Tuesday 27 September 2011

Rene and Poet 11

Poet: Oh Rene, this day is as fine a summers day I ever knew. See my dear lover, the sun setting in its glory but yet I see her luminary shining with greater lustre and in more effectual strength. 
Her genial warmth and graciousness of temper is as a pearl in appearance. Dullness and sorrow fled at her approach and it is said of her that she pours herself into all the channels of social intercourse. 
Oh Rene, I am lost in her summer seasons, that which is constant through all the variables of this fleeting life.

Rene: You touch me ever so gently and warmly with your lively imaginations of her.
You were born in the long summer thus it is entirely natural for you to be awakened by a girl who is the perfect radiance of her.

Poet: She is better and radiates a better odour. Her colours are ten times superior to that which summer decorates. 

For the rest of that day Poet and Rene enjoyed the sizzling sunshine taking occasional rest in the shades manufactured by the age old trees. 


K.Oni

Sunday 25 September 2011

What I'll be doing this year


As many of you are aware or unaware; I’ve recently graduated from the University of the West of England with a degree in Business Management. I thank God for this great opportunity to study and more importantly I give him thanks for how he has transformed my life through this experience to have an increasing passion and love for Jesus Christ and his gospel. Because of this awesome grace, Friends have advised me and I have decided that for the following year beginning from September I’ll be working for my Church undertaking a year on the foundations team at Woodlands Christian Centre in Bristol. 

The foundations team is a year of service where we are given the opportunity to work in different areas of church ministry. I aim to serve in as many diverse roles as possible but my heart beats for Student work, Urban Mission and youth ministry. I am very excited about the possibilities that the coming year will hold and I am hoping to finish the year with a stronger sense of vocation, confidence and experience in a number of practical areas, and a sense of having progressed in my faith to the glory of God and to the benefit of the world wide church. 

The Leaders of the foundations Team that I will be a part of have suggested that we acquire supporters. These are people that will take an interest in me, pray for me and maybe even invest in me. You are more than welcome to support me financially so as to help me finish this race as it is a voluntary role of which I am confident that His grace will see me through.  

I am confident that your prayers will provide me with much support and encouragement. If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter or to support me in any way please reply to my email k_unit75@hotmail.com or this message to keep you informed of my progress. 

I close with this prayer: Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you for your support
Ken Oni

Monday 19 September 2011

Psalm 14 - An exposition

This Psalm portrays that man is universally corrupt and seeks not after God. There is none who does good, not even one. But God has a people, a chosen generation whom He is delighted to defend in their righteousness and strike if they should continue in their sins. So, although man is corrupted universally, yet God is willing to be a refuge for the poor and the bringer of salvation for those who have been oppressed by evil and wicked men who are nothing but fools due to their idle belief that there is no God.

14:1  To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Here is the height of human folly which displays the darkness of the human heart. Only a fool can utter and declare that there is no God. These are by nature called athiest, who deny the existence of God. through reason and logic and with exertion of their darkened intellect, they would go at length to deny their maker and creator. They are the one's who suppress the truth of the existence of God through their unrigteous thinking coming to erroneous conclusion. They declare their belief loud and clear, possesing no shame of such a vile view but persisting and encouraging others to do the same. There are other kinds of athiest, those of a subtle nature who would not openly deny the existence of God in the public square but will deny him with joy in the secrets of their heart. They do so as to justify their ungodly ways. This hearty denial soothes the aching consience of their soul, that if there be no God, no govenor nor judge over their conduct then they are free do as their heart wishes.

 The character of the fool is that by nature they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, and there is none who does good. Out of all the fools, there in none who does good. Not a single rigteous deed which may commend them before God because God has seen the gull of their hearts and it appals him for it is to him a filthy stench.  Both types of athiest are fools because they fail to give glory to their maker and have forsaking that first principle of wisdom which is to fear the Lord and to depart from evil. The fool is in a terrible condition because no matter how much of his affirmation or how wise the world considers him to be yet he cannot escape the reality that there is a living God to whom at the end of his days, he would give an account. And on that day, I dare say that God himself will call such individuals fools and cast them away from his presence and give them their due. In that day the fool will become wise but his wisdom will not save him. So I plead with you to forsake your foolishness and affirm the existence of God and live your lives in a manner which displays this reality.


