Title: Looking Unto Jesus Christ
Editor: Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma
Publishers: Mater Dei Foundation, Lagos
Year: 2013
Pages: 171
Notwithstanding how daunting the challenges of life faced by mankind appear the 171-page book Looking Unto Jesus Christ by Okechukwu Joemario Barnabas has provided the solution to such threats.
The author has used comprehensive scriptural research to authoritatively disclose that the key to such overwhelming confrontation faced by people is the word of God in the same scripture he researched from. “The word of God which is also the law and commandment is among the four foundations of a victorious life. It is a key and a weapon to win secret battles and maintain a healthy relationship with God. The word of God is alive.
It is the spirit and spirits do not die” (p.1). This is authenticated by Jesus Christ in John 5:39 when he said search for the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testify to me.
Discussing this in eleven chapters of the book, chapter one, the word works wonder, takes off by introducing the reader to so many biblical evidences of the marvelous nature of the word of God. This Chapter draws attention to what Jesus said in John 6: 63 that “the word I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” This means that the word of God like spirits do not die as it continues to be alive for all ages. Also John 1:1 confirms that this word of God was in the beginning as it was with God and the word itself was God. In effect the word of God is for all seasons and hours of existence from of old, now and eternity.
The author observed that the world is in a generation where people have created their God and pattern of Christianity. These are those he described as “many Christians today who want an Easter without Good Friday. Some have also grown to desire the crown without a cross” (p.2). However, he opined that to desist from this, scriptures should be used to interpret scriptures with a proper and in-depth analysis of the original motive.
Other biblical portions that explain the efficacy of the word are mentioned with prayer points. Chapter two, the powerful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and Others, underscores the power in the holy name of Jesus Christ as beyond human comprehension. The author owns up that even his research cannot capture the power in this name.
However, this chapter emphasized striking issues about Jesus Christ including, Jesus as the savior of mankind, begotten son of God, all things were made through him, his name is fruitful and anointed, very active and should be applied at all times, the name is a weapon for all seasons, he is the way out of every captivity, he saves people from their sins, his name is exalted and faithful than the names of angels, archangels, saints, and other creature living or dead.
The chapter mentions some names in the Bible that people are proud of like Abraham whom God blessed, he is a friend of God and faithful to God, he is obedient to God, and God called him, father of multitudes or nations. Others are Jacob, Peter, Daniel, Paul. These names no matter how great they are, the name of Jesus has the greatest power of attorney. It is the most powerful name, above all other name. In John 14: 6 Jesus himself said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me”.
In Chapter three, the body and blood, the book demonstrates, were offered to mankind so that man does not live a wasted life. The author observes that the unbelieving Jews scrambled for his clothe while Jesus handed over those who believed his body and blood. This informs why unbelievers today continue to go after fashion and other material things of this world at the detriment of their souls.
The believers go after true riches that lead to eternity. The unbelievers are reminded that in Hebrew 12: 24, it is written that “the blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel” so the blood of Jesus is a spiritual food that gives strength for the spiritual journey of life.
This chapter dwells more on the mystery of the body and blood of Jesus, in addition to stressing on the Mass as liturgical assembly of the Catholic faithful universally. It is where they celebrate as one big family the mystery of the word and true body and blood of Jesus Christ.
What the liturgy of the word means in the Mass is put in plain words by the author in this chapter. Chapter four brings to light how to dethrone the giant, familiar spirits and other household of wickedness, chapter five gives the account of Jesus Christ and the Canaanite woman as recorded in Matthew 15: 21-28 with other related situation on great faith, while chapter six discusses the mystery of tithe, offering, seed sowing and common faith, using the life of Abraham to expatiate that:
“God knows how to turn your troubles to trophies, move you fromstruggles to success, from story to glory, zero to hero, oppositions to opportunities, and repeat what he did in the life of Abraham only when you know how to tie your petition with sacrifice.” With this and other instances of those that lived exemplary life in the Bible,
chapter six gives a leeway of how to make wealth with power through a
means that is not questionable.
Chapter seven is about deliverance process and its purpose, then
chapter eight deals with altars, in which the book highlights the condition under which negative altars and influence of the enemies can be dethroned and the conditions your enemies can bow. Chapter nine examines dreams, stating that dreams have three connotations; they can talk about your past, present and future.
Dreams can come from God, the self and the enemies. With this explanation and some biblical evidences, this chapter lists some dream situations, which people can monitor and the prayers to say against dreams.
Chapter ten focuses on curses and solutions dealing with curses.
Chapter eleven, patterns of prayer captures what is prayer, types of prayer; the contemplative and vocal prayers. While contemplative is said silently, meditatively, vocal is all manner of prayers; supplication, intercessory, decree, thanksgiving and prophetic that are made audibly, consciously or unconsciously.
This chapter also explains what confessional prayer is as well as prayers of thanksgiving, faith, intercession and praying in spirit and in tongues, prayer of agreement and prayer of aggressive bombardment.
It is important to point out a few mistakes in the publication especially in the area of spelling, like massage (p. 24). This should be message. Savior (p. 25). This should be saviour since the author adopts Queens English and not American English. Chapter 11, pattern of payer as contained in page 156 of the book is not entered in the content page in page ix. Also, a beautiful research of this nature should indicate the sources at the end, as bibliography or works cited or references, depending on the research methodology adopted.
Nevertheless, the book is a strong Christian literature that enriches the knowledge of the reader on how to confront unforeseen forces and solve problems. It is worth possessing.
Nwagbo Obi is of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)
