MY RESPONSE🗣️🗣️

 Call: Remember how you failed the last time? Do not bother trying. Adulthood is a scam!

Response: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Call: Remember how everybody hates you in your family? You do not have what it takes to give and receive love.

Response: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 Call: You are a terrible speaker. Public speaking is not for you. It's better you remain quiet, lest you become a laughing stock.

Response: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Call: Remember that all of your sisters had delayed marriages, which was against their desires. You can’t escape it. 

Response: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

No matter what the situation of life that calls you, let your response be the Word of God that says "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me". It is not 'some things', rather it is 'all things', but do you believe it? Do you believe you can do all things not through your own strength, intellectual prowess, or skills, but through Christ who strengthens you? Do you know that the strength comes from Christ himself? When God strengthens a man, he walks in infinite possibility, unless he chooses to be his own limitation. 

David killed the lion and bear with his hands; Samson carried the city’s gate up a hill. 

Sarah bore a child in her old age; Peter preached and thousands repented. 

The blind received their sight; the lame walked.

Dear reader, you are the next on the list. It is your turn today. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Let that be your response from today.

-Precious Afolabi

ALL MEN

 

Photo credit: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/key-terms-salvation-in-bible/

Echoes from 1Timothy 2:4

About happenings in the globe of late, particularly in my own nation, Nigeria; many times I told myself that if I were God, a lot of people would be long dead. Especially in light of the wickedness that we see throughout the world. I was perplexed as to why some of the world's most nasty and deadly people are still living. If they're all dead, the world might be a lot more peaceful. That morning, the Holy Spirit implanted this scripture in my heart: 

"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" 1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV)

From that verse, I discovered that it is the heart 'desire' of God that ALL men be saved. The "ALL" part terrified me the most. That "all" implies those that stoned and burnt Deborah Samuel to death lately. A part of me was angry. It couldn’t be ‘all’ I said to be myself. God's desire should be "some" rather than "all." 

Then I remembered the story of Uncle Paul when he was Saul, he held the clothes of those that stoned Stephen. He must have been cheering them on and encouraging them to stone him harder and screaming "get that bigger stone" I assume. Imagine if Uncle Paul was dead when he was Saul. 

I think I prefer the outcome of his salvation to having him dead and on this account, I would say I prefer the perspective of God’s desire "That all men..." rather than mine. The salvation of a wicked man profits the kingdom more than their death, provided they will accept the finished works of Christ. God desires that all men, both good and bad, be saved. He keeps stretching his hand of love to ‘all’ men. Although "all" men may not accept the call of God’s love, because he won’t force it on "all" men, anyone who rejects his love should await his judgment.

May we not kill Saul before he becomes Paul.

- Precious 'Tomi Afolabi

The greatest gift

Image from: Flower violet

The greatest gift ever given to mankind came in the lowliest of forms; in the most unusual times. No pomp on earth for heavens' best; a manger was the kings' first home. The situation surrounding His birth was risky, yet wisemen came to pay homage on the strength of revelation. For an ordinary heart can not contain the reality that heaven's best was born in a manger. 

Who would have thought that this reality can be palpable that even men testified "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life" 1 John 1:1. 

Sometimes I wish mankind saw his glory as he crept into Mary's womb. Maybe they might have understood whose son He was. Or maybe, I wish they had seen Him descend from heaven upon the temple on sabbath day with shinning lights surrounded by angels announcing His kingship. Maybe fragile hearts would have believe when he said he IS the son of God. 

In the euphoria of my wishes I remember HE said " For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9.

When I remember this I keep quiet, because wisdom was in display. The Lord of the harvest who is the master-crafts man intelligently crafted this story to depict his wisdom as God. 

No greater friend than JESUS CHRIST, no greater companion than His SPIRIT.  Who's greatest strength is seen in my weakness. Oh how I love HIM. Oh how I want to love HIM more!

SHALOM!

Beautiful Feet

Photo by EVG Kowalievska from Pexels

                                                  

Whenever we see someone, the person's physique is usually the point of attraction. We pay attention to easily noticeable and endearing features like the face: the bluish or brownish pupil, maybe a pointed nose, pink lips, crystal white teeth, dimples and their broad-chest and thick muscles even to not so easily noticeable features like flat stomach and so on.

Rarely do we ever get attracted to the feet of another maybe because it is sometimes covered with shoes, which although can lead to smelly feet after awhile by creating a good breeding ground for bacteria, can be another point of attraction (I really don't think anyone gives second thoughts as to the feet not even the owner).

I, like many of us, didn't think much about my feet until I saw something quite interesting but maybe overlooked in Isaiah chapter 52:7 which reads thus:

‘’How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation…’’(OKJV).

It baffles me that for God, our feet seem to be quite important to the point of distinguishing between a beautiful, attractive and appealing feet and that which isn't.  

Do you know that when we preach the good news (i.e. the gospel) either by distributing tracts, personal engagements or via social media and as we extend generous hands to the needs of others for the cause of the gospel, God finds our feet beautiful. And I think whatever attracts God attention is worth pursuing, having, and doing.  