While there are many fools among men who are corrupt and abominable and do no good, God has taken it upon himself to survey all of mankind to see if there is any rigteous soul. Vs 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Mankind is God's creation whom he created after his own image and whom He gave steward over all of creation and are to be His image bearers. But man has failed so desperately that apart from grace there is no one good, no one righteous, no one able to please God, no one able to perfectly reflect His image. If grace had been withheld from all humanity, none would by nature possess any inclination to seek after God let alone to seek his face.

God's conclusion on wandering humanity to his own question whether there be any who understands or seeks after him is conclusive for Yahweh is the best researcher of all; for no data is elusive from his gaze and his analysis is of the highest standard. His conclusion is that (Psa 14:3)  They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.


This here confirms that doctrince of total depravity. Man is corrupt, the apostasy is universal and each soul left to itself is dead. They have all turned aside, aside from what? aside from God. They have neglected his ways and rule and have preffered their own. Sin is simply a rebellion against God which is by nature rooted in men's soul until the divine spirit wrought a regenerating work and brings them to repentance. Each man of every generation is corrupt until it pleases the Lord to work his grace upon their hearts; beating their swords into ploughshares and substituting their prisons for the open space. Every man is in need of salvation except one who bore the cross for vile men so that they may be as He is.

Oh my fellow men, do not count the work of the cross as a work to be traded for a piece of meat but rather excite your heart at such grace and love of a mighty Holy God shown towards rebels in redeeming them from the jaws of imminent death.


Clearly all who continue in their rebellion have no knowledge of God and as such will continue more earnestly to persecute those who belong to God. Vs 4  Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? This shows the ignorance and stupidity of men who continue in their rebellion because if they had any knowledge they would know that there is a God who will avenge his people and will punish them eternally for their wicked ways. But such is the ways of fools that they are blinded by their sins. The devil has done a good work in keeping them in the dark about their eternal misery and thus many walk in false hope and continue their persuit in letting sin reign in their mortal body. If they had any knowledge of God and of their true condition, they would be found as many saints to be on their knees seeking the way of salvation for many a night until a path is shown and given to them. But they have no knowledge and will not call upon the name of the Lord. Fools are no friends of prayer but the righteous will daily call upon the name of their God.

Do you call upon the name of the Lord or have you asserted yourself to be wise in your own eyes? Will you continue in your wickedness and not call upon the name of the Lord? I beseech you to dismantle your sword and understand the mountain which stands before you; I ask for you to be wise and understand that there is no victory for those who are against God but there is eternal life for those who have joined His cause in gloryfying His name.


Vs 5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 
Those who have not called upon the name of the Lord due to their stuipidity and wickedness will be found to be in a great terror. For when the Lord uplifts his arm and bend his bow, and decides to show men the greatness of his power, there they will be in great terror. Each man will fall of his horse because of the sudden terror which has engulfed his soul and will immediately seek for the mountain to fall upon him but it will be that dreadful wrath which will crush him. But when the righteous behold the greatness of God, there is no need to fear, for God is their champion. He is with them and for them; He is entirely for their good and they know that no harm will fall upon them. He is their nest, their shelter and a refuge.


But wicked men still adamant in their persuit of fufilling all of their ungodly desires aims Vs 6 to shame the plans of the poor. These are the poor saints, the people of the Lord of which the majority in the world are poor; poor in spirit and afflicted by various persecutions.

