CRUCIFIXION & RESURRECTION: THREE DAYS AND FIVE GIFTS

What a Season this is! This season must be rated the most intense in the life of the Church. This year was especially reflective for me, I felt it deeply, that my Savior died for me. In my reflections, I noted something new from the Scriptures. In these three days gone by, there were five occurrences that paralleled each other in both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection account

Occurrence Number 1: Effectual Intercession for the Lost: Did you notice Christ’s passionate Promissory Intercession for His Tormentors? Can you also hear that trail blazing, transformational word that let loose the eternal pyrotechnic display of the highest level of power – the power of forgiveness in the midst of an ongoing offense? Can you hear Jesus say to those who are not even aware of their offense to him: “Father Forgive Them for The Know Not What They Do?” I am amazed to find the exact parallel after Resurrection. Mathew 28:4 described the keepers who also knew not what they do! Can you imagine Secundus, Publius, Casius and Justus. It was their turn to be on night duty for the week. These men confronted angels who roll away the stone, and miracles of all miracles, they lived! Our fictional but real friends ran to their commanding officer who ran to the high priest who told them, keep this quiet for a fee... Secundus and Casius agreed, but Publius and Justus… No, they refused to sin against God! Christ’s Intercession for the Lost was heard; two officers and their men; entered the Kingdom! We Today can believe for the lost in our Community.

Occurrence Number II: Definite Forgiveness for The Penitent: Think about that thief who hung on the Cross beside Jesus. What went through his mind? His years of rebellion to his mother’s counsel? His listening to the lying words of evil friends? What went through his mind that made him to “confess his sins?” We may never know till we stand before the Father. But somehow, heaven accepted his repentance and the Son set him free on the Cross! I am amazed at the Angels attention to another Penitent – AFTER resurrection. Peter must have had a horrible three days. He denied the Lord, He denied him before servant girl; and he was the only one among the disciples who denied him. The angels said in Mark 16:7 to the two Mary-s and Salome, “tell his disciples, and Peter!” Give this message to the man who has counted himself out of the Game… Tell Him that He is FORGIVEN! There are many Peters like the thief on the Cross that the Lord is saying to TODAY, I have forgiven you.

Occurrence Number III: A Double Defeat for Darkness: Many have taught that the darkness for three hours was in response to the forces of hell’s temporary triumph. My heart however says NO! I believe, it is rather a situation where the darkness was NOT allowed to work at a time of its own choosing. Darkness was commanded to witness the death of the Son. Not that the Sun cannot shine but that Darkness was “frog matched” to Calvary and told see what is being done, see it and see it perfectly – for 3 hours. I make this assertion because when we got to the time for resurrection proclamation, John the Beloved was careful to note that “it was yet dark” when it was revealed that the stone has been rolled away! And it was in darkness that the Lord said those beautiful words “…. Mary” Darkness witnessed both crucifixion and resurrection. No wonder John has this to say: “darkness cannot comprehend him!”

Occurrence Number IV: Eternal Breakage of Natural Restrictions and Limitations: This thought is so powerful. In Mathew 27:51, the Evangelist said: “The earth did quake and rocks were rent…” and natural order of death was reversed (v52,53), graves were opened and many bodies of the saints… arose. In Mathew 28:2, there was another earthquake. This one was “a great earthquake!” Oh that this resurrection day will release the resurrection power that comes with the coming down of the Mighty Angel of the Lord!

Occurrence Number V: True Witness To the Son: It was the most humbling declaration of all time. The victim conquered his conqueror. The Centurion that commanded the Military Detail that Crucified Christ witnessed “Truly, this is the Son of God!” (Mathew 27:54). This however cannot be compared with the witness of the Mighty Angel of the Lord who said: “Why do you seek the living among the dead, He is not here, He is Risen!”

