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Rev. Enoch Thompson | November 6 2024 | John 19:38-42 KEY VERSE: ³⁸ Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹   He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. John 19:38-39 (NIV)   MESSAGE: When it comes to sports and politics people freely show their colours and want others to know that they belong where they have chosen to belong. However, in current worldwide situations in the matter of religious choice, some people are forced to hide their conversion to Christ and their Christian identity. This is because such disclosure will bring untold hardship, persecution and even death. For example, a child from a non-Christian religious background who encounters Jesus Christ and accepts Him as Saviour will not be acting wise to flippantly declare their faith. They may choose to develop their walk with Christ privately, until such a time that by age and change in circumstances they can assert their individuality. Such disciples of Christ stay in the shadows and the background until such a time that they can own up publicly what they have owned all along.   Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were two high-placed Jewish men who came to believe in Jesus Christ of Nazareth as their long-awaited Messiah. However, they found it necessary to keep their conversion secret. The proof of the genuineness of their conversion is seen in their role in the final services to the crucified Messiah. It may be that at this point they were ready to face the consequences of the disclosure of their relationship to the Saviour, and did not care what anybody said or did. There is a time to step up and own up for Christ, and sometimes in that radical manner.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Secret discipleship is the exception and not the norm. Every believer must stand up to be counted for Christ. But if for a season you need to hide, do so awaiting the time when you can make your public declaration. Do not hide behind this reflection and fail to let the world know that you are a born-again child of God! PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for the freedom of worship that exists in many parts of the world. But I also know that many people face enormous persecution for the sake of their faith in you. Please give wisdom, discretion and direction to your persecuted people everywhere, and bring about quickly your Kingdom in which we shall be free to worship you always. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study : SECRET The Greek word for “secret” here is kryptō  (κρύπτω), meaning “to conceal” or “to hide.” It implies a deliberate effort to keep something unseen or unknown. The use of "secret" in key verse highlights the tension between personal faith and public acknowledgement. Joseph of Arimathea concealed his faith due to fear of repercussions. However, when it mattered most, he showed his willingness to step forward. True discipleship seeks to proclaim Christ openly, affirming that our lives bear testimony to Him even when circumstances are difficult. Reflections: Are you ready to step forward and be counted for Christ? What areas of your life could benefit from a bolder witness to your faith?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | November 5 2024 | John 19:31-37 KEY VERSE: ³⁶   These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," ³⁷   and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced." John 19:36-37 (NIV)   MESSAGE: One line that runs through the records of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is that things happened to Him, around Him and through Him “that the scripture would be fulfilled.”  The Old Testament had made predictions about the person of Messiah, the place He would be born, the character He would demonstrate, the works He would do, the kind of death and the circumstances of His death. It was also predicted that He would not remain under the power of death but that He would rise again from the dead.   And through His life and ministry Christ our Lord fulfilled these prophecies; this is the reason I believe in the Jesus of Nazareth as the God-man who was to settle the separation between me and God, make me a child of God, give me power over sin and Satan, and ensure my eternity with God in Heaven. Thank God for the accuracy of the scriptures and the faultless fulfilment in Christ. But the prophecies of the Bible do not relate only to Christ; they relate to you and me today. The salvation of our wretched sin-laden Hell-bound souls is predicted in the Bible, the power to live the godly holy God-glorifying life is predicted about us, the affliction we are to endure through the hostility of Satan and his demonic and human hosts, and the grace of God to see us through our afflictions, the provision and the protection of God for us as His children, among many other things, are all predicted concerning us. We need to commit to a life of fulfilling scripture and to finish our life journeys knowing that we have done all we did, “that the scripture would be fulfilled.” FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Our salvation and its attendant blessings are enshrined in scripture. What remains is to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” Phil 2:12-13 (NIV). Are you working to fulfil the scriptures? PRAYER: Lord God, your Word is a wonder to me in its exactness and relevance, in the life of the Son of God, Jesus, who came to fulfil scripture for me. I pray now for the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me to fulfil what is written in scripture concerning me. Grant your Church to wake up and live up to your Word,  “that the scripture would be fulfilled.” For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study : SCRIPTURE The word “Scripture” comes from the Greek graphē  (γραφή) , meaning “writing” or “sacred text.” In the New Testament, graphē  specifically refers to the authoritative writings regarded as God’s Word. The Scripture in our Key verse (John 19:36-37) refers to Old Testament prophecies that point to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the timeless nature and reliability of God’s Word and shows God’s foreknowledge and purpose, as Jesus’ life precisely fulfils each prophecy found in it. Scripture is not just historical but actively guides us to live with purpose, fulfilling God’s vision for our lives. Reflections: Are you living with the intent to fulfil what God’s Word speaks about believers? What steps can you take today to live according to His promises?