BLESSED ARE THE BLOOD DONORS!

This blogpost is a little off the beaten path for me (that's why I'll call it SAT 15.5, not SAT 16), but I decided to write this after a discussion I had with my brother-in-love (a.k.a. brother-in-law), who still isn't ready to donate blood by the way!

There are medical and other physical advantages you and I can access by donating blood voluntarily (for no particular recipient) and regularly. Personally, I also BELIEVE there are some spiritual benefits which I'll share in this list. Here goes:

1. You get screened for HIV, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C viral infections for FREE regularly because your blood has to be screened and certified fit for transfusion.

2. In the process, you also get to know your blood group and packed cell volume (percentage of red cells in your blood at that time).

3. You challenge your bone marrow to produce new red blood cells to replace donated and old cells.

4. You get a voluntary donor card which may come to good use in certain circumstances e.g. interviews (for various purposes) where it has been known to serve as an extra consideration for some people.

5. In people prone to iron overload, blood donation prevents the accumulation of toxic quantities of iron. It's actually used to treat hereditary iron overload (haemochromatosis).

6. Donating blood MAY reduce the risk of heart disease for men (though the link has not been firmly established).

7. Repeated blood donation is effective in reducing blood pressure, blood sugar, HbA1C (a "bad" type of haemoglobin), low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio (a bad thing too!), and heart rate in people with metabolic syndrome.

8. In some countries, the government gives a yearly holiday, awards and other incentives to repeated voluntary donors.

9. You get the benefit of being involved in saving a life (make no mistake about it, blood saves lives, with God's help of course).

10. I know you've been waiting to see the spiritual benefits:

a. What a man sows, he shall reap (Luke 6:38): Now, you don't need to reap blood as such, LOL! Because you're sowing HELP, you're bound to receive help in some way as a direct consequence. This one I'm 100% sure of.

b. Ministering divine life to another: Leviticus 17 makes it clear in verses 11 & 14 that the life of a creature is in its blood. If indeed I have taken Christ's flesh & blood (the Holy Communion) and the Holy Spirit in me also gives life to my mortal body which includes my blood (John 6:54 & Romans 8:11), then the one who receives my blood through transfusion can also benefit from that life and be healed/saved from physical death. I only have those 3 scriptures to go on and there was no transfusion in Jesus' time so I might be wrong, but when I donate my blood, that's what I usually pray for the one who will be transfused with it. If you believe so too, great!

Now, even if you don't believe in the spiritual benefits I outlined and you don't exactly need the physical benefits, SOMEBODY out there still NEEDS your blood! Scores of people die everyday because blood is not readily available at certain crucial times. Your half-litre of blood donated every 3 or 6 months or even once a year can make a huge difference to a patient, their family and other loved ones. Please consider donating blood regularly at a standard medical facility near you.

If you have questions/doubts about blood donation (or you want to talk about that "ministering life through your blood" thing!), please feel free to comment here or reach me @ adewumitola@yahoo.co.uk or on BBM (7E3DAA5F) or @ 08131048442 (I'm on whatsapp). God bless you real good! Dr Jesutola O. Adewumi (God-lover, Bondservant, Doctor).

WHEN YOU LAY HANDS....AND THE SICK GET SICKER!

They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover (Mark 16:18)......Jesus Himself said it, He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). He wasn't somniloquising when He said it, neither was He drunk. If He said it, it is so. What then happened when I laid hands on that 2-year old girl with meningitis? Why did she die? Or the lame man, why did he not walk? The blind man, why did he not see? Or the people you've laid hands on and "nothing" happened? When you lay hands on the sick and they don't recover, what do you do?

