LivingSpring Christian Assembly

13/07/2024

It was a sad day in Jos yesterday Friday 12th July. Officially they say 22 people died and over 70 injured when a school building collapsed while classes were in session.
I was there, I saw the heap of rubble that a building : it was a dark day.
What I saw of the collapsed building was horrific.
It was a big miracle that some children came out of that rubble alive.
But nearly 150 kids did according to official report. Most of them unhurt. We praise God for that.

I have mixed feelings of sadness and gratitude to God . I visited the site at the peek of the rescue operations and was at two of the hospitals where both the survivors and victims were brought. I saw a lot tears, joys and heroic efforts of members of the community as they tried to rescue people with whatever tools they could find.
The combined rescue efforts involving several agencies of the government including the military , Red Cross and others was very commendable. I saw so many ambulances I never knew existed in Jos.
But the death of so many young, innocent lives was heartbreaking.
My prayers go out for the families affected. May the Lord comfort you all.

I personally know a little boy of about 10 years old who died. His name is Isaac Isa.
Though his parents don’t attend our church, they encourage Isaac to join a family who are members of our church with a son his age to attend our church services.
Isaac was an adorable child.

However, to God’s praise, three kids from another family from our church were also in the building but all came out unhurt. We celebrate that.

In all things we give God thanks and for the families affected.

29/03/2024

EVEN THE ROBBERS
‭Matthew 27:44 NKJV‬
[44] Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Everyone actively or passively involved in the death of Christ on the cross, thought they were right. To the Pharisses and the Sanhedrin, He had to die for calling Himself the Son of God. Moreover Jesus' movement was making the priests and everyone in alliance loose the confidence and followership of the masses.
So to these people it's better that 'one man should die rather than the nation should perish.'
The Roman governor Pontius Pilate (very aware that Jesus was innocent) nonetheless had Him crucified for failing the political correctness test.
The Disciples were frightened and could not understand what was going on. How could Jesus succumb to this? So they just put themselves out of circulation, safety comes first.
The Roman soldier who carried out Pilate's judgement acknowledged that 'this is the Son of God', but by then it was too late.
The motely crowd ? What were they thinking, if they were thinking at all? Some of them were mocking because everybody seemed to be mocking.
Now to the last group: the robbers, 'even the robbers '. It beat the gospel writer's imagination, so Mathew wrote "Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled him" : why would the robbers join in this mockery?
The human heart is indeed fantastically corrupt. But the good news was that eventually one of the robbers mysteriously had an inner revelation of who Jesus is. He repented.
After this robber had a change of heart, he rebuked his friend for mocking Jesus.
Then he made a prayer that is out of this world:
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42
How did this robber, this criminal grasp what Jesus disciples could not for three and half years they were with Jesus understand?
That Jesus is a king and has a kingdom, even while dying on the cross, was what this criminal understood and confessed.
That though dying on the cross, this Jesus of Nazareth will enter His kingdom and reign.
How did this criminal know that?I will say the grace 0of God. "Grace came through Jesus Christ".
Even a robber!
Jesus had said earlier in prayer for those who were crucifying him, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".
But to only one, this robber hanging on the cross, Jesus gave the first assurance of salvation for an individual after death.
‭Luke 23:43 ESV‬
[43] And he (Jesus)said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Only Jesus that day and always knew what was going on.
Listen to His last Words on the cross, ‭
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 ESV‬
It is finished, not I am finished, not the world or my enemies are finished. "It" is finished.
Because it is fini6shed, He surrendered his Spirit. Since there was nothing more to do, He gave up or handed over His spirit to The Father.
The demands for salvation is accomplished.
God needs nothing from you other than faith in Christ's finished work on the cross.
Just like the robber, we really have nothing to offer God that will bring us salvation except faith in Christ.
Even the ROBBERS can get in.

09/11/2020