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | November 4 2024 | John 19:28-30 KEY VERSE: When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NIV)   MESSAGE: The beginning of a thing is important, but the ending is more important. What God intended to achieve in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ faced enormous opposition at the spiritual and physical levels. And yet the mission needed to be accomplished, because the destiny of humanity hung upon that success. In the temptation in the wilderness, Satan would have truncated the salvation mission if he had succeeded in getting God in Christ to bow to him. The energy of the religious leaders of the time to destroy the ministry of Christ, and the manipulations to get Him on the cross all show a concerted effort to terminate the salvation mission of God through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is that God always wins, and will ultimately win, as was achieved in the death of Christ Jesus on the cross. His cry "It is finished," was a celebrative declaration that all the battles around the mission were done with; beyond the cross, Satan and the human opposition could do nothing more to Him and His mission. It meant that the prophecies about His coming and His ministry to save us had been achieved. It meant that the foreshadowing of Christ in the Temple's sacrificial system had come to an end, allowing us to approach God through Christ, symbolized by the tearing of the curtain from top to bottom in the Temple in Jerusalem.   It meant that whatever was necessary for our salvation had been achieved! Praise the Lord!! "It is finished" was said for you. You do not need to work your way into God by your own efforts; it is finished, and that is for you.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Have you embraced what was done for you on the cross of Calvary? King Jesus did it all, and we owe all to Him. Will you repay Him with your allegiance? Live as one for whom "It is finished." PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you fought my fight, and you finished it all. I give you honour and praise and pledge to worship you always all the days of my life. Help me Lord to spread this good news. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study: FINISHED  The Greek word tetelestai  (τετέλεσται) translates to "It is finished," meaning “completed” or “fully accomplished.” It implies that nothing more is needed for fulfilment. Tetelestai  (τετέλεσται) in this context of our key verse reflects Jesus’ fulfilment of every prophecy and requirement necessary for salvation. I t signifies the end of all sacrifices, as Jesus became the ultimate offering. It calls believers to rest in the assurance of salvation, knowing that no additional effort is needed to secure God’s acceptance. Jesus' declaration of “It is finished” is a call to live with the confidence that His work on the cross fully covers all that is needed for redemption. Reflections: Have you accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross as sufficient for your salvation? What does it mean for you to live in light of this completed mission?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | November 3 2024 | John 19:28-30 KEY VERSE: Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." John 19:28 (NIV) MESSAGE: Thirst is a universal physical need of all living things, and we can talk about our deepest longings as the thirst of our hearts. The human being thirsts, not only physically, but more importantly, spiritually. We thirst for God, and until we have God we cannot be truly satisfied. The statement by the Lord Jesus on the cross,   "I am thirsty,” was not only the expression of his physical need, and such as happens to people who died by crucifixion. It was the declaration of the representative-human, the One we beheld in the manger, and who stood before Pilate, to express the thirst and hunger of the human spirit for the water of life in God.   The prophecies about Messiah included the fact that He, the Creator of water will be left without that basic need of His human family, and will, as part of His eternal sacrifice to redeem them, become the victim of great thirst. In Ps 22:15 (NIV) we read one of the many prophecies in that Psalm that were fulfilled in the crucifixion records; “ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me   in the dust of death .” Extreme dehydration, extreme thirst. Christ thirsted on the cross to give us the water of life by which we never thirst spiritually again. Christ the Lord thirsted so that His words to the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar, and which words are relevant to all ages, cultures and peoples,     ‘ ¹³ . . . "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life ."‘ John 4:13-14 (NIV).   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: You can have satisfaction of soul and spirit, and it will reflect in your physical and social life when you drink of the living water that the Lord Jesus alone gives to the human being. You can sing with the hymn writer, “Hallelujah, I have found Him, whom my soul so long has craved, Jesus satisfies my longings, through His blood I now am saved.” Drink of Jesus and thirst no more! PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you again and again, for the work of salvation you accomplished for me. I believe in you, and even now drink again into my soul the life which is your very self in me and with me. Please help me to bring others to you, so that their eternal deepest thirst will be satisfied . For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study : THIRSTY The word "thirsty" comes from the Greek dipsaō  (διψάω), meaning to feel a strong desire or longing, typically for water. This term often symbolizes deep spiritual need and yearning. Jesus’ expression of thirst on the cross signifies the ultimate sacrifice made to satisfy humanity’s spiritual hunger and thirst. It serves as a fulfilment of prophecy and reveals His deep identification with human suffering. This moment emphasizes that Jesus endured the ultimate separation and suffering so that believers would never experience spiritual thirst again. Reflections: Are you drawing from Christ, the source of living water? How can you ensure that your soul remains refreshed and satisfied in Him each day?