The wicked shame God's poor by insulting their plans and security. They see themselves as wise because they place no trust in God but in themselves and thus see it fitting to mock those who put their trust in Yahweh. But fools they are because God is there refuge. God's poor are eternally secured and whatever may befall them in this life is for their good while those who are arrogant will perish eternally unless they repent.

The scripture also warns those who thinks themselves wise to become fools so that they may learn the gospel of Christ. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing and it is written that God "will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning, I will thwart". Therefore God is against you and has made foolish the wisdom of the wise. Only foolish men will say whether in speech or in their heart, that there is no God. But for God's poor, Jesus Christ is their wisdom and God's poor can always be recognized because they have trusted and believed in the gospel of their God. Those who do not believe are outsiders and fools. We pray for God's grace to convert their souls as He did ours so that fools may become poor men who are entirely dependant on their God and have forsaken their earthly wisdom.


The psalmist affirms that God is the refuge of his people and upon this affirmation the psamist being an Israelite cries out, Vs 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Salvation is being asked for; a salvation which will cause the heart of the people to rejoice. This salvation should come out of zion as the psalmist pleads for the deliverance of God's people.

This salvation will secure God's people; in that day God's poor will rejoice and be glad because God has delivered and rescued them. After being so many years under the yoke of wicked men and being trampled underfoot, they are now free creatures under the command of a new Master.

This salvation which will come out of Zion is the messiah. The one who was born in the fullness of time, born of a virgin. This messiah would lead a poor life, carrying his cross and die an accursed death. Yet He rose form the dead and was crowned King over all of his enemies and delivers all of his sheep from the enemies camp. This Messiah is Jesus, who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He restores the fortunes of his people by granting them eternal life and given them riches which the earth cannot store, which will never fade nor perish. It is everlasting and incorruptible.

The fool says in his heart there is no God but the wise declares there is a God and His name is Father Son and Spirit. Will you not today be a wise man and live entirely for Jesus or will you be a fool and perish in your unbelief where you will live in miserable and agonizing conditions for all eternity. If this does not at all bother you because of your hardend heart, consider the worst pain you have endured does far, both physically and spiritually. If you do not repent of your foolishness today this will be your portion for all eternity. Only fools walk this road but the wise will lay down their swords of rebellion and dutifully and joyfully bowdown to the King of the land.

K.Oni

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Born to be

I was born to Be radically Loving,


Self abasing and God exalting.


To live in freedom and seek it for all.


Adoring Justice, righteousness and mercy


Hating injustice, iniquity and revenge.


I was Born to live in light


To laugh out loud and shine so bright


To sing His praise and declare His name.


K.Oni

Sunday 11 September 2011

Where is my Christ gone

Oh where is my Christ Gone
Where are you my Lord
I seem to have lost you in this heart of sin.


Oh reclaim this corruptness
Cleanse this filth
I’m falling here on my knees.


Everybody can hear me cry
Screaming out your name;
Let your love fall down on me
That something in me may die.


For the last time for the last time
Let this desertion be.
Please, never go so far away
From this broken repenting me.


K.Oni

Friday 9 September 2011

Miscellanies 18 - Rebel no more

How true it is my friend that many Christians after declaring Christ to be their Lord and saviour are soon found to rebel against him by committing sins which brought their faithful master to that wretched tree. Since the beginning of their walk after showing them a taste of his love and taking away their guilt it is then or soon after that they are found in the shadows of darkness. They are found wallowing in the pit of which their Lord has warned them to flee. 


Those dreadful warnings found in scripture about pending Judgements for those who persist in wickedness are easily shrugged off, presuming on the kindness of God not knowing that such kindness is meant to lead them into repentance. But such is the corruption of the heart that God’s grace is used as a vice for sustained wickedness and a tool to numb the conscience of actual guilt of sin committed. It is in their hearts that the phrase rings true: shall we sin so that grace may abound? In their heart it is a resounding yes, no wavering doubt but an opportunity to indulge the flesh until its pleasure is completed. 