These are the Five Witnesses on both sides of Golgotha. Each one says to us today, there is HOPE…! Will you believe? Let me end by asking you to Celebrate with John Wesley's Classic Hymn - And can It Be

This was at Songs of Praise broadcast Sun 21 Oct 2007. Please Sing Along as I wish You A Happy Resurrection Morning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8

Pastor Sayo Ajiboye

Easter 2012, Bellevue WA

THE HONORED DONKEY

It is Palm Sunday 2012 and I am thinking about that Donkey that our Lord rode into Jerusalem. In the midst of that great horde, men women and even animals; one being was the most critical – apart from our Lord; he is the one I have chosen to call The Honored Donkey.

Starting With The Donkey:

No animal has ever been so honored since the Universe began. The whole city got out and whether you like him or you hated him; everyone linked with the Donkey and the person sitting on his back. I want us to think about the donkey in Jewish context and see the glory of the Lord in this story.

The Ultimate Impure Animal:

Jewish teachers call the donkey the Ultimate Unclean Animal. This is because the are both non-ruminants and have non-cloven hoofed. On two counts, they are not worthy of any attention But the Lord chooses to use that which is doubly disqualified and that which is counted as many as unclean to come into the space of praise. In this the Lord is giving us a parable: We are not to call unclean what he the Lord has called clean (Acts 10:9-16).

Even the Unclean Has Their Redemptive Value:

There is an interesting instruction in the Book of the Law about the Honored Donkey. Exodus 13:13 and 34:20 gave a specific instruction that places the firstborn of the Donkey – a doubly Unclean animal on the same level with the firstborn of man and clean lambs.

Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.

Why did God place a redemptive value on that patently and doubly unclean? I believe it is to say to our world that Nothing, No One; is beyond Redemption. There is a cry in the heart of the King who died for the World that “I want it ALL, I want it ALL!” This cry is true today as it was at the beginning of ages when God laid out the Foundations of the earth. ALL CAN BE REDEEMED… Including YOU!

ALL Have a Use!

There is a Day that Heaven has Chosen when each of us will be the most critical being on the face of the earth. The Lord said to his disciples in Mathew 21³

“If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Like this Donkey, there is a day when God have chosen to say to His World about each one of us: You ARE NEEDED! You are IMPORTANT! You are CRITICAL to my Scheme of things. Look at Zechariah 9:9,

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The Scriptures could not have been fulfilled without our honored Donkey. It was a matter that God through had programmed into the Design of the Universe. One day, the Messiah must ride on the Donkey. There is a Day of God’s Manifestation that has been programed into each of our lives. There is a day that God cannot be glorified without our involvement. What an Honor! That the Lord Indeed Needs Us! Will you believe this?

On Cause Related Marketing

Sayo Ajiboye, 2004

More and more, leaders of non-profit organizations must evolve innovative ways for securing finances for their operations. For instance, how do you restore an iconic historic structure when faced with dwindling income? The custodians of Statue of Liberty faced this very question and they turned to cause related marketing for solution. Cause related marketing (CRM) is defined as the public association of a for-profit company with a nonprofit organization. It is designed such that the non-profit promotes the for profit company's product or service to raise money for its operation. The term was first used when MasterCard raised money for the restoration of Statue of Liberty by donating one cent every time someone uses MasterCard. The result was that number of new MasterCard members grew by 45% and card usage increased by 28% (Foundation Center, 2004).

The big danger of cause related marketing is in the charge that it causes non-profits to divert attention from a pure focus on mandate to pleasing big commercial organizations in the name of CRM. Many have questioned the ethics of non – profits lending its name and reputation to a profit making commercial cause. It has been alleged that it is unethical because such relationships challenges the very base of existence of non-profit, it questions the concept of market failure as the basis for non profit intervention, it blurs the distinction between government, private and non profit organizations; it leads to “cherry picking” a situation where certain causes become the cause celebre… An instance of this is the Breast Cancer campaign which has over 70 major company associated with because of the high incidence of the disease among high income, white, upper middle class women. Compare this to the campaign against domestic violence, AIDS and date rapes. These does not attract such stampede of cause marketers because its incidence is among those with not as high a financial power as those breast cancer campaign and because it will not allow a tapping into the donor dollar and purchasing power of victims (Parker and Selsky, 2004).

