Upjohn Aghaji, is an author who has several books and articles to his credit. In this 7 chaptered book, he focused on the biblical concept of “Gods blessing”.
Comfort Yakubu
His understanding of blessing is different and a sharp contrast from what is being propagated by modern day teachings which he believes limits God’s Blessing to materialism. a teaching, Laura Turner described as American theological tradition, and a twisted form of Christianity that teaches obedience, giving and faith as a way to get stuff,
Bishop Mwita Akiri, traced the origin to late 19th century in the United States , a teaching which he described as tailored towards the power of the individuals mind to unlock God s blessings through correct thinking and speech.
According to Mwita, the new thought movement emerged in 1880s and cantered its basic teaching on three things ,high Anthropology, which says that if elevated to the maximum, the human potential could achieve salvation even without a person connecting with God ,its second teaching centred on the power of positive thinking in which the material world is not a reality but mere thoughts that exists in the mind and thirdly, that believers have a share in Gods creationist Power, meaning man can acquire the same power God used to create the world and use it to attain all that God promised through atonement.
Aghaji however maintains the word ‘blessed’ is the most abused word in the Christian faith today, because material things a being inter changed to mean Gods blessing, which is not comparable to God’s plan for mankind.
He argues that any body can be rich and have material possession and this he explains does not translates to being blessed.
He provides an insights into his idea of Jesus thoughts regarding the true state of blessedness, that true blessings come from God and man must be reconciled to him to be blessed ‘regardless of mans circumstances you are blessed so long as your relationship with the lord remains un broken.
Aghaji explains that a new covenant Christian is richer than the richest man on earth because God’s blessing is greater than any canal gift and not even the wealthiest individual can buy the treasure that a christen carries on the inside.
He teaches in this book how Adamic nature pulls man into un healthy ,materialistic lifestyle and the devil uses lack of contentment as tool in this modern age.
He is of the opinion that many Christians have no idea of what it means to be blessed ,when God created Adam and eve ,he put them in a Garden providing all their needs, yet God still pronounced his blessing on them. ,if God still blessed them after providing all material needs, then, there is more to being blessed , this is what Aghaji exposes us to in the pages of this book.
while explaining the dangers of modern day teachings, on prosperity, he noted that
when material increase is not a Christians daily reality , questions arise, as some questions Gods Love, faithfulness altogether and at worst, disregard Gods true blessing. Many well meaning believers have been caught in this dangerous wave of gross error he explained.
He explained further that Our priorities become inherently mixed up ,instead of humanity enjoying a perpetual state of blessedness, we struggle to live and experience unnecessary turmoil and stress, many turn to all the wrong things instead of humanity enjoying a perpetual state of blessedness, we struggle to live and experience unnecessary turmoil and stress. Many turn to all the wrong things instead of building a relationship with their loving creator and one another .thinking amazing wealth brings Comfort which he argues is not possible in this world which he described as filled with selfishness, envy ,greed and pollution.
He explained that Marrying Many women annexing other nations land ,winning all kinds of military Campaigns would never satisfy the human soul ,Only the spirit of God through the seed of Jesus would have eternal value and eternally sustaining power. Which he described as the blessing with no curse attached and that God has revealed this great blessing to us in his word clearly.
He added that Many are blessed but do not know it. For this reason some still live in fear, anxiety, depression , confusion ,sinfulness, unhappiness ,frustration oppression and regression because we pay undue and undeserved attention to our circumstances.
He quoted Colossians 3,1to 4 ‘’if you have been raised with Christ ,seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God .set your minds on things that are above,not on things that are on earth.For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ who is your life appears,then you also will appear with him in glory.
he emphasised how time is running out and the church has functioned on lower maturity level admonishing that Every worldly distraction must be checked .
Aghaji concludes his work by urging christens to keep in mind that God has already blessed every saint with his spirit, urging Christians to appreciate the holy spirit as the blessing of our life.
And that the holy spirit is the blessing God promised Christians
Upjohn Aghaji is a Pastor and Teacher
INSPIRE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL