THE GENERATION THAT WILL EXPERIENCE GOD'S WRATH

This is the generation that will experience the unimaginable wrath of God both in this world and in hell. The bible gave an account of what this generation looks like and the ten characteristics that they possess.

This generation are described as the men and women that the anger of God will be unleashed upon. They are too religious and this religion does not profit them, it does not reflect positively in their lives. They are too familiar with God. They replace righteousness and godliness with religion, Jer. 7:21-29. These men and women have devised their own pattern of serving God,  Col.2:16-23. They follow their stubborn inclination and do only what pleases them,  2 Tim.3:1-5.

 They are stiff-necked and do more evil than their fathers, this is the reason why God visited their iniquities upon them until their fourth and fifth generations, Deut. 5:9. This generation are liars and the truth is not in their lips, they heap false prophets upon themselves to give them sermons and messages they want to hear. They hate corrections and reproof, they hate discipline and because they hate the truth, they devise patterns that would suit them.

Truth has three dimensions; Truth as a living personality which speaks of Jesus Christ which is the Way, the Truth and the Life, John 14:6;  Truth as the will of God,  John 8:31-36 and Truth  as expected from believers to their fellow believers and to God, James 5:12.

THE PREACHING OF REPENTANCE

This preaching is a call back to the original plan of God. This is because  God is merciful and does not want anyone to perish. Through the years, men chosen by God have preached the message of repentance  to both the old and young in the old and new testaments.

In genuine repentance, sin must be renounced, 1 John 3:15.  God demands absolute renunciation of sin without compromise. It is the knowledge of God's love that brings man to repentance, John 3:16, John 14:15. We only show our love for God when we obey his word. Repentance is a complete change of man's mind towards sin.

Some of the preachers of repentance are Jonah who preached to the people of Nineveh, Jonah 3:1-10; Prophet Ezekiel, Ezek. 18:1-30,  John the Baptist, Matt. 3:2, Peter and Paul among other disciples, Acts 2:38, Jesus Christ Lk. 13:3-5, etc.

The message of repentance is still on today. It is preached in churches, media, Internets, society and every- where. Test all spirits and know which is of God. We love God because he first loved us, Rom. 5:8, 1 John 4:19.              

THE ELEMENTS OF REPENTANCE IN CHRISTIANITY

Repentance has three elements; the Intellect, Emotion and Will.

(A) The Intellect: Repentance involves knowledge. First, there must be this acknowledgement that man is born in sin and that the wages of sin is death, Rom. 3:23, 6:23. Intellect as an element implies the understanding  of man's depravity and God's redemptive plan through Christ, 2 Pet. 3:9. The Holy spirit through this information from God's word convicts the sinner who has reached the age of reasoning and decision taking. This is to say that repentance is obtained by adults. Children are only trained in righteousness until they grow to decide for Christ, Prov. 22:6, John 9:21.

(B) The Emotion: This is the tendency for man to have a feeling of care, love or deep care for another and express it in weeping, laughter, shouts, etc. Emotion is an inbuilt quality in man. This means that a good information about Christ from the bible stirs a deep remorseful feeling and yearning for God from within the heart of man. Godly sorrow works repentance, 2 Cor. 7:8-10.

(C) The Will: This is the desire and longing to totally surrender to God. It is the real determination to forsake sin, change one's attitude towards sin and surrender to God, Matt. 6:10.

Repentance is clearly illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son, Lk. 15:11-24.

TRUE REPENTANCE

Repentance is a feeling  of remorse, concern or regret for an action done. It is usually used in connection with conversion. It is an attitude of man out of heart- felt grief or remorse and changing of mind about sin. It also is an action of sorrowfully turning away from sin and returning to God in their conscious state.

God originally created man in his image and likeness after righteousness and holiness. This made the fellowship between God and man to b cordial until the interception of sin, bringing  condemnation enmity and death which became hereditary to all man and women. The fall of man made him degenerate to bondage and satanic dominance. Prior to the fall, man had authority to dominate all creation as instituted by God, Gen.1:26.

God, being merciful and never wanting man to remain in condemnation devised means to return man back to his original plan, hence the plan of redemption was perfected in Jesus. God thereafter has been calling out for men and women to repent from their evil and return to him. God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and he is presently calling everyone to return to his perfect will through repentance, Heb.1:1-2.

                                                                                                        

                                                                                                         

USES OF GNETUM AFRICANUM

The leaves of this species are edible like other American and Asian species.

It has a significant source of protein, 16.5% of dry weight of carbohydrate, 70% dry weight of essential amino acid, lysine,  phenylalanine, non essential amino acids.

It is also eaten raw and added to meat and fish dishes after cooking. The leaves are used in the treatment of enlarged spleen and sore throat. The leaves are also used in cooking some Nigerian dishes like vegetable soup, afang soup, porridge yam, ukasi soup, achara soup.