The advantage however is CRM taps into the well-researched fact that consumers often wish to link their purchases to issues that matters to them within their community. CRM does not affect only the consumers but it affects even the employees of companies involved by boosting their morale and increasing their loyalty. In other words, CRM is a win-win situation for all involved. Non –Profits and their publics have been given the opportunity to look beyond traditional sources of servicing and procuring solutions to pressing social issues by CRM (Meinhard, 2004).

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PAPERS SERIES

TAXATION REFORMS & THE RESPONSE OF AFRICAN POLITY

A Critique of Taliceiro, R. 2004. Designing Performance: The Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority Model in Africa and Latin America, Policy Research Working Paper 3423. World Bank: Washington, D.C.

Author: Sayo Ajiboye Washington University In St Louis

It is worth nothing that the populace does adjust their behavior to match the errant tendencies of political agents. Will the people indeed be free from the octopoidal arm and ever-present influence of political agents if nations create autonomous revenue authorities? It is received wisdom that the more fair efficient and effective tax administration is, the higher the compliance rate of tax-payers to paying their taxes. It is interesting to note the Taliecio’s observation that “no matter what the taxpayer does, the dominant strategy of the political class is not to invest in reform.” For politicians to maximize their benefits, there is a temptation to renege on their net commitment to reform. The taxpayers responds to this by opting not not to comply with drives for reform, it is more cost effective to maintain the status quo.
Taliciero suggested three technologies for reforming the tax regimes, but all of it have been shown to be susceptible to political manipulations. Establishing institutions that are involved in joint decision making may look like an answer but how does one deal with the fact that stakeholders often become stake raiders when opportunities to do this present themselves? Consider the particular Ghanaian situation that was cited, has this helped resolved issues of political opportunism among the new members of the House of Chief? Has this stopped the Chiefs themselves from continuing the process that they have perfected over decades?
On the technology of delegation, can the newly delegated authority become a “power center that wields influence beyond and become corruptible? In Nigeria of the 1990s, Adekanola and Company was contracted by the government to collect taxes in at least 15 States of the Federation. This worked well except that Adekanola and Company became a new power center. As long as it supports the intentions of the powers that gave him authority, all went well; but the moment Adekanola went after major companies in which the powerful people have interest, its authority as the government tax Collector was revoked. Given this scenario, when does the political systems become again a servant of the people? How can government become people’s agent?

Development Constructs and the Vernacular of Control

Washington University in St Louis -2004

If development arose as a construct of Western motivated problematization of poverty, how are we then to understand true social reality in nations that are negatively affected by this activity? Can we possibly define a social reality different from the concept of development as presented by the Western World? My tendency is to frustratingly throw up my hand and say -too late! Development is indeed a repetitive, omnipresent reality. This reality has been colonized by the development discourse motivated from a Western construct.

Why has other attempts to construct development reality in terms other than western denominated propositions failed? Ujaama in Tanzania, collectivization in the former Soviets, the Kibbutz in Israel, even the Ghandi Ashrams of India are largely relics of history, they do not have the continuing impact or influence of the all Western colonial construct of development. Our world seems to have been wired in a manner that makes any divergent form of thinking essentially impermissible. This is what Foucault asserts.

Even when development is seeing as encompassing cultural space, we must ask the question: which culture is being referred to? Are we referring to the hermaphroditic co-mingling of contexts which now exist in virtually every cultural space on the globe? Can we point to any space where cultural reality maintain a pure strain? The answer to this is clear, such pure cultural spaces are virtually non-existent.

Critical reinterpretation of African history which is defined from a purely western perspective, understanding of gender issues in non western world on grid presented solely by scholars from the West are a deep cause for concern (Chandra Mohanty, Mudimbe)

When we see the poor as a social problem and when we refer to them as a people needing transformation and assistance is essentially a vernacular of control. It is amazing how strongly we have all imbibed this vernacular! It is so easy to associate pauperism with immobility, vagrancy, independence, frugality, promiscuity, ignorance and refusal to accept social duties, refusal to work, to submit to the logic of expansion of needs. Realistically however, we are surrounded by living proofs that the opposite is the truth (Proccaci in Escobar)