Just before you beat yourself up, consider Jesus, when He went to His hometown of Nazareth, how that their unbelief prevented Him from performing any miracle of, except for a few sick folks he laid hands on and healed (Mark 6:5&6). For a healing to take place, there must be power to heal (Luke 5:17) and usually, faith to receive the healing power/anointing (Matthew 9:29, Mark 5:34&10:52, Acts 3:16&14:9). In Nazareth, power met unbelief and the result was that the power could not find expression as it ought. Mind you, he healed a few sick folks despite their unbelief. This, in conjunction with some other scriptures, suggests a few things:

1. Sometimes, some minor sicknesses get healed without the sick person's faith (Mark 6:5)

2. A person may be healed on the faith of another, USUALLY one in some measure of authority over them (Matthew 8:13&15:28, Mark 2:5)

3. In some instances, possibly by the operation of the gifts of the Spirit, healings take place without any faith, usually SO THAT people might believe, especially among unbelievers. This is shown in instances where faith (or faith-based actions) were not mentioned, unbelief was mentioned or it was obvious that faith was absent (Matthew 12:15 &22, Mark 9:22-27, John 4:47-53 & 5:6-15)

It's obvious that all these are not the rule, but the exception. Again and again, we see that there's a strong emphasis on faith (Mark 5:34, 10:52 & 16:18, Acts 3:16 & 14:9) and faith-based actions (Luke 17:14, John 9:7). It's safe to say, therefore, that when faith is absent or hindered by things like unforgiveness (Mark 11:23-25), nothing usually happens.

Sometimes too, there may be a problem with the technique or method. For instance, praying for healing when a person is oppressed by a demon MAY not yield any result, but casting out the demon will. Praying for a lame man to walk MAY not work because the consistent way they were healed in scriptures was by the command of faith "rise up and walk". The same thing with a withered hand and a dead body (Matthew 9:6, Mark 9:25, Mark 5:41, Luke 6:10).

Also, there are times the Holy Spirit prompts us to do things differently, like rubbing mud on empty eye sockets (John 9:6), but we may miss it and nothing happens. The solution to this is to maintain sensitivity to the Holy Spirit while ministering to the sick.

There are probably a thousand and one reasons the sick sometimes don't get healed when you and I lay hands on them, but there is ONE reason they MUST get healed: because God said so! The solution then is to keep hearing, believing, speaking and DOING Mark 16:18 while yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit to teach us. Whatever you do, don't stop laying hands on the sick.

If you lay hands on a sick child and he dies, raise him from the dead! If he stays dead, lay hands on the next sick child you find as if the first one rose from the dead! Don't stop working the Word because the Word works! As I speak to you, I speak to myself. I have shied away from Mark 16:18 at times because of bad experiences, but NO MORE! Yes the 2-year old girl died, no the blind man didn't see, but I have also seen amazing miracles, and I'll still see more! I AM a believer, I lay hands on the sick and the sick do recover!

DO NOT FEAR THEIR FEAR!

These days, it has become fashionable to say things like "only God can keep one safe in this country", "first it was Boko Haram, now it is Ebola", "where can one run to?", "no one is safe in this Nigeria", "if it is not a plane crash or car accident, it's a bomb blast" etc etc. While some sound like faith and some sound like statements of the harsh realities of our time, the truth is that they almost always stem from a root of fear that has gripped the hearts of many Nigerians, sadly, even the church: the called out of God.

Come ye out from among them and be ye separate! Don't participate in this festival of fear that is going on in this country right now! You are the body of Christ, the called out of God, the elect, the chosen. You are NOT "the average Nigerian", you are different! Not all Nigerians have a covenant of protection, a covenant of life like you do. Not all Nigerians are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High like you are. And this secret place is moveable, it's beyond a location. Where I work in Lagos, next door to the epicenter of the Ebola-quake, I am in the secret place. If I am posted next year to Northern Nigeria where the Boko Haram fire rages, I'm still in the secret place. And if, tomorrow, I'm accosted by armed robbers in the middle of the night, I'm still in the secret place, untouchable!

We must talk different, we must act different, we must respond differently, because we ARE different! Brother, do not fear what they fear. Let God be your confidence! My confidence is not in the gloves I wear and the regular handwashing practices I adhere to. My confidence is in God! He shall deliver me from EVERY evil (including bomb blasts, armed robbers, food poisoning and the Ebola virus) and shall preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom!

