While You Can’t, In Him You Can, Evans Olang

Philippians 3:13&14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this is one thing I do, I forget those things which are behind reaching unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ Jesus”

I think that one of the greatest struggles for a Christian is trying to keep up with the Lord. Often times as we walk with the Lord, we get distracted on the way and we loose focus and it takes us time to get back to where we need to be. Also a few people get beaten by their own opinion about themselves especially being affected and infected by their past and so they cannot progress. We know for sure that there is nothing good in man except Christ and in as much as we have failed miserably and we ought to be thrown into the lake of fire, Christ in us cannot deny Himself by casting us away. The fact is we don’t deserve to live but the truth is He has called us His own. We are adopted to be sons and daughters of God.

Don’t Write Me Off Yet, Part 1of3, Evans Olang

Mark 5:1-17, vs. 15 “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid”

We are told of a story of a man in Mark 5, described as a demon possessed man. It’s interesting to note how Mark begins to describe Jesus’ encounter with the man. He came out of the boat and immediately met Him out of the tombs a man with unclean spirit.

Who We Are In Christ, Evans Olang

Philippians 4:11, “…, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

I always find it exciting when I discover something new. Electronics always fascinate me. When I discover more of what they can do than what I anticipated brings a smile on my face. Of course there are times I have had something for so long, limited it’s use because I did not know it could do more and I wondered why I did not discover this a head of time, I could have made use of it long time ago. We as Christians also know what we can do, how about those times we are unable to discover what we are made of because we have not learnt to unlock them?

Living A Lie, Evans Olang

Genesis 32:28, “And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

It’s very easy to be crippled by your own opinions of yourself. Some people tend to add salt to this wound you have created. Instead allowing yourself to be healed, you inflict more pain to yourself. You just can’t see yourself living any way better than the way you already know about yourself. Everything God wants to do in your life is assassinated by what you think of yourself. You keep bringing back to memory what God already forgave you for.

Sleeping On The Job, Evans Olang

Matthew 13:24-30, “…The Kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seeds in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way”

The bible likens the Kingdom of God to a sower who sowed good seeds in his field. The gospel is the good seed that was sowed in us and the result was repentance and faith. The gospel (good news, good seed) was sowed in well prepared fields. Everything was okay as he natured his seed, dug around it, watered it and watched over it. This is how a Christian life ought to be, a life of hard work. Acts 14:22 “…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Following Christ is hard work.

See What You Prayed, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

Genesis 24:21, “And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not”

The thought that God is on the move blows my mind. When the bible talks about the Spirit of God, it says, “The Spirit of God moved”. So expect the act of movement when you are dealing with prayers. The fact that my times are in His hands makes me be at peace for my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus. God knows what we need but He still requires us to move His hands by praying.

The Sieve Reveals, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

Romans 12:1&2, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

As mentioned in the last message, the sieve separates what is acceptable and rejected. Paul writing to the Romans starts in chapter 12 by saying “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ACCEPTABLE to God, …”. Could it be that the Romans thought their lives in were in line with God? Like the flour that was not sifted, everything looked ok on the outside until the sieve revealed as we see Paul applying it here. He tells them to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, the next thing is “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and ACCEPTABLE and perfect will of God“. I keep emphasizing the word ACCEPTABLE because I see over and over in my life God exercising His will based on what is ACCEPTABLE. Paul takes the next three and half chapters teaching the Romans what is acceptable Romans 12, 13, 14, 15:1-8. This would mean, all these would pass through the sieve because they are acceptable to God.

Have The Mind Of Christ, Evans Olang

James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways”

We always want clear sense of direction when making major decisions. There are times we seek advice in situations to help us make better judgments. From my experience, it’s very dangerous to make hasty decision without weighing things. People can advise and give guidance, making decision is your responsibility.

From Knowing About Christ To Knowing Christ, Evans Olang

Philippians 3:10, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”

I don’t like being referred to as a religious person simply because when we are saved, we are not led to religion but to Christ. That is why we are called Christians. Being referred to as a Christians has also been messed up and soiled by many people and I’m not surprised. Correct me if I am wrong, “a Christian” means “Christ like” which is manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus Christ. The word “manifest” is to show, display or demonstrate plainly. If that is the case, your confession of being a Christian has to be accompanied by a demonstration of its definition. It’s amazing to me how people can run around calling themselves Christians but have no Christ like qualities being demonstrated in their lives.