BE CARING TO THE END! Rev. Enoch Thompson | November 2 2024 | John 19:25-27 KEY VERSE: When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," John 19:26 (NIV) MESSAGE: It is interesting to note how God factored care into the operations of His creation. Humans as well as animals and birds have a sense of responsibility to care for their type, and to provide protection and sustenance, especially in childhood, in sickness and old age. It is unfortunate that among humans some people choose to neglect this natural responsibility, and they may even claim to be Christians while doing this.   As the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, Mary had great love for her Son, and from the conception of Christ through the exile in Egypt, through His childhood in Nazareth, His ministry throughout Israel and in these final days of extreme hostility towards the Son she loved so much, Mary remained steadfastly close by her Son and was close by His cross at the crucifixion. His interaction with Mary in John chapter 2, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, betrays a gentle loving relationship between mother and son. Parents, care for your children!   The Lord Jesus must have been a caring person, beyond His public ministry of healing the sick, casting out demons and generally providing for the needs of the people who came to Him. Jesus was a lover of closely associated souls. It is said that John was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He gave nicknames to the disciples as they related to Him. Leaders love your people!   At the cross, when most of His followers had abandoned company for dear life’s sake, Mary remained caring for her dying Son. But most importantly, the Lord Jesus, in spite of His personal agony of soul and body, found it necessary to care for His mother and took time to address that issue before He died. Children, care for your parents.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Do you have a caring heart that goes out to others, especially those within your God-given circles? Remember, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Tim 5:8 (NIV). PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, lover of my soul and my primary caregiver, thank you that you cared not only for your disciple and your mother but for all souls, in your agony on the cross. Please give me a caring heart and help me to show this care always. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study: SAW The Greek word for "saw" in this verse is eidō  (εἶδον), which means to perceive, notice, or recognize with understanding. Unlike a mere glance, eidō  implies a deeper awareness and attentiveness. The use of eidō  (εἶδον) in the key verse for our devotion underscores Jesus' full knowledge of his mother's presence while he hung the cross. He acknowledged her sorrow and her need which prompted His compassionate response, demonstrating how he cared even in His suffering. Jesus shows us that, true care extends beyond our circumstances and seeks to understand and respond to the needs of others regardless of our personal difficulties. Reflections: Do you model Christ’s care in your relationships? How can you extend His love to those closest to you, even in times of personal difficulty?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | November 1 2024 | John 19:23-24 KEY VERSE: ” Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." John 19:24 (NIV) MESSAGE: I have often heard people talk of their love or other people’s love for “the things of God.” When I hear such statements, I am magnanimous to tell myself that they mean their love for God rather than for the things of God. But it may well be that we really love the things of God rather than love God.   The soldiers have had a field day showing disregard and disrespect to the Man from Nazareth, the God-man, the creator of the universe in human form, and contrary to the justice system and the consciences of the Jewish religious leaders and of Governor Pilate they have flogged Him, spat upon Him, and crucified Him. And now they divide His clothes among themselves, with Him hanging naked on the cross. And in the dividing of His clothes, they show more respect to His undergarment, because “This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.” John 19:23 (NIV).   The soldiers did not have a problem tearing the back of the sinless Son of God with their whips, they did not have any shame in piecing His feelings with their insults, they did not see anything wrong with slapping Him and spitting in His face, but they found everything wrong with preserving His undergarment intact. More respect for the clothes than for the Christ.   Do we not treat God in similar ways; when we are not conscious of our evil which insults His sovereign holiness, but are concerned with the loss of our position and title associated with His Church if we are exposed? Do we not care more about our programmes, positions and power in the church, answers to our prayers rather than pleasing God, and walking humbly and in holiness to please Him? FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Do you love God, or do you love the things of God? PRAYER: Lord, it hurts to face myself and to see that I have loved things associated with Your Name without seeking to know You and following You. Please forgive me, and give me a heart that places you first, over and above all other loves.   