TIME TO AWAKE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there
BECOMING A ‘HELP MEET’
Becoming A ‘Help Meet.' The first thought that comes to the mind of many, with the word "Help Meet" is WOMAN. Many see this word as woman's assignment from God. Many others, both male and female have reduced this word to mean a nice way of referring to a servant or slave. What a perspective!
God's Word says: …And the Lord said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2:18). The word "help meet" implies one who "surrounds with aid and assistance." God's decision resulted in the creation of the woman as a solution. She was the perfect help that Adam did not find in all the animals, trees, plants and other things created.
The word "Man" as referred to in this context, does not imply that only the woman is the ‘help meet'. The word ‘Man' in the Bible usually covers both genders. It means both female and male. Both are meant to complement each other by filling up the vacuum ineach other's lives. This can clearly be seen in the physical build of the man and the woman. Both have complementary roles to play and that is why while the Man as a ‘help meet' amongst other duties, has the responsibilities of providing, protecting and taking care of his home. The woman, on the other hand, reproduces, makes the home and does all other motherly duties.
THE MAN AS A HELP MEET
The first man (Adam), when he was given a woman as a help meet, knew he had some form of responsibility, too, to help her in return, so he said in Genesis 2:23: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man.In actual fact, he meant that he had full responsibility of surrounding his woman with all the aid and assistance she would ever need spiritually, physically, emotionally and materially, just as he would do for himself. God has put in the man, a form of strength, security, protective and provisional force, in order to meet this responsibility.You are expected, therefore, to surround your woman with aid, assistance and help meeting her weaknesses.God's Word says: Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together for the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7).Helping your woman, amongst other areas, demand an exercise of understanding and honouring her. Being an effective help meet to your woman is very important, as failure to meet this responsibility renders your prayers unanswered! There is nothing as frustrating as praying and receiving no answers to all your prayers, but this shall not be your portion in Jesus' name.The man has a responsibility of making his woman become what he wants her to become. Therefore, if your woman's weaknesses are pronounced even after you got married to her, then it means that you are not fulfilling your responsibility effectively. You must surround her with help in all matters, no matter how little it may look.For example, a man who complains so much that his wife has become too fat, should consider it his fault since he did not marry her a fat woman. If you have an ill-behaved wife, you are to be blamed, because you know her more than any other person. It is your responsibility to take care of her completely, as you would do for yourself. So, why not do a good job at home! Be the man – that is the divine order.Lending a helping hand and being available, makes a lot of difference in relationships. It can be quite frustrating for a woman to be busy doing all the housework, while the man just sits in front of the television enjoying a game of football and from time to time turns around to say to her worn-out woman, "I love you, dear." She knows you love her, at least you've said so.But take a step, help her around the house, it adds credence to your words!
WE NEED ONE ANOTHER TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 .Relationship doesn’t only pertain to a husband and wife, it also includes children. The bible says children obey your father and your mother for it is good for you. Honour your father and your mother which is the first commandment with a promise that it may be well with you and your life may be long. In other words, if you don’t want to cut short your life, you must relate with your parents at that level otherwise you may miss the mark because there are landmines you can’t see. It is your relationships with your parents that will enable you discover those landmines which you may walk into and die prematurely. That is why the bible says it is not good for a man to be alone. That is, you can’t function on your own.When we bring it down to the level of the church, you need me and I need you. We need ourselves; the congregation needs the pastor and the pastor needs the congregation. Members of the congregation need themselves for strength and synergy. That is why you must always aim and shoot for the best interest of one another. I see a situation in the church where people are always setting landmines for one another, waiting for the other person to fall down so they can laugh. If you understand that if a brother or a sister falls, all of us fall, it will compel you to restore such a one. That is why Paul said in Galatians 6:1 that if a man is taken by a fault, you that are spiritual should restore such a one, considering yourself because you can also fall.We must begin to relate with one another knowing that God said it is not good for me to be alone. You cannot handle the stress alone. You cannot fight this battle alone. You cannot win alone. You cannot overcome or succeed alone. It is no longer ‘I succeeded’ but ‘we succeeded.’ There is something we have to add to others and there is something others have to add to us.Further reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 6:1 -6
JESUS IS ON THE BOARD
The Titanic was presumed to be the largest, safest and strongest luxury ship in the world before it embarked on its disastrous maiden voyage in April 1912.
All kinds of people were welcomed on the ship for its first voyage.
The rich, the famous, the elite, women, children, families and staff of the ship were all happy to be on board.It was billed to be the ship that could not sink, but it did sink on its first journey from Southampton to New York.This was one of the greatest tragedies of all time.
After the ship sank, two lists were presented at the offices of The White Star Company (the company which built the Titanic).The list was simple.It had only two sections: ‘LOST’ and ‘SAVED’.People came to readthese lists to find out if their loved ones had survived. Interestingly, before the journey so many things were important.
Whether they worked on the ship or were on vacation?Whether they were rich or poor.Whether they were millionaires or peasants. Whether they were stockbrokers or not. Whether they were in first class or economy class.Whether they were men or women.Whether they had a lot of luggage or not.But after the sinking of the Titanic none of these things mattered anymore. Only one thing mattered-whether they were saved or lost.Dear friend that is how Eternity will be.A time will come when none of the things we have on this earth will matter.A time will come when it will not matter whether you are a man or a woman!A time will come when it will not matter whether you are rich or poor!
What will matter is whether you are ‘LOST’ or ‘SAVED’ on the day you die and meet your creator!GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS TODAY!AND IF YOU ALREADY HAVE, LIVE FOR HIM!!!!