I pray dear brother that this heart is not found in you and if it is I sincerely plead with you to forsake it and to once again plead with tears and blood to the king of grace to do that divine work which no man can wrought. Plead and ask until what you ask is given to you, let him not rest but weary him with your knocking and groaning, let your tears be full as the sea and make such a scene that the whole heaven after seeing your wretched state and willingness to repent will plead your case for you. Such is the seriousness my friend that your happiness entirely rests upon it. I do not want you to perish but to live and have life so I warn you solemnly to forsake your sins and cling to the rugged cross.


If you are sure of your entering into the kingdom of Christ and your heart is much like mine in knowing that His kindness is meant to lead you into repentance and His grace is given to lead us into righteousness but yet you struggle so vehemently with sin; and doubt begins to occupy your mind of whether victory will ever be gained. I assure you today my dear friend not to give up the struggle; and in your circumstances lies an opportunity for you to exercise your faith and to trust wholeheartedly on the Father of grace and to rest entirely upon the works of his Beloved Son who kissed the cross for you. I implore you to take a stand, to pick your weapon for the fight, to engage in this struggle knowing that it is until death and victory will be gained. This sin will not damn you nor will it cripple you as long as you are taking your stand and resting entirely on Him who solely brought you into the Kingdom of His Son. You have not yet resisted till the shedding of your blood; take delight in the comfort that Christ your King and Lord provides. Rebel no more! The Ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger and you my friend know who your Lord is, that He is the king of righteousness and thus afflict your soul no more.


K.Oni

Saturday 3 September 2011

Miscellanies 17 - Praying for the next generation


It is true that perhaps with our solemn prayers and dedication and dying to self in the aim of seeing many won to Christ in our generation may not actually come to pass but will perhaps come to pass in the next generation. And God in his sweet providence may decline us from seeing the fruits for which we have so laboured. Should this prevent us from carrying out our duty of persevering in prayer and pleading to the Almighty for saving our generation? Neigh! But this should rather increase our desires to pray and plead that if it be not so with this generation then let it be more abundantly with the next generation for the sake of our children, grand-children and their world. We ought to press on in faith and die in faith that if we cannot see such harvest among our peers that our children and grandchildren may see it in theirs rooted on the grinding and tilling of our faith in prayer. We should be as the saints of old who ‘all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth’. Hebrews 11:13. 

Thursday 1 September 2011

Miscellanies16 - Happy in Christ


It is entirely true my friend that there is no one for me but Jesus. The first thing I must do each morning is to set my heart and soul upon his face as to secure my day in complete happiness for without Him I am a miserable creature. He was crucified for me bearing that wretched thorn as a crown and being nailed upon that cursed tree. This, the world thought as the most abominable of deaths but yet it was the pathway to his and my glory. It was by such an ignoble death that He was crowned the king of kings and Lord of Lords and by His resurrection declared as a sufficient saviour. Therefore I long to be found in the secret of his presence for once upon a time, a long time ago His Father had called my name and now in my lifetime I found Christ to be knocking upon the door of my heart and as soon as I became wise to his knocking due to the awakening of the Holy Spirit I quickly opened the door, falling on my knees, kissing his feet and inviting him to come and dine at my poor and lowly table. I had not much to set before him but my filth which is unworthy for a king. But with all veracity and joy he sat so humbly and declared to me His heart and the heart of his Father. As he spoke my whole body shone with light dispelling all darkness and all his tone was filled with compassion and mercy. He judged me not but offered me daily that He will sanctify my house and make it clean. That if I wish I ought to come to the door each morning and there He will be waiting for me. So, my friend I must each morning set my soul and heart upon Christ and be found in His presence as to fill my body with light; this I do for the sake of my soul and for the sake of humanity so as to be a sufficient representative of the true nature of Christ my beloved. 

K.Oni

Trouble comes and trouble goes

Difficulties arise and pass away. Life has a beginning and an end. Who knows when? Some are deliberate  Some are sudden And some are slow. B...