For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study: CLOTHING The Greek word for “clothing” here is himatia  (ἱμάτια), commonly used for outer garments. In biblical contexts, himatia  emphasizes the external coverings or adornments that individuals wear, often symbolic of one’s social status or identity. From our key verse, we realize that apart from the himatia (clothing) which the soldiers divided among themselves, they also cast a lot for his seamless garment (himation).  While clothing  generally refers to attire that covers and represents outward appearance, a garment  here implies a single, seamless piece of high value. The actions of the soldiers reveal how they prioritise material value over spiritual significance. We should know that true reverence for Christ means valuing Him above all and allowing our relationship with Him to surpass our attachment to religious symbols or status. Reflections: Are you valuing Christ Himself or merely what comes with Him? How can you redirect your love to place Christ above all other attachments?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 31 2024 | John 19:19-22 KEY VERSE: Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written.” John 19:22 (NIV) MESSAGE: Sometimes in our battle with evil, falsehood, negative pressure and darkness, we may find ourselves on the backfoot, in a disadvantaged position, to have lost ground to the enemy. Pilate was in such a losing position when he was compelled to yield to the Jewish demand for the crucifixion of the man that he, Pilate, on three occasions declared to be unworthy of the death sentence. However, he was compelled to give up and to give Him out to their schemes because he was out-numbered.   Pilate however found a way to strike back and to attempt to redeem his conscience. The notice he caused to be fixed on the cross of the dying Saviour reflected some of the thinking that he had developed in the process of the trial; Jesus of Nazareth was the king of the Jews, rightly or wrongly considered, either to acknowledge the wrongness of the Jewish demand for His death or to make a mockery of the Jews, to have a king that is so weak in the face of the Roman power. Pilate’s notice read “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:19 (NIV), and Pilate’s response to the Jews rejecting this inscription was "What I have written, I have written."   (19:22).   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: When we have the opportunity to reclaim our right thinking and right behaviour, we must grab it with both hands and refuse to be pushed back into the mode of moral defeat. Strike back to stay right! PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for giving me the opportunity to reform and make good the mistakes of my life. I pray that you will help me to see the opportunities to make up where I have failed, and to stand firm when I reform . For Christ’s dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study: WRITTEN The word "written"  comes from the Greek gegrammenon  (γεγραμμένον), which means "to inscribe" or "to record permanently." This implies a deliberate and enduring act as if setting something in stone. Pilate’s statement in John 19:22, “What I have written, I have written,” shows his decision to make a lasting declaration about Jesus’ identity, regardless of opposition. Pilate's action reflects a profound theological truth— God’s word and the identity of Christ are immutable. It also serves as a reminder that true conviction, once inscribed on our hearts, should not waver in the face of pressure or past mistakes. Reflections: When you have the chance to reclaim integrity, will you take it? How can you ensure that truth remains firmly inscribed in your life, even in difficult times?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 30 2024 | John 19:16-18 KEY VERSE: Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. John 19:16 (NIV) MESSAGE: We all live in an intensely pressurised world where we are constantly being subjected to voices that speak against the clear and stated instructions of God for our lives. We face the bombardment that the media, culture, politics and society in general generate against us. Throughout the night of the trial of the Lord Jesus, Pilate tried to dissuade the Jews from their desire to have him grant the death sentence to the Lord. But in today’s text for reflection, we are told “Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” (John 19:16). Finally, finally, there was a final point at which Pilate crumbled to the pressure mounted on him, and had the Lord handed over to the Jews to be   crucified. When we are faced with relentless pressure to do wrong it is useful to have a pre-determined decision that we shall not at any time yield, come what may. For Pilate, he was reminded by the Jewish leaders that if he stood by his determined effort to release the Lord then his political career would be on the line since he would be seen as an enemy of Caesar. For some of us, it might mean loss of friends, loss of funding, political side-stepping or even loss of life. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: How far have you ever come to yield to negative pressure? Or have you reached a point where you have finally yielded to evil? There is a new day, a new beginning of standing strong under God and refusing to hand over our Lord to be crucified again. PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, given away that I might be saved, sacrificed on the altar of human expediency and an inability to stand for right, thank you for taking the blows for me. Please help me to refuse to be pushed over by the negative pressures around me.   