REDEMPTION 1

16 SO DON'T BE DISMAYED WHEN THE WICKED GROW RICH AND THEIR HOMES BECOME EVER MORE SPLENDID.
17 For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
18 In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.
19 BUT THEY WILL DIE LIKE ALL BEFORE THEM AND NEVER AGAIN SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
20 PEOPLE WHO BOAST OF THEIR WEALTH DON'T UNDERSTAND; THEY WILL DIE, JUST LIKE ANIMALS."
Psalm 49:16–20 (NLT)

• Many celebrate the Rich because of their wealth or riches, regardless of the source of their wealth.

• If someone made wealth in a dubious way, such would harvest the fruit of their wickedness.
• Some people have done a number of hideous things, all because they wanted to get riches.
• Whoever is out to make it by all means should know that wealth or riches cannot redeem a person's soul:
  6 THEY TRUST IN THEIR WEALTH AND BOAST OF GREAT RICHES. 7 YET THEY CANNOT REDEEM THEMSELVES FROM DEATH BY PAYING A RANSOM TO GOD. 8 REDEMPTION DOES NOT COME SO EASILY, FOR NO ONE CAN EVER PAY ENOUGH 9 TO LIVE FOREVER AND NEVER SEE THE GRAVE" (Psalm 49:6-9 NLT).
• If you allowed the pursuit of wealth to deter you from having a relationship with God, you surely would regret It later. Having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is much more important than whatever you might be pursuing in life.
• The only way through which a person can be redeemed is Jesus Christ: "JESUS SAID TO HIM, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO [God] THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (John 14:6 NKJV).

"NOR IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.”
Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

5 FOR THERE IS ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS,
6 WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME."
1 Timothy 2:5,6 (NKJV)

• Wealth or riches cannot redeem anyone.

• Some have done a number things to make money, to be rich, but they failed to understand that their riches cannot save or redeem them (Psalm 49:6-8).
• Some have been involved in ritual killing, drug trafficking, and all manner of crooked means of making money; just because they wanted to make it in life.
• The love of money which is the root of all evil had made them sold their hearts to the devil and had been pierced with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).
• Money is good and can add value to your physical life, but seeking It at detriment of your soul or life leaves you in perpetual regrets and sorrows.
• As good as money is, It cannot be exchanged for the salvation of your soul:
  8 THE PRICE FOR A LIFE IS VERY HIGH. NO PAYMENT IS EVER ENOUGH. 9 NO ONE CAN PAY ENOUGH TO LIVE FOREVER AND NOT ROT IN THE GRAVE" (Psalm 49:8,9 — New International Reader’s Version).
  READ: Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25).

• The only One Who is qualified for the payment of man's redemption is Christ Jesus. He was the only One qualified to open the Scroll and loose its seals:
1 AND I SAW IN the RIGHT HAND OF HIM WHO SAT ON THE THRONE A SCROLL WRITTEN INSIDE AND ON THE BACK, SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS. 2 THEN I SAW A STRONG ANGEL PROCLAIMING WITH A LOUD VOICE, “WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND TO LOOSE ITS SEALS?” 3 AND NO ONE IN HEAVEN OR ON THE EARTH OR UNDER THE EARTH WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE SCROLL, OR TO LOOK AT IT. 4 SO I WEPT MUCH, BECAUSE NO ONE WAS FOUND WORTHY TO OPEN AND READ THE SCROLL, OR TO LOOK AT IT. 5 BUT ONE OF THE ELDERS SAID TO ME, “DO NOT WEEP. BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID, HAS PREVAILED TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND TO LOOSE ITS SEVEN SEALS” " (Revelation 5:1-5 NKJV).

• As long as the scroll remained closed and the seal unloosen, the weeping continued. But thank be to God, Jesus Christ was able to open the Scroll and loose the seal, and that resulted to the salvation of mankind.

• Jesus is the only One Who fulfilled all the prophecies about the coming Messiah—the anointed One.

• Jesus said those who had come before Him were thieves and robbers (John 10:8). He was not referring to the Prophets of the Old Testament, those ones were sent by God (Hebrews 1:1); but those who came before Him and after His ascension and claimed that they are the Messiah.
• Some of those who came before His ascension are mentioned in Acts 5:36,37, one Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, who led revolts; uprising or insurrection, against the Roman government but were killed and there followers scattered (Acts 5:34-39).
• The exact years of the revolts are uncertain, but they must have happened before the birth of the New Testament church. Because Gamaliel one of Jewish leaders was sighting them as examples of what the Disciples of Christ was doing (Acts 5:36,37).
• It thus means the revolts must have taken place before the new move of the Disciples of Jesus Christ—before the ascension of Christ. These and such people were the ones Jesus referred to as thieves and robbers (John 10:8).
• In other words, some people had come who presented themselves as the Messiah, the Saviour, whom the Jews were expecting.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• And As you are set free, made whole of the sickness, the Affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!