JULY 2022 NEWSLETTER WITH REV. DR. C. A. ONITIRI
Dearly Beloved of God.
I welcome us all to the month of July, the seventh month in the year 2022. PRAISE GOD! MAY THE LORD BLESS AND CONTINUALLY GUIDE AND PROTECT US IN JESUS NAME .
Our Scripture for the month is taken from the Book of Jeremiah–‘Jeremiah 21v11&12, but I will encourage us to read through to v14.
I will like to add here that to properly appreciate this Scrpture and the THEME, we must endeavour to read the whole of Chapter 21.This Chapter, together with Chapter 20 will be greatly understood when broken down into different headings for purposes of studies during BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS.
THE THEME:
“CALL TO REPENTANCE “
(MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID)
EXPLANATIONS
A-vv11&12: “HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, O HOUSE OF DAVID ..”
If you go through the Bible especially the OLD TESTAMENT, you will observe that God had indeed established the house of David as a lasting and enduring royal line until it was fulfilled in the Messiah. (2Samuel 7v12-16)
(God’s Covenant with David)
v12: WHEN YOUR DAYS ARE FULFILLED AND YOU REST WITH YOUR FATHERS,I WILL SET UP YOUR SEED AFTER YOU,WHO WILL COME FROM YOUR BODY AND I WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM.
v13: HE SHALL BUILD A HOUSE FOR MY NAME AND I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER.
v14: I WILL BE HIS FATHER,AND HE SHALL BE MY SON.IF HE COMMITS INIQUITY,I WILL CHASTISE HIM WITH THE ROD OF MEN AND WITH THE BLOWS OF THE SONS OF MEN.
v15: BUT MY MERCY SHALL NOT DEPART FROM HIM,AS I TOOK IT FROM SAUL,WHOM I REMOVED FROM BEFORE YOU.
v16: AND YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR KINGDOM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER BEFORE YOU.YOUR THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER.” (NKJV)
Indeed, God had a special interest in the royal house of David; therefore He spoke to them through Jeremiah and this message relates to a time when there was still a possibility of escape through repentance and righteous living, ie restoration, if there is repentance.
AND I ASK YOU:
Is God speaking to us in Nigeria? He established this nation for good.
Remember 2Chronicles 7v14?
IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS,THEN I WILL HEAR FROM
HEAVEN AND I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND HEAL THEIR LAND.”(NKJV)
B: Still on v12 “EXECUTE JUDGEMENT IN THE MORNING; AND DELIVER HIM WHO IS PLUNDERED…..”
Here God is calling this royal family of Judah to faithfully and diligently do their job in leading the kingdom.
AND I ASK YOU:
Is God calling our leaders to faithfully do their jobs by leading the people of our nation Nigeria aright?
Do you know that one of the basic and important responsibilities God has appointed to civil government is the application and execution of justice?(Roman’s 13v1-7)
In this v12, God is commanding the House of Judah to fulfil their responsibility—-with a strong implication that they had not done so.
Romans 13v1-7.
v1: LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY. FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD AND THE AUTHORITY THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.
v2: THEREFORE WHOEVER RESIST THE AUTHORITY RESIST THE ORDINANCE OF GOD,AND THOSE WHO RESIST WILL BRING JUDGEMENT ON THEMSELVES.
v3: FOR RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS,BUT TO EVIL.DO YOU WANT TO BE UNAFRAID OF THE AUTHORITY?DO WHAT IS GOOD AND YOU WILL HAVE PRAISE FROM THE SAME..
v4: FOR HE IS GOD’S MINISTER TO YOU FOR GOOD.BUT IF YOU DO EVIL,BE AFRAID; FOR HE DOES NOT BEAR THE SWORD IN VAIN; FOR HE IS GOD’S MINISTER,AN AVENGER TO EXECUTE WRATH ON HIM WHO PRACTICES EVIL.
v5: THEREFORE YOU MUST BE SUBJECT,NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF WRATH BUT ALSO FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.
v6: FOR BECAUSE OF THIS YOU ALSO PAY TAXES,FOR THEY ARE GOD’S MINISTERS ATTENDING CONTINUALLY TO THIS VERY THING.
v7: RENDER THEREFORE TO ALL THEIR DUES: TAXES TO WHOM TAXES ARE DUE, CUSTOMS TO WHOM CUSTOMS,FEAR TO WHOM FEAR, HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR.” (NKJV))
Justice should be executed promptly without delay.It should be administered as soon as it is required.
AND I ASk YOU:
Are we administering justice promptly and fairly in our nation?
C: Still on that v12: “….LEST MY FURY GO FORTH LIKE FIRE AND BURN SO THAT NO ONE CAN QUENCH IT….”
In other words, if they fail to repent,judgments was imminent and it will come like fire. Jeremiah had hoped that reformation of public and private life with covenant ideals would avert imminent disaster.
NOW LOOK AT OUR NATION NIGERIA TODAY, IF WE ALL SHOULD ENDEVOUR TO MAKE A COVENANT TO CHANGE OUR WAYS AND BE OBEDIENT TO GOD; HE WILL LOOK ON US WITH MERCY AND HEAL OUR LAND,BRING PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND RESTORATION.
VV13&14 deals mainly on judgement against the royal family. It is a general message to the kings of Judah.The material things that they acquired by the exploitation of the oppressed, and which the rich oppressors cherished so much would be taken from them by their captors. The corrupt rulers would lose all they have taken from the people through corruption .
v13: BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST YOU,O INHABITANTS OF THE VALLEY…….WHO SAY WHO SHALL COME DOWN AGAINST US….”
Whether this reference is to Jerusalem or the royal family—-suffice it to say,self sufficient arrogance was their character.
v14: “BUT I WILL PUNISH YOU ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF YOUR DOINGS ” SAYS THE LORD.”
See, when people deal harshly with others, with the same harshness, God will deal with them. We will be judged according to our deeds (2Corinthians 5v10)
“FOR WE MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, THAT EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY, ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD.”(NKJV)
SUMMARY
IN THIS CHAPTER 21, JEREMIAH HAD FOREWARNED ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. BUT THE LEADERS FAILED TO LISTEN TO HIM AND EVEN MOCKED HIS PRONOUNCEMENTS. IN DESPERATION, KING ZEDEKIAH, WHO WAS THE LAST KING OF ISRAEL BEFORE THE CAPTIVITY (IE, THE END OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM WHEN THE BABYLONIANS LAID SEIGE TO THE CITY AND DESDTOYED IT TAKING INTO CAPTIVITY THE REMAINDER OF THE ISRAELITES.) Turned to God for help but without acknowledging God’s warning or admitting his sins.
NOW, LOOK AT OUR NATION NIGERIA: WE HAVE SINNED BIG TIME! THERE ARE PROPHETIC WARNINGS, BUT ARE WE PAYING HEED TO THOSE WARNINGS? NOW THINGS ARE BECOMING DESPERATE AND GETTING OUT OF HANDS: WE ARE NOW, LIKE ZEDEKIAH TURNING TO GOD FOR HELP BUT WITHOUT FULLY ACKNOWLEDGING OUR TRANSGRSSIONS.
YOU SEE, TOO OFTEN, WE EXPECT GOD TO COME TO OUR AID IN TROUBLED TIMES, EVEN THOUGH WE COMPLETELY IGNORED HIM DURING OUR SEASON OF PROSPERITY. LET US TRY BUILDIND AN ENDURING AND LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
HE LOVES US AND WILL NOT REJECT OUR PRAYERS IN JESUS NAME.
FINALLY
THE MESSAGE TO OUR NATION NIGERIA:
REPENTAND BE SAVED “
SHALOM