For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study : HANDED The word "handed" derives from the Greek term paradidomi  (παραδίδωμι), meaning "to give over" or "to deliver." It conveys a sense of entrusting or transferring control to another, often with significant implications. In John 19:16, "handed" reflects Pilate’s act of surrendering Jesus to the crowd, symbolizing the failure of earthly authority under pressure. The lesson for believers is that we should learn to stand firm in faith rather than yielding to societal or external influences, and it reminds us of the importance of conviction over compromise. Reflections: Are there areas in your life where you’re feeling pressured to compromise your beliefs? How can you stand firm in faith, honouring Christ above all?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 29 2024 | John 19:12-16 KEY VERSE: From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” John 19:12 (NIV) MESSAGE: In the matter of spirituality, there is no vacuum. We belong to Christ or Caesar, to the heavenly Kingdom of God or the worldly kingdom of Caeser backed by the rebellious spirit of Lucifer and his forces of darkness. We may not be so conscious of this demarcation of the realms and its implications for our lives here and after death.   In the heated moments leading to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are presented with a moment when the Jews made a deliberate choice of the worldly kingdom of Rome with its human-centred power over nations, over and against the Kingdom of God that the Lord Jesus was proclaiming as having arrived.   When we choose this world as the system that rules over our lives, we automatically reject the rule of God over our lives. The Jews had to admit that Caesar was their king, a fact that in their normal thinking moments, they hated to admit, and yet in their rush to reject the claims of Christ they gladly declared Caesar to be their only king! FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: You stand between the claims of Christ upon your life and the demands of the world system energised by the Devil. You make one choice or the other, and by that choice reject the one or the other. Will you affirm the lordship of Christ over your life, or for the sake of political, monetary and momentary satisfaction declare Caesar your king? PRAYER: Dear King Jesus, thank you for humbling yourself to take my place on the cross. I choose you now and always as my only Lord and King. Please help me to stay faithful to you, and to help others to know you. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study : KING The word "king"  comes from the Greek basileus  (βασιλεύς), meaning ruler or sovereign, often associated with supreme authority over a domain. The word "king" in our key verse highlights the decision each person must make: to serve Christ as their eternal King or to align with worldly powers, symbolised by Caesar. This moment challenges us to consider where our true allegiance lies, affirming that choosing Christ may sometimes conflict with worldly expectations or desires. Reflections Are you living with Christ as your King, or are you allowing worldly values to shape your choices? How can you stand firm in affirming Christ’s lordship over every aspect of your life?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 28 2024 | John 19:6-11 KEY VERSE: Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” John 19:11 (NIV) MESSAGE: To hear Pilate’s response to the Lord’s wise silence sounds like some people we meet along life’s journey: "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"  John 19:10 (NIV).  People talk about power and project themselves because of the positions they occupy, or wealth they possess, or the connections they may have. Certainly, Pilate was a powerful man and could misuse his political and judicial powers to grant the request of the Jewish leaders, which he ultimately did.   But the Lord Jesus chose to answer this boastful statement of Pilate’s, whereas He had refused the question about where He came from. Pilate needed to be put in his right place so that he did not think too much of himself; ‘ Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” John 19:11 (NIV).   We must understand that all power belongs to God and that any power we hold over any person or situation is only limited, delegated and temporal. It is necessary that we appreciate the sovereign and universal power and rule of God, and to learn to yield what crumbs of power come to us to His almighty rule. In the home, in politics, in the Church, wherever and whatever form of power is given to us, we should consciously thank and praise God and seek to honour Him alone. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you too conscious of your power over others, and do you tend to think that others should worship you because of your positions, titles and privileges? Do you make people in authority feel like gods because you bow so low to lick their boots? Honour God and worship Him alone; all power belongs to God! PRAYER: Lord God Almighty, King of glory and owner of all power, please help me to see you on your throne, and to learn to ascribe all power to you alone, at all times. In Jesus Name,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study: POWER The word "power"  comes from the Greek exousia  (ἐξουσία) , meaning authority or right. It implies authority granted or bestowed from a higher source. Jesus' statement to Pilate shows us that all authority is ultimately delegated by God, even that of earthly rulers. We should therefore view any power or influence they hold as a responsibility entrusted to them by God, meant for His purposes. It serves as a reminder that true power belongs solely to God, urging us to honour Him in every aspect of our lives. Reflections : Are you using any authority you hold to honour God? How can you acknowledge God’s ultimate power in your daily actions and decisions?