Can God see your feet and say it is beautiful? Have you not ceased from doing the work of an evangelist? Have you not left your pastor alone to share the good news of the Love of Christ? Are you not only concerned about being attractive to people? However, it is God’s utmost desire, especially in this moment, that everyone of us will not drawback in sharing the gospel with others and gain that which God beholds as beautiful.

God bless you!!!

Written by : Afolabi Precious

Absolute Surrender

 I was speaking with a friend the other day about some life issues. We spoke about different pertinent issues, one of which was about our struggles as young unmarried men hoping to one day walk down the aisle with our envisaged damsels. If you are a young single christian man you will agree with me that it can be quite a herculean task to pursue chastity especially with the unwavering trend of perversion these days. You do not go after it again but rather it comes to you even to your door steps. It takes tens of trailer loads of grace if I must say, to resist. Anyways, whilst he was speaking we delved into somewhat of an uncharted territory that led us into a doorway of spiritual insights. 

Apparently, I did not fully grasp the weight of this conversation initially, not until I began to feel burdened in my heart as he was yet speaking. He retold the creation story in such a way that sprouted flickering thoughts all over my mind, nevertheless I pondered on them hoping to find meaning from what he said.

The creation story poses as the framework by which all things were made. The reference to God as the creator of all things supersedes myths and superstition rather it is a reality that bewilders mankind even to this day. Such a deep mystery can not be fathomed by the limited ability of our human comprehension. But it becomes clearer when we see this through the lens of the Spirit. 

One of the greatest ordination that occurred in creation was the induction of Man ( for clarity the term "Man" as used throughout this piece represents both male and female) as the governing authority over all things that were made. Man's appointment was based on a system of semblance. Gen 1: 26 " Then God said let us make man in OUR IMAGE, according to our LIKENESS; let them have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth".  Man was made in the express image and likeness of God. Not only was there a physical resemblance, but Elohim also desired a complete semblance such that in all realms man was made to rule just as ELOHIM is the ruler and creator of all things. Man was made to be a complete replica of God. So therefore, it became imperative that the dominion mandate be handed over to that creature that was in the likeness of ELOHIM; which was Man kind.

Therefore, you have a mandate to have dominion. It is better understood like this, a king's son is automatically destined to be a ruler. He has the biological and hereditary rights to ascend the throne after the reign of his father is over. That is his birthright. The pilgrimage of Jesus upon the earth was aimed to restore man from the great fallout from dominance into kingship.

But, permit me to say that there was a condition upon which man's dominance was enacted. Because Man was made in God's likeness, he had his dwelling in God's presence so it was seamless for both Adam and Eve to have fellowship with God, they were in complete sync with the presence of God. The condition upon which they had dominance was absolute surrender. Man was absolutely surrendered to God. He knew nothing but the presence. He abode, ruled, named and had dominion in the sphere of God's presence. 

Absolute surrender entails complete yielding to God. Sin on the other hand hinders absolute surrender to God because it functions on the strength of flesh, such that man begins to think of himself as the compass of his life. That was the message the serpent passed across to Eve in Gen 3:1-4. 

We can only enjoy the full benefits of our dominance on earth when we fully surrender and yield to God. We have to come to the point where our hearts are completely yielded to God, where it is no longer you that live, but Christ that lives in and through you Gal 2: 20. 

Do you want to live out God's plan for your life, the dominion mandate? Then completely surrender your will to Him. We have struggled for a long time to give Him all of us. Maybe He has control of part or even a lot but He needs full control of our lives, that is the only way we can find relevance upon the earth and fulfil purpose.

Have you surrendered all of yourself to the Lord? If you haven't , I encourage you to do so today. It's a life long decision. It is something to be done every moment.

God bless you.

The Magnificent House

One evening, as I walked down a very quiet street, I saw a magnificent mansion - so big and beautiful. "A wealthy man must own it", I said to myself. The edges of its windows were decorated with beautiful roses, its wall painting were as though they were laid with well refined gold. Its windows and doors glittered brightly.

At the front of the house stood a very attractive waterfall. While admiring its beauty, a man walked up to me asking if I would like a tour of the building. "Yes sir!”, I said excitedly and followed him in.

Overwhelmed by the beauty of the building's exterior, I longed to see the interior of the building, I just could not completely imagine the finesse and elegance of the interior. I admired this building so much, I wished it were mine.

When we got to the front door, I pulled off my shoes, not wanting to 'corrupt' this earthly paradise as I entered. ‘What!!!” I made a sharp exclamation. It was far from paradise. For a moment, I was confused. I tried to reconcile the ineffable beauty on the outside and this unwholesome sight on the inside.

"How can a building so wonderfully decorated on the outside be filled with heaps of rotten refuse, maggots and reptiles running around?", I asked myself. The sight was so disgusting, I almost puked. So, I shut the door and ran out.

Infuriated, I said to the man, "Sir, why is this house such a mess?", but the man gave no response. "Why did he ask me to come in? Did he not know?", I thought.

Now, his silence was more annoying than the putrefying interior I just saw. So, I inquired further, "Why did the owner of this house spend so much in beautifying the outside and leave the inside to rot and stink?". Again, there was no response. I knew I had to stop talking at this point, so, I kept quiet.