God's Word is still as true today as it was when it was first spoken and written. Thou dost keep him in PERFECT PEACE whose mind is STAYED on You, because he TRUSTS in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is EVERLASTING STRENGTH (Isaiah 26:3-4). The eternal God is our REFUGE, and underneath are the EVERLASTING ARMS (Deuteronomy 33:27).

We are that army spoken of in Joel 2:8, when we fall upon the sword, we are not wounded! Come on now! Let's be like David, people! Let's say like David: the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Do not fear their fear! You may FEEL afraid, but REFUSE to fear. Don't let fear grip you, don't let the devil distract you. Shake off the fear and run your race unhindered. Jesus' return is near!

GRACE: FREEDOM TO SIN OR FREEDOM FROM SIN?

One of the commonest points of criticism against the "word of faith movement", the "prosperity preachers" and, most recently, the "grace message" is that preachers are "no longer condemning sin", "no longer preaching holiness" or are actually "encouraging sin" by preaching or teaching "lawless grace". While I'm not here to speak for or against any church, denomination or preacher, I'd like us to take a deeper look at the message of grace. Is it really freedom to do anything and be blameless before God? Or is grace about our freedom from the power of sin?

One scripture answers the question explicitly: Titus 2:11-15. It says that God's grace teaches us to deny sin and live righteously. It really can be no clearer than that! Reading all 5 verses reveals what grace really is all about: denying ungodliness and worldly lusts; living righteously, soberly and godly in THIS present world; expecting Jesus' return; our redemption from iniquity and our purification unto God.

Romans 6 is even more exciting. In 9 out of 23 verses, the Holy Spirit (through Paul) emphasised our freedom from sin, using words like dead to sin, made free from sin, ye WERE the servants of sin etc etc. It seems even Paul was accused of preaching "lawless grace" (Romans 3:8) and his reply was a strong NO! We are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:1-2&14-15), but the conclusion is not that we are free to sin, it is that we are free FROM sin! It is now our RESPONSIBILITY to not allow sin to control us, but rather to YIELD ourselves to righteousness (Romans 6:13&19).

Say with me today please:

I have been made free from sin, I'm free

I now have the ability to say NO to sin, for grace teaches me so

I am not subject to sin, I am superior to sin, a servant of righteousness

I don't HAVE to sin, if I sin, it's because I chose to

I now take responsibility to walk in love, walk in righteousness

I take responsibility to build my spirit, renew my mind, subdue my flesh and kill its works

I choose to live righteously, for grace has taught me so

I have learnt from the best (Grace), I continue to learn and do

I have been made free from sin, now I live free in Jesus' name!

ENJOY!

THE SERVING SON

Many have learnt service

Some have learnt sonship

Some understand neither

But precious few live both

I will serve and be approved, says one

I'm accepted, I need not serve, says another

But hear the serving son's heart

Accepted in the firstborn, I am privileged to serve

The servant will receive his rewards

The son will enjoy his Father's love

But see the serving son's end

By Love's justice, He inherits and rules the earth

The servant, he expects wages

The son, he comes boldly and takes

The serving son, he simply trusts

All that the Father has is mine.

SERVICING YOUR LOVE SOFTWARE

Have you ever met someone who "walked in love" and "walked in love" and "walked in love" until one day they finally "ran out of steam" and decided they'd had enough? That's when you hear things like I've had it up to here or I can't take this anymore or he has gotten on my last nerve etc. Truth is, many times, folks have merely been using their natural ability to endure interpersonal situations they don't like. Sometimes, however, they've actually been walking in love the whole time, but they failed to service their love software, so they got to a point they felt they just couldn't go any further.

For you to CONSISTENTLY walk in love, you've got to servce your love software. If love is a software, your spirit is the hardware. It doesn't matter how many fabulous softwares I have on my laptop, once the battery power runs out, I can't use them. To function consistently in love towards folks, you've got to service your love software by keeping your spirit "in form" like an athlete keeps his body in form. As your body needs feeding and exercise, your spirit does too.