The historicity and the depths of the economic conception of poverty and the creation of a separate class of poor nations and basing this solely on needs as defined by the so called development experts is a further manifestation of the vernacular of control. The declaration by Mr. Roots in 1916 that America has a duty to build the Panama Canal "with or without the consent of Colombia” sounds terribly familiar in 2004 geopolitics. Today, the dominant discuss revolves around the "Axis of evil." Conflict in nations seems to be motivated by partners in economic adventurism, there is a rise in unilateralism, there is a neutralization of the views of non-compliant nations and even non compliant multilateral institutions. It is interesting to watch the "Root Doctrine of Strategic Self Interest of United states” seems to dominate US foreign policy in the 2004 elections.

We must cease presenting development as a secular theory of salvation and stop the infantilization of the Third World.

God’s Messengers OF Hope

We live in world feeling a desperate need for the Message of Hope. Everything around us is falling, Mountains & Money, and everything under our feet is shaking, Land Masses & Relationship en-masse. There is no time such as this, that is Tailor Made for Christ’s Message of Hope.

Consider this however: When Christ said “Go Ye…,” was his charge to a group of Specialists? The answer of course is NO! His charge was to a group of very flawed men, an indistinct group of men with doubtful personal credentials. One cannot control his mouth, two cannot control their anger, at least another two were professional doubters!

What they lacked in personal strength, they made up for in Time Spent Living with the Lord and Watching His Ways. What they saw that is relevant to us in this Season is in John 4. How to bring a “A Message of Hope. We will look at headings in the process.

They Saw Christ Step Out: To bring a message of Hope will always require someone to step out. From one’s personal comfort zone, from our groups cultural assumptions, from the tyranny of public opinion, at the risk of being misunderstood.

They Saw Christ Grow Vulnerable: Why will He ask a woman to give him a drink? Does he not realize the possible implications? What about blackmail? What about the Pharisees? Anyone bringing a message of hope must be willing to become Vulnerable

They Saw Christ Talk Straight: There has been a lot of talk about Straight Talk in the last few days. There is no time as now that such is needed. What is the straight talk that our World needs?

i. That they are drinking from a cistern that will never satisfy

ii. That the only Water that will Satisfy is the water that Christ gives

iii. That a drinker of the Water of Life will become a Spring of the same.

iv. That No One is ever left out who Wants to Drink.

In my City, the Sun is Out, the people are walking the streets again but their hearts have questions, their life have fears, many are hopeless, They await YOU, A BRINGER OF HOPE.

Originally written for Victory Court RCCG on May 18^th 2008

Mother’s Holy Call

Today is Mother’s Day, I want to dwell on the Holy Call that God has given our Mothers.

Like Eve, it is a Call to be Productive. Have you ever wondered why God waited and made a woman before he instructed mankind to multiply? There is a mysterious gift of productivity that is only fully activated by Mothers in our life.

Like Sarah, it is a Gift of Hope. In Genesis 17:7, Abraham laughed at God’s plan, in Gen 18:12 Sarah did the very same thing, but when God confronted both with their situation, their responses were different. Abraham suggested that God should change his plan and choose Ishmael, Sarah on the other hand decided to keep her own confusion to herself and said “I did not laugh.” Many have focused on Sarah’s lie in this passage but can we look again and possibly see a woman fulfilling Romans 4:18, a woman who “against hope, believed in hope?”

Like Deborah, it is a Call to Fight. There are certain fights that no none can fight on behalf of the Son but that the Mother choose to pick up the gauntlet. In Judges 4:4 – 9, Deborah wanted the big General Barak to go fight the Battles of the Lord, but rather than fight, Barak, balked; the Mother in Israel had to stand up and say “ I will fight!” Thank God for Mothers who are saying today, “I will Fight!”

Like Bathsheba, it is a Call to Grace! Who else understood favor like Mama? Who else has the capacity to bestow it like the same? Bathsheba, should have been stoned, she was an adulterer, co – criminal with David. By a mystery of divine intervention, David’s prayer became Bathsheba’s prayer, her sins were remitted, her transgressions were taken to the Sea of forgetfulness! Oh that God will teach our Modern Mothers that they are called to receive Grace so that they can give grace!