I was dumbfounded when he looked at me; called me by name: SANDRA! SANDRA!!

Then, he said; "this magnificent house represents your life: you have so much charisma, gifts and eloquence that impress men but your heart is full of anger, bitterness, envy, jealousy and unforgiveness. Sandra, your dispositions attracts men but your heart and character drives them far from you. You need to pay attention to your inner man because it is where God resides and he won’t stay in a dirty place."

Then I awoke! "It was a dream", I said "but could it just be a dream? It is so real", I said to myself. Indeed, it was a revelation of my life. God had come to show me my true self. As I thought on the dream, I wept sore that morning asking God to clean and purge my heart.

Dear reader, is your life like that magnificent house? Is your heart not rotten due to offences, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride and divers lust? Yet, you're going about your daily activities as though all is well? Are you not praised even among brethren yet your heart is so pungent to God? God is calling you today. He wants to purge you and give you a new heart so that you can offer acceptable sacrifices unto Him? Call on God today! Let Him purge you and make your life habitable for His presence.

God bless you!

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

If a man therefore purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2 Timothy 2:19-21

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to ask your questions and leave your comments below. We would give a quick reply.

God bless you!

FRESH START 2

 ...continued from Part 1

After thinking about the possible implications of any choice I make, I turned to my roommate and said to her that I could not do it. She rebuked me vehemently and reminded me of my predicament, but I was not moved by her words; my mind was made up.  I left for the hostel without turning back… with the sense of peace that I had done the right thing.

A few days later, I called my discipler to inform him. He then spoke with my father and pleaded with him. My father, now born again, was heartbroken because he never expected this from me but to my greatest surprise, he did not throw me out. Then I shared my situation with my friends expecting a cold shoulder from them but alas, they extended to me their right hands of fellowship.

I was able to push through my first year with my protruded tummy even though I ate and slept more. It was not a smooth sail though. There were times guilt overwhelmed me and I was worried about the future but somehow, I was able to find solace in God and He sustained me beyond my strength, helping me stay in faith.

Honestly, I was ashamed of myself. During the break, I could not go out. Then I was quite heavy and became the talk of the neighborhood. On several occasions, I looked at the mirror and hated myself because I was pregnant and not married. At certain times, my blood pressure increased.

It was indeed a difficult time and I realized that sin had cost me more than I was ready to pay for. But I made up my mind to move on with God.

Eventually, I was delivered of a male child and had to defer my studies for one year which meant that I could not resume the second year. I deferred because i wanted to nurse my son and take good care of him, at least, for his first year. Thank God for my parents that never gave up on me - they are a major reason I can tell this story today.

After the first year of nursing my son, I returned to school burning for God and living beautifully; not allowing my past to hinder my future. People wondered where I got such confidence from but the best answer I could give them was JESUS.

I really don’t know how far you have turned from God but going farther is not the answer. I may not know how ugly your scar is or was, or how badly the devil damaged you. The good news I have for you today is that you can start afresh with Jesus. He is loving and always ready to accept us if we will only come back to him in genuine repentance. The consequences of your past misdeeds might not disappear, there might be scars and challenges, but you will completely be forgiven by God.

Start afresh with God.

And if you have never had this beautiful walk with God, you can start now. God is also calling you saying:

‘’Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come’’. 2Cor 5:17 Amplified version

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to ask your questions and leave your comments below. We would give a quick reply.

God bless you!

A Fresh Start.

Based on a true life event...

My name is Joy and I am the first child of my parents. I had an Islamic background, but was privilege to accept Christ at the age of 15 in a teenager’s program my school was invited for. Owing to my background, I could not go to church, attend meetings and or receive friends that could have helped me spiritually. The best I could do was to read my bible occasionally and pray.

I was inconsistent with Jesus, and entered into different romantic relationships in search of the satisfaction and love that can only be found in Jesus. Soon enough I started having pre-marital sex, which troubled my conscience a lot. Often times I said to myself, ‘I will not do this again’… few weeks after I went back to it.

I got admitted into the university and was ready for a fresh walk with God. I was privilege to have friends that were lovers of God. I joined a discipleship group and started growing in the faith. Few weeks into this new phase of my life, my ex-boyfriend visited me and persuaded me into another sexual relationship with him… again I fell into the act I just left.

I cried sore and told God to forgive me. I ended the relationship and said to myself again ‘Joy it’s time to start afresh’. Three weeks later, I observed that I was losing weight, feeling feverish and also had missed my last menstrual period…” Could it be? No!No!!It can’t be” I said to myself. My roommate insisted that I follow her to the hospital and be sure of what the problem was without making any costly assumption. “That was fine by me” I thought to myself. We got dressed and headed for the hospital. After series of test, the result stated that I was pregnant.

