The Canon

The canon of Scripture refers to the list of books recognized as divinely inspired and authoritative for faith and practice. Our word canon is derived from the Hebrew qaneh and the Greek kanon, meaning a “reed” or a “measuring stick.” The term came to mean the standard by which a written work was measured for inclusion in a certain body of literature. The books of the Bible are not inspired because humans gave them canonical status. Rather, the books were recognized as canonical by humans because they were inspired by God. As Wegner explains, the books of the Old Testament “did not receive their authority because they were placed in the canon; rather they were recognized by the nation of Israel as having divine authority and were therefore included in the canon.”1 The community of faith did not create the Scriptures; rather, the Scriptures helped to create the community of faith by giving form and substance to its identity and system of beliefs. The order and arrangement of the Hebrew canon is different from that of our English Bibles. The Hebrew canon consists of three major sections, the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi’im), and the Writings (Kethuvim). Collectively they are referred to as the Tanak (an acrostic built on the first letters of these three divisions—TNK).

  The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, first employed the fourfold division of the Old Testament into Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetical Books, and Prophetic Books that is used in the English Bible. The inclusion of historical books within the prophetic section of the Hebrew canon reflects their authorship by the prophets. Daniel appears in the Writings rather than the Prophets because Daniel was not called to the office of prophet even though he functioned as a prophet from time to time. Chronicles at the end of the canon provides a summary of the entire Old Testament story from Adam to Israel’s return from exile though it was written from a priestly perspective. The Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament includes seven apocryphal books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus or Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, and 1 and 2 Maccabees) written during the Intertestamental period, as well as additional materials for the books of Esther and Daniel.2 The Eastern Orthodox Church also recognized these works as canonical, as well as four additional compositions (1 Esdras, Psalm 151, 3 and 4 Maccabees, and the Prayer of Manasseh). When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the commandments God gave him, the people of Israel immediately recognized their divine authority and promised to raise up a succession of prophets “like Moses” to speak His word for subsequent generations, and the pronouncements of these messengers of God would also be recognized as possessing divine authority. The prophet Samuel wrote down laws of kingship that were deposited before the Lord when the monarchy was established in Israel (1 Sam 10:25). David’s extensive writings came to be recognized as inspired Scripture because the Spirit of God spoke through him (2 Sam 23:1–2), and the words of the prophets came to be placed alongside the Torah in the Hebrew Scriptures because of the self-authenticating message. Histories, psalms, and wisdom writings recognized as coming from others speaking with a prophetic voice were also similarly respected and preserved. WHEN WAS THE PROCESS COMPLETED? Jewish tradition affirmed that prophecy ceased in Israel c. 400 BC after the ministry of Malachi. First Maccabees 9:27 states, “So there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that the prophets ceased to appear among them.” Baruch 85:3 makes a similar claim, and the Jewish Talmud states that the Holy Spirit departed from Israel after the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi in the early postexilic period. While some questions remained regarding some of the “writings” that were already included in Scripture (e.g., Esther) even until the Council of Jamnia in AD 90, the evidence suggests that the Hebrew canon was essentially completed and fixed by 300 BC. All of the canonical books of the Old Testament, except for Esther, appear among the copies of the Dead Sea Scrolls (250 BC–AD 70) We are therefore duty-bound to understand through His Spirit the importance of that selection. Every bible student has to go to the bottom of what is handed us, and learn those things, so that we are not swayed in anyway by those who distorted the word, or cast aspersions at the inspired work of God.

Being Thankful

Giving thanks in the midst of trials, or persecution has always been a tough thing to do. Whereas most of us will love a quick solution out of what we are facing, sometimes it doesn't work out as we thought at the beginning. We have to understand that God will not allow us to go through trials we can't be able to bear. 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 There are many people today who are going through some tough moments in their lives, some are chided for the positions they have taken in God simply because it would've been expected of them to succumb at the weight of such trying moments. Understanding what is happening around you, will help you to withstand the pressure. Jesus Christ, knew what was set before him; that he defied Satan, when he tried to entice him with power and glory alleging all of it was given to his power, which prompted CHRIST to tell him " get thee behind me Satan for it is written; you shall only worship God and him shall you serve."

 David too, had some low moments. He could not be allowed to fight alongside the philistines against his own nation which was headed by Saul. The lords of the philistines advised the king against involving David and his militia group In the battle against Israel. David left Achish, and came to Ziklag where his family and the families of the men following him as his rag tag army had been left behind, a place appointed for him by Achish, only to find out that the place had been overrun by the Amalakites, and the camp burned, and the families taken captive. Every man was talking about stoning David, for every man wept for his sons and daughters until power was not left in them to weep. David encouraged himself in the Lord, and he was assured recovery of what seemed impossible to recover at that hour. We need to put our trust in the Lord in such agonizing moments in order to secure victory against our enemy.