I can write about Ruth, about Rahab, about the female Prophetesses of Israel, about Esther, the wise woman of the world who was a princess of God. But let me close with the epitome of it all – Mary. The prophet said “a dagger shall pass through your side also…;” matter of fact, no frills: “a dagger…!”

What pains Mothers know! But what Joy, what Victory, what manifestation of the POWER OF RESSURECTION!!! I pray that this Mother’s Day will make this Real, the POWER OF HIS RESSURECTION IN THE LIFE OF OUR MOTHERS. MAMA, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally written for Victory Court RCCG on May 11th 2008

“Way of Sinners”

Psalm 1 described the blessed man, at the core of this description is a statement; this man does not stand in the “Way of Sinners.” How do we define and understand the way of Sinners so that we may not stand therein? How do we become the blessed man?

We can take our cues from our Lord who specifically discouraged us from associating with certain people.

1. The Praying Pharisee – Luke 18:9 - 14

– He judged others

– He thought of Himself more highly than he ought to

– He justified himself in the presence of God

– He did not humble Himself

2. The Rich Young Ruler Luke 18:18 - 26

– His possession was his God

– His observance was a ruse

– He was an Idolater

3. The Thankless Lepers Lk 17:11 - 19

– A sense of entitlement

– It is my right (I am a Jew)

4. Wandering Demas – 2Tim 4:10

– Loved the present world, The word used is Agapao

o He is fond of the world

The most intriguing is Demas. In Col 4:14 he was Paul’s beloved fellow laborer, by 2 Tim 4:10 he has become a man that love the present world. The word used by Paul is instructive, Demas Agapao the present world. The very word that distinguishes the people of faith and stands them out in the World was turned on its head by Demas. He Agapao the present world…

What do we love today? What you love will determine how blessed you are. Let us take the Counsel of the Psalmist: Do not to stand in the way of the Sinful Man.

Originally writen for Victory Court RCCG on May 4th 2008

“What Wisdom Does”

In the Book of Proverbs, the Bible lists certain things that wisdom does… The Scriptures says that “Wisdom Calls and cries aloud…” to God’s people to cease being simple (Prov. 1:20). Why must we do this? Because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places” We are in conflict with strategic forces who have committed themselves for eons to thwart the purposes of God in the life of His people.

The Scriptures commands the righteous to “incline your ears to wisdom and apply your hearts to understanding” (Prov. 2:2). If Wisdom cries God’s people must listen. Listening takes effort. The righteous will be faced with distractions, sometimes the righteous will be challenged by things that confuse; but in all of these, the righteous “must seek discernment and directions”

The effect of such a listening heart is dramatic. Wisdom moves from being an external factor to becoming an integrated reality. Wisdom becomes a gift from God (Prov. 2:6) in the life of such committed listener. God creates “a storage tank” into which the righteous can dip his/her heart in the Season of need (Prov. 2:7)

In Proverbs 2:8, wisdom is the guard that protects the righteous in conflict. He is a shield that defends him from the fiery darts of the wicked one. It is therefore easy to see why Proverbs 3:21-22 instructs the righteous to Keep Sound Wisdom…” So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck…

Originally written for Victory Court RCCG on April 26th 2008

The “Come-Back Kids”

Whenever someone snatches victory out of certain defeat In the American Culture, that person is hailed as “The Comeback Kid.” As I meditate on Hebrews 11, it certainly occurs to me that the famous Faith Hall of Fame was about a group of individuals who were the “Ultimate Comeback Kids!”