It was as though the ground should open up and swallow me. I was confused, terrified and frightened. My friend, trying to be good, suggested she would pay the bills for me to abort the child. I cried and thought of it over and over. I only recently began a fresh walk with the Lord. “Is killing my baby the right thing to do? ...What do I do? How will I tell my father? What will my classmates say? Will I be able to continue schooling? Will my ex-boyfriend take the responsibility? Will the church not laugh at me and condemn me? Will my father throw me out of the house? What will become of my tomorrow?My friend paying for the abortion is it a blessing in disguise?  The little my parents have is what they are investing into my education, even if they don’t throw me out can they afford to feed another mouth? What if I die in the process?” These were my lingering bitter thoughts…

To be continued…

Night Thoughts

I Die Daily Part Two

Photo Credit: https://www.slideshare.net/larrypasley/the-word-of-god-54342359

So we introduced this very essential topic at the last post and gave a background knowledge of what it means to die daily. We understood that dying daily is the only way we can live a victorious life as believers. Its the way we can live above sin and temptations.

In this post we would look at how a believer can die daily. 

Firstly, let me reemphasize that dying daily does not entail always answering the altar call, nor does it mean self condemnation, but rather it entails the total yielding of our selves to the Holy spirit.

A believer can die daily by: 

Studying the Word Daily: 

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" Joshua 1:8

The constant meditation of the word daily is the secret to daily victory over temptations. Read and meditate!!!  Reading lifts up the WORD into your mind but meditation takes it inside your heart, where it begins to produce faith.

I have hidden thy WORD in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11. Here we see the psalmist say he has HIDDEN the WORD in his heart. This is a great key. You see the much of the WORD you keep in your heart the more transformed your life becomes; the more you begin to obtain victory over temptations. A believer rich of the WORD is wealthy. Such has an ancient treasure that have proven to stand sure and true.

It takes diligence to HIDE the WORD in your heart. Why must it be hidden? Couldn't it just be on my heart or in my head alone? Seeds are hidden inside the soil for them to bring forth fruits. This is because the birds of the air can feed on seeds found on the soil, men can trample on seeds found on the soil. But that is not the same for seeds hidden inside the soil. 

It's easy to be swayed and discouraged by challenges and temptations, when the Word you have heard  or read has not yet sank into your heart. 

 Practically, when studying the WORD, come as a little child...come with openness. This makes your heart receptive to the WORD. Don't be in a hurry...be free to ask questions..That would help you engage with the Holy Spirit who will make meaning of every thing you read and ask.

       The WORD is meant to be inside your heart not just your head.

In the next post we would understand the importance of  Prayers in dying daily.

Don't forget to ask your questions and leave your comments below. We would give a quick reply.

Shalom!

I Die Daily Part One

So these thoughts inundated me............

"I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self]" I Corinthians 15:31 AMP.

The very essence of Christ's death was to repair a relationship long broken by the axe of disobedience, cunningly sponsored by the old serpent. God's mission was to raise up a new breed from the risen nature of Christ, that He can now, confidently call Mankind, such that every man takes up the similitude of the very nature of the One who began the new race...Christ Jesus. 

Apostle Paul in the text above reiterated the very fundamental process that transposes Man from his fallen nature into the redeemed nature. A sinner who accepts Christ is a new creature, that is, a new spirit has been given to that man which is the Holy Spirit, that sponsors a new life in him. Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 2 Corinthians 5:17. AMP.

The Holy Spirit in that new man begins to awaken the consciousness of a reality of distaste to unrighteousness. Such that the man's sensitivity to sin is heightened. A new consciousness has now been sparked up in that mans' life.

These consciousness stirs up a contention between the new man and his sinful nature which has began undergoing transformation. "For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do." Galatians 5:17. AMP.

Then how can this new man in Christ overcome this battle against the very nature that Lorded him in time past? We hear Apostle Paul cry out "I die daily!" 

The nature of sin still dwells in the flesh. Such that any Man that needs victory over the flesh must be ready to die daily. This does not imply that we answer every altar call on Sundays, but that we sustain a tempo that enables us, after been saved to begin to grow  and obtain victory over the strength of self.

I know of a friend who held a distinction in fighting. This friend had cultivated the act of fighting such that, it became somewhat of an addiction. Anyone who got in my friend's way, was in for a lifetime scar. Shockingly this was a female friend. 

One of those days in school she had a brawl with a fellow classmate and everyone was expecting a wrestle at any moment. Soon my friend got a slap from this person....It dawned on everybody that two heavyweights champions were about to clash. But to the shock of the entire class and likewise the demons in hell, my friend gently walked away. How did that happen? Have you experienced that before? 

Upon questioning, she had recently got born again. This is an example of one whose life has been exchanged with Christ. Rather than retaliate, she sought peace because her flesh has been mortified. Saying No to the desires of the flesh daily practically means to die daily.

How can one die daily?

Lookout for the part 2 of this post, as the Holy spirit would help me point out how a believer can die daily. 

Don't forget to ask your questions and leave your comments below. We would give a quick reply.

Shalom!

Woow!! I finally got the VISA

What could be more exhilarating than getting a VISA approval, especially when it is to the place where you've always longed to be. It's such a sweet experience.

The effort it takes to get a VISA can be demanding. All the documentations and scrutinizations, the anxieties, the sleepless nights preparing for the interview (especially for the study VISA) and so on,  summates to being a daunting experience. Though daunting, it can't over ride the joy of  a VISA approval.

I have gotten my VISA approval finally!... So i'm going to this beautiful country where everything seems to just be perfect. No pains, No wars, No Famine, No economic issues, No Political toggles...Nothing bad at all happens there.

