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To Be Really Free, Follow The Example Of Jesus Christ

Feature Article To Be Really Free, Follow The Example Of Jesus Christ
NOV 19, 2020 LISTEN

Yes, thou shall not test the Lord, your God by asking Him to do for you what you can do for yourself!

It is imperative to recognize the fact that each and every one of us, individually and severally, is in control of his or her destiny to a very, very great extent. We are supposed and expected to exert ourselves, mentally, and physically. Whatever we could do, or achieve, would then be subject to the Lord's blessings.

In the Book of Matthew, Chapter 4, verse 7, Jesus had refused to summon the Holy Spirit to make a decision for him. He made the necessary decision by Himself and God blessed it.

The original *Koine Greek,* according to Novum Testamentum Graece, Matthew 4: 7, reads:

ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν γέγραπται

οὐκ ἐκπειράσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου.

In the *King James Version* of the Bible the text reads:

*Jesus said unto him, It is written again,*

*Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.*

The *World English Bible* translates the passage as:

Jesus said to him, *"Again, it is written,*

*‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’"*

I have gone to this length to retrieve the above quote to show that something is wrong with our beliefs in God.

There are things that require the application of our intelligence as given by God that we are asking God to do for us. We, therefore, "embarrass" God through our haplessness and naivety, bordering on idiocy of noxious genre.

The Devil, in this Chapter of the Book of Matthew, had requested Jesus Christ to jump to his death. But Jesus, a very smart and intelligent messiah, had used his gumption and made a better choice. He then rebuked and chastised the Devil that he (Devil) was not supposed to test the Lord, his God.

Jesus was a very practical being. When he had to rid the House of God of sellers and buyers, He did not command any Holy Spirit to do it for Him. He did it by Himself, flailing a firm ferule to flush them out of the Church.

*It is nauseating to see multitudes, gnashing their teeth in paralyzing poverty, knocking their heads against the Church furniture, calling on God to come and alleviate their woes, when they ought to be out there, holding those responsible for their povertization accountable, and dishing out to them, swift justice that would have gladdened the Heart of the Lord.*

God told Saul to lead the Israelites to fight the Amalekites and spare nothing of them. He did not ask King Saul to keep vigil and fast! No he did not.

God instructed Moses to lead Israelites across the red sea to escape their enslavement by King Pharaoh. He did not ask them to remain in Egypt to keep vigil and fast! No he did not.

David did not stay in his father's house to defeat Goliath and the Philistines. He had to get off his butt to be the battle front to achieve that victory. He did not keep vigil and fast. He had to act and God blessed his action.

The Bible also insisted in James 2: 17 & 18 as follows:

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

It is our responsibility to fight those who are oppressing us, exploiting us, seeking to subjugate and enslave us. It is our duty and obligation to resist those who are trying to take our land, our heritage from us. It is our obligation to face down those who are stealing our money, our commonwealth and hd them accountable and bring them to Justice. It is a course of action that would gladden the heart of the Lord, our God. It is an act that would elicit singing and dancing among the Angels and the heavenly Armies.

Majority of Americans for example, understand this. It is why they voted out Donald Trump. They did not have to wait for God to do it for them. Neither did they stay in the Churches on the Election day keeping vigil, fasting and praying for several days or hitting their heads against the altars of their churches. They got off their buts, registered to vote, mobilised themselves and went to the polls. They did it by themselves, and God blessed it.

Remember again what Jesus said: *‘You shall not test the Lord, your God,’"* by asking God to liberate you when you could do that by yourselves, using your God-given brains.

So, wake up! Follow the example of Jesus Christ. Free yourself from mental slavery and untoward religious preachment. Copy the acts of God. It is not a sin to be combative against your oppressors. Don't keep looking back, searching for God to come and help you. He is ahead of you. Follow in His footsteps.

Simplicita.

*© Rèmí Oyèyemi*

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