he Bible records that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

Jesus healed hundreds of people of their various diseases. Unfortunately, some people were not happy and they took offence. Can you imagine that? So the topic of my sermon is "The Danger in Doing Good Deeds"

Let us commit this hour into the hands of God,

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Looking at the Scripture, we found seven (7) instances where Jesus did healing on the Sabbath day and the religious leaders found fault at Him on each occasion.

Sabbath Miracles

1. The demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28),

2. The paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-16),

3. The blind man at the Pool of Siloam (John 9:1-7),

4. The woman in-firmed for 18 years (Luke 13:10-17),

5. The man with the dropsy (Luke 14:1-6).

6. Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31).

7. The man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1-6).

The Jewish Religious leaders; Pharisees said that Jesus has violated the 4th commandment of Moses which states "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" which no work should be done (Ex. 20:8).

For Jesus healing on the Sabbath, the Religious leaders decided that His punishment could be nothing but death because they saw those healing acts as "work", which was down hypocritical because on Sabbath days, they would untie their animals, lead them to the stream to drink.

At Capernaum, where He healed a man with deformed hand, as usual, the religious leaders took offence at Him, Jesus questioned them, if a sabbath day was one to do kind deeds or a day to do harm or a day to save lives or to destroy lives.

The religious leaders had no answer but all the same, they went to meet the Herodians to discuss plans to kill him (Mark 3:1-6). Jesus was greatly disturbed by their indifference to human needs.

On another Sabbath day, at the healing of a crippled woman, who was bent over and could not straighten up at all, Jesus answered them saying "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath day untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who Satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be set free on the Sabbath day from her bound? (Lk: 13: 15-16)NIV.

At another Sabbath day, He healed a man of dropsy (edema). Noticing the displeasure of the Religious leaders, He asked which of them does not work on the sabbath. Because if their cow fell into a pit on the Sabbath, they would proceed at once to get it out (Lk 14:1-6)

The most interesting to me of all the miracles, which Jesus did was the raising to life of Lazarus, which offended the religious leaders "Many of the Jews went to comfort his sisters; Martha and Mary" (John 11:19). And when Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, anyone will think that it was going to be something of a big joy to the religious leaders, but instead, they were offended both at the Healer and the healed (John 11:46-50; 12:10) and they started in earnest, the plot to kill Jesus. They even made effort, to kill Lazarus again (John 12:10) Yet, they had gone earlier to register their condolence and perhaps given a soul-renting eulogy at his interment.

This is the typical behavior of a religionist who puts on the toga of holiness, whereas inwardly, he is full of thorns, thistles and bitterness.

Anyone should like to ask, why the Religious leaders were not comfortable with these good deeds of Jesus? It was because in their warped thinking, they thought that Jesus was taking the show from them. They saw Jesus stealing the respect they have hither to enjoyed from the people. Jesus had become more popular and influential above and over them (John 11:48; 12:11).

Their ego was being eroded and insulted by Someone, who was uneducated in their law; Someone, who hasn't been to their Bible College / Seminary; Someone, who was not highly as educated like them; Someone, who hasn't come from a family of Priests or a noble one. Moreover, Someone, born by two commoners. And for those reasons, He (Jesus) deserved nothing but death.

Let me relate a recent story though not as serious as these stories but close to them.

My burden for Nigeria to catch up with the comity of Nations sparked up with my travel to the United Kingdom (UK) in 1982. Later I was in the United States of America (US).

My burden became heightened after I relocated to the Middle East in 1992.

I constantly petitioned God to make my native country like those where I had lived. I realized that in addition to preach Christ as the only way to eternal life, every obstacle preventing living a Godly life must be removed because poverty can make any person to dip his hands into sin and miss heaven.

God told me that it is not only prayer that is needed but understanding of what makes a nation great, void of hunger and poverty. I obeyed God and I relocated home and I embarked on the campaign to eradicate poverty in the land using the word of God as my weapon.

I laid down, all, which God blessed me with. I became a beggar to my friends and children soliciting for their financial support, a habit I hate but have to do for the purpose of this campaign.

As for me, my motives are pure and righteous. God knows it.

Unfortunately, Kafirs, children Belial, agents of Satan, who do not know the God who gave me this assignment, people who their belly is their God, slaves of money, enemies of mankind and God and His Kingdom, are going round, slandering me, campaigning evil things about me, saying things that are not true about me. To you such people, I hand you over to the court of the righteous God of heaven and earth.

The book of Isaiah 33:1 says "Woe to you who are destroying others[a]

but have never been destroyed yourselves.

You who are not betrayed but betray others,

When you are done destroying,

you will be destroyed.

When you are done betraying,

you will be betrayed.

Not too long ago I called for an Inter religious Solemn Assembly. I do not mince words, our nation has sufficient money to make all Nigerians live sufficiently comfortably but for the simple reason that we do not know what steps to take.

At the assembly, we were to explain to ourselves what we can do so that the wealth of the nation can reach all of us, thereby alleviating hunger and poverty, which most Nigerians are battling with.

Unfortunately, some Religious leaders went round and asked people to boycott the assembly.

But did you see hunger in the faces of the people who asked you to boycott it? I am not the one to tell you how they are taken care of, I can only ask God to open your eyes of wisdom.

Our organization is working hard to rehabilitate Nigeria. We are registered as "The Organization for the Rehabilitation of Nigeria through Righteousness" There was one Religious leader, one of us; very outspoken, eventually, he got into the government and became comfortable. Today, he is working against us. Ask God to take greed, selfishness and lack of consideration from the hearts of Nigerians.

Thousands of Nigerians live and visit the good countries everyday. May they and others who are stealing Nigeria money, creating hunger in the land not have peace until they stop complaining but join forces together to make Nigeria great.

Sam Aweda, Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission (Peoples' Church)