I actually got it in 2011... Yes i mean when i gave my Life to Christ, i got the VISA to eternal Life!!!

I got my VISA to heaven!!!! Halleluyah!!!

Wow! Such great opportunity i received from the Lord JESUS CHRIST, to be accepted amidst all my faults and weaknesses that demanded a refusal, yet He stood by me with His word in John 3:16.

He said in Jeremiah 29:11, that HE knows the plans and thoughts He has towards me, good plans and not bad, to give me a future and a hope.

What better place can i be than to be where my Lord is. This world is not my home, but a passing through country... Everything here seems permanent, but they are vague.

You too can have this VISA, like i have, and you'll get to enjoy the countless benefits of eternal life in God's presence. And, you start enjoying this benefits here on earth. This is the true LIFE TIME investment.

To get this VISA, follow these steps:
1. Acknowledge you are a sinner.
2. Make this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
3. Congratulation, Your heaven bound VISA is approved!
 4. Join a bible believing church, and be fervent with your walk with God.

God bless you!

No! I've Lost Appetite

Photo credit: Irish Examiner

"...And the winner is ...uhmmm the winner is... erhmm yes yes the winner is Ramsey Rogers!!!" the anchor announced. 

Instantly there was a loud cheer in the auditorium. "RR!! RR!! RR!!" they all chanted. They continuously cheered until the anchor found it difficult to hear his voice. Finally after a short while that seemed like a never ending while, the crowd decided to heed to the anchor's plea. 

RR!! or better still Ramsey Rogers is the first child of Charlotte and Nnamdi Alexandria Rogers. 'He  has always been this way.. Just like i am'... that's his father's description of him whenever he's been asked about his son's excellent academic performance.

Well.. up until his demise he never said otherwise. His death was like the end of the world for the family. The cold sullen hands of death had earlier taken two of their kids in what seemed to be a normal childs play. Only when they heard a scream from the kitchen and there they were in the pool of their own blood... So what really happened?

Fast forward to the grand finale of the national essay competition. Charlotte couldn't hold back her tears. Her son has consoled her yet again!... She felt she's gradually becoming free from the years of pain and grieve. 

"Oh my boy! you've made mummy proud again!" she whispered to him and gave him a quick hug and bathed him with kisses. The seventeen year old Ramsey struggled to pull out of her hands ...well not because he was unhappy about it... but " Mum! mum! it's enough.. i'm in front of my mates... mum! mummy!" he insisted!! .Charlotte smiled... knowing how shy he could be. But on the flip-side, Ramsey felt relieved.

She began noticing it when he was still tender. He hardly could relate with other children his age. He was so reserved even to the point of eating. He's usual response when it's time to eat was..." No, I've lost appetite". He hardly ate. Well to a large extent that resulted to his lanky appearance. "You've lost what! my friend pick up your spoon and do justice to that meal right now... I mean where on earth did you initially keep your appetite...and why are you're always loosing it?, can't you keep it where you can easily find it?" Nnamdi would always respond this way when he is in the happy mood, and the whole family would get  soaked up in laughter.

Maybe if he was agile enough he could have saved his siblings. The deed was done right in front of him. He was only seven, the twin were just three.. The perpetrator was seven and was the next door neighbor. The quads were all playing together in the kitchen when Eugene picked up the newly bought knife and playfully pierced it into the stomach of the twin. He just did it laughing because he  had just done exactly what his favourite movie star did in the last episode of his favourite series and saw the same red liquid come out of  them as he saw on the screen. Ramsey was there, quiet and startled. Suddenly he heard himself scream until he collapsed!

"Mummy!! Mummy!! so you still have the video with you? Look at my lean cheeks... well i was just seventeen" the twenty five year old Ramsey said while taking a sit with his mum, who had been watching the video of his national essay competition. "just seventeen," she muttered. "look at the way you were struggling with me when i came to wash you with kisses and hugs" she jested.. " Oh my!!" Ramsey bursted into  a thunderous laugh... such that comes once in a blue moon. 

Charlotte tried fighting back her tears at the sight of this rare moment, but unfortunately she lost the  fight. Tears freely flowed from her eyes as she began sobbing. Ramsey quickly reached out for her hand.."it's well mum! Next week, i'll start my first job at the Bureau in Abuja. I'll make sure i offset outstanding  debts. " Ramsey said as he susccesfully fought back his tears. Just together the duo sat at the balcony of the apartment. 

ahhh!! Ahh!!....  JESUS!!! JESUS!!!

It has happened again!!! 

what happened?

Ramsey is dead! Yeah just right there at the balcony.... just there. Euguene again!!   yes. The same Eugune. He shot ramsey twice at the head. 

Euguene couldn't run far before he was caught... "madam !! madam!! give us a go ahead before the police comes!!" requested the mob... They didn't know she couldnt hear them ...she wasn't deaf ... but she was taken far back to memory lane... Right before her eyes her husband died in the hands of Eugene!... he was only twelve then! They said it was an accidental discharge! for her twins , they said she was careless to leave the kids in the kitchen. Now what would they say?

well, now they are saying vengeance. 