It all started with Abel who was not just defeated in the physical battle for supremacy, he was actually eliminated. He was killed, slaughtered, caused to cease existence before the end of his expected lifespan. Abel’s case was the ultimate “Cold case” (to borrow another term from the American popular culture), if God did not solve it, it could not have been solved. Abel however defined the operational parameter for every person of faith that will come afterwards; this parameter is well summarized in the words: “he being dead yet speaketh”

We must note that always, the strategy of God is “to be manifest in the midst of death…” It was so for Noah, who witnessed the annihilation of the Human Race by the Flood, it was so with Abraham who was “was as good as dead…;” it was true for Jacob, who was dying yet he blessed and worshiped; it was so for Joseph who was sold and presumed dead, and who demanded a prophetic commitment from Israel even as he died. Moses faced certain death as a child, was given a real sentence of death as a young adult; was challenged by the Angel of God himself and nearly died with Ziphora. One can only use the same words that the writer of Hebrew used “What more can we say…?” Joshua, Gideon, Barak Samson Jephtah, David…? All of them faced death and should have been annihilated; but in all of their lives, God seemed to declare: I AM THE GOD OF THE LIVING, NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD!

Many of us woke up this Sunday morning and are faced with challenges. Death seems so close; life seems to be ebbing away: except that we hope in the Lord, except that we believe that He is the God of the living, we are like those that are led and given over to death. God wants such people to be reminded today that HE GLORIES IN WINNING OVER DEATH. Dead situations, dead circumstances, dead relationships, dead hopes, dead expectations, dead dreams, dead desires…, dead faith, God is the God that rejoices in showing forth his Resurrection Power. Faith is the Power of Christ’s resurrection at play in the in the life of the faithful, faith is the opportunity of God to reveal himself as the God of the living, when death seems to be winning. The ultimate people of Faith are always given over to Death but somehow; by His Power; they stage a “Come Back” from defeat; they are the “Ultimate Come - Back Kids.”

Originally written for Victory Court RCCG on April 13th 2008

WORLD CONFLICT

The Conflict in our world bothers me. Look at the non- stop bickering over nothingness among nations. Leaders bicker over issues that should make children blush, armies march, fight and kill to maintain position that are suspect at best. Years of lives are wasted, deep seed of sorrow is sown, misery is spread for generations: From the depths of Europe, to the expanses of Asia, to the hearts of Africa; nations rise against nations and innocent people suffer.

When we look at the marketplace, people do not look to just make a profit, greed causes people to seek a killing! There was a time in our world (late 1800s early 1900s) when American business leaders were referred to as “Robber Barons,” those given the privilege of managing God’s resources deploy it to miniaturized God’s people. This is still true today. Children cannot get health-care in America, China marches across Africa with the Jackboot of economic depredations; there is deep hopelessness in the heart of Europe (France for instance); Africa’s young people take to the Sea in a willing reenactment of the Middle Passage.

When we look into the family Unit, the misery deepens. Wives are ruled like slaves, children are treated like minions; fathers sometimes are victims: violence, infidelity, abuse, injustices, it seems as if the war deepens in the bedroom. One man of God puts it like this: the Bedroom, the Boardroom and the Throne-room have all become War Rooms.

The tendency is to cry Why? The well worn path is to give in to despair and cynicism but God wants us to look at it from one more angle.

The Lord is the one who rules in the midst of conflict, the Lord is the King who demands that there be conflict. In Genesis 3:16, God essentially said to the woman, “you will desire for what is rightfully yours, but instead of getting it; it will rule over you – like a slave!” But why will God do this? He does it so that somehow men may stop, think and see the futility of his activities. He does it secondarily so that men may seek Him. Thinking about this was for me a Eureka moment. Instead of despairing at conflicts, I saw hopeful possibilities, instead of a sense of loss, I received a renewed sense of vision. The words of Apostle Paul take on a new meaning: that “the whole creation waits with groaning for the manifestations of the Sons of God.”

Man by default of Sin is designed for conflict, the Christian by the default of transformational redemption is designed for peacemaking. No man comes to God except through the Son, no man gets to the Son except by the witness of His Church; everyone outside the orbits of this witness is reduced to an unending conflict. Oh Brothers and sisters, that we may arise and become an instrument of His peace.

Mark 16: 15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned

The most visible sign of condemnation is conflict, the most potent answer to conflict is the preacher of the Gospel, brothers and sisters; LET US GO! LET US PREACH!

Originally written for Victory Court RCCG on April 6th 2008