Author: Providence News

Lessons from Job’s repentance (3) By Babatunde Olugboji As we continue our series on Job’s repentance, we read towards the end of the book of Job how God categorically rebuked Job’s three companions: “You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7b) They would definitely have been surprised by this, believing that God agreed with them all along.   The rebuke of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar by God was at the same time an explicit vindication of Job. It was true that in his frustration, stubbornness, and misery, Job said things that he had…

Lessons From Job’s Repentance (2) By Babatunde Olugboji  As we continue our series on Job’s repentance, it is pertinent to note his unambiguous approach to matters related to repentance: “Listen, please, and let me speak; you said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer me.’” “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 46:4-6) In his previous dialogue with God (Job 31:35-40) Job’s tone was confrontational, almost challenging God, but here, after his superb revelation of God, he humbly…

Lessons From Job’s Repentance (1) By Babatunde Olugboji As we saw in the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis, the Biblical concept of repentance is much more than saying sorry. To repent means to rearrange your entire way of thinking, feeling and being, in order to forsake that which is wrong. Judah and his brothers showed remorse, but more importantly, they showed transformation. This week, we will begin a series on repentance, using Job as the touch point. In Job 42, Joe declared: “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be…

Lessons From Job’s Repentance (1) By Babatunde Olugboji As we saw in the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis, the Biblical concept of repentance is much more than saying sorry. To repent means to rearrange your entire way of thinking, feeling and being, in order to forsake that which is wrong. Judah and his brothers showed remorse, but more importantly, they showed transformation. This week, we will begin a series on repentance, using Job as the touch point. In Job 42, Joe declared: “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be…

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? By Babatunde Olugboji  The cursing of the fig tree by Jesus often evokes incredulity among Bible scholars, and this week, we will be examining this ‘miracle’ in Matthew 21. The Bible says in Jerusalem, Jesus being hungry, inspected a fig tree, found nothing but leaves, and cursed the tree, saying, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the tree immediately withered (Matthew 21:18–19). Why did Jesus, the Messiah who usually handed out blessings curse the tree?  The key explanation was that “it was not the season for figs” (Mark 11:13) but…

What is ‘Effective Fervent Prayer?’ (2) By Babatunde Olugboji  This week, we will conclude the 2-part series on effectual prayer. In the King James Version of the Bible, the book of James talks about fervent prayer: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) The word “fervent” means “having or displaying a passionate intensity, forceful, heartfelt, powerful or wholehearted. James refers to 1 Kings 17:1, where Elijah told King Ahab that it would not rain “for the next few years.” This was to punish the Israelites for their worship of Baal. After three and a half…

Let’s Stop Ethnics, Religious Bias to Focus on Better Value, no short cut to success –Rev. Samuel Oluwatunbi  Nigerian youths have been advised to depart from iniquities, but should be committed to God. They are encouraged to make good use of their exuberance and have a solid foundation to take over every platform with continued focus on God. Rev. (Arc.) Samuel Oluwatunbi, the Mission President, Christ People’s Assembly (CPA) made this passionate call amidst widespread social vices and other activities among the youths today. Speaking during the assembly Youth Leadership Summit, themed, “Winning Against All Odds”. Rev. Oluwatunbi admonished the…

Election is Not A War, It’s A Choice For A New Leadership – Archbishop Eric Emiaso  The prelate archbishop of Gospel Church of Christ Worldwide, Archbishop Eric Emiaso has recommended to the church, a high level of spiritual development and capacity building through training and retraining of church ministers and workers for effective fulfilling of God’s mandate. Archbishop Emiaso made this remark during the annual National Ministers Conference of the church held at the church national headquarters in Lagos. He said, “The conference, different from our church annual general convention, is designed and purposed to train, equip and prepare our…

What is ‘Effective Fervent Prayer?’ (1) By Babatunde Olugboji  One of our most powerful tools as a follower of Christ is prayer. It is the most direct way of communicating with God, to appreciate him, to present petitions before him, or just to bask in his presence. The importance of prayer is so clear in the Bible, from the Old and the New Testaments, with examples from Moses to Elijah to Jesus, to Paul and several others. Before and after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, several Bible characters prayed passionately, intensely, and sincerely. In the King James Version…

Whose Writer Are You As A Christian -By Gracious Akintayo  What is the purpose of writing an article or posting of messages that does not form the basis of inspiring, influencing and impacting readers, but full of infectious hatred, inciting and insensitivity of others with bad taste. It will be always good to weigh the impulse of our writings, before considering posting and publishing them publicly. articles will generate to our  reader Rather than posting and publishing toxic content that will pollute the atmosphere and sensibility of wider readers, writings should generate interest, intelligence and intention. Oftentimes, readers are able…