"Madam!! madam!" they called out.... Charlotte looked at her son's lifeless body. No more tears again... She just couldn't cry again! she had lost it.... with a shallow grin , she looked at them and muttered Ramsey's iconic response  " No...I've Lost Appetite...I've lost appetite for vengeance...I've lost appetite for anger... I've lost appetite for sin. Let him go, the police will take it from here..."

She lost appetite for revenge and anger hmmnn...

Have i lost appetite for sin? Even though born again and transformed yet, have we truly lost appetite for sin? 

What do we still give in to in secret? 

  "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with it's passions and appetites and desires." Galatians 5: 24 (AMP)

Brethren it's clear, until we get to the point where we've completely lost appetite for sin...we truly do not belong to Christ Jesus!

Shalom!

The True Light. By Apostle Arome Osayi

Photo credit: knowing-jesus.com

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…That was THE TRUE LIGHT which gives light to every man coming into the world.

(John 1:1, 4-5, 9 NKJV, emphasis added)

The United Nations is seen as a force for good as it has its operational tentacles in almost every facet of human endeavour today. It has visible structures and systems built in order to combat the multifarious challenges plaguing mankind. From wars to hunger to disease and natural disasters, the United Nations deploys enormous resources to take on these challenges. 

The United Nations was officially set up in the aftermath of the Second World War in order to among many things, maintain peace in the world. Many interest groups joined forces in order to forge the United Nations. 

There were, however, silent but salient forces that helped breathe life to the United Nations. One of such forces is called the Lucifer Publishing Company which was founded in the early 1920s to spread the teachings of Alice Bailey: a magnificent occultist, theosophist and above-ground apologist of Satan. The name of the company was changed to Lucis Trust which to this day remains on the United Nations Economic and Social Council where they provide high profile consultancy services to the United Nations. The United Nations charter was framed from the teachings of Alice Bailey. Lucis Trust has a hand in the design of United Nations social and economic programmes that are executed in the nations of the world. 

WHY LUCIFER AND LUCIS?

Why did Alice Bailey use the appellations Lucifer and Lucis to name her organisation? Simple, Lucifer means light bearer. Lucis means of light. 

Of course Lucifer was once the consummate embodiment of celestial refulgence –he was an anointed Cherub, and son of the morning whose frame bore and exuded God’s light. After going rogue and getting cast out of heaven, Lucifer became the devil forever losing the capacity to bear God’s light. So the best he can do now is masquerade and/or transform himself into an angel of light. The Bible says,

For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14, NKJV)

Since Satan has lost the capacity to bear God’s light, which by the way is the true light, he has built and perfected his capacity to present counterfeit and/or false lights.

COUNTERFEIT AND/OR FALSE LIGHTS

Any light that does not have Jesus Christ (who is the word of God, bearer of God’s life and the only true light) as its source is counterfeit and/or false.

ALL LIGHTS SHINE BUT NOT ALL LIGHTS ARE TRUE

There are so many systems out there in the world that seem to shine some kinds of lights. They shine lights through humanitarian programmes (like those of the United Nations and several NGOs whose core agenda is to obliterate God from society); beautifully crafted philosophies that espouse dependence on oneself instead of God (as contained in many self help and motivational books and tapes today), arts, entertainment and culture etc. 

All lights shine but not all lights are true. Truth is one: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only true light that bears the substance of God’s reality and life and can dispense the same to whoever believes in Him. Actually any light that does not hail from Jesus Christ will yield nothing but wholesale, full-scale darkness!

THREE AREAS GOD’S LIGHT MUST SHINE ON DAILY

i. The feet (Psalms 119:105) for direction. You walk in the direction of your feet. In the journey of faith direction is key.

ii. The path (Psalms 119:105) for spiritual progress. The path of spiritual progress continually leads you to places in God. 

iii. The heart (2 Corinthians 4:6) for the continual knowledge of the glory of God. The heart must be flooded by God’s light in order to be filled with the living, functional knowledge of God that can produce fruits in the believer.

The light of God is always produced when the word of God gains entrance in the depths of man (Psalms 119:130). This can only happen when the believer enlarges their appetite for God’s word. To consume more and more and more and more and some more…

The question begging for answer therefore is: WHAT LIGHT DO YOU CONSUME DAILY?

WORSHIP: THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE II by Apostle Arome Osayi

HOLISTIC WORSHIP

We have established in the PART I of this series that worship in the New Testament must be done in spirit and truth and therefore can only be done by those who are saved (that is those who have their spirits quickened by the injection of eternal life by the Holy Spirit on account of their belief in Jesus Christ.) Yes, acceptable worship must originate in the regenerated human spirit by the quickening of the Holy Spirit in truth but must equally be given expression by the soul and body. Man is tripartite – spirit, soul and body.

The Bible says,

‘And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Thess 5:23, KJV)

Therefore man must worship God with his three constituent parts bowing to the Suzerain Monarch of heaven in unison. This means the spirit, soul and body must work harmoniously together in bowing ‘themselves’ together for man to achieve a holistic worship experience. 

THE TEMPLE OF GOD

‘Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.’ 

