The Devil, the world and the flesh is offering us the opportunity to trade our eternity for pleasure, money, fame/ popularity and sin. Many who are spell bound and blinded by their carnal cravings and misplaced desires are surrendering their priceless soul in exchange for momentary gains.

Esau like many today in their profane nature saw nothing wrong in sacrificing a spiritual provision to satisfy his physical appetite. And Jacob who is a cheat cunningly overtook his brother and gained his birth right. But he clearly demanded for Esau’s birth right and the Godless Esau did not hesitate to exchange it for a moment’s pleasure. When Esau later lost his father’s blessing as the first born to Jacob he cried bitterly and could not get it back, he forget that it was bought with some bread and lentil stew. He sold his birth right for a momentary pleasure. Adam and eve equally fell into that trap of deadly Exchange when they sold their peaceful abode in the Garden of Eden and fellowship with God in righteousness for the pleasure of a bite from the forbidden apple, a disobedience to God.

“Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.” 1 Peter 5: 8 AMP

The most dreadful attack of the devil on mankind in an attempt to steal our eternal joy is not by fierce and open confrontation but a canny deception that appeals to our immediate wants in exchange for our eternal needs. The Lord has paid the price for our sin and purchased us with his death on the cross and the blood of the new covenant as an eternal sacrifice for our salvation. 1 Corinthians 6: 20 say “You are bought with a price…” You are valued to be priceless and should not involve in a deadly exchange. Accept Jesus today and be saved. Each time we sin against God we engage in a deadly trade exchange of this position for a lie, adultery/ fornication, theft, cheating, murder, envy and jealousy, gossip and slander, etc. Proverbs 23:23 admonishes us to Buy the Truth and not sell it. Who is the truth in John 14: 6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt. 6:33.

You have the power to terminate that deadly exchange taking place in your life and family now, by accepting Jesus Christ today as your Lord and personal savior and say no to Satan, Sin and the Worldly pleasure.

SALVATION PRAYER

Lord Jesus I am sorry for delaying till now, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry, please forgive me my sins and cleanse me with your precious blood. I answer your call today and receive you into my life as my Lord and Personal Saviour. Please come and set me free from sin, death and hell: strengthen me with your Holy Spirit to serve you for the rest of my life. Thank you for saving me in Jesus name. Amen.

ALLELUIA YOU ARE SAVED!!! Continue in Christ and sin no more Please call or contact us if you wish to no more about His (God’s) saving grace.

DIOCESE OF ETSAKO (Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion)

ALL SAINTS’ CATHEDRAL AUCHI Opposite former Union Bank Warrake Road, Auchi, Edo State Nigeria

Rev’d. Canon Joel C. Nwohiri. 08032399875, 08053467227 E-mail- j.nwohiri@gmail.com.

GOD BLESS YOU AND JESUS LOVES YOU

Sunday, 22 April 2018

WHAT IS YOUR DESCION ABOUT JESUS CHRIST?

WHAT IS YOUR DESCION ABOUT JESUS CHRIST?

“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision, they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. …knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him … wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.” Mark 15:1, 10, 15

Even the chief priest, elders, scribes and the whole council reached a decision as to what they will do with Jesus the Christ; though theirs was not the best: but under such greater conviction and truth we have decided to close our ears and shut our hearts to the salvation he brings to all because of Worldly pleasures, Persecution, religious pressures and heritage, peer pressure and the fear of rejection; many have become blinded by the desperate pursuit to be successful in life. Make a decision about Jesus while there is still time.

A wavering man has no place in the plans of God to rescue mankind in the last day. A delayed decision is not a safety tactics it only compounds the problems and exposes you to a greater risk of regretting the delay to take a stand. Neutrality in the matters of life, death and eternity is not a decision; it rather works negativity in ones eternal destination.Joshua said to the house of Israel “… and if it seems evil unto you toserve the Lord, chose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods of which your fathers serves … or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said. God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods” Joshua 24: 14-16“And Elijah went before the people and said, “how long will you waver between two opinions if the LORD is God, follow him but if ball is God follow him” 1 Kings 18:21

Your decisions in life ultimately determine your destination. There is a consequence for every decision taken so be careful which you take. The Holy book has given guide to all who wish to be directed in this maze like situation called life. “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. It is obvious that many will love to chose life so as to live but the world we are in is surrounded by death. “ … Worldly sorrows brings death” 2 Cor. 7:10 and men wine and dine with death drinking, eating, swallowing and digesting it, some ignorantly and others very much consciously. This is through our desperateness to fulfill our desires and sin,“but each one is tempted when by his own evil desires, he is dragged away and enticedby his own evil desires, he is dragged away and enticed then after desires has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full- grown, gives birth to death.” James 1: 14,15. Jesus alone is the life; a rejection of him is a rejection of life. “in him was life; and the life was the light of men … he was in the world and the world was made by him and the world did not know Him. John 1:4, 10

The council of Sanhedrin had a lot of other options to pick from about Jesus Christ but they reached the decision of not only rejecting Jesus and his saving grace, they bound him, handed him over to Pilate, demanded and become instrumental to his crucifixion. We are not guiltless of this actions either, at those times like now; that you are reading this little pieces of paper when you are faced with the gospel truth, about the sacrificial death of Christ and his coming to give us salvation and deliver us from the consequences of Sin, Death, Enmity with God and eternal condemnation in the infernal hell; but reject his love and call to receive him into our lives.

(Mark 15: 10-15). After a brief discussion with Jesus Pilate locked his heart to the Truth about Jesus but he came to a conclusion that there was no fault in him. He came face to face with the decision to accept Jesus, release Him and embrace the Truth He (Christ) represents but he made the decision to please the Crowd.John 18: 30 -38.

Are you interested in pleasing the crowd? Your parents? Your Boss or colleagues at work? friends, Husband/wife?Etc. He is before you now. What is your decision about Jesus Christ. Judas betrayed him, Peter denied Him, Pilate condemned him, Israel rejected him. What will you do withhim.“How shall we escape if neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will” Heb. 2:3-4Jesus Loves You! Say this prayer with me if it is your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today.

SALVATION PRAYER

ALLELUIA YOU ARE SAVED!!! Continue in Christ and sin no more Please call or contact us if you wish to no more about His (God’s) saving grace.