1. Feed (on God's Word): God's word is milk, it's bread, it's meat (1Peter 2:2, Deuteronomy 8:3, Hebrews 5:12). You put those 3 together the right way and it's a balanced diet! LOL! Much like you feed your body with milk, bread, meat and other goodies, you feed your spirit (the real you) with the Word of God by putting it in your mouth. Not the paper but the words! You THINK, SPEAK and ROAR (SHOUT) God's Word to yourself. That's what Joshua 1:8 literally means by "meditate". I believe the "roar" aspect has to do with confession. Meditate and confess God's Word, especially His Word on love. Feed on 1Corinthians 13, eat Romans 5:5, chew Galatians 5:22, feed fat!

2. Build up: The same way a guy takes his body to the gym to build it, you can register and attend the gym of the Spirit by praying in tongues. A combination of 1Corinthians 14:4&14, Jude 20 and 1Timothy 4:8 makes us to understand that when you pray in tongues, you exercise and build your spirit. As you exercise your spirit, everything in your spirit (including love) finds expression more easily and consistently. Loving becomes the easiest thing in the world to do. Pray much in other tongues! Jude 21 actually says you keep yourself in the love of God as you do so. Not only that, as you pray, you also stir up the gift of God (the Spirit of love) that you've received.

3. Use your love: You want to be "in form" in love? You want to love consistently and not give up? Then use your love software! We learnt how to do that over the last 2 posts. Put the things you know to practice. Love and keep loving and don't stop loving!

Your love never fails!

LOVE COPYCATS

If you went to a "normal" school, the word "copycat" probably evokes images of people stretching their necks like giraffes to peep at a benchmate's script, and probably falling over in the process! We were taught and trained never to "copy". Of course, some people failed to imbibe this training (bless their souls!), but thank God most of us did. When it comes to love, however, you may have to do some unlearning and relearning, because "giraffing" is not such a bad thing here. In fact, you've got to be a master copycat!

Using your love software starts with being willing, but it doesn't end there. Please consider Philippians 2:13 again: it is God that works in us both to will and to DO of His good pleasure. There's a WILL-ing and then there's a DO-ing. Now, how do I do the "DO" part? Simple, DO! In Revelations 2:4&5, in order to bring back the Ephesian church to their "first love", Jesus instructed them to REPENT (change your mind, reset your will) and DO the first WORKS. To walk in love, WILL to love, then DO the WORKS (actions) of love!

Ephesians 5:1 instructs us to be IMITATORS (COPYCATS) of God as dear children. You've gotta be a professional giraffe! Watch God (Love) in the bible, see how he loves; watch Him in your spirit, see how he prompts you to love.....and COPY Him! He has not left us to figure out how to love by ourselves. Rather, He has demonstrated His love toward us in Christ Jesus and all through the bible (Romans 5:8, 1John 3:16).

We copy our Father as dear children, we love as we see Him love. We copy Jesus the Firstborn, we love as we see Him love. We copy the Holy Spirit, we love as He stirs us to love. He's the Spirit of our Father, He's the Spirit of love (Matthew 10:20, 2Timothy 1:7). That means that our Father literally gave us the Spirit by whom He loves, so we can love by the same Spirit exactly as He loves! How do I love by the Spirit of love? Stir up! 2Timothy 1:6&7 says to stir up the GIFT of God.....for (or because) God has GIVEN us the Spirit of love. In prayer, you can stir up the gift of God and bring yourself under His influence as a man does with wine.

Observe Love in His Word, then copy Him. Stir up the Spirit of love, then copy Him. Do the actions of love, even when you don't FEEL the feelings of love. Do the actions of love and continue to do them out of this understanding of love that you have. It's based on what you KNOW, not on what you FEEL. DO love and continue to DO love. PRACTISE love and continue to practise love. Continue till you get to where you unconsciously do love, then continuously continue! And when you fail, don't beat yourself up, when you catch yourself not loving, don't sit down there, dust your boots and run on! Your love NEVER fails!