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV)

Now the layout of the temple of God in the Old Testament had three broad chambers namely: the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. These three chambers perfectly represent the three broad compartments of man as follows:

Outer Court…………Body

Holy Place………… Soul

Holy of Holies………………. Spirit

Though the three broad chambers were collectively called the temple of God, God actually dwelt in the Holy of Holies. Same way as man is collectively called the temple of God but He actually dwells in man’s innermost part – the spirit. 

The verses of Scripture above (1 Corinthians 16:19-20) affirms that anyone who is born of God belongs to God because they have been bought with a special price. This means God owns them wholly; spirit, soul and body – He is their Lord! The Scripture also admonishes believers to ‘glorify’, that is,‘bring pleasure to God’ which is another way of saying ‘worship God’ in their ‘body’ and ‘spirit’. What is obviously missing in this passage is the soul, why? This is because the soul connects the spirit to the body as a conduit. This is also because man touches God with his spirit but touches the world with his body. So the body and spirit are in some sense contact points to the world and God. 

SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY AND HEART

The salvation of the spirit is instant; the salvation of the soul is gradual and the salvation of the body is a culmination.

The spirit contacts and receives from God and is regenerated; the soul receives from the spirit and processes it and is transformed; the body receives from the soul and is quickened. The spirit houses God; the soul houses man’s personality and the body executes whatever orders it receives from the soul. This is why acceptable worship must originate from the spirit because this is where God dwells. Worship that originates from the spirit is easily shaped by truth and has God as its object and Christ at its epicenter. Worship that originates from the soul has self as its object and is easily shaped by Satan and has worldly riches at its epicenter.

The heart as used in Scripture is actually where the spirit and soul intersect and bears the balance of the human personality. If the balance of the heart tilts down towards submitting to the Suzerain Monarch of heaven, this is called humility. If the balance of the heart tilts up toward glorifying self, this is called pride. Only the humble can receive grace to offer acceptable worship (1 Peter 5:5). 

EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP

All acceptable worship must originate in the spirit and powered by truth. The high point of worship is when God is pleased. This is why it must be done in spirit and truth because God is Spirit and dwells in the spirit; while truth fully captures God’s will and how to execute the same. Worshipping God therefore cannot be separated from doing His will. 

Paul said,

‘For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers’ (Romans 1:9, KJV)

The word ‘serve’ as used in this verse of Scripture means to worship through craft or works of righteousness. The source of all acceptable worship is one: the spirit; the substance of all acceptable worship is one: truth; and the goal of all acceptable worship is one: PLEASING GOD. 

Paul in the verse above said he worshipped God by the instrumentality of the gospel. This means his own expression of worship was being an apostle in the gospel of Jesus Christ. To another it might be pleasing God in art, science, engineering, humanitarian service, financial support to kingdom causes etc. Wherever the will of God is done and He is pleased, there is worship! So worship is not just an activity, it is a life style. It is a deliberate, militant commitment to pleasing God at all cost. If you refuse to take or give bribe, lie or cheat etc and God is pleased; you have worshipped Him! 

The four major expressions of worship are as follows:

I. Words (Speaking God’s mind in speech, writing, melodies etc)

II. Silence (Not saying anything in the face accusations at God’s behest)

III. Action (Carrying out God’s instructions)

IV. Inactions (Refusing to do things that are congruous to God’s will)

MISAIMINGS: MUSIC, EMOTION AND WORSHIP SERVICES

There is a bodywide misconstruction of worship being synonymous to music and/or singing. You can worship God without singing; you sing without worshipping God and you can sing and worship God. Music that hails from the spirit and is powered by truth and pleases God makes acceptable worship.

Music is a powerful art form that engages body and soul easily by provoking deep emotions. God Himself loves music but music must give Him pleasure to qualify as worship. So it’s not just about ingenious blends of instrumentation and lyrics, it’s about sourcing inspiration from the spirit and giving expression to truth.

Music that hails from emotion cannot make acceptable worship. Acceptable worship can involve emotion because music provokes emotion but it must hail from the spirit and must be powered by truth. Music does not need the Holy Spirit to provoke deep emotional response. It does not need truth to get people clapping. In 1985, at the famous Live Aid Concert in Wembley Stadium, London, one of the greatest performances by a rock band happened. The name of the rock band was Queen whose lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury, gave a supercharged performance that got the over seventy thousand people in the stadium clapping as if led by a prophet of God. Matt Redman, captured this and penned a song entitled Heart of Worship in which he clearly affirms worship is not about music but Jehovah – the Great Monarch of heaven. This is not to rubbish music because I must admit; it sure is a powerful tool for worship.

In Christendom today, on the average, Bible study and miracle services hold in the middle of the week while ‘worship services’ hold on Sundays as if God should not be worshipped in all services. Christians are conditioned to understand worship as something that happens only when belivers come together in the name of the Lord. No! Fellowshipping together can only be called worship if God is pleased. Corporate worship is hinged on the individual believers pleasing God. The goal of any corporate meeting is to empower believers to the point where they worship God personally. Worship is not something done only on Sundays or few days of the week. Worship should be done 24/7/365 until Christ comes or the believer falls asleep.

