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3 most important questions – (final)

The three most important questions that must be answered by all men on earth are as follows: (1) What is the meaning of life? (2) What are we on earth for? And (3) What is the meaning of death on earth?

We have so far answered the third and second questions in our previous articles. Today, we will look at the first, which is:

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE ON EARTH?

Scripturally speaking, any time life questions are raised, one personality readily comes to mind; His name is Jesus Christ! No prophet or religious sect can either contest or deny the level of authority Jesus wielded while He walked the surface of the earth. He said: “I am the resurrection, and the LIFE: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…” – John 11:25.

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Obviously, it is justifiable to focus on Jesus Christ alone when discussing life matters, not just because the prophets of old prophesied about His coming before He finally came (Isaiah 9:6), but also because of the things He did and the statements He made, while on earth. In John 11: 43-44, Jesus raised the dead! In John 14:6 Jesus said “…I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE…!” In John 10:10, He said “…I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly!” All these can only come from someone who has full authority over life.

In Deuteronomy 8:1, the Scriptures says: “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live…”. In other words, our life on earth depends on our doing the commandments of God our creator. Hence, some religious sects only believe in an invisible God. That sounds like, men telling God,“stay invisible and we will accept you as God; become visible and you cease to be our God”!

During the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, one of the religious folks, who believed obeying the commandments of the invisible God, is what life on earth is about, said to Jesus: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus’ response was: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 22:36-40. Jesus said, “loving God and our neighbour” is the most important activity needed on this planet earth. This answers our question:

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE ON EARTH?

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Loving God and our neighbour, is the meaning of life on earth. (Note: Every man on earth is your neighbour). Loving God and man, is therefore the reason for our living on earth. 1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

The scripture says “God is love” and “dwelling in love means dwelling in God”. Explaining this with our physical environment, we can say: just as we live in oxygen in the physical, and oxygen is in us to sustain our physical lives, so also spiritually, must we live in God, and God must be in us, to sustain our spiritual lives. Better still: if God is love (according to the above), then we must live in “love” and “love” must be in us, to sustain our spiritual lives. Living in love therefore, is what it takes to enjoy eternal life.

LOVE EXEMPTS US FROM HELL

The next verse to the above scripture says: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” – 1 John 4:17.

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It is generally believed that, judgment follows death on earth (Heb 9:27). If the scripture says our practice of love, is what will give us boldness in the day of judgment, then it means, if you live your life on earth loving God and man genuinely, judgment shall favour you after death. The end part of that scripture says: “…because as he is, so are we in this world”. Meaning, we behave like God when we love, and that enables Him to gladly welcome us to where He is, after we depart from the earth. ‘Like begets like’. Love, is therefore what exempts us from going to hell after we depart from earth.

CHALLENGE IS YOUR LOVE-TEST

Many today, have relegated love because of the challenges they face or go through in life. Such fellows fail to consider that, challenges usually serve us with the opportunity we need to prove the magnitude of our love. Matthew 24:12 says, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”. Because challenges shall abound, many will fail the love-test.

Beloved, the difficulties that abound around you, are to prove how far you can go in love. While hanging on the cross in pain, Jesus’ love was tested: one of the robbers on the cross beside Him, pass an annoying comment. He said: “If you are the Son of God, save yourself and us”, but Jesus was not offended. He simply ignored him and rather ministered salvation to the other robber (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus passed His ‘test of love’ even on the cross. Stephen had a similar test: while being stoned to death, Stephen didn’t curse his murderers. He rather prayed for them, saying: “…Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”– Acts 7:60.

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Beloved, the meaning of life is to love God and mankind.  1 John 4:20-21 says, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”.  The proof of our love for God is our love for man. Therefore, if we live our lives in quarrels, malice, bitterness, hatred etc., and still attend church, we are liars. The relevance of your church attendance is known by how much you love your neighbour.

Attending church is good, but then, walking in the spirit, does not necessarily mean attending church or making long prayers. It simply means walking in love. Galatians 5:14-16 says, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself.But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.This I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh”. So, “walking in the Spirit” means walking in “love”. 

Friend, if you live with the mentality of loving every human being you meet on your way, you will realise how amazing life is. Imagine a world in which everyone loves their neighbour; what will you call that world? Heaven! So, love is the answer to all of life issues. Remain blessed!

Dr. Frederick France (Author: Divine Keys devotional)                                

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Blog: pastorfrederickfrance.wordpress.com

Contact: 0208111227 or 0244416603.

Email: pstfrance40@yahoo.com

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The Prophet part 2

Some young men queing for visas
Some young men queing for visas

“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any mean­ingful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.

I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embas­sies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.

Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”

Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.

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There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.

“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offer­ing. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.

He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suit­able piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.

Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!

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After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.

This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great sur­prise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any lan­guage, he could understand them.

Tomorrow there will be testimo­nies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘

He went to sleep smiling and whis­pering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’

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He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.

Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testi­monies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impo­tent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.

He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start mak­ing my selection, he told himself. Today!

“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his won­ders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.

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“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimo­nies, many more of you would like to testify.

Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consul­tations, after which I will give direc­tions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most important­ly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”

His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”

By Ekow de Heer

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Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives

• Members of the Full Gospel Businness Fellowship
• Members of the Full Gospel Businness Fellowship

The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.

He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and men­tor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.

Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.

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“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”

He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach pro­gramme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.

He cited testimony-sharing, mentor­ship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.

Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.

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The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.

He, therefore, called for more vol­unteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.

Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornogra­phy, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.

That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and re­store these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA

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