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there
BECOMING A ‘HELP MEET’
Becoming A ‘Help Meet.' The first thought that comes to the mind of many, with the word "Help Meet" is WOMAN. Many see this word as woman's assignment from God. Many others, both male and female have reduced this word to mean a nice way of referring to a servant or slave. What a perspective!
God's Word says: …And the Lord said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2:18). The word "help meet" implies one who "surrounds with aid and assistance." God's decision resulted in the creation of the woman as a solution. She was the perfect help that Adam did not find in all the animals, trees, plants and other things created.
The word "Man" as referred to in this context, does not imply that only the woman is the ‘help meet'. The word ‘Man' in the Bible usually covers both genders. It means both female and male. Both are meant to complement each other by filling up the vacuum ineach other's lives. This can clearly be seen in the physical build of the man and the woman. Both have complementary roles to play and that is why while the Man as a ‘help meet' amongst other duties, has the responsibilities of providing, protecting and taking care of his home. The woman, on the other hand, reproduces, makes the home and does all other motherly duties.
THE MAN AS A HELP MEET
The first man (Adam), when he was given a woman as a help meet, knew he had some form of responsibility, too, to help her in return, so he said in Genesis 2:23: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man.In actual fact, he meant that he had full responsibility of surrounding his woman with all the aid and assistance she would ever need spiritually, physically, emotionally and materially, just as he would do for himself. God has put in the man, a form of strength, security, protective and provisional force, in order to meet this responsibility.You are expected, therefore, to surround your woman with aid, assistance and help meeting her weaknesses.God's Word says: Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together for the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7).Helping your woman, amongst other areas, demand an exercise of understanding and honouring her. Being an effective help meet to your woman is very important, as failure to meet this responsibility renders your prayers unanswered! There is nothing as frustrating as praying and receiving no answers to all your prayers, but this shall not be your portion in Jesus' name.The man has a responsibility of making his woman become what he wants her to become. Therefore, if your woman's weaknesses are pronounced even after you got married to her, then it means that you are not fulfilling your responsibility effectively. You must surround her with help in all matters, no matter how little it may look.For example, a man who complains so much that his wife has become too fat, should consider it his fault since he did not marry her a fat woman. If you have an ill-behaved wife, you are to be blamed, because you know her more than any other person. It is your responsibility to take care of her completely, as you would do for yourself. So, why not do a good job at home! Be the man – that is the divine order.Lending a helping hand and being available, makes a lot of difference in relationships. It can be quite frustrating for a woman to be busy doing all the housework, while the man just sits in front of the television enjoying a game of football and from time to time turns around to say to her worn-out woman, "I love you, dear." She knows you love her, at least you've said so.But take a step, help her around the house, it adds credence to your words!
WE NEED ONE ANOTHER TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 .Relationship doesn’t only pertain to a husband and wife, it also includes children. The bible says children obey your father and your mother for it is good for you. Honour your father and your mother which is the first commandment with a promise that it may be well with you and your life may be long. In other words, if you don’t want to cut short your life, you must relate with your parents at that level otherwise you may miss the mark because there are landmines you can’t see. It is your relationships with your parents that will enable you discover those landmines which you may walk into and die prematurely. That is why the bible says it is not good for a man to be alone. That is, you can’t function on your own.When we bring it down to the level of the church, you need me and I need you. We need ourselves; the congregation needs the pastor and the pastor needs the congregation. Members of the congregation need themselves for strength and synergy. That is why you must always aim and shoot for the best interest of one another. I see a situation in the church where people are always setting landmines for one another, waiting for the other person to fall down so they can laugh. If you understand that if a brother or a sister falls, all of us fall, it will compel you to restore such a one. That is why Paul said in Galatians 6:1 that if a man is taken by a fault, you that are spiritual should restore such a one, considering yourself because you can also fall.We must begin to relate with one another knowing that God said it is not good for me to be alone. You cannot handle the stress alone. You cannot fight this battle alone. You cannot win alone. You cannot overcome or succeed alone. It is no longer ‘I succeeded’ but ‘we succeeded.’ There is something we have to add to others and there is something others have to add to us.Further reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 6:1 -6
JESUS IS ON THE BOARD
The Titanic was presumed to be the largest, safest and strongest luxury ship in the world before it embarked on its disastrous maiden voyage in April 1912.
All kinds of people were welcomed on the ship for its first voyage.
The rich, the famous, the elite, women, children, families and staff of the ship were all happy to be on board.It was billed to be the ship that could not sink, but it did sink on its first journey from Southampton to New York.This was one of the greatest tragedies of all time.
After the ship sank, two lists were presented at the offices of The White Star Company (the company which built the Titanic).The list was simple.It had only two sections: ‘LOST’ and ‘SAVED’.People came to readthese lists to find out if their loved ones had survived. Interestingly, before the journey so many things were important.
Whether they worked on the ship or were on vacation?Whether they were rich or poor.Whether they were millionaires or peasants. Whether they were stockbrokers or not. Whether they were in first class or economy class.Whether they were men or women.Whether they had a lot of luggage or not.But after the sinking of the Titanic none of these things mattered anymore. Only one thing mattered-whether they were saved or lost.Dear friend that is how Eternity will be.A time will come when none of the things we have on this earth will matter.A time will come when it will not matter whether you are a man or a woman!A time will come when it will not matter whether you are rich or poor!
What will matter is whether you are ‘LOST’ or ‘SAVED’ on the day you die and meet your creator!GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS TODAY!AND IF YOU ALREADY HAVE, LIVE FOR HIM!!!!