THE WORSHIP OF SATAN

Can a believer worship Satan? Yes! 

Let it sink. 

Catch your breath. 

Then let’s see how.

The Bible says,

‘Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "ALL THESE THINGS I WILL GIVE YOU IF YOU WILL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME." Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" (Matthew 4:8-10, NKJV, emphasis added)

I particularly like Matthew’s account of the temptation of Jesus because it ends with Satan bluntly asking Jesus to bow down and worship. From this account, it seems the devil all the while was simply working Jesus’ defenses to the point where he could achieve his ultimate aim: worship! Worship was the crescendo that the devil planned. 

Satan took Jesus to an exceedingly high mountain and gave him the vision of the world’s glory, wealth and pleasures. He promised to give them all to Jesus on the condition that Jesus would ‘simply’ bow down and worship him. Why did Satan first SHOW Jesus before ASKING Him? This is because in seeing, the heart bows. 

Remember I mentioned in Part I that the greatest catalyst of worship is the vision of God’s glory and I mentioned that any man who had a vision of God’s glory bowed – Isaiah (Isaiah 6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1), Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9), and John the beloved (Revelation 1) all bowed. Bowing to God is a matter of choice which we have to make consistently in love in our hearts in the face of contradictions. And just as we choose to worship God we can also choose to worship Satan.

Satan gave Jesus a vision of the world’s glory as a substitute for the vision of God’s glory. Jesus refused to be distracted by it. He rather chose to feast His eyes on the vision of God’s glory. The vision of God’s glory leads to the worship of God while the vision of the world’s glory leads to the worship of gold (Satan).

The greatest commandment in the law is to love God with all that one has and the second greatest commandment is to love one’s neighbour as oneself (Matthew 22:37-39). Both commandments have one thing in common: LOVE. Love is a function of the heart. When we love, we give all. When we love God, we give Him all that we are and have. We set our affections on things above which are the visions of His glory and not on the things beneath which are visions of the world’s glory (Colossians 3:1-2).

By showing Jesus the visions of the world’s glory, Satan wanted to capture Jesus’ heart and win His love. Jesus chose to love God and not gold. So worshipping Satan is simple: relishing in the vision of the world’s glory and loving gold. Anyone who does not seek He that is above (Christ and His kingdom) and seeks things that are not above (His righteousness) but goes on to seek the world’s kingdoms and their glory and loves gold instead of God is A WORSHIPPER OF SATAN! 

So you see worshipping Satan is not just something people say but things people do. A believer who claims to worship God but loves gold and seeks worldly glory which is material wealth is an effective worshipper of Satan.

It is sad some churches today teach believers to love gold and fix their eyes on the visions of the world’s glory. People are literally taught to love money and despise God.

MONEY, MAMMON, GOD AND THE ROOT OF ALL EVILS

I recently wrote an article on this elsewhere, I have taken the liberty to use some excerpts here: 

Money is feral –like fire, it can both cook and burn; like electric power it can both electrocute and electrify. This means it can both be disastrous and useful depending on how it is handled. 

By design, money is meant to be a tool like, say, a sledge hammer, water heater, and tooth brush and glass cup. But because of the enormous power money possesses, it can, like wild tides, overflow its banks and latch on to the heart of man like a leech or virulent parasite if allowed to rule. Thus, provoking inordinate love and affection for it and building a throne (control centre) for itself within the heart of man. Once the heart of man which has been designed to love only God and his fellow man begins to love money, a malignant aberration called the root of all evils is established.

The root of all evils will definitely yield the trees of all evils with time. When this happens, a person loses their soul.

This is why the Bible declares in unmistakable terms, 

‘For THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL EVILS; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.’ (1 Timothy 6:10, AMP, emphasis added) 

The spirit force that catalyses the love for money in the heart of man is called Mammon! Money is not Mammon and money is not evil. 

So,

MONEY IS NOT EQUAL TO THE ROOT OF ALL EVILS

MONEY IS NOT EQUAL TO MAMMON

But,

MONEY+MAMMON+ LOVE FROM THE HEART OF MAN = THE ROOT OF ALL EVILS

As earlier stated, money is like fire which is a tool of destruction in the hands of an arsonist and a tool of construction in the hands of a blacksmith.

It is definitely an faithful servant but wicked master.

Jesus said,

'No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). (Matthew 6:24, AMP)

It is simple; a man who loves money cannot love God. A man who loves God cannot love money. A man who loves God will definitely trust in and serve God. A man that loves money will definitely trust in and serve Mammon. A man who trusts in and serves God will sell anything and/or give up all his possessions to worship God by spending generously on the cause of His kingdom (an example is the early Christians who sold their possessions to execute God’s will on earth [Acts 4: 34-25]). A man who loves money will give up God, bow down to Satan in worship in order to gain money and/or material possessions (an example is Judas Iscariot who sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver [Matthew 26:15]).

One way to know that God is our Master and money (gold) does not have a hold on us is that we worship God by giving up money for establishing His kingdom thereby giving Him great pleasure!

FURTHER READING:

-THE SPIRITUAL MAN BY WATCHMAN NEE

-KINGDOM RECALIBRATION BY AROME OSAYI