 I have learned that, the moment God tells you to do something for him, the enemy will try to stir what can be stirred up in order to derail your focus, and blur your vision as it pertains to fulfillment that you need to fulfill. But in situations like these, what is needed is to keep trusting in God, and praising him for victory, and having faith that you will accomplish the mission. It's very rare to praise God in hard times, but if you can honor God, praise him, trust in him, clearly understand what he is capable of doing, then nothing can come in between you and God, and you're assured of great victory against the adversary. When Paul and Silas, were rounded, beaten, and thrown in jail, they didn't harbor hard fillings against the magistrates. Though they had been flogged, they summoned courage in the midst of that situation, and at midnight they prayed and sang hymns to God, and the precious Lord set them free by shaking the foundation of the very jail they were put in. The jail man almost took his life because he assumed that the prisoners had escaped, but Paul cried out aloud asking him not to do himself harm for they hadn't escaped. And he (jail man) asked them what he should do in order to be saved, and Paul told him to be believe in Jesus Christ and his household will be saved as well. He brought them to his house, set a meal before them, and washed the wounds inflicted on them as a result of the beating they initially received. This is what God does to us, when we don't complain, or murmur especially when faced with situations that are dire. He is our hope in every situation. Are you going through tough moments? If yes, then let your spiritual eyes be firmly fixated on the Lord, and he shall deliver you from any situation that you find yourself in today. The bible clearly tells us, that he is the same yesterday, today and forever. He does not sleep neither slumber and his word is yes and amen!

Calling The Fire Down

It's not easy for us of this generation to grasp the weight of certain things; particularly thus, by virtue of God's unhindered ways of doing things. The precious Lord  has always been with his people inspite of  many obstacles that have been laid in the path of His people.

I look at the Bible characters and I am awed by the simplicity with which they carried themselves: yet these men and Women of God wielded such great power and authority, especially at a time when full manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not evident. What would happen in those days was for the spirit of God to come upon them, and the Lord would use them. But this never stopped them from showing off the works of God in their generations time.

Jas 5:17  Elijah was a man of like feeling to us, and he prayed in prayer for it not to rain; and it did not rain on the earth three years and six months.

Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth caused its fruit to sprout. 

This interests me, when I come to understand conditions in which Elijah operated in. Harsh realities dawned on him and other prophets, that they could not freely operate without attracting the wrath of the King and his wicked wife. Idolatry was the norm, and the house of Ephraim had been carried along with the craze of worshipping foreign deities. Does this somehow mirror what is going on albeit in a different way?

His ( Elijah) Spirit was vexed, and he wasn't going to conform himself to aspects that contradicted what God had handed to their fathers; and which were well articulated by the Lord.

 He ( God) made it clear to them the consequences of defying his  Law.  Elijah spoke about the nation of Israel going without rain and dew, till his word came to pass. This was a sign to this nation that comprised ten tribes of Israel that God wasn't happy with the manner in which they were straying from what he had given them, and that was very evident. The bible doesn't tell us whether Judah was affected by this, since it's clear the words were precisely directed at Ahab who was the instigator of Ephraim's house backsliding tendencies. The house of David had its share of battles but this word seems to be so particular as to which house was going to be affected. And God honored Elijah's word.

The bible makes it very clear how Elijah was zealous and jealous for Jehovah because the children of Israel had forsaken the covenant.

1Ki 19:10  And he said, Being zealous, I have been zealous for Jehovah the God of Hosts, for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant; they have thrown down Your altars, and they have killed Your prophets with the sword, and I am left, I alone, and they seek to take my life.

It shows here why he was able to call for the shutting of the heavens, and not a single drop of rain was to be seen in the land until his word came to pass. Such actions can only be associated with people that really love the Lord and not the world. Folks that are truly sold to the causes of God. And such God will never forsake nor fail to answer the prayers directed at him by those who love him this much.

When God finally told him that he was going to bring rain, "since most likely others who loved him were praying that he causes it to rain."  We see what unfolds. Elijah wants everyone to know why it never rained, and who was supposed to be worshipped. He wanted them to see the difference and not follow Baal blindly, for Baal was subjecting them to the wrath of God. He tells Ahab to bring four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the grove for a contest on Mt Carmel.

Elijah takes an opportunity to deride and upbraid Ahab and Israel for the nation's backsliding tendency, and he gives those ministering to false deities a chance to prove to the nation as to whether those deities can match the sovereign power of God. He says to them this - "God that answers by fire is the one to be worshipped."

 It takes great courage to engage a nation this way, more so when you're aware that your life is on the line if God fails to answer by fire.

Of truth God doesn't disappoint. When you truly seek him, and have a desire for people to see the difference between him and other aspects that are distracting his people from  acknowledging his greatness, let it be known candidly that he will not let down his people at such moments. He honored Elijah by sending fire to consume the sacrifice placed on the repaired alter. And when Israel saw this, they fell on their knees and cried out aloud and said " the Lord is the God, the Lord is the God"

Time has come when the Holy Ghost fire need to be evidenced in our midst. When people see the glory of God, they shall whole-heartedly embrace him. We need to change tact, pray without ceasing like Elijah did, demonstrate his love and presence, and we shall see the flames of revival all over again. Let us come and worship him with a clean and pure heart, that hungers and craves for him, and we shall see a great spiritual awakening in our times. Blessed be the Lord God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob. He is a powerful God and nothing is impossible with him!