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 27 2024 | John 19:6-11 KEY VERSE: ” ⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ” John 19:8-9 (NIV) MESSAGE: Self-assertion and speaking up to make our case, especially when we are despised and maltreated, seems to be the normal and necessary thing to do. Biblical wisdom teaches us to be measured when we speak up in self-defence and when we should hold back from speaking; “⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Prov 26:4-5 (NIV). This is a great skill for intelligent wise relationships with people, and we must learn and master it, like our Master did during His life and the trial before Pilate.   The Lord Jesus chose not to answer Pilate’s question, not out of disrespect or because He did not know what to answer, but because He was aware of who was asking the question and how unprepared Pilate was to hear the response. Pilate had become afraid upon merely hearing that the Lord Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. If the Lord went ahead to affirm the matter to him, His divine identity and His heavenly origins, that would have put Pilate in a place where he, in line with his Roman beliefs in the gods taking on human form from time to time, would have insisted more on releasing Christ.   However, we read in   Mark 14:61-62 (NIV), “Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ,   the Son of the Blessed One?" ⁶² "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."  The Lord answered directly to the Jewish leadership because they had knowledge of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and needed to be confronted with the truth because they had failed to assess Him in the light of the revelation God had given them. Weigh people and know how to answer them. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you able to weigh your responses to the speech and conduct of people around you? Take charge of your responses, under God, and you will be in charge of your circumstances. PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the golden example you gave in your life and dealings with different people. Please help me to apply your wisdom in my interactions with those I meet along the way. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study: ANSWER The word "answer"  comes from the Greek apokrinomai  (ἀποκρίνομαι), meaning to respond or reply. It suggests a deliberate choice of response, whether verbal or non-verbal. Jesus chooses not to answer Pilate’s question, a moment that shows His discernment in understanding the readiness of His listener. His silence was a purposeful response, a non-verbal answer that spoke volumes. Jesus' action reminds us that not every situation calls for an immediate or direct answer; rather, we should discern the right approach, seeking to honour God in how we respond. Reflections: Are you intentional in your responses, discerning when to speak and when to listen? How can you apply Jesus’ wisdom in your interactions today?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 26 2024 | John 19:4-9 KEY VERSE: ” ⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ” John 19:8-9 (NIV) MESSAGE: It is sometimes necessary to deliberately walk away from a place where there is a lot of noise so that we can receive a telephone call or hold a discussion with another person. Exposure to noise affects the processing of our thoughts, and we must sometimes seek a quiet location to process our thinking. We need to withdraw from some of the noise of the practice of Christianity, into the recesses of our souls, and into the pages of the Bible to clear our fainting heads and clarify the confused messages we might be dealing with. Pilate had been trying to point to the Jewish people that the Lord Jesus was not the dangerous king that they accused Him of claiming to be. He was innocent of their charges, and he Pilate was ready to release Him. The Jews take their accusation to another level; Jesus did not only claim to be king, He also claimed to be God. In the Jewish thinking to claim to be “the Son of God” meant a claim to being God (verse 7). When this other layer of accusation was brought up, Pilate   got afraid, and   “went back inside the palace.” (verse 9). He went back into the palace to make further inquiry of the Lord, to ascertain the truth of what he had heard, for it was a serious matter. We need to sit at the foot of the Master, like Mary, and ask Him about the real meaning of life, and how to live it out. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Is your life as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ taking place in the noisy environment of other people (often unsound in their understanding and practice of the faith), of programmes for programmes’ sake, of a politicized church, a materialistic Gospel, or ethnically conditioned Church? We need to go back into the quiet place of God, within the soul and in the Word of God. We need to “steal away to Jesus,” and get a refreshing insight into the simplicity of God and the sweet fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Would you find a place to get away, periodically, weekly, or daily? Get back into the palace! PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I confess that I get bogged down with the noise around and miss out on your communications with me at the soul level. I want to steal away, to steal away to you, in the inner sanctuary of the soul, and to be moved not by what I hear and see, but by your Spirit and your Word. In Jesus’ Name,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! DAILY word study : PALACE The word "palace"  comes from the Greek praitorion  (πραιτώριον), referring to a governor’s headquarters or the official residence where important discussions occurred. In John 19:9, the palace  represents a place where Pilate withdrew to speak privately with Jesus, symbolizing a retreat from external noise to seek clarity. For believers, this palace  becomes a metaphor for moments of solitude with God—our inner sanctuary where we can quiet distractions and hear His voice. Reflections: Are you finding time to retreat from the noise around you to reconnect with God? How can you create a “palace” in your daily life to seek His